PRESCHOOL THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
Runnels has always been the school for all races, religions, and national origins.
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As you know, we have made the difficult and heartbreaking decision to close our high school at the end of this school year. The preschool, elementary school, and middle school grades are not affected by this decision.
In spite of great efforts to keep the high school open, the enrollment in that division made it impossible. I feel that Runnels is a wonderful gift to parents and students in our community and that the loss of our high school will be deeply significant.
The faculty and staff are united in their commitment to make this high school year an exciting and memorable experience. The Junior Class Ring Ceremony, Prom, Festival of Arts, Senior Stroll, and Senior Sunset will go on as usual, and we can’t wait to applaud our seniors on commencement day.
We sincerely thank all the parents, grandparents, alumni, faculty and staff members, students, and friends of our school who offered their support and we look forward to working with them as our school looks to the future.
In
Focus
this week:
The Sound of Music
Promises to Charm Audiences; Books Come to Life; Revving Up for District Literary Rally; Galaxy Games in 5th-Grade Science; Award-Winning Children's Author to Visit Runnels; From the PAR President; Runnels Mathletes; Kudos and Notable Events; We Sincerely Thank; Weekly Photo Album; Athletic Corner; Friendly Reminders.
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The Sound of Music
Promises to Charm
One of the most beloved shows of all time,
The Sound of Music, comes to the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre for two performances Feb. 14 and 15 at 7:00 p.m. We caught up with the cast and crew at a run-through of Act II this week and came away singing their praises. Though opening night is a week away, everyone is cued up and ready to go!
"I love my songs," said freshman Eli Latiolais, who plays Max Detweiler, a friend of Captain Von Trapp's. His songs, "How Can Love Survive?" and "No Way to Stop It," may not be as familiar to audiences as "My Favorite Things" or "Do-Re-Mi," but they're funny, clever and catchy, and Eli and his fellow performers make the most of them on stage.
As a nun in the cast, Latin teacher Ann Ostrom gets to sing chants in Latin! In one of the chants, she said she came across a Latin word she didn't recognize. "The chants are written in medieval or church Latin," she explained. "The word I didn't know was "scabelleum." I found out it means footstool. If you translate the whole line the word is in, it means, 'I will make your enemies into footstools for your feet,'" she chuckled.
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At work behind the curtain are assistant stage managers senior Janie Schlotterer and sophomore Emma Allerheiligen. In addition to learning a huge list of cues for opening and closing the curtains for the show, they are responsible for getting cast members into place on time. "We have to make sure everyone is where they need to be when they're supposed to be there," said Janie. Judging from how smoothly rehearsals are going, this crew is up to the task.
You'll want to be in the front seats when the curtain goes up next weekend. The music and voices are heavenly, the acting stellar, the Von Trapp children adorable, and the crew has the whole production running like clockwork. The Runnels rendition of
The Sound of Music is sure to put a song in your heart and a spring in your step.
CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS
...
(Photos: Rehearsing "How Can Love Survive?" are, from left, Mollybeth Wilkinson, Evan Beoubay, and Eli Latiolais. Assistant stage managers Emma Allerheilligan and Janie Schlotterer.)
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Books Come to Life ... For a unique spin on biography book reports, students in Rachele Smith's 5th grade reading classes hosted a "Wax Museum" in the Elementary Library this week.
For the project, each student chose a biography to read, wrote a short composition about why he or she decided to read about the subject of the biography they selected, and created a poster with facts about the subject's life and accomplishments.
At the "Wax Museum," students posed as wax figures of their characters, which "came to life" to tell their stories when pretend buttons were pushed. Museum visitors were students in other elementary grades. It was an inventive way to add fun and excitement to biography book reports.
(Photo: Poised to present their biography book reports to visitors at the "Wax Museum" are, from left, 5th graders Dana Badawi as nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, and Sadie Raymond as primatologist Jane Goodall.)
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Revving Up for District Literary Rally
...
Congratulations to the junior and senior high students selected to represent Runnels at the 2020 District Literary Rally at Southeastern Louisiana University Saturday, March 7.
