School Events

Back-to-School Nights

Each September, St. Bernadette hosts two evenings for parents to meet the teachers, learn about class procedures and curriculum, and sign up for parent-teacher conferences. Kindergarten through 6th grade parents attend on the first night, and 7th through 8th grade parents attend on the second.

Fall Festival

Sponsored by the PTO and held on a Saturday afternoon in October or early November, the Fall Festival features such activities as games, pumpkin painting, cake walk and caricature drawing. 

Race for Education

The Race for Education is a major fundraiser that is held annually in October.  Students walk or jog around a 1/4 mile area as many times as possible in a one-hour period and raise funds by asking sponsors to contribute a tax deductible donation.  Funds raised in recent years have been used to renovate the student computer lab and to purchase Interactive Smartboards for the classrooms.

Christmas Pageant

The Christmas Pageant features all students in grades K- 8 and is presented in the Church on an evening just before the Christmas holidays. The children sing Christmas carols and re-enact the Christmas story for families and parishioners.

Christmas Play

An extracurricular presentation of the Drama Club, the Christmas Play is open to any student from any grade and is presented in the gym in December. Rehearsals begin in October and are held after school once or twice each week until the date of the performance.

Catholic Schools Week

This annual celebration of Catholic schools is sponsored by the Diocese of Arlington and is held during the last week of January. St. Bernadette School opens the week with a Mass for Catholic Schools Week during a regular Sunday liturgy and continues with registration of prospective new students. During the week, parents are invited to lunch with their children, and classes participate in such events as the 7th vs. 8th grade volleyball game and teacher "switch" day.

Auction

The Auction is sponsored by the PTO and raises funds for school programs and activities. All parents, teachers and staff and invited to the Auction, which features a full dinner and is held on a Saturday evening in the spring. Those parents unable to attend the Auction may still participate in a silent auction for which they may submit bids in advance.

Acre testing

Students in grades 2 and 8 sit for Acre testing each spring. The results of the tests provide the school with valuable feedback on the effectiveness of the school's religion program.

Terra Nova testing

This diocesan-wide achievement test is administered in the spring to all students in second through seventh grade. Students in grades three, five and seven also complete a cognitive abilities test. The test results are used by teachers as a diagnostic tool in planning instruction for the upcoming year.

Science Fair

A large part of the 7th and 8th grade science curriculum is the research for and presentation of a science fair project. Each student selects a topic to research, conducts experiments, writes a final report, and presents his/her findings to a team of school judges. A number of students are then selected to present their projects at the Diocesan Science Fair.

Band Festival

Members of the St. Bernadette Band participate in the annual Diocesan Band Festival held every spring at Bishop Ireton High School. The Band performs three pieces for adjudication by a panel of three judges.

Band Trip

Each May, members of the St. Bernadette Band participate in an all-day trip to HersheyPark or Busch Gardens. The day begins with the Band performing several pieces for adjudication and continues with the children enjoying a day at the park.

Shakespeare Festival

All members of the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades are invited to try out for roles or serve on stage crew for the annual Diocesan Shakespeare Festival, which is held each May at Paul VI High School. The St. Bernadette cast performs a play under the direction of the Drama Club director, with a separate performance in the St. Bernadette Gym for parents and students.

May Crowning

To honor Our Lady, the entire student body joins to recite the Rosary in the Church on a Friday in May. The 2nd grade attends dressed in their First Communion attire, and a court of 8th grade girls crowns a statue of Our Lady. All parishioners are invited to attend.