October 5, 2018
PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
Runnels has always been the school for all races, religions, and national origins.
FRIDAY FOCUS
Though the 2018 Annual Giving Campaign, "A Gift of Kindness" just began this week, several parents, teachers and staff members have already participated. A special thank you goes to our first Diamond Donors, Rachel and Brian Evans. Their names will be added to the 2018 donor plaque in the foyer of the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre at the conclusion of the fundraiser. If you have not yet made a gift to the Annual Giving Campaign, please donate today.

In this week's Focus : 2018 Annual Giving Campaign, A Gift of Kindness Now Underway; Preschool Storybook Character Parade; 2018 Runnels Christmas Ornament Now Available; Seniors Take Deep Dive into Literature; Elementary Drama Performances This Week; Metric Olympics; Media Arts Students Participate in The Crucible T-Shirt Contest; We Sincerely Thank; Friendly Reminders; Weekly Photo Album; and Athletic Corner.
2018 Annual Giving Campaign, "A Gift of Kindness" Now in Progress
The 2018 Annual Giving Campaign, "A Gift of Kindness" is now underway. Please show your support for our school by making a donation today. Annual gifts help fund academics, athletics, arts, professional development opportunities for teachers, and many other day-day essentials that tuition and fees do not cover.

A donation of $250 or more by Wednesday, Oct. 31 entitles you to the option of becoming a member of Runnels Schools, Inc., also known as The Corporation for one year. This includes invitations for two to the annual Corporation Dinner Meeting on Nov. 14. Please make a Gift of Kindness to the 2018 Annual Giving Campaign.

Storybook Characters on Parade at Runnels Preschool
Dazzle the Dinosaur, Pinkalicious, Alice in Wonderland a dazzling assortment of Disney Princesses, and many other familiar characters from the pages of children's literature made a special appearance at our preschool this morning for the annual "Storybook Character Parade."

Teachers, parents, grandparents, and preschool students were on hand to watch as the pre-kindergartners dressed as their favorite characters from their favorite books were interviewed by preschool teacher Debbie Schacht in costume as The Very Hungry Caterpillar .

The parade kicked off the preschool's fall Scholastic Book Fair, which runs Oct. 9-12, with Grandparents Day for the 2s on Oct. 10 and a separate one for the 3s on Oct. 11. Pizza Night is Thursday, Oct. 11. ( Photo: Portraying 'Dazzle the Dinosaur' from a book of the same name written by Marcus Pfister is pre-kindergartner Sam Mayeux during his interview with preschool teacher and parade emcee, Debbie Schacht. )

2018 Runnels Ornament Available Through October 12
In spite of the lingering summer temperatures, the holidays are coming. Recently, our junior and senior high art students summoned up some holiday spirit and created designs for the Elementary Library's annual Runnels Ornament. Students submitted their artwork to a committee of faculty and staff charged with selecting the winning design. The prize went to 8th grader Katherine Brigman, a student in Sydney McGraw's junior high art class. Katie will receive a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card for submitting the winning design.

The 2018 Runnels Ornament ( at right ) is now available for purchase by pre-order only. The last day to place your pre-order is Friday, Oct. 12 . The cost is $10 per ornament with payment through Smart Tuition. All proceeds will benefit the Elementary Library.

Seniors Take Deep Dive into Literature
Though it can be difficult to pick up on the finer points of literature, our seniors got a leg up on "reading between the lines" from a book on their Summer Reading list, Thomas Foster's How To Read Literature Like a Professor.

They used information from the book on identifying and interpreting literary devices such as symbols, themes, archetypes and patterns to analyze parts of the 8th century epic poem Beowulf in class.

The students worked in teams to create and present posters showing how passages in Beowulf can be decoded and elucidated by applying literary devices presented in How To Read Literature Like a Professor .

"The goal in this project, and the goal in reading  How to Read Literature like a Professor ," explained 12th grade English teacher Kylie Harbin, "is for students to read literature deeply, instead of superficially. Understanding symbolism, allusions, allegories, and other literary devices, and having students be able to spot examples on their own is a powerful skill." ( Photo: At work on their "Beowulf" poster are, from left, seniors Ian Lansing and Ryan Lam .)
Elementary Drama Students Stack Up Winning Performances
Congratulations to our elementary drama students and their directors for presenting seven top flight performances of three different plays in the Drama Room this week.

Upper elementary students under the direction of Sonya Blanchard garnered applause for their comedic performances in The Adventures of Little Red Robin Hood , a mash-up of legend, history, and fairy tales.

