PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
Runnels has always been the school for all races, religions, and national origins.
|
|
In focus this week: Top Ten Winner; Veterans Day Assemblies; Back Home in the Gym for the Halloween Parade; Whipping Up Raider Spirit; Performing at Carnegie Hall; Writing Contest Winners; Thank Yous and Kudos; Friendly Reminders; Weekly Photo Album and Athletic Corner.
|
|
Top Ten Winner in Poetry Contest
|
Sophomore Sam Haase was named a Top Ten Winner in Creative Communication’s Summer 2017 Poetry Contest.
The award was presented in the grade 7-9 division for his original poem, “Swamp Escape,” which will be published in Creative Communication’s upcoming anthology,
A Celebration of Poets.
Each Top Ten Winner will receive a $25 cash prize, a congratulatory letter, and a complimentary copy of the book that includes their poems. Sam’s poem was submitted to the contest by his freshman English teacher, Michele Stanfield.
He is the son of Bren and Sarah Haase.
(Photo: Sam Haase)
|
|
Runnels Veterans Day Programs Set for November 10
|
On Friday, Nov. 10, Runnels will follow its time honored tradition of recognizing veterans in our school family with two ceremonies in the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre. Here is the schedule of events for these special tributes:
8:00 am:
Reception for veterans and their families and guests attending the elementary ceremony in the foyer of the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre
9:00 am:
Elementary School's "Musical Tribute to Veterans," in the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre, with performances by 6th- and 7th-Grade Bands, String Orchestra, Upper Elementary Chorus, the Elementary Vocal Club and Beginning through Advanced Harps.
10:45 am:
Refreshments for veterans and their families and guests attending the junior and senior high ceremony in the foyer of the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre
11:20 pm:
Junior and Senior High Veterans Day Program, in the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre, with performances by 7th-12th-Grade Bands and Advanced String Orchestra, Jr./Sr. High Vocal Club and Chorus and Advanced Harps.
|
|
Back Home in the Gym for Annual Elementary Costume Parade
|
Halloween Day marked the one-year anniversary of our return to the South Harrell's Ferry Road campus following the flood of 2016. Last year, we couldn't hold the annual Elementary Costume Parade in the gym, its usual home, because the floors were still under repair. This year, however, the parade returned to the gym, whose gleaming floors made a picture perfect canvas for the Halloween festivities.
Many thanks to parade hosts Lee Brandt Randall, Ashley Stevens, Alice Aucoin, Wendy Worsham and emcee Julie Horridge. We also thank the RPO for supplying, decorating and serving up 55 dozen glazed donuts to our elementary and junior and senior high students as a Halloween treat.
(Photo: A highlight of the parade is always the grand entrance of art department head and Krewe of Yazoo costume designer Mrs. Randall who keeps everyone guessing about what she will wear until the very last minute. This year, as always, she did not disappoint!)
|
|
Whipping Up Raider Spirit!
|
The first pep rally of the school year, held Oct. 30 in the Catalano Gym, stirred up loads of Raider Spirit and hailed the opening of basketball season. The cheerleaders took the floor to organize Halloween-themed games, lead cheers and chants, and perform stunts, flips and dances.
In addition, the 6th-12th-grade crowd was treated to music provided by members of the 8th-12th-Grade Band directed by Jill Swetnam and a dance , by members of the junior and senior high dance classes and their instructor, Rachel Harper Hart, to Michael Jackson's "Thriller." A huge thank you goes to the cheerleaders and their sponsor and coach, Sherry Wilks, for planning and hosting the rally, our dancers and musicians, and the good sports who participated in the wacky Halloween games.
(Photo: Cheerleaders, from left, Lucy Reeves, Kissa Nicholas-Whitt and Quinn Dukaric.)
|
|
Performing at Carnegie Hall
|
Freshman Connor Porthouse is heading to Carnegie Hall. On Feb. 4, he'll be playing the cello on the celebrated New York City stage as a participant in the 2018 High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall. He will perform with the Honors Symphony Orchestra.
Connor is the sixth Runnels student to be selected for this prestigious program since 2014.
At Runnels, Connor has been in the string program for five years. He studies with cello instructor Dan Cassin.
In addition to playing with the Runnels Advanced String Orchestra, Connor was principal cello in the Louisiana Junior Youth Orchestra and currently plays in the cello section of the Louisiana Youth Orchestra.
