PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
Runnels has always been the school for all races, religions, and national origins.
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Our Back-to-School Open House for parents of students in grades 1-6 is coming up this Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. Pick up your child's schedule in the Admissions Building and proceed to his or her first class of the day. At the preschool, Open Houses are also in full swing, with Parent Night for the 2s on Aug. 28 and the 3s on Aug. 30. Both events start at 6:30 pm. Pre-K Parent Days are scheduled for the first week of September. (Our Back-to-School Open Houses -- with the exception of the Kindergarten Open House on Sept. 15 -- are among our few events for parents only.)
In this week's
Focus
: 32 AP Scholars at Runnels This Year; Honor and Merit Roll Students Recognized; Elementary Poets; An Inside Look at Scoring AP Exams; Library Used Book Sale; Kudos and Notable Events; Thank Yous; Friendly Reminders; Weekly Photo Album; and Athletic Corner.
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32 from Runnels Named AP Scholars
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Runnels has always been well represented in the College Board's AP (Advanced Placement) Scholar Program, and this year is no exception. Thirty-two of our students were named 2018 AP Scholars in recognition of their outstanding achievement on college-level AP Exams taken in May. Seven of these scholars also received the additional honor of being named National AP Scholars, one of the highest levels available in the program.
The AP program provides high school students the opportunity to take college-level courses and potentially earn college credit, advanced placement or both for successful performance on AP Exams. Runnels High School offers 20 different AP courses to students.
(
Photo: Among our 32 AP Scholars are seniors, front row, from left, Emma Tooraen, Micah Roper, Anna Kadi, Anna Claire Pousson; second row, from left, Kayla Evans, Madaleine Alessi, Anna Somerville, Kalyee Freiberger; back row, from left, Alex Morgan, Collin Bueche, Ian Lansing, Jillian Edmonson, and Maddy Sutton.)
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Jr. and Sr. High Honor, Merit Roll Students Saluted
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We celebrated junior and senior high Honor and Merit Roll recipients from the 2017-2018 academic year at a special awards assembly held Aug. 22 in the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre.
To qualify for the Honor Roll, students must maintain a grade-point average of 3.75 or higher for all four quarters of the school year. For the Merit Roll, the required average is 3.25 for the academic year. At the assembly, our Honor Roll students were presented with medals, and the Merit Roll honorees received ribbons. Congratulations to all!
(
Photo: Current 8th graders who made the Honor Roll as 7th graders last year were recognized at an assembly held Wednesday in our Theatre.)
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Elementary Poems Selected for Contest
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Poems written last year by elementary students in Rachel Smith's 5th-grade English classes and Sheri Allen's 6th have been officially registered in the American Library of Poetry's student poetry contest. This qualifies them to compete for cash prizes, laptops, gift cards, and other valuable prizes. "A review committee will select winners on Sept. 30," said Mrs. Smith.
Congratulations to Katherine Campbell, "Though She Said She Was Okay"; Jake Carey, "The Man from Japan"; Cooper Coates, "December Waits"; Lina Derzi, "The Feast"; Aidan Dooley, "My Dog"; Amelia Guess, "Flowers"; Wyatt Horridge, "Trees"; Isabelle Kennedy, "The Cookie"; Addison Latona, "Coral"; Mason Pizzalato, "My Bass"; Jordynn Osborne, "Butterflies"; and Jenna Sheikha, "A Tree." (
Photo: Poets whose works might win prizes in the American Library of Poetry's student contest.
)
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An Inside Look at Scoring AP Exams
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English and Social Studies Department Head Norma Marsh spent nearly two weeks of her summer vacation working eight-hour shifts at the convention center in Tampa, FL. She was there, along with 1,500 other high school and college history teachers, by special invitation of the College Board, to grade essay questions on Advanced Placement (AP) Exams in U.S. History taken by high school students in classrooms around the world last May.
“We worked on rubrics and grading standards for each essay,” said Ms. March. For the grading process, the readers are broken up into groups of 8-10 with a “Table Leader” overseeing the group. “Table leaders,” said Ms. Marsh, “are usually college professors and readers with 15 or more years of experience.”
This year, Ms. Marsh worked on grading the Document Based Question (DBQ), a mandatory essay for all students taking the AP U.S. History Exam. “The DBQ requires students to analyze and use primary sources in their answers to a complex prompt,” Ms. Marsh explained. This summer she scored more than 600 DBQ essays.
