PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
Runnels has always been the school for all races, religions, and national origins.
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Happy New Year and welcome back! As we transition into the new year, the faculty, staff, and I look forward to many productive and joyful days ahead with your children.
Early enrollment continues through Jan. 31. If you have not yet completed the re-enrollment process, I urge you to move it to the top of your to do list. I also ask that you continue encouraging your family, friends, and neighbors to consider a Runnels education for their children.
In
Focus
this week: D.A.R.E. Graduation Ceremony; Change of Season Kindergarten Fashion Show; River Dynamics Experience; Setting the Scene with Sound; Heads Up on HOCO 2020; Tickets Now Available for
The Sound of Music
; We Sincerely Thank; Weekly Photo Album; Athletic Corner; Friendly Reminders.
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D.A.R.E. Essay Winners Announced
The entire 5th grade class celebrated the successful completion of the 18-week D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) course with a graduation ceremony in the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre Jan. 10.
Hosting the event was our new D.A.R.E. instructor, Cpl. Amie Genola of the EBR Sheriff's Office. She succeeds Cpt. Randy Aguillard, the D.A.R.E. officer at Runnels for 25 years, who now supervises the program. Head of School Marcia Mackay thanked Cpt. Aguillard, who was a guest speaker at the ceremony, for his years of exceptional service to our students and formally welcomed Cpl. Genola to our school.
A highlight of the ceremony was the announcement of this year's essay winners. Congratulations to Andrew Hart, 1st place; Dana Badawi, 2nd place; and Derek Houk, 3rd place. Cpl. Genola presented each winner with an award certificate, and a gift. She also read Andrew's essay to the audience, presented him with the D.A.R.E. essay medal, and announced that he was eligible to move forward in further D.A.R.E. essay competition. Cpl. Genola also presented a special award for good character to Emma Smith.
Each of the 40 D.A.R.E. graduates received a certificate of completion and a handshake from Cpl. Genola. On behalf of the students, social studies teacher Cheyenne Davis presented Cpl. Genola with a thank you card.
The D.A.R.E. program is designed to assist students in recognizing the consequences of illegal drug use and provide practical advice on resisting their use.
(Photo: With D.A.R.E. officer Amie Genola are this year's essay winners, from left, Andrew Hart, Dana Badawi, and Derek Houk.)
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Change of Season Fashion Show
Weather and how it changes with the seasons was the main topic of discussion in Katherine Phillippe's kindergarten science classes this week. Using flashlights and a globe, the students learned that the Earth takes one year to rotate around the sun and that during that time, we experience different types of weather, which we divide into our four seasons.
At a Change of Seasons fashion show on Wednesday, the children had terrific fun identifying which clothes suited each particular season. Working in small groups, they took turns going outside the classroom and dressing up in either winter, spring, summer, or fall ensembles. When they came back into the room, the rest of the class named the season for which they were suitably attired.
(Modeling clothes that scream SUMMER! at the Change of Seasons fashion show are kindergartners, from left, Jackson Meyer, Corbin Roubique, Emme Vagi, and Audrey Caruso.)
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River Dynamics Experience
Students in Marcy Faust's Earth Science and Physical Science classes furthered their studies of erosion, deposition, and land loss in our state by taking part in the River Dynamics Experience at LSU's Center for River Studies and LASM during a field trip on Jan. 8. They toured the River Studies facility where they viewed a working model of the Mississippi River and got hands-on experience with a stream table.
"A stream table," explained Ms. Faust, "is used to model the erosion and deposition that naturally occurs on a river. Students were able to manipulate the system by changing water flow rate, adding levees, riprap, and plants. The stream table also simulated wave action at the coast and the impact of a tsunami."
Students worked with an LASM instructor to study river sediments and the Wentworth scale, which classifies sediments by particle size, Mrs. Faust noted.
(Photo: During a field trip to the LSU Center for River Studies and LASM, Earth Science and Physical Science students work with an LASM instructor at a stream table to model erosion and deposition.)
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Setting the Scene with Sound
In Technical Theater classes this week, students turned up the volume on learning about how to use sound effects and music to help create meaning, mood, and atmosphere on stage.
