MCPS Indoor Track - Racing Knights Break Records

The Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Indoor Track squad of twelve went to the Crossplex January 15, 2013 and flexed some serious muscle.  First, all twelve MCPS athletes set at least one personal record.  Second, on the girls side, three school records were set, two of them are absolute records.

Eighth grade student, Kylie Frank won the 800 meter run in a Meet and had a School Record time of 2:28.50.  She also took second in the 1600 in 5:25.71.  Seventh graders, Daphne Hardy finished fifth in the shot put with a toss of 27-6.0, and Anna Stokes lowered her school record in the 60 meter dash to 9.40.

On the boys side, Winston Wright (eighth grade) took second in the 400 meters with team season best time of 57.55.  He was followed closely by fourth place Nate Smith (eighth grade) at 57.91.  The duo also scored in the 800 as Winston placed third in 2:19.16 and Nate was fifth in 2:26.68.

Montgomery Catholic Middle School Honor Roll Announced

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School announced their top students during an Honors Assembly on January 24.  Students who attained A Honor Roll and A-B Honor Roll during the first semester were called to receive their certificates during this special ceremony. The A Honor Roll students for 1st Semester 2012-2013 are: Ivy Bach, Carrie Belsterling, David Bender, Lita Blackburn, Jessie Clark, Jade Farah, Katie Fischer, Ryne Herbek, Audrey Kim, Morris Lottinger, Jenny Morgan, Anna Nutting, Lauren Oates, Henry Petters, Megan Revor, Dylon Riley, Annabel Starrett.

The A-B Honor Roll students are Amy Azar, Tyler Barranco, Lauren Beverly, Adam Bristol, Cameryn Brown, Kaeleen Brunson, Mary Katherine Brunson, Trinity Carter, Briana Chavez, Caleb Cobb, Luke Craig
Christopher DeJesus, Danny Do, Trey Downes, John Faulkner, Kylie Frank, Madison Gaston, Frank Gonzalez, Hannaley Haigler, Nic Homsher, Marie Rose Johnson, Emily Jones, Devin Kelly, Katie Lawrence

Gabe Lewandowski, Ashleigh Little, Lizzie Londell, Taylor Lin, Kayanna McKenzie, Kamryn Morris

Hyunjoo Rho, Ethan Ronan, James Sadie, Cameron Searcy, Katie Smith, Lauren Smith, Nathan Smith

Katelyn Stark, Jordan Steele, Iyana Tate, Matthew Taylor, Zach VanAlst and Hugh Wakler.

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic A Honor Roll students  at the First Semester Honors Assembly.

Gooslin, O'Connor and Petters to Represent Montgomery Catholic at County Spelling Bee

Congratulations to our Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Spelling Bee winners:  Will Gooslin, Katherine O'Connor and Henry Petters.  They will represent Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School at the Montgomery County Spelling Bee in February.  Will, a fourth grade student at the Holy Spirit Campus, won the bee by correctly spelling "transfixed".   Katherine, a fifth grade student at the St. Bede campus, won by spelling the championship word "diverge". Henry, a seventh grade student at the Middle School won by correctly spelling " advantageous". Alternate delegates for the Montgomery County Spelling Bee from each campus are:  Connor Frank, a Holy Spirit campus sixth grade student; Will Holderfield, a St. Bede campus fourth grade student.  

Competing in the Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School elementary spelling bee were fourth grade students Spencer Bach, Noelle Burtschi, Harrison Downes, Angela Gier and Will Holderfield.  Fifth grade students were Ansley Dean, Lainie Doyle, Michael Hodges, Sean Moore and Eric Shin.  Sixth grade students were Jacob Flowers, Reagan Herbek, Thomas McLaughlin, Drew Smith, Jenice Stephenson, Emily Claire Talbot and Melody Taylor.

Top spellers at MCPS St. Bede campus,
Will Holderfield and Katherine O'Connor

Top spellers at MCPS  Holy Spirit campus,
Will Gooslin and Connor Frank

Montgomery Catholic Athletes Named to All-Metro Teams

Congratulations to our Montgomery Catholic Knights who have been named to The Montgomery Advertiser's All-Metro Teams for the fall sports season: Cross Country Boys - Jarrett Mason, Skip Martin, Timothy McOmber
Cross Country Girls - Katherine Terino, Honorable Mention Kylie Frank
Football - James Sherman, Honorable Mention Conner Preston, Honorable Mention Dean Rodopoulos, Honorable Mention Cole Dixon
Football -  First Team All-State (ASWA) James Sherman
Football - Second Team All-American James Sherman
Volleyball - Honorable Mention Callie Wilkinson 

Congratulations and GO KNIGHTS!

