THE BEAR FACTS
JANUARY 28, 2023


Good morning! I’m Violet Bode!
 

 I’m Ella Schaaf!

 And I’m Thadd Kollasch! You’re listening to the “Bear Facts”, where we’re getting ready to celebrate Catholic Schools Week here at Bishop Garrigan High School.

 Last weekend a busload of Golden Bears went over to Spencer to compete in the Iowa High School Speech Association district large-group contest. Bishop Garrigan earned three division one or “excellent” ratings at the contest. The first of those was in musical theatre Isabella Waechter and Savannah Waechter earned a one with “Stepsisters Lament” from Cinderella.

 Garrigan students also earned two division one ratings in group improvisation. The first improv group acted out trying on scuba gear for the first time. That group included Audi Crooks, Benjy Trainer, Brendan Plathe, Violet Bode, and Sam Plathe. Then the group of Gavin Swift, Scott Bormann, and Tate Foertsch earned a one by acting out having an accident on the first day of drivers’ ed. Two other Garrigan groups earned division two or “good” ratings at district.

 The Golden Bear quiz bowl team is back in action today. This morning Gavin Swift, Scott Bormann, and Alaina Bormann are headed over to Storm Lake for the Buena Vista University Free for All. They’ll be competing against teams from all over central and western Iowa. Good luck, quiz bowl!

 Catholic Schools Week 2023 begins tomorrow. Ever since 1974 this week has been celebrated nationwide each year to honor the faith, excellence, and service found in students of America’s Catholic schools. The event begins at the parish masses this weekend. Garrigan’s administrators will speak at mass, and afterwards families with students at Garrigan and Seton will pass out cookies to parishoners.

 Monday’s theme is “Hats off to Catholic schools”, and students can wear hats to school if they want. Elementary kids will have a special snack that morning, and we’ll also be playing Bible trivia. The big event Monday is our Catholic Schools Week mass, with Bishop Walker Nickless officiating. Mass will be at 11am at St. Cecelia’s, and the public is welcome to attend.

 Tuesday is Student Appreciation Day. We’ll be recognizing the many accomplishments of our students and also making a small donation to charity. Then on Wednesday the theme is “Walking in Jesus’ Footsteps”, and everyone can wear crazy shoes or socks. Students at all levels will participate in various service projects that day.

 We’ll have an all-school rosary for Catholic Schools Week at 9:00 Wednesday morning. After that the little kids will watch one of the speech groups perform. Wednesday night we will have a community celebration in Friedmann Auditorium. Food and drinks will be served, and we’ll honor some of our longtime staff members.

 Thursday students from pre-school through high school will have a pajama day at school. The theme for the day is “Celebrating Vocations”, and we’ll be honoring priests, deacons, sisters, and seminarians associated with our school. Then on Friday high school students will do a variety of fun activities—including movies, ice fishing, snowshoeing, skating, bowling, and skiing.

 The little kids will enjoy inflatables on Friday, and the junior high will see a movie. We’ll also have the blessing of the throats for the Feast of St. Blaise. That morning there will also be visitors in the building, because Garrigan is hosting the Chamber of Commerce coffee. The theme for Friday is Staff Appreciation Day, and we’ll have a special recognition of the teachers and staff at the basketball games that night.

 Our Senior Spotlight for Catholic Schools Week shines on Nathan Merron. Here to tell you about him is Abbie Capesius.

Nathan Merron comes to Garrigan from the Bancroft area. His biggest activity is definitely baseball, where you’ll mostly find him at second base or shortstop. In the past he was also part of the Golden Bear basketball team. Nate is a regular server at St. John’s Church, he spends a lot of time helping out with farm work, and this semester he’s also one of the people who keeps the student website up to date. Nathan will be a college man next year, and we wish him all the best in the future.

 Thanks, Abbie. On our Golden Bear calendar, there’s quiz bowl today at BVU in Storm Lake. Then Catholic Schools Week begins with the weekend masses.

 We’ll have our all-school Catholic Schools Week mass at 11:00 Monday morning at St. Cecelia’s. Bishop Nickless will be presiding. Then Monday night the JJV basketball team will host Forest City.

 Tuesday there’s a basketball quad, with the JV and varsity Bears traveling to Forest City. Then Wednesday night we’ll have the community celebration in Friedmann Auditorium. Two of our speech groups will perform at that event.

 Next Friday we’ll have the Blessing of the Throats for St. Blaise Day. That night the Bears host West Hancock in a basketball quad, and it will be Staff Recognition Night.

 Catholic Schools Week ends next Saturday. That day the Golden Bear speech team travels to LeMars for the state large group contest.

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