Working in groups, students came up with sound designs for two short open scenes they later performed in front of the class. "The goal was to convey what the scenes were about through the use of sound -- without telling the audience," said Technical Theater teacher Kendall Krebsbach.
To find sound effects and music for their scenes, students used the website freesound.org. They downloaded sound cues they thought would be effective in conveying the right setting, mood, action, and atmosphere and programmed them for the scenes. Each group performed their scenes on stage in the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre with the sound effects and music. Later, they all critiqued the use of sound in their scenes, making positive suggestions for boosting the audience's understanding of each performance group's interpretation. It was an effective introductory lesson on the impact of sound on stage.
(Photo: Working on programming sound cues are, from left, sophomore Emma Allerheiligen, Technical Theater teacher Kendall Krebsbach, sophomore Blaiklee Guillot, and junior Joseph Ismail.)
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Heads Up on HOCO 2020
Are you ready to celebrate HOCO (Homecoming) 2020 at Runnels? The fun starts Monday, Jan. 27! We'll have Spirit Week events all week long, a pep rally, the presentation of the Homecoming Court and a varsity boys basketball game against Mt. Hermon, and a high school dance at the Lake House on Feb. 1. This year's theme, Enchanted Evening, is sure to lend a fairytale flair to this sparkling array of festivities.
Earlier this week, the high school student body elected the 2020 HOCO Court. Congratulations to our maids and escorts! They include freshman Emma Collett, Lucy Reeves, Eli Latiolais and Baron Stevenson; sophomores Blaiklee Guillot, Hailey Lester, Josh Freeman and Joel Pena; juniors Brooke Sandefur, Mollybeth Wilkinson, Evan Beoubay, and Jacob Folse; and seniors Catherine Bonaventure, Jenna Carballo, Anna Manning, Grace Smith, Brandon Hall, Ben Holliday, Ryan Ly, and Eli Todaro.
Special thanks to sophomore Drew Burbank for designing the t-shirts and poster for the dance.
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Get Your Tickets for
The Sound of Music
Be sure to order your advance tickets for our school-wide winter show,
The Sound of Music! (
Music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse suggested by 'The Trapp Family Singers' by Maria Augusta Trapp.)
Showtimes are Friday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 15 at 7:00 p.m. in the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre. Tickets are $12 for students and $15 for adults if purchased online and $18 for all at the door. Advance ticket sales close 12 hours before showtimes.
(
Photo: Playing Maria and the Von Trapp children in 'The Sound of Music' are, from left, (front row) Lauren Ly, grade 5, as Marta, Harper Guay, grade 5, as Brigitta, Sophie Edwards, grade 11, as Maria, Brooke Drescher, grade 3, as Gretl, Ethan Ly, grade 5, as Kurt, (back row) Conner Joubert, grade 6, as Friedrich, Sophia Horridge, grade 9, as Liesl, and Madisan Milam, grade 11, as Louisa.)
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Creating Algorithms
... A recent activity in Kathleen Judd's Computer Science 2 class called for students to write algorithms (a set of instructions to solve a problem) to move the smallest card in a pack to the front of the deck. To test whether they wrote the instructions accurately, the students exchanged their algorithms. "There were a few glitches," noted Ms. Judd. But after the students had a chance to redo the exercise with an agreed upon set of terms, the cards stacked up correctly.
(Photo: Working on a project in Computer Science 2 are, from left, senior Ian Shaneyfelt, sophomore Blaine Nicholson, and junior Ben Stafford.)
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Night and Day
... At preschool this week, students explored the concepts of night and day with a constellation of exciting activities. They learned about the colors black and white by playing in a pretend "Panda Refuge" set up by Mr. Michael in the Activity Room. They also camped out in a tent at school, ate s'mores, and wore their PJs to school today! A special night and day show-and-tell featured items beginning with the letter "N." (
Photo: A pretend "Panda Refuge" is the perfect place to learn more about black and white during Night and Day Week at the preschool. Preschoolers, from left, Luna Toscano, Brynn Hymel, and Jackson Skrandel groom their pandas.)
