Montgomery Catholic Middle School Students Participate In Wreaths Across America

On the morning of Saturday, December 14, at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, a busload of Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Middle School students stood amongst hundreds of volunteers in somber remembrance of those whose headstones they would adorn with wreaths. Wreaths Across America is a volunteer organization whose mission is to remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach children the value of freedom. Once a year, volunteers from across the United States, at sea, and abroad gather at military cemeteries to lay remembrance wreaths onto the graves of our country’s fallen heroes from all branches of service. This is the 11^th year that the Alabama National Cemetery has held this event.

The Wreaths Across America event attracted hundreds of volunteers from across the state of Alabama. With the many hands available, placing wreaths on all 6,000 grave markers was light work. Some had loved ones they could honor with wreaths. For others, it was an opportunity to pay tribute to comrades in arms. For all in attendance, it was an unforgettable event, and hopefully, it will raise awareness of the importance of remembering all veterans.

MCPS theology teacher Tom Riello and history teacher Hollis Johnson accompanied the 30 students on the trip. Riello joined his 7^th grade son, Peter, who had signed up to help that day.

“I had heard from other people who had gone last year about how moving this ceremony was,” said Riello. “When Peter volunteered to help, I figured it was as good of an excuse as any to go. It was such a privilege to be a part of a ceremony that acknowledged the heroic sacrifice of those who gave everything they had for the cause of freedom in the United States and around the world.”

Peter saw Wreaths Across America as a unique opportunity to honor those who had dedicated their lives to service to our country.

“I wanted to honor veterans and pay my respects to them for all they’ve sacrificed for us,” he said. “My brother served in the Navy, so this was a special day for me. I really enjoyed hearing stories about the veterans during the ceremony and learning about what they were willing to do in defense of our citizens. My favorite part of the day was when I got to place wreaths and say a prayer for each person.”

For Johnson, who is a veteran himself, this trip had an even more significant meaning to him.

“I loved participating in Wreaths Across America so much last year I couldn't wait to do it again this year,” he said. “Being a Marine Corps veteran, I find it very moving to honor those veterans who are no longer with us.”

Although there are federal holidays that pay tribute to members of the military, Wreaths Across America aims to bring attention to the service of veterans and acknowledge the importance of remembering them, especially through the winter holidays. And for Johnson, it was an opportunity to recognize brothers in arms.

“Like last year, I looked for brother Marines to lay a wreath at their graves,” he said. “I found two Vietnam War Marines, saluted them, then prayed for each and their families. It's touching to know that they are not forgotten; someone knows they are there. Semper Fidelis, ‘Always Faithful.’”

For all in attendance, it was an unforgettable event, and hopefully it will raise awareness of the importance of remembering all veterans.

The wreaths will remain in the cemetery until January, at which time the MCPS Middle School students will return to help clear the cemetery. More information about Wreaths Across America can be found at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.

Montgomery Catholic Principal Justin Castanza Is 68th YMCA Man of the Year

On the evening of December 9, 2019, the YMCA of Greater Montgomery held their 68^th annual Man of the Year Award ceremony. Nominated by a panel of youth from the River Region, the candidates are each recognized for their outstanding service to young people through leadership and volunteer work in the community. This year’s recipient was Justin Castanza, Principal of the Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Middle and High School Campuses.

“For years I’ve been going to this banquet and have seen recipient after recipient earn a red jacket and sit at the front of the banquet,” said Castanza. “So now, to be part of this incredible group of men and women is a real honor. These are the men and women whom I’ve looked up to for the last 20 years. To know that those people who have pushed me and have driven me and have been mentors for me are now my peers is quite a recognition.”

Nominees for Man of the Year were selected by student organizations and clubs from around the River Region. Castanza was nominated by the Montgomery Catholic Youth in Government Club, led by teacher Haley Hart and students Anna Sadie, Rachel Rodriguez, Allie Berg, and Gracie Barranco. After the nominees were presented by their nominating committees, the Man of the Year was voted on by committees of students from around the River Region. Senior Anna Sadie, a committee co-chair, explained why the students chose to nominate Castanza for the honor.

“Mr. Castanza exceeded all expectations in every category we based the award off of,” she said. “We are not only lucky to have him in our school community, but also our Montgomery community. The time and effort he puts into everything he does is unmatched and we are blessed to have him as a community leader.”

Mr. Castanza is a native of Montgomery and 2001 graduate of Montgomery Catholic and 2005 graduate of Mississippi State University. Being no stranger to service, Castanza worked as a camp counselor at Camp Chandler for 14 consecutive summers before becoming Camp Director in 2009. After transitioning to Montgomery Catholic in 2014, he started as a math teacher and Dean of Students at the High School Campus before assuming the role of Principal of the Middle and High School Campuses in 2015. Castanza has continued to serve the YMCA over the years by serving on several executive boards and helping at Camp Chandler. Active in the Catholic community, he also serves as the Youth Catechetical Leader at Holy Spirit Catholic Church and leads pilgrimages to Italy, Guatemala, and the annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. He is married to Meg Castanza, and together they have three children: Vincent, Natalie, and Sal.

Montgomery Catholic is proud to have Justin Castanza leading our Middle and High School Campuses while serving the youth all around the River Region.

Montgomery Catholic Middle Schoolers Learn to Craft by Design

Montgomery Catholic middle school science teacher Karla Gier is used to teaching students how to be hands-on and resourceful with the various science lessons and projects she teaches. This year, she introduced a new elective class, Craft by Design, and many students are learning that working with their hands can be hard work, but the results are beautiful and rewarding.

The craft projects are seemingly simple—a drawstring bag, an origami mobile, a pillow with buttons, a friendship or paracord bracelet—but each project introduces a different challenge in fine motor skills, planning and design, and finishing touches. Sometimes the students pick the skills up easily, and sometimes the tasks can be time-consuming and difficult. But the main goal of the class is for the students to learn something different that is tactile and takes some skill and patience to accomplish.
When it comes to finding a teacher who is uniquely qualified to lead a class like this, Karla definitely fits the bill.

