NowadaysMontgomery Catholic Preparatory School Fall 2020 • Vol 8 • Issue 1 Volunteer Leadership 2 ABUNDANT BLESSINGS Faith 4 To many, the 2019-2020 school year the state of the art weight room, Student Achievement 5 will be remembered for the way locker rooms, meeting rooms, and School News 10 that it ended: with our students coaches’ offices has produced completing the year from the “gym envy” among many of our Faculty News 14 confines of their homes. Virtual local competitors. None of this Alumni 15 learning became the new buzzword would have been possible without and Zoom meetings were the the support of this community and Memorials 18 means for our students to stay the generosity of numerous donors Advancement 19 connected to their teachers and whose names can be found on friends. Teachers began to teach the magnificent donor wall at the in a new fashion, creating virtual entrance of the Athletic Arena. lessons, learning new presentation Our volleyball, football, and boys’ platforms, and monitoring learning basketball teams had stellar years from afar. And what an amazing with each advancing well beyond job they did! With only a few days their regular seasons. All three to prepare for the abrupt change teams moved to state competitions from classroom to virtual learning, and represented our school well. our teachers made it happen. These teams were composed of Parents, kudos to you, too! The dedicated athletes who committed learning curve for many of you was much of the summer of 2019 to extremely steep, but you helped preparing for the season. MCPS is your students finish the year blessed with a first-class coaching strong. Thank you for your support staff that is devoted to our student and patience. athletes’ success, both on and off Spring activities, including all the field of play. sports, came to a grinding halt. The Montgomery Catholic Marching Students that had trained for the Knights and concert band had entire year to play softball, baseball, another award winning year prior to soccer, or run track were faced with the COVID shut down. The Marching the disappointment of an extremely Justin ‘01 & Megan Forsyth ‘03 Castanza Knights garnered Superior Ratings short season. It was sad on so in the Phoenix City competition many levels. A Message from, in the areas of Drum Major, But let us not allow COVID-19 Continued on page 3 Incoming President and the spring of 2020 define the year because it was much more Justin Castanza than that. Montgomery Catholic I am grateful and humbled to witnessed the opening of the Athletic Arena and the Fine Arts have the opportunity to serve Facility. These two outstanding as Montgomery Catholic’s venues will forever change the fourth school president. I lives of our students. The Fine Arts am honored to have been Facility provides spaces for our award-winning band program, as chosen to continue such a fine well as our growing performing arts tradition and do not take the programs. The Athletic Arena which responsibility lightly. I look houses the PICE Knights Arena, forward to sharing my passion for our school, our faith, and THERE IS ONLY ONE THING WHICH IS CERTAIN to serve our community. I appreciate the opportunity Dear Brothers and Sisters Our students are challenged to world. An education which ignores As this school year begins, the to lead our school, but I’m in the Lord, discover and develop their God- God ignores the most fundamental most obvious changes are that most proud to be able to serve given talents. As the years go by, aspect of life, namely, that we are there is new leadership and new As I write this reflection in the with this education they will be able created for a purpose. That purpose facilities. The new facilities are a alongside our current staff and beginning of June, I have no to adjust and adapt to whatever is to be with God for all eternity. visible sign that MCPS is looking administration. The countless idea, due to the uncertainties changes occur in the workplace. MCPS provides a formation in the forward to, and preparing for, the of the coronavirus, what the hours that have been put in The foundation being offered at Good News Jesus has brought to us future. No matter how uncertain circumstances will be by the time by this group of dedicated Montgomery Catholic will provide so that the student may build a life times may be, Montgomery Catholic you read it. I pray the situation will them with the ability to develop the which will last for all eternity. is committed to continuing its educators to prepare for the be better by then, but regardless, skills needed to achieve even as ministry of education and Catholic upcoming year is remarkable we will go forth with the confidence This vision of education and skills required for jobs change with formation for our young people. that God is with us. formation was embraced by the and inspiring. Standing on the times. school under the outstanding I would also wish to thank all the firm foundation that has Montgomery Catholic is no stranger Yes, these are uncertain times, but leadership of our former President, who support MCPS. You, the to challenging moments. Our been established and seeing life is always uncertain. The best Mrs. Anne Ceasar, who did so much administration, faculty, staff, school began in 1873. For the past our future team gives me education, and the one offered to enhance the excellence of the parents, families, and friends of 147 years, under different names by MCPS, provides the student school and its facilities. I thank this school, all work together to confidence that Montgomery and in different locations, our with the broad based formation her for her dedicated service and promote our school and to make Catholic is poised to take school has experienced many times which calls forth a well-rounded leadership. We begin a new year it the exceptional educational of uncertainties — wars, pestilence, on the unknowns of the education of the young person. with a new President. Mr. Justin institution it is. You are all great! pandemics, financial depression, future. Now, more than ever, Castanza now leads us into the social upheavals, etc. Through At the same time, education alone So let’s go forth and may this be future. I have great confidence in Montgomery Catholic has it all, the ministry of MCPS has cannot totally prepare one for the a blessed and great year for all. his leadership. Let us all support an opportunity to live our continued. Young people have been uncertainties of life. There is only Go Knights! him in his new ministry of President offered the blessing of a formation one thing which is certain and that mission and bring hope to the as he continues to foster the vision Thomas J. Rodi which educates the whole student: is the love of God. Everything else community. Please pray for us of MCPS. Archbishop of Mobile academically, athletically, socially, will pass away but God will always as we navigate these uncharted culturally and spiritually. be with us, even until the end of the waters. Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pray for us. FROM THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN 2019-2020 ADVISORY ENCOURAGE. ADAPT. CHANGE. COMMITTEE The close of the 2019 -2020 school action to support all extracurricular Tia Levanda, Chairman year was a very unconventional year. activities on all campuses. The Booster Holy Spirit Parish Representative In true Montgomery Catholic fashion, club will help with the athletic teams the faculty, students, administration as well as the academic and social Erin Fleet, Vice-Chairman and parents executed a very successful clubs around each campus. As a fairly St. Bede Campus Representative distance learning platform. There were new committee, they are looking for definitely bumps along the way, but the volunteers to help from all campuses. Christine Noell, Secretary MCPS community adapted to the issues They are especially looking for help St. Bede Parish Representative and changed direction as needed to at the elementary campuses for the provide the best possible education to non-athletic clubs. If you are interested Denise Webb our students in the current environment. in helping with this committee, St. Joseph Parish Representative contact anyone of the Advisory Council As we approach the beginning of the Rev. Alejandro E. Valladares, members, Administrative members or 2020-2021 school year with uncertainty, Episcopal Vicar, Pastor, Zack Azar. I am encouraged with the plan(s) St. the Venerable Catholic Church that MCPS has in place to protect our Advisory Committee: This is an Anne Ceasar students, faculty and staff and get our excellent way to become involved in your students back in the classroom safely. child’s education. It is also a good way President, Montgomery Catholic I am excited by the plan established to accomplish those parent volunteer Preparatory School and am grateful to all the members of hours. The committee typically meets Christina Parker the distance learning committee that the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 6. Middle School Campus Representative worked this summer to develop the best The purpose of the committee is to serve possible plans for our students that as advisors to the administration and FeLishia Franklin encompass both in classroom learning help further the mission of Montgomery High School Campus Representative and virtual learning. It is truly great to Catholic. I encourage anyone that wants be a part of the Montgomery Catholic to get involved to reach out to one of Lydia Taylor School System, and I am proud to be a the committee members to find out Holy Spirit Campus Representative part of this community.