The Bear Facts
April 6, 2013
Good morning! I’m Andrew McGuire!
And I’m Elliot Boisjolie! Thanks for tuning into the
“Bear Facts”, the radio show where each week we keep you in touch with all the
news from Bishop Garrigan High School.
Tonight is one of the biggest nights of the year at
Garrigan. It’s Gala 2013. This is the twenty-fourth year for the school’s
biggest fundraiser. The theme this year is “Phantom of the Opera”, and the
Garrigan gym has been transformed into an elegant ballroom topped with a gold
and crystal chandelier. All the seats are sold out for Gala 2013, so more than
400 guests will be on hand to enjoy the elegant evening.
Gala is by far the biggest single fundraiser for
Garrigan and Seton. Things started fairly small, with income of $85,000 back in
1990. In recent years, though, we’ve brought in right at $300,000 each year, and
we hope to continue that trend this year. About a third of that money goes to
planned classroom purchases like computers, software, books, and supplies.
Another large part is set aside for professional growth for our teachers. The
rest is split in a variety of forms, including an ever-growing endowment to keep
our school running into the future.
For many people the biggest part of Gala is the food.
This year guests will start their evening with hors d’oeuvres including spoons
of beef tenderloin with boursin cheese and caramelized onions. There’s also
mushroom croustades and chicken and apple sausage puffs. The main meal starts
with cream of onion and garlic soup with an herbal crouton and baby greens in a
brie vinaigrette with feta and gruyere cheese beignets (bin-YAZE).
Tonight’s main course is tenderloin of pork with
cherry chutney. On the side is gruyere potato gratin and roasted asparagus.
Topping off the meal is a dessert called “Phantom Composition” that features
crème brulée, flourless chocolate cake with chocolate ganache (gun-AHSH) and
white chocolate mousse, all served with crème anglaise and berry drizzle.
Throughout the meal guests will have the opportunity
to bid on live auction and silent auction items. In addition to the auctions,
there’s raffles for a car, a recreational vehicle, home appliances, and travel.
There’s also chances to win a big screen plasma TV, a voucher for tuition at
school, and lots of cash prizes.
The weather is finally starting to seem more like
spring, so the track and golf teams are finally able to get things started for
the season. Both the boys and girls track teams opened up their seasons last
Wednesday at the CYO meet at Buena Vista University. The meet is unclassed and
is generally dominated by Sioux City Heelan, which is much larger than any of
the other Catholic schools in northwest Iowa. Because of that we were pleased
that both Golden Bear teams ended up in the top half. The girls had an
especially good night, finishing in second place overall.
This year’s boys track team includes returning senior
veterans Elliot Boisjolie, Adam Hamilton, and Dustin Miller; plus juniors
Brayton Loss, Connor Langermann, Nick Bronk, Corey Weydert, Chris Loss, Bailey
Kohlhaas, and Santiago Schmitt. Sophomores include returning letterwinners Ben
Vaske, Tyler Schnurr, Zach Kollasch, and Tony Kollasch; together with Reece
Wadle, Carter Hall, Andrew Miller, Christian Matthews, Mark Fakler, and Kristian
McGuire. Rounding out the team are freshmen Zac Kibby, Cameron Langerman, Logan
Besch, Zach Boelter, Will Kellner, Landen Studer, Logan Rosenmeyer, James
Quinlin, Jedd Magill, and Devin Degen. Good luck, track!
We introduced the boys golf team last week. The girls
team is the three-time defending state champions, and they’re looking for a
four-peat this year. Returning seniors on the golf team include Haley Froehlich,
Makayla Foertsch, and Rebecca Richter. The team also includes juniors Alexa
Capesiux and Anna Hohmeister, together with sophomores Brittany Arndorfer and
Megan Lappe. Good luck to Coach Dean Capesius and the girls golf team!
Yesterday the North Central Conference Art Show was
held down at Iowa Central in Ft. Dodge. Twelve Bishop Garrigan students were
honored with having their work displayed in the show. Artists featured include
Rebecca Richter, Sophia Kaduce, Logan Rosenmeyer, Will Kellner, Emma Plathe, and
Hannah Byrkeland; as well as Tess Mayer, Andrew Miller, Kelsey Hovey, Carolyn
Baxter, Seaerra Poole, and Makayla Foertsch. Congratulations to them and to art
teachers Steve Brosnan and Sheena Pease.
Our senior spotlight this week shines on Nicole Mergen
and Savannah McNertney. Nicole Mergen’s favorite part of school is art. She has
taken almost every art class available at Garrigan and has made beautiful
paintings, sculptures, and other creations. Nicole is also active in the
Christian Leadership in Action group. She’ll be continuing her education next
year, and we wish her all the best.
In her years at Garrigan Savannah McNertney’s biggest
activity has been cheerleading. She also works on the publications staff, taking
pictures and writing news articles. Savannah has been an honor role student all
through school, and she hopes to continue her success in college. Good luck to
both Nicole and Savannah!
On this week’s Golden Bear calendar, there’s an alumni
basketball tournament today. Then tonight is Gala, 2013.
Tuesday sophomores will take the Asset test, which
allows them to take college classes while in high school. That night the golf
teams play St. Ed’s and Webster City. There’s girls track that day at Algona and
boys track at Iowa Falls.
We’ll have mass on Wednesday morning, with an early
dismissal that afternoon for teacher inservice. The junior high will have their
variety show on Wednesday night. The boys track team runs at Lake Mills on
Thursday, and that day we’ll also have activity pictures for the yearbook.
Friday the golfers take on Clear Lake. The girls track
team hosts their home meet next Friday, and there’s boys track that night at
Estherville. Finally next Saturday Garrigan will be hosting the state solo and
small group music contest.
That’s the “Bear Facts” fort this week. Thanks for
tuning in, and be sure to join us again next week for more news from Bishop
Garrigan High School.
JR 4/6/13