“I love working with my hands,” she said. “I enjoy knitting, woodworking, and beekeeping, and I love using power tools. I have made all of the curtains in my house and many pieces of furniture.”
When coming up with the curriculum, Karla aimed to teach lessons that used a broad spectrum of skills.

“I wanted a creative endeavor with different materials,” she said. “With the needlework lesson, I wanted them to learn different techniques, so they learned different stitches, how to sew a button onto fabric, and how to design, decorate, stuff, and close a pillow. The idea for origami actually came from a student who told me that he wanted to learn it.”

To assist in some of her lessons, Karla enlists the help of people who are advanced in their crafts, such as a faculty member with Japanese heritage to help with origami, and the ladies from the Dorcas Society at St. Bede, a group who knits and crochets projects for various charities in the area, to help with crochet.

“Some of these crafts just take patience and a steady hand,” said Frances Harbin, who helped to teach the origami lesson. “I think that anyone can learn to fold paper, but the bigger lesson is in overcoming the initial frustration that can come with learning a new skill.”

And while crochet can be difficult to master, the Dorcas Society ladies and the students both were determined to figure out the art of deftly interlocking each strand of yarn. The first day of the project produced varied results.

“Most of the students got a single crochet, and that’s half the battle,” said Joan Treadaway, a volunteer with the Dorcas Society. “It just takes practice and getting used to feeling a needle and yarn in their hands.”

At the end of each quarter, the classes will have completed several projects that they can display, wear, or use. The students seem to enjoy the class, despite the challenging nature of each project.
“It’s really hard, and you have to be really precise,” said 7th grade student Sophia Lopez about the origami project. 8th grader John Scott Jackson agreed, but with a caveat.

“It’s hard at first, but once you figure it out, it becomes really easy and it’s interesting.”
After completing each project, the students feel a sense of accomplishment, in spite of the initial difficulty. Sophia affirmed that completing tasks and having a tangible product at the end is rewarding. “It feels really good because I achieved something,” she said.

Montgomery Catholic Elementary Student Leads Wetumpka Depot Players

Many of us enjoy taking on challenges and testing our limits. For one Montgomery Catholic elementary student, that challenge will be leading the Wetumpka Depot Players in a full production this December.

“I like a challenge,” said Olivia Harbin, a fifth grader at the Montgomery Catholic St. Bede campus. “I like to push myself to do things that scare me a little.”

Olivia will be playing young Laura Ingalls, the child who would eventually become Laura Ingalls Wilder, the author of the autobiographical Little House on the Prairie book series. The Wetumpka Depot Players, a community theater group that performs in their very own theater in downtown Wetumpka, is putting on A Little House Christmas, a heartwarming holiday story set on the prairie. In this adaptation of a Laura Ingalls Wilder story, the Ingalls family has invited friends and family to their house for Christmas. Not everything goes according to plan and the adults and children must come up with creative ways to make Christmas special for each other.

Olivia was inspired to audition because of her family’s love of the Little House on the Prairie books and television series. When she found out that the Wetumpka Depot Players was putting on a Little House production, she immediately asked her mother if she could try out. Having taken part in many school plays, Olivia discovered that she loved being on the stage and wanted an opportunity to perform in a bigger venue.

“I’ve always wanted to be in a big production,” said Olivia. “I love acting so much.”

The rehearsal schedule has been demanding, especially for a young student. Starting in early September, Olivia has rehearsed with the Wetumpka Depot Players four days a week. She has had to balance school, homework, choir practice and performances, church, and family events with play practice. Olivia admits that keeping her grades up has been tough, but so far, she has kept up with all of her schoolwork.

Olivia’s performance schedule will be just as demanding. In her first three days of performances alone, she will perform three times each day. Tickets for A Little House Christmas have sold out so quickly that the Wetumpka Depot Players have had to add an additional matinee to the schedule. When the season is over, Olivia and the rest of the cast will have performed twelve times in front of a full house. While being in front of such a big audience can be intimidating, Olivia said that she is ready.

“I’m really nervous,” she said. She then added with a smile, “but I can’t wait to get started!”

Montgomery Catholic Drama Performs Alabama Stories Scene Program

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s Drama Department put on an epic show to commemorate 200 years of Alabama history. Set on train bound for Huntsville, a house in Tuscumbia, a public library in downtown Montgomery, the fictional town of Maycomb, and a child’s bedroom right before bedtime, Alabama Stories is a vignette depicting different aspects of Alabama culture and history from all over the state. Borrowing scenes from various plays, Alabama Stories featured actors from elementary through high school. Snippets from "Alabama Story," "Zelda at the Oasis," "The Miracle Worker," "To Kill a Mockingbird," "Rocket City, Alabam'," and "Big Fish" took the audience through high, low, and revolutionary moments set throughout the state.

The students worked hard and had to overcome several logistical challenges to successfully pull off the production. Elementary students had to travel to the high school campus for rehearsals, which often ran late into the evening several days a week. Many of the actors participate in other activities, and there were days when football playoffs, cross country meets, and robotics competitions conflicted with play practice. Additionally, many of the actors had never been in a high school production before and had to learn principles of stage presence and voice projection. In spite of all of these obstacles, the play went off without a hitch and to great applause from the audience.

“I am so proud of all of these students,” said Drama Department Director, Kate Berry. “It was an ambitious production, but they pulled it off beautifully.”

The spring drama production will be Thoroughly Modern Millie, a story about a small-town girl who moves to New York and gets swept up in the big city lifestyle. We look forward to that amazing performance!

Montgomery Catholic Student Marches in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

While many of us will be at home on Thanksgiving Day, enjoying time with family and eating a turkey dinner, Montgomery Catholic senior Bobby Crawford will have been awake since about midnight Central Time, getting prepared to perform in the show of a lifetime. The Montgomery Catholic senior was chosen to be one of 185 musicians and 40 auxiliary who will be marching in the Macy’s Great American Marching Band in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Led by Auburn University’s Dr. Richard Good, the band is comprised of the country’s most talented high school musicians, flag-bearers, and dancers.

Bobby currently serves at the drum major for the Montgomery Catholic Marching Knights, but his primary concert and marching instrument is the trombone. Inspired by Montgomery Catholic graduate and Great American Marching Band alumna Anna Catherine Barranco, Bobby submitted his application earlier in the Fall and was quickly accepted to take part in the Macy’s parade.

