PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
Runnels has always been the school for all races, religions, and national origins.
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In
Focus
this week: Kendall Eastman-Stuart Named Overall Winner in 2018 Ochsner Holiday Card Contest; Writing Champions; District Honor Band Recruits from Runnels; Harps Add Sparkle to Holiday Season; Previewing Books for Independent Reading on the American Dream; Cool Concert Hails Holidays; Exploring World Cultures; Stellar Performances Light Up Drama Room Stage; Winter Wonderland Teacher Appreciation Luncheon; Kudos and Notable Events; We Sincerely Thank; Weekly Photo Album; Athletic Corner; Friendly Reminders
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Fourth Grader Wins Ochsner Art Contest
Kendall Eastman-Stuart, 4C, was in the Drama Room watching a play with her class Thursday morning when her name was called by Elementary Assistant Principal Beth Golden. It might have been an "uh-oh" moment, but it wasn't. Instead, Kendall was called up to the stage to receive an award. She was named the overall winner of the 2018 Ochsner Holiday Card Contest. Her mixed media drawing of a Christmas tree in soft pastel colors was declared the official Ochsner Baton Rouge Region holiday card.
On hand to present the award were Ochsner Baton Rouge Region CEO Eric McMillen, Community Outreach Project Manager Heidi Howat Wendt, and “Ollie” the Ochsner mascot. Kendall received a framed poster of her card, a cookie cake to share with classmates, an “Ollie” stuffed animal, and a drawing kit.
Also at school for the presentation were Kendall's dad, John Eastman-Stuart, her grandmother, Georgia Eastman, and her art teacher, Burgundy Brumfield. Posters of Kendall’s card will be on display at each of Ochsner’s Baton Rouge locations during the holiday season.
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Ochsner Baton Rouge Region CEO Eric McMillen and "Ollie," the Ochsner mascot, in the Drama Room on Thursday to recognize Kendall Eastman-Stuart as the overall winner of the 2018 Ochsner Holiday Card Contest and present her with a framed poster of her artwork and other prizes.
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Writing
Champions
Congratulations to the winners of the Jr./Sr. High Library's Holiday Writing Contest. Awards were presented at the gold, silver and honorable mention levels in the categories of Memoir and Poetry.
Memoir Winners: Gold - Michal Gawronski and Brieanna Saltzman; Silver – Ryan Roper, Joel Pena and Blaiklee Guillot; Honorable Mention – Jacob Schmidt and Nick D’Gerolamo, and Joseph Ismail.
Poetry Winners: Gold - Blaiklee Guillot; Silver - Jacob Tate and Abby Robbins; and Honorable Mention - Mary Luttrell and Charlie Garrison.
The winners were presented with tins of holiday cookies.
(Photo:
Blaiklee Guillot, Michal Gawronski, and Brieanna Saltzman.)
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District Honor Band Recruits
Four Runnels students were named to the District Honor Band. Hope Oubre and Tate Smith were chosen for the Middle School Symphonic Band, and Evan Beoubay and Chris Yura were picked for the High School Concert Band. More than 1,000 students showed up for the auditions. Their concert will be Jan. 19 in Hammond's Columbia Theater.
(Photo: Evan Beoubay, Hope Oubre, Tate Smith, and Chris Yura.)
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Harps Add Sparkle to Holiday Season
The Runnels Harp Choir, under the direction of Dr. Gabriela Werries, presented its winter concert in the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre on Dec. 12. The students performed a series of holiday songs and carols, concluding with "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," with the audience singing along.
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Previewing Books on the American Dream
As part of a thematic study of the American Dream, students in Norma Marsh's American Studies class recently launched an independent reading project. To help each student find just the right book, Ms. Marsh enlisted the services of Jr./Sr. High Librarian Wendy Herumin, who previewed potential titles for the assignment and lined up book trailers for the students to review for homework. (
Photo: Sam Haase and Janie Schlotterer look over the novel "Catch-22" as a possible choice for a reading assignment.)
