MAJOR EVENTS OF THE SAINT BERNARD PREP SCHOOL YEAR

AUGUST

 ·        Orientation Day: Especially for new students, Orientation Day is on the Sunday before classes begin.  Mass is at 10:30 a.m., followed by lunch (pay by check), when new students meet their mentors.  Parents/families may also purchase tickets for lunch or may eat in town. Boarders move into the dorms.  Afternoon orientation (“In the Know at SBP”) at 3:00 p.m. introduces new students to St. Bernard life.  From 3:00-4:30 p.m. the Parents’ League welcomes new parents in the Brahma Room next to the Cafeteria. During this time, parents will be able to meet together, sign up for various committees, join the Parent’s League and receive other important information. Snacks are also served. New day students are generally done with orientation by 4:00 p.m.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER

 ·        Parents Weekend:  This event is held roughly two weeks after first quarter grades are reported.  The weekend is an opportunity for teachers and parents to meet and discuss student progress. Since approximately half of the SBP students are boarders, this is also an opportunity for parents who live a distance away to get to know one another and the parents of day students over food, activities and entertainment.. Meetings of Parents’ League, Booster Club, as well as other informative events for parents are held during the weekend. At Saturday night’s dinner and entertainment students wear “Sunday Dress” as described in the Student Handbook. The dinner and show are a special time together for the St. Bernard family.  Many parents bring along brothers and sisters of SBP students for the dinner and show. Reservations for dinner are required.

APRIL

·        Bloomin’ Festival:  The School’s one big yearly fund-raiser is held during this month.  Artists and crafters from all parts of the United States display a wide variety of items for public purchase.  Parents, students, alumni, friends and faculty join together to host this event, taking on responsibility for parking, food preparation and serving, maintenance, etc. The SBP Chorale performs.  Bloomin’ Festival has been recognized by the Mountain Lake Tourism Organization as the number one craft show in the region. Students are expected to work at this great SBP community event and parents are asked to volunteer, too.

MAY

·        Athletic Banquet: Presented by the SBP Booster Club, this dinner event honors all St. Bernard athletes of the year. Presentation of the cherished Father Luke Fazi Athletic Award concludes this exciting time.  Students who have participated in SBP sport teams and their parents/families attend, but all in the community are welcome to the celebration. Students wear “Sunday Dress” as described in the Student Handbook.  Reservations for dinner are required.

·        Honors Banquet: This event recognizes the outstanding academic and character accomplishments of our students.  The evening concludes with the presentation of the Christian Service Award, recognizing one student outstanding for following the way of Christ. All students and their families are invited to attend. Students wear “Sunday Dress” as described in the Student Handbook.  Reservations for dinner are required.

·        Graduation Day:  The Baccalaureate Mass is held in the morning at 10:30, followed by the graduates’ luncheon for immediate family – a time to remember; then at 2:00 p.m. the Commencement exercises and the awarding of diplomas and the recognition of the valedictorian, the salutatorian and the recipient of the St. Bernard General Excellence Award.  Sunday Dress.

MONTHLY

·        Parent’s League Meetings:  On most months a Sunday meeting of the Parent’s League is held in the conference room of the gym at 5:30 p.m.  Usually lasting about an hour, meetings address topics of importance to the school and of interest to parents, such as college admissions information, student activities and school improvement. This is a good time for parents of boarders and day students to become better acquainted.  The League offers advice and assistance for a better School community; all parents are encouraged to join in that good purpose.  

        Choral Music and Drama productions are some of the highlights of the school year.