Good morning! I'm Steven Kellner!
And I'm Autumn Thompson! Welcome to the 294th weekly episode of the "Bear Facts"-the radio broadcast from Bishop Garrigan High School.
Everyone enjoyed the snow this past week-and especially the fact that between school cancellation, late starts, and teacher in-service we really only had two and a half days of school at Garrigan this week. Now that a white Christmas is pretty much guaranteed, we should remind you of the school cancellation policy at Garrigan. On late start days, Garrigan and Seton begin at the same time as the Algona Community Schools-but every class will meet at Garrigan, even though AHS usually drops classes on late start days.
If school dismisses early-either because of snow or a holiday-because of busing, Garrigan and Seton will always get out 15 minutes earlier than the time that is announced for the Algona schools on the radio. When there's an early dismissal, all activities are cancelled. On late start days, what happens with activities is the decision of the coach-but most likely they'll be starting late, too. We always advise you to listen to the radio, rather than calling the school. Most of the time, if there's bad weather, you're likely to get the answering machine if you call the school.
Last weekend the Golden Bear math team finished in second place at the Sioux Center mathematics tournament. Garrigan racked up 174 points, which put them just behind the host schools 1771/2. Five of Garrigan's six contestants brought home medals. They include senior Angie Kohlhaas, juniors Rebecca McGuire and Chris Kohlhaas, sophomore Steven Kellner, and freshman John Kohlhaas. The team also qualified for the state mathematics competition in April.
If you're hungry, you've got two chances to get fed during the Golden Bear basketball games next week. On Tuesday the Publications students will be sponsoring a pork patty supper. For just $4 you can get a porkburger on a bun, baked beans, chips, lemonade, and cookies. They'll be serving from 5 - 8 while the Bears take on Clear Lake. Then on Friday, at the big Algona game, the danz squad will serve their annual cavatini supper. We invite everybody to come on out and support these fundraisers.
Speech season is here. Thirty-nine students are out for large group speech this year, so coaches Mary McCall, Amanda Stewart, and Tony Tindall will definitely be busy getting things ready. This year's varsity entries include the one-act play "Happily Ever After; three ensemble acting selections-"Victoria at 18", "The Ugly Duckling", and "But Listen"; the readers' theatre "A Memory of Harold"; the choral reading "You're Only Old Once"; and three improvisation groups. There are also two freshman selections-one improv group and the readers' theatre "Our Hearts Were Young and Gay".
The core of the speech group is the seniors-who include veterans like Dan Bormann, Marian Studer, Ellie Reising, Angie Kohlhaas, and Lynn Kohlhaas. Other seniors are Jennifer Faber, Amanda Freking, Sarah Kollasch, and Tony Schmitt. Juniors in speech are Bob Brandenburg, Mark Rasmussen, Mandy Rahm, Chris Kohlhaas, Michael Loebach, Rebecca McGuire, and Adam Rahm.
The biggest group of speech students is the sophomores-including Amanda Wolf, Beth Becker, Sarah Erdman, Sylvia Weber, Kim Frideres, Rachel Foth, and Autumn Thompson. Other sophomores in speech are Andrea Schiltz, Sarah Schmitt, Maria Paterson, Keshar Nadkarni, and David Murphy. Rounding out the sophomores are David Murphy, Jenna Hansen, Jeff Hellman, Steven Kellner, Zac Lickteig, and Rosalind Kirsch. Finally there are the freshmen-who include Josh Broesder, Melissa Vaske, Cassie Recker, Brooke Myers, John Kohlhaas, and Amber Golwitzer. Good luck to all this year's speech students as they prepare for contest!
This week's Senior Spotlight shines on Chad Mescher and Ben Richter. You probably know Chad Mescher best as the star kicker on the Golden Bear football team. For the past two years he's been impressing everyone with his record-setting field goals, punts, kick-offs, and extra points. Chad is also active in track, and in winter he enjoys intramural basketball. Chad will be a college man next year, and we wish him all the best.
Ben Richter enjoys all sports. In fall you saw him playing safety and receiver in football. Now that it's winter he's one of the starters for the Golden Bears on the basketball court. Ben is also a good student, and we know he'll do well in college next year. Good luck to both Ben and Chad-our spotlighted seniors this week.
On this week's Golden Bear calendar, there's basketball tonight at Garner. Then tomorrow's the big Madrigal brunch and dinner. The art classes have been busy all week making goblets and napkin rings and decorating a 20-foot Christmas tree for the event.
Monday night there's a financial aid meeting for senior parents. Tuesday afternoon we'll have a reconciliation service at St. Cecelia's. That night the Bears take on Clear Lake, and the publications staff will host their pork patty supper.
Wednesday we'll have a jeans day to raise money for Gala 2001. Next Friday we'll light the last Advent candle and dismiss early for the holidays. That night the Bears play Algona High-with the JV game at Burt and the varsity here at Garrigan.
That's the "Bear Facts" for this week. We'll be back again next Saturday with a special Christmas program to wrap up the year 2000. So be sure to catch us then and every week to hear all the latest news from Bishop Garrigan High School.
