School Year's Finish Line
It was a marathon of a week at St. Bernard’s and a strong finish to the 2013-2014 school year.
Middle School science teacher Ms. Dreux hosted Volcano Day on the play deck. After the eruptions occurred, Ms. Dreux informed the fifth grade boys that the concoction’s residue was safe to touch. Try to say “orange foam fun” 10 times really fast.
Old Boy Joseph Malle ’10 stopped by school for a photograph opportunity of him with Coach Hill. They both ran the Bob Potts York Heritage Rail Trail marathon on May 25, 2014. Joseph impressively completed the 26.2 mile course in just 3 hours and 33 minutes.
The farewell party in honor of Susan Kronengold, Jacques Savarèse, Grace Diggs, and Richard Malenky is a story on its own. Click this link to read about it and view the photographs.
Thursday morning began with the presentation of the James D. Held Book Award, established in his memory in 2003, which presents a biography to each member of the eighth and ninth grades annually. This year’s biography was Cleopatra by Stacy Schiff. Sharon Held, Jamie’s wife, returns each year to present the books, and this year she was accompanied by Stacy Schiff! The author talked about her inspirations and journeys as a writer and how biographies influence her. She got the boys excited to read her book.
Meanwhile, the 18th annual spelling bee was taking place in the Middle School room. The final contenders were fourth graders Teddy N. and James P.; fifth graders Edward K. and Cameron C.; and sixth graders Sholto G. and Jack U. The competition included words such as zeppelin, martyr, and acrimonious, but the winning word? “Misspelling.” Congratulations to this year’s champion, Edward K.
Continuing down the stairs to the first floor, the Kindergarten boys performed Knights’ Magic on stage. Reciting lines of poetry, every boy had a speaking part in this annual production.
Out in front of the school we caught Mr. Demeny and some fifth graders at the mailbox on the corner of 98th street. They were mailing ten-year-old letters to Old Boys from the class of 2004 – letters that those boys wrote to themselves as fifth graders at St. Bernard’s.
A few blocks away on 93rd Street at the Corner Bookstore, we caught Old Boy Zack O’Malley Greenburg '99 who was giving a reading on his newest book, Michael Jackson, Inc.
We returned to school to catch up with more members from the class of 1999, who were celebrating their 15-year reunion.
Friday’s finish line included the Grade VIII play, the signing of yearbooks, and the Final Assembly with the presentation of awards. The boys celebrated the start of summer with a tossing of their blazers and jackets.
