In addition to a strong academic program, our students learn the value of their faith, as well as the importance of stewardship. Our students spend their days in a nurturing learning environment where genuine love and respect from faculty members and peers is evident. At St. Bernadette School, our families feel a strong sense of community, as there is a true partnership among parents, the school, and the parish.
Altar Servers(grades 6-8)
Students in grades 6 through 8 have an opportunity to grow in their faith and become more active in the Mass by serving as Altar Servers. Training to become a server may begin in the spring of 5thgrade. Altar servers serve at both weekday and weekend masses, as well as special liturgical celebrations.
Band/Orchestra (grades 3-8)
Students in grades 3 through 8 learn how to play an instrument during the school day. Third grade instruction begins with the string instruments, Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass or Bass. Starting in fourth grade, students may also learn how to play Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Baritone, Drums, Bells, Oboe and the string instruments. The Band/Orchestra meets for group lessons, separated by instrument/ability once a week during the school day, and a rehearsal during lunch recess for the Beginning Instruments, and before school for the Advanced Students. The students learn how to read music as well as play their instrument. The ensembles perform two concerts a year, a Winter and Spring concert. The Advanced Instrumental Students may audition for the Archdiocese Music Honor Band and the Northeastern Music Honor Band. The Advanced Band and Advanced Violins also perform at the National Catholic Band Association Festival held at Villanova University in the spring. Instruction is provided by Northeastern Music Programs.
Bernie’s Buddies(grade 7)
Bernie’s Buddies is a volunteer safety program offered to students in 7th grade. Students have many responsibilities throughout the school including assisting with PreSchool lunch, escorting the bus and CARES students at dismissal, and overseeing special projects. The Buddies may also be called upon to assist teachers and the principal as needed.
East Choir (grades 3,4)
This group will be open to all students in grades 3 and 4 and will meet after lunch on Wednesdays beginning on September 12th. Students will learn about healthy singing technique and beginner musicianship skills. The group will perform on the two school concerts and may also have additional opportunities. It will be a fun way for students to learn more about singing in order to prepare for the grade 5 - 8 choir.
West Choir, Grades 5-8:
The West Choir, formerly known as the Chamber Choir, is open to all students in grades 5 - 8. The students do not need to have prior experience and new members are especially welcome! The group’s new rehearsal time at 7:30 AM on Wednesdays will allow for a more in depth learning experience without the conflicts that occur during the lunch recess.
The group will focus on healthy singing technique, sight singing and singing music in 2 and 3 parts. The choir will perform at monthly school masses and at the two school concerts. The first rehearsal will be Wednesday, September 5th.
CYO Sports(see CYO website: stbernadettecyo.org)
St. Bernadette CYO Sports is one component of our parish's comprehensive youth ministry program which enables the partnership of parents, coaches, priests, religious, teachers, and adult leaders to manage and support a sports program that allows our youth to grow in their relationship with God and come to better understand themselves and the Catholic Faith. We offer a variety of sports programs to our parish youth which include field hockey, volleyball, soccer, football, flag football, cross country track, basketball, baseball, softball and track and field.
Geography Club(grades 4-8)
The Geography Club was formed to develop our students’ natural curiosity about the world. The Geography Club meets on a weekly basis to deepen their understanding of the United States and of the world in a fun and exciting setting. One key goal for the club is preparation for the National Geographic Bee. The National Geographic Bee is an annual competition organized by the National Geographic Society, designed to inspire and reward students' curiosity about the world. Students in grades four through eight (4-8) from 10,000 schools across the United States will compete in the 2018 National Geographic Bee for a chance to win college scholarships and the glory of being the National Geographic Bee Champion.
Kindness Ambassadors(grade 6)
The sixth grade students, our Confirmation class, have been entrusted with the privilege of spearheading Kindness. The students are inducted as Kindness Ambassadors in October and work to embody the spirit of kindness and compassion throughout our school. They are leaders of prayer in our Morning Gathering and in Prayer Services throughout the school year.
Makerspace
St. Bernadette’s Makerspace located on our 2nd floor provides hands-on, creative ways to encourage students to design, experiment, build and invent as they deeply engage in science, engineering and tinkering. Our new Makerspace Classroom is a favorite place for our students. They communicate, collaborate, investigate, exchange ideas, and, best of all, find that there is more than just one correct way to do a task. Whether they are building robots with the Cubelets sets, designing with Legos, or using higher level thinking skills with the Osmos Ipad skill games, they are having fun while learning. The Makerspace classroom helps students prepare for twenty-first century employment. Makers are artists, crafters, knitters, builders, programmers, engineers, painters, woodworkers, inventors, graphic designers, and more. Makerspace classrooms are active classrooms where students are engaged in their work, having fun, and learning.
