The Bear Facts
September 29, 2012
Good morning! I’m Grace Steil!
I’m Allison Frideres!
And I’m Erin Reedy! Welcome once again to the “Bear
Facts”, your weekly radio update from Bishop Garrigan High School.
Today is Algona Band Day, and once again Garrigan’s
Solid Gold Marching Band will be participating in both the parade and field
competitions. This year’s competition show is entitled “The Music of Journey”,
and it celebrates the songs of the San Francisco mega-band. The show starts with
“Any Way You Want It”, followed by “Open Arms”. After that is “Fresh Trash”, a
percussion number that features garbage cans. Closing the show is the number
“Don’t Stop Believin’”.
Amelia Golwitzer is drum major for this year’s band.
Solists in the marching show are trombonist Dustin Miller and trumpeters Jakob
Hamilton and Shawn Vaske. Ken Ferjak is the band director, and junior high
director Katherine Simpson assists him with the show. The band performs at 6:15
tonight in the field competition at Algona High. You can also see them toward
the end of this afternoon’s parade, and the junior high band will be up near the
front.
This year’s Solid Gold band could be described as
small, but mighty. There are thirty-six musicians in the band. One change from
last year is that there are a lot more seniors. We went from just two in 2011 to
nine seniors this year. Leaders in the band include seniors Shawn Vaske, Grace
Steil, Dustin Miller, and Melanie Mergen; as well as Logan Kumm, Janet Kenyon,
Amelia Golwitzer, Matthew Fakler, and Hannah Boisjolie.
This coming week is a big one
for the vocal musicians as well. Next Wednesday Bishop Garrigan will be hosting
the Catholic Choral Festival for the Sioux City Diocese. Choirs from Catholic
high schools from all over northwest Iowa will be on hand. They’ll spend the day
rehearsing with a guest director, and at night they’ll present a special show in
Friedmann Auditorium.
At the core of the Garrigan choir are the all-state
auditioners. Next month ten Golden Bears will audition to be part of the 2012
All-State Choir. Trying out this year are sopranos Melanie Mergen and Sophia
Kaduce; altos Dorothy Kirsch and Grace Steil; tenors Alex and Christian
Matthews; and basses Dustin Miller, Jake Hamilton, Nick Bronk, and Shawn Vaske.
They’re working hard all fall, and we hope their voices will be just right at
audition time.
Fifty-nine Garrigan students are in choir this year,
split between the varsity and treble choirs. Just like in band, the seniors are
at the core. They include Sean Dyson, Matthew Fakler, Allison Frideres, Amelia
Golwitzer, Nicole Grein, and Melissa Kellner; together with Janet Kenyon, Alissa
Kirsch, Alex Mattthews, Melanie Mergen, Dustin Miller, Grace Steil, and Shawn
Vaske. Best wishes all through the year to the choir!
The BGHS student council held a special election this
past week. There was a vacancy for a freshman class representative, and the
election to fill that seat was a very close one. It came down to just a
three-vote margin, but in the end the winner was Logan Besch. Congratulations,
Logan!
You’ve probably heard about the capital campaign
that’s going on at Bishop Garrigan. We’re raising money for a number of building
improvements, the biggest of which will be a new gym. The campaign is off to a
tremendous start. In fact, as of last weekend, we’d already raised more than a
million dollars. There’s still a long way to go, but we couldn’t ask for a
better kick-off. Thanks to everyone who has helped out with the capital campaign
so far.
Of course, there’s lots of smaller fundraisers going
on at school as well. Right now the band and choir are selling cheesecake to
raise money to replace band instruments and make other improvements in the music
department. Meanwhile the Spanish students are selling wrapping paper for their
trip to Spain next summer.
One of the most interesting
fundraisers is from the cheerleaders. They’re selling cookbooks, but not just
any cookbooks. The girls contributed original recipes from themselves and their
families, and Coach Erin Miller entered them on the computer to create the final
book. The money will help with uniforms and expenses for the competition squad.
This week’s Senior Spotlight shines on Victor Berte.
Victor comes to Garrigan from the St. Joe area. He’s a football captain, but
he’s probably better known as a golfer. Victor was part of the state champion
Golden Bear golf team last spring. He also enjoys intramural basketball,
Christian Leadership, and co-ed dance routines. Victor has also helped maintain
the BGHS website, and he hopes to be doing that again next spring. Away from
school you might see him working at Emerald’s or Spring Valley. After graduating
Victor plans to study for a career in turf management and landscaping, and we
wish him all the best in the future.
On our Golden Bear calendar this week, today is Algona
Band Day. The parade starts at 1:00, with the Garrigan junior high band #2 in
line and the high school band toward the end.
The high school band will be competing in the field
competition at 6:15 tonight at Algona High. Then tomorrow advanced biology
students will be leaving on a field trip.
Monday the JV football team travels to Britt to play
West Hancock. Then on Tuesday there’s cross-country at Eagle Grove. Wednesday
we’ll begin the day with an all-school mass.
Wednesday will be a short day, because we get out
early for a teacher inservice on technology. Garrigan hosts the Catholic Choral
Festival that day, with a big concert at 7pm. Also on Wednesday student council
will do their adopt-a-highway project near Sexton.
Thursday we’ll be dressing in pink at the high school to raise awareness and money to fight cancer. At 12:45 that afternoon the school will participate in a wellness walk.
There’s a swim meet in Boone
Thursday night, and also that night the volleyball team will be playing at St.
Ed’s. Friday we’ll have the awards from the calendar drive. That night the
football team takes on Mason City Newman, and there will be a pink-out at the
game.
That’s the “Bear Facts” for this week. Thanks for
joining us, and be sure to tune in again next week for more news from Bishop
Garrigan High School.
JasonR9/26/12 2:54PM CST