The musical Off Their Rockers presented by third grade drama students and directed by Julie Horridge took us to a particularly lively social hour at the "Runnels Tired Teachers Retirement Home." In spite of being hobbled by walkers and canes, the "seniors" tore up the floors dancing and singing to "Old Time Rock and Roll" and other musical blasts from the past.

Dressed in jammies and carrying bedtime snuggle toys, our first and second grade drama students adorably sang and danced their way through the play Pajama Party! Billed as a "Musical Revue about How Bedtime Can Be a Blast," the show offered a look at children's traditional bedtime routines and rituals. Julie Horridge directed the play. ( Photo: In a musical number from 'Pajama Party' are first graders, from left, Aniya Farhat, Amelia Wright, Henry McCarney, Matthew Faust, and David Howell.)
Sixth Graders and Kindergartners Accept Metric Olympics Challenge
The 6th graders and kindergartners teamed up on the playground Oct. 4 to take part in the annual Metric Olympics. Through the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) activity, the 6th graders got more hands-on practice with metric measurements, which they had just finished studying in science class, and the kindergartners had fun learning a few new skills.

"At the Metric Olympics," said 6th-grade science teacher Julie Fink, who introduced the activity to Runnels in 2004, "the older students show the kindergartners how to use some measurement tools -- graduated cylinders, triple beam balances, and rulers -- and teach them the different base units in the metric system -- meters, liters, and grams."

Working together in small groups, the kindergartners did the physical part of each Metric Olympic "event," and the 6th graders measured the results. "Events" included the paper plate discus, the sponge squeeze, the hammer throw, the standing long jump, the bean grab, javelin straw throw, and the cotton ball shot put. ( Photo: Morgan McCloud and Annie Garrison guide kindergartner Aidyn Watts through the Left-Handed Sponge Squeeze event at the Metric Olympics.)
Media Arts Students Take on Real World Design Project
The high school students in Nicole Latiolais' Media Arts II and III classes recently took on the role of graphic designers in an advertising agency. Each student was tasked with creating promotional materials for our theatre’s upcoming production of Arthur Miller’s, The Crucible. Provided with a brief about the show and a list of design parameters, each student designed a t-shirt, poster and program cover. Theatre Program Chair and play director Neena McLain was assigned the role of client and selected one of the t-shirt designs to be printed for the cast. From the seven unique designs, sophomore Connor Porthouse’s was chosen. The other contributing designers are Seth Chiasson, Kade Damon, Jillian Edmonson, Hudson Hillman, Marshall Pentes and Erin Oehrle.

The students used Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to create their designs. The poster designs will be used as promotional materials for the show and displayed throughout the main campus and in the foyer of the Theatre. Program cover designs will be used alternately on the playbill.

(Photo: 'The Crucible' T-Shirt Design Contest winner Connor Porthouse, seated, with classmates, from left, Seth Chiasson, Hudson Hillman, Erin Oehrle, Jillian Edmonson, and Marshall Pentes. Not pictured: Kade Damon.)
The Crucible will run for three performances Oct. 26-28 in the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre. Advance tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students. At the door, tickets are $12. Online ticket sales end 12 hours before each performance.

Tickets go on sale soon.
Students in Candice Ortlieb's 3rd-grade science class learn how to extract chlorophyll from spinach leaves in a lab this week.
Congratulations to Enzo Rovai, 6B, the winner of this year's 6th grade t-shirt design contest.
Upper elementary drama students in a scene from this week's production of 'The Adventures of Little Red Robin Hood' in the Drama Room.
We Sincerely Thank...
New Robotics Table ... Our sincere thanks go to Alecia and Mike Tate (Daniel, grade 4, and Zeb, grade 6) for building and donating the robotics table now installed in the Elementary Computer Lab. The regulation size table will be used by members of the Elementary Robotics Club to prepare for competitions. (Photo: Members of the Elementary Robotics Club's Electric Einsteins competition team, from left, Lina Derzi, Landree Clark, Parker Wright, and Zeb Tate. Not pictured: Poppy Pellissier and Summer Guerin.)

