1www.runnels.org May 2015The oldest independent school in Baton Rouge, Runnels has always been the school for all races, religions and national origins.

May 2015

Runnels Preschool6455 Jefferson HighwayBaton Rouge, LA 70809

225-927-5803

Grades K through 1217255 S. Harrell’s Ferry RoadBaton Rouge, LA 70816225-751-5712

www.runnels.org

50 Years of Excellence in Education

(See “Solo and Ensemble,” page 2.)

(See “Raiders Roar,” p. 3.)

Scores Soar at SoloScores Soar at Soloand Ensemble Festivaland Ensemble Festival

Raiders Roar into Playoff s!

Band and Strings students compet-ed in the annual Solo and Ensemble Festival this spring, performing before judges not affi liated with Runnels. The young musicians were scored according to their abilities as soloists, members of ensembles or both. Congratulations to Runnels par-ticipants and their teachers, 4th - 5th Grade Band Director Shanna Dre-scher, 6th - 12th Grade Band Director Jill Swetnam, String Orchestra Direc-tor Jennifer Cassin and cello instructor Dan Cassin.

4th Grade Superior Ratings, Band: Shelby An-ders, Maggie Arceneaux, Alex Aseve-do, Mira Badawi, Emma Collett, Chris Cox, Ethan Ho, Dralyn Johnson, Binh Kirsch, Thanh Kirsch, Alan Lam, Alex Lam, Eli Latiolais, Ryan Matthews, Paige Odom, Mason Pentes, Lucy Reeves, Zeena Shammout, Baron Stevenson, Meredith Taliaferro, Luke Thrash, Charlie Tucker, Eddie Tunis, Cassidy Wartelle and Taylor Woods.Excellent Ratings, Band: Sarah Bur-leigh and Samantha Marino.Superior Ratings, Strings: Lauren Bhat, Michael Cheng, Ali Guerin,

The Raiders turned in a colos-sal performance on the ball fi eld this season -- and the fun’s not over yet! With a 19-4 overall re-cord and 9-1 in district games, the Raiders claimed the district title and steamed into the LH-SAA play-offs as the No. 2 seed in Class 2A. In the 1st round of playoffs at Raider Park on April 30, Runnels beat the Many Tigers 9-0. This is the best season the Raiders have had as a 2A team. It’s also the highest the team has fi nished in the power rankings since 2008, explained Head Baseball Coach Tookie Johnson.

Mia Welch (left) and Sydney Worsham enjoy an outdoor rehearsal with their strings teacher, Jennifer Cassin.

Reporter

“I’m really proud of how the stu-dents compete,” he said. “We won a lot of close games because they never

give up.” With seven seniors and four juniors on this year’s team, there is a lot of expe-rience on the fi eld. “Most of them have been varsity Raiders since they were freshmen,” Coach John-

son explained. “In 8th grade, many also played junior varsity.” The outstanding line-up is packed with talent. Seniors Thomas Myers and Josh Sparks and juniors Hampton Hudson and Johnny Johnson are batting

Baseball team seniors and their families gather for a keep-sake photo on Senior Night, April 30, after besting the Many Tigers 9-0 in the fi rst game of the playoffs.

... ... Nine Runnels Junior High students achieved state level honors in the 2015 Duke University Talent Identifi cation Program (TIP). Each student was invited to be recognized at the Duke TIP state award ceremony for Louisiana to be held at North-western State University in Natchitoches in May. Earning state recognition for outstanding ACT scores in the Duke TIP program are 7th graders Celia Fishbein, Ben Golden, Sam Haase, Eric Ho, Cole Latiolais, Ryan Ly, Julia Sager, Ian Shaneyfelt and Natalia Tooraen. These students, along with 7th grader Lance Kraft, also qualifi ed for enrollment in Duke TIP’s Summer Studies Programs – intensive three-week residential academic sessions on college

campuses. Through the Duke TIP program, 7th graders scoring in the 95th percentile on recent grade-level achievement tests are invited to

Duke TIP state recognition winners are (front row, from left) Julia Sager, Ben Golden, Ian Shaneyfelt, Natalia Tooraen; (back row) Celia Fishbein, Sam Haase, Cole Latiolais, Ryan Ly and Eric Ho.

(See “Duke TIP,” p. 3.)

Earning High Marks in Duke TIP Earning High Marks in Duke TIP

2 www.runnels.org May 2015

“Solo and Ensemble Festival,” continued from page one

If you have not yet purchased your 2014-15 Runnels yearbook, which will include a special 50th Anniversary section, be sure to

place your order by May 8 to make certain your student receives a copy. Delivery is in early fall. Download an order blank at www.runnels.org or pick one up at any school offi ce. Return your order -- with a check made out to Runnels School -- to any school offi ce by May 8. The

price is $65.00. Add $8.00 per book and a mailing address if you would

like copies mailed.

High School fl utist Marisa Russo earned a Superior rating at the Solo and Ensemble Festival at Runnels in April.

Phoebe Koontz, Hannah Landry, John Latona, Molly Sandifer, Reese Stelly, Brianna Williams and Ryan Matthews. Ex-cellent Ratings, Strings: Evan Shaneyfelt and Madeleine Reonas.

5th Grade Superior Ratings, Band: Omar Badawi, Wren Brumfi eld, Niko Carey, Collin Coates, Elisabeth Dardar, Nick D’Geralomo, Luke Dornier, Sam Ellsworth, Emma Fish-bein, Joshua Freeman, Charlie Garri-son, Michael Gawronski, Reed Gillie, Jake Haase, Lindsey Huynh, Reagan Kyle, Dawson Latona, Thomas Lopez, Zayne Mandujano, Marwan Mikdadi, Kyle Nicholson, Blaine Nicholson, Bailey Ourso, Emily Reid and Ramsey Rogers.Excellent Ratings, Band: Omid Boush-ehri, Robby Harrison, Brendan LeBlanc, Drake Tooraen and Caleb Wiese.Superior Ratings, Strings: Taylor Pip-pin, Emma Allerheligen, Andee Alex-ander, Ashley Belcher, Natalie Fairley, Steven Kendall, Ryn LeBleu, Avery Matens, Elizabeth Penniman, Dawson Ponjuan, Ryan Roper’, Emily Schacht, Cooper Smither, Farzeen Wahid, Mia

Welch and Sydney Worsham. Excellent Rat-ing, Strings: Ellie Hader.

