Bernard's birthday bash: Hundreds turn out to ring in school's 90th year

THIEF RIVER FALLS-From a recycled school building that was once stuck on an icy river to classrooms equipped with modern technology, St. Bernard's Catholic School has seen a lot of change. Hundreds of voices joined together Wednesday to celebrate 90 years of history at the school in Thief River Falls. Led by Principal Randy Schantz, more than 200 students, parents and community members joined in a round of singing "Happy Birthday" to the school, which opened in 1925.
Among those celebrating were Peter and Brandi Grosz, whose four children attend school at St. Bernard's. The youngsters, ranging in age from 5 to 10 years old, all sported maroon and gold shirts, as Wednesday also was "St. Bernard's Wear Day" at the school. Though Evangelical and not Catholic, the couple said they enjoy having their children-Katherine, Ross, Allison and Lane-attend St. Bernard's for a variety of reasons, including its small class sizes, as well as its focus on structure and family environment. "They look out for each other, the families do, and it's great that way," Peter Grosz said. While those attending the celebration luncheon ate real birthday cake in the school cafeteria, another cake made of paper adorned a wall upstairs. It sported a few more candles than the school's actual age, as all 120 students each received a paper candle. On the candles they wrote what they loved about the school and fashioned a picture of their face into the candle's flame. The birthday celebration was folded into Catholic Schools Week, which highlights the faith, knowledge and service aspects of Catholic schools nationwide. In addition to the luncheon, St. Bernard's students also read to each other, and about 30 participated in a spelling bee. More activities are planned for the rest of the week, Schantz said. Historic moments St. Bernard's celebrates 90 years, but its building is only turning 67 this year. The original building was a former elementary school purchased by St. Bernard's Parish in 1922. Construction crews cut the building into two sections and transported it across the Red Lake River-an endeavor not without its challenges. Though the first piece was transported within the work day, the second was left out on the frozen river, which broke that night beneath the building's weight. Crews were able to jack up the building, let the ice beneath it refreeze and then move it to its place near St. Bernard's Catholic Church on Knight Avenue. A new building replaced the recycled elementary school in 1949. Preschool through fifth grades have always been taught at the school, but some grade offerings have fluctuated with enrollment throughout the school's history. Teaching of grades seven and eight ended in 1969, and the school's sixth grade class disappeared in the 1990s once Franklin Middle School was built in Thief River Falls. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"2302254","attributes":{"alt":"5th grader Brylee Lingen participates in the St. Bernard’s spelling bee ,as part of Catholic school week, Wednesday afternoon.","class":"media-image","height":"2111","title":"","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"3167"}}]] The school has openings in most of its classes, save for its preschool and pre-kindergarten programs, which consistently have waitlists, Schantz said. For the past few years, total enrollment has hovered around 120 students. Over the decades, the school has adapted to changing needs with expansions to the building and repurposing of rooms. The phrase "Catholic school" may conjure the image of a more traditional classroom, but Schantz said St. Bernard's has a number of technology offerings, including computer lab and tablets available for student use. "That's a concern that we hear from the public," he said. "We use the technology the exact same way as the public schools, and that's a big misconception, that we don't do those things or keep up on those things." A big goal for the school's 90th year is to replace playground equipment damaged in a storm this past summer. High winds wreaked havoc on Thief River Falls in August, and St. Bernard's was not spared. "I came to work that morning and I look out the window and our playset was flipped over the fence in pieces," Schantz said. Schantz, the city parks and recreation department office are working on drawing up plans and cost estimates for the project.THIEF RIVER FALLS-From a recycled school building that was once stuck on an icy river to classrooms equipped with modern technology, St. Bernard's Catholic School has seen a lot of change. Hundreds of voices joined together Wednesday to celebrate 90 years of history at the school in Thief River Falls. Led by Principal Randy Schantz, more than 200 students, parents and community members joined in a round of singing "Happy Birthday" to the school, which opened in 1925. [[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"2302252","attributes":{"alt":"St. Bernard’s students made a birthday cake for Catholic school week and to celebrate St Bernard's 90th birthday. ","class":"media-image","height":"3150","title":"","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"2100"}}]] Among those celebrating were Peter and Brandi Grosz, whose four children attend school at St. Bernard's. The youngsters, ranging in age from 5 to 10 years old, all sported maroon and gold shirts, as Wednesday also was "St. Bernard's Wear Day" at the school. Though Evangelical and not Catholic, the couple said they enjoy having their children-Katherine, Ross, Allison and Lane-attend St. Bernard's for a variety of reasons, including its small class sizes, as well as its focus on structure and family environment. "They look out for each other, the families do, and it's great that way," Peter Grosz