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School 8th Grader Named Most Outstanding Wrestler in January Tournament

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's Zachary Van Alst was named Most Outstanding Wrestler in the Julian McPhillips Invitational wrestling tournament held in Montgomery and was the Tournament Champion. The tournament was hosted by St. James School on January 11 and 12. This is the second year in a row Van Alst has taken home the honor.  He is the son of Bob and Jennie Van Alst.  David Norris, a senior, finished second in his weight class, and John Haynes, a junior, finished 3 and 2 for the weekend.  The Knights finish the year hosting Carver and Wetumpka for their final home game of the season on January 24 before heading to Birmingham for a tournament.

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic's Zachary Van Alst accepting his award from Montgomery Catholic benefactor, former parent, and founder of the Catholic wrestling program Mr. Julian McPhillips at the Julian McPhillips Invitational Tournament. (photo by Jennie Van Alst)

Montgomery Catholic Senior Callie Wilkinson Earns All-Metro Honor

Wilkinson Earns All-Metro Honor

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School senior Callie Wilkinson became the 10th member of the school's athletic department to be honored for their play this fall season.  The senior earned Honorable Mention honors from The Montgomery Advertiser in volleyball, earning the honor Friday, December 28.

The team featured all area teams in AHSAA Class 1A-6A.

Article by Travis Jarome

Sherman Named All-State Kicker

The accolades keep coming for Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School kicker James Sherman, as the 5-10, 170 pound kicker was named First Team All-State released on December 26 by the Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA).

Sherman handled all the kicking duties for the Knights this season, and averaged 38 yards per punt with five downed inside the 20 yard line.

Of his kicks, 85 percent went for touchbacks and he was rated as the top-rated kicker in the nation as a junior. Sherman was 9-of-13 on field goals with a long of 48, and was 21-of-21 on extra points.

He was one of eight underclassmen named to the First Team in Class 3A, and was the only underclassman kicker on the team.  In all six classes, Sherman was the only underclassmen kicker to be named All-State.  He was just one of three underclassmen all-purpose kickers to be named All-State, joining sophomore punter Tripp Burnett (Prattville) in Class 6A and sophomore punter Jake Smith (Holy Spirit) in Class 1A.

This is the second accolade this week for Sherman, as he was named All-Metro by The Montgomery Advertiser on December 24 as a punter.  He is also the top-rated kicker in the nation for the Class of 2014 by Chris Sailer.

Article by Travis Jarome

Mardis Gras Monte Carol Night Sponsorships and Tickets Available Now

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's Mardi Gras Monte Carlo Night will be on Saturday, February 9 at the Dolly Barranco Activity Center at the Middle and High School campus, located at 5350 Vaughn Road, Montgomery, Alabama.

Join us for an adult only evening of wonderful food, fantastic casino-style games (with professional
dealers), 50/50 raffle, fabulous silent and live auction, and loads of FUN! Tickets are $50 per person and
include $1,000 of “funny money” for the games. 50/50 raffle tickets will be mailed to each family this
week and will also be available during the event.

NEW THIS YEAR is the “VIP Holy Rollers” table. Fr. Linn Harbour, (former Vegas
dealer) will be the professional guest dealer. 40 minute sessions at the VIP Holy Rollers
table are available for a $50 donation. Sessions will begin on each hour beginning
at 7:00 PM. Look for the “VIP Holy Rollers” table under the tent.

Event tickets are available in each MCPS campus office and reservations for the “VIP Holy Rollers” table can be made by contacting Bonnie McClure at bmcclure@montgomerycatholic.org or (334) 272-7221 ext. 13 .

We also invite game sponsorships (business or individual). Game sponsorships are $300 and include 2
event tickets. Sponsors will be recognized in our program, listed on the game table, as well as posted in
the Dolly Barranco Center during the event. Sponsorships can be purchased by contacting Bonnie McClure at bmcclure@montgomerycatholic.org or at (334) 272-7221 ext. 13.

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Open House

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School will host an Open House for all Campuses on 

Sunday, January 13, 2013. Potential students and families will have the opportunity to meet our 

faculty and staff. Tour our campuses and classrooms. 