“They required a video application,” said Bobby. “I had to demonstrate musical ability, marching, and various horn positions. It was pretty intense.”

Bobby will travel to New York City on Saturday, November 23, and rehearse with the rest of the band every day leading up to the parade on Thanksgiving Day. While there are a lot of fun activities built into the week, the practice schedule is demanding and requires a high level of dedication from each performer. The Great American Marching Band is the last band on the parade route and serves as a lead-in for Santa Claus.

“I am really excited,” Bobby said about the upcoming trip. “I have never been to New York, so it’ll be an adventure.”

The Marching Knights have won several “Best in Class” awards this season, including top drum major. Bobby himself is an accomplished musician, earning the first chair spot in the All-State Red Band in 2019 and many solo and ensemble accolades. He plans to continue with marching after graduation and intends to audition for the Cavaliers drum and bugle corps.

Viewers can watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC affiliate stations on Thursday, November 28. More information on how to watch or stream it will be posted to the official website: www.macys.com/social/parade

Montgomery Catholic Students Bring Home Gold for the USA in World Martial Arts Games

Siblings Heather and Peter Walski competed for Team USA in the World Martial Arts Games in London, England in late October and brought home some serious hardware. Both Heather and Peter competed in and won gold in their age groups in Traditional Japanese Weapons. Peter went on to also take home gold in Creative Weapons while Heather took home bronze. Both also performed well in Open Hand and came in fourth.

The 12^th World Martial Arts Games took place in London from October 25 to October 27, 2019. Around 500 athletes of different ages and martial arts disciplines from 20 countries around the world competed in kata and weapons demonstrations, grappling, sparring, and wood and brick breaking. The 13^th World Martial Arts Games will be held in 2021 in Acapulco, Mexico.

Montgomery Catholic Celebrates Homecoming 2019

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School held their annual Homecoming varsity football game on Thursday, October 24, 2019. The Homecoming game and festivities were pushed up a day due to stormy weather expected that Friday, and but Thursday night change did not put a damper on any of the celebrations. Immediately following the 30-0 victory against Headland High School, Montgomery Catholic President Anne Ceasar had the distinct honor of crowning the 2019 Homecoming Queen and King, Miss Anna Michael DuBois and Mr. Minh Tan Vo.

Photo credit: Total Image

The 2019 Montgomery Catholic Homecoming Court, pictured from left to right: Sophomore attendant Auburn Wilcoxson escorted by TJ Dudley; Senior attendant Kinley Tadlock escorted by Christian Ivey; Homecoming Queen and King Anna DuBois and Minh Vo; Senior attendant Katherine O'Connor escorted by Christopher Valencia; Junior attendant Rachel Rodriguez escorted by Kolbe Russo; and Freshman attendant Kayleigh Everage escorted by LJ Green.

Before the game, Mrs. Ceasar, along with Principal Justin Castanza and Athletic Director Daniel Veres, honored the members of the 2019 Girls Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field State Championship team, along with their coaches, and presented them with their State Championship rings.

On Friday evening, Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School welcomed all Alumni home with Mass, hosted by the class of 1988 and said by Father Den Irwin, class of 1988. Immediately following, Alumni and their families enjoyed a special Alumni dinner in the new gym’s Partners in Catholic Education (PICE) Knights Arena. Alumni and guests, including the classes of 1959, 1988, 1994, 1999, and 2009 who were celebrating reunions, enjoyed a delicious meal from Jim-N-Nick’s Bar-B-Q while catching up with old classmates.

The week leading up to the Homecoming football game was full of activities and excitement, including themed spirit days and the high school field day. On Thursday evening, the first-ever elementary Squire Walk was held. Students from the St. Bede and Holy Spirit campuses processed through the inflatable helmet to greet the Big Knights varsity football team as they took the field. A shut-out victory over Headland capped off the Knights’ perfect 10-0 season, a feat not seen since 1979. After the Alumni finished their meal, the Middle School campus held their fall dance in the Dolly Barranco Center. The High School campus ended the week with their Homecoming Dance on Saturday.

Montgomery Zoo Visits Montgomery Catholic Middle School

Montgomery Catholic’s middle school students were treated to an afternoon with the zoo without having to leave campus. Valerie Castanza, Danielle Crowe, and their team from the Montgomery Zoo brought some furry, feathered, and scaly critters to teach the students about the natural habitats and behaviors of different animals. The kids got to meet some animals that are native to Alabama—Desoto, a gopher tortoise; Helena, a great horned owl; Rusti, a screech owl; and Phoenix, a red-tailed hawk. These are all animals that could be seen in the wild in the Southeastern United States, and unfortunately, several of them have made their way into the care of the zoo because of injuries sustained from encounters with humans. The zoo crew also brought some friends from Down Under: Kook, a blue kookaburra, and Anala, a dingo. Both animals are natives of Australia and are a unique sight for those of us in the US.

While it was a fun presentation, the students also learned about the impact that humans have on our animal friends through the use of pesticides, littering, and improper care of pets. They learned a lot about the personal stories of each one of the animal ambassadors and ways they can help with the zoo through the Zooteen program.  The variety of animals was truly a delight for the students, and they had a wonderful time learning about each one.

Montgomery Catholic Marching Band Celebrates Successes

Montgomery Catholic may have a relatively young band program, but it has come a long way in its short history. In 2010 when Director of Bands Alex Johnson first started at Montgomery Catholic, the marching band only had 12 members. Nicknamed “The Dirty Dozen,” the small but dedicated group of musicians kept the fans entertained throughout the football season. Today, the marching band has over 60 musicians and auxiliary who take the field at every varsity football game, both at home and away. During each game, they provide musical entertainment with stand tunes and cheers that they choreograph with the varsity cheerleaders. Not only has the band increased in number year after year, but also it has accumulated countless accolades and recognition. Led by Johnson and his band director wife, Kristine, and assisted by interns from local universities, the program has flourished in recent years, both on the field and on the stage.

