THE BEAR FACTS
December 8, 2018
Good morning! I’m Jordan Hansen!
I’m Bryce Capesius!
And I’m John Meis! Thanks for joining us for the “Bear Facts”, your weekly radio
update from Bishop Garrigan High School.
On last week’s show we mentioned that the danz squad competed at state, but we
didn’t say how well they did. The Bears brought home two more first place
trophies, winning the state championship with both their pom and kick routines.
They also won special awards for academic achievement and community service.
The Golden Bear danz squad includes Isabella Capesius, Tabi Kollasch, Halle
Menke, Ella Nelson, Lillee Deike, and Kaitlyn Cink; as well as Laurel Degen,
Cora Ricke, Grace De Lange, Meredith Illg, Riley Rosenmeyer, and Molly Bormann.
Congratulations to the danz squad on keeping up the winning ways!
Last week many Garrigan students had an interesting experience. The students
were members of Mrs. Vaske’s Business Law class and the criminal justice club,
and they spent time watching a trial at the Kossuth County Courthouse. They
learned a lot about the different procedures in court and enjoyed following the
case as it progressed.
Advent is here, and we’re starting to get into the Christmas spirit here at
Garrigan. There’s a lot of Christmas decorations brightening up the school. Many
of them were created by Garrigan’s art club, which helped decorate classroom
doors and hallways throughout the building. Miss Christina Newton is in charge
of the art club which meets every other Wednesday, on days we get out early.
Christmas is always a time to help out those in need, and we’ll be doing that
next Friday at Garrigan. Friday is packaging day, when we’ll put together meals
for needy people. The program is similar to the packaging St. Cecelia’s does to
provide food for their twin parish in Haiti, but the meals we package at
Garrigan go to help out people in need in our own country.
The meals Garrigan students package will go to Mississippi. Later this winter
religion teacher Jake Rosenmeyer will take several students on a mission trip to
the area where our meals go. It’s one of the neediest places in the United
States. Almost all the kids there get free government meals on school days, but
the food we package will help feed them on weekends and school holidays.
Several Garrigan students are taking the ACT today. The test is required for
admission to most colleges, but these days—as more and more students take
college classes while they’re still in high school—ACT scores are becoming
important as a requirement for placement in those courses. Many students have
been cramming and taking sample tests this past week, and we hope they do well
on the real ACT today.
Last week’s quiz bowl at Spirit Lake was postponed due to snow, but we’re hoping
the weather is good enough today that the South O’Brien quiz bowl tournament
will go on as scheduled. Six Garrigan students should be competing in Paullina
today: Alex Mammen, Sami Darling, Grant Bormann, Aric Laubenthal, Noah Bronk,
and Jack Snyder. Good luck, quiz bowl!
We had our first late start last Monday, so it’s time to remind you of the
winter weather policies. While all cancellations and late starts are announced
on KLGA, you can also find them on bggoldenbears.org, and they’re sent out on
texts from Remind. When there’s a late start, morning activities also start
late, and when there’s an early dismissal, there are no after-school activities.
Also remember that because of bussing, dismissal times at Garrigan and Seton are
always fifteen minutes earlier than for the Algona Community Schools.
Our Senior Spotlight this week shines on Megan Bronk. Megan was one of the
Garrigan students who was selected to be part of the all-state choir, and she
was down in Ames last month for the All-State Music Festival. Choir is Megan’s
biggest activity, but she is also active in band, speech, and drama. Megan is a
Whittemore native who was is also in the Garrigan honor society. Earlier this
fall she was installed as an extraordinary minister of holy communion. She’ll be
off to college next year, and we wish her all the best in the future.
On our Golden Bear calendar, there’s quiz bowl today at South O’Brien in
Paullina. Today is also the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and there’s the
ACT at Algona High.
Tonight Garrigan alumnus Shaun Johnson will perform with Tonic Sol Fa at the
Wilcox Center. Tomorrow is the second Sunday of Advent, and the faculty will
have their Christmas party tomorrow night.
There’s a basketball quad on Monday, with the Bears playing at Garner. Tuesday
the JJV teams host Garner Hayfield Ventura.
There’s reconciliation on Wednesday, and Thursday there’s JJV basketball at
North Union. Next Friday we’ll have food packaging day.
Friday night the JV and varsity Bears host North Union. The cross-country team
will serve a soup supper during the games. Finally next Saturday the quiz bowl
team will make up the Spirit Lake tournament that was snowed out a week ago.
That’s the “Bear Facts” for another week. Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to
join us again next week for more news from Bishop Garrigan High School.