All-Metro Basketball Honors for the Knights

Kirsten Wood (Photo by The Studio at EastChase)

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School senior Kirstin Wood was named Second Team All-Metro Basketball by The Montgomery Advertiser. 

Wood, also a letterwinner in volleyball and currently in softball, led the Knights averaging 13.5 points per game.  A Jimmy Hitchcock nominee, she will continue her athletic career in college, playing softball for Martin Methodist College.

Freshman Iyana Tate, seniors Miles Rice, Anthony Thomas and junior Reggie Jackson were named Honorable Mention All-Metro by The Montgomery Advertiser in March.

Congratulations Knights!

Montgomery Catholic Names Matthew Monson as Principal for Holy Spirit Elementary Campus

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School has named Matthew Monson as the principal for their Holy Spirit Elementary campus effective July 1. 

“Our Holy Spirit campus was the first new Catholic school opened in the Archdiocese of Mobile in 33 years and enrollment has been on an upward trend. We have had a wonderful administrative team for the last two years that has laid a solid foundation for the school. With enrollment growth and the expansion of the campus, including the current construction of the new gymnasium, it is vital that a full time principal be put in place. Matthew Monson is the perfect leader to continue this growth at our Holy Spirit campus,” said Anne Ceasar, Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School President.

Monson joined the Montgomery Catholic faculty in 2012 as part of the history department at the Middle School campus. In 2013, his role at Montgomery Catholic changed; he is currently serving as the Assistant Principal for the high school campus (9-12) and the Holy Spirit Elementary Campus (K4-6), as well as,  serving as the 12th Grade United States Government and Economics teacher.

“I am extremely honored and privileged to have been selected as the Principal of the Holy Spirit Campus.  I am looking forward to expanding my role at the campus.  My family and I are excited to continue to build upon the great relationships that have been cultivated as a members of the MCPS family,” said Monson. 

In addition to his experience as an assistant principal and middle/high school teacher at Montgomery Catholic, Monson has taught in both the Madison and Tallassee city school systems. He has served on school literacy committees, SACS accreditation committees and coached football, golf and soccer.

Monson graduated from Tallassee High School in 2001, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education, with a concentration in Social Science with a minor in Music from Auburn University, and a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Auburn University Montgomery. He and his wife Mandy live in Montgomery with their two children Josiah (3) and Violet (4 months).

MCPS Students Spend a Saturday Renovating for Transformation Montgomery

Montgomery Catholic's High School Key Club continues their work in the community. Recently, the club helped clean and paint the future Adult Education Center for Transformation Montgomery Ministries under the leadership of Charlie Kendall. Transformation Montgomery is a faith-based community development organization working to renovate homes and assist the residents of the Garden Square Neighborhood in the Chisholm area of north Montgomery. The MCPS Key Club plans to continue to help with this project and will return on April 5 to lend a helping hand again. Pictured are from left, 1st row: Millie Capouano, Rebecca White, Saraelizabeth Parker, Anna Mills; 2nd row from left: Derek Kelly, Reggie Jackson, James Sherman, Ryan Norris, Anthony Thomas, Daniel LoBello, Alex Castanza.

Anna Mills, Anthony Thomas, Millie Capouano, and Reggie Jackson
help Woody  Parramore of Transformation Montgomery, paint the future site of the Garden Square Adult Education Center.

Daniel LoBello, Derrick Kelly, Alex Castanza, Saraelizabeth
Parker, Ryan Norris and Rebecca White paint the future site of the Garden Square Adult Education Center.

Montgomery Catholic Lends a Hand at the Montgomery County Water Festival

Montgomery Catholic High School Key Club recently assisted in the annual Water Festival at AUM.  The Water Festival is taught by employees of Montgomery Water Works and ADEM and teaches local 4th graders about water filtration and conservation. Montgomery Catholic Key Club students assisted presenters in leading 4th graders through making a filter and learning how ground pollution contaminates our water supply. They also used activities that taught the 4th graders that very little of the earth's massive amount of water is actually accessible and suitable for drinking, so it is important to conserve water and make efforts to keep it clean.

Montgomery Catholic High School Key Club is sponsored by the Montgomery Kiwanis Club and has 50 members that typically do thousands of service hours each year in their school and parishes by tutoring, performing campus clean-up, and assisting at parish events, as well as for community organizations such as Camp Chandler, Alabama National Fair, Christmas Clearinghouse, Reality and Truth Ministries, and fundraisers for Children's Hospital and for children with Spina Bifida and Cystic Fibrosis.  The Key Club will finish the school year by hosting a St Patrick's Day party at Wesley Gardens and helping to renovate houses with Transformation Montgomery. If your organization is in need of volunteers, contact the MCPS Key Club sponsor Jeanene Crenshaw at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School.