“This has only been possible because of the continued commitment of the students,” said Johnson. “No band program can run without outstanding student leadership, and each group in the Catholic band has been mentored by those before them. It’s been a legacy of excellence.”

When it comes to leadership, the students are expected to take charge, especially because the marching band includes 7^th and 8^th grade students in various roles. Like any other marching band, Montgomery Catholic relies on older students to teach marching techniques to new members, run sectional rehearsals, and ensure that each group under their supervision both looks and sounds good. In addition to that, each section must work with each other to maintain the integrity of the show. Starting with band camp in the summer and continuing throughout the football season, the band must rehearse several times a week to improve and perfect their show. The students spend countless hours together, and they learn to act as a cohesive unit.

“It can be challenging to balance leadership and friendship with those in your section,” said junior Angela Gier, high brass section leader. “But our role is so important, and it’s rewarding to watch as everyone improves and grows throughout the season.”

In addition to playing at every football game, the marching band also performs in marching competitions in the area. Since they only participate in two contests during the season, the students feel a lot of pressure to ensure their performance is flawless. In the past two years alone, the band has won “Overall Best in Class” at each competition they have been to, and they had also picked up several category awards, such as for auxiliary, drumline, pit percussion, woodwinds, and brass. For the past five appearances at the Jacksonville State Contest of Champions, the Montgomery Catholic drum major has won “Best in Class,” including this year’s drum major, senior Bobby Crawford.

“It’s almost a dynasty going on,” said Johnson. “No pressure or anything for future drum majors!”

On top of the demanding marching schedule, the band classes also have been preparing for the upcoming fall and winter concert season. Johnson, who also serves as the District 6 Chairman for the Alabama Bandmasters Association, believes that classroom emphasis should be on concert band as it provides an important academic and artistic learning environment.

“Marching band is just one spoke of the wheel,” he said. “Concert band is the hub of that wheel. It is truly where one learns the art and the science of music.”

While all Montgomery Catholic bands, grades 5 through 12, will be performing their annual Christmas concert on December 5, the high school band will also take the stage for an exhibition show on November 5. This is the first time that the high school band has done an additional show in the fall, but Johnson believes that the high school band needs another opportunity to perform.

“The high school band this year is an exceptional group, and they needed another outlet to showcase their talents,” said Johnson.

The November exhibition will feature classic concert band favorites Molly on the Shore by Percy Grainger, First Suite in E Flat by Gustav Holst, Elegy for a Young American by Lo Presti, and Riders for the Flag by John Philip Sousa.

Starting with 12 in the high school and currently standing at around 130 from 5^th grade to 12^th, the Montgomery Catholic band program has come leaps and bounds from the Dirty Dozen days and now requires a larger, more specialized facility. The second phase of the Montgomery Catholic capital campaign, Building on Faith, Family and Tradition, is moving into its final stages now that the first phase, the construction of the new gym, is complete. The project sees the conversion of the old Fr. Pat Delahunty Gym into a climate-controlled fine and performing arts building that will house the band, choral, and drama departments. The renovated building will have classrooms for band and chorus, individual practice rooms, instrument storage, and offices for staff. There will also be a student center which will serve as a gathering space to facilitate club meetings and other activities. Renovation on this new space is ongoing; completion is estimated to be during the winter of this year.

Montgomery Catholic Robotics Teams Qualify for State Competition

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s 2019-2020 robotics competition season is in full swing, and already the RoboKnights have their eyes set on qualifying for the VEX Robotics World Championships. So far, two teams, “Happy Little Accidents” and “The Sevies,” have qualified to compete in the Alabama state competition in the spring.

In the 2018-2019 season, the RoboKnights robots “Lost in the Ross,” “Mamushi,” and “Flex Tape” earned spots in the state competition. Each robot had a strong showing at the state level and Lost in the Ross ended up as a tournament finalist and advanced to the VEX Robotics World Championships that were held in Louisville, Kentucky on April 24-27, 2019. Although Worlds marked the conclusion of that competition season, there was little rest for the teams as the next season’s challenge was announced during Worlds: Tower Takeover. For the RoboKnights, planning began immediately, starting their first builds in May and continuing throughout the summer, even while school was out of session.

“I want to win the state competition,” declared senior Arthur Murray, member of Happy Little Accidents and Lost in the Ross. “We were tournament finalists last year, but we want to win this time. We had to get a head start so we’ve been working on our Tower Takeover robot since Worlds.”

Tower Takeover requires robots to place stacks of colored cubes into the corners of the playing field and to place single cubes into “towers” in the middle of the playing field that serve as point multipliers. Robots work in alliances of two to try to score the most points against another alliance of two robots. Since it is early in the season, most teams have focused on completing one task only—either stacking cubes for base points or picking up and placing cubes for point multipliers—and allying with a robot who completes the complementing task.

“We have a grabber robot right now, but we’re working on a stacker robot, too,” said Harrison Vaughn. His team, The Sevies, comprised only of 7^th grade students who are in their first year of robot competition, has qualified for the state competition. Happy Little Accidents is a stacker robot, and the two allied at the recent Bots at the Fair competition at the Alabama National Fair with great results. The score in the final round was 53-10.

Montgomery Catholic will host the River Region Tower Takeover Qualifying Tournament on November 2 and the River Region Tower Takeover Qualifying Tournament II on February 15. The RoboKnights are proud to host their competitions in Montgomery Catholic’s new gym, which features stadium seating that gives spectators a good view of the playing fields from the stands.

Montgomery Catholic Elementary Choirs Make Beautiful Music

Each week at every Montgomery Catholic campus, the students attend Mass together, and having music is important to the order of worship. Every campus has a choir that helps to lead that music ministry, comprised entirely of students. At the St. Bede and Holy Spirit elementary campuses, 3^rd through 6^th graders prepare, rehearse, and perform the music for Mass, which is attended by the students and the wider community.

Mass is not the only place where the children perform. The St. Bede campus choir takes their show on the road and performs at the Junior League of Montgomery’s annual Holiday Market. They entertain shoppers and get them in the mood for the Christmas season. The Holy Spirit choir visits the Montgomery Public Schools Children’s Center and performs a holiday concert for the students there, bringing some much-needed joy when the weather gets chilly.

