The 2010-2011 Competition Cheerleaders are already gearing up for a year full of wins.  This month the team spent three days at summer camp at Louisiana Tumble and Cheer Academy.  The team is composed of 30 girls grades 8th-12th.  They're working very hard and starting to build their competitive routine for the upcoming season.  It looks like they will be a very strong Varsity Level 5 team this year.  Go Cubs!

Campers enjoy their summertime, Mount Carmel style!

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For two weeks in June, 44 rising juniors and seniors toured 13 colleges from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa to Boston College, Boston University and Harvard University.  Five faculty chaperones led the trip, which involved a flight from N.O. to Boston, an Amtrak train ride to New York City and Washington, D.C., and a bus trip to Catholic University of America, Washington and Lee University, University of Richmond, Elon University, Wake Forest University, and Clemson University.  In addition to college tours, students also took the Boston Duck Tour, saw "Memphis the Musical" three days before it won the Tony Award for Best Musical, and visited the Top of the Rock Observation Deck at Rockefeller Plaza.  They also attended Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington D.C., where some students brought up the offertory, and visited several Smithsonian Museums.  The students are pictured here with "Big Al" at the University of Alabama.

Cubs explore the world of DNA forensics...

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This year's 8th grade Dynamics of Effective Study classes enjoyed a new method of book talks.  Using a technique similar to "speed dating," the girls rotated in order to perform a three-minute survey of new books and share their impressions with a partner.  Each rotation provided a new partner and exposure to two new books.  The girls were excited to have many new books to add to their reading lists.

Four of our graduating seniors will be competing at the college level in the fall.  Meghan Patterson, a decorated softball player, will be joining the LSU team.  Alexandra Gonzales will swim for Florida Atlantic University, and Francesca Lawrence is headed to Centenary College of Louisiana to play basketball.  Alanna DiVittorio, who starred in soccer and softball at Mount Carmel, will play softball for McNeese State University.      Softball season photos here

      Cubgratulations!  These Mount Carmel Academy sophomores received the Louisiana Student Achievement Award from the Louisiana ACT Council for their performance on the PLAN (Pre-ACT) Assessment.  As such, these students are on target to meet or exceed ACT's College Readiness Benchmarks by graduation.  The ACT College Readiness Benchmarks are empirically-based and identify the level of achievement necessary in English, mathematics, reading and science to have a successful college freshman experience.  We also want to recognize that student PLAN (Pre-ACT) achievement is the result of a strong commitment by Mount Carmel teachers, staff, administrators and parents to increase college readiness for all students.

Sophomore Amanda Kruse recently traveled to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., where she received the Charity and Service Award.  The award is in observance of the Golden Jubilee of the Basilica and in response to an Apostolic visit of Pope Benedict in 2008 when he encouraged the nation's youth to become involved in "charity in action."  The Basilica selected five sophomores and juniors to acknowledge their works based on the 14 works of Corporal and Spiritual Mercy.  Kruse represented the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

Celebrating the spirit and devotion that our honor societies represent...

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The National Spanish Examination recognizes student achievement and promotes language proficiency in the study of the Spanish.  The exam is a standardized assessment tool that measures proficiency and achievement of students who are studying Spanish as a second language.  Congratulations to everyone who placed on the exam this year!

This summer, several members of the Class of 2011 will represent Mount Carmel Academy at Louisiana Girls State, which will be held at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches.  Instituted in 1937, Girls State is a nonpartisan program that promotes responsible citizenship.  Students gain firsthand experience in how their state and local governments work.

The student body recently gathered to elect their new Student Council executive board for the 2010-11 school year.  A big thanks to everyone who participated in all of the student government elections, and special thanks to our outgoing executive board for their outstanding leadership this year.

Mount Carmel Cubs give of themselves...

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Mount Carmel Academy's Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS) junior varsity team earned FIRST PLACE, BEST IN STATE at the 2010 JETS TEAMS Competition.  Through the competition, Mount Carmel students explored how they, as engineers, can become part of the solution to the world's water crisis.

Congratulations to everyone who participated in cheerleader tryouts this spring.  Learn more about Mount Carmel Academy's cheerleading squads here.

The Louisiana High School Rally Association promotes the importance of education and recognizes students for their academic endeavors and desire for excellence.  We congratulate all of this year's Rally participants who have represented Mount Carmel Academy.

Mount Carmel Cubs build a better world...

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