6th GradeSuperior Ratings, Band: Sophie Arceneaux, Evan Beoubay, Kaylee Caillouet, Parker Collett, Caroline Daigle, Zane

Gillie, Audrey Guess, Nik Horton, Thea Knowles, Preston Kyle, Rachel Middlebrook, Madisan Milam, Zack Morrison, Marshall Pentes, Xander Pyle, Caleb Reid, Garrett Rhinehart, Maddie Root, Ben Stafford, Avin Stegall, Sinclair Wahnschaffe, Chace Williams, Cameron Wright and Chris Yura. Superior Ratings, Strings: Connor Porthouse, Sierra Causey, Muskaan Mahes, Sophie Edwards, James Power, Savannah Fekete and Fatima Ahmad. Excellent Rating, Strings: Emily Daquano.

7th GradeSuperior Ratings, Band: Carlie Aucoin, Mitchell Egger, Michaela Fennell, Grayson Gulley, Sam Haase, Rachel Hargrove, Daniel Harris, Ricky Har-rison, Minna Ismail, Sara Johnston, Ryan Ly, Aidan Matthews, Sophie Sanders, John Michael Spillane and

Reed Stewart.Superior Ratings, Strings: Alexis Sutton, Catherine Bonaventure, An-nie Fink, Andrew Schacht and Abbie Crissman.

8th GradeSuperior Ratings, Band: Ian Duke, Chandler Middlebrook, Aaron Talia-ferro and Justin Taliaferro. Superior Ratings, Strings: Hannah Barback, Amelia Jennings, Anna Claire Pousson, Micah Roper’ and Gabe Bet-tencourtt.

9th- 12th GradeSuperior Ratings, Band: Joseph Ar-money, Alex Benson, Sam Day, Grant Fink, Henry Forgey, Bruce Huynh, Brandon Kelfstrom, Christian Martin, Michael Martinez, Alex Matthews, Connor Matthews, Sam Matthews, Garrett Miller, Andrew Mitchell, Jor-dan Morris, Marisa Russo, Max Sager, Emma Shupe, Ashley Stansbury, Aus-tin Stansbury, Ross Stephens, Michael Stevenson and John Wiese. Superior Ratings, Strings: Alex Acos-ta, Beatriz Carmona, Peyton Collett, Kade Dukaric, William Harrell, Luc Kharey, Sean Parker, Justin Reeves and Stephen Worsham. Excellent Ratings, Band: Davood Boushehri, Nick Canevari and William Golden. Excellent Rating, Strings: Harrison Bonaventure.

Dressed in story book fi nery, our kindergartners dined by candlelight on a feast fi t for kings, princesses, pirates and wizards of all ranks at the annual “Fairy Tale Foods” luncheon held April 24 in their classrooms. On the menu were “Rapunzel’s Angel Hair Pasta,” “Jack’s Three-Bean Salad,” “Cinderella’s Party Punch” and “Snow White Ice Cream Sundaes with Seven Toppings.” Students helped measure and combine ingredients for some of the dishes. As a prelude to the luncheon, students learned about the backgrounds and char-acteristics of fairy tales. To add more fun to the day, teachers dressed up as fairy tale characters right along with their students.

Ethan Ly and Alyssa Lee share a dance at the kin-dergarten’s “Fairy Tale Foods” luncheon.

Kindergartners Feast on Fairy Tale FoodsKindergartners Feast on Fairy Tale FoodsHave You Ordered Your 2014-15 Yearbook?

3www.runnels.org May 2015

Senior Receives Good Citizenship Award Senior Kara Peneguy was selected to receive the prestigious Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.) Good Citizen Award

for 2015 at Runnels High School. The award is presented to outstand-ing seniors across the nation who demonstrate the qualities of good citizenship, including reliability, ser-vice, leadership, good character and patriotism. Kara, a member of the Senior Beta Club, Free the Children and the National Honor Society at Runnels, has served as a volunteer for CASA and the Miracle League. A singer and songwriter and winner of last year’s House of Blues Forward Founda-tion’s Bringin’ Down the House talent

Kara Peneguy

Runnels 7th grader Reed Stewart and 10th grader Jena Bordelon won 1st place in their age divisions in the 2015 Holocaust Memorial Essay Contest spon-sored by the Jewish Federa-tion of Greater Baton Rouge and the Educa-tional Services Department of The Advocate. In addition, Runnels stu-dents Maddy Sutton, grade 8, placed 2nd in the middle school division and Jeehan Mikdadi, grade 10, placed 3rd in the high school division. Out of a fi eld of nine fi nalists, four attend Runnels. For this year’s contest, participants were offered the opportunity to write about making decisions that not only af-

Holocaust Essay Contest Winners Named fect themselves, but those around them. Winners were announced and fi nal-

ists recognized at a Holocaust Memorial Program held at Congregation B’nai Israel on April 19. Each 1st-place winner was awarded a $50 gift card to Barnes & Noble and $50 in cash. Participants earning 2nd and

3rd place recognition received $35 gift cards to Barnes & Noble and $35 and $25 in cash, respectively. Runnels students wrote their essays as assignments in English class. Their com-positions were submitted by junior high teachers Sherry Wilks and Kylie Harbin and high school teacher Colleen LeBlanc.

contest for teens, Kara sings at weekly student services at her church. An Honor Roll student and 12-year mem-ber of Girl Scout Troop 100360, she served on the 2015 Runnels Home-coming Court. Kara was recently recognized for her volunteer service at the National Charity League’s Senior Soiree. “Kara exemplifi es the qualities embodied in the D.A.R. Award both within our school and outside in the community,” said Runnels Junior and Senior High Principal and Guidance Counselor Conchetta Foshee. “She is a well-rounded young lady with a very positive outlook on life. We are proud to name her as our D.A.R. recipient for the 2015 school year.” All high school seniors are eligible for the award, but only one from each school is selected to receive it. Win-ners are chosen by faculty members. Kara is the daughter of Teresa and Mark Peneguy.

