PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
Runnels has always been the school for all races, religions, and national origins.
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Welcome to the 55th year of school at Runnels! I love the start of a new school year. To me, it's an exciting time, full of energy, anticipation, and fresh possibilities. I enjoy welcoming everybody back to campus and seeing how much students have grown and changed over the summer. There are smiles and hugs everywhere! We are off to a great start, and I'm delighted that you've chosen to be part of our school family.
In this week's
Focus
: "Senior Sunrise"; Path To Programming Paved with Ozobots; Eagle Scout Service Project Benefits Main Campus; Teachers Build Skills at Summer Workshops, Conferences; Spirit Cup Competition Heats Up; Numbers Show Teachers Love Runnels; Notable Events; Thank Yous; Friendly Reminders; Weekly Photo Album; and Athletic Corner.
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Seniors Greet Sunrise Together on First Day of School
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As dawn broke over the main campus on the first day of school, the seniors were there to greet it. At 6:20 a.m. they gathered on the lawn in front of Novak Hall to watch the sun come up together as a class on the first day of their last year as students at Runnels High School.
Joining the seniors for this third annual “Senior Sunrise” were Assistant Head of School and Jr./Sr. High Principal Conchetta Foshee and Jr./Sr. High Assistant Principals Pamela Babcock and Dana Schlotterer.
In addition to welcoming the dawn, the seniors reconnected with classmates and faculty and enjoyed a breakfast hosted by
class sponsors Nicole Latiolais and Colleen Spillane. On the menu were
Chick-n-Minis, pigs in a blanket, fruit, yogurt, donuts, cinnamon rolls, Starbucks iced coffee drinks, assorted juices, and milk.
The students listened to music, took keepsake photos, and wrote notes to themselves, which they’ll open on their last day of high school at "Senior Sunset."
(Photo: Nearly the entire senior class, 45 students strong, gathers for "Senior Sunrise.")
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Path to Learning Programming Paved with Ozobots
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With the help of a fleet of pint-sized robots called Ozobots, students in Mrs. Ortlieb's third-grade science classes are learning how to program -- and they're having a great time doing it!
Ozobots are tiny toy robots that have light sensors to allow students to direct their actions. The robots follow light and dark patterns on surfaces drawn with special red, blue, green and black markers. "The students create the paths and decide which commands to give their Ozobots," said Mrs. Ortlieb. "Different color sequences tell the Ozobots what to do," she added.
(Photo: In third-grade science, Reese Downing, left, and Paige Hileman watch Ozobots respond to their programming instructions.)
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Eagle Scout Project Benefits and Beautifies Runnels Campus
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In August, Chris Yura, a junior at Runnels, took a giant step on his journey toward becoming an Eagle Scout. He completed his Eagle Service Project by planning the design, arranging the construction and overseeing the installation of two beautiful cedar gates to close off the service area next to the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre.
To earn the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest attainable in American Boy Scouting, candidates must tick a lot of boxes. They have to earn at least 21 merit badges, serve actively in the troop in six different positions of responsibility in a prescribed amount of time, pass a board of review, and demonstrate leadership and organizational skills by successfully completing a service project to benefit the community. All of it except passing the Board of Review must be done before the scout's 18th birthday. It's a major undertaking. Less than five percent of all scouts stay the course and fulfill the requirements to ascend to the rank of Eagle.
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Photo: Chris Yura and one of the new gates on our campus thanks to his Eagle Scout project.)
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Teachers Build Skills at Summer Conferences, Workshops
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Many of our teachers were on the go this summer,
taking advantage of opportunities to strengthen their instructional skills by participating in professional development conferences, workshops, and seminars.
Elementary Assistant Principal and Guidance Counselor Beth Golden traveled to Atlanta, GA in June to attend the Innovative Schools Summit, which consisted of five different conferences featuring nationally recognized authors and experts in the fields of school counseling and groundbreaking educational strategies. “I had the opportunity to attend five presentations a day,” said Mrs. Golden. “I obtained a tremendous amount of new knowledge that will increase my skills and help me to be more effective when working with our students.”