The High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall draws accomplished student musicians in grades 9-12 from around the world. During the five-day program, participants will have opportunities to see a Broadway show, take a cruise aboard a private yacht and visit some of New York’s famous sites.
Connor is the son of Jon and Kristina Porthouse.
(Photo: Connor Porthouse)
|
|
Halloween Writing Contest Winners Announced
|
Congratulations to the junior and senior high students named winners of the Writing Center's Halloween Writing Contest.
Teachers' Choice Awards
went to Aubri Watts (high school) and Ashley Belcher (junior high) in the Short Stories category and Jacob Folse (high school) and Madeleine Reonas (junior high) in Poetry.
Students' Choice Awards
were presented to Ila-Bordelon Walker and Julia Edmondson (high school) and Lucy Reeves (junior high) in the Short Story category and Emma Collett (junior high) and Grant Treadaway (high school) in Poetry. The Writing Center coordinators are Kylie Harbin, Gwendolyn Herumin, Colleen LeBlanc and Michele Stanfield.
(Photo: Junior high winners, from left, Lucy Reeves, Emma Collett, Madeleine Reonas and Ashley Belcher.)
|
|
...
The many families who participated in Parent Work Day at the preschool on Oct. 28
. Parents built and installed a rain chain, donated plants for the area around the outdoor stage, helped with landscaping and clean up tasks, and made monetary contributions. We sincerely appreciate their generous and thoughtful support and assistance.
(Photo: Volunteer families in the preschool's Discovery Garden on Parent Work Day.)
...
The JimStone Company
for donating stone for the Trail of Dreams. The material will be used to refurbish the trail. Special thanks to Runnels dad Joey Carrier, father of Ryan Carrier, grade 12, for arranging and coordinating the delivery.
|
|
... The Logos String Quartet
(violinists Espen Lilleslaten and Roxana Pavel Goldstein, viola player Elias Goldstein and cellist Dennis Parker) for making a stop at the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre Nov. 2 to play for Dan and Jennifer Cassin's 4th and 5th hour string students. Their concert was a preview of the group's upcoming Nov. 7 performance at the LSU School of Music's Recital Hall.
(Photo: Members of the Logos String Quartet with string students who attended their concert at Runnels.)
|
|
|
|
Prize-Winning Recommendation
|
Congratulations to Lainee Alfonso, grade 12, for winning the Andy Mack Memorial Library's Halloween Monster Candy Bar Contest. To enter the contest, students were required to recommend a favorite scary book. Lainee's entry was
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs.
(Photo: High School English teacher Sherry Wilks, right, presents Lainee Alfonso with her prize, a five pound bar of chocolate!)
|
|
|
|
Celebrating Dia de los Muertos
|
Students in Kayleigh Smith's Spanish classes created an exhibit in the Andy Mack Memorial Library for Dia de los Muertos, The Day of the Dead, this week. They used various media to create a crafts showcase representing the colorful Mexican holiday.
(Photo: Spanish II students with part of their Day of the Dead crafts display in the Andy Mack Memorial Library.)
|
|
Friendly Reminders
Nov. 1-10 /
Elementary Library's Scholastic Wild West Book Fair, Saddle Up and Read!
in the Drama Room
Nov. 3 /
RPO Fall Fling for Raider Relief & Picture in the Plaza
(
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone)
, outdoor plaza area, main campus (Activities begin at 5:00 pm and the movie starts at 6:30 pm.)
Please Note:
Pictures in the Plaza is not a drop-off event. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Also, the RPO cannot guarantee that all Trick or Treat candy in class pumpkins will be "nut-free"; however, "nut-free" candy will be available in a separate pumpkin labeled "Nut-Free."
Through Nov. 16 /
Annual Beta Club Thanksgiving Food and Dollar Drive.
Collection bins for non-perishable food items are located in Elementary and Jr./Sr. High offices. Jars for monetary donations will be in all Jr./Sr. High English classrooms and the Elementary office.
Nov. 5 /
Daylight Savings Time Ends
at 2:00 am (Set clocks back one hour.)
Nov. 6-10 /
Preschool Canned Food Drive
. Collection bins will be in classrooms.
Nov. 13-17 /
Preschool Boxed Food Drive.
Collection bins will be in classrooms.
