Special Awards Issue, Friday Focus, May 29, 2019
PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
Runnels has always been the school for all races, religions, and national origins.
Friday Focus Awards Issue

In this final 2018-2019 school year edition of the Focus : "Raider Stars of the Year"; Sixth Graders Move to Junior High; On the Elementary Honor Roll; Kindergartners Ring Out the School Year; Getting Out the 5th-Grade Vote; President's Academic Awards Presented to 6th Graders; Fourth Grade Poets In Print; First Grade All-Stars; Elementary Band, String and Harp Awards Bestowed; Kudos To; We Sincerely Thank; and Friendly Reminders.


Have a Safe and Happy Summer!
"Raider Stars of the Year" Honored

Throughout the school year, students in grades 1-6 are awarded “Raider Star” tickets for showing kindness, compassion, courtesy, service to others, cooperation, and many other positive behaviors we encourage and celebrate.

For consistently demonstrating these admirable qualities, one student from each section is chosen by teachers to become a “Raider Star of the Year.” CONTINUE READING ...

( Photo: "Raider Stars of the Year," in grades 2-5 are, from left, Evan Ho, Zachary Kivell, Reese Downing, Emma Hazel Wingate, Mason Alfonso, Alaina White, Ethan Ly, Claire Clavette, and Rebecca Ortlieb. Not pictured: Sadie Edwards. See more photos in Weekly Album.)
Sixth-Graders Move Up to Junior High

The 6th-grade class celebrated the jump to junior high school with a graduation ceremony on May 22 in the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre. Guiding students through the graduation exercises was Head of School Marcia Mackay, Assistant Head of School Conchetta Foshee, and Elementary Assistant Principal Beth Golden. CONTINUE READING ...

( Photo: Head of School Marcia Mackay presents a 6th-grade diploma to Landree Clark. )

On the Elementary Honor Roll

Students in grades 2-6 earning top grades were recognized by having their names placed on the Honor Roll. These students earned "A's" in all subjects, including conduct, this school year with no more than one "B" each quarter. Honor Roll recipients were recognized at our end-of-the-year awards ceremonies and the 6th-Grade Graduation. CONTINUE READING...

( Photo: Second grade Honor Roll recipients display their certificates at the Grades 2-5 Awards Ceremony May 24 in the auditorium. )
Ringing Out the Kindergarten School Year

The youngest students on our campus concluded their first year of school with a Kindergarten Recognition Ceremony in the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre on May 20.

They played handbells, sang about friendship and rainbows, and received their kindergarten portfolios. The audience was treated to a "Memories" slide-show with photos of the children in action at Runnels throughout the school year. MORE PHOTOS...

( Photo: Playing handbells at the Kindergarten Recognition Ceremony are, from left, Madison Eldridge, Luciano Toscano, and Russell Bergeron.)
Getting Out the Fifth-Grade Vote

The fifth-graders recently took part in a series of lessons and activities designed to give them hands-on experience with the American political system. In May, they hit the campaign trail on our campus to elect a class president, vice president, and treasurer for the upcoming school year.

The students formed political parties, nominated candidates, developed platforms, designed and hung campaign posters, presented political speeches, organized an election (with campaign pins, and t-shirts), and voted for the party of their choice.  CONTINUE READING ...

( Photo: Newly elected officers of the rising 6th grade are, from left, Maeve Dolan, president, Alex Griffin, vice president, and Gracie Coates, treasurer. )
President's Academic Awards Go To 6th Graders

The President's Academic Award recognizes outstanding achievement and effort by students in exit grades (6th, 8th, and 12th at Runnels). This year, 18 students in the 6th grade qualified for this honor, which was presented at the 6th-Grade Graduation Ceremony on May 22 in the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre. To receive this recognition, students must have earned a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.5 in grades 4, 5, and 6 combined and scored an 85% or higher on either Total Math or Total Reading on their most recently administered nationally standardized test. CONTINUE READING...

( Photo: Addison Latona is presented with the President's Academic Award at the 6th-Grade Graduation.)
Fourth-Grade Poets in Print

Congratulations to the students in Leah Pizzalato's 4th-grade English class who had original poems selected for publication in Creative Communications' spring anthology titled A Celebration of Poets. The new authors are Jonah Kennedy, Dana Badawi, William Shain, Ethan Ly, Alyssa Lee, Dax Jones, Tyler Felton, Emma Smith, Harper Guay, Kiera Slaton, Wesleigh Doughty, Alaina White, Lauren Ly, Lila Brumfield, Will Reonas, Kendall Eastman-Stuart, Emerson Corder, and Daniel Tate.

( Photo: Some of our newly published 4th-grade poets with the achievement certificates they received at the Grades 2-5 End-of-the-Year Awards Ceremony on May 24. )
Students Celebrate Completion of First Grade

The first graders celebrated the completion of their inaugural year in elementary school by holding their own special awards assembly, the "First-Grade Finale," in the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre on May 21.

At the event, first graders Ayla Lee and Karmyn Jackson were honored as “Raider Stars of the Year” and presented with awards, the entire class sang “God Bless America,” “Life’s a Happy Song,” and “Believe,” and parents and guests were treated to a PowerPoint photo montage. To conclude the assembly, each student was presented with his or her “Special Envelope” and an “All-Star” medal. ( Photo: First graders, from left, Ayla Lee and Karmyn Jackson receive their "Raider Star of the Year" trophies.)

