The Bear Facts

December 14, 2024

Good morning! I’m Tate Foertsch!

I’m Sacha Alesch!

And I’m Shiloh Trainer! Thanks for joining us for the “Bear Facts”, the weekly radio show from Bishop Garrigan High School.

Winter is here, and this past week we had our first late start of the year. We want to take the opportunity to remind you of a few details about weather-related dismissals and transportation. Generally when there is a two-hour late start there are no morning practices or activities, and our school day will start at 10:15am. On early dismissal days, due to transportation, Garrigan and Seton generally dismiss fifteen minutes before the announced time for the Algona public schools.

There are no after-school or evening activities when school is dismissed early due to weather. Generally there are also no activities on no school snow days either, though if the weather changes during the day, listen for announcements about evening activities. The school’s first priority is always that everyone is safe.

With Christmas coming, this is a time of year we always think about helping out people in need. Different Garrigan students have been involved in a lot of different service projects leading up to the holidays. Last week, for instance, we all helped package meals to support families in Mississippi served by the missions we sponsor. We put together packs of oatmeal and macaroni and cheese, boosted with extra protein. Those should help the families at times they are home and can’t eat free meals at school.

Yesterday the seniors on the Bishop Garrigan student council joined students from all over the Top of Iowa Conference in packing gifts for Toys for Tots. They were over in Mason City getting presents ready for kids around the area. Brooke Ludwig and Hanna Merron are this year’s student council co-presidents, and Alaina Bormann, Isabella Waechter, Molly Peterson, and Zoe Montag are the senior class representatives.

One of the biggest service projects we’ve committed to at Garrigan is stocking an emergency box to help out people in our area who are food insecure. The box is located right by the sidewalk in front of the school. It looks like the little library boxes where you can take a book, but instead it’s stocked with various types of food that those who need it can just take—no questions asked. Different classes, teams, and teachers are taking turns stocking the box. In December it’s the freshmen, Mrs. Hough, and Mr. Burrow who are filling it. We pray our small contributions will help people eat more heartily this winter.

Last week the Golden Bear quiz bowl team competed in two different events. Saturday Scott Bormann, Tate Foertsch, Amaury Thomas, Eva Kohlhaas, Marshall Bormann, Henry Bode, and Karson Kramer competed at the Spirit Lake Invitational. Earlier in the week eleven different students worked together as a team in the 30—20—10 online contest. Garrigan was one of nearly 400 schools from three different countries that took part in the tournament.

The Bears’ score of 1210 was right in the middle of the pack nationwide and near the top of scores in the Midwest. Sam Greteman, Brooke Ludwig, and Scott Bormann served as captains for the team, and others competing were Marshall Bormann, Eva Kohlhaas, Henry Bode, Alaina Bormann, Gabby Buscher, Max Buscher, Corbin Darling, and Tate Foertsch. Congratulations, quiz bowl!

The Golden Bear baseball team recently announced that they’ll have a special game on their schedule in 2025. On June 12 the Bears will be playing Clarion Goldfield Dows at Target Field, the home of the Minnesota Twins. The Bears will play in the late afternoon, following a Major League game between the Twins and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Later this winter the baseball players will be selling tickets for those games.

Our Senior Spotlight this week shines on Scott Bormann. Here to tell you about him is the man himself, Scott Bormann.

Scott Bormann has been in quiz bowl all through school. He’s also active in speech, band, baseball, football, and trapshooting. He’s a St. Joe native who pends much of his free time working on the family farm. He’s looking at attending the South Dakota School of Mines next year, and we wish Scott all the best in the future.

Thanks, Scott! On our Golden Bear calendar today there’s a boys swim meet at Cedar Falls, and there’s also a 5th and 6th grade basketball tournament here at Garrigan.

Tomorrow is the third Sunday of Advent. Monday we’ll begin the day with an Advent prayer service. That night there’s the Christmas choir concert, and there’s also a wrestling tournament in Clarion.

Tuesday is the second round of junior high speech competition. The basketball teams have a quad at Garner Tuesday night. Then Wednesday morning we’ll celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation.

Thursday the Bears host a basketball quad with North Union. There’s also a swim meet that night in Ft. Dodge. Friday afternoon we’ll have “reindeer games” in the gym, and we’ll dismiss at 2:15 for the Christmas holiday.

That’s the “Bear Facts” for this week. Thanks for joining us, and be sure to catch the show next week for a special show as we get ready for Christmas here at Bishop Garrigan High School.