Montgomery Catholic Middle School Makes Generous Donation to COPE

Middle School students at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School spent Lent collecting donations for COPE. COPE, Counseling Outreach for Pregnancy Emergency, is a non-profit organization in the River Region offering free services for women facing crisis pregnancies which provides women with alternatives to abortion, pregnancy testing, adoption information, and parent education training. Each homeroom was responsible for collecting different items including, diapers, bottles, baby blankets and clothes, wipes, shampoo and baby lotion.  The students also played penny wars between homerooms and collected $550 which was used to purchase two car seats, clothing, bottles and additional diapers, lotion and shampoo. Lorie Mullins, Executive Director of COPE, accepted their donations on April 16 and she was thrilled with the car seats, a needed item at COPE, and she thanked the students for their generosity.

Pictured are: Javon Murdock, Zach Moore, Ellie Talbot, Mrs. Lorie Mullins, Sarah Snowden, Reagan Herbek, and Joe Brodgen.

Montgomery Catholic's Talbot Receives Grand Recognition through Duke TIP Program

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School proudly announces five middle school students who have earned State Recognition for their ACT scores by the Duke Talent Identification Program, one of which, received Grand Recognition (one of only 1,600 nationwide).

The Duke University Talent Identification Program (Duke TIP) identifies academically talented seventh grade students in sixteen states across the Southeast, Midwest, and Southwest who have scored at the 95th percentile or above on standardized achievement tests. Montgomery Catholic had 21 middle school students who qualified to participate in the Duke TIP Program last fall with five students whose high scores qualified them for state recognition.

Montgomery Catholic students who will be honored at the Duke Talent Search State Recognition Ceremony are Virginia Bach, Anna Katherine Barranco, Jacob Flowers, Zoe Rutland and Emily Talbot.

Emily will travel to Duke University to receive her Grand Recognition medal on May 19 with her parents Angel and Mike Talbot of Wetumpka.

Virginia Bach and James Walker qualified for Academy of Summer Studies and Anna Catherine Barranco, Jacob Flowers, Zoe Rutland and Emily Talbot qualified for Center for Summer Studies.

Montgomery Catholic is very proud of these hard working students. Congratulations!

Montgomery Catholic Finishes in Top Ten at State Science Olympiad

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s (MCPS) High School and Middle School Science Olympiad Teams competed in the State Science Olympiad competition on April 12 at Huntingdon College in Montgomery. The team composed of students from grades seven through twelve, came away with 4 first place, 2 third place and 3 fourth place finishes out of the 22 events. Each team finished 10th in the State of Alabama.

1st place in Experimental Design:
Guillermo Ravelo, Allie Micher, Frank Gonzalez.

Earning individual honors for the Montgomery Catholic High School team were:
1st place in Experimental Design: Guillermo Ravelo, Allie Micher, Frank Gonzalez.
1st place in Bungee Drop: Katie McDaniel and Guillermo Ravelo.
3rd place in Water Quality: Marissa Dogan and Allie Micher.
4th place in Entomology: Marissa Dogan and Allie Micher.

3rd place in Water Quality & 4th place in 

Entomology: 

Marissa Dogan and Allie Micher.

Earning individual honors for the Montgomery Catholic Middle School team were:
1st place in Heredity: Henry Petters
1st place in Metric Mastery: Lida Blackburn and Hyunjoo Rho
3rd place in Sounds of Music: Henry Petters and Clint Williams
4th place in Can't Judge a Powder: Clint Williams and Hyunjoo Rho
4th place in Entomology: Jonah Gier and Jevon Murdock

Team sponsors at Montgomery Catholic include: High School teachers Elizabeth Harbin, Jeanene Crenshaw, Joe Profio, Monica Hamell, and Middle School teachers Vicki Petters and Julie Flowers.

Montgomery Catholic's David Fulton Receives Eagle Scout Rank

Montgomery Catholic Senior David Fulton received his Eagle Scout Award from Troop 416 on Saturday, April 12, 2014 at Frazier Methodist Church.

Fulton has been active in scouting his whole life, starting in first grade, he joined Cub Scout to Troop # 406. Troop # 406 later joined with Troop # 6 at Frazier Methodist Church and formed new troop # 416. For his Eagle Project, Fulton built two picnic tables for Flowers Elementary School. He has been on countless camping trips and to eleven Scout Summer Camps, where he received various "silly" camp awards.