High school biology teacher Ramona Eberly attended an AP Biology Summer Institute at Gulf Coast State College in Panama City Beach, FL for four days in June. “The College Board has updated AP Biology for the 2019-2020 school year,” Mrs. Eberly said. “Attending this conference gave me the opportunity to review and discuss the new course and exam description with other AP Biology teachers and get a preview of new classroom resources.”
(Photo: Elementary Assistant Principal and Guidance Counselor Beth Golden.
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Magical and Spirited Start to School Year
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Though it's only the first week of school, the competition for the coveted Jr./Sr. High Spirit Cup is on! With two "spirit events" already in the books -- the Pixie Stick Challenge and the Disney Photo Contest -- this year's race is bound to be thrilling.
Delivering 50 points and an early lead to the senior class was Grayson Gulley, who won the Pixie Stick Challenge. (His guess was the closest to the actual number of Pixie Sticks in a jar in the Jr./Sr. High Library.)
Winning cash prizes for their costumes in the Disney Photo Spirit Contest were seniors Anna Manning and Gracie Smith (1st place); eighth graders Poppy Pellisier and Summer Guerin (2nd place); and junior Caroline Collins (third place). Jr./Sr. High computer teacher Kathy Judd won the Starbucks card in the teacher drawing. Congratulations to all!
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Photo: It's was all about the mouse ears for the Jr./Sr. High office staff on the day of the Disney Photo Contest. From left are Jr./Sr. High Assistant Principal Dana Schlotterer, secretaries Beth Morrison and Amy Taliaferro, Dustin Landry, IT, Assistant Head of School and Jr./Sr. High Principal Conchetta Foshee, Jonathan Hebert, IT, Jr./Sr. High Nurse Karen Rhinehart, and Jr./Sr. High Assistant Principal Pamela Babcock.
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Social Media
Runnels School has several ways of helping you stay connected.
Below, are links to our current 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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Also Runnels pages, but not maintained by Runnels School are:
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 to these pages.
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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Numbers Show That Teachers Love Runnels!
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At the annual All-School Faculty Meeting Aug. 7 in the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre, Head of School Marcia Mackay announced that 42 members of our faculty and staff have been at Runnels for more than 10 years! Recently crossing this 10 year threshold were preschool faculty members Michael Bordelon, Laura Russell, Debbie Schacht, Heather Shay, elementary teacher Julie Stevenson, and Jr./Sr. High teacher Sherry Wilks.
Recognized for completing 20 years of service was 6th-12th-Grade Band Director Jill Swetnam. Elementary teacher John Baird and Jr./Sr. High Athletic Director Tookie Johnson were honored for 25 years of teaching at Runnels.
Joining us on the faculty this year are Blake Stevenson at the preschool, Jessica Carkuff in first grade, and Jade Dolan and Eunice McCarney in Jr./Sr. High LA Studies. Runnels alumnus Brent Hoeprich ('15) will coach the junior high baseball team and serve as assistant varsity baseball coach. He'll also teach high school P.E. In addition, we're welcoming back long-time Runnels teachers Catherine Barger and Madeleine Timpa to our elementary school: Catherine to teach second grade social studies and Madeleine to teach first-grade reading, language arts, and math.
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Photo: Kindergartners, from left, Leah Calhoun, Oliver Thomas, IV, Ava Gutierrez, and Victor Faust circle up with Kindergarten Director Paula Naquin for a first-day-of-school activity. Mrs. Naquin and elementary secretary Pamela Culp win the prize for working at Runnels the longest. Both are starting their 38th year at our school!
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Lending a Hand
... Dylan Sternberg, grade 9, helps pass out frosty soft drinks to residents at the Fourth Annual Root Beer Social at the Woldenburg Retirement Community this summer.