Montgomery Catholic Throws St. Patrick's Day Party at Wesley Gardens

The Montgomery Catholic High School Key Club held a St Patrick's Party for the residents of Wesley Gardens on Sunday, March 16. There was green food, green drink, green hats, music, and magic tricks by Catholic senior Cole Dixon. Also pictured are Ashley Barranco, Brett Foxworth, Josh Johnson, Bryan Rodopolous, Ryan Norris, and Jacob Hulcher. Other students who helped with the party were Katie Reeves, Ashlyn Rolison, Chloe Campbell, Ann Marie Dean, Kaitlyn Martin, Jasiele Thornton, Rolanda Harrison, Derek Kelly, and Daniel and David LoBello.  Key Club is a service organization for high school students sponsored by the Montgomery Kiwanis Club.

Montgomery Catholic's Beesley, Gilbert and Green Will Attend HOBY Youth Leadership Seminar

Jonathon Green

Kathleen Beesley

Abaigeal Gilbert

Kathleen Beesley, Abaigeal Gilbert and Jonathon Green have been selected to represent Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School as Ambassadors for HOBY (Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership) this Spring.  The Seminar will be held at Troy University.

HOBY is the nation’s foremost Youth Leadership Seminar that over 9,000 deserving high school sophomores from across the country will attend.  Their mission is to inspire and develop the global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service, and innovation.  

Kathleen Beesley is the daughter of Mr. Randal Beesley and Mrs. Christine Bruton of Montgomery. 

Abaigeal Gilbert is the daughter of Col. and Mrs. Cameron Gilbert of Montgomery. 

Jonathan Green is the son of Col. and Mrs. Russell Green of Montgomery.

Congratulations to them all!

Montgomery Catholic Sixth Graders Participate in 5 Points of Life Marathon

Montgomery Catholic St. Bede Campus sixth grade students Bobby Crawford, Jason Flowers, Hannah Vaccaro, Lainie Doyle, Savannah Johnson, and Ashley Hayes participated in the 5 Points of Life Marathon held on Saturday, March 8, 2014 at the James W. Wilson Jr. YMCA in Montgomery. The students began their marathon journey in P.E. class where they completed 25 miles, one at a time. The students logged their running time and on race day they completed their marathon by running the last 1.2 miles on Saturday. These young Montgomery Catholic athletes were excited to participate in this fun event promoting good health and exercise.

Montgomery Catholic Juniors Host Annual Mardi Gras Prayer Breakfast

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's junior class hosted the annual Mardi Gras Prayer Breakfast for the entire high school student body and many special guests on Fat Tuesday, March 4, 2014.  The keynote speaker for the event was Col. Cameron Gilbert, a parent of four current MCPS students and two MCPS Alumni. The day begins before dawn with members of the junior class transforming the Dolly Barranco Activity Center into a Mardi Gras themed restaurant while cooking and serving a delicious pancake breakfast for nearly 400 guests.  Paige Barranco, Junior Class President welcomed guests. Father Linn Harbour from Holy Family Catholic Community at Maxwell AFB opened with prayer. Class sponsor, Mrs. Kerri Moore sang the National Anthem. Junior Class Vice-President Ashley Kim and Class Secretary Mary McLaughlin gave closing remarks thanking all of the Prayer Breakfast sponsors, including: Anne Ceasar, MCPS President; Chad Barwick, MCPS Principal, Madonna Kimbrough, High School Administrative Assistant; Kerri Moore, MCPS Junior Class Sponsor; Chappy's Deli, Classic Printing, Costco, Derk's Filet & Vine; Sam's Club, Whitfield Foods and the Junior Class parents.
This is the fourteenth year the junior class at Montgomery Catholic has hosted the Prayer Breakfast as a class retreat and service project for the school.  

Montgomery Catholic's Middle School Science Olympiad Team Competes in Auburn

The Montgomery Catholic Middle School Science Olympiad team competed at the Regional Science Olympiad competition on Saturday, March 1, 2014 at Auburn University.  Fifteen teams from nine schools competed. Montgomery Catholic's 14 students came away with medals in five events and ribbons in thirteen of the twenty-two events and earning a spot in the State Competition. 

The Middle School received fourth place medals in the following events: Boomilever - Jonah Gier, Erica Blackburn; Water Quality - Dylon Riley, Hunter Vaccaro; Sounds of Music - Clint Williams, Henry Petters; Heredity - Henry Petters, Jacob Flowers; Meteorology- Henry Petters, Jonathan Guevara.

Ribbons were earned in the following events:  Fifth Place in Entomology - Jonah Gier, Emily Talbot; Write It, Do It - Emily Talbot, Erica Blackburn; and Dynamic Planet - Jevon Murdock, Hunter Vaccaro. 

Sixth place in Anatomy - Cammie Brown, Jonathan Guevara; and Can't Judge a Powder - Clint Williams, Hyunjoo Rho. 

Seventh place in Experimental Design - Jacob Flowers, Thomas McLaughlin. 

Ninth place in Simple Machines - Ricky Treloar, Emily Talbot; Shock Value - Clint Williams, Hyunjoo Rho; Roto Egg Drop - Ricky Treloar, Clint Williams; Disease Detectives - Cammie Brown, Jonah Gier; and Road Scholar - Ricky Treloar, Thomas McLaughlin. 

Tenth place in Rocks and Minerals - Erica Blackburn, Emily Talbot; and Solar System - Henry Petters, Dylon Riley.

