THE BEAR FACTS
January 27, 2024

Good morning! I’m Thadd Kollasch!

I’m Tate Foertsch!

And I’m Ava Hough! Welcome once again to the “Bear Facts”, where we’re getting ready for Catholic Schools Week here at Bishop Garrigan High School.

2024 marks the 50th anniversary of Catholic Schools Week, a time when we celebrate the tradition and future of Catholic education. This year’s national theme for Catholic Schools Week is “united in faith and community”. It stresses that a Catholic school is not just a building or institution, but people serving God and others.

In our local area there are a lot of special events planned for Catholic Schools Week. It begins this weekend, when the masses at area churches will celebrate Garrigan and Seton. As a thank-you, students, teachers, and parents will be passing out snacks to church-goers after mass.

Monday we’ll start things off with our Catholic Schools Week mass. Fr. Zach will celebrate mass at 8:40am, and alumni and school supporters are welcome to join. Afterwards there will be a “Bear Buzz” gathering in the Presentation Center at St. Cecelia’s. Tuesday will be Staff Appreciation Day, and there will be a special recognition for staff when the Golden Bears face Forest City Tuesday night.

The theme for Wednesday is “Walk in Jesus’ footsteps”, and students are encouraged to dress like a saint that day. There will be an all-school rosary that morning, and a “Bible Bowl” trivia event in the afternoon. That night 147 people have signed up to be part of our community night, where we celebrate the many successes our school has had in all areas.

Thursday is Community Day, with students participating in a variety of service projects.. Then on Friday we’ll have Student Appreciation Day. It’s an out-of-uniform day, and students will be participating in a wide range of fun activities to end off the week on a high note. It should all combine to make for a fun celebration.

Last Saturday the Golden Bear speech team competed in the district large-group contest at Northwestern College in Orange City. Three of Garrigan’s four entries earned division one (or “excellent”) ratings. Brendan Plathe, Violet Bode, Benjy Trainer, and Sam Plath received a 1 for their group improv about meeting Taylor Swift. Then Tate Foertsch and Thadd Kollasch got a top rating for their radio sports broadcast. The third 1 went to Sam Plathe, Izzy Waechter, and Benjy Trainer for their Musical Theatre entry “Good Morning”.

Garrigan also competed in Readers’ Theatre, where they earned a division two (or “good”) rating. Students who earned division ones now advance to the state large-group speech contest. That will be held next Saturday, February 3, at Spencer High School. Congratulations, speech!

Last Monday five Garrigan students were part of an honor choir at Wartburg College in Waverly. Seniors Benjy Trainer, Lauren Swift, and Madelyn Bronk, junior Izzy Waechter, and freshman Shiloh Trainer all made the trip to Waverly for the honor choir. Congratulations to them.

Our Senior Spotlight this week shines on Reagan Murphy. Here to tell you about her is Drew Muller.

If you listen to the “Bear Facts” every week, you’ve probably heard Reagan Murphy announcing here. Reagan is also an honor society member, and she’s helped out with religious events, and she’s volunteered to help with classes at Seton. She’s best known, though, as an athlete. Reagan plays volleyball and basketball, but her top sport by far is track. Last spring she ran at state in four different relays, and she’s also a good individual sprinter. Reagan will be off to college next year, and we wish her all the best in the future.

Thanks, Drew. On our Golden Bear calendar, Catholic Schools Week starts with special snacks passed out after parish masses this weekend. Monday we’ll begin the day with the Catholic Schools Week mass at St. Cecelia’s.

Monday night there’s JJV basketball, with the Bears hosting Forest City. Tuesday the JV and varsity Bears have a basketball quad with Forest City. Garrigan staff will be recognized at the games. Also on Tuesday there’s regional wrestling at Algona High.

We’ll have an all-school rosary Wednesday morning, with the Bible Bowl in the afternoon. That night is the annual community social night for Catholic Schools Week.

Thursday we’ll be doing service projects in the community. Then on Thursday night the JJV basketball team will play at Belmond.

Friday we’ll have some fun activities to cap off Catholic Schools Week. That night there’s a basketball quad, with the Bears facing West Hancock in Britt. Finally next Saturday there’s state large-group speech in Spencer.

That’s the “Bear Facts” for Catholic Schools Week. Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to catch the show again next week for more news from Bishop Garrigan High School.