On June 7, 1963, Bishop Clarence Issenmann appointed Father Bernard Jones to organize a new parish on the east side of Lancaster, Ohio.   St. Bernadette was the name chosen for our new parish.   St. Bernadette School was opned for the second and thrid grade students on September 8, 1965.   Grades one and four were added in 1966.   During the summer of 1966, the Franciscan Sisters of Stella Niagara, New York, formally accepted out invitation to staff the school beginning in the fall of 1967. St. Bernadette School included grades 1 - 6 until 1970, when the 6th grade was sent to St. Mary - Lancaster.   Our kindergarten opened in 1975, and our preschool was added in 1983.   The Franciscan Sisters remained at St. Bernadette School until 1982.   Father James Walter is our current pastor.   His guidance allows our school to thrive.
      The mission of St. Bernadette School is to nurture the spiritual growth of our students through Catholic teachings and traditions, to encourage self-discipline, and to provide tools for academic excellence.   Teachers administrators, parents and the community share the responsibility for advancing our school's mission.   We belive that each student is a valued individual with unique physical, social, emotional and intellectual needs.   Our approach is to attend to these needs as they relate to the process of learning.   Christ's teachings permeate all areas of the curriculum and extrs-curricular activities.   Our Catholic Identity is celebrated in weekly liturgies, prayer services during Advent and Lent, daily religion classes, celebrating the lives of the saints, reaching beyond ourselves in service to others by writing letters to the parish's home-bound, collecting food for the local food pantries and treating others with respect and kindness.
      Learning is the chief priority of our school.   Our curriculum and instructional design is grounded in the philosophy of continuous improvement.   St. Bernadette School is chartered by the State of Ohio, and the Diocese of Columbus.
      The success of St. Bernadette is due to several factors.   The faculty and staff are highly dedicated and qualified.   Each classroom is equipped with a voice amplification system, an interactive white board (SmartBoard) and projector, TV, VCR/DVD player, CD player and desktop computers and printers.   The Internet is available to all computers.   Our Enrichment Program explores topics of special interests to our students and provides accelerated areas of learning.   Extra programs include COSI on Wheels, visiting artists and authors.   Positive discipline is used to help the students make "good choices."   The teachers knopw their students and are able to provide them with the support needed in order for them to become successful learners.
      St. Bernadette School administers standardized tests (Terra Nova) in grades 2, 3, 4 and 5.   We compare favorably with Diocesan Scores (district), and National Scores.
      While the annual results from standardized tests show that St. Bernadette School is doing an excellent job of esducating children in the basic skills, the relaxed, happy atmosphere of the school is, perhaps, its greatest attraction.   The children genuinely care for each other.   If this sounds like the kind of school experience you would like for your child, and would like more information pr arrange a visit, please call Pam Eltringham, principal, at 740-654-3137 or email peltring@cdeducation.org.