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Date Set for Battle of the Books
... Our junior high students are gearing up for their first ever Battle of the Books set for Jan. 29.
"We have 10 teams that will compete against each other on that date for the top spot at Runnels," said Jr./Sr. High Librarian Wendy Herumin. Each team has 10 books to read, with students taking responsibility for specific books. Competition rounds will consist of Kahoots, short answer essays, and a timed puzzle activity.
The winning team will compete in an area competition in February against Central Middle School, Episcopal Middle School, and Denham Springs Junior High.
(Photo: Looking over a Battle of the Books novel is junior high student Wyatt Horridge.)
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Reading and Voting
... On Jan. 24, students in grades 3-6 will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite book in the 2019-20 Louisiana Young Reader’s Choice (LYRC) Award Program. On the ballots are a mix of picture and chapter books. All of our students have read at least three of the titles, which qualifies them to vote, but 5th-grade reading teacher Rachele Smith has challenged her students to read even more. The five students in the photo have already read four of the chapter books! All of the titles are available in the Elementary Library. Get reading!
(
Photo: Eager LYRC readers, from left, Wesleigh Doughty, Kendall Eastman-Stuart, Andrew Harbin, Molly Banquer, and Tyler Felton.)
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Geaux Mandarin Sign Up ... You can now register for Geaux Mandarin after-school classes at Runnels!
CLICK HERE
for three easy ways to enroll your preschool or elementary student:
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Prescription for Drug Safety ... A super-sized thank you goes to alumna
Regan Dean (Class of '17), now in her first year at the College of Pharmacy at the University of Kentucky, for returning to Julie Fink's 6th-grade science classroom Jan. 6 to talk about pharmacy as a career and share important facts about the safe consumption, storage, and disposal of both over-the-counter and prescription drugs.
Regan, who was a National Merit and AP Scholar while at Runnels, also presented information about the opioid epidemic and the risks of prescription drug abuse, explaining that 25 percent of teens who abuse prescription drugs before the age of 13 become lifelong drug abusers. Regan said she had talked about the opioid epidemic with high school students in Kentucky, where it first started about 30 years ago, and wanted to bring the message back to students at Runnels.
(Photo: College of Pharmacy student and Runnels alum Regan Dean.)
Preschool Donation
... We sincerely thank
Michael and Julia Buckner
for their recent donation of a Lego Duplo table to the preschool. "The 2s are loving it," said Preschool Co-Director Karen Runnels.
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Fond Farewell ... Today, we said so-long to Elementary Assistant Principal Beth Golden, who is leaving Runnels to pursue a career outside the educational arena. She was recognized at both of our Raider Star assemblies this morning and presented with a "Love Box" brimming with sweet notes and drawings from our elementary students expressing their love and best wishes to her. We thank Ms. Beth for her 10 years of exceptional service to our school and wish her well in the next chapter of her career. She will be greatly missed!
(Photo: Departing Elementary Assistant Principal Beth Golden with a "Love Box" full of "thank you" and "we'll miss you" notes and pictures from elementary students.)
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Keep Saving Those Labels for Our Elementary Library
Please continue participating in the following product redemption programs throughout this semester to help support our Elementary Library:
- General Mills Box Tops for Education
- Community Cash for Schools
- CC's Coffee House
- Tyson Project A + Program
The library often receives as much as $2,000 per year for the purchase of books and materials thanks to your participation in these programs.
Call for Readers ... If you're an elementary parent interested in reading to your student's class during his or her library time, please consider signing up to be an Elementary Library "Bookend." Several time slots are available for the first quarter. If you would like more information, contact Elementary Librarian Leah Pizzalato at elem.libr@runnels.org.
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In this week's photo album: Earth and Physical Science Field Trip, Homecoming Court Voting, Kindergarten Change of Seasons Fashion Show, Computer Algorithms, Tech Theatre Sound Project, Raider Star Drawings, Preschool Pajama Day, 5th-Grade D.A.R.E. Graduation, Robotics, Computer Science, and Candids.
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G
et your winter spirit apparel at the Booster Club's Spirit Store!