Chosen for the competition were
Dawson Latona
and
Drake Tooraen
, Advanced Math 1;
Mickey Kaiser
and
Phillip Lukinovich
, Advanced Math 2;
Krina Patel
and
Megan Shaneyfelt
, Algebra 1;
Jonathan Harper
and
Sophia Horridge
, Algebra 2;
Chris Ortego
and
Grant Treadaway
, American History;
Amelia Breeden
and
Jacques Desporte
, Art 1X;
Jordan Hannie
and
Mickey Kaiser
, Art 2X;
Brieanna Saltzman
and
Eric Ho
, Art 3X;
Marcus Glaze
and
Parker Collett
, Art 4X;
Addison Latona
and
Sam Kennedy
, Business Computer Applications;
Mason Pentes
and
Sarah Golda
, Biology 1;
Catherine Bonaventure
, Biology 2;
Connor Porthouse
and
Garrett Rhinehart
, Calculus;
Cole Latiolais
and
Ryan Ly
, Calculus 2;
Marshall Pentes
, Chemistry; Minna Ismail, Civics;
Ian Shaneyfelt
and
Lunn Hitchcock
, Computer Science.
Also selected were Emma Collett and Madison Cummins, English 1; Jensen Holliday and
Ryan Roper, English 2;
Joseph Ismail
and
Parker Collett
, English 3;
Aubri Watts
, English 4;
Mollybeth Wilkinson
and
Sophie Edwards
, Environmental Science;
Caleb Johnston
and
Grant Gueho
, French 1;
Emily Schacht
and
Jacob Schmidt
, French 2;
Omar Badawi
, French 3;
Cooper Coates
and
George Forgey
, Geometry;
Jenna Carballo
, Government;
Chloe Bueche
and
Malek Badawi
, Physical Science;
Eric Ho
, Physics;
Janie Schlotterer
, Psychology;
Ben Hader
and
Kareem Badawi
, Spanish 1; Lucy Reeves and
Michal Gawronski
, Spanish 2;
Emma Schlotterer
, Spanish 3;
Madisan Milam
, Spanish 4;
Alan Lam
and
Alex Frederic
, World Geography; and
Sydney Worsham
, World History.
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A Galaxy of Games
...
“Trek Back Home,” “Pluto Is a Planet,” and “Solar Express 2020” were just a few of the celestial titles thought up by students in John Baird’s fifth-grade science classes for the board games they recently invented, designed, and built as part of their studies of astronomy.
Students imagined they were educational toy company executives tasked with inventing a new and exciting astronomy-themed board game for children aged 10-12.
The game had to include a colorful board featuring astronomy-related images, at least 20 question cards (sourced from a study guide for an upcoming astronomy test), rules for playing, objectives for winning, and materials needed for game procedures such as spinners, tokens or dice.
Recently, the students had a blast playing the games they invented with their classmates.
(Photo: Playing their out-of-this world astronomy games are, from left, Carter Rogillio, Kendall Eastman-Stuart, and James Gawronski.)
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Award-Winning Author Coming to Runnels ...
C.R. Stewart, author of the runaway bestseller
Britfield and the Lost Crown will be at Runnels School on Wednesday, Feb. 19 to share insights about his writing with our 4th - 6th graders in the Elementary Drama Room.
"Students will be able to pre-order the book and have it personally signed and addressed during the event," said Elementary Librarian Leah Pizzalato.
Britfield and the Lost Crown is the first title in Mr. Stewart's new young adult adventure series. He'll talk about the book, his plans for the series, and his love of storytelling and creativity. Winner of the Parents' Choice Gold Medal Award, the Purple Dragonfly Book Award, and the CIPA EVVY Book Award,
Britfield and the Lost Crown is available for check out in our Elementary Library.
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Call for Volunteers from PAR President ... On Thursday, Feb. 13 the PAR (Parent Association of Runnels) will host a Valentine Luncheon for the faculty and staff. This is our annual catered meal in the gym for Teacher Appreciation. We are looking for parents to help serve the main meal and provide desserts. We will need volunteers to help with setup and with serving from 10:30 a.m. -12:30 p.m. and serving and cleanup from 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Do you have a dessert that your friends and family rave about? Store bought or homemade, we would love to have you bring a dessert to the luncheon. If you would like to volunteer to help serve the meal and/or provide a dessert, please email me, Blake Stevenson, at [email protected] or text me at 225-955-6559. Please include which shift you are available to work and what dessert you are planning on bringing. Thank you in advance for your participation. Your time and talents are greatly appreciated!