READ MORE
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Cool Concert Hails Holidays
The 4th- and 5th-Grade Bands, directed by Shanna Drescher, presented a concert of snappy holiday music in the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre on Dec. 10. Among the selections played were "Santa on the Housetop" by the Beginning Band and "Oh, Hanukkah" by the 5th-Grade Band. Congratulations to our youngest band students on a successful concert! (
Photo: Beginning Band trumpet players, at left, Alex Hayden and Adin Brunner.)
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Exploring World Cultures
Our students in the 3s class welcomed several special guests to the preschool this week to help them learn about cultures of the world. Runnels dad Mauricio Toscano shared information about the music and food of Ecuador and other Latin American countries. He and his wife Jennifer, our 3s cubby teacher, demonstrated some Latin American dance steps.
Pre-K afternoon teacher and preschool mom Stacy Rosenbrook also visited with the 3s to talk about Trinidad and Tobago, the dual island Caribbean nation where she was born. Ms. Rosenbrook reminisced about climbing mango trees when she was little and eating fruit from the branches. She even brought in some slices of mango to for the youngsters to sample.
(
Photo: Stacy Rosenbrook (center) tells preschool students about her home nation, Trinidad and Tobago, as her son Keiran, Pre-K, holds up a picture of its flag.)
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Stellar Performances Light Up Drama Room Stage
Kudos to our elementary drama students and their teachers for presenting seven full-length plays in the Drama Room this week!
Under the direction of Sonya Blanchard, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd hour upper elementary drama student staged three performances of
The Snow Show, a minimalist drama about the many facets of snowfall.
Students in 1A and 2B performed the musical
On with the Snow and students in 3A and 3B presented the play
Elflandia. Julie Horridge directed both shows.
Congratulations to all of our performers and their directors.
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(Photo: Students in section 3B sing about the wonders of living in "Elflandia" on Dec. 13 and 14 in the Elementary Drama Room.)
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Winter Wonderland Luncheon
The Parent Association of Runnels orchestrated the second in a series of four Teacher Appreciation Luncheons for faculty and staff in our teachers' lounges this week. The spread was fabulous and the appointments gorgeous, right down to the matching invitations, napkins, and tablescapes. We sincerely thank the many parents who helped organize, supply, serve, and clean up after the event. Special thanks go to PAR President
Blake Stevenson and Teacher Appreciation Co-Chairs
Shasta Felton (Elementary) and
Brooke Yura (Jr./Sr. High). We also sincerely thank
Wendy Dolan, Randi Bergeron, Galia Betech, Colleen Spillane, Kasia Baranska, Rachel Evans, Laurin Fairley, Pam Culp, Renee' Crow, and members of the National Honor Society and
Beta Club.
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(Photo: PAR Teacher Appreciation volunteers, from left, PAR President Blake Stevenson, Galia Betech, Wendy Dolan, and Co-Teacher Appreciation Chair Shasta Felton.)
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Middle School Honor Orchestra
...
Congrats to the string students who made the Middle School All-Parish Honor Orchestra. They include (front, from left) Sarah Ortleib, Isabelle Kennedy, Zeb Tate, Parker Wright, Olivia Chaisson, and George Forgey; (back row) Brooke Parsons, Hannah Landry, Madeleine Reonas, Ali Guerin, and Sela Basso.
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High School Honor Orchestra
...
Bravo to the students named to the High School Multi-Parish Honor Orchestra. They are ( from left) Andrew Schacht, Ryan Roper Roper, Emily Schacht, Anna Claire Pousson, Ally Sutton, and Conner Porthouse. Both honor orchestras will have their concerts on Jan. 26 at 2 p.m. at Baton Rouge Magnet High
.
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Bake Sale Proceeds To Benefit Charity
... The GSA raised $106 at its bake sale this week, which will be donated to HAART, Inc. (HIV/AIDS Alliance for Region Two), a local organization that has been assisting people with HIV/AIDS for more than 20 years by providing housing, health care, medications, and emotional support. "We greatly appreciate everyone who supported the bake sale and wore read on Tuesday," said GSA sponsor Ramona Eberly.