Sixth grade teacher Mary Pears leads the choir at the St. Bede campus. While she frets every summer about the number of sixth graders who move up to middle school, the fall always brings a new group of eager singers.

“After school ends in May, I just pray that we will be able to fill the choir when school starts,” said Mrs. Pears. “Year after year, I am never disappointed.”

At Holy Spirit, kindergarten teacher and choir leader Ellie Burden welcomes new students into the choir after Labor Day so that new students have a chance to hear the choir sing and get excited about joining. One additional architectural feature of the church also spurs interest.

“They love going into the choir loft,” said Burden. “I think that is a huge bonus for our kids.”

Some students needed no convincing at all to join the choir. Third grade student Estrella Strobbe, who is originally from Mexico, said that she was hooked from the first time she heard the choir sing.

“I first started singing when I lived in Mexico,” Estrella said. “After we moved to America and I started at Holy Spirit, I heard the choir and now I’m working on my own voice!”

The choir is an extracurricular activity that teaches students about melody, harmony, rhythm, and basic music literacy.

“We learn a lot about different parts of songs, like ‘fancy endings,’” said St. Bede 5^th grader Frances Bach. Codas, or “fancy endings” as Pears like to call them, add a special flourish to conclude many songs in a special and memorable way.

“We also learned how to sing Ave Maria in Latin. That was pretty cool.”

Some students contribute to the choir with talents other than their voices. Ethan Levanda, a 4^th grader at Holy Spirit, works with the soundboard up in the choir loft.

“I have to wear special headphones that allow me to hear what the people down below hear,” he said. “If it’s too low, I turn it up. If it’s too loud, I turn it down. My job is to make it sound good.”

Montgomery Catholic Student Volunteers with US Open Dream Court Delegation

Most teenage girls, when given the opportunity to see their favorite band in concert, jump to the chance. When Montgomery Catholic junior Ellie Pool was offered tickets to see the Jonas Brothers in concert for her birthday, she gracefully turned them down.

“I love the Jonas Brothers, but I didn’t even give it a second thought,” said Ellie. “I wanted to spend Labor Day weekend with Dream Court.”

Dream Court Montgomery is an organization whose mission is to teach tennis and life skills to children and adults who are differently-abled. Through a partnership with Net Generation, an initiative of the United States Tennis Association to make tennis accessible to people of all ages and abilities, a delegation of Dream Court Athletes and their coaches were invited to experience the excitement of the US Open in New York City. Ellie, along with other adult and youth volunteers, accompanied 18 Dream Court athletes to Arthur Ashe Stadium where they got to showcase their skills on the court in front of thousands of spectators. As a bonus, some of them also had an opportunity to meet top-level tennis stars, like Roger Federer and Serena Williams.

A tennis player herself, Ellie has volunteered with Dream Court for the past two years and spends several hours each weekend working with different athletes. Through coaching and encouragement, she helps them to develop physical fitness and boost their confidence on the tennis court. The athletes she works with come from a variety of ages and abilities, but she says that in a way, they are all the same.

“These athletes are so happy,” said Ellie. “I can’t really describe it. They have this joy in them that is contagious, and I love seeing them week after week.”

The happiness and excitement of these athletes carried over to the US Open Experience. While waiting to enter the court, one of her athletes began to cry. Concerned, Ellie asked her what was wrong.

“The girl was crying excited tears,” she said. “She told me, ‘I am just so happy right now. I can’t believe that I’m about to walk onto the court where Serena Williams plays.’”

Ellie’s parents wanted to surprise her with concert tickets for her upcoming birthday, but when notification of the trip with Dream Court to the US Open came up over the summer, they had to let the cat out of the bag and asked her which trip she wanted more. The answer surprised them, and Ellie said that she had to do a lot of persuading to convince them that she was serious.

“I couldn’t believe that anyone would turn down Jonas Brothers tickets,” said Ellie’s father, Jimmy Pool. “I told her that this would be a work trip, but she is really passionate about volunteering with Dream Court athletes and wanted to make this experience the best she could for them.”

While a trip to the Big Apple is a trip of a lifetime, Ellie took her volunteer responsibilities seriously and had to make sure her daily tasks were completed, including setting up automated reminders to the group, laying out the next day’s outfits and equipment, doing laundry, and handing out snacks. Even though there was a lot of work to do, the Dream Court delegation still had ample time for fun activities. The group got to take a bus tour of the city, caught a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty, and watched a Broadway production of Disney’s Aladdin.

When asked if she would do it again, Ellie’s answer was as quick as when she was first offered the opportunity.

“Yes. In a heartbeat.”

Montgomery Catholic Students to Compete on United States Martial Arts Team

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School students Heather and Peter Walski, along with their father Bill Walski, will represent the United States in the World Martial Arts Games in London, England in October.

“I am really excited to be traveling to London,” said Peter. “It’s going to be really cool meeting athletes from all over the world.”

The Walski family studies Shotokan karate, a discipline that blends fundamental movements, forms, and sparring to develop physical and mental fitness. While they have not been practicing for very long, these young athletes quickly rose through the ranks at their dojo, Grandmaster Webb's Karate and Fitness Fellowship of Christian Martial Arts Academy. Originally intended to be a fun way to learn basic self-defense, the Walski family quickly took to the different aspects of Shotokan Karate, and each one has a different area they like the best. 7^th grader Heather specializes in kata, which is a set sequence of moves, like punches, kicks, jumps, and stances. 6^th grader Peter enjoys weapons, especially the bo staff, and Bill excels at hand-to-hand sparring. At the World Martial Arts Games, Heather and Bill will be competing in three events each and Peter will compete in four events.

Heather and Peter both admitted that karate was not love-at-first-kick as they found the basic moves and repetitive kata sequences to be boring. Both children have a background in gymnastics and soccer, and their athletic conditioning and competitive natures helped to keep them engaged throughout their karate practice. They caught on quickly to new concepts and were able not only to master the basic skills but also to quickly learn new movements and techniques. The turning point for each one of them came in their first competition, where they both placed highly: Heather earned 1^st in kata, 1^st in weapons, and 3^rd in fighting and Peter placed 1^st in fighting.

