Montgomery Catholic Names Principals

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School has named Nancy Foley principal at the Holy Spirit Elementary Campus and Justin Castanza as principal for grades 7-12.

Foley has served as a fourth-grade teacher at the Holy Spirit campus since it opened in 2012, and has 33 years of teaching experience in Catholic, public and magnet schools. After being named, Foley said, "I am very honored to accept the position of Principal of the Montgomery Catholic Holy Spirit Campus. The word for this school is, 'Dedicated'. The faculty and families are dedicated to helping our students grow academically and spiritually. In turn, I am dedicated to the teachers, students, and families."

Foley received a degree in Elementary Education from the University of South Alabama and holds a masters degree in Elementary Education from Troy University - Montgomery.

In naming Foley, Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School president Anne Ceasar said, "I am thrilled that Nancy will take on this leadership position at our Holy Spirit campus. As one of the original faculty members that helped open the campus, she brings with her many years of experience and countless hours in the classroom that will serve our school well."

Foley will lead the Holy Spirit campus following the four person interim leadership team of school president Anne Ceasar, St. Bede campus principal Laurie Gulley, Middle School campus assistant principal Julie Wood and Holy Spirit school counselor Mary Kelley.

Foley is married to Mark and they are members of Holy Spirit Parish. Foley will assume her new duties July 1, 2017.

Justin Castanza has been named principal at Montgomery Catholic's Middle/High School campus, a position he is familiar with after serving as interim principal for the 2016-2017 school year.  "I am pleased to announce that we are changing Mr. Castanza's title from interim to Principal. He has done an amazing job this year with our students, faculty and parents, providing many novel and rich experiences for all." said Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School president Anne Ceasar.

A 2001 graduate of Montgomery Catholic, he received his undergraduate degree in Secondary Education and his Counselor Education masters degree in Student Affairs from Mississippi State. Castanza acted as the Associate Executive Director of the YMCA’s Camp Chandler for five years, he was a teacher and Dean of Students at Montgomery Catholic's High School campus before acting as interim principal this academic year.

On being named principal, Mr. Castanza said, “ I continue to be humbled by the support and confidence of our entire school community over the past year. I am excited to lead our school into the future, advance the mission, and help our students deepen their Faith and prepare for college. My family and I are blessed to be a part of this community."

Ceasar said, " I am certain that we will continue to see his enthusiasm and leadership grow in this position."

Castanza is married to Meghan; they have two children, Vincent and Natalie. They are active members of St. Bede the Venerable Parish in Montgomery.

Catholic Honor Student Clare Wilson Nominated for The Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders in Boston, MA

Clare Wilson, a 9th grader at Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School is a Delegate of the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders in Lowell, MA on June 29th ­ July 1st, 2017.

The Congress is an honors­only program for high school students who are passionate about science,
technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). The purpose of this event is to honor, inspire, motivate and direct the top students in the country who aspire to be scientists and technologists, to stay true to their dream and, after the event, to provide a path, plan and resources to help them reach their goal.
Clare was nominated by Dr. John C. Mather, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics and Science Director of the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists to represent Alabama based on her academic achievement, leadership potential and passion for science and technology.

During the three-day Congress, Clare will join students from across the country and hear Nobel Laureates
and National Medal of Science recipients talk about leading scientific research; be given advice from
deans of the world's top tech universities; be inspired by fellow teen science prodigies; and learn about
cutting­edge advances and the future of science and technology.

"This is a crucial time in America when we need more nimble-minded and creative scientists and
technologists who are even better prepared for a future that is changing exponentially,” said Richard
Rossi, Executive Director, National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists. “Focused, bright
and determined students like Clare are our future and she deserves all the mentoring and guidance
we can give her.”

The Academy offers free services and programs to students who have the desire to learn more about their
future in science or technology. Some of the services and programs the Academy offers include online
social networks through which future scientists and technologists can communicate; opportunities for
students to be guided and mentored by tech and science leaders; and communications for parents and
students on college acceptance and finances, skills acquisition, internships, career guidance and much
more.

The Academy was founded on the belief that science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
education plays a critical role in enabling the United States to remain the economic and technological
leader of the global marketplace of the 21st century and that we must identify prospective talent at the
earliest possible age and help these students acquire the necessary experience and skills to take them to
the doorstep of vital careers. Based in Washington, DC and with an office in Boston, MA, the Academy
was chartered as a nonpartisan, taxpaying institution to help address this crisis by working to identify,
encourage and mentor students who wish to devote their lives to advances in society as scientists,
technologists, engineers and mathematicians.

For more information visit www.scitechleaders.com or call 617-307-7425.

Catholic's Key Club Celebrates St. Patrick's Day at Wesley Gardens in Montgomery

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's chapter of Key Club visited Wesley Gardens Retirement Community on Sunday, March 12, 2017 to celebrate an early St. Patrick’s Day. Students brought delicious food and green treats to share with the residents. Great conversations and laughs were enjoyed by all! The Montgomery Catholic Key Club members that attended were Sarah Rose Burden, Isabelle Cochran, Emma Gandy, Victoria Hall, Reagan Herbek, Sofie Izer, Denalie Mosakowski, Anna Nutting, Solbi Park, Kinley Tadlock, Katie Perkins, Elizabeth Speirs, Virginia Speirs and Chloe Weber.

