After a bit of a hiatus due to the pandemic, the Saint Peter High School theater department will finally bring a musical to the Performing Arts Center stage with their spring play rendition of The Theory of Relativity, by Neil Bartram and Brian Hill. Performances are set for Thursday, May 6 to Saturday, May 8. Showtimes each night are 7:30 p.m.

Normally, the theater department puts on a musical during the fall, but it was moved to spring in hopes of performing before a live audience and it looks like that may become reality, on a limited basis. The audience is being limited to just 95 attendees each night, with tickets being distributed only through the cast and crew (four tickets each). There will be a video stream of the performance available online May 14-16 for a fee. Tickets to the online performance will eventually be available at www.SHOWTIX4U.com. 

Directors for this spring’s musical are Scott Hermanson, Robbie Deering, and Karen Steinhoff, with Dave Haugh serving as orchestra director and Michael Reeser in charge of set construction.

The following is a synopsis from www.stageagent.com, “The ‘Theory of Relativity’ is a collection of seemingly unrelated songs, scenes, and monologues that come together to show the interconnected nature of humanity. These stories center around finding your true identity and discovering your place in the world. From falling in and out of love to allergies, the wide array of characters take the audience on a journey, experiencing the wonders of human connection. The Theory of Relativity is a one-act musical that is an excellent choice for an ensemble cast. With excellent singing and acting features for each character, this show has flexible casting options and great roles for young adults and teens.”

CAST LIST
Rowan Snay - Amy 1
Grace Tollefson - Amy 2
Breeley Ruble - Caroline
Eva Kracht - Catherine 1
Eleanor Kennedy - Catherine 2
Sky Gassman - Jenny
Eleanor Winterfeldt - Julie
Madison Abels - Mira
Ella Gilbertson - Sara
Will Borgmeier - Adam
Bryan Harroun - Anthony
Magnus Soderlund - Anthony 2
Obet Alcantara Alvarez - Mike
Anders Dixon - Oliver
David Marlow - Paul
John Borgmeier - Ryan

CREW LIST
Lights - Jack Leonard, Haydon Grams, Corbin Herron, CeeJay King
Sound - Wesley Toupence, Colton Abels
Spotlights - Amelia Dickie, Audrey Kenndy, Kaylee Moreau
Set construction - Mr. Reeser (advisor, Garrison Rushing, Wesley Toupence, Madelyn Tollefson, Autumn Pauly.

(RIGHT, David Marlow is shown competing in the virtual Sub-Section meet back in March. The SPHS sophomore standout qualified for the state tournament in the Creative Expression category with a third-place finish in the Section 2AA meet.)

Saint Peter High School sophomore David Marlow earned a trip to this weekend’s virtual Minnesota State Class AA Speech Tournament after a third-place showing in Creative Expression at the Section 2AA virtual meet on April 10. The top three in each category advance to state.

Marlow, who had first-place finishes earlier this season at the Big South Conference meet and JWP Bulldog Invitational, gives his performance of “Sam Plytheworst’s Broken Hearts Club” at 4 p.m. this Friday (April 23). He will give his speech online from SPHS that day.

“I'm so proud of David. He has been working tirelessly on his piece, spending time perfecting each individual line he writes and working with his voice to make each character distinct from one another,” Erika Gustafson, Saints speech coach, said. “It's been wonderful watching David grow throughout the season. He has become more and more confident with himself and his speech. He cracks me up every time we practice, to the point where I'm choking with laughter! During the Section tournament, I remember him coming out of the round saying, ‘I feel really good about that round!’ I just hope that he feels that same way about every round this Friday. Good luck, David! We're rooting for you!”

Other Saints who competed at the April 10th Section 2AA meet included (placing):

• Grace Tollefson (7th in Poetry)

• Maddie Winsell (10th in Storytelling)

• Eva Kracht (10th in Prose)

• Hannah Wohlers (11th in Great Speeches) 

• Bryan Harroun (14th in Creative Expression)

Saint Peter Public Schools has hired Shea Roehrkasse as Activities Director for the district’s grade 7-12 co-curricular programs. Roehrkasse currently teaches health at Saint Peter Middle School as well as serving as head hockey coach for the Minnesota River Bulldogs’ boys hockey team and the advisor for Saint Peter High School’s Project 4 Teens organization.

Roehrkasse will officially take over as activities director on July 1 from Jordan Paula, who announced earlier this spring that he would be moving at the end of the school year to take an assistant principal position at Brandon Valley High School in Brandon, S.D.

Roehrkasse is originally from Jackson Hole, Wyo., and earned his teaching degree from Gustavus Adolphus College as well as a Master of Arts in Teaching degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato. He has been teaching at Saint Peter Public Schools for seven years and actually started his career at Saint Peter Middle/High School as a study hall and lunchroom supervisor. 

“This is an important position for our district, and I am confident that we have found the right person for the job,” Saint Peter High School Principal Annette Engeldinger said. “His commitment to relationship-building and both character and skill development through activities came across loud and clear from his references and during his interviews.”

“I am looking forward to the challenge ahead,” Roehrkasse said. “I am really excited about the opportunity to work with all of our amazing coaches, directors and advisors that lead all of our programs.  Continuing to promote and find ways to get all students in our district involved in extracurricular activities, as I truly believe they are a vital part of the education system.”

