Monthly archive for December 2019

Why settle for a company luncheon when you can have this much fun?  It’s a GREAT day to be a Saint!

Watch below for incredible footage of the 2019 St. Louis Catholic High School faculty & staff Christmas luncheon:

For their midterm, St. Louis Catholic Computer Science Discoveries students planned and developed an interactive greeting card using all of the programming techniques they’ve learned so far, including creating conditional statements that move sprites (graphic characters) around the screen and take user input.

Click below to explore the cards designed by our extremely creative students!  Computer Science Discoveries is an introductory course that empowers students in grades 9-12 to engage with computer science as a medium for creativity, communication, problem solving, and fun!

Harvard Medical School says “music stimulates the brain’s reward centers, while dance activates its sensory and motor circuits,” a complex mental coordination associated with dance (Edwards).  It’s no wonder dance positively affects the brain, and research is under way regarding improvement in Parkinson’s and dementia patients with dance therapy (Edwards).

Dance I – click to watch video (Choreography taken from Jo Jo Siva’s “Hold the Drama”)

Not only are dancers in St. Louis Catholic’s Dance I, II and III classes learning various dance genres this year, they also are learning about the dance legends who set the stage for dance as we know it today.  In the fall 2019 semester, each level researched dance legends like Gene Kelley, Fred Astaire, Mikhail Baryshnikov, George Balanchine, Lester Horton, Jerome Robbins, Bob Fosse and more modern artists including Michael Jackson, Mark Mesmer, Travis Wall and Misty Copeland.

Dance II – click to watch video (Choreography taken from Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella, Act II Ballroom Scene)

Beginner and intermediate dancers modified choreographic selections to incorporate technique/movement taught in class and improved aesthetic perception by incorporating various choreographic forms and structures.  Advanced dancers studied genres and created their own dance compositions, revising them based on peer/teacher feedback and standards associated with the choreographic process.

Advanced dancer Trinity Foret said she really enjoyed the whole process.

Dance III – click to watch video (original choreography)

“It was cool to be exposed to creating something to call our own and go through that revision process by ourselves rather than someone else doing if for us like we are used to.  Thank you so much!” she said.

All of St. Louis Catholic’s dance students not only improved their skill and performance quality in our inaugural semester, but they also became choreographers!  See how life skills – creativity, collaboration, communication and critical thinking – truly manifest in the dance classroom.  Next week we will share a sneak peek at rehearsals!

Aidan Primeaux

St. Louis Catholic High School is proud to announce its 2019-2020 Student of the Year honoree is senior Aidan Primeaux.

The son of Mia and Christopher Primeaux of Lake Charles, Aidan has served as president of the St. Louis Catholic Quiz Bowl and Speech & Debate teams, as well as captain of both the freshman and JV soccer teams before elevating to the storied Saints varsity soccer program.  In his community, Primeaux serves as co-director for ICC Teen ACTS and is a fervent volunteer for Buddy Ball.

“I have been blessed to play for an incredible soccer program, but I firmly believe our most important undertaking as a team does not occur on the field of play,” Primeaux said.  “Through soccer I was introduced to Buddy Ball, where I was one of many St. Louis Catholic soccer players to volunteer in assisting people with disabilities who wanted to play … it’s an incredibly humbling experience to help someone who has the same passion for the game as myself be able to realize their dream.”

Primeaux has a 4.29 GPA at St. Louis Catholic and received several academic honors, including first place in three subjects at District Literary Rally – in 2017 (Spanish I), 2018 (Spanish II) and 2019 (World History).  After graduating in May, he will attend LSU and hopes to become a lawyer.

“I first became interested in the political sphere when I took the Advanced Placement Government & Politics class at St. Louis Catholic,” Primeaux said.  “I developed a high level of political efficacy and enjoyed taking a class that caught my interest so much … The judiciary fascinated me beyond all else.  The infinite complexity of a government branch entrusted with reviewing the actions of the other two branches has captivated my interest and led me to seek a career in the legal field.”

Primeaux will compete in the Student of the Year competition at the diocesan, regional and state levels.  The Louisiana Department of Education will announce the elementary, middle/junior high and high school Students of the Year on April 1, 2020.

The Louisiana Student of the Year Award Program was established to identify and recognize an outstanding senior who represents all students in our diocesan school system.  The criteria for selecting an outstanding student are based on academic achievement, service, character, leadership and communication skills.  Candidates for Student of the Year must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 on a four-point scale and submit an application portfolio.

The Lake Charles Messiah Chorus and Orchestra will present a Southwest Louisiana holiday tradition with the 79th performance of George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, in historic F.G. Bulber Auditorium at McNeese State University.

Colette Tanner ’89

The first Messiah was conducted in 1940 by a young Francis G. Bulber, who was inspired to bring local church choirs together along with McNeese students to create this special event. Bulber’s daughter, St. Louis Catholic Choral Director Colette Bulber Tanner ’89, is the current Messiah director.

This year, eight McNeese students will be featured as soloists, including St. Louis Catholic graduates Curry Burton (’09) tenor and MaryKate Core (’12) mezzo-soprano.

Curry Burton ’09

Burton is a graduate of McNeese with a bachelor’s degree in music. He has performed with the Louisiana Choral Foundation’s Masterworks Chorale and the McNeese Chamber Singers. He also performs with the Cantate Choir for Our Lady Queen of Heaven Church and holds a position on the executive board with Black Market Theatre. He is also a radio personality with KBYS McNeese Radio and performs every Tuesday night with his show “90s at Nine.” This will be his fifth year performing as a soloist.

MaryKate Core ’12

Core is a senior vocal performance major. She is a member of the McNeese Chamber Singers, Women’s Ensemble and Opera Workshop. She has appeared in the McNeese Theatre’s productions of “Kiss, Me Kate” and “Songs for a New World.” She is also an assistant director of music at the First United Methodist Church Chancel Choir, directs the Asbury Ringers Handbell Choir and assists with the music program for the Governor’s Program for Gifted Children at McNeese. This is her second year performing as a soloist.

The other soloists are Katie Colby, soprano, Lake Charles; Lara Connally, soprano, Lake Charles; Kenny Espree, bass, Antioch, Calif.; Rebecca Harris, soprano, Leesville; Isabella Rodriguez, mezzo-soprano, Lumberton, Texas; and Rachel Walls, soprano, El Paso, Texas.  Click to read more from the McNeese website.