THE BEAR FACTS
October 31, 2020

Good morning! I’m Isabel Casey!

I’m Marguerite Fakler!

And I’m Riley Rosenmeyer! You’re listening to the “Bear Facts”. Happy Halloween from all of us at Bishop Garrigan High School.

The state cross-country meet is being held this weekend. Because of COVID-19, the event has been spread out over two days this year, with the 1-A races scheduled for this afternoon. Garrigan junior Quinn Swift will be running in the boys race at pm. Quinn has medalled in every race this season, and we’re hoping he’ll make a good showing at state.

State cross-country is being held at Kennedy Park just north of the Fort Dodge airport. The 5-K course winds through the Lakeside Golf Course. Admission is $10, and spectators are encouraged to get there early. There are no shuttles this year, so fans have to drive and park at the site. We encourage everyone to head down to Fort Dodge and cheer on Quinn Swift at state cross-country.

Last week auditions were held for all-state music. The auditions were virtual this year, with performers submitting videos showing their talent. Judges reviewed and evaluated the submissions, and the results were announced last Sunday. We’re pleased to say that two Garrigan singers were selected for the all-state choir. Congratulations to Joseph and Benjy Trainer!

This is the fourth straight year Joe Trainer has been named an all-state musician, which is the highest honor high school musicians in Iowa can earn. His brother, freshman Benjamin Trainer, joins him as an all-state honoree this year. While there will not be a public all-state concert in 2020 due to the coronavirus, the all-staters will have a socially distanced gathering in Ames next month.

Both of the Trainers are also part of the cast for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Garrigan’s fall musical. The music, drama, and art departments have been working hard on perfecting the show, which will be presented next weekend. There will be a show Saturday night, November 7, and another performance on Sunday afternoon, November 8.

Because of COVID restrictions, the size of the audience is limited. To be sure there’s space, we encourage people to register online. Links are available on both of the Garrigan websites: bggoldenbears.org and bishopgarrigan.org, and there’s also a link on the Bishop Garrigan Facebook page. Floor seats are $7, and bleacher seats cost $5. Make your reservation, and be sure to see Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat next weekend.

Last Saturday the Golden Bear quiz bowl team competed for the third straight weekend. They were entered in the Iowa Quiz Bowl League Fall Kick-Off Tournament, an online event that drew teams from all over the state. The Bears had a really good day, finishing in second place in the small school division. Senior Abbi Heying made an especially good showing. Only three other players—all from big schools in metro Des Moines—scored more points than Abbi did.

Next week we’ll be holding parent—teacher conferences at Garrigan and Seton. Conferences are another thing that will be different because of the coronavirus. All the conferences will be held virtually over Zoom. Parents can sign up online for meeting times with their children’s teachers, with the conferences being held Monday and Thursday afternoons.

Our Senior Spotlight this week shines on Kiana Book. Here to tell you about her is Maryanne Capesius.

Kiana Book is a Whittemore native who was busy as a football cheerleader throughout the fall. She’s also active in Christian Leadership and in the Five Saints youth group. Over the years she’s also enjoyed running in track and cross-country, and away from school you might see her working at Bear Care. Kiana would like to be a realtor in the future, and she’ll be off to college next year. Good luck, Kiana!

On our Golden Bear calendar, today is Halloween. This afternoon Quinn Swift will be scaring away the other runners at the state cross-country meet in Fort Dodge.

Tomorrow is All-Saints Day. Then on Monday we have parent—teacher conferences. There’s an early dismissal that afternoon so teachers can set things up.

We’ll have a student mass next Wednesday morning. There’s more conferences on Thursday, with another early dismissal that afternoon. Then next Friday there’s no school.

Next Saturday the quiz bowl team will have another online event. That night the curtain opens on the fall musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

That’s the “Bear Facts” for October. Thanks for tuning in, and be sure to join us again next week for more news from Bishop Garrigan High School.