over .300. In addition, Johnny has hit four home runs, Hampton has two and Josh has had one homer. Our two senior pitchers have already been recruited by college teams. Hunter Amedee will pitch for Centenary Col-lege in Shreveport, and Josh Sparks (see related story on page 8) will stay in Baton Rouge to play for the Southern University Jaguars as an invited walk-on. Up-and-coming freshman pitcher Nick Canevari is also attracting atten-tion. New to Runnels this year, Nick has baseball in his blood. “His dad, (Daniel Canevari) is a pitching coach at Southern,” said Coach Johnson. “When I played baseball at LSU, he was one of my assistant coaches.” He added that Nick has been “a great addition” to the Runnels team. Congratulations to Coach Johnson, assistant baseball coaches Mark Landry, Chip Davis, Ben Young and Brent Lax and players Hunter Amedee, Nick Cane-vari, Kade Dukaric, Garrett Deshotels, Anthony Emiliani, Evan Garrity, Jason Guillot, Douglas Gulley, Brent Ho-eprich, Hampton Hudson, Johnny John-son, Emory Monett, Thomas Myers, Ridge Ory, Josh Sparks, Aaron Talia-ferro, Justin Taliaferro, Jack Tooraen, Grayson Tregre, Karl Williams and Stephen Worsham. (For game updates, go to http://www.runnels.org/microsite/display/runnels-athletics/baseball.)

take ACT or SAT exams along with high school juniors and seniors. Participants meeting specifi c scores on these college-level tests qualify for special recognition and are provided with information, activities, services and educational programs to promote the development of their exceptional academic abilities. According to Junior High School Principal Pamela Babcock, 33 Run-nels students qualifi ed to participate in the Duke TIP program this school year. Eighteen enrolled and fi fteen took the ACT exam.

“Duke TIP,” cont’d. from p. 1

Attending the Holocaust Memorial Program are (from left) junior high English teacher Kylie Harbin, essay contest win-ners Maddy Sutton, Jeehan Mikdadi, Jena Bordelon, Reed Stewart and junior high English teacher Sherry Wilks.

“Raiders Roar,” cont’d. from p. 1

4 www.runnels.org May 2015

Nearly 2,000 original works of art created by students in pre-school through high school were on exhibit at the annual Runnels Spring Art show held April 26 in the gym. For the event, the space was staged as an elegant art gal-lery, complete with plants, bench-es, refreshments and live music by the Bill Kimbrell Trio. Prior to the show, students viewed the artwork and fi lled in ballots to vote for Student’s Choice winners for grades 1-12. Winners also were selected in the categories of Judge’s Choice, Headmaster’s Choice, Principal’s Choice, Assistant Principal’s Choice and Librarian’s Choice. Artwork winning Judge’s Choice ribbons will be on exhibit in the foyer of the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre for one year. Pieces earning Headmas-ter’s Choice, Principal’s Choice and Assistant Principal’s Choice will be on permanent display in administra-tive offi ces, and Librarian’s Choice winners will be available for viewing in school libraries. We sincerely thank our art faculty for inspiring and guiding students in the process of creating the artwork on exhibit and for organizing, mounting and arranging the show. They in-clude art department head Lee Brandt Randall, Lisa Sanner, Janine Kharey, Burgundy Brumfi eld, Cetin Ates, Sydney Szot, Jennifer Marino, Lauren Downing and Milli Johnson. Congratulations to all of the tal-ented exhibitors, their teachers and

our prize-winners. STUDENT’S CHOICE AWARDS

Grades 1-3 (2D)(1st Place) Samantha Schilling, A Heart in March;(2nd Place) Stuart Roark, Mosaic Panda;(3rd Place) Jossy Stegall, Here Comes the Bride.Grades 4-6 (2D)(1st Place) Madisan Milam, I Am King;(2nd Place) Nina Woodward, I. Want. Food;(3rd Place) Savannah Fekete, German Shepherd;(Honorable Mention) Chris Yura, Ssssssss!Grades 4-6 (3D)(1st Place) Josh Freeman, Food on the Fly;(2nd Place) Ramsey Rogers,

Dotty Dino;(3rd Place) Reed Gillie, Bud’s Psychedelic Appearance; (Honorable Mention) Robby Har-rison, gameron. Junior High (2D)(1st Place) Seth Miller, Find a World in a Book;(2nd Place) Cole Latiolais, Grid Enlargement;(3rd Place) London Deshotel, Dock of the Bay;(HM) Seth Miller, One Day to the Next.High School (2D)(1st Place) Devyn MacDonald, Jackson Square;(2nd Place) Adam Howe, Real Life Photo;

(3rd Place) Adam Howe, I Actually Painted a Face;(Honorable Mention) Melissa Hill, Serpentine;(Honorable Mention) Lukas Acosta, Self-portrait.Sculpture(1st Place) Caitlyn Moore, Look then Open;(2nd Place) Amelia Adams, Media Magic;(3rd Place) Caitlyn Moore, Lead Away;(Honorable Mention) Amelia Adams, Greyhound.Media Arts(1st Place) Beatrice Carmona, Self-portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird with Frida Kahlo;(2nd Place) Stephanie Williams, Mutant.Advanced Placement(1st Place) Grace LeBlanc, Beach Before Bread;(2nd Place) Julia Power, Real Life Photo;(3rd Place) Kara Peneguy, The Bridge;(Honorable Mention) Aidan Heck, Power;(Honorable Mention) Aidan Heck, Balance.

JUDGE’S CHOICE AWARDS

Exhibiting Talent - 2015 Runnels Art Show

From left are art teachers Milli

Johnson, Sydney Szot, Burgundy Brumfi eld, Lee

Brandt Randall, Janine Kharey, Cetin Ates and

Lisa Sanner.

Advanced Placement (AP) art student Aidan Heck won Stu-dent’s Choice, Headmaster’s Choice and Assistant Princi-pal’s Choice awards with her watercolor, “Balance.”

(Continued on page 5.)

5www.runnels.org May 2015

Senior Caitlyn Moore’s multi-media sculpture, “Look then Open,” garnered Judge’s Choice and Student’s Choice awards.

Junior HighEric Ho, Blooming Hands;Seth Miller, A World in a Book.High School (2-D)Anna Morgan, Lampington’s Quest;Sadie Kraft, Girl in a Headdress.High School (3-D)Caitlyn Moore, Lead Away;Sadie Kraft, Paper Tale;Caitlyn Moore, Look then Open.Advanced PlacementGrace LeBlanc, Bernard’s Sticky Situation.Media ArtsBeatriz Carmona, Self-portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird with Frida Kahlo;Madison Page, The Mystery Shoe; Ammar Essajee, Life as the Purple Creature.

