And I'm Abby Rahm! Welcome once again to the "Bear Facts," your weekly radio show from Bishop Garrigan High School.
The Golden Bear speech team had a wonderful day last Saturday at the Iowa High School Speech Association state individual contest in Storm Lake. It was an especially good day for sophomore Marian Studer. Marian competed in the Prose category, where she presented Dorothy Parker's classic short story "The Waltz". The story tells of a girl at a dance and alternates between the sweet things she says to the boy she is dancing with and what she REALLY thinks about him in her head. Marian received straight Division I ratings from the three judges at state contest. Then on Monday she found out she had been named an Outstanding Performer.
The Outstanding Performer nomination is the highest honor in speech. Out of over 14,000 people who start out at district contest each year, only 400 are named "outstanding". Marian's nomination means she will be performing at the All-State Speech Festival next month in Cedar Falls. Congratulations to Marian on this exceptional accomplishment.
Marian's prose piece was one of eight Garrigan entries that received I's at state. Amanda Freking earned I's in both Storytelling and Radio News Announcing, while Angie Kohlhaas received a I in Acting. Katie Reising's Storytelling entry also earned a I, as did Mandy Rahm's Prose presentation. The final Garrigan I's were earned in Poetry, by Dan Bormann and Wade MacDonald. Congratulations to all these performers and to Coaches Mary McCall and David Burrow.
If you missed the opening performance last night, you've got one more chance to catch another outstanding performance here at Garrigan. Tonight is the final presenation of Arsenic and Old Lace, the 1999 BGHS spring play. Amanda Freking and Angie Weber star as two senile old ladies who enjoy poisoning the neighborhood gentlemen. Backing them up in the cast are Brandon Donahe, Tyler Struck, Rachel Studer, Josh Kohlhaas, and Wade MacDonald. Finishing off the cast are Dennis Gisch, Marian Studer, Bob Brandenburg, Angie Kohlhaas, Paul Loebach, Jake Kohlhaas, and Michael Loebach. Tickets are just $3 for adults and $2 for children, and curtain time is 7:30 tonight in Friedmann Auditorium.
The week after Easter will be a little bit different here at Garrigan. All that week, nearly half of the students will be gone for the music department's trip to Dallas, Texas. During the music trip, the students that are left here in Iowa will be participating in "Stewardship Days", which gives people a chance to lend a helping hand in the school and community. Students will be painting, polishing, raking, landscaping, and sorthing through things all week long. For the students it's a break from the normal routine, and for the school it's a chance to catch up on some of those projects that always seem to get put off.
A lot of the "Stewardship Days" clean-up work will help the school get ready for Gala '99. Gala is by far the school's biggest fundraiser of the year, with annual proceeds grossing around two hundred thousand dollars. This year the Gala planners invite guests to spend "A Tropical Evening in Paradise". The evening includes a fabulous meal with drinks and entertainment. There are also numerous ways to spend your money--ranging from the traditional live auction to the numerous silent auction tables to the Chest of Chance, Key Club, and Last Chance drawings. There will be a Gala Preview Party on Friday, April 9, and the big night itself is Saturday, April 10. So spend a night on the town, help out the school, and enjoy Gala, 1999!
While the nation watches basketball's final four, we have our own March Madness here at Garrigan. The intramural play-offs continued last weekend, and now only the strongest two teams are left standing. In the semi-finals, the top-seeded Screaming Stus demolished a group of sophomores who always dress in green by a final score of 81 to 19. The second semi-final game featured a fierce back-and-forth game between the second-seeded Fire Ants and the team of juniors captained by Eric Becker. An amazing three-pointer by Joe Mayer in the last few seconds of the game gave Eric's team a 45-44 victory and a berth in the championship game. The intramural championships will be played at the end of "Stewardship Days" on Friday, April 9.
This week's Senior Spotlight shines on Paul McNertney and Kristi McGraine. Here to tell you about them is Kristi Patten.
Paul McNertney is an Algona native who is probably best known for his work in music. Aside from band and choi, Paul enjoys participating in intramural basketball, where he played for a team called the Bandits. Paul is an accomplished pianist whose favorite subjects include English and science. He'll be off to college next year, and we wish him all the best.
Kristina McGraine is also a native of Algona. Her biggest activities over the years have included youth council, speech, and choir. Kristi likes classes like English and Peer Practicum, but she's not as big a fan of history. We wish Kristi the best of luck in college.
Thanks, Kristi! Because of the Easter holiday, we have two weeks of events on out Garrigan calendar today. It all begins tonight, with the spring play Arsenic and Old Lace going on at 7:30.
Tomorrow is Palm Sunday. Then on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, we'll have try-outs for next year's Golden Bear Danz Squad.
Also on Monday and Tuesday there will be registration for next year's classes at the Rochleau Center at St. Cecelia's. Then on Thursday, April 1, we'll celebrate the Stations of the Cross with a special service at 10:45am. As always, the public is invited.
We'll get out early Thursday afternoon because of Easter vacation. There are no school activities on Good Friday, Holy Saturday, or Easter Sunday. Then at 10pm on Sunday night the music trip leaves for Dallas.
Monday there are no classes. Then on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, April 5 through 7, we'll have "Stewardship Days" here at Garrigan. Those days several health students will also be job shadowing around the area.
On Tuesday, April 6, the girls' track team runs at Clear Lake. Friday afternoon the musicians return from Texas. And also on Friday, April 9, we'll have a special Field Day featuring the intramural championship game.
The Gala Preview Party is Friday night, and then on Saturday, April 10, the curtain goes up on Gala, 1999.
That's the "Bear Facts" for March. We'll be off next week because of the Easter holiday, but be sure to listen for us again two weeks from today when we'll be back with more news from Bishop Garrigan High School.