Team coach and middle school science teacher Mrs. Vicki Petters said,  "I'm proud of how our students represented themselves and Montgomery Catholic in their scholarship and their conduct."  Mrs. Julie Flowers, a MCPS middle school math teacher also helped prepare the team for the competition. The team also thanks their chaperones: Mrs. Treloar, Mr. Williams, Mr. Vaccaro, Mrs. Riley and Mr. Gier for traveling with the team.

Montgomery Catholic Middle School Participates The Alabama YMCA Junior Youth Legislature

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's Middle School campus participated in The 24th Alabama YMCA Junior Youth Legislature on Friday, February 21 at the Alabama State Capitol. The conference, which is designed to prepare young people for moral and political leadership in the American Democratic Process, was held in the Alabama Capitol Auditorium.  Montgomery Catholic had fifteen seventh and eighth grade students attend as delegates with their sponsors; Civics teacher, Mrs. Michelle Griswell and Guidance Counselor, Mrs. Sarah Rech.

MCPS Delegates Emily Jones and Aimee Azar.

MCPS's Middle School had a great day gaining hands on experience with writing and debating bills and attending workshops on parliamentary procedure and how to write a bill. Gabriella Hernandez (7th) was elected Clerk. Amiee Azar (8th) was selected as an Outstanding Delegate. Eighth grade students, Hannaley Haigler and Alex Jolley received an award for Outstanding Bill for the bill they wrote: Removing the one year eligibility rule for Transferring High Schools in the Same District.

The MCPS students that attended the conference to learn more about the government process were, Delegates: Elizabeth Londell, Isabelle Saliba, Aimee Azar, Brenton Barker, India Richardson, Lauren Beverly, Carrie Belsterling, Skyler Brantley, Annamary Gilbert, Melody Taylor, Alez Jolley, Hannaley Haigler, Gabriella Janush-Hernandez, Emily Talbot and Emily Jones. 

Mardi Gras Comes to Montgomery Catholic's St. Bede Campus

The Montgomery Catholic St. Bede Campus held its first ever Mardi Gras parade on Monday, March 3. A fun, wet morning, the students (and teachers) were encouraged to wear Mardi Gras colored shirts of purple, green and gold. Principal, Miss Laurie Gulley said, "We are thrilled to have the senior class and the MCPS Marching Band come help us with this."  

The seniors attended Mass with the elementary students before leading the "Once Upon a Time in a Land Far Away" parade around the front parking lot of the school. With the senior students on two floats and walking, a golf cart that carried Montgomery Catholic principals Laurie Gulley and Chad Barwick, and the MCPS Marching Band playing  "When the Saints go Marching In" the festive Mardi Gras atmosphere was set.  The elementary students were thrown beads, cups, stuffed animals and toys and everyone went back to class with plenty of grabs.

Once the students went back inside the senior students delivered King cake to each classroom, and everyone enjoyed the sweet treat.

Miss Gulley extended a big "Thank you to Father Pat Arensberg, Associate Pastor of St. Bede Church, for this wonderful idea! And thank you to the schools and parishes in Mobile who were so wonderful about collecting throws for us. We had a “Beads for the Bede” campaign going on, and the response was amazing!!"

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School will celebrate Fat Tuesday with the annual Mardi Gras Prayer Breakfast on Tuesday, March 4 at the Middle and High School campus. All campuses will attend Mass on Ash Wednesday, March 5 as Lent begins.

Montgomery Catholic's Overton & Walker Participate in Miss Teen Alabama

Elizabeth Overton placed third overall in
the Miss Teen Montgomery Pageant.

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School junior Elizabeth Marie Overton, along with classmate Emily Jane Walker, participated in the Miss Teen Montgomery Pageant on Saturday, February 8, 2014.

According to the Miss Teen Montgomery website, this pageant is different because it is "about each contestant having the ability to gain self-confidence, self-esteem and the opportunity to make new friends who share the same interests as they do. The pageant is unlike any other since it is based on PERSONALITY."

The process began on Monday, January 20 with a personal interview phase where 300 young ladies were interviewed personally by the judges. The competition was then narrowed down to 127 participants. Both MCPS juniors moved on to the next phase. The participants had a ‘casual wear’ competition, a ‘formal wear’ competition, and  a question and answer phase on stage.

Elizabeth had to answer the following question:  "What is your definition of a winner?"  Her answer was “A winner to me is someone who never gives up, a winner is someone who tries and tries again, and although winning isn’t everything being a winner is”.

Emily Walker enjoyed her first experience at the
Miss Teen Montgomery competition in February.

Emily said of the experience, "The thing I apply most to my life is that winning isn't everything. I realized that not everyone will be crowned, but if you have the right attitude you will always be a winner."

Both Montgomery Catholic students enjoyed the experience,
and Elizabeth earned third overall, earning automatic entry into the Miss Teen USA Pageant in Orlando, Florida to be held in December.

Elizabeth is the daughter of Mary and James Overton of Montgomery. Emily is the daughter of Dana Walker and James Walker.

Montgomery Catholic congratulations both Emily & Elizabeth!