David is the son of Debbie and Robert Fulton of Montgomery.

Two Montgomery Catholic Students Win First in AWF Art Contest

Montgomery Catholic students Mally Barranco and Emma Garrison each won first place in their age group in the Alabama Wildlife Federation’s 2014 William R. Ireland, Sr. Wildlife Youth Art Contest. The students pictured with Montgomery Catholic Holy Spirit campus art teacher, Mrs. Leigh Dennis, were honored at a banquet on Saturday, April 12. Mally Barranco, second grade, won first place in the grade K-2 category. Mally drew a Barred Owl in colored pencil. Emma Garrison, fifth grade, won first place in the grade 3-5 category. Emma drew an Eastern Screech Owl in colored pencil and chalk pastel. Each student received a plaque, blue ribbon and an art bag full of supplies. Mrs. Dennis was thrilled to have attended the event with her students.

Mally is the daughter of Katherine and John David Barranco of Montgomery; she is in Mrs. Ellie Burden's second grade class. Emma is the daughter of Barb and Al Garrison of Montgomery; she is in Mrs. Ann Berher's fifth grade class. 

Montgomery Catholic Students Give Back to the Community During Annual Lenten Day of Service

“Even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve. And to give His life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28. Serving others in our community is not only the focus of Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s annual Lenten Day of Service, but has been a part of the school’s mission since 1873. 

290 Montgomery Catholic students in grades nine through twelve and faculty members spent a combined total of over 900 hours volunteering the morning of April 11, 2014. Montgomery Catholic Preparatory High School campus celebrated mass together on campus at 7:40 a.m. before beginning their service day. The students worked at 12 locations around the River Region performing various tasks such as spending time with elderly residents, cleaning up trails at YMCA’s Camp Grandview and Camp Chandler, cleaning up at Fort Toulouse, working for Catholic Social Services, COPE and completing projects on campus at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School among many other works of service throughout the community. 

The organizations and agencies that were served by Montgomery Catholic high school students in the River Region were: COPE; The Montgomery Clean City Commission, City Councilman Richard Bollinger, MAX Credit Union and AARP Alabama and Gilmore Services Shredding Event; Transformations Montgomery; Catholic Social Services; Head Start Family Services Center; Fort Toulouse/Jackson Historic Landmark, YMCA, Camp Chandler (Wetumpka), Montgomery Zoo - Mann Museum, YMCA Camp Grandview; MACOA Senior Centers (Newtown Senior Center, Normandale Senior Center and Perry Hill Senior Center); The Girls Scouts; Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School and Ida Bell Young Park.

Montgomery Catholic's Thomas Signs to Play College Basketball

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School held a signing ceremony for senior Anthony Thomas inside the Library on the Montgomery Catholic high school campus at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 9. 

Anthony Thomas, a two-time All-Metro selection for the Knights, will play college basketball at Faulkner State choosing the Sun Chiefs over Wallace in Andalusia. Thomas led the team in scoring and steals this year as he averaged 20 points and 3 steals per game for the season. Thomas was also selected MVP of the Knights of Columbus Thanksgiving Tournament and made all tournament team for the Daleville Holiday tournament, Trinity Holiday Tournament and 3A Area 3 Tournament.    

An exciting day for Thomas, he was joined by family, friends and teammates as MCPS president, Anne Ceasar; principal, Chad Barwick; and Varsity Basketball coach, Ken Klinger each spoke about his wonderful accomplishment and hard work at Montgomery Catholic. Thomas' former coach Jack Moody looked on as his future Faulkner State coach, Jack Robertson welcomed him to his new team.

Thomas joins Sydney O'Connor (softball at the University of Mobile), James Sherman (football at Texas State) and Kirstin Wood (softball at Martin Methodist College) who will continue their athletic careers in the fall at the college level. Thomas is the son of Nakia and Anthony Thomas of Montgomery.

NHS at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School inducts 22 new members.

The Loretto Chapter of the National Honor Society at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School inducted twenty-two new members into their society during an Induction Ceremony Monday, April 7, 2014 at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's Dolly Barranco Activity Center.

