Burchett shares 9-11 experience with St. Bernard

Lt. Col. Michael Burchett is thankful to be amongst friends and family ten years after the 9-11 tragedy. Speaking to the student body at St. Bernard recently, Burchett says he remembers too well the events that took place on that day because he was there.

“I had just relocated my office at the Pentagon two weeks prior to the attack, and thankfully so. Had I been at my desk, I would have been greeted by the nose of the plane that crashed,” Burchett said.

While many students may not recall the tragedy that killed more than 3,000 people, they were reminded of the scene and the times through a video. Fr. Joel Martin reminded all students the attack was not just on the United States, but the world.

“Citizens of 90 different countries died when the planes struck the towers. Among them were people of South Korea, Germany, the Peoples Republic of China, Taiwan, Mexico and India (St. Bernard has students from each of those countries). It was an attack on the whole world and the world was changed because of it,” Fr. Joel said.

Burchett recalled a plane clipping the world trade center three years prior to the attack, and thought no big deal. The Pentagon was under renovation and loud booming sounds were not uncommon, and the Pentagon was in the flight path of the national airport.

“No one had put together that we were under three attacks,” Burchett said.

“We started trying to account for missing people who were going to meetings, didn’t show up for work, going to doctor’s appointments, etc., and received orders to move further away because there was a fourth plane headed our way.”

For those working at the Pentagon, it was several hours later until they learned of the devastation that had taken place in New York City. The satellites were overpowered and had been shut down, as well as all mass transit from 9:30 am Tuesday morning until 2:30 p.m.

“I finally get on the subway and as we went by the national airport, there was nothing. It was a ghost town . All planes had been told to divert,” Burchett said.

While the Pentagon lost 189 people in the attack, almost 3,000 were lost in New York City.

Burchett told students, “What we have to keep in mind is that you can see people that are dead, you can see people that are maimed, or scarred. What you can’t see are people who have been affected mentally by what happened on 9-11. It’s been ten years and I still remember that day and am still bothered by it. You may not remember it , and you may be unaware of the changes in your life, but it has a tremendous impact on everyone of us.”

Burchett is the father of Will and Wren Thornton who are students enrolled at St. Bernard Middle School.

A video of the presentation can be found on the school’s facebook or youtube account by visiting the website www.stbernardprep.com.

Ethics class get visit from Federal Defenders Office in Montgomery

Attorney Anne Borelli of the Federal Defenders for the Middle District of Alabama spoke with the Senior Ethics and Morality class on the topic of Capital Punishment in the state of Alabama.

Last week the senior Ethics and Morality class held debates in which they were asked to discuss the ethical issues surrounding capital punishment.

Anne Borelli is the sister of our own Br. Leo Borelli.

St. Bernard Preparatory School is greatful to Attorney Borelli and the Federal Defenders office in Montgomery.

St. Bernard students participate in Youth Leadership Program

Jerrica Crawford and Caitlin Varquez have been selected to represent Saint Bernard Prep in the Cullman County Youth Leadership Program sponsored by the Cullman Area Chamber of Commerce.

Each school in Cullman County provides two junior students the opportunity to participate in this a year-long program. Monthly, students participate in activities to include medicine, industry, local government, state government, education, law and other leadership programs.

Crawford is the daughter of Marty and Sherri Crawford of Cullman. Varquez is the daughter of Dr.’s Genaro and Mir Varquez of Cullman.

St. Bernard contracts with American Education Specialist

More than 100 parents and students are taking advantage of a new college admissions service being offered to members of the junior and senior classes at St. Bernard Prep School. One of the primary goals of the new service is to assist students in finding the college and curriculum that matches their talents, abilities and interests.

Representatives from American Education Specialist International met on the St. Bernard campus with parents and students on Tuesday, August 30th. St. Bernard chose AESI because its consultants are experienced school leaders and advisors who are able to give schools and families the critical information they need to tailor a program for students who are seeking college admission.

Headmaster, Fr. Joel Martin said, “Technology has changed the way things are done. AESI is offering each junior and senior in our program, an opportunity to receive assistance in the whole process of their college search. Students will work one on one with representatives to prioritize what they are looking for in a college. A web management system has been put in place to help meet deadlines and to make sure students are on their way to getting things done in a timely manner."

Bill Shelnutt, the executive director of AESI, was among those who made presentations to the participants in attendance. He indicated that high grades and SAT/ACT scores are not enough to gain acceptance into the college or university of choice anymore. Colleges and universities want students that are the “best match” for their admission profiles. AESI consultants provide schools and individual families with valuable insight into a student’s strengths, interests, personality and education goals. It also assists students by developing a strategy and a roadmap for college acceptance. “We help students find their ‘best match’ school,” said Shelnutt.

Guidance Counselor Mary Mayo said it was a very informative program with a lot of good information. “If the students will put it to use, it will be of great benefit to them.”

Saint Bernard is known for its outstanding academics and scholarship awards. President Fr. Marcus Voss said, “We are offering this program to our students so they can expand their opportunities when applying to college. In making this college advisement service available, our hope is that our graduates will have even more options available to them when it comes to selecting the college of their choice.”

Faulk finishes third in season opening meet

Training in brutal heat proved to be a good thing for St. Bernard Prep’s Will Faulk as he took third place during the cross country season kick off this past Saturday at the Fairview Invitational in Cullman County.