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Marvelous Mathletes
... Our school was well represented at this year's Mu Alpha Theta Math Tournament at Baton Rouge High Jan. 25. The event brought together 550 student competitors from 32 area schools.
The Runnels team won 1st place in the interschool test and finished 2nd in the overall sweepstakes for Division 2!
In individual competition, we had two 1st-place winners: Joseph Ismail in Precalculus and Connor Porthouse in Calculus AP. Marshall Pentes finished 2nd in Calculus AB, Reagan Kyle was 3rd in Precalculus, and Alex Frederic earned an honorable mention in Algebra 2.
Bringing home honors in team events were Reagan Kyle and Joseph Ismail, who placed 1st in Comp Math 2, Alex Frederic and Mason Pentes, who were 2nd in the team test, and Connor Porthouse, Marshall Pentes, and Preston Kyle, who took 2nd in Calculus AB.
Congratulations to all of our competitors and Mu Alpha Theta sponsor Kari Roan.
(
Photo: Lined up with their impressive collection of Mu Alpha Theta Tournament awards are, from left, Reagan Kyle, Alex Frederic, Marshall Pentes, Connor Porthouse, Preston Kyle, Joseph Ismail, and Mason Pentes.)
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Making Valentines Cards Together ... The 6th graders teamed up with their kindergarten buddies this week to make Valentine's Day cards for adult members of our faculty and staff including teachers, librarians, aftercare personnel, nurses, and sheriff's deputies.
The students pronounced the project fun and, according to kindergarten fitness instructor Mary Winnett, it was also great for developing the kindergartners' fine motor skills. With help from the 6th graders, the younger children cut out red and pink construction paper hearts of varying sizes. They glued a collage of hearts on the front of folded white sheets of paper and included Happy Valentine's Day wishes on the inside. The kindergartners also made special Valentine's Day cards for their 6th-grade buddies.
(Photo: Lexie Matens and her kindergarten buddy, Emma Stewart, work on their Valentine cards.)
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Juried Art Show
...
Kudos to junior
Ellerie Tregre
for being selected to exhibit her artwork in LSU's 6th annual Juried High School Exhibition. Ellerie's prismacolor piece entitled "Divine Intervention" will be on display at LSU's Foster Gallery today through March 7. Winners will be announced at the closing reception for artists at the gallery on March 7.
(Photo: "Divine Intervention" by Ellerie Tregre.)
Jazz Honor Band ... Two of our junior high students have been chosen as members of the 2020 East Baton Rouge Middle School Jazz Honor Band. Congratulations to trumpet player
Hope Oubre, grade 8, and electric bass player
Mason Pizzalato, grade 7. The Jazz Honor Band performance will be held Feb. 12 at 7:00 p.m. at Woodlawn High School.
Alum in
225 Magazine ... Kudos to alumna
Lauren Strain (Class of '08) for being featured in the February 2020 issue of
225 Magazine. Last year she started her own eco-friendly candle and ceramics business.
Award Winner ... Congrats to
Maeve Dolan, grade 6, for winning 5th place in the Language Arts competition at the Jr. Beta State Convention held at the Cajundome in Lafayette this week.
Jr. Beta State President Presides ... Kudos to 2019
Jr. Beta State President Ben Hader, grade 8, for successfully presiding over the Jr. Beta State Convention at the Cajundome this week. Ben was interviewed on the Good Morning Acadiana broadcast in Lafayette early Monday morning about Jr. Beta and the convention. Attended by more than 11,000 members, this year's Jr. Beta convention was the largest ever for our state.
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Photo: The Runnels Jr. Beta delegation in Lafayette for the state convention Feb. 3-5.
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Music and Hearts at Preschool ... We send heartfelt thank yous to the many guests who shared their passions, talents, knowledge and skills with our preschool students for Music Week and Heart Week recently.
(Runnels harp instructor Dr. Gabby Werries shares her love of music with preschooler Maggie Davis during Music Week at our preschool.)
Jr. Beta Chaperones
...
The Jr. Beta Club sincerely thanks
Meredith Wartelle, Wendy Milam, Carolyn Pittman
and
Tommy Campbell
for helping chaperone members during the state convention.
HOCO 2020
... The Class of 2022 sends a huge thank you to the Junior/Senior High administration, Athletic Department, Runnels Theatre and the student body for making Homecoming 2020 a success! Special thanks are extended to the
Wilkinson, Ly
and
Tullos families
for going the extra mile. Go, Raiders!