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BASKETBALL: VARSITY
The Raiders varsity basketball team lost tough ones this week against Doyle and Brusly. The Raiders gave great effort against the Doyle Tigers, but came up short 68-73. Collin Coates had 31 points and 17 rebounds. Runnels combined for 9 threes in the game. Wednesday night, the Raiders fell 55-69 to Brusly. Again, the Raiders combined for 12 threes. Ben Holliday led the way with 18 points all coming on three pointers. The Raiders will play Woodlawn tonight and start district play next Tuesday.
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BASKETBALL: Junior High
On Monday, the Runnels 7th grade boys lost to St Luke's 33-30. Harrison Whitmore scored 17 points. The 8th grade boys beat St. Luke 45-32, with Tyler Thibodeaux, Rossie Harrison and Cooper Coates each scoring 10 points.
Thursday at the St. Alphonsus tournament, the 8th grade Raiders beat Episcopal 32-20 with Cooper Coates scoring 18 points. The Runnels 8th grade team is 17-4 for the year.
(Photo: The Junior boys team goes wild as Paul Stevenson scores.)
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SOCCER: GIRLS
The Lady Raiders Soccer team played a great game against Haynes last night ending in a tie, 3-3!
Join the Lady Raiders Soccer team for Senior Night, Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 5 p.m. at Burbank Fields! Seniors Bailey Hyatt and Angele Lansing will be honored by the team, family and fans.
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SOCCER: BOYS
The varsity boys soccer team will be celebrating Senior Night Wednesday, Jan. 15. The Raiders kick-off against Brighton at 6 p.m. on Burbank Field 22. Come out and support the team and their seniors.
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CROSS COUNTRY
Senior Annie Fink was selected to the 2019 All-Metro Cross Country Team. Annie was also named the Most Outstanding/Valuable Female Runner. Sophomores Dawson Latona and Blaiklee Guillot were selected as honorable mentions. Members are selected by area Cross Country coaches.
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BOWLING
The Bowling Raiders kick-off their season with three matches next week. On Monday, the Raiders take on Tara at All-Star Lanes. Wednesday, the team plays Broadmoor at the Circle Bowl. And on Thursday, they are back at All-Star Lanes to take on St. Michael’s.
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THIS WEEKEND
FRIDAY
Basketball vs. Woodlawn – JV 5:00 p.m., V 5:00 p.m. – SPIRIT EVENT
Jr. High Boys Basketball at St. Alphonsus Tournament
SATURDAY
Boys Soccer vs. Westminister – Burbank
Jr. High Boys Basketball at St. Alphonsus Tournament
Jr. High Girls Basketball
at
Central Private at 2:00 p.m.
SUNDAY
Jr. High Boys Basketball at St. Alphonsus Tournament
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RAIDER FAN PHOTOS
Send in your fan pics to n.latiolais@runnels.org
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Jan. 20 /
Martin Luther King Day - School Holiday
Jan. 22 /
Sr. Beta Induction Ceremony
/ Theatre, 11:50 a.m.
Jan. 23 /
Book Signing and Read-Aloud /
Art teacher and illustrator Lee Brandt Randall will read her latest children's book,
Thibodeaux Turtle and Boudreaux Bunny, the Tortoise and the Hare with a Louisiana Twist,
Elementary Library, 1:00 p.m.
Jan. 24 /
Grades 3-6 Cast Votes for Louisiana Young Reader's Choice (LYRC) Award
/ Elementary Library, 8:30 - 10:10 a.m.
Jan. 24 /
Junior Beta Induction Ceremony
/ Theatre, 11:00 a.m.
Jan. 27-31 /
Homecoming Spirit Week
Jan. 27 /
PAR Snack for Grades K-12
/ at Recess for Grades K-6; in Plaza Area at 11:50 a.m. for grades 7-12
Jan. 27 /
Homecoming Pep Rally
/ Catalano Gym, 2:10 p.m.
Jan. 31 /
Homecoming Court Presentation
/ Theatre, 2:10 p.m.
Jan. 31 /
Homecoming Game and Encore Court Presentation
/ Catalano Gym, 7:00 p.m.
Feb. 1 /
Enchanted Evening High School Homecoming Dance
/ Lake House, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
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