Keyboards for Piano Classes ... We extend a huge thank you to Liz and Stephen Williams (Brie, grade 8) for donating two keyboard set-ups for piano classes in the performing arts classroom building.
Community Helpers Week ... With the generous assistance of visitors this week, our preschool students learned about the important roles community helpers play in our lives. We extend a huge thank you to David Latona (Dawson, grade 9, John Morgan, grade 8, and Addison, grade 6) and linemen Cody, Tyler, and Romeo of DEMCO, members of the Baton Rouge Mounted Police and their horses, and firefighter Jesse Wingate (Tucker, Pre-K, Laney, 1B, and Emma Hazel, 3A) and members of the St. George Fire Department for stopping at the preschool to share information about the services they provide to the community. ( Photo: Preschool student Tucker Wingate and his dad, firefighter Jesse Wingate. )

Friendly Reminders
Oct. 6 / Runnels High School Robotics Club Participates in Mini Maker Fair , Main Library

Oct. 8 / Columbus Day / School Holiday

Oct. 10 / PSAT for Grades 10 and 11 , Theatre, 8:30 a.m.

Oct. 10-12 / Preschool Scholastic Book Fair - The Enchanted Forest , Preschool Activity Building, Grandparent Day for the 3s - Oct. 10; Grandparents Day for the 2s - Oct. 11; Pizza Night - Oct. 12

Oct. 12 / Last Day To Pre-Order 2018 Runnels Christmas Ornament ( Proceeds benefit the Elementary Library. )

Oct. 13 / Fall High School Dance, "Let's Glow Crazy ," Catalano Gym, 7-10 p.m.

Oct. 16 / St. Jude's Math-A-Thon Kick-Off , Drama Room, 10:10 a.m.

Oct. 18 / 4th-Grade Band Performance , Theatre, 9:30 a.m.

Oct. 26-28 / Arthur Miller's The Crucible , Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre, Oct. 26 and 27, 7:00 p.m. and Oct. 28, 2:00 p.m. Online tickets ($10) available starting Oct. 5 at runnels.org (At the door, tickets will be $8 for students and $12 for adults.)

In this week's album: 3rd Grade Science, 12th Grade English, Pickleball in P.E., Technical Theatre, Elementary Drama, Metric Olympics, Preschool Community Helpers, and Candids.
Athletic Corner
STAY IN THE LOOP WITH THE BOOSTER CLUB!


From left, senior Micah Roper and freshman Sydney Worsham compete at the St. Joseph’s Invitational.
CROSS COUNTRY

Last Saturday, the Runnels Cross Country team ran strong in the St. Joseph’s Invitational at Highland Rd. Park setting 28 new Personal Records and a new school record. Junior Annie Fink set the new school record for 3-miles with a time of 19:31. The previous record was set by Sarah Pressley in 2009 with a time of 19:49. Sarah went on to run collegiately for Nicholls State.

The team races next in the Catholic High Invitational tomorrow morning at Highland Road Park.

(Photo: Junior Annie Fink)
VOLLEYBALL

The Lady Raiders volleyball team had a week of highs and lows. On Monday, the Ladies took on Baton Rouge High and suffered a loss of 0-3. The girls turned their luck around on Wednesday as they defeated Christ Episcopal 3-2 (25-14, 25-16, 24-26, 17-25, 15-8). Senior Rachel Wehbe led the team with 14 kills and 8 aces. Also leading the team were Alexis Rogers with 7 kills and 4 aces, Karli Hebert with 19 assists, Maddy Sutton with 12 digs, and Hannah Cassano with 5 digs.

On Oct. 9, the Ladies take on Southern Lab at home in the district opener starting at 5:00 p.m.

(The Volleyball team celebrates a win against Christ Episcopal with Volleyball Coach Jean Martinez. From left: Caroline Henning, Sydney Markham, Rachel Wehbe, Anna Claire Pousson, Coach Martinez, Maddy Sutton; center, Hannah Cassano, and seated front, Alexis Rogers . )

JUNIOR HIGH SOFTBALL

The junior high softball team kicked-off the season this week. The team got off to a slow start, suffering losses to Parkview and U-High but came back on Wednesday evening with a victory against Episcopal, 9-5. The Lady Raiders were led by pitcher Chloe Bueche throwing 6 strikeouts and only allowing 2 hits. The offense was a team effort. Of the 10 players, 9 had RBIs and 8 scored, with Sophie Rabeaux scoring twice.

The team plays Central next on Monday at 5:00 p.m. in Central and Dunham on Tuesday at Episcopal at 5:30 p.m.
WHAT'S UP NEXT...

Saturday
Jr. High & Varsity Cross Country CHS Cross Country Meet at Highland Road Park – Begins at 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday
JV & Varsity Volleyball vs. Southern Lab at Home – 5:00 p.m. Spirit Event!
RAIDER PARENTS
ARE THE BEST FANS!

Email game and fan photos to  n.latiolais@runnels.org . Please include the date and location of the event and the students pictured .  
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