“I was really nervous that I wasn’t going to do well,” said Heather about her first competition. “But then I placed in three events, and it boosted my confidence in my abilities.”

Twice a week, the Walski family trains at their local dojo in Montgomery. Once a month, they travel to the main dojo in Ashland, Alabama for an intense 7-hour training with their US National Team teammates. This is in addition to their regular schedule of schoolwork and soccer practice.

The World Martial Arts Games will take place in London from October 25 to October 27. Around 500 athletes of different ages and martial arts disciplines from 20 countries from around the world will compete in events that include kata demonstrations, grappling, sparring, and wood and brick breaking.

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Celebrates 10 AP Scholars for the 2018-19 School Year

Montgomery Catholic is proud to announce that ten students have been identified as AP Scholars by the College Board in recognition of their performance on the Advanced Placement Program (AP) Exams taken in May of 2019. Students enrolled in AP courses complete college-level work and take an exam at the end of the school year. The College Board recognizes several levels of achievement based on students' performance on AP Exams, based on scores ranging from 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest).

“This distinction reflects a high degree of hard work and dedication, both from the students and from their teachers,” said Montgomery Catholic high school principal Justin Castanza. “We are so proud of their achievements.”

Six students were named as AP Scholars for receiving a score of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams: Austin Collett ‘19, Jonah Gier ‘19, Grace Leslie ‘19, Maddie Losik ‘19, Kathleen Madden ‘19, and Chloe Smith ’19.

Two students were given the AP Scholar with Honor Award for earning an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams: Annie Bach ’19 and Sofie lzer ’20.

Two students qualified for the AP Scholar with Distinction Award for receiving an average score of 3.5 or higher on all AP Exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams: Reagan Herbek ’19 and Clare Wilson ’20.

Of these students, Regan Herbek and Austin Collett were the valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of the graduating class of 2019. Sofie Izer has been named as a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist and Clare Wilson has been named as a National Merit Commended Scholar.

Over the past two years, more than half of all Montgomery Catholic students who have taken AP Exams have earned a score of 3 or better with about half of those students earning a 4 or higher. Students have an opportunity to earn college credit depending on how well they score on AP Exams. Montgomery Catholic offers a variety of AP courses in several different disciplines.

Montgomery Catholic Senior Sofia Izer is a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist

Montgomery Catholic Senior Sofia Izer
National Merit Semifinalist
Photo by Total Image

On September 11, 2019, officials of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) announced the names of approximately 16,000 semifinalists in the 65th annual National Merit Scholarship Program, and Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School proudly announces Sofia Izer as a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist.

Sofia is currently a senior at Montgomery Catholic. Not only is she a top scholar, but she is also very active in a variety of school activities. She is a member of the Key Club, National Honor Society, and Mu Alpha Theta. She is also a varsity cheerleader and holds a black belt in Taekwondo. She is active in her parish, Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Montgomery, and volunteers her time during Vacation Bible School. Sofia is an aspiring architect who enjoys the merging of her favorite things: art, math, and design.

Sofia will have the opportunity to compete for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. The preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test serves as an initial screening of program entrants. In addition to the PSAT test scores, the student's academic record, community involvement, leadership ability, and personal essay are considered when determining semifinalists. About 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing in February, and approximately half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the title of Merit Scholar.

Montgomery Catholic Student Summits Mount Kilimanjaro

Summer vacation is always a great time to make new memories by traveling to new and exotic places. One Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School student took this to the literal extreme and hiked to the top of the world and summited Mount Kilimanjaro, 19,341 feet above sea level.

Montgomery Catholic senior Grace Scott packed a rucksack and traveled to Tanzania, East Africa, with youth mountaineering group, Moondance Adventures. An experienced mountaineer herself, Grace has hiked throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains, Yosemite National Park, and the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain, and has summited Mount Shasta in California and Mont Blanc in France. Her avid interest in the outdoors and love of serving others led her to join the Moondance trek to Kilimanjaro.

After landing in Tanzania, the Moondance group spent a week at the Mungere School near the city of
Arusha. They worked with the Red Sweater Project, a charity organization that aims make education accessible to the poorest children in the most rural areas of Africa. The school grows its own food to feed the students, and Grace’s group helped by tilling soil and clearing land for the vegetable gardens.

“It was really rewarding getting to help these kids,” Grace said about her time at the Mungere School. “I became very close to them, and I’ve even become penpals with Nate, an 11-year old student.”

After their week at the school, the Moondance group started their trek up Mt. Kilimanjaro. The hike took a little over a week as each step up the mountain became more difficult with the increased altitude, decreased oxygen, and plummeting temperatures.

“The thin air from high altitudes is very hard on your body,” said Grace. “There was one point where, while just sitting down and resting at base camp, I felt completely out of breath. Of course we had to also pack extra layers of clothing for the dramatic changes in temperature, but I don’t think any of us were prepared for how cold it truly was close to the summit.”

While almost all of the hikers made it safely to the summit, the dangers of their trip were made apparent when one of the students took ill halfway through the climb and required emergency evacuation from the mountain. The temperatures transition from hot and humid at the base to freezing at the summit and the low oxygen in the higher altitudes makes recovering from illness and injury difficult, even for people in the best of health.

One of the more remarkable aspects of this trip is that electronic devices, like cell phones and tablets, are not permitted, so the group members needed to make strong personal connections with one another. They spent 24 hours a day together and relied on each other for company and entertainment.

“I enjoy making real, human connections with other people,” said Grace. “I think that nowadays we are too attached to electronic devices, so even when you’re with friends, there is always a distraction.”

Although her travels have taken Grace to different parts of the world, her next bucket list items are a little closer to home. “I’d like to do Mount McKinley (Denali) next, then Mount Ranier, and all of the mountain ranges in the United States,” she said. “After that, I want to hike through Patagonia in South America.”

Grace aspires to study nutrition science at college and is looking at the University of Memphis or
Sewanee: The University of the South. She intends to continue mountaineering and hopes to serve as a leader for other young people seeking outdoor adventures.

