PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
Runnels has always been the school for all races, religion, and national origins.
FRIDAY FOCUS
Welcome to  Friday Focus , our weekly e-newsletter from Head of School Marcia Mackay.


As our friends and neighbors in Texas and southwest Louisiana turn to the monumental and heartbreaking task of recovering from Hurricane Harvey, our school community is ready to help. We are partnering with our friends at Broadmoor United Methodist Church (UMC), who came to our rescue after last year's flood, in a supply drive for the victims of Hurricane Harvey.

Supplies for the recovery effort will be collected Tuesday, Sept. 5 through Thursday, Sept. 7 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Connection Cafe (red awnings) on the campus of Broadmoor UMC. Items especially needed are cleaning supplies, mucking-out tools such as flat shovels and crowbars, box fans, diapers and pull-ups, baby formula, and large plastic containers with lids. Items not accepted include clothes, toys, furniture and appliances. Donated materials will be delivered to those affected by the hurricane and Senior Pastor Donnie Wilkinson, a Runnels dad, will keep us up to date on where the supplies go. 

For more information:   Broadmoor UMC Harvey Relief

Two other opportunities to help with disaster relief include the Library Annual Used Book Sale and the RPO's "Raider Relief" event.  A portion of the proceeds from the Used Book Sale (Sept. 10-15) will be donated to the Houston Food Bank and the Texas Diaper Bank. Pet food donations collected at the sale will go to to animal rescue operations in regions affected by the storm. 

On Oct. 27 at 6:30 p.m. in the Plaza area on the main campus, the RPO will sponsor "Raider Relief" a school-wide event to raise funds for schools impacted by the hurricane.  The evening will also include concessions and the chance to enter your carved pumpkin in a jack-o'-lantern "beauty contest." 

Runnels is also pursuing the possibility of adopting a school impacted by the storm. When the waters go down and people get back to their schools and communities, we will have a clearer picture of how best to help our neighbors in Texas and the portions of our state that felt the fury of the storm.

In focus this week: Club Day; Used Book Sale to Benefit Harvey Victims; Mr. Cassin in Concert; Giants in the Sky Cast List; Kudos and Thank Yous; Friendly Reminders and Sports.


Looking for Art Club recruits on Club Day are sophonmore Sarah Stanfield and club co-sponsor Sydney McGraw.
Club Day, 2017 
Junior and senior high students interested in joining one or more of the 19 clubs on offer at Runnels this year had a chance to learn more about them this week. At an assembly held in the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre on Aug. 31, club representatives and sponsors introduced their organizations and detailed the advantages of membership. After the indoor session, students moved outdoors to get more information, meet club members and officers and sign up. 



Used Book Sale To Benefit Harvey Victims 
A portion of the proceeds from the Annual Library Fall Used Book Sale in September will be heading to Houston and other areas affected by Hurricane Harvey.  The sale features thousands of used books for all age groups. Paperbacks are 25 cents and hardcovers are only one dollar.

"We'll share proceeds from the Used Book Sale with the Houston Food Bank and Texas Diaper Bank," said Elementary Librarian Joni Orgeron. Pet food donations, which have become a traditional part of the event at Runnels, also will be directed toward animal shelters in regions affected by the hurricane. 

The Used Book Fair runs from Sunday, Sept. 10 through Friday, Sept. 15 in both the Elementary Library and the Jr./Sr. High Library. Sunday hours are 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and weekday hours are 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. 
  
Both libraries are still accepting donations of gently used books for this hugely popular event. Fiction and non-fiction for both adults and children, cookbooks, gardening books, and just about everything with the exception of textbooks are welcome. For more information, contact Elementary Librarian Joni Orgeron at 225-215-5706. 

Caladium Trio musicians (from left) Lin He, Constance Carroll and Dan Cassin. 
Mr. Cassin and Friends in Concert at Runnels
Many of our music students were treated to a concert by the Caladium Trio in our theater today made especially memorable by the cellist, Runnels strings instructor, Dan Cassin, who also serves as associate principal cellist of the Baton Rouge Symphony. He joined LSU musicians Lin He, Associate Professor of Violin, and Constance Carroll, Professor of Piano Emerita in a preview of a concert they will be performing Sept. 10 at 3:00 p.m. at LSU's School of Music Building Recital Hall. The concert, which is free and open to the public, will feature works by Beethoven, Schubert and Arensky. We sincerely thank the Caladiuim Trio for this special performance at Runnels.

Actors assemble in the Drama Room to rehearse a scene for the elementary musical "Giants in the Sky.'
We Have a Cast for  Giants in the Sky
We're excited to announce the cast for our upcoming elementary musical,  Giants in the Sky.

Featured players are Madeline Golden as HeeShee, Olivia Williams as Bert, Sofia Dodd as Finn, Emma Felton as Mel, Carter Parsons as York, Jenna Sheikha as Jordan, Gibson Guay as Quale, Reide Walker as Vin, Lauren Ly as Olin, Gracie Doughty as Row, Addie Watson as Sye, Christian Cailliout as Ernst, Rossie Harrison as Gene, Ethan Ly as Bev, Poppy Pellessier as Phlem, Ashlynn Harper as Ike, Ava McCann as Jed, Lauren Tolson as Allie, Molly Banquer as Cal, Julia Golden as Sven, Sadie Miller as Pat and Harper Guay as Zeek. 

Cast in the Hooligan and Elder Chorus are Ryan Funk, Dax Jones, Dru Hairford, Emily Khalil, Tyler Felton, Nicholas Harper, Karam Sheikha, Emily Mason and Wesleigh Doughty.

In the Gamers and Students Chorus are Lily Hayden, Jack Ezell, Daniel Tate, Alex Hayden, Lily Downing, John Harper Wilkinson, Kendall Eastman-Stuart and Alyssa Lee. 