(Photo: Norma Marsh)
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It's Almost Time for the Library Used Book Sale
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The annual Fall Used Book Sale sponsored by our libraries is just around the corner. It's a great chance to bag your favorite books at bargain basement prices. This year, the sale opens on Sunday, Sept. 9 in both of our libraries and continues through Friday, Sept. 14.
The huge sale will feature hundreds of second-hand books for a range of age groups and interests. For children's titles, shop in the Elementary Library, and for young adult and adult books, head to the Jr./Sr. High Library in Novak Hall. Prices start at 25 cents per book.
All sales will benefit the Runnels Library Program. For more information: elemlibrary@runnels.org or hslibrary@runnels.org.
Library Fall Used Book Sale: Sunday, Sept. 9, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.; Monday, Sept. 10 - Friday, Sept. 14, 8:00 am - 3:30 p.m.
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Young Scientists
...
This week, our 1st graders investigated what it means to be a scientist. "They are learning that scientists ask questions, carefully observe, and record data," said elementary teacher Tish Tooraen. On a nature walk, the youngsters used magnifying glasses to closely "observe tree bark from various trees for comparison," Ms. Tooraen added.
(
Photo: Building their science skills by observing nature are 1st graders, from left, Makii Waldrop, Karmyn Jackson and Jackson Simpson.
)
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Show Stopper
...
Junior and senior high art and painting teacher and Runnels alumna Sydney McGraw (Class of '10) won an award at the
Arts Guild of Louisiana's Summer Judged Show. She brought home a 1st place ribbon for a pen, oil and acrylic piece entitled "Parade Ground." The show will be at the Louisiana State Archives until August 30.
(Photo: Sydney McGraw with her award-winning artwork at the Louisiana Archives.)
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White Coat Ceremony
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Runnels alumnus Alex Stansbury (Class of '15) was officially presented with his pharmacist's white coat at a ceremony held at the University of Louisiana at Monroe on Aug. 18. The White Coat Ceremony signals the start of the clinical portion of his Doctor of Pharmacy program at the College of Health and
Pharmaceutical Sciences.
(
Photo: Alex Stansbury, second from left, with his family at the white coat ceremony at UL-Monroe.)
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Broadening Horizons
... Traveling with NFTY, a youth group organization of Jewish teens, junior Julia Sager spent four weeks in Central Europe and Israel exploring her cultural heritage. In Europe, she visited historic sites in Prague and Warsaw as well as the UNESCO World Heritage Center at Auschwitz. While in Israel, she spent time at the Western Wall in Old Jerusalem, sipped tea in a Bedouin tent in Judea, climbed Mount Masada to see the sunrise, and swam in the Dead Sea. A highlight of the trip was a four-day overland trek from the Sea of Galilee to the Mediterranean. “We had to carry all our food and sleep out in the open,” said Julia. She loved it! She also said she loved meeting “some of the coolest people ever” and learning about their way of life. (
Photo: Julia Sager, at left, at an outdoor market (shuk) in Jerusalem with a friend.
)
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The Spanish Class Is Back
... We are excited to welcome The Spanish Class back to Runnels this year. Spanish language classes will be available to 2s, 3s, and Pre-Ks on the preschool campus during the school day on Wednesdays and after school on Wednesdays to students in grades K-6 on the main campus. For more information, contact The Spanish Class at
www.thespanishclass.info
. The deadline for online registration is Sept. 5.
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... A special thank you goes to String Orchestra students
Connor Porthouse
, grade 10, and
Zeb Tate,
Parker Wright
and
Sam Kennedy
, grade 6, for a wonderful performance at the Baton Rouge Parents Magazine Cover Kid Event and Shopping Extravaganza on Saturday, Aug. 18 at the Belle of Baton Rouge atrium. They appeared before an audience of approximately 700 at this community-wide event. Also representing our school were String Orchestra Director
Jennifer Cassin
, Admissions Director and Student Ambassador Club Sponsor
Sarah Haase
, and Jr./Sr. High Assistant Principal
Dana Schlotterer
. (
Photo: Zeb Tate, Parker Wright, and Sam Kennedy in concert at the Belle of Baton Rouge atrium last Saturday
.)
... We extend a huge thank you to
Marc and Ellen Sager
(Julia, grade 11, and Max, Class of '18) for hosting a Runnels coaches "Better Together" happy hour at their home.
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... A sincere thank you goes to Elementary Assistant Principal
Beth Golden
for constructing a "wish tree" for the Elementary Library in connection with the 4th-6th-grade's One School, One Book summer reading project. In the book,
Wishtree
by Katherine Applegate, a 10-year-old girl named Samira who is struggling with the issues of inclusiveness and racism, writes down her wishes and ties them to a very wise, very old "wish tree." Just like Samira, our students have been writing down their hopes and wishes and attaching them to Ms. Beth's "wish tree." "Some of the wishes are incredibly thoughtful," said Elementary Librarian Amanda Albin.