HEADMASTER’S CHOICEAidan Heck, Balance;Margaret Campbell,

Silver Tabby.PRINCIPAL’S CHOICE

Elementary Madisan Milam, I Am King;Margaret Campbell, Monarchs;Mason Pizzalato, Sunfl owers;Robby Harrison, Rocky Mountain.Junior and Senior High Sadie Kraft,

Girl in a Headdress;Julia Power, Carmen;Sadie Kraft, Paper Tale.

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL’S CHOICE

ElementaryDanyel Howel, Cat and Bird;Emma Collett, On the Wing.Junior and Senior High Carson Badinger, Sandcrab;Kara Peneguy, Shutters;Aidan Heck, Balance.

LIBRARIAN’S CHOICEElementary Poppy Pellisier, Crazy Cactus;Maddie Reonas, Flower Power.Junior and Senior High Anna Morgan, Tranquility;Amelia Adams, Crystal Cosmos.

1. Stuart Roark and his Student’s Choice Award winner, “Mosaic Panda.”2. Madisan Milam received Student’s Choice and Elementary Principal’s Choice awards for “I Am King.”3. Grace LeBlanc won Student’s Choice and Judge’s choice awards for her AP art. 4. Senior Sadie Kraft with her acrylic,“Girl in a Headdress,” which won both Principal’s Choice and Judge’s Choice honors. 5. Nina Woodward’s “I. Want. Food.” earned 2nd place in the Student’s Choice 2-D category. 6. Robby Harrison was presented with an Honorable Mention in the Student’s Choice category for his papier mache sculpture, “gameron.”

1.

2.

3.

4. 5. 6.

“Crazy Cactus”

6 www.runnels.org May 2015

Class Trip ... This year’s 8th grade overnight fi eld trip on March 26-27 took students to Southeastern University’s Turtle Cove Environmental Research Station, Fountain-bleu State Park and the city of New Orleans. At Turtle Cove, students had a lesson on water safety and how to operate a canoe before venturing out on the Galva Canal in Manchac to observe local wildlife and wetland plants. Once back on shore, students used dip nets to catch minnows, crawfi sh, and tadpoles. They also learned about wetland ecology, marsh restoration and environmental

issues concerning the Lake Pontchartrain Basin. After over-nighting at Fontainbleau State Park, the group headed to New Orleans. On the schedule were visits to Cafe’ du Monde and The Cabildo and a Jean Lafi tte Swamp Tour. We sincerely thank parent chaperones Jon Miller, Roger Huygues, Joe Thompson, Greg Taliaferro and Kevin Sutton, teacher chaperones Rachel Kane, Kylie Harbin, and Jessica Ashraf, Junior High Assistant Principal Pamela Babcock and Junior and Senior High nurse Karen Rhinehart.

Inspecting their catch from dip nets at Turtle Cove are 8th grad-ers (from left) Caroline Henning and Kayleigh Nicholson.

Runnels High School students welcome representatives of the U.S. Army War College Eisenhower Lecture Series to the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre on April 15. From left are Nicholas Saunders, Olivia Arcemount, Irene Lewis, Col. Si Martinez, U.S. Army, Maj. Gen. Harry J. “Skip” Philips (Ret.), U.S. Army Reserve, Lt. Col. Warren Wells, U.S. Army, Alyssa Campbell, Brent Hoeprich and Nabil Essajee.

On April 15, Runnels High School students were able to get a better understanding of military operations after attend-ing a special presentation by Col. Si Martinez and Lt. Col. Warren Wells. These two high-ranking military offi cers were representatives of a program

Eisenhower Army War College Lecture Series Comes to Runnels

known as the Eisenhower War College Lecture Series, in which students are able to ask questions and learn more about national security issues and the offi cers’ opinions on the issues. Students were given a chance to ask questions relating to past security issues as well as pres-ent ones. This is the fi rst time Runnels has been privileged to receive a visit from members of the Eisenhower War College Lecture Series. Students in Norma Marsh’s AP U.S. History classes were able to get a better understand-ing of the Cold War as well as the Vietnam War in the answers they received, while Connie Point’s AP U.S. Government and Civics classes were able to learn about more modern and sometimes controversial topics such as women in combat and forceful humanitarian opera-tions. Whatever the issue, the of-fi cers, according to Ms. Marsh, who chairs the high school history department, provided “candid and honest answers with a warm and engaging attitude,” allowing students to better grasp their studies of the U.S. government and military in a fi rst-hand method.

New YorkBallet School Bound ... Caroline Collins, a 6th grader at Runnels, has been awarded a scholarship to attend an in-tensive summer dance program at the Joffrey

Ballet School in New York City. She initially auditioned for the scholarship at the Phyllis Guy Dance Center in Den-ham Springs, where she has taken private lessons for nine years. Later, she had a second audition in New Orleans. The result was a 100 percent schol-arship to study ballet, jazz, tap and pointe in New York this summer. At Runnels, Caroline has taken ballet as a daily class for the last two years with instruc-tor Mary Camille Maddox, who also serves as a teacher and choreographer at Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre’s Dance Workshop. “We congratulate Caroline on her accomplish-ment and for being selected to receive this honor,” said Mrs. Maddox. Caroline said that winning the scholarship is a dream come true. She hopes to fol-low that dream to Broadway as a professional choreog-rapher or dancer in days to come. Caroline is the daughter of Susan and Lawrence Collins.

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What’s Happening ...

Coaches and Scout Leaders: If you have not yet arranged for

your group to have a picture in the 2014-15 Runnels yearbook, please email news@runnels.org or call the yearbook offi ce (225-751-2192) to make arrangements for your group

photo to be included.

Runnels High School was privileged to be among the few schools in Louisiana to welcome speakers from the Eisenhower War College Lecture Series this year. The program encourages dialogue between students and high ranking military offi cers in regard to the military and its role in world affairs. Eisenhower Lecture Series offi cers have spo-len at Southeastern University, Catholic High School, Episcopal High School, LSU and the LSU Army ROTC this year. They have also been on local radio and television shows. We sincerely thank Harry J.“Skip” Philips, Major General (Ret.), U.S. Army, the manag-ing partner of Taylor Porter Attorneys at Law in Baton Rouge and former member of the War College, for his assistance in bringing the War College Lecture Series to Runnels. Below, senior Max Morgan reports on the very fi rst Army War College lecture to take place at Runnels.