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Library Makers Moment
...
This week in the elementary library, 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders read
If Picasso Painted a Snowman
by Amy and Greg Newbold. "The book," said Elementary Librarian Amanda Albin, "highlights well-known artists and what it might look like if they drew a snowman." Afterwards students spent time in the library drawing or painting snowmen in their own unique styles using materials such as chalk, q tips, and cotton balls.
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... Calvin Pittman,
grade 7, participated in the Over the Edge fundraising event for the Special Olympics in New Orleans on Dec. 7.
(Photo: Calvin Pittman rappels down NOLA's Benson Tower at the Over the Edge event.)
... Alumnus
Sam Day
('18) will be marching with the UL Pride of Acadiana Band at the Dec. 15 Cure Bowl in Orlando. The game will be aired on CBS.
... Congrats to teacher
Kari Roan for winning the Tacky Holiday Sweater Contest teacher drawing today. She is the lucky winner of a $10 Starbucks card.
...
Gavin Foley
, 3A, appears in the film
Green Book
now in local theaters. He plays the son of the character portrayed by Viggo Mortenson.
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Clean Energy ... We sincerely thank
Tyler Herman and
Ann Shaneyfelt of Louisiana Clean Fuels, funded by Clean Cities Department of Energy, for visiting with the 6th graders in Julie Fink's science classes today to share their expertise on alternative fuels. (
Photo: Tyler Herman speaks to 6th graders about cars fueled by alternative sources of energy such as propane.)
Santa’s Nice List
... "The "Nice List" was a dazzling success this year," reports PAR President Blake Stevenson. "Teachers and staff members received their gifts on Wednesday during the Winter Wonderland Luncheon." The faculty and staff deeply appreciate the generosity and kindness of all the families who helped make the "Nice List" happen, with special thank yous to "elves" Karen Rhinehart, Beth Golden, Kay Chauvin, and Blake Stevenson.
Preschool Toys
... We sincerely thank
Stephanie and Jeffrey Frederic
for donating wooden puzzles and blocks to the preschool.
Senior Luncheon
... Many thanks to the parent and grandparent volunteers who helped put on the special senior lunch in the gym this week. They include class co-sponsors
Christine Pousson
and
Amy Taliaferro
,
Sherry Roper, Alfred and Regina Roper (Sherry's in-laws)
,
Donna Wehbe
,
Sonya Beuche
, and
Kim Courville
. The students enjoyed gumbo, jambalaya, white beans, salad and rolls.
Photography Club
... Special thanks goes to 7th graders
Brynn Myles, Alaysia Mandujano
and
Poppy Pellissier
of our new Photography Club for their help with today's "Tacky Holiday Sweater" pictures.
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In this week's photo album: Hour of Coding, Makers Moments in Elementary Library, GSA Bake Sale, "Tacky Holiday Sweater Day," Ochsner Holiday Card Winner, Perusing Books for American Studies Project, Preschoolers Learn about Cultures of the World, 4th-Grade Field Trip, and Candids.
(
Photo: Students decked out for "Tacky Holiday Sweater Day" in the high school.)
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VARSITY BASKETBALL
The Runnels
varsity basketball team
beat Doyle on Tuesday night 66-44. The lead was 15 points at the end of the first quarter and stretched to 22 points at the end of the first half. The Raiders never trailed in the game. Cade Tate led the scoring with 18 points, Collin Coates added 16 points, and Ben Holliday had 13 points.
On Thursday night, Runnels traveled to New Roads to play Catholic PC, crushing them 66-44. Cade Tate had a big game with 38 points.
Tonight and Saturday, the Raiders will play St. John and FCA in the Catholic PC tournament. Next Thursday, Runnels will take on Parkview at home.