Learn more about what Montgomery Catholic has to offer you and your family.

Visit the Middle School and High School Campuses at 5350 Vaughn Road from 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Visit St. Bede Elementary at 3850 Atlanta Highway and Holy Spirit Elementary at 8580 Vaughn Road from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

For More Information Contact: Vicki Dickson, Public Relations Director at 

334-272-7221 ext 32 or vdickson@montgomerycatholic.org.

MCPS Featured Teachers of the Month, January 2013: Mrs. Nancy Foley & Mr. Matthew Monson

Montgomery Catholic would like to introduce our Featured Teachers of the month. MCPS is so fortunate to have amazing teachers leading our students to become persons of faith, virtue, and wisdom.

Meet Holy Spirit Campus 3rd/4th grade teacher Mrs. Nancy Foley and Middle School Social Studies/Public Speaking teacher Coach Matthew Monson.

Mrs. Nancy Foley is one of our third and fourth grade co-teachers at the MCPS Holy
Spirit Elementary Campus. Her education background includes a B. S. in Elementary
Education from the University of South Alabama. She received her Master’s in Elementary
Education from Troy State University. When asked “why teach?” Mrs. Foley responded
,“It is a calling to help young people discover academic knowledge and to allow the
Holy Spirit to work through me so that He can teach them how to live.” Her favorite lesson
to teach is a Science Activity on Owl Families.

With a sense of adventure, Mrs. Foley walked four miles into the woods of South Carolina with a 74-year old man that she had met the day before. He helped her find the “Old Irish Cemetery”, where she saw the gravesites of her ancestors who came to America in 1735. She believes the most exotic place she has been is SEC Football Games! Interesting people she has met include Barbara Bush and her husband, George Sr., with whom she had dinner when he was running for President in 1980.

A few of Mrs. Foley’s favorite things are… The Serenity Prayer, a bowl of Wheat Chex cereal for breakfast, chicken casserole and pasta salad for dinner while listening to “Jimmy Buffet Beach Songs” or at Christmas, Carol of the Bells. Her most favorite Christmas present ever was from a boyfriend. When the other guys were giving jewelry for Christmas, her boyfriend gave her a really nice camera. “Great gift for me, and I married that boyfriend.”

Mr. Matthew N. Monson or “Coach Monson” is in his first year at the MCPS Middle School Campus
teaching Social Studies and Public Speaking while lending a hand coaching too. He received his B.S. Secondary Education (Social Science) from Auburn University, a B.A. in History from Auburn University, and a M.Ed. in Educational Leadership and Administration from Auburn University at Montgomery.
His favorite lesson to teach depends on the class that he is teaching. He is currently teaching world history so his favorite lesson is the Medieval Era. He also enjoys teaching about the founding of America in American History, as well as, the Constitution and constitutional amendments in government/civics. 

Teaching is all that Mr. Monson has ever known or wanted to do. Both of his parents are teachers which gave him a unique view of teaching from an early age. He also “values the role our children play in the continued growth of our society and wants to help influence their decisions in a positive manner.” 

The most adventurous thing Mr. Monson has ever done above skipping school as a boy was staying on the beach during a hurricane in college when told to evacuate. The most exotic place that he has visited is Miami, Florida. He has a sister that lives and works in Miami. He explains, “What makes Miami exotic is the unique blend of culture, art, architecture, and music. My family and I visit her yearly, and we always enjoy discovering a new restaurant, museum, venue, or experiencing a new cultural experience.”

The most interesting person Mr. Monson has come across is his grandfather, Norman Rahn, Jr. He explains, “He has told me every one of his stories 100 times, but they don’t get old. He has a story for every situation and is quick with a joke. He has also shown me what it means to be a strong man of character.”

A few of Mr. Monson’s favorite things are…. Grace before meals because that means it is time to eat also, because he is teaching his son to say grace, and “it is a great thing to hold hands with the family and listen to him say the blessing”. His favorite cereal is Reese’s Puffs (but Mrs. Monson won’t let him buy it). His favorite song is the Auburn Fight Song because he loves his Auburn Tigers. His favorite band is Led Zeppelin and their song Over the Hills and Far Away. His most favorite Christmas present ever was his Nintendo 64 received when he was 13. The best game by far was James Bond Goldeneye.