Tuesday, March 30, 2010

"A Faith that Leads to Love" by Mr. Ryan Bravata

In the letter of James, we are told by St. James to "Show me your faith apart from your works, and I, by my works, will show you my faith" (James 2:18). It is this very scripture verse that the students of Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School hoped to express on March 29, 2010, at Montgomery Catholic's Lenten Day of Service. High school students went out in the Montgomery community to serve 17 non-profit organizations throughout the River Region. On this very day, one group found themselves receiving more than they had hoped to give when they spent the day at the Father Walter Memorial Child Care Center in Montgomery. When we first arrived, we spent the morning giving back to the community by doing the expected service day activities like raking leaves, pulling weeds, sweeping walkways, and helping to prepare the floors of Resurrection Catholic Church for the Easter Triduum Services; however, it was the work that we did with the children that would leave a lasting impression on all of our lives.
One such experience involved a young man named Nicholas. While on a tour of the facilities, we were introduced to this remarkable young man who, after surgery, was left in a condition that would lead to his finding a home at the Father Walter Child Care Center. What impressed us the most was Nicholas' love of two things that speak to the heart of every American: Gospel music and football. Immediately, Nicholas would find a connection with MCPS student and football player, M.L. Shipman, who spent time, along with his classmates Kirsten Lancaster and Clarissa Deal, singing gospel hymns like "Amazing Grace", "How Great Thou Art", and "Go Tell It on the Mountain". After the students sang their gospel serenade, the students were greeted with Nicholas' loving smile and acceptance of their vocal styling.
At the same time in another room, students Alex Taylor, Brittney Wilkinson, Christine Spotswood, Marissa Marmolejo, Elizabeth Karst, and Sarah Lyerly spent the afternoon reading stories to many of the children. One of the children in particular, 'Lil Wayne, would smile, laugh, and though in a wheelchair, it was obvious he wanted to jump and hug each and every one of them. As we were leaving that afternoon, 'Lil Wayne vocalized his love to us in the short phrase, "Come back!"
Lastly, two other students, Courtney Willcox and Cathy Ranieri, would find great joy in another national past time--bowling. As the students were helping to set up, they were introduced to a young man nicknamed "Spud". As they positioned Spud's wheelchair for bowling, he gazed at them with a slight hint of confusion because he knew the students had not positioned his wheelchair in the right place for him to effectively roll a strike. Once Spud was in just the right spot, he showed the girls his amazing bowling skills as he shouted with joy and clapped his hands acknowledging his talent.
We began the day with great expectation as to what we could give on the third annual Lenten Service Day and our hearts were changed as we saw the service that the children of Father Walter Memorial Child Care Center gave to us! Though wheelchair-bound and, in many instances, unable to vocalize, these children gave the only thing they had to give--themselves. In doing so, they gave us their smiles full of joy, their laughter full of cheer, and more importantly, they gave us their hearts full of love. Speaking on behalf of the students of Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School, this is one service day that will change our lives forever.
Pictured: Montgomery Catholic students M.L. Shipman, Clarissa Deal, and Kirsten Lancaster read books to the children at Father Walter Memorial Child Care Center in Montgomery during Montgomery Catholic's 3rd Annual Lenten Service Day. Photos by Mary Kelley.

Ryan Bravata is the High School Youth Minister at St. Bede the Venerable Catholic Church and a faculty member in the Theology Department at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Montgomery Catholic Concert Band Earns Superior Ratings at District Competition

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's Concert Band earned straight Superior Ratings at the Alabama District/State Competition held on Thursday, March 11, 2010, hosted by Opelika High School. Montgomery Catholic's band program is in its sixth year and is under the direction of Mr. Dwight Fontenot. Photo by Teresa Norris.

Thursday, March 04, 2010

Montgomery Catholic Celebrates NEA's "Read Across America"

Alabama House of Representatives member Mr. David Grimes, District 73, visited Montgomery Catholic's kindergarten class as a guest reader for the National Education Association's "Read Across America" day. Mr. Grimes visited Mrs. Debbie Redden's class to read "The Cat in the Hat" and celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday.