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JUNIOR HIGH BOYS BASKETBALL
Last Sunday, the junior high boys basketball teams took on Episcopal. The 7th grade team lost to Episcopal 30-28. Rossie Harrison scored 14 points while Cooper Coates added 10 points. The 8th grade beat Episcopal 42-34. Shelby Anders and Alan Lam each scored 10 points.
On Monday, the 7th grade team beat Frost Middle 42-16. Harrison White and Yaseen Pirzadah had 6 points apiece. The 8th grade grade team also won, scoring 38-24, with Alex Lam earning 13 and Charlie Tucker adding 10 points.
Wednesday evening, the 7th grade team defeated Denham Springs 28-19, with Rossie Harrison and Cooper Coates each scoring 10 points. Unfortunately, the 8th grade lost 31-28, missing a three pointer at the buzzer to tie it up. Alex Lam had 9 points and Alan Lam had 10 points.
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Lena Huynh playing some "D."
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Junior high girls on the attack.
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Alaina Milam making a save while Lena Huynh has her back.
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JUNIOR HIGH GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Runnels junior high girls teams, White and Blue, played at Copper Mill on Wednesday. Runnels White tied the defending champs, Copper Mill, 16-16. Gracie Coates led the team in scoring with 10 points. Carlie Shay, Mikalyn Shay, and Lena Huynh each scored 2 points. Runnels Blue lost a tough physical game to U-High 17-8. Annie Garrison led us in scoring with 6 and Ashlynn Harper added 2 points.
On Thursday, Runnels White beat Victory, 12-5. Offense was a team effort that night. Lena Huynh had 4 points while Carlie Shay, Gracie Coates, Dru Hairford and Alaina Milam each scored 2. Runnels Blue smothered Episcopal and won 13-1. Lily Hayden led the team in scoring with 5 points, Annie Garrison had 4 points, and Olivia Williams and Ashlynn Harper added 2 points each.
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GET RUNNELS APPAREL AT THE BOOSTER CLUB SPIRIT STORE
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THIS WEEKEND...
TONIGHT
Varsity Girls Soccer
at St. Michael – 3:30 p.m. – Dismiss at 2:20 p.m.
Varsity Boys Basketball
vs. St. John at Catholic PC – 6:50 p.m.
On Saturday
Varsity Girls Soccer
vs. Bolton at Burbank #10 – 1:00 p.m.
Varsity Boys Soccer
vs. Bolton at Burbank #18 – 5:00 p.m.
Varsity Boys Basketball
vs. FCA at Catholic PC – 1:30 p.m.
Jr. High Girls Basketball
(White Team) vs. Dunham - 9:00 a.m.
Jr. High Girls Basketball
(Blue Team) vs. Victory - 10:00 a.m.
Jr. High Boys Basketball
at Hosanna – 7th grade at 10:00 a.m.
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RAIDER FAN ART WELCOME!
SEND US YOUR FAN PICTS!
Email game and fan photos to
n.latiolais@runnels.org
. Please include the event and the name of the students pictured
.
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Through Dec. 17
/
Toys for Tots Drive at Runnels
/ Collection barrels are in the foyer of the Elementary School. All donations will go to children in the Greater Baton Rouge area. New, unwrapped toys are welcome.
Dec. 17 & 18 /
Exam Dogs
/ Pups in foster care will be available for test de-stressing during the Jr./Sr. High Mid-term break period behind the performing arts classroom building.
Dec. 19 /
Dance Watch Day
/ Parents of dance students are invited to a dance demonstration during their children’s class period in the Ally Short Dance Studio in the performing arts classroom building. (3rd graders also attending.)
Dec. 20 /
General Music Class Parents Day
/ Room 64, performing arts classroom building, 10:15 a.m. (3rd graders also attending.)
Dec. 20 /
Elementary Holiday Snack
/ 11:30 a.m., provided by PAR
Dec. 21 through Jan.- 4 /
Winter Break
Jan. 7 - /
School Resumes
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