Heard in the Halls - January 2017
January 11, 2017
Welcome to Heard in the Halls. We encourage you to read ALL the current blogs submitted this month, but you can also click on department links below to quickly go to a particular section.
THEATER | ATHLETICS | BAND | CHOIR
CAMPUS MINISTRY | GUIDANCE | JROTC
Theater
by Katie Kreitzer, Theater
The end of 2016 was extremely successful for the CDH Theater Department. The fall musical, She Loves Me ended on a high note with the department winning the coveted Outstanding Overall Production Award from the Hennepin Theater Trust Spotlight Evaluators. Individual award winners were: Rachel Countryman, Ryan Carr, Will Dusek, and Patrick Connors. Also awarded for their Outstanding work was the CDH pit orchestra under the direction of Andrew Bourgoin. Thank you to everyone involved in the production and all who supported the sweet musical love story.
November and December were busy with rehearsals and performances of Lyle the Crocodile. Based on the beloved children’s books by Bernard Waber and adapted to the stage by local writer, Kevin Kling, the play was a delight for children AND adults. Kevin Kling, as I’m sure many of you know, is a genius storyteller. The cast found it especially enjoyable discovering the lines that were meant for children and the lines that were clearly meant for adults.
CDH invited six grade schools to attend matinee performances of Lyle the Crocodile on December 13 and 14. It is our hope that these young audience members enjoy a great day of theater and that they see themselves as a future CDH actor or technician. These matinees are truly my favorite days at CDH. Hearing children’s laughing and participating during the play makes me love my job more than ever. The best part of the experience, however, is when the play is over. The CDH cast members form a long reception line and all the grade school children exit through it and greet the actors and give them hugs and high fives. It was especially fun this year because Santa Claus made an appearance in the play so children got a chance to hug St. Nick!
Although the winter weather caused a cancellation of two performances, the cast and crew were flexible and added two additional performances. An added bonus to the performance was a New York City Tour Package. Conceived and produced by our house management student team of Andrew Theisen and Chendamonee Hing, the NYC package allowed buyers a hot dog/pretzel, beverage, crocodile cookie, and a crocodile mask craft to take home.
What’s 2017 got in store for you? Another CDH Theater production, of course!
Get ready to cozy up into the Blackbox Theater February 8 – 12 and have your mind enhanced through our next show Anonymous, written by Naomi Iizuka guest directed by local playwright, director, and educator, Anton Jones. Anonymous focuses on a young refugee (Anon) who journeys through the United States in search of home. Anon flees a war-torn country and while searching for a better life, meets several characters along the way. The plot is a reimagined tale of Homer’s -The Odyssey and will be a perfect educational enhancement to our English curriculum as well as a strong piece of social justice.
My hope is that you were able to catch a CDH Theater production in 2016. If not, 2017 could be your year to discover what you are missing.
For all our patrons, without you, theater does not happen so THANK YOU.
Athletics
Girls Basketball
by Joe Lynch, Coach
Girls Basketball has gotten off to a great start going 8-1, with wins over Roseville, Park of Cottage Grove and Stillwater in conference play. The team also participated in community service by being a part of Feed My Starving Children. All members of the B Squad, JV and Varsity teams helped put meals together on December 30 at the Eagan facility. The teams are looking forward to a challenging month of play in January when they will play the top-rated team in the 2A school division, as well as two other teams in the Top Ten in the 4A division. Thank you for your support of CDH Girls Basketball.
Dance
by Ashley Sampson, Coach
The dance season hit its half way mark of the season with four competitions under their belt and four left to go! It will be an exciting second half of the season with conference finals being hosted on Wednesday January 11 at CDH, and other competitions at Anoka and Blaine High School. The team will take on their biggest challenge of the season when they dance to win their way to the State Competition at Section Finals on February 11, 2017 at Bloomington Kennedy High School. The team is the strongest they have been all season, and only continue to improve on their strength and endurance by pushing through the challenging dances as a team, while performing as though they are dancing as one.
Boys Swim and Dive
by Mike Steineman, Coach
The CDH Boys Swimming & Diving season is underway. As of this publication the team is 2-1 in dual meets with victories over White Bear Lake and Hastings. The one loss came against Stillwater at our second home meet ever held at St. Catherine's University. Next up for the Raiders are a couple of dual meets against Forest Lake and Woodbury. After that, marks the halfway point of the season with True Team Sections at Edina on January 21.
