Good morning! I’m Jeff Hellman!
I’m Steven Kellner!
And I’m Sarah Schmitt! Welcome to a special episode of the “Bear Facts”, where we’re celebrating Catholic Schools Week here at Bishop Garrigan High School.
But first an update on last week’s news. Last week we featured the Golden Bear speech team, which was competing at the district large group contest in Fort Dodge. Garrigan had a good day at contest. They brought home six Division I—or “excellent”—ratings. Congratulations to coaches Mary McCall, Amanda Stewart, and Tony Tindall and to all the winning speech students.
One of Garrigan’s top events was Group Improvisation, where three different Golden Bear groups received I’s. Jake Kohlhaas, Tyler Struck, Wade MacDonald, Brandon Donahe, and Corrie Stetzel acted out the first day of a computer class, while Chris Kohlhaas, Mark Rasmussen, Mandy Rahm, Adam Rahm, and Sarah Kollasch did an improv on a trip to the weight loss clinic. The third Garrigan improv group included Sylvia Weber, Andrea Schiltz, Rosalind Kirsch, and David Murphy. The situtation they drew was “working in a chocolate factory, but you can’t have chocolate”.
Garrigan’s other Division I ratings were In the category of Ensemble Acting. Sarah Schmitt, Rachel Foth, and Keshar Nadkarni got I’s for “Bubbles Goes to School”, while Bob Brandenburg, Jake Kohlhaas, and Angie Weber received a I for “Who’s Out There?”. The final Division I rating went to Amanda Freking, Mandy Rahm, Adam Rahm, Marian Studer, and Angie Kohlhaas, for the ensemble selection “The Day After Forever”
In addition to all the I’s, Garrigan students also received five Division II—or “good”—ratings. You can see all the events at a special presentation during Catholic Schools Week. “An Evening of Theatre” will be this Monday, January 31. It all starts at 6pm in the Garrigan gym. So come on in to see a great show with all the award-winning speech presentations. Be sure to catch “An Evening of Theatre” next Monday.
Basketball season has passed the midway point for the year. Just like the varsity, the freshman basketball teams have been having an up-and-down season. The freshman girls have a roughly even win/loss record. Their best game was probably against Emmetsburg, where Nicole Elbert had a career game. In addition to Nicole, the girls’ starters include Molly Bartolo Richter, Andrea Schiltz, Nellie Fowler, and Amanda Wolf. The rest of the team consists of Jenna Hansen, Maria Paterson, Sylvia Weber, and Chelsie Wood. Joe Elbert coaches the Garrigan freshman girls.
The freshman boys basketball team has been working hard all year long. Their season highlight also came at Emmetsburg, when they took the game into double overtime before losing a two-point heartbreaker. The freshman boys are coached by Rob Meister, and their top players include “Bear Facts” announcer Jeff Hellman, as well as Drew Miller, Zac Lickteig, and Justin Fickbohm. Rounding out the team are Joe Hellman, David Murphy, Alex Vaske, Shannon DeVries, Tony Hilbert, Jerry Kohlhaas, Mark Kohlhaas, and Kane Rogers. The three freshman basketball managers are also important. They are Adam Gisch, Mark Steier, and John Stetzel.
Catholic Schools Week is here! Every year this special week celebrates the difference Catholic schools have to offer. This year’s Catholic Schools Week theme is “Lighting the Way to a New Century”. The celebration starts tomorrow, with “Spirit Day”. Area parishes will get into the spirit of Catholic Schools Week with Sunday masses. Monday is “Student Appreciation Day”. The Mayor of Algona will be visiting Seton Grade School, while here at Garrigan our big event is the Evening of Theatre on Monday night.
On Tuesday of Catholic Schools Week we have “Family Appreciation Day”. Here at Garrigan we’ll have our traditional Grandparents’ Day, when students have lunch with their older relatives. This year we’ll also have special presentations from all different activities to show our grandparents what we do outside of the school day. That night we’ll have the big basketball re-match with Algona High, and we’ll be celebrating Catholic Schools Week with “Pack the Gym” night.
Wednesday is “National Appreciation Day”. The highlight of that day is that every Catholic school in America holds mass at the exact same time. This year Lawrence Soens, former Bishop of Sioux City, will be celebrating mass at St. Cecelia’s. Thursday is “Staff Appreciation Day”, with a special breakfast honoring all the teachers at both Garrigan and Seton. Then on Friday we’ll wear black and gold for “School Tradition Day”. The Chamber of Commerce will hold their weekly coffee in the Garrigan borad room in honor of the special occasion.
This week’s Senior Spotlight shines on Amanda Hilbert and Nicole Kollasch. Amanda is a St. Benedict native. Her big activities over the years at Garrigan have been cheerleading and danz squad. She has lettered in both activities, and she helped lead the girls to two straight drill team championships. During the summer Amanda works at Pioneer. She plans to go to college next fall, and we wish her well.
Nicole Kollasch has also been heavily involved in cheerleading. Nicole is an Algona native who has been on the honor roll every semester she has been at Garrigan. Away from school you might have seen her working at Godfather’s. Like Amanda, Nicole will also be off to college next year. We wish them both the very best of luck!
On our Golden Bear calendar this week, intramurals resume tomorrow. That’s also when the local parishes will hold special Catholic Schools Week masses.
Monday there’s the Evening of Theatre at 6pm. Tuesday we’ll have Grandparents’ Day, and that night there’s the big Algona High game. The JV match-up will be across town, while Garrigan hosts the varsity games.
Wednesday there’s the all-school mass at 1:30 at St. Cecelia’s, with Bishop Soens officiating. That night the freshman basketball teams host Mason City Newman.
Thursday the Student Council meets. That night there’s JV basketball at Garner/Hayfield. Then on Friday the varsity Bears travel to Webster City.
That’s the “Bear Facts” for Catholic Schools Week. Thanks for listening, and be sure to tune in again next week for more news from Bishop Garrigan High School.
