Catholic's DuBois Elected 2013 Youth Governor at 64th Annual Youth Legislature Conference

The 64th annual Youth Legislature Conference convened at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery during the weekend of Friday, February 24 through Sunday, February 26, 2012.

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School middle school delegates in attendance on Friday were: Brian Anderson, Agnes Armstrong, Emily Barranco, Madison Bednarz, Kathleen Beesley, Courtney Brodgen, Abaigeal Gilbert, Cheyenne Hayes, Steven Higgins, Kyle Hines, Haleigh Huggins, Emily Lafreniere, Aubrey Lenn, Zenia Mims, Ladariane Moore, Nadine Moussalli, James Sadie, Madison Searcy, Olivia Stephenson and Omari Vaughans. James Sadie was elected and served as the Assistant Floor Leader. Cheyenne Hayes received an Outstanding Statesman award. Brian Anderson was selected Most Outstanding Statesman.

High school delegates from all over the state met in the chambers of the House of Representatives and Senate to debate and vote on bills they had written. Governor Robert Bentley and Judge Tommy Bryan were both in attendance to welcome the delegates and inspire them to stay involved with our representative government and to lead by example.

Representing Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School were officers Chad DuBois as House Pro Temp and Hannah Masingill as the House Floor Leader. Members of the House of Representatives from Catholic included Megan Karst, Katie Lafreniere, Seamus McGuire, Taylor Pitters, Jack Starr and Natalie Sullivan. Members of the Senate were David Norris, Kevin Norris, Paul Overton, Stefan Perritano and Cameron Powel. Charcille Randall was a delegate in the First Year Chamber.

Students from Montgomery Catholic had a very successful weekend. House Bill #40, entitled the Mandatory Storm Shelters for Trailer Parks Act, written by Chad DuBois and Megan Karst, passed in both the House and Senate and received an Outstanding Bill award.

Chad DuBois and Hannah Masingill were selected to attend the Council on National Affairs (CONA), which will take place in July at the YMCA Blue Ridge Assembly in Blue Ridge, North Carolina. Jack Starr was selected as an alternate for this program.

Elections were held for officers who will serve at the 2013 Youth Legislature Conference and, again, the Montgomery Catholic students were rather successful. In his first election, Paul Overton won his race and will serve as the Senate Floor Leader. In a highly contested election, Chad DuBois was elected to serve as the 2013 Alabama Youth Governor!

DuBois has been involved with every Youth in Government program the YMCA offers and has held numerous offices and duties within each of these programs. “I absolutely love Youth in Government. It has been a major part of my life for the past five years and I can honestly say from the people I have met to the experiences it has offered; I’m a different person because of it,” said DuBois.  Chad is the son of Mike and Cindy DuBois of Montgomery.

Pictured:  Montgomery Catholic's Chad DuBois as he is sworn into office as the 2013 Alabama Youth Governor. (Photo by Sue Terino)

Shelley Herbek Recieves Innovative Teacher Initiative Grant from Junior League

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School sixth grade teacher Mrs. Shelley Herbek was honored at a recent reception hosted by the Junior League of Montgomery as one of the Innovative Teachers Initiative grant recipients. Mrs. Herbek was one of six teachers in the River Region to receive a $500 grant from the Junior League of Montgomery for their first annual award program. The winning grants must be used for innovative projects, have real world application, enhance school curriculum, and have a direct impact on students. Mrs. Herbek plans to use this grant to purchase manipulatives, interactive software, and books for the award-winning St. Bede Science Olympiad team.

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School sixth grade teacher Mrs. Shelley Herbek with her Innovative Teachers Initiative Grant from the Junior League of Montgomery. (photo by Laurie Gulley)

Montgomery Catholic's St. Bede Team Competes at Alabama Elementary Science Olympiad

Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School's St. Bede Science Olympiad brought home the third place team trophy at the 19th annual Alabama Elementary Science Olympiad competition held at Jacksonville High School on February 18.  Montgomery Catholic's St. Bede Science Olympiad team consistently ranks among the top teams in the state competitions each year.  The team is sponsored by Lee Anne Barranco, Allison Boyd, Tracey Bender, Dr. Nick Bourke, Shelley Herbek, Tina Rutland, Bryan Teegardin, and Laci Whitman.  Montgomery Catholic's St. Bede Science Olympiad team members are fifth graders Anna Catherine Barranco, Annamary Gilbert, Annie Bach, Demetrios Philippou, Ethan Macchia, Grace Leslie, Hunter Vaccarro, Jacob Flowers, Jonah Gier, Maddie Losik, Reagan Herbek, Thomas McLaughlin, and Zoe Rutland.  Sixth grade members of the Science Olympiad team are Alex O'Donnell, Annabel Starrett, Carrie Belsterling, Henry Petters, Jessie Clark, Katie Fisher, Kyriacos Philippou, Lita Blackburn, Luke Craig, Mary Katherine Brunson, Ryne Herbek, Sieanna Albaugh-Grogan, and Wesley Domsalla. 

Pictured:  Montgomery Catholic's St. Bede Science Olympiad team with their third place team trophy and individual awards at the Alabama Elementary Science Olympiad competition at Jacksonville High School. (photo by Stella Philippou)

Montgomery Catholic's MathCounts Team Advances to State Competition

For the third year in a row, Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s MathCounts team advances to the state competition.

MathCounts is a national enrichment, club and competition program that promotes middle school mathematics achievement through grassroots involvement in every U.S. state and territory. The MathCounts Competition Program provides the extra incentive and the perfect atmosphere for students to push themselves to achieve more in mathematics. Consisting of fun and creative problems that promote critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, the MathCounts competitions have written and oral rounds, as well as individual and team components. Though challenging and non-routine, the competition problems focus on the 6th through 8th grade standards of the National Council of Teachers in Mathematics.

Montgomery Catholic’s MathCounts team finished second at the Montgomery Chapter competition and will advance to the state competition in Mobile on March 10. Henry Petters will also advance as an individual at the state competition. At the chapter level competition, one team of four students and six individuals represented Montgomery Catholic. The team consisted of David Bender, Brian Brunson, Brian Lee, and Katie McDaniel. Individuals who competed were Erica Harris, Tori Harris, Steven Higgins, Henry Petters, Beth Vaughan, and Hugh Walker.

Several Montgomery Catholic MathCounts team members fared well at the chapter competition. Brian Lee won 1st place, Brian Brunson won 8th place, and Henry Petters placed 9th. The top ten scorers competed in a countdown speed round with Brian Lee placing 2nd, Brian Brunson in 4th place, and Henry Petters in 10thplace. Montgomery Catholic’s MathCounts team is sponsored by Mrs. Julie Flowers and Mrs. Vicki Petters.

Pictured: Montgomery Catholic Preparatory School’s MathCounts team and individual competitors Mrs. Flowers, Henry Petters, Brian Lee, Beth Vaughan, Erica Harris, Steven Higgins, Katie McDaniel, Brian Brunson, David Bender, and Mrs. Petters. (not pictured Erica Harris and Hugh Walker)