Band
by Donna Novey, Band Director
The Minnesota Band Directors Association (MBDA) 9-10 Honor Band is on Saturday, January 14 at Kasson-Mantorville High School. Students from the southeastern Minnesota region meet at 8:00 a.m. for a day-long rehearsal and then present a concert at 4:00 p.m., which is free and open to the public. These CDH Band Members are participating (see photo):
Jillian Anderson (10)-flute
Lynn Willems (10)-clarinet
Mary Grace Shearon (10)-trumpet
Ryan Auran (9)-trumpet
Monica Calkins (9)-baritone
Ben Craighead (9)-baritone
Henry Wilcox (9)-tuba
The next big event for the band is the Suburban East Conference (SEC) Music Festival on February 6. This is an annual conference event with two components-performances by each of the top groups in the conference at the day festival and the All-Conference Grand Finale Concert in the evening at 7:00. The concert is an incredible showcase of the musical talent and hard work of the students in the conference; all are welcome to attend.
The Winter Concert will be held on Wednesday, February 22 in the Lillian Theater.
To keep up with the activities of the CDH Band, check out the band website! Band shirts can also be purchased at the CDH On-line Store.
Campus Ministry
by Peter Gleich, Campus Minister
LaSallian Youth ~ Faith, Service, Community and Justice
A word of thanks to the many students and staff who brought the spirit of Christ’s birth to the children and staff at Community of Saints School in West St. Paul for annual LaSallian Youth Breakfast with Santa Christmas party on December 16: Abby Aanonsen, Mary Arend, Lily Brielmaier, William Burke, Giselle Centeno, Grace Collmann, Ben Craighead, Nicole Dellis, Stella Dolan, Teagan Fee, Melissa Garcia, Oliva Garrity, John Gleason, Oliva Kalla, Lyric Kochendorfer, Annie Kollitz, Grace Kohanek, Tucker Kruse, Taylor Linderman, Caleb Miley, Ava Monacelli, Kayla Moynagh, Allison Naber, Caitlin O'Gary, Harry Olander, Ruth Olson, Allie Reding, Amanda Reding, Amy Rueter, Oliva Savard, Isabel Schreier, Carolina Schuster, Lily Stenback, Lauren Swords, Travis Teeter, Bridget Tierney, Jenny Vu, Maddy Weegman, Julia Waters, Calista Wieber, Maria Zesbaugh, Mr. Joe Miley, Mr. Sam Vetch, Ms. Becki Medellin, and Mr. Peter Gleich
Our 2017 LaSallian Youth summer gathering with be June 25-29, 2017 at St. Mary’s University in Winona. All are encouraged to consider participating in this annual convention with the other 16 LaSallian schools from across the Midwest.
If you have any questions about LaSallian Youth, please contact Joe Miley or Peter Gleich.
Empty Bowls 2017 “Give a man (or woman) a fish and you feed them for a day. Teach them to fish and you feed them for a lifetime.”.
This conviction is the focus of our 15th Annual Empty Bowls, and this is the belief that guides the work of Heifer International and inspires so many to support our annual Empty Bowls event. In 14 years, due to the great generosity of so many, our CDH community has donated over $110,000.00 to Heifer International. It is our goal to break the $120,000.00 mark in total donations this year!!!
February1, 2017 will mark our 15th Empty Bowls at CDH! And, as is very fitting, Empty Bowls will take place in the midst of our annual Justice Week, which this year will focus on Human Trafficking. We extend our profound gratitude to all who have supported Empty Bowls,especially our soup, bread, bowl and auction donors, as well as those who provide direct financial donations. All members of our CDH community are invited to join us on Feb. 11 for lunch, which will be served from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and supper from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.
This year’s Empty Bowls is under the direction of Seniors Molly Johnson, Amanda Reding, Ellie Salmen, Elizabeth Schindler, Izzy Schreier, Marina Tschida, and Julia Waters, Juniors Megan Commers, Claire McMahon, Frannie Nicolo, Katherine Kruser, Amy Rueter and Katie Schearer, and Sophomores Lilly Deschene, Elizabeth Everson, Allison Reding, Carolina Schuster, Andrew Theisen, and Karissa Tschida.
If you have any questions regarding Empty Bowls, or are interested in supporting the event with a monetary donation, or soups, bread or auction items, please contact Peter Gleich.
Choir
by Andrew Bourgoin, Choir Director
We've moved past the Christmas/New Year Season and look ahead toward our NYC trip on January 25-29. Twenty-eight students from the Choir/Theater departments will travel to NYC. It will be a weekend full of sight-seeing, art appreciating, and learning. Pictures and stories to come when we return!
Our SEC Festival participation will happen quickly thereafter on February 6. The Concert Choir will perform a solo set at the event. Selections include "Lamb of God", "In Remembrance", and "He Never Failed Me Yet."
Additionally, we have several students representing Cretin-Derham Hall in the SEC Honor Choir. These students include: Mia Erickson, Sarah Munson, Rachel Countryman, Hailey Anderson, Anna Mellum, Kathleen Nichols, Emma Schuld, Karissa Tschida, William Dusek, Patrick Connors, John Modl, and Augustus Nelson.