“I would love to lead a group of kids on trips like these,” she said. “I encourage everyone to get outside.”

As for other students wanting to get into the outdoors, she had some advice to pass along. “Just get outside, start with some short hikes and work up from there. Camping can be challenging at first because you have to do everything yourself, but it’s worth it, and it’s so much fun. Getting involved with a program like Moondance is also a great way to get started if you don’t know where to start.”

Montgomery Catholic Freshman Attends Naval Academy Summer Program

Many students get to travel to interesting places during the summer, and for one Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School student, her trip to Maryland included a little science, engineering, technology, and mathematics.

Freshman Evy Bosko was selected for a unique opportunity to attend The United States Naval Academy Summer STEM Program in Annapolis, Md. For six days, Evy lived at the Naval Academy where she learned, built, and explored in a world-class laboratory and experienced real-world applications of STEM principles.

“It was an amazing experience,” said Evy about her week in Annapolis. “I am definitely planning on going back again next year.”

This annual USNA STEM camp encourages young men and women to explore the different aspects of STEM and demonstrates the practical applications of each field. Using the state-of-the-art facilities and equipment available on campus, students were engaged in different thought-provoking exercises and experiments. Activities included calculating the optimal route for a rescue aircraft using a limited amount of fuel, constructing model buildings to withstand different wind intensities, building robots and programming them to perform different tasks, testing the strength of different grades of steel in various conditions, and exploring the epidemiology of infectious diseases and how easily they can spread out of control. And although STEM-based activities were the focus of the program, campers also got to enjoy intramural sports, social events, and a trip to the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.

Campers came from all over the United States, and the highly selective process only accepted about
18% of all who applied. The process combed through each applicant’s coursework, grades, standardized test scores, and club memberships, and only the highest achievers were invited to attend. Although it was a relatively small group of students, the friendships and memories that they made with one another will last for a lifetime.

“I got to meet people from all over the country, and we still keep in touch,” said Evy. “It’s really cool to be among a group of young people who all have an interest in STEM.”

Although she has only just started high school, Evy has already begun to plan her career trajectory after she graduates. Stacking her class schedule with advanced courses in math and the sciences, she intends to use all that she learns to help people by solving crimes.

“I’d love to go into a law enforcement field where I also get to use science,” she said. “I’m looking at forensic science, maybe in an agency like the FBI.”

Montgomery Catholic Students Work as Pages in the State House

When planning for summer break, most high school students will pull out swimsuits and beach towels. For two Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School students, blazers, ties, and dress shoes were required as they spent some time working in the Alabama State House during the legislative session. Junior Ellie Pool paged for Representative Reed Ingram and senior Ja’Michael Washington paged for Senator David Burkette.

Pages play an important role for legislators by helping them to set up the chambers for the day’s events, making and distributing copies of documents, and performing general clerical duties. Pages also facilitate communication by delivering messages between legislators in the House or Senate chambers with people who are outside of the chambers. And while pages are assigned to specific representatives and senators, many pages run errands for multiple members of the legislature.

“It was a lot of work, but it was also a lot of fun,” said Ellie about her week in the State House. “It was really interesting to see the legislature in session and to see how much goes into the writing and passing of bills.”

Ja’Michael echoed Ellie’s sentiments and said that his experience helped him to understand the inner
workings of government better. “I was not aware of how involved the legislative process was,” he said. “I got to see how much work and preparation goes into the defense of each bill.”

In addition to normal page duties, Ja’Michael also got to lead the entire Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance. “They asked for a volunteer to lead, and I stepped up,” he said. “I was a little nervous about messing it up, but it went just fine.”

When asked about the most interesting aspects of the experience, both students said that the discussion of bills on the House and Senate floors was fascinating.

“I learned so much by watching the debates,” said Ellie. “The discussion could get a little heated while the representatives were going back and forth on the issues on the floor, and everyone was very passionate about the legislation they were trying to pass. There was once an entire day dedicated to discussing education bills.”

Ja’Michael admitted that his week as a page has influenced his outlook on government. “I didn’t have as much of an interest in politics before working as a page, but now I know that it is important to be involved in the political process. It is crucial to vote for those who will be representing your district.”

While Ellie said that she has yet to decide whether a career in government is in her future, she did make some connections during her time in the State House. “I really enjoyed getting to meet the other pages,” she said. “I connected with so many cool people from all over the state.”

The Alabama House of Representatives and Senate Page Programs offer young men and women a rare glimpse of the House and Senate chambers when the legislature is in session. Pages get to meet their state legislators, watch parliamentary procedure in action, and observe committee meetings. In addition to interacting with the legislators, students also have an opportunity to network with their peers who have traveled to Montgomery from all over the state of Alabama.

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Celebrates the Dedication of New Athletic Facility

The afternoon of Sunday, August 11 marked the public unveiling of the first phase of Montgomery Catholic’s capital campaign, Building on Faith, Family & Tradition. It was standing room only as faculty, students, families, alumni, and supporters of Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School gathered inside the new gym facility for the first time. While the temperatures outside approached 100 degrees, the first impression the crowds received of the building was the blast of cold air as they entered.

“This is marvelous, this is wonderful, and our students are very fortunate,” said Gwendolyn P. Byrd, Executive Director, Department of Catholic Education, and Superintendent of Schools of the Archdiocese of Mobile. “All I can say is that everyone will treasure this facility. God made this happen.”

The 33,000 square foot athletics facility replaces the Father Pat Delahunty Memorial Gymnasium, a building that has hosted countless ball games, pep rallies, and other school events in its 51-year history. And while the Fr. Delahunty Gym has faithfully served the school during this time, Montgomery Catholic has outgrown its capacity for the gym to house the various athletics teams and the fans who come to support them.

At the heart of the new building is the Partners In Catholic Education (PICE) Knights Arena, which features two regulation-sized basketball courts and seating for over 850 spectators. The large arena floorplan will allow for practices for multiple teams and sports to be held concurrently. There are locker rooms for both boys and girls, a state-of-the-art weight training and conditioning center, an on-site athletic training room, and a fully-equipped concession stand. Additionally, the building features offices for coaching staff, a multi-purpose area for reviewing sports film, a large meeting room, and hosting space for various school events.

