About Us
At St. Bernard Catholic School, we distinguish ourselves by the spirit we have within the walls of our school and our actions speak of our faith. Along with a strong commitment to safety, academics, and the well-being of all community members, St. Bernard Catholic School community is also committed to the overall spiritual, intellectual, moral, social, psychological and physical well being of every student. More specifically, we are committed to providing a full education for our students in a caring, God-centered atmosphere where each person is seen as a well loved and valued individual.
Student learning and well-being is at the core of St. Bernard Catholic School. School staff in partnership students and parents strive to exceed individual expectations by setting high standards, as we promote 21st Century Learning Skills: Collaboration, Communication, Creativity and Critical Thinking.
Mission Statement
At St. Bernard Catholic School, our mission is to provide a caring Christian environment in which the qualities of self-esteem, creative thinking, a love of learning and respect for self and others are thoroughly and consistently nurtured. We believe that education is a lifelong process involving physical, mental, emotional and social development and that we must continually strive to develop in partnership with home, school and parish. This will assist students on their journey to become happy, responsible and contributing members of society.
Catholic Foundation
St. Bernard provides a learning environment where models of Gospel values and Catholic doctrines are integral to our school. The Fully Alive program provides our students with a firm foundation in their faith development. Examples of our living the faith include activities such as daily prayers, liturgical celebrations, monthly masses, charitable donations and parish priest’s visits. Our Grade 2 students receive the sacraments of First Holy Reconciliation and Communion together with their classmates. In addition, our Grade 8 students participate in an annual retreat in preparation for their Sacrament of Confirmation. The school community supports them and celebrates together with them during these important events.
Our School History and Tradition
St. Bernard Catholic School was built in 1956 with additions in 1963, 1965 and 1976. At that time, the population was predominantly Irish and Italian. Over the years, many additional ethnic groups moved into the homes and apartments in the area. There are more than 25 different ethnic groups represented in our school. Spanish and Italian are taught as international languages. Our school has been used for summer programs by the North York Parks and Recreation Department. Our gymnasium is used as a community centre five nights of the week. Our priest is an integral part of our regular school programming, with monthly masses and regular classroom visits.
St. Bernard was a great theologian, and one of the greatest churchmen in history. He was unique in the light and love he brought to his own time. We at St. Bernard strive to follow his example in our relationships with students, their families and the larger community community.