The National Honor Society (NHS), established in 1921, is a national recognition program for students who show achievement in scholarship, leadership, service, and character. High School students are selected for membership through an application process and are selected by the faculty council. Candidates must meet the chapter's requirement for scholarship, service, leadership and character in order to be selected for membership. Continued participation in service projects and upholding the ideals of the school are required to retain membership. Members must also maintain the chapter's required cumulative grade point average.

A reception hosted by the 2014 National Honor Society members for the new members and their families immediately followed the ceremony.

The newly inducted members of the Loretto Chapter of the National Honor Society at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School are seniors, Brett Foxworth, John Haynes, Howard Vaughan, and Kirstin Wood and juniors, Joseph Armstrong, Carolyn Barranco, Andrew Ellis, Ann Faulkner, Brianna Foley, Lindsey Guin,
Aliceann Harper, Jacob Hulcher, Ashley Karst, Derek Kelly, Ashley Kim, Mary Janet McLaughlin, Olivia Nobles, Leo Petters, Monica Poole, Foster Smith, Allyson Taylor, Lindsey Tynan and Margaret von Gal.

Montgomery Catholic Elementary Campuses Celebrate Faith During Lent

In addition to the weekly school Mass, student’s at the St. Bede campus have added a weekly fast (no popcorn Friday’s), weekly alms giving (support of the Anawim Project), and weekly prayer (the Rosary and the Stations of the Cross) for Lent. Sixth grade student Nikki Walker holds the fourteenth Station while fifth graders: Maren Manning, Riley Taylor, Devan DeRamus, Aiden Losik, and Kade Hampton kneel in prayer. (Photo: Ruth Glenboski).

Faulkner Chosen to Attend Summer Science Institute at Auburn University

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School junior Ann Faulkner has been invited to attend the Summer Science Institute (S.S.I) at Auburn University this June. 

The Summer Science Institute sponsored by the College of Math and Science at Auburn University is designed for rising 11th and 12th grade students with high aptitude and interest in the fields of math and science. Students will be partnered with experienced Auburn University Math and Science research faculty to explore more advanced topics than typically studied in high school. 

Faulkner is one of only sixteen students chosen to attend the week long program. She is the daughter of Amy and Charles White of Montgomery. Both she and her parents are excited about this opportunity.

Montgomery Catholic First Grade Students Build Campus Garden

The first grade class at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's Holy Spirit Elementary campus built a garden on campus as part of their on-going science study of plants. Miss Emily Younker, one of the first grade teachers on campus had the idea to give the gift of growth to the class, with plans for the entire school to enjoy and learn in the garden planted right outside of the school. On Friday, April 4 each first grade student helped plant  banana peppers, green peppers, two tomato plants, marigolds, lettuce, carrots, radishes, green beans, and sunflowers.

Miss Younker said, "First grade learns quite a lot about plants in science class during the year. We started learning about plants back in the fall but we don't get much sunlight in the room and the lima bean plants the students each planted, died. I wanted to give the kiddos a more memorable experience and thought an outdoor garden would be a great way for them to learn about plants rather than showing videos or reading stories."

With the help of Holy Spirit Catholic Church parishioners, Master Gardener Karen Weber, (a horticulturist in charge of the gardens at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival) and her husband Dennis (Wynlakes Golf Course Superintendent), the first grade teachers, Miss Younker and Mrs. Melissa Bertolotti, decided on a good area on campus for a raised bed garden. Dennis built the custom raised bed and Karen helped both first grade classes plant the vegetables and flowers.


Miss Younker explained, "Even though the first grade planted everything, our goal is to include the entire school in this experience. We just want every student and faculty member to enjoy the garden. The kids are really excited about tasting the vegetables they cultivated. One day, I hope to find a greater way for the kids to give back to the community somehow through our garden."

MCPS 5th Grader Volunteers at the Montgomery Humane Society

Montgomery Catholic Holy Spirit campus fifth grade student, Joey Tarlavsky, spends his time away from school as a Junior Volunteer for the Montgomery Humane Society. Joey's volunteer work includes walking dogs, refilling water bowls, tidying the puppy rooms, and showcasing dogs at adoption events. Joey is pictured below at Earth Fare on April 1, with his canine friend, Kira. Joey's hard work helped Kira get adopted that day by her new forever family! Joey is the son of Tricia and Don Kirk of Pike Road.