Faulk competed against 355 runners from 13 other regional schools participating in the tournament. His time of 18:04.37 was only seconds behind Pope John Paul II Catholic’s, Evan Pardi and Alex Gilliiland of Oneonta.

Coach William Calvert said Faulk was ready for the competition as he had worked hard all summer in the blazing heat. “Will has worked hard all summer and actually completed an 8-mile hill workout on Thursday, followed by sprints, which might have contributed to his weary legs on Saturday."

St. Bernard’s Aleana Mami finished fourth in the girls’ varsity race with a time of 22:21.66. Taylor Robinett of Gadsden City, Katie Sullivan of PJPII, and Arab’s Paige Townsend were the lone three runners with better times than Mami.

Mami had hoped for better than a fourth place finish, but is happy to get the first meet out of the way.

“I think it’s going to help a lot because this is the easiest trail we do the whole season,” Mami said. “It’s a good start because everyone is now rid of those beginning jitters.”

St. Bernard’s other notable girls’ finishers included Logan Ayers, 12th; Caitlyn Varquez, 29th; Lesley O’Donnell, 30th; Allison Hubert, 55th; and Shavangi Patel, 60th. Their performances helped them earn a third-place team finish.

For the Saints’ boys, other finishers included Oscar Perez, 38th; Samuel Robles, 45th; Steven Mami, 55th; Isaias Robles, 71st; Brij Rama, 81st; Sam Shin, 83rd; John Schneider, 104th; and Madison Pride, 138th. As a team, the men Saints finished eighth out of 14 squads.

St. Bernard is expected to participate in the Chickasaw Trail run at Lawrence County High School on September 10 at 9 a.m. To follow the saints, visit the website www.stbernardprep.com, or “like” St. Bernard Prep on Facebook.

A new running trail currently covering almost nine miles has been cleared in the wooded areas located on the campus of St. Bernard Prep School. Roger Blaylock, a local realtor and avid runner, has been assisting the school in this project and hopes to complete a course that will extend to 13.1 miles in the future.

William Calvert, the St. Bernard cross country team’s coach, sought the help of Blaylock in creating this long course for the cross country program. “I have been a good friend of Coach William Calvert since my daughter ran track for him in high school many years ago. She wasn’t the fastest runner, but she had the drive to get her where she needed to be.” Blaylock continued. “Coach Calvert helped her get a full athletic scholarship to the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and she is now a physical therapist in Idaho.” Laughing Blaylock said, “When Coach Calvert needs my help now, it’s hard to say ‘No.’”

Calvert, who serves as the St. Bernard Middle School Principal as well as Cross Country Coach, beams with pride as he talks about the current project. “We certainly have excellent trails for cross country competition,” he said. “The trails have long sweeping curves, sharp twists and turns and includes the challenge of hilly terrain.” Calvert plans to showcase the new trails during St. Bernard Prep Oktoberfest 5K Run scheduled for October 15, 2011.

According to Blaylock, conservationist will be happy with the work being done in the woods. “The area excavated has been raked down and covered with hay to stop erosion,” Blaylock said. “We have made every effort to open drains to allow water to flow properly by installing water bars so the land will not wash away.”

A bridge was constructed at the bottom of a basin to allow for proper drainage and cleaner running. With proper care the bridge should last a minimum of ten years.
Men involved in the project were the Lewis family, E.C. Gibbs, Robert Frank, Mike Smith, Mike Jackson, Mark Aderholt, Joanne Jetton, William Calvert, and Joe Black.

The City of Cullman plans to make good use of the trail as they will be hosting the 2012 National Archery Championship Tournament at St. Bernard.

Fr. Marcus Voss is very pleased with the work provided by the volunteers. “I just can’t say enough about these volunteers who have worked so hard on this project. I am grateful for all they have done in making such a difference for our school community.”

St. Bernard will participate in their first cross country run of the season on August 27 at Fairview High School. For a complete cross country schedule visit www.stbernardprep.com

St.Bernard monk professes first vows

Br. Thomas Wesley Jones, a monk at St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman, was joined by family and friends on Monday, August 15, 2011, for his Profession of First Monastic Vows.

The celebration the Mass and the vows ceremony was held in the Abbey Church with Abbot Cletus Meagher, O.S.B., serving as main celebrant. After Br. Thomas professed his vows, he sign the document on the altar of the Abbey Church with Fr. Marcus Voss, O.S.B., and Fr. Joel Martin, O.S.B., serving as official witnesses.

“It is an old and revered tradition for novices to profess their first vows a year and a day from the date of entering the monastic community as a novice,” said Abbot Cletus. “As outlined in the Rule of St. Benedict, we commit our whole life to Christ in a specific monastic community by professing our vows. We give everything away and our whole being belongs to God and to the community of brothers among whom we work and pray as we strive towards the heavenly Kingdom.”

Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, Br. Thomas is the oldest of three children born to Michael and Rosemary Jones. He attended Bevill State Community College for two years before transferring to the University of North Alabama where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. He spent the next six years working for the Association of Retarded Citizens in Fayette, Alabama.

The profession of “First Monastic Vows” binds a person to live as a monk for three years. During these three years, Br. Thomas plans to work at Ave Maria Grotto where he is apprenticing with Leo Schwaiger in the repair and maintenance of the miniatures. He will also help maintain the four acre garden park that provides the setting for the miniatures created by Br. Joseph Zoettl.