Showtimes are Friday, Oct. 13 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 15 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets ($10 for adults/$8 for students and $12 at the door) will be available at seatyourself.biz by Sept. 11.  


Kudos and Thank Yous 

Molly Brown Tickets
Be sure to purchase your online tickets for our Alumni, Students and Friends Summer Theatre Series production of The Unsinkable Molly Brown. 
The show runs for three performances, Sept. 8 and 9 at 7 p.m. and Sept. 10 at 2 p.m., in the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre. Tickets are $12 if purchased in advance online and $15 at the door. (Online ticket sales close 12 hours before showtime.)  

Click here for ticket information..


Math Honor Society Welcomes New Officers
Congratulations to 2017-18 Mu Alpha Theta officers Alex Matthews, president; Kayla Evans, vice president; Sophia Torres, secretary; and Alex Morgan, treasurer. The club sponsor is Math and Science Department Head Karen Matthews.  


Measuring Moment 
In Mrs. Faust's Physical Science class this week, Lindsey Huynh (in photo at left), grade 8, and Barrett Couvillon (in photo at right), grade 9, use a graduated cylinder and triple beam balance to measure mass and volume so they can learn how to measure and calcul ate density. (Photo by Blake Siewert, grade 11.) 



Elementary Library News
Dylan Evans (in photo), grade 5, works on an Accelerated Reader quiz using one of the new eight Samsung tablets recently acquired by the Elementary Library. The devices will be used regularly by students in grades 1-6 to take the quizzes during their library time.  (Photo by Steven Spivak, grade 11.)

How You're Helping...
Members of our school community are reaching out in many ways to provide aid and comfort to those affected by Hurricane Harvey.  Springing into action on Wednesday was eighth grader Jacob Schmidt ( in photo), who loaded bags and buckets with supplies for flood victims in Texas. 

Elementary teachers Christine Pousson, Leah Pizzalato, Ashley Stevens and Amanda Albin have adopted a 3rd-grade Houston classroom that received damage from the storm. They leaned about the opportunity via social media and made a connection through #AdoptaTXclassroom. Our teachers will be stocking up on supplies to send to the children as soon as a list of what is needed can be provided by the classroom teacher in Houston.






Students in 2nd grade Social Studies try out new flexible seating options while working on their "All About Me" activity sheets.

In this week's album: Measuring in Physical Science, Reading in the Library, Club Day, Elementary Drama Class, Candids, Flexible Seating, and Open House.

Back-to-School Events for Parents

Join us for these Back-to-School events for preschool and kindergarten next week. 
 
Preschool - Pre-Kindergartners Parents Day
Thursday, September 7 at 8:30 a.m. - Molly Hightower Activity Building
Friday, September 8 at 8:30 a.m. - Molly Hightower Activity Building
You will receive more information about which date you are scheduled to attend as the dates approach. ( This event is for Pre-K students and their parents. )
 
Kindergarten Open House
Friday, September 15, 8:30 a.m. - Kindergarten Classrooms
(This event is for kindergarten students and their parents.) 

Friendly Reminders

September 4:  No School - Labor Day Holiday

September 8-10:   The Unsinkable Molly Brown - Sept. 8 and 9 at 7:00 p.m. and Sept.r 10 at 2:00 p.m., Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre

September 10-15:   Annual Library Used Book Sale - Sunday, September 10, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.; Monday, September 11 - Friday, September 15, 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. in the Elementary Library and the Andy Mack Memorial Library in Novak Hall. 

September 18:   RPO General Meeting (for parents of students in grades 1-12), Elementary Drama Room, 7:00 p.m.  Learn about the RPO, meet our RPO board members and grade coordinators and discover volunteer opportunities. It's a great way to get involved at Runnels!

September 24:   Kindergarten Sneak-Peek for Runnels Pre-Kindergarten Students and Parents - 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. in the Kindergarten Classrooms and Playground, Runnels main campus. Current Pre-Kindergartners and their families are invited to participate in organized activities and experience a trimmed down day in Kindergarten at Runnels. For more information: Admissions Director Sarah Haase, admissions@runnels.org.

September 27:   Elementary Picture Day (Grades K-6) - 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Theatre

October 4:   Preschool Picture Day - 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Preschool Activity Building 

 
ATHLETIC CORNER
Don't miss out on any upcoming sporting events. Visit the  Runnels Calendar and select Varsity Athletics at www.runnels.org.

VARSITY SPORTS 
CROSS COUNTRY 
Cross country will begin its regular season with the West Feliciana Relays on Saturday, Sept. 2.

VOLLEYBALL
Senior KK Roy in action against Madison Prep. Thank you, Krista Rawlins, for the photo.
The Lady Raiders volleyball team started the 2017 regular season on Thursday night with a game against Madison Prep. It was an exciting four game set, 19-25, 21-25, 25-23, 22-25, with Runnels falling a little short in the final reckoning.  

Leading our team were senior Catherine Henning and junior Rachel Wehbe. Together, they had 5 blocks and 10 kills. Senior Ashley Stansbury made 5 aces, and junior Maddy Sutton had 8 digs.

On Tuesday, Sept. 5, the Lady Raiders will take on Plaquemine High School in the Catalano Gym. JV plays at 5:00 pm and the Varsity team follows at 6:00 pm.


---- FAN PHOTO OP! ---- 
Show us your Raider Spirit by sending in your fan photos to be included in our Weekly Photo Album or featured in the Friday Focus.
Email photos to n.latiolais@runnels.org. Please include the date and location of the event and the students pictured. 

Go Raiders! 
 
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Baton Rouge, LA 70816
225-751-2192