said. While those attending the celebration luncheon ate real birthday cake in the school cafeteria, another cake made of paper adorned a wall upstairs. It sported a few more candles than the school's actual age, as all 120 students each received a paper candle. On the candles they wrote what they loved about the school and fashioned a picture of their face into the candle's flame. The birthday celebration was folded into Catholic Schools Week, which highlights the faith, knowledge and service aspects of Catholic schools nationwide. In addition to the luncheon, St. Bernard's students also read to each other, and about 30 participated in a spelling bee. More activities are planned for the rest of the week, Schantz said. Historic moments St. Bernard's celebrates 90 years, but its building is only turning 67 this year. The original building was a former elementary school purchased by St. Bernard's Parish in 1922. Construction crews cut the building into two sections and transported it across the Red Lake River-an endeavor not without its challenges. Though the first piece was transported within the work day, the second was left out on the frozen river, which broke that night beneath the building's weight. Crews were able to jack up the building, let the ice beneath it refreeze and then move it to its place near St. Bernard's Catholic Church on Knight Avenue. A new building replaced the recycled elementary school in 1949. Preschool through fifth grades have always been taught at the school, but some grade offerings have fluctuated with enrollment throughout the school's history. Teaching of grades seven and eight ended in 1969, and the school's sixth grade class disappeared in the 1990s once Franklin Middle School was built in Thief River Falls.
The school has openings in most of its classes, save for its preschool and pre-kindergarten programs, which consistently have waitlists, Schantz said. For the past few years, total enrollment has hovered around 120 students. Over the decades, the school has adapted to changing needs with expansions to the building and repurposing of rooms. The phrase "Catholic school" may conjure the image of a more traditional classroom, but Schantz said St. Bernard's has a number of technology offerings, including computer lab and tablets available for student use. "That's a concern that we hear from the public," he said. "We use the technology the exact same way as the public schools, and that's a big misconception, that we don't do those things or keep up on those things." A big goal for the school's 90th year is to replace playground equipment damaged in a storm this past summer. High winds wreaked havoc on Thief River Falls in August, and St. Bernard's was not spared. "I came to work that morning and I look out the window and our playset was flipped over the fence in pieces," Schantz said. Schantz, the city parks and recreation department office are working on drawing up plans and cost estimates for the project.THIEF RIVER FALLS-From a recycled school building that was once stuck on an icy river to classrooms equipped with modern technology, St. Bernard's Catholic School has seen a lot of change.Hundreds of voices joined together Wednesday to celebrate 90 years of history at the school in Thief River Falls.Led by Principal Randy Schantz, more than 200 students, parents and community members joined in a round of singing "Happy Birthday" to the school, which opened in 1925.
Among those celebrating were Peter and Brandi Grosz, whose four children attend school at St. Bernard's. The youngsters, ranging in age from 5 to 10 years old, all sported maroon and gold shirts, as Wednesday also was "St. Bernard's Wear Day" at the school.Though Evangelical and not Catholic, the couple said they enjoy having their children-Katherine, Ross, Allison and Lane-attend St. Bernard's for a variety of reasons, including its small class sizes, as well as its focus on structure and family environment."They look out for each other, the families do, and it's great that way," Peter Grosz said.While those attending the celebration luncheon ate real birthday cake in the school cafeteria, another cake made of paper adorned a wall upstairs. It sported a few more candles than the school's actual age, as all 120 students each received a paper candle. On the candles they wrote what they loved about the school and fashioned a picture of their face into the candle's flame.The birthday celebration was folded into Catholic Schools Week, which highlights the faith, knowledge and service aspects of Catholic schools nationwide. In addition to the luncheon, St. Bernard's students also read to each other, and about 30 participated in a spelling bee. More activities are planned for the rest of the week, Schantz said.Historic momentsSt. Bernard's celebrates 90 years, but its building is only turning 67 this year. The original building was a former elementary school purchased by St. Bernard's Parish in 1922. Construction crews cut the building into two sections and transported it across the Red Lake River-an endeavor not without its challenges.Though the first piece was transported within the work day, the second was left out on the frozen river, which broke that night beneath the building's weight. Crews were able to jack up the building, let the ice beneath it refreeze and then move it to its place near St. Bernard's Catholic Church on Knight Avenue.A new building replaced the recycled elementary school in 1949.Preschool through fifth grades have always been taught at the school, but some grade offerings have fluctuated with enrollment throughout the school's history. Teaching of grades seven and eight ended in 1969, and the school's sixth grade class disappeared in the 1990s once Franklin Middle School was built in Thief River Falls.