7www.runnels.org May 2015

Carnival Time ... Our 4th grade reading students celebrated the accomplishment of earning 3,000 Accelerated Reader points with a festive outdoor carnival held on the elementary basket-ball court on April 22. While munching popcorn, students

played games and tried their luck in the many activity booths along the “runway.” We extend our thanks to the many volunteers who helped

make this well-earned treat such fun for our 4th graders. They include: Calleen Pentes, Tammy Bhat, Meredith Wartelle, Amy Taliaferro, Joann Taliaferro, Trang Huynh, Julie Horridge, Rusti Liner, Melissa Asevedo, Celeste Toney, Audra Collett, Kim Cox, Sarah Odom, Dede Cheng, Michelle DeSimone, Sally Duet, Connie Torres, Sa-vannah Wright, Di-Ann Frederic, Darlene Rostow and 4th-grade reading teacher Kellie Dodgen, who organized the carnival.

Globe-Trotters ... Runnels 3rd graders have “traveled” to many exotic lands in their reading class this year. On April 17 dur-ing their annual “Trip Around the World,” students “visited” fi ve of these “countries” without ever leaving the campus. Their destinations: “France,” “Scotland,” “China,” “Mexico” and “Australia.” For the tour, classrooms were lavishly outfi tted to represent these “countries.” Using passports they made in class, 3rd graders made stops at each port of call to learn a bit about its culture, language, landmarks, attractions and cuisines. In “France,” students enjoyed an art lesson about famous French masters, stomped grapes in the tradition of French wine makers and discovered that a bottle of champagne contains about 50 mil-lion bubbles. The tour of “Scotland” included bagpipes, a Gaelic language lesson and an introduction to the British pound sterling.

Upon entering “China,” 3rd grad-ers removed their shoes in the Asian tradition. They heard the story of Lon Po Po (Little Red Riding Hood) and tried picking up grains of rice with chopsticks. The “tour” of “Australia” included information about the Great Bar-rier Reef, Sydney Opera House and the Outback. Students also discovered that the platypus and echidna are egg-laying mammals

unique to Australia. A highlight was passing around an authentic boomerang. In “Mexico,” students were taught the Spanish names for a few colors and numbers and used their new vocabulary words to request sheets of red, orange or yellow tissue paper to make big decorative fl owers. They also ate churros and broke piñatas. The tour concluded with a buffet lunch featuring dishes from around the world. Serving as tour guides were 3rd-grade parent and grandparent volun-teers. “We always have many volunteers for this project,” said reading teacher Lisa Harris, who organized the event. “Par-ents knowledgeable about particular countries enjoy sharing what they know with students.” We sincerely thank the many volunteers who helped stage and produce this international event, with a special tip of the hat to “country hosts” Blake Steven-son and Jodi Golden (France); Letty Ellsworth (Mexico); Caroline Hader, Neena Kelfstrom and Aislyn Coates (China); Art Friedman (Australia); and Laura Roark, Janet Toms and Bert Toms (Scot-land). We also thank “tour guides” Dennis Edwards, Jerod McCann, Shelly Johnson and Maureen Peak and set-up volunteers Heather Shay, Mr. Edwards, Shasta Felton and Trent Oubre. In addition, a big thank you goes to everyone who provided the wonderful food students sampled in the various “countries” and enjoyed at the lun-cheon, with a special nod to Nael Badawi and Ruba Abdelhaq, who provided hummus and pita from Albasha’s.

Paul Stevenson and Sean McGee use chopsticks in “China.”

In “Mexico,” Runnels 3rd graders (from left) Madeline Golden, Kate Kelfstrom and Caroline Pousson learn how to make festive tissue paper fl owers from parent volunteer Letty Ellsworth.

Star Golfers ... Stand-out high school golfers Taylor Kennedy and Grant Welch, both seniors, are playing strong and winning big this season.

Taylor captured 1st place at the 2015 Girls Metro golf tourna-ment held April 22 at Beaver Creek and

was named 2015 All-Metro Girls Golf Player of the Year. At regionals, she fi nished 3rd individually and qualifi ed for the state tournament. Grant won 1st place at the District III, Division 3 tournament held at Santa Maria Golf Course April 22 and placed 2nd at regionals, which took place at Greystone Country Club in Denham Springs on April 28. He also qualifi ed for state. (The Boys Metro tournament was rained out this year.) Taylor is unbeaten this season. She won 1st place individual medals in all 9 tournaments in which Runnels played. Grant, who signed to play college golf at the Univer-sity of Louisiana – Lafayette as a freshman next year, also won individual titles at every Runnels boys’ varsity match this year. Both students started play-ing golf on the Runnels varsity team in 7th grade and achieved First Team All-Metro recogni-tion the very next year. As a freshman, Taylor won her fi rst Girls Metro tourna-ment and was named 2012 All-Metro Girls Golf Player of the Year. She went on to win the Girls

Metro tournament two more times. In his freshman year, Grant placed 6th in the Boys Metro tournament and 4th at state and regionals. Last year, he won 1st place in district, fi nished 4th in the state tourna-ment and was named First Team All-Metro. This season, he has maintained a one-under-par average in all his high school tournaments. Though Taylor received sev-eral offers to play college golf, she said she will attend Missis-sippi State University in the fall as a communications major on an academic scholarship. She plans to stay active in the sport. Congratulations to Taylor and Grant on their accomplish-ments and to their Runnels coaches, Allynn Kennedy and Eddie Welch, respectively.

Taylor Kennedy

Grant Welch

Taylor Woods gets a spritz of blue hair spray at the Read-ing Carnival.

What’s Happening ...

8 www.runnels.org May 2015

“Pasta for Pennies” ... Thanks to the generous donations of our school families, the 4th grade was able to raise $2,048.59 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s “Pasta for Pennies” campaign this year. In a little friendly competition, classes vied with each other to see which could gather the most money for the charity. Students in 3Y won, and were treated to a pasta party, compli-ments of Olive Gar-den Restaurants, which sponsored the campaign. Our thanks to everyone who supported this project, with a big shout out to “Pasta for Pennies” sponsor Christine Pousson.

