Centennial Celebration for St. Bernard's School

SARANAC LAKE | When the 75 students in grades Kindergarten through five started classes at St. Bernard's School after Labor Day, their busy steps were the first to mark 100 years since school started here. The parochial school is one of nine schools run by the Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg, which includes Seton Catholic Central in Plattsburgh; St. Agnes Elementary School in Lake Placid; and St. Mary's in Ticonderoga. St. Bernard's School Principal Andrea Kilbourne-Hill said it is an honor to be part of an organization that has reached such a noble milestone. She was preparing a slide show and photography presentation for upcoming reunion and Centennial events on Sept. 23, 24 and 25. "I've been looking through some of the old pictures and literature on the mission statements. And, while education has moved to researched-based programs, there are some goals that have not changed very much," she said. "We've built a really strong educational foundation with a solid moral foundation as well. Our families were and still are such an important part of our school. Families are an integral part of the learning team." Traditional Rice Bowls for Catholic Relief have been part of Lenten observations at St. Bernard's since 1929. Children still collect change to raise funds for relief programs overseas, the principal noted. The location has not changed, the playgrounds have been made bigger and better, and the stately brick edifice is approaching 98 years in operation. Class sizes have varied through the years, but having 75 children enrolled in six grades allows for smaller class sizes, the principal said. "We try to keep our classes under 20 students," Kilbourne-Hill said. "It's a real benefit for our students." And administration is managed by Sister Ellen Rose Coughlin, of the Sisters of St. Josephs, from Watertown. The long legacy of the private Catholic school goes back to an era after World War I. U.S. President Warren Harding put the first radio in the White House and became the first to transmit speeches over the airwaves in 1922. Actress Betty White was born that year. And construction began at Yankee Stadium. St. Bernard's parish had gathered around a new church built 10 years earlier in 1912. The school was founded by Father Joseph Creeden, newly in 1922. The first wooden building was a repurposed residence with five rooms, according to local historians. The school held classes for just the first three elementary grades. The first teachers were nuns, a tradition that continued into the 1950s. They were Sisters of Mercy who had established a convent in Gabriels before the turn of the 20th Century and St. Mary's of the Lake (Sisters Hospital) on Ampersand Ave. where most of the teachers lived. The first four teachers were Sr. Mary Eileen Clarke, grade one and principal; Sr. Mary Purification, grade one; Sr. Mary Helena, grade two; and Sr. Mary James, grade three. Faced with using the church to accommodate a growing enrollment, Fr. Creedon asked the diocese to consider building a new and much bigger school. It opened in 1924 and the area where the first wooden house stood became a playground. The campus expanded in subsequent years to add a convent closer to the building and a bigger playground. Historical accounts tell how the custodian and church leaders would flood the outdoor recess area for skating in the winter. Looking to grow, in 1957 the new priest, Fr. Zimmerman, worked to establish St. Pius X High School, which opened on Petrova Avenue in the fall of 1959. By 1966 the parochial school for grades 7 through 12 had upwards of 300 students. The 1960s were a time of both growth and expansion for the Saranac Lake Catholic schools. In 1962 a four-room school for the youngest students was built next to the big school. Called "The Little School," it holds classrooms for pre-K through first grade. By 1971, enrollment had dropped at St. Pius X, and the high school closed in June that year. St. Bernard's Elementary continued to thrive with 137 students attending in 2002 as the school marked its 80-year milestone. The staff and administration are welcoming alumni and guests to several special events next weekend. Kilbourne-Hill said the community will be welcome to any of the activities on Sept 23 to 24. Alumni and staff are holding a dinner at the Hotel Saranac on Friday. And the annual St. Bernard's Golf Scramble will be held Saturday, Sept. 24 at the Saranac Lake Golf Club. "The dinner is a chance for alumni to catch up with each other or for friends of the school to mingle with the staff. We have several former teachers and principals coming," the principal said. The Golf Tournament takes place on Saturday at the Saranac Lake Golf Club with an 8:30 a.m. registration and 9:30 a.m. shotgun start. Side games, a putting contest and mulligans are planned with festivities, along with a post-tournament lunch provided by Blue Line Brewery and Tail 'O the Pup. And on Sunday there will be a reception at the school after 10 a.m. Mass at St. Bernard's Church. Much like an open house, staff and administrators will provide tours of the school. "In all these events, there will be opportunities to look back at the school throughout the years, connect with other alums, and meet current staff, parents, and students," Kilbourne-Hill said. To find out more about the St. Bernard's Centennial Celebration call the school at 518-891-2830 or email the principal: principal@stbernardsschool.org For information about the school: stbernardsschool.org

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