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Aug. 25 /
Jr. Beta Back-to-School Dance
(for 7th and 8th graders), Catalano Gym, 7:00 p.m.
Aug. 26 /
Open House for Parents of Students in Grades 1-6
, 2:00 p.m., Admissions Building (After picking up your child's schedule, proceed to his/her first class.)
Aug. 28 /
Preschool 2's Parent Night
, 6:30 p.m., at the Preschool
Aug. 29 /
K-6 Yearbook Picture Day
, Admissions Building 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Aug. 29 /
Jr./Sr. High Club Day Assembly
, Theatre, 11:20 a.m. - 12:20
p.m.
Aug. 30 /
Preschool 3's Parent Night
, 6:30 p.m., at the Preschool
Aug. 31 /
Parent Association of Runnels (PAR) General Meeting
, 6:30 p.m., Drama Room
Sept. 6 and 7 /
Pre-K Parent Days
, Molly Hightower Activity Building, 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. (
Pre-K parents will receive email invitations for their Parent Day date
.)
Sept. 9 - 14 /
Library Used Book Sale,
in the Runnels Libraries - Sunday, 9/9 from 11 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and Monday, 1/11 - Friday, 9/14 from 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Children's books will be available in the Elementary Library and Adult and Young Adult Books will be in the Junior and Senior High Library. All proceeds will go to the Runnels Library Program.
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In this week's album:
Kindergarten Butterfly Release, Kindergarten Fitness, P.E. Candids, 4-6 Drama Class, Chemistry Lab, Wish Tree, Preschool, Kindergarten and 6th Grade Buddies, and Candids.
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KEEP UP WITH THE BOOSTER CLUB
Stay up to date with Booster Club activities by visiting their web page for upcoming events.
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GRABBING THE GOLD
This summer, three year-old Briggs Elliser won three gold medals in the obstacle course, swimming and 25-yard dash at the Donate Life Transplant Games of America. The games were held Aug. 2-8 in Salt Lake City, UT. Briggs is the youngest member of Team Louisiana.
When Briggs was one month old, he was diagnosed with the liver disease Biliary Atresia. He received three liver transplants during the summer of 2015. Briggs is now in his second year at the Runnels preschool where he is thriving in the three-year-olds' class.
Prior to the games, Briggs trained by going to gym class, taking swimming lessons and racing with his big brother. Briggs’s parents, Brittany and Bryan, and brother Brady attended the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the Games.
(Photo: Briggs Elliser and his father, Bryan)
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2K FUN RUN FUNDRAISER
FOR THE CROSS COUNTRY TEAM
Love a fun run? Support the Runnels Cross Country team by running in the Battlefield 2 Mile Trail Run. Anyone can come out and run in the public race for $25. SportsBR will kick back $10 to the school of the runner’s choice. This race is held during the Battlefield Cross Country Festival. The 2 Mile Trail Run takes on the same 2 mile course that middle school runners experience at the meet.
Registration is required for all runners and includes a Battlefield t-shirt and post-race snacks. Late registration is $35 after Sept. 16.
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VOLLEYBALL GAINING MOMENTUM
The Lady Raiders volleyball teams will begin regular play on Tuesday with an away game at Woodlawn at 5:00 p.m. The ladies play again on Wednesday at home. Games begin at 5:00 p.m. Come cheer on the players.
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NEXT WEEK
On Tuesday
JV & Varsity Volleyball
at Woodlawn – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday
JV & Varsity Volleyball
vs. Belaire at Home – 5:00 p.m.
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RAIDER PARENTS ARE THE BEST FANS!
SEND US YOUR PHOTOS FOR THE FOCUS
Please include the date and location of the event and the students pictured
.
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Stay Connected to Runnels on Social Media
Here are links to our social media platforms. If you haven't already liked or followed us, please do so. Runnels School posts are tagged with #runnelsschool or #raiderpride, so if you have trouble finding our pages, just search for our hashtags.
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Facebook:
Instagram:
Twitter:
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Runnels pages not maintained by Runnels School:
Twitter:
Instagram:
Facebook:
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There are also Facebook pages dedicated to your child's class, for example, "Class of 2021." These pages are usually private, so contact your class sponsor for access.
If you know of any other social media sites or pages that promote our school or school events, please let us know. We would love to follow them and share them with our school community.
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