Prom Royalty... The Junior/Senior High School prom, Garden Gala, was held April 18 at the Lake House. Congratulations to (from left) Prom Prince Preston Po-irier, Prom Princess Christian Amedee, Prom Queen Sarah Lukinovich and Prom King Grant Welch.

What’s Happening...

Pasta party winners were treated to a lunch supplied by the Olive Garden on April 28.

Ms. Christy’s Discovery Garden: A Place to Learn and Grow ... Christy Lawrence, a cherished teacher at Run-nels Preschool, passed away in February of this year following an extended illness. A large garden designed to spark creativity, inspire the imagination and facili-tate hands-on learning will be established at the Preschool in her memory. “Christy loved to teach and inspire the children,” said Pre-school Co-Director Janice Leger, “and I believe Ms. Christy’s Discovery Garden will be a wonderful way to continue to inspire and teach children at Runnels.” According to Preschool Co-Director Karen Runnels, the garden will include an arbor, deck and stage for dramatic play, an art wall for displaying creative work, a section for planting vegetables, a grassy expanse for free play and a butterfl y nursery. Ms. Christy’s Discovery Garden will be an ongoing project at Runnels Preschool with many opportunities to contribute. Watch our website, newsletter and emails for ways to support this wonderful garden. If you would like to make a monetary donation, please make checks payable to Runnels Preschool with Ms. Christy’s Discov-ery Garden noted in the memo line. Send checks to Runnels Pre-school, 6455 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge, LA 70806. Since Runnels is a “501(c) (3) charitable organization,” all donations to Ms. Christy’s Discovery Garden are tax deductible. “Any gardener knows the importance of sunshine to a gar-den,” said Founding Headmaster Dr. L.K. Runnels, “and Ms. Christy was sunshine here.” We have posted a video, produced by Ms. Christy’s husband Bill Lawrence and Runnels parent Colleen Spillane, about Ms. Christy’s Discovery Garden on the home page of the Runnels website, www.runnels.org. Look for it in the “What’s Happen-ing” section.

Harp Recital ... Junior and senior high school harp students held a recital in the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre on Saturday, April 18. Each student prepared a solo piece to demonstrate her accomplishments. Harp teacher Dr. Gabriela Werries planned and organized the event, which featured harp-ists Anna Manning, Savannah McNeal, Natalia Tooraen, Kyra Reeves, Janie Schlotterer, Jordyn Miller, Kristen Haller, Blair LeBleu, Rebecca Todd and Rachel Yura. “The harp students have shown an extraordinary devotion toward their instruments,” said Dr. Werries. “Through their hard work they have combined love

and passion for the harp, and I am very proud to be their teacher.”

Senior Signs with Jaguars ... Josh Sparks, a star pitcher for the Runnels Raiders, will be wearing the blue and gold of a Southern Jaguar on the baseball fi eld next year. He signed on the dotted line during a party at his home on April 15 with his family, team-mates, coaches, school administrators and friends looking on. Though Josh said he’s looking forward to pitching at Southern, he’s enjoyed every second of being a Raider: “I’ve always had great team-mates and great coaches that have supported me throughout my time in high school athletics.” Josh, who also was a guard and forward on the varsity basketball team, which made it into the Class 2A quarterfi nals this year, said he plans to major in business when he gets to Southern. Though he had offers to play baseball from several colleges Josh chose to stay in Baton Rouge. “I’m extremely excited to join a baseball program like Southern’s,” he said, “and can’t wait to get on campus and start a new chapter in my life. But, of course,” he added, “I’ll always be a Raider.”

Josh Sparks, with his grandparents, Caral and Jay Edelberg, on Senior Night at Raider Park on April 30.

Harp students who participated in the April 18 recital withRunnels harp teacher Dr.Gabriela Werries.

9www.runnels.org May 2015

We Sincerely Thank... ... LSU Chemistry 1201 stu-dents Meghan MacDonald (Runnels ‘12), Amber Harrell, Ariel Williams and Ashley Carpenter for visiting with Nicole Reid’s 3rd period Hon-ors Chemistry I students to provide a demonstration on the synthesis of polymers. ... LSU Chemistry 1202 students Louis Derose and Samantha Hotard for visiting John Baird’s 5th-grade science classes on April 24 to share their knowledge about gases that make up our atmosphere and conduct experiments with liquid nitrogen. (See picture on page 12.) ... ATF Special Agent Bruce Alsandor and ATF Special Agent and canine handler Landen Miller (with his dog, Lacey) for speaking to 7th-12th grade students in the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre in April about the dangers and consequences of illegal substance abuse. ... Dennis Parker, Professor of Cello and String Chamber Music at LSU, for visiting our campus on March 31 to work with cello students in

3rd and 5th hour strings classes. ... Guest speakers in Dave

Marschall’s Environmental Science and Environmental Science AP classes: Professional engineer Linn Fink, father of Madelinn (Runnels ‘13), Grant and Annie, who shared his expertise on the Cleve Reber Superfund Site; Bob Heam of the City-Parish Department of Public Works, who discussed city services, recycling, storm water and nonpoint-source pol-lution; and A. Hays Town, Jr., P.E., who provided information about his efforts to preserve

Baton Rouge’s drinking water resources. ... Michael Simon for hosting an Environmental Science and Environ-mental Science AP fi eld trip to his house along Bayou Duplantier. ... Quintesah and Phillip Syas, parents of Evie, for donating magnets, reusable stickers and labels to the Preschool. ... Sherry Roper’ for her fi ve years of leadership as “Girls on the Run” sponsor and head coach at Runnels. This is her fi nal season coaching the popular and successful program.

Spring Girls on the Run team and coaches. After fi ve years as head coach, Sherry Roper’ (fi rst row, fourth from left) is stepping down.

Runnels alum and LSU chemis-try student Meghan MacDonald explains the science behind Silly Putty to Honors Chemistry I students Alex Matthews (left) and John Wiese.