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"2302254","attributes":{"alt":"5th grader Brylee Lingen participates in the St. Bernard’s spelling bee ,as part of Catholic school week, Wednesday afternoon.","class":"media-image","height":"2111","title":"","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"3167"}}]]The school has openings in most of its classes, save for its preschool and pre-kindergarten programs, which consistently have waitlists, Schantz said. For the past few years, total enrollment has hovered around 120 students.Over the decades, the school has adapted to changing needs with expansions to the building and repurposing of rooms.The phrase "Catholic school" may conjure the image of a more traditional classroom, but Schantz said St. Bernard's has a number of technology offerings, including computer lab and tablets available for student use."That's a concern that we hear from the public," he said. "We use the technology the exact same way as the public schools, and that's a big misconception, that we don't do those things or keep up on those things."A big goal for the school's 90th year is to replace playground equipment damaged in a storm this past summer. High winds wreaked havoc on Thief River Falls in August, and St. Bernard's was not spared."I came to work that morning and I look out the window and our playset was flipped over the fence in pieces," Schantz said.Schantz, the city parks and recreation department office are working on drawing up plans and cost estimates for the project.THIEF RIVER FALLS-From a recycled school building that was once stuck on an icy river to classrooms equipped with modern technology, St. Bernard's Catholic School has seen a lot of change.Hundreds of voices joined together Wednesday to celebrate 90 years of history at the school in Thief River Falls.Led by Principal Randy Schantz, more than 200 students, parents and community members joined in a round of singing "Happy Birthday" to the school, which opened in 1925.[[{"type":"media","view_mode":"media_original","fid":"2302252","attributes":{"alt":"St. Bernard’s students made a birthday cake for Catholic school week and to celebrate St Bernard's 90th birthday. ","class":"media-image","height":"3150","title":"","typeof":"foaf:Image","width":"2100"}}]]Among those celebrating were Peter and Brandi Grosz, whose four children attend school at St. Bernard's. The youngsters, ranging in age from 5 to 10 years old, all sported maroon and gold shirts, as Wednesday also was "St. Bernard's Wear Day" at the school.Though Evangelical and not Catholic, the couple said they enjoy having their children-Katherine, Ross, Allison and Lane-attend St. Bernard's for a variety of reasons, including its small class sizes, as well as its focus on structure and family environment."They look out for each other, the families do, and it's great that way," Peter Grosz said.While those attending the celebration luncheon ate real birthday cake in the school cafeteria, another cake made of paper adorned a wall upstairs. It sported a few more candles than the school's actual age, as all 120 students each received a paper candle. On the candles they wrote what they loved about the school and fashioned a picture of their face into the candle's flame.The birthday celebration was folded into Catholic Schools Week, which highlights the faith, knowledge and service aspects of Catholic schools nationwide. In addition to the luncheon, St. Bernard's students also read to each other, and about 30 participated in a spelling bee. More activities are planned for the rest of the week, Schantz said.Historic momentsSt. Bernard's celebrates 90 years, but its building is only turning 67 this year. The original building was a former elementary school purchased by St. Bernard's Parish in 1922. Construction crews cut the building into two sections and transported it across the Red Lake River-an endeavor not without its challenges.Though the first piece was transported within the work day, the second was left out on the frozen river, which broke that night beneath the building's weight. Crews were able to jack up the building, let the ice beneath it refreeze and then move it to its place near St. Bernard's Catholic Church on Knight Avenue.A new building replaced the recycled elementary school in 1949.Preschool through fifth grades have always been taught at the school, but some grade offerings have fluctuated with enrollment throughout the school's history. Teaching of grades seven and eight ended in 1969, and the school's sixth grade class disappeared in the 1990s once Franklin Middle School was built in Thief River Falls.
The school has openings in most of its classes, save for its preschool and pre-kindergarten programs, which consistently have waitlists, Schantz said. For the past few years, total enrollment has hovered around 120 students.Over the decades, the school has adapted to changing needs with expansions to the building and repurposing of rooms.The phrase "Catholic school" may conjure the image of a more traditional classroom, but Schantz said St. Bernard's has a number of technology offerings, including computer lab and tablets available for student use."That's a concern that we hear from the public," he said. "We use the technology the exact same way as the public schools, and that's a big misconception, that we don't do those things or keep up on those things."A big goal for the school's 90th year is to replace playground equipment damaged in a storm this past summer. High winds wreaked havoc on Thief River Falls in August, and St. Bernard's was not spared."I came to work that morning and I look out the window and our playset was flipped over the fence in pieces," Schantz said.Schantz, the city parks and recreation department office are working on drawing up plans and cost estimates for the project.