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Leadership Seminar
... Juniors Mollybeth Wilkinson and Madisan Milam were selected to attend the 2019 Hugh O’Brien Youth (HOBY) Leadership Seminar at Southeastern Louisiana University in June
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READ MORE...
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Out-of-Town Conventioneers
... Representing our school at the National Jr. Beta Convention in Oklahoma City this summer are, from left above, Caroline Pousson, grade 8, Louisiana Jr. Beta President Ben Hader, grade 8, Kate Kelfstrom (not currently at Runnels), and Sarah Golda, grade 9.
Not pictured
: Jr. Beta Sponsor Christine Pousson, Gina Golda, and Caroline Hader.
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It's Time to Sign Up for Next Summer's European Adventure
... The Roamin' Raiders, back from this summer's glorious trip to Austria, Germany and the Alps, are gearing up to travel again. This time, they're going to Spain and Italy. If you're interested in joining next summer's tour, contact Assistant Principal Dana Schlotterer at [email protected].(
Photo: Roamin' Raiders on the "Do-Re-Mi" Stairs in Austria in June.
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New Look for Elementary Library
The Elementary Library has a new look! Next time you're on the main campus, stop in and take a peek at the colorful transformation. Many thanks to everyone who pitched in to help with the project, with shout outs to
Carrie Griffin
of Carrie Griffin Designs for volunteering her time and expertise to help us produce a beautiful and functional space;
Meredith Wartelle
, our Bookends coordinator, for inspiring the design and connecting us with Carrie;
Mary Crowson
and Elementary Librarian
Leah Pizzalato
for making the colorful curtains and pillows for the window seat area; Building and Grounds supervisor
Kenny Copsey
and his crew for building the new bench and tables;
Wendy Worsham
for donating two bean bag chairs for the reading room and
Renee’ Miller
for supplying beans to fill them. We also thank everyone in our school community who supported our Scholastic book fairs. Proceeds from the fairs helped fund the purchase of new furnishings for the library.
(Photo: Kindergartners and teachers Lisa Latona and Julie Horridge tour the refurbished room in the Elementary Library.)
Box Tops for Education Update
To everyone who so kindly and generously supports our Elementary Library by participating in the Box Tops for Education program, we send our sincere thanks and some terrific news! No more clipping labels! Now, you can download an app and scan in your receipts. The app --
https://www.boxtops4education.com/en
-- will pick up any item listed on your receipt that qualifies for the Box Top program and automatically credit our school with the correct number of points. All proceeds from the program will benefit the Elementary Library. (If you have any clipped Box Tops that you have not turned in yet, please send them along to school with your child. We can still use them.)
Preschool Bubble Machine
Many thanks to preschool and elementary dad
Troy Francis
for building a platform for the preschool's bubble machine and fixing a slide on the 2s playground.
The Class of 2019 Wishes To Thank...
“Our
parents, sponsors, and teachers
and all involved in making our Senior Year, 2019, an unforgettable experience. Thank you for your love and support, not just through this year but through our lives. You have made for us memories we will always cherish, and you have inspired us by example. We love you!
-- The Class of 2019
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Booster Club Gathering
...Members of the Booster Club, our parent volunteer organization dedicated to assisting athletic programs and all school sports at Runnels, gathered for a potluck dinner at the home of
Dana and Jeff Kahn
July 26. The agenda included an update on club activities, events, and projects, and a preview of new items available at the club’s online store. A huge thank you goes to the Kahns for hosting this event. If you're interested in joining the Booster Club, please contact Julie Stevenson at [email protected]. (Photo:
Enjoying the Runnels Booster Club’s summer social on July 26 at the home of a member are, from left, Heather Shay, Aislynn Coates, and Sonya and Charles Bueche.)
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Aug. 21 /
Jr. and Sr. High Honor and Merit Roll Assembly,
Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre, 11:20 a.m.