Community Scrapbook

1. Going Antebellum ... Seventh graders (from left) Carlie Aucoin, Jenna Carballo and Natalia Tooraen are hands-on when it comes to learn-ing about laundry chores, circa 1800, on a class fi eld trip to Magnolia Mound in April.2. Togas and Pull Tabs ... Junior Classical League members celebrate the founding of Rome (April 21) at a lunchtime party in Novak Hall and display bags of aluminum can pull tabs they collected for the Ronald McDonald House Charities. The pull tabs go to a recycling pro-gram that helps generate funding for the non-profi t to aid the families of children undergoing treatment for serious illness. If you would like to donate your pull tabs, bring them to the Junior and Senior High Library any time before May 22.3. First-Class Tour ... On a fi eld trip to the Stennis Space Center in Hancock County, MS on April 1, our AP physics, phys-ics and calculus students were given the star treatment. Physics teacher Rebecca Ringuette reports the class received“a VIP tour of the rocket test stand and Aerojet Rocketdyne, a company that builds rocket engines.” 4. Yoga Bliss ... Junior Kelsey Mayes strikes a Warrior I pose during a psychology class fi eld trip to Yoga Bliss, a local yoga studio, on April 13. Students took a class at the studio and discovered that yoga is a great way to combat stress. “The mind-body benefi ts of yoga,” explained psychology teacher Rebecca Penniman, “include relaxation, meditation, stretching, strengthening and developing a deeper state of consciousness.”5. Parade of States ... Eddie Tunis (left) and Evan Shaneyfelt with “fl oats” they created representing the great states of New Jersey and Louisiana, respectively, for the “4th Grade Parade of States” in April. Each fl oat in the parade displayed items and details about a particular state’s geography, traditions, landmarks, products and other notable claims to fame. Students have been learning about the states in Lisa Harris’ social studies classes this year.

Renowned cellist Dennis Parker (second from right) with (from left) Connor Porthouse, Ryn LeBleu, cello instructor Dan Cassin and Dawson Ponjuan.

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10 www.runnels.org May 2015

Four Runnels Junior High students participated in a two-day mock legislative session held at Louisiana’s Old State Capitol April 20-21. Sponsored by the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge, Youth Leg allows students to “experience” the legislature in action at mock sessions of Congress. Students as-sume the roles of governor, cabinet members, state senators and representatives and even members of the press corps. They also have the opportunity to propose, defend and vote on bills. Runnels students attending were Daniel Mayeux, Alyssa Stevison, Tyler Robbins and Kyra Reeves. Youth Leg Club sponsor Junior High Assistant Principal Pamela Babcock, 7th grade history teacher Steve Hayden and Louisiana Studies teacher Rachel Kane accompanied them. On the fi rst day, students voted to elect a governor, speaker of the house and president of the senate. They also were as-signed to committees. Daniel Mayeux, who lost his bid for governor, served on the governor’s cabinet as commissioner of judiciary and prison affairs. Alyssa and Tyler were state representatives, and Kyra served as a senator. “Students come into the session with prepared bills,” ex-plained Mrs. Babcock. Kyra’s was on teen curfews, Alyssa’s concerned fi tness for preschoolers, and Tyler’s bill proposed a Red Stick metro loop. Though none of the Runnels bills passed, Tyler was such a strong proponent for his, that he was inducted into the 2015 Youth Leg Hall of Fame. Mrs. Babcock said that Youth Leg was a wonderful experi-ence for the students. “They worked well as a team and were very supportive of each other. They learned a tremendous amount.” She also said there are plans to make Youth Leg part of the 8th grade curriculum next year.

Alumni News ... Congratulations to Runnels alumnae Lily Winnett (‘11) and her capstone advertising class at LSU for winning the District 7 National Student Advertising Competition (NSAC) for their Pizza Hut advertising campaign. The class com-peted against universities from Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana. A graduating senior at the Manship School of Communication, Lily said that her class built the campaign from scratch. “Our class researched, analyzed, planned and executed creative work and created a presentation pitch for NSAC. Our campaign plan covers everything from budget to media vehicles to social media promotions and events.” Lily, who served on the Runnels yearbook staff in high school, recently began working as an advertising sales assistant at NBC33 in Baton Rouge.

Congratulations, Blue Team! ... When the logs were in and the miles tallied, the blue team came out on top in our 50th Anniversary Zip Fit Challenge. Headmaster Dr. Greg Brandao an-nounced the offi cial totals at the Closing Ceremony Pep Rally held April 13 in the gym. The blue team logged 12,684.7 miles; grey was second, with 12,616.7 miles; and white fi nished third, with 11,225.9 miles. Overall, our school community logged an amazing 36,527.3 miles in the 50-day challenge. Students on the winning team were awarded blue t-shirts (above) and gold zip ties. The pep rally featured performances by the 6th-12th-Grade Band directed by Jill Swetnam and the junior high and varsity cheer squads coached by Dana Schlotterer and Sherry Wilks. Nutritious breakfast foods were provided by the RPO. We sincerely thank Jenni Peters of Varsity Sports for donating more than 200 blue, custom printed t-shirts to student Zip Fit winners (picture above) and providing the infl atable yellow victory arch for the closing ceremony. We also thank Zip Fit organizers Dr. Wendy Holden-Parker and Cross Country and Track Coach Julie Fink and everyone who participated in and supported the challenge.

Community Notebook

“Building the Bleachers” ... The Runnels Booster Club extends a huge thank you to all who joined us for dinner at Raising Cane’s on April 21 in support of our “Build the Bleachers” fundraiser. Booster Club co-president Wendy Worsham reports that the event was a great success. “We raised nearly $450,” she said. The money will help fund the installa-tion of permanent, retractable bleachers in the Runnels gym.

Representing Runnels at Youth Leg are, from left, Junior High Assistant Principal Pamela Babcock, Louisiana Studies teacher Rachel Kane, Alyssa Stevison, 7th grade American history teacher Steve Hayden, Kyra Reeves, Daniel Mayeaux, and Tyler Robbins.

Runnels alum Lily Winnett

(front row, at right) with LSU

advisers and classmates in Knoxville, TN

where they won a national student

advertising competition for their Pizza Hut

campaign.