Catholic's Middle School Robotics Team Competes at State VEX Tournament

For the first time ever, Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's Middle School qualified for the State Vex Robotics Championship Tournament, and sent two teams to represent the school at Jacksonville State University on March 4, 2017.

Arthur Murray, the only High School student in the MCPS Robotics program to go, went in the capacity as an event coordinator, showing the Middle School students the ropes and .  Special thanks to Arthur for all he did to help the Middle School students at this event.

The Middle School students to compete in the State Tournament were: Catherine Aaron, Christopher Lathram, James Yorton, Brandon Hinkley, Roger Holmes, Jacob Talbot, Margaret Turner, Titus Franklin, Henry Holzimmer, Casey Williams and team members that were unable to attend Aiden Cochran, Andres Lemuz, Alexandria Thurman and Erica Blackburn. High school freshman, Arthur Murray acted as the team's event coordinator, helping to mentor his MCPS Middle School team mates by showing them the ropes, making sure they stayed on schedule and assisted them in their acclimation to how these upper level tournaments worked.

The competition occurred in three areas as is normal for most of the regular competitions.

The design competition which consists of a judges interview and review of your engineering workbook. Montgomery Catholic did exceptionally well in the interview portion of  the design competition. Led by Margaret Turner, a three week veteran of the robotics team, she took her role seriously and it paid off as  the team was complimented on their first appearance in this event.

The second area to be judged was the skills competition. The Skills Challenge consists of a programing section, where the robot executes pre-programmed functions for points, and a driver section where the driver demonstrates his or her skills to attain points.  Montgomery Catholic's robot 8128P finished eighth of 47 teams at state, with a total of 32 points (22 Driver & 10 Programming), and Montgomery Catholic's robot 8128S finished # 23 out of 47 teams at state with 12 points (All Driver points).  This is the first time MCPS has scored any programming points at all, and the first time finishing in the top 10 in this area.  Typically doing well  in the past against other middle school teams, but this competition includes 40 high school teams and seven middle school teams that qualified for state.

The final portion of the competition was the head to head competition.  8128P had an overall finish of #17 with a 4-2 record, and 8128S had an overall finish of #24 with a 3-3 record.  Not bad at all considering the competition was the best of the best from the state, and this was Montgomery Catholic's first year qualifying middle school teams.

Sponsors for the teams are Mr. Rob Russell and Dr. Joe Profio, who both expressed their enthusiasm for their students accomplishments at their first State Tournament. Montgomery Catholic looks forward to an expanding program and continued success in the future.

Catholic's Science Olympiad Team Successful in Huntsville

1st Place Material Science,
Michael Barber and Emily Talbot

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's High School Science Olympiad team competed at the University of Alabama at Huntsville on Saturday, March 4, 2017. The team brought home 5 top three awards including: 1st Place Material Science, Michael Barber and Emily Talbot; 2nd Place Optics, James Avery and Henry Petters; 3rd Place Remote Sensing,  Michael Barber and Henry Petters; 3rd Place Hover Craft, Chris DeJesus; and finally 2nd Place Robot Arm, Adam Bristol and Michael Barber. Science and math teachers Elizabeth Harbin, Jeanene Crenshaw, Joe Profio and Monica Hamell coached and assisted the team. Congratulations to these students on a job well done.

While visiting the Huntsville Space Center the students also met space engineer Mr. Charlie Johnson, who designed the hydraulics on the Saturn V. Junior, Luke Craig asked him if we really went to the moon.

2nd Place Optics,

James Avery and Henry Petters

2nd Place Robot Arm,
Adam Bristol and Michael Barber

3rd Place Hover Craft,
Chris DeJesus

3rd Place Remote Sensing,
Michael Barber and Henry Petters

Montgomery Catholic Participates in 2017 YMCA Youth Legislature

Cheyenne Hayes on the floor,
Hayes had a bill named
"Best Senate Bill Honorable Mention"

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School had a very successful showing at the YMCA Youth Legislature Conference this year. Held at the Alabama State House in downtown Montgomery, February 24-24, 2017, most of the MCPS bills made it to the bill calendar, five were debated on the floor, and four were passed in chamber, including a bill that went to the Supreme Court. Freshmen Jack Burt and Michael Russo were recognized as First Year Outstanding Delegates, while senior Cheyenne Hayes had a bill recognized with an Honorable Mention in the category of Best Senate Bill, one of just three bills recognized from more than sixty. Catholic senior James Sadie was invited to attend the YMCA Youth Conference on National Affairs this summer in North Carolina for the second consecutive year, and Jack Burt was selected as an alternate.  Additionally, Seniors Nate Smith, James Sadie, and Cheyenne Hayes received Honor Cords for their participation in the program throughout high school.

Congratulations to the Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Youth Legislature team. Pictured from left to right: Nate Smith, Christian Friday, Cheyenne Hayes, Austin Collett, Anna Sadie, Nicholas Brown, Michael Russo, Patrick Flores, Michael Hodges, James Sadie and Jack Burt. The team is ssponsored by Mrs. Stefanie Nelson and Mr. Trip Hubbard.