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In this week's photo album: Homecoming Basketball Game, Court Presentation Candids, Jr. Beta Convention, 5th Grade Wax Museum Biography Book Reports, 6th Grade and Kindergarten Buddy Valentines, 5th Grade Astronomy Board Games, Preschool Music Week and Heart Week,
Sound of Music
Sneak Peek, and Candids.
(
Special Delivery:
Kindergartners made Valentine's Day cards for our deputies this week and brought them to the guard's kiosk at the front of the campus today. Accepting delivery on behalf of all the deputies is EBR Sheriff's Deputy Quintin Merrett.)
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SPRING SPORTS SIGN UP FOR JUNIOR HIGH ATHLETES
The junior high spring sports season is just around the corner and it’s time to sign up for the following sports:
Boys Baseball, Girls Volleyball and Boys/Girls Track and Field
.
Volleyball will begin the third week of February. Practice for Boys Baseball and Track and Field will begin the first week of March, and Girls
You must turn a hard copy of the Physical Form in to the office; please save a copy for your records. If you have any questions please contact Junior High Athletic Director Sam Coates at
[email protected]
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SOCCER: Girls
Monday, the Lady Raiders soccer team celebrated Senior Night. The Ladies played a great game but fell to Dunham, 1-0. Seniors Bailey Hyatt and Angele Lansing were honored by the team, family and fans.
Tonight, the Ladies, currently ranked 24th seed, will compete in a playoff game against 9th seeded McGehee High School at 7:00 p.m. at Pan American Stadium in New Orleans. Go, Lady Raiders!!
(Photo: Lady Raiders soccer team members, back row from left are, Sydney Worsham, Piper Davis, Bailey Hyatt and Angele Lansing, Jossy Stegall, and Chelsea Holden. Front row, from left, are Lindsey Huynh, Ryan Roper, Sydney Mistretta,Chloe Bueche and Blaiklee Guillot.)
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BASKETBALL: High School
Tonight the Raiders varsity basketball team will take on Christ Episcopal at 6:00 p.m. in Covington.
Save the date for Senior Night! Tuesday, Feb.18, the Raiders will play Family Christian Academy. Senior basketball players Ben Holliday, Jack Kahn and Phillip Lukinovich and cheerleader Kissa Nicholas-Whitt will be honored with a presentation before the varsity game at 6:00 p.m.
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BASKETBALL: Junior High
The Runnels 8th grade boys basketball team beat Dunham 46-24 last Saturday. Cooper Coates scored 20 points, with Rossie Harrison and Tyler Thibodeaux each adding 8 points.
The Lady Raiders beat U High’s 7th grade team 22-4. Gracie Coates and Annie Garrison each scored 8 points. The Ladies also beat U High’s 8th grade team 32-16. Gracie Coates led the team with 12 points and Leyna Huynh scored 8.
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BOWLING
After a very exciting match on Monday, the Runnels Bowling Team fell to
Baton Rouge High
with a score of 17-10. Our young team played well, raising five averages.
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THIS WEEKEND
FRIDAY
Basketball
at Christ Episcopal – 6:00 p.m.
Girls Soccer
vs McGehee High School in Playoff - 7:00 p.m. at Pan American Stadium in New Orleans.
SATURDAY
Jr. High Basketball
vs. Parkview at Parkview – Girls TBD, 7th TBD, 8th TBD
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RAIDER FANS TAKE THE BEST PHOTOS
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Feb. 10-11 /
Youth Legislature - Grade 7 and 8
/ Old State Capitol
Feb. 14 & 15 /
The Sound of Music
/ Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre, 7:00 p.m. (
See below for tickets
.)
Feb. 19 /
Band Solo and Ensemble Festival
Feb. 19 /
Book Signing with C.R. Stewart
/ Elem. Library, 12:30 p.m.
Feb. 20 /
Strings Solo & Ensemble Festival
Feb. 20 /
Quiz Bowl Trivia Night
/ Jr./Sr. High Library, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., Tickets are $10 at the Door
Feb. 20 /
Army War College Presentation
/ Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre, 8:30 a.m.
Feb. 21 /
Elementary Mardi Gras Celebration
/ Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre, 1:30 p.m.
Feb. 24-28 /
Mardi Gras Break
March 2 /
School Resumes
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