Youth Leg Convenes at State Capitol

11www.runnels.org May 2015

MAY 4 4th and 5th Grade Band Concert 5 Jr. and Sr. High Academic Awards Ceremony 5 String Orchestra Concert (all grades) 6 Elementary Chorus Concert 6 1st Grade to Zachary Historic Village 7 3rd Grade to Capital City Museum 7 5th Grade to LASM 7-8 Junior Beta State Convention 8 Kindergarten to Dr. and Mrs. Runnels House 8 Athletic Recognition Ceremony for 7th-12th Grade in Runnels Gym 11 Elementary Ballet Watch Day (8:45 a.m. and 10:10 a.m, Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre) 12 Junior High Awards Ceremony 13 Elementary Drama Performances, Little Theatre (This Is a Test - Grades 4-6, 8:35 a.m., 9:25 a.m. and 10:15 a.m.; Bugz, the Musical -1C, 12:10 p.m.; 1B, 12:45 p.m.; 1A, 1:45 p.m.; and Arf! - 3A, 2:25 p.m.) 14 Kindergarten Splash Day 14 5th Grade to West Baton Rouge Museum 14 High School Commencement (Due to limited seating, attendance is by invitation only.) 15 1st Grade Water Day 15 3rd Grade to Circle Bowl 15 5th Grade Inauguration Ceremony and Reception 16 Junior Beta Spring Dance 18 Kindergarten Recognition Ceremony 19 4th Grade to All-Star Lanes 19 1st Grade Finale 20 6th Grade Graduation Ceremony 21 6th Grade to Honey Island 22 Award Ceremony - Grades 2-5 22 Last Day of School for Students - Dismissal at 10:30 a.m.

For complete calendar information and AP Exam and Final Exam schedules, go to the Runnels Master Calendar at www.runnels.org.

Kudos To... It’s a Date! ... Julia Saunders for being named a fi nalist for the Paul A. Dufour and Julia Dufour Richardson Scholarship in the Baton Rouge Gallery’s 2015 “Real Life Experience Juried High School Exhibition.” Her entry was a prismacolor drawing entitled “Sinking Fast.” ... Newly elected 2015-16 Senior Beta Club offi cers Irene Lewis, president; Kim Lam, vice president; Nick Saunders, secretary; Regan Dean, historian; and Wesley Harris, treasurer. In honor of our school’s 50th anniversary, the club recently donated two trees, a Japanese blue oak (Quercus glauca) and Cleveland pear (Pyrus calleryana), for our S. Harrell’s Ferry Rd. campus. The oak tree is to honor Dr. and Mrs. Runnels,

Irene explained, and the pear tree honors the transfer of leadership to Dr. Brandao. ... Gentlemen golfers Dylan Miller, Mi-chael Lockhart, Grant Welch and Ryan Lam for placing 3rd (a tie) as a team at regionals on April 28 and qualifying to play in the state tournament. Grant Welch scored 76, Dylan Miller, 86, Ryan Lam, 87, and Michael Lock-hart, 112 for a team total of 361. Their coach is Eddie Welch. ... Samantha Sieberth, Kyle Sieberth and Eric Huygues for qualifying for the State Championship Tennis Tournament held April 27 in Monroe. At the event, Eric

won his fi rst match but lost his 2nd to the #4 seed at the tournament. “All our play-ers did well and played hard,” said Runnels tennis coach Kathrin Sieberth. ... Outdoor Track team members Dean Campbell and Kaylen Howe for qualifying to participate in the LHSAA State 2A Championship Meet at LSU on May 8. Kaylen will compete in the 1600m and Dean in the 1600m and 3200m. The running events start at 5 p.m. “Come out and support Kaylen and Dean,” said head track coach Julie Fink. At regionals held in Hammond on April 28, the boys’ track team fi nished 8th out of 17 teams and the girls’ team placed 7th out of 17.

In honor of our school’s 50th anniversary, Founding Headmaster Dr. L.K. Runnels (2nd from left) will deliver the keynote address at the 2015 High School Commencement in the Gladys Hague Runnels Theatre on May 14. (Photo above is from last year’s high school graduation. From left are Junior and Senior High School Principal and Guidance Counselor Conchetta. Foshee, Founding Headmaster Dr. L.K. Runnels, Dr. Eddy Furniss and Headmaster Dr. Greg Brandao.)

Update on Post-Season Honors ... Honors are still rolling in for players on our varsity teams. Here are some of the latest. Bowling: Drake Fromenthal, Jordan Johnston and Clay Harned, 1st Team All-District; Drake Fromenthal, 1st Team All-District MVP; Ryan Baird and Connor Matthews, 2nd Team All-District. Boys Soccer: Grant Fink, 1st Team All-District and 2nd Team All-Metro; Nick Saunders, 2nd Team All-District and 2nd Team All-Metro; Max Sager, Louisiana All-Freshman 2nd Team. Girls Soccer: Olivia Arboneaux, 1st Team All-State, 2nd Team All-Metro; Sadie Kraft, 1st Team All-Metro, 2nd Team All-State; Ally Garrity, 1st Team All-Freshman; Kaylen Howe, 2nd Team All-Freshman. Softball: Emme McElveen, Micah Danos and Allie Nicholson, 2nd Team All-District; Ellie Russo and Emily Britt, Honorable Mentions.

From left are Varsity Boys Golf Coach Ed-die Welch and players Michael Lockhart, Grant Welch, Ryan Lam and Dylan Miller.

Next year, Runnels Elementary will partner with The Spanish Class to offer Spanish language lessons as an extra-curricular activity on our S. Har-rell’s Ferry Rd. campus. Spanish classes are scheduled to begin on August 17 and will follow the Runnels master calendar for all holidays and breaks. Below is the Spanish Class schedule:

Monday 7:20 -8:20 a.m., Room 20Tuesday, 3:00 - 4:15 p.m., Room 20Thursday 3:00 - 4:15 p.m., Room 22

Snack time: 3:00 - 3:15 p.m. Each student must bring a snack to class.To register, please visit www.thespanishclass.info/enroll.

The Spanish Class at Runnels Elementary

If you have news for The Reporter, please send it to news@runnels.org or call the editor at 225-751-2192.

Founding Headmaster to Deliver Keynote at 2015 Commencement

AUGUST 10 School Resumes for Students

12 www.runnels.org May 2015

Preschool fi eld trip to West

Baton Rouge Museum

Art Club fi eld trip to LSU

Panning for gold in 3rd grade social studies

“An Old-Fashioned Soap Opera”

LSU Chemistry Students Visit 5th Grade Science ClassChickens and eggs in Kindergarten

Outdoor Track

Lady Raider Softball Team

Lady Raider Golf Team

Varsity Baseball Team

On and Around Campus