Nov. 10 /
Veterans Day Tributes
, Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre, Elementary School's "Musical Tribute to Veterans", 9:00 am; Jr./Sr. High Assembly, 11:20 am
Nov. 20-24 /
Thanksgiving Holidays
(School Resumes Nov. 27)
|
|
(Above) The Advanced String Orchestra conducted by Jennifer Cassin brings a musical Halloween treat to the preschool this week. The performance included a story read by our K-12 Theatre Program Chair, Neena McLain. (more photos in Weekly Album)
In this week's album: Physics Egg Drop, Dia de los Muertos, Logos Quartet, Advanced Strings at the Preschool, Parent Work Day at the Preschool, French Conversation Table, and Candids.
|
|
Junior high tennis players conclude their fall program, Halloween style!
|
|
JUNIOR HIGH TENNIS
Our fall junior high tennis program wrapped up last Sunday with a Halloween Tennis Festival. All of the players and coaches dressed up in Halloween costumes. They spent the last session playing, laughing, hitting lots of tennis balls, and working together on team activities.
At the end of the "festival," each student went home with three tennis freebies courtesy of Wilson Sporting Goods as well as a bag of candy. Tennis goodies included grips, posters, t-shirts and key chains. Coach Kathrin Sieberth told parents that the coaches "had a blast sharing the great sport of tennis with their cool kids.”
|
|
VARSITY BASKETBALL
On Monday night, in the opening game of the season, the Raiders got off to a fast start. They took a 44-12 lead against the FCA Flames going into halftime. The Raiders held a double digit lead the whole second half and won 70-59. Runnels hit 8 threes in the game. Cade Tate led with a dominant performance of 35 points, 6 assists and 7 rebounds. Senior, Kyle Sieberth added 11 points and 8 rebounds, while Griffin Kennedy had 7 points and 12 rebounds.
On Wednesday, after a three-hour road trip, the Raiders took down Phoenix High, 67-50. Again, Cade Tate led the way with 25 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds. Griffin Kennedy had a double double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Humza Pirzadah had a solid game with 11 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists. It was a great team effort defensively and the Raiders controlled the boards, out-rebounding Phoenix 37-28. Runnels is 2-0 now to start the year and will play Kenner Discovery on Tuesday night at home, and Episcopal School of Acadiana on Friday at Runnels.
|
|
JUNIOR HIGH BASKETBALL
This week, the junior high basketball team tore up the courts. The 8th grade team crushed Doyle, 46-25, and the the 7th grade team followed suit with a score of 42-36.
Way to go, Junior High!
|
|
CROSS COUNTRY
Last
Friday, the high school cross country team competed in the 2-Mile Time Trial at West Feliciana Sports Park.
Sam Matthews placed first in the boys race and
Annie Fink was the second place female finisher. There was also a team costume contest and Runnels ran away with that title!
Sam Matthews donned a poop emoji costume while his teammates dressed as flies.
|
|
JUNIOR HIGH SWIMMING
On Oct. 21, the junior high swim team competed at the City Championship meet at Crawfish Aquatics. "All-in-all the team members had a great showing with significant improvements this season on their best times," said Head Swim Coach Matthew Kiggans.
Lily Hayden placed 8th overall and was a finalist in the 100 Yard Freestyle and a preliminary finalist for the 50 Yard Breaststroke. Mikalyn Shay was a preliminary finalist in both the 50 Yard Breaststroke and the 100 Yard Individual Medley. The girls relay team placed 16th in the 200 Yard Freestyle Relay with an overall placement of 20th. Michael Hillman swam his fastest time, setting a new personal best for the season.
(Pictured from left: Head Coach Matthew Kiggans with t
he girls relay team, Lily Hayden, Natalie Fairley, Julia Brashier, Mikalyn Shay, and Assistant Coach Leighanne Kiggans.)
|
|
LADY RAIDER VOLLEYBALL - SENIOR NIGHT
THIS WEEKEND
Saturday, Nov. 4
Jr. High & Varsity Cross Country District 7B Meet and Warrior Run at Highland Road Park
10:30 a.m. Varsity Boys, 11:00 a.m. Varsity Girls, 1:10 p.m. Jr. High Boys, 1:40 p.m. Jr. High Girls
|
|
Please include the date and location of the event and the students pictured
.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