Math Lab
Math Lab is a free tutorial program for students in Advanced Pre-Algebra and Algebra I. Each week, students have the opportunity to meet after school with their teacher to go over homework problems and to prepare for upcoming assessments. The teacher provides academic assistance in Mathematics to students one-on-one and in group settings. Students receive help with a few homework problems at a time, or with key examples from the curriculum. The teacher also facilitates activities that assist students to improve specific skills in practical life mathematical computations and facilitate student understanding and appreciation for Pre-Algebra and Algebra.
Advanced Pre-Algebra and Advanced Algebra students participate in the IHM Math Contest in the spring. The IHM Math Contest evaluates students’ understanding of complex mathematics concepts and is considered to be one of the most rigorous math exams in the country. It is sponsored by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a religious community serving primarily in education ministry. Top scoring students receive recognition at the end of the year.
Advanced 6th grade, Advanced Pre-Algebra and Advanced Algebra students participate in the Catholic Math League competition. Catholic Math League is a national math competition that was started in 1997 and currently serves hundreds of students. Catholic Math League is a mathematical tool that is used by hundreds of Catholic schools throughout the nation to aid in the development of the mathematical skills in the lives of their students. Students take 4 tests throughout the year, competing as individuals and as a school. Top scoring students receive recognition at the end of the year.
Prayer Partners
Students in the middle school are paired with students in the primary grades and act as role models in faith formation and service. Prayer partners attend school mass together and participate in service oriented activities as well as school wide special events including our Harvest Fest and Walk-a-Thon. Children develop deep bonds with each other which helps cultivate the family atmosphere at St Bernadette School.
Reading Olympics
Reading Olympics is a middle school reading competition, where students from grades 6-8 work as teams to read books from a provided list. The students meet once a week, starting in October during lunch recess, to discuss the books and practice for the competition. In the Spring, the teams compete against other schools on their knowledge of the books. Every team is awarded ribbons based on the number of questions they answer correctly. The competition helps to further encourage a love of reading, while working in a competitive team setting.
SBS News Studio(grade 8)
The SBS News Team is an 8th grade project that meets weekly to write news stories and produce a news broadcast. The broadcast which features the highlights of the school’s activities is viewed by the school bi-monthly. Students use their ingenuity, writing and speaking skills to develop their leadership within the school community.
School Newspaper(grades 5-8)
The Newspaper Club is a student run publication which consists of articles and interviews written by students in grades 5 through 8. The club meets twice a month to collaborate, research and edit finished work. "The Paw Print" is published twice a school year and distributed school-wide.
Science Explorers(Grades K-5)
Science Explorers is an after school interactive program that brings the wonders of science to students in grades Kindergarten through 5th grade. Students discover the steps of the scientific method and collaborate with other students through hands on experiments and problem solving.
St. Bernadette Junior Players
Theatrical productions
S.T.E.A.M.
STEM educates students in four specific disciplines — science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. Rather than teach the these disciplines as separate and discrete subjects, STREAM integrates them into cohesive learning based on real-world situations. Here at St. Bernadette School, we use STEM education throughout our grades--beginning in preschool through eighth grade. The last four years, our 4th and 5th grade classes have participated in the STREAM Design Challenge sponsored by the Delaware County Intermediate Unit. Students are given a challenge, such as to designing a building that is 1 meter tall and is eco-friendly, using K'nex building sets. St. Bernadette's 5th grade team earned 3rd place honors at the STREAM Design Challenge in 2017.. STREAM encourages teamwork and higher level thinking skills which will help students throughout their educational journey.
Student Council (grades 5-8)
The students and teachers of St. Bernadette School are committed to a student government that will help teach, develop and inspire strong leadership skills, character and self confidence. It is a privilege to be a part of Student Council at St. Bernadette as it comes with great responsibility to represent and serve others. The Student Council consists of the following elected members an Executive Committee of President, Vice President, Secretary,Treasurer and two homeroom elected from each grade 5th, 6th, 7th& 8th.