Kindergartners Publish Being Me
Students in our kindergarten language arts classes recently collaborated on writing and illustrating books all about themselves. Each class produced its own version of Being Me. In the book, explained kindergarten teacher Stacey Smith, "they described why it's awesome being them!" Kindergarten art teacher Lauren Downing participated in the group effort by designing the cover and title page for Being Me.

( Photo: Kindergartners present a copy of "Being Me" to Head of School Marcia Mackay.)
Band, String, and Harp Awards Presented to Elementary Musicians

Students in grades 4-6 received awards for outstanding contributions to the Band, String and Harp programs from Band Directors Jill Swetnam and Shanna Drescher, String Orchestra Directors Jennifer and Dan Cassin, and Harp Choir Director Dr. Gabriela Werries. The awards were presented at the 6th-Grade Graduation on May 22 and the Grades 2-5 End-of-the-Year Awards Assembly on May 24. CONTINUE READING...

( Photo: Harp Choir Award recipients, front row, from left, Cameron Stevenson and Kiera Slaton; back row, Kelly Messenger, Riley Whittemore, Wesleigh Doughty, and Gracie Doughty, display their medals at the Grades 2-5 End-of-the-Year Awards Ceremony.)
Kudos To ...
Academic "Jeopardy!" Champs ... Since 1993, our 3rd graders have ended the school year by competing in the Runnels version of the classic game show, "Jeopardy!" This year's top winners were ( from left in photo): 2nd Runner-Up, Ryan Funk; 1st Runner-Up, Kalleigh Brown; and Grand Champion Lauren Wheeler.
Kahoot! Crown Holders ...The 2nd graders put their knowledge and reflexes to work in a Kahoot! tournament last week, which served as a review of material covered during the school year. The top overall winners were ( from left in photo) Kellen Phillipe, 3rd place; Emmett Murphy, 2nd place; and Alex Murphey, 1st place.
Stellar Spellers... In 4th grade social studies, students participated in the annual States and Capitals Spelling Bee in May to help review information they had learned about the United States. The top spellers were ( from left in photo) Kendall Eastman-Stuart, 3rd place; Lauren Ly, 2nd place; and Ethan Ly, 1st place.
NCAA Regionals, Here They Come! ... Runnels alumni Bobby Johnson ('14), Hampton Hudson ('16) , and Johnny Johnson ('16)( from left in photo ), now playing baseball for Southern University, celebrated a big win for the Jaguars on May 19 in New Orleans when they won the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championship. The victory gave the team an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. This Friday, the Jaguars head to Mississippi State to take on the Bulldogs in the NCAA regionals. (Photo: Celebrating their team's SACC win in New Orleans are, from left, Bobby Johnson, Hampton Hudson, and Johnny Johnson.)
Teen Poet ... Freshman Sydney Worsham will have a poem published in an upcoming issue of Teen Ink, a national teen magazine, book series, and website that publishes teenage writing, art, photos, and forums. Since 1989, Teen Ink has published the work of more than 55,000 students, aged 13-19. Sydney said she wrote a poem that will be published on the Teen Ink website.
We Sincerely Thank...
Puppy Love ... Many thanks to Dana Kahn of Bark and Roll Rescue for bringing puppies to school for our students to pet and cuddle between final exams last week. Studies have shown that pet therapy helps students de-stress when they need a break from the pressure of studying and taking tests. Many colleges and universities including LSU have adopted this practice. We also thank art department head Lee Randall for arranging the visit.

( Photo: Squeezing in some puppy love between final exams are, from left, Chelsea Holden, Sarah Golda, and Ali Guerin.)
Successful Pet Drive for Bark and Roll Rescue ... We sincerely thank everyone who donated to the recent pet drive for Bark and Roll Rescue sponsored by the freshman class. On May 21, the 9th grade class officers presented a box of pet supplies collected in the drive and a check for $100 to Bark and Roll Rescue's Dana Kahn. ( Photo: Delivering donated items for pet care and a check to Bark and Roll Rescue's Dana Kahn, far left, are freshman officers, from left, Ryan Roper, Sydney Worsham, and Blaiklee Guillot.)

In Ship Shape ... At its May 5 concert, the 6th-12th-Grade Band played a piece entitled "Carpathia," which musically depicts the rescue ship's race to save the Titanic. Because the band didn't have a ship's bell, which was needed for the piece, students used brake drums from a car to simulate the sound. Thanks to a generous gift, the next time the band members need a ship's bell, they'll have one! "A grandpa in the concert audience," explained 6th-12th Grade Band Director Jill Swetnam, "felt sorry that we didn't have a real ship's bell. So, he delivered one!" We extend our grateful thanks to the grandfather of 7th grade band member Allie Alessi and senior Madaleine Alessi for donating a ship's bell to the band department.

5th Grade Inauguration, 2nd Grade Field Trip to Young Chef's Academy, Computer Science, Kahoot, Jeopardy, Preschool Fun, 6th Goes to Honey Island, Grades 2-5 End-of-the-Year Awards Ceremony, "Exam" Puppies, and Candids.
Friendly Reminders
Summer Hours: School offices will be open Monday - Thursday from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. except for July 4 and 5.