Roehrkasse and his wife, Dani, who teaches science at SPHS, reside in St. Peter and are the parents of Ellie (3), Kenley (3), and a boy coming in July.

More comments from Shea Roehrkasse on his new position:

"My time with the district has been nothing but amazing. St. Peter as a district and community has truly embraced my family and I. We feel so fortunate to be a part of St. Peter. When I first started working here in 2009 I instantly felt at home and loved the students and staff. When the opportunity came up to return in 2014 I was beyond excited to be hired. Since then it has been a wonderful experience and I have had the opportunity to be involved in a lot of different programs. Coaching multiple sports to helping start and now run our Project For Teens program, all of it has helped to prepare me for this position.

Jordan (Paula) has done an amazing job these last 3 years with all of our activities. He has had three years here that are unlike any other. Working with him as a coach has really allowed me to see all the time and effort that he put in to all of our programs to help make a difference. He put in a lot of time behind the scenes to make sure we were all as prepared as we could be to do our job as program leaders.  My goal is to continue that dedication and work ethic to keep pushing our programs in the direction he and the ADs before him have pushed our department. 

Following Jordan will be a great challenge that I look forward to taking on. I feel that my enthusiasm and true enjoyment of watching students participate in their passions will help to step in and take on this new challenge. I look forward to working with all of the coaches, directors and advisors that I know and have great relationships with from my time here. 

My family and I are beyond excited for this opportunity and can’t wait to continue to work in this district and grow our family here in St. Peter."

While winter sports season for Saint Peter High School and Middle School is quickly wrapping up, spring sports season is basically upon us with most of the activity starting up on Monday, March 29.

Baseball for grades 9-12 gets off to a bit of a head start this week with arm conditioning workouts beginning earlier this week on Monday (March 22), while adapted bowling had its first practice session on March 17th.  The remaining sports will start preseason practice sessions next week. Those sports include baseball, boys and girls golf, girls softball, boys and girls track and field, boys tennis. 

Click HERE to register your student for a spring activity. If you have any questions or need more information please contact the Activities Office at 934-4212, ext. 6025 or send your emails to kdavis@stpeterschools.org.

You can also click HERE for the SPHS/MS Activities Schedule!

SPHS/MS Spring Sports Opening Day Info

* High School Baseball
First Day of grades 9-12 Arm Conditioning: 3/22
First Day of Official Practice:  3/29 (10-12th grade at Veteran’s Field; 9th grade at SPHS)

* Middle School Baseball
Meeting: Wednesday, 3/24
First day of practice Tuesday, 4/6 (8th grade at SPHS, 7th grade at SPMS)

* Boys and Girls Golf
First Day of Practice: 3/29 for all students 7-12 - Shoreland GC

* High School Softball
First Day of Practice: 3/29 - Jefferson Fields

* Middle School Softball
Meeting: Tuesday, 3/23 @ 3:30 MS Band Room
First day of practice Tuesday, 4/6 - Jefferson Fields

* Boys Tennis
First day of practice for all students 7-12 Monday, 3/29 at SPHS

* High School Track and Field
First Day of Practice:  3/29 - SPHS

* Middle School Track and Field
Meeting: Wednesday, 3/24
First day of practice Tuesday, 4/6 - SPMS Track

* Adapted Bowling
Practices started March 17 and practices/games are Wednesdays at Wow! Zone in Mankato. Contact Coach Kris Voeltz for more info -- kvoeltz@stpeterschools.org

* Trap Shooting
Please email Coach Jesse Lager (jesselager@yahoo.com) for information and registration details.

Saint Peter High School will host its annual Snow Week celebration the week of February 8-11, with the SPHS Student Council having activities planned for each day that week, culminating with the coronation on Thursday, Feb. 11 at 2:40 p.m in the SPHS gym.

With SPHS students (gr. 9-12) still utilizing the hybrid learning model, the Student Council had to plan activities for both A day and B day students. Snow Week organizers also have a COVID preparedness plan in place to ensure proper social distancing and protocols will be followed during the fun-filled week. 

This year’s SPHS Snow Week Queen candidates includes (listed alphabetically by last name) Abby Haggenmiller, Emma Jones, Morgan Kelly, Liz Mitchell, and Emily Salfer, while the King candidates include Nathan Fogal, Zach Taylor, Konrad Wernsing, Wesley Yang, and Shale Young.

The following is a complete list of Snow Week activities/events: 

SNOW WEEK FESTIVITIES
Dress Up Days
Monday, Feb. 8 & Tuesday, Feb. 9 - Olympics/Sports
Wednesday, Feb. 10 & Thursday, Feb. 11 - Red Carpet/Met Gala

Activities

• Snow week sculptures/Frozen Clothes Art  
• Medallion Hunt - On school grounds throughout the week. Clues given in PLP classrooms & over the intercom.
• Monday, Feb 8 & Tuesday, Feb. 9 - Pep Fest Video & Kahoot
• Wednesday, Feb 10 & Thursday, Feb. 11
       * Candidate Videos - Showing candidate videos during lunch and voting based on rubric 
       * Compliment hearts 
       * Voting for class snow sculpture/frozen art 
• Thursday, Feb. 11 - Snow Week Coronation, 2:40 p.m. at SPHS gym. This event is not open to the general public. It will only be open to SPHS seniors and juniors along with candidates’ parents.