Guidance
by Joan O'Connell, College Counselor
Class of 2018
On January 12, all junior students will participate in the “Jumpstart Your Future Day” at CDH. Students spend the school day learning about different aspects of the college search process including sessions on finding a good college fit, financial aid, college testing, writing college essays, and making admission decisions. Juniors will also be registered for accounts on Naviance which is a web-based college search and application management system. We are fortunate to have many college admissions professionals from colleges and universities near and far coming to participate in this day. Students will also hear from a panel of recent CDH graduates who will share their experiences in searching for a good college fit. The CDH Post-Secondary Planning Committee of the Parents Association and tons of parent volunteers all pitch in to help. Thank you so much!
Parents/Guardians of Junior Students:
A corresponding program for parents/guardians of junior students, College Planning for the CDH Class of 2018, will be held on Tuesday, January 24 at 7:00 pm. While parents/guardians who have been through this before are welcome to attend, this evening is designed for those who are beginning the college search process for the first time.
Please watch your email for a message from the guidance office via the Naviance system inviting you to schedule a family meeting for post-high planning with your student and a college counselor. Included in the email will be a link to your college counselor’s appointment schedule on SignUpGenius. Please check your email (spam folder too) for this message from Naviance and be sure to schedule your appointment as soon as possible. Gather your questions and we will look forward to seeing you. Please contact Connie Reding in the guidance office if you need assistance at 651-696-3312.
Class of 2017
Please be sure to let Mrs. Reding in the Guidance office know if you would like your first trimester grades (mid-year report) sent to colleges where you have applied. You must request this action.
Now that your college applications are submitted it is time to take care of applying for college financial aid. Be sure that you check with each college you have applied to for deadlines and for required paperwork. Remember that you can search for private scholarships on your Naviance account.
JROTC
by SGM David Berrisford, JROTC Instructor
We are thankful that everyone returned safely from break. Our Cadets are rested and ready to go.
In Leadership Lab, January is the month for the Platoon Drill Competition. This event gives seniors the opportunity to train their units and juniors learn the responsibility of leading their cadets on the drill floor.
Diamond Officers have begun their projects; each of them volunteers to lead a more complex activity that either improves the Brigade or completes a key task for our program.
Color Guard is representing at wrestling meets and basketball games. We are training to do a skating color guard for a hockey game this season. We are preparing a nine-person color guard for the UMJC, and competed in the competition. They also make sure the flag is up even on those below 0 days.
Speaking of the cold, the Orienteering Team's next event is a Score-O competition with the Minnesota Orienteering Club on January 18. Check out their website at http://www.mnoc.org. You do not need any experience to join our team; we will help you learn.
The Flight Club toured the Delta Airlines Maintenance Facility in December and were able to see several aircraft in various stages of repair and maintenance. This month, the flight club will meet to hear stories about flying military and commercial aircraft during the 1950s and 60s.
Juniors are working together to prepare for the JO test. We are going over the questions in class. They have the study guide and we know they will do their best.
Our seniors are beginning to receive nominations from members of Congress and our Senators for the academies. The window for College ROTC applications is closing for all three services. We should begin to hear more shortly about our other candidates. Juniors should be taking time to review the steps and begin their application process. If someone is considering enlisting in the military, please have them consult with us so we can make sure they have ALL the information. We are always willing to answer any questions that students or parents have about military service.
The Rifle Team has continued its strong performance in multiple air rifle meets and will be competing against teams during the Upper Midwest JROTC Challenge in early February as well as additional meets throughout February, March, and April. We, as a school, are also very proud to say for the first time in over 20 years, our JROTC Air Rifle Team has qualified for the JROTC Air Rifle Regional Championships that will be held in Port Clinton, OH from February 15-19. Team members that will make this trip are; Riley Domler, Jack Calkins, Jack Spencer, Johnathan Koop, and David Deaver. The trip will be chaperoned by SGM Berrisford, the air rifle team coach and Ian Cumming, a rifle team parent.
Our Honor Guard continues to assist with ceremonies and alumni funerals. Our Cadets have volunteered to help with Open Houses and several other school events. The Honor Guard will also be assisting with the Retired NFL Players Association, Minnesota Chapters auction during the month of February.
It is exciting to report our JROTC Academic Bowl Team, consisting of Johnathan Koop, Leland Pornschloegl, Patrick Hahn, and Alexis Feist have advanced to the second round of the competition. If they beat out the majority of the others in our region, the team will travel to Washington D.C. and compete in the championships.
We are preparing for the 27th Annual Upper Midwest JROTC Challenge. Eleven teams are scheduled to compete with over 400 students representing their schools. Every member of the Cadet Corps will help in some way as our Diamond Officers plan, prepare, and supervise this complex event.