As part of the Kronengold Lecture Series, illustrator and author Melissa Sweet visited St. Bernard’s yesterday via Zoom.

Over the weekend, a group of St. Bernard's fourth graders joined Mr. Kiok and Mrs. Cunningham on a walk through snowy Central Park to visit an important New York City landmark. 

Author Dan Gemeinhart spoke to the Middle School boys this week about his journey to being a writer.  It was an enjoyable hour that offered important lessons on never giving up on one’s goals.

Grade VI spends the year studying American history.  In a typical year, the boys visit historic sites in New York, West Point, and Gettysburg.  While those trips are not taking place this year, there is much to learn in the classroom.  And as we witnessed in this morning’s assembly, the rest of the school absorbed a great deal from watching the boys give recitations from the Teaching Theater pulpit.

Our third grade scientists are in the middle of a unit on plate tectonics (the study of the plate movements beneath the earth’s surface).  The boys built structures out of toothpicks and marshmallows with the goal of building a tower that can withstand an earthquake.

The Old Boys Dinner has been held every year since 1916.  The pandemic kept Old Boys from gathering in the school gyms this year, but a virtual Old Boys Dinner proved to be a fine bridge to keep the tradition going through these unusual times.

Mid-December, Middle School and Upper School students attended sessions with educators from the Museum of the City of New York to discuss civic engagement and the Civil Rights Movement in New York City.  

During the usual fall semester, St. Bernard’s plays host to class reunions and the Junior Old Boys Lunch.  We often travel to other cities for receptions which keep Old Boys outside of New York City engaged with what is happening on East 98th Street.  While our in-person Old Boys events are paused, one silver lining of connecting virtually is the ability to invite Old Boys back to Friday assembly as guest speakers.  Four Old Boys across different professions showcased their skills to St. Bernard’s boys, participating from their homes here in the tri-state area, and as far away as California and France.