Fathers Dinner 2019
As has been the tradition for almost 100 years (since 1922), fathers of St. Bernard’s boys and the school’s faculty gather for dinner on the Monday before Thanksgiving.
Craig Huff, the head of the board of trustees, invited over two hundred fathers to the University Club for cocktails and dinner. After a cocktail hour full of jovial handshakes, all sat down to dinner at tables arranged by grades, so that fathers could catch up with their son’s teachers as well as with the fathers of their son’s friends. Despite any inclination, parents and teachers refrained from discussing the boys’ academic progress, and instead simply focused on affable conversation.
Over dinner, Mr. Johnson honored members of the faculty who have reached impressive stretches of service to St. Bernard’s. His tributes were thoughtful, discerning, and inspiring. Coach Bill Schneidmuller and Matt Clavel, a Grade V homeroom teacher, have been valuable members of the faculty for fifteen years. Doug Davis, who teaches Grade IV, and Pedro Pelaez of our maintenance staff, have both reached twenty years. Oliver Bowcock has been with St. Bernard’s for thirty years and is currently the Grade IX teacher as well as the head of English. Evan Moraitis, Grade VI homeroom teacher and head of math, was honored for an impressive thirty-five years. A hearty standing ovation erupted for Mr. Bowcock and Mr. Moraitis, both men unanimously viewed as two of the finest teachers in the school. Mr. Johnson, our headmaster for the last 35 years, expressed his heartfelt appreciation for such a talented and dedicated faculty.
The evening’s guest speaker was Maurice DuBois, a kindergarten and Grade VI father. Mr. DuBois is an anchor and correspondent for CBS News. As one might expect, he is a wonderful public speaker. His remarks began with a lighthearted teasing that this was not a case of quid pro quo - his dinner ticket and tuition bill have been paid just like everyone else. Mr. DuBois shared his thoughts on the current 24-hour news cycle (we should limit our children’s news exposure) and regaled us with four of his most inspiring news stories which were examples of the Good Heart program’s pillars of community, honesty, consideration for others, and perseverance.
The Fathers Dinner was a wonderful way to kick off Thanksgiving week. We are all grateful for this very special St. Bernard’s community. Friendliness and goodwill between the teachers and parents are certainly in abundance here.