Aug. 23 /
Popsicle Friday
for Grades 4-6, at recess on playground
Aug. 23 /
Jr. Beta Back-to-School Dance
(for 7th and 8th graders), Catalano Gym, 7:00 p.m.
Aug. 25 /
Back-to-School 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.)
Sept. 2 /
Labor Day
(School Holiday)
Sept. 15 - 20 /
Library Used Book Sale,
in the Runnels Libraries - Sunday, 9/15 from 11 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and Monday, 1/16, through Friday, 9/20, from 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p,m.
The Elementary Library is still gladly welcoming donations of gently used books for the sale.
All proceeds will go to the Runnels Library Program.
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"To Sit in the Shade and Look Upon Greenery"
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A lovely rest in a shaded spot, as Jane Austen (quote) knew, is one of life's little delights. Partaking of that pleasure at recess, thanks to the generosity of last year's sixth-grade class in donating our new playground pergola, are current sixth graders, from left, Cameron Stevenson, Maeve Dolan, and Laura Golda. We extend a huge thank you to the Class of 2027 for this generous and thoughtful gift. (We'll tell you about more updates on both campuses in our next issue.)
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In this week's album: "Senior Sunrise," First Day of School, Third-Grade Science Coding Ozobots, First-Grade Reading Kindness Capes, Fifth-Grade Flag Corp, Preschool Candids, Fifth-Grade Science Measuring Activity, and Jr./Sr. High Spirit Day
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The Booster Club’s Back-to-School Merchandise Sale Extended through August 30th.
Get great savings on Runnels logo gear at the Booster Club’s online store at runnels.org through August 30. You’ll find top savings on hot items like the All-Around Duffle Bag ($40), the Essential Razorback Tank ($20), the Powerblend Fleece Hoodie ($28), the All-Sport Backpack ($40), the Trucker Mesh Hat ($15), and much, much more! All orders will be shipped to Runnels and pick-up dates will be announced. The deadline for ordering has been extended to August 30!
Your order will help support athletics and all sports at Runnels through Booster Club projects, activities, and events.
Click the link below for all the Runnels logo apparel you’ll need to start off the school year.
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Stormy Weather Checks Runnels Alumni Baseball Game
Eighteen Runnels baseball team alumni got together on Aug. 4 for an alumni baseball game on Raider Field, but stormy weather threw them a curve ball.
“The game was scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m.,” said longtime assistant Runnels baseball coach Mark Landry, who attended the event, “but the rains came at 12:45. It was an extremely heavy downpour that made playing the game impossible.”
The event, organized by Runnels and LSU baseball alumnus Alden Cartwright, still hit it out of the park. The players, representing Runnels graduating classes ranging from 2006 through 2016, moved into the gym for a friendly game of Wiffle Ball.
“It was a very nice event,” added Coach Landry
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Junior High Fall Sports Sign Up Deadline Approaching
It’s time to sign up your junior high athlete for fall sports. The line up includes Boys Baseball Conditioning (training and scrimmaging 2 to 3 days a week, no games), Boys and Girls Cross Country, Girls Softball and Boys and Girls Swimming. If your student is interested in playing more than one sport, simply fill out the digital form twice.
Each athlete is required to have a current physical on file in order to participate. The athlete will not be allowed to practice or play until the physical form is complete and the online sign up form is submitted. A hard copy of the Physical Form must be submitted to the Jr./Sr. High office, please save a copy for your records. If your student completed the free spring physical at Runnels your child's physical is valid for the entire sports season. You do not need to get another. If you have any questions, please contact Jr. High Athletic Director Sam Coates by phone or text at 251-533-3577 or email
[email protected]
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NEXT WEEK
On Monday
Cross Country Meeting
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RAIDER PARENTS ROCK!
SEND US YOUR PHOTOS FOR THE FOCUS
Please include the date and location of the event and the students pictured
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