Good morning! I'm Alex Bradley!
And I'm Laura Kellner! Welcome once again to the "Bear Facts", your weekly radio update from Bishop Garrigan High School.
The annual BGHS calendar drive is over, and we'd like to thank the nearly 2,000 people who supported the big fundraiser. This was one of the best calendar drives ever. Things went smoothly, and we took in nearly $40,000. That money goes to the transportation budget, helping buy and maintain buses and suburbans we can use when we travel to activities.
This was the first year that the calendar drive was a bigger success at Garrigan than at Seton. Four of the top five sellers, as well as the top calendar team, were all here at the high school. The #1 seller overall was junior Ashley Waller. She sold 85 calendars all by herself. Close behind was sophomore Brian Capesius with 83. Freshmen Bridget Murphy and Casey Arndorfer were third and fourth, and the top student at Seton was Holly Byrkeland. Congratulations to all the top calendar sellers!
When we taped last week's show we still didn't know who had won the big Homecoming class competition. It was one of the closest ever, with the sophomores, juniors, and seniors all winning key events. The juniors dominated the final event-a collection for the Kossuth County Food Pantry-but that wasn't quite enough to push them over the top. In the end, the seniors' victory in pep rally spirit gave them the edge overall. Congratulations to the Class of 2005!
There's a first at Garrigan this morning. For the first time ever the Golden Bear girls are hosting their own volleyball tournament. Competition will start just a few minutes from now, with St. Edmond, Lake Mills, Clarion-Goldfield, Pocahontas, Algona High, Garner-Hayfield, and Ventura all joining the Bears for a fun-filled day. This year's varsity volleyball players include Ashley Waller, Hilary McGuire, Miranda Boekelman, Laura Kellner, Tara Trenary, Lindsay Schiltz, Nicole Reding, Amanda Shaw, Brittany Pfeffer, and Holly Lancaster. Good luck to them in their home tournament!
Next week we'll be getting out our #2 pencils as we start the annual Iowa Tests of Educational Development. Nobody really likes ITEDs, but at least we're glad that there's a little less pressure put on these tests at Garrigan than in some schools. There's two reasons for that. First, as a school we've always done well above average. Also, because we don't receive state funding, the scores don't have quite the same impact they do in some public schools. They're still important tests, though, and we'll be trying our best on them over the next two weeks.
This is lining up to be a full season for the Golden Bear quiz bowl team. The start of their season is still three weeks away, but once it starts, it just keeps going. The Bears will be busy through late October, all of November, and early December-including going to a new tournament this year at Aplington-Parkersburg. Things slow down a bit after that, but there are quiz bowl tournaments running all the way into April. Good luck to the academic team!
There are two big music events coming up soon. Next Saturday is band day, and the Solid Gold Marching Band is hoping for another good showing. This year's contest show is called "Zoot Suit Riot", and it features classics and contemporary jazz songs. After band day is over, it's time for the choir to take the spotlight. Garrigan will be hosting this year's Sioux City Diocese Catholic Choral Festival on Wednesday, October 6th. Choirs from all over northwest Iowa will be at Garrigan that day. We'll tell you more about the music events on next week's show.
The cast for the 2004 Madrigal has been announced. Brandon Rowley will be the jester, Amanda Golwitzer will be the Keeper of the King's Beasties, and Shane Koob will be the Son of the Keeper of the King's Beasties. Garrison Brosnan is Mordrick the Foul, Katelyn Besch is Hester, Alissa McGuire plays a girl, and Andrew Missal is the Older Twin. Amanda Thompson is the Town Crier, and Jacob Detrick and Seth Rogers will be pages. The Madrigal has just started rehearsing. The production will be Sunday, December 5th.
Our Senior Spotlight this week shines on Brianne Donahe. Here to tell you about her is Kayla Reding.
Brianne Donahe is a cheerleader who is part of the flag corps for band. She is active in speech, quiz bowl, and choir, and she won the judges award at the North Central Conference Art Show. In her biography for the Homecoming royal court, Brianne said she was proud of her role in State Fair last spring ,where she played a cow. Brianne has helped out with the Downs's Syndrome "Buddy Walk" and she also works at Melinda's School of Dance. She wants to work in a health club in the future, and we wish her all the best in college.
Thanks, Kayla! On our Golden Bear calendar there's the Bishop Garrigan Invitational Volleyball Tournament this morning. Then next Monday ITEDS begin.
Monday night the cross-country team runs in the Algona High meet, which is held at the Whittemore Golf Club. Also that night the JV football team hosts Mason City Newman.
Tuesday is Picture Day for the freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. There's a special band rehearsal that afternoon to get ready for the big day next Saturday.
Tuesday night the volleyball team hosts Humboldt and the freshman football team travels to Clarion. Then next Thursday we'll have a special assembly to hear a boys choir from Nicaragua.
Also next Thursday members of the Personal Bookkeeping class will be traveling to Iowa State Bank. That night the volleyball team plays at Ft. Dodge St. Edmond. Then next Friday the Golden Bear football team plays at Lake Mills.
That's the "Bear Facts" for September. Thanks for joining us, and be sure to catch our show again next week when we'll bring you more news from Bishop Garrigan High School.