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic students celebrate "Read Across America" day. seated: Cecilia Crawford, Haley Gordon, Erik Azar, and John Tracy. standing: Layne Jordan, Autumn Sekerak, Matthew Reardon, William Driver, Rep. David Grimes, McKinley Boyd, Ailish Gilbert, Julian Macchia, and James Bender.
To view photographs from story time, click here.

Monday, March 01, 2010

Montgomery Catholic Wins Elementary Science Olympiad at Jacksonville High School

Montgomery Catholic won its first team title at the Elementary Science Olympiad (ESO) at Jacksonville High School on Saturday, February 27, 2010, edging out Donoho of Anniston and Kitty Stone of Jacksonville, who finished second and third respectively in this year's competition. In all, over 650 students from 33 schools across the state participated in the 2010 Elementary Science Olympiad held at Jacksonville High School.

Montgomery Catholic earned medals in 17 out of 28 events including 4 first place and 2 second place finishes to win the overall team title in the 2010 Elementary Science Olympiad. With its team title, Montgomery Catholic became the first team from outside Calhoun County to win the ESO at Jacksonville High School team title in the 17-year history of the competition. Montgomery Catholic's Science Olympiad team is sponsored by teachers Mr. Nick Bourke, Mr. Larry Meiers, and Mrs. Allison Boyd.

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic's Elementary Science Olympiad team after their 1st place win at Jacksonville High School. Row 1: Adam Bristol, David Bender, Morris Lottinger, Peter Rossi, Margaret Ann Allen, Madison Gaston, Ivy Bach, and Mary Reagan Starrett. Row 2: Annabel Starrett, Ann Williams, Lacey Herbek, Maria Rossi, Marissa Dogan, and Frank Rossi. Row 3: Mr. Larry Meiers, Blake Johnson, Gabe Keating, Steven Higgins, Brian Brunson, Mary Katherine Brunson, Tess Casey, Mr. Nick Bourke, Ashleigh Little, and Mrs. Allison Boyd. Not pictured Emily Barranco and Ansley Rohde.

Montgomery Catholic Students Collect Shoes for The Children's Center

Students in kindergarten through twelfth grade at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School recently held a "shoe drive" for the children of The Children's Center of Montgomery. The students collected gently used tennis shoes and "Crocs" of all sizes for the center. Many students also purchased new shoes for the drive.

Montgomery Catholic students collected 82 pair of shoes and a $125 gift card to Payless Shoes for The Children's Center. Pictured with a sampling of their donation are Montgomery Catholic students Bianca Noumbissi, Barr Younker, and Evan LaBarge with Mrs. Lisa Sadie of The Children's Center of Montgomery. photo by Mary Kelley.

Montgomery Catholic Students Participate in the American Mathematics Competition

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School is a proud participant of the American Mathematics Competition (AMC) 2010. Thirty-eight high school students participated in the AMC 10 and the AMC 12 this year. The American Mathematics Competitions are the first in a series of competitions which determine the United States Mathematics Team, which competes in the International Mathematics Olympiad. Students who score well on the AMC 10 or the AMC 12 are invited to participate in the American Invitational Mathematics Examination.

Students from Montgomery Catholic participating in the AMC 10 and AMC 12 were Liz Armstrong, Daniella Hincapie, Hannah Barranco, Jacob Burke, Leigh Ellen Cannon, Hannah Carter, Kyle Daniels, Kenneth Dickerson, Hayden Ellis, Darrin Federspill, Shannon Guin, John Preston Houston, Zachary Hulcher, Seon Jang, Megan Karst, Sally Kornosky, Jarrett Mason, Kelly McGeehan, Jessica Mount, Richard Mullikan, JL Mullins, Kevin Norris, Ben Petters, John Petters, Connor Preston, Josie Profio, Gabrielle Rushlau, Brian Saunders, William Sherman, Hiro Shin, Giselle Simms, Joanne Spotswood, Joshua Stark, Benjamin Stevens, Lim Sunghyun, John Talbot, Sarah Talbot, Lizzie Terino, William Whitt, and Lexie Wilkinson.

AMC 10

AMC 12