In her opening remarks, Montgomery Catholic President Anne Ceasar acknowledged that the school had needed a larger facility for a long time. In 2014, strategic planning led by the Institute of School and Parish Development confirmed this need, plus the need to grow the arts programs. After initiating a capital campaign in 2016, groundbreaking for the new gym took place on October 10, 2017.
“Thank you for allowing the Holy Spirit to work through you,” said Mrs. Ceasar, addressing all in attendance. She credited the prayers and financial support of the entire community for bringing the dream to reality, and expressed her gratitude for the help of a few key people in the building project, especially MCPS Project Director Nap Barranco.

“Many worked hard to bring this dream to fruition, but none harder than Nap Barranco.” She then said, addressing him directly, “Your knowledge, attention to detail, and dedication is priceless.”
Most Reverend Thomas J. Rodi, Archbishop of Mobile, led the dedication and blessed the new building. In a moving ceremony, he reiterated that the building was made possible through the prayers and generosity of the entire Montgomery Catholic community.

“I would like to only add one more name to the list of names that were already mentioned, and that is Mrs. Anne Ceasar,” said Archbishop Rodi. In an emotional moment, he presented her with a plaque stating, “In grateful appreciation to Anne Ceasar, President of Montgomery Catholic, for her vision and leadership in the building of this facility.”

Distinguished guests from the Archdiocese of Mobile included The Most Reverend Thomas J. Rodi, Archbishop of Mobile; Gwendolyn P. Byrd, Executive Director, Department of Catholic Education, and Superintendent of Schools; Michele Manry, Executive Director Financial Services; and Reverend Monsignor Bill Skoneki, Vicar General. Clergy guests of the dedication were Reverend Fathers Wayne Youngman, Mateusz Rudzik, Patrick Gilbreath, Victor Ingalls, Nicholas Napolitano, and Reverend Monsignor Charles Troncale. Many former members of the faculty came to celebrate the dedication included Dean Delongchamp, Montgomery Catholic’s first athletic director, and longtime teachers and coaches Joe Arban and Bernie Frye.

“This project would have been impossible without the help of everyone in the community,” said Athletic Director Daniel Veres. “I don’t think we’ve ever had this many people gathered in one place at one time.”

Building on Faith, Family & Tradition raised over $3.5 million in the eleven months after the campaign began. The second phase sees the conversion of the Fr. Delahunty Gym into a climate-controlled fine and performing arts building that will house the band, choral, and drama departments. The renovated building will have classrooms for band and chorus, individual practice rooms, instrument storage, and offices for staff. There will also be a student center which will serve as a gathering space to facilitate club meetings and other activities. Renovation on this new space is ongoing; completion is estimated to be winter of 2019.

Founded in 1873, by the Sisters of Loretto Montgomery Catholic Preparatory school celebrates 146 years of Catholic education in Montgomery this year. Founded as an all girl’s school, St. Mary of Loretto became co-educational in 1929. The high school moved to its current location in 1965. The last expansion at the campus was in 2007 with the addition of the Dolly Barranco Student Activity Center and Cafeteria. Today, Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School is a K4-12 college preparatory program across four campuses in Montgomery.

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Student Arthur Murray Awarded Scholarship

Contact: Savanna Pruitt

Communications Coordinator

Potential Magazine

savanna@exploremedia.org

T. 334.467.2988

July 24, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School Student Awarded Scholarship

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Arthur Murray, a senior at Montgomery Catholic, has been awarded a $250 Reader’s Choice Scholarship from Potential Magazine. In every issue, Potential features outstanding teens in our “Spotlight” section. Our readers got involved by voting online to choose the Reader’s Choice Scholarship winner, and Arthur earned the most votes.

Photo by Shelby Shubird

Arthur has a passion for robotics. He explained, “My grandfather started giving me LEGO sets at the age of 3, and by the time I was 6 I was putting together K’NEX building sets with over 300 pieces. I’ve been interested in building and designing things ever since, and that’s what sparked me to joined the robotics club my 8th grade year.” He’s an instrumental part of Montgomery Catholic’s robotics club, and has been awarded champion status at six different robotics tournaments. He has a great deal of pride in his school— he shared, “My favorite part about attending Catholic is that I’m getting a good education and learning how to grow closer to God. MCPS inspires you and makes you feel like family.” When asked to share the most important lesson he’s learned in life so far, Arthur answered, “I’ve got to put something into life before I can expect to get anything out. Hard work pays off!”

Potential Magazine is a multimedia resource for parents of college-bound teenagers. In each issue, high achieving River Region students in the 7th-12th grade are featured and entered to win the $500 Reach Your Potential Scholarship and $250 Reader’s Choice Scholarship.

Montgomery Catholic Cheerleaders Named All-American Cheerleader

Seniors Emma Secor, Alexis Weber, and Sofie Izer were
named All-American cheerleader at the UCA Cheer Camp
at Auburn University

On June 3 to June 6, the Montgomery Catholic varsity cheerleaders attended the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA) cheer camp at Auburn University. The team received multiple spirit sticks and received all superior ribbons for team evaluations each day. Eight team members were nominated to try out for All-American cheerleader, an honor given to select individuals who have exemplified showmanship, poise, and technique. Seniors Sarah Rose Burden, Anna Dubois, Anna Sadie, Chloe Weber, and junior Devan DeRamus were among the eight nominated to try out. Seniors Sofie Izer, Emma Secor and Alexis Weber were all named All-American cheerleader and were invited to try out to be UCA staff next year. Senior Hayden Pritchett was pinned with a “Pin It Forward,” an honor given by another team’s cheerleader for her character towards the other girls. The team also received a superior trophy in the medium varsity division for receiving all superior ribbons during the week, interacting with staff and other teams well, and showing great ability, sportsmanship and leadership.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Team members include:

Allie Berg

Sarah Rose Burden

Alex Celka

Devan DeRamus

Anna Dubois

Sofie Izer

Katie Perkins

Hayden Pritchett

Anna Sadie

Emma Secor

Kinley Tadlock

Valerie Waite

Alexis Weber

Chloe Weber
Coach: Samantha Banks