To the editor:

As we look forward to celebrating Catholic Schools Week from Jan. 26 to Feb. 1, we invite the entire community to join St. Bernard’s School in highlighting the joy, purpose and impact of Catholic education. This annual celebration is an opportunity to reflect on the unique benefits of Catholic schools while engaging in fun-filled activities, service projects and enrichment opportunities that bring our values to life.

This year’s festivities include themed dress-up days such as Mismatch Monday and Pajama Day, exciting activities like the Spelling Bee and a Dance Party and guest speakers and visitors.

At the heart of Catholic Schools Week is service. Our students will create Kids Packs for the Interfaith Food Pantry and classes will compete in a lively, but friendly, Penny Wars fundraiser. The proceeds will support the Pasadena Humane Society’s efforts to rescue and treat animals affected by the recent California fires.

Families at St. Bernard’s School choose Catholic education for many reasons. Our tight-knit community fosters strong teacher-parent relationships while our value-based education lays a solid foundation for academic excellence and moral development.

Students themselves describe the special environment at St. Bernard’s School best: “My favorite thing about school is the way it feels like a good friend,” shared one first-grader. A fifth-grader added, “I love St. Bernard’s School because the teachers are so kind. They let us be ourselves.”

Catholic schools also provide exceptional value for taxpayers. Our cost per student last year was just $8,443 due to our efficient operations. Remarkably, our tuition is less than half this amount thanks to the generous support of our parish and terrific advancement efforts. This model enables us to save the local school district more than $1 million annually while ensuring that any family who wishes to provide their child with a Catholic education can do so through our fair share tuition program. At St. Bernard’s School, no family is turned away.

We invite everyone to kick off Catholic Schools Week with 10 AM Mass on Sunday, January 26th, followed by an Open House at the school from 11 AM to 1 PM. Whether you are an alumnus, past parent, prospective family, or community member, we would love for you to visit, reconnect, and learn more about our welcoming school.

Thank you to our community for supporting St. Bernard’s School and Catholic education for over 100 years. We hope to see you at our Open House to share the wonderful work happening at our school.

Sincerely,

St. Bernard’s School Education Council, Saranac Lake

Amy McCormick, President

Amanda Lavigne, Vice President

Dane DeGrace, Secretary

Deborah Bates

Courtney Barden

Kristina Clifford

Chris Neill

Ruth Schmidt