The Year 2007, Marks The 150th Anniversary of Saint Bernard's School. In Recognition of This Monumental Event, We Have Invited Parish Members, School Staff, Students and Members of Saint Bernard's School Alumni to Share Their Memories of The Time Spent In The School. Below Are Those Memories.

"The First Grade Nun and Music Teacher (Sister Vivian) always had the best programs for Christmas, St. Patrick's Day & especially for May (May Crowning). I miss all those 'Mother Mary' songs. We would always have a May Altar in our homes with fresh flowers and votives. May was special - besides honoring our moms. Religion is not just a 60 minute study but can come up at any time during the school day. Respect for others and their property (possessions) were taught to me at St. Bernard's, all through they school year." - Kay Bergin Lischka


" I remember Sister Irene, great teachers - even if we didn't know it at the time. Friends that I am close to even today. Catholic education at St. Bernard's taught me that hard work and respect are rewarded." Kathleen M. Quinn Hannas


"Something that I remember about St. Bernard's was that when I was in 4th grade my family moved to Watertown. I had Sister Margaret Ann for a teacher in 4th, 5th and 6th grades. Sister Miriam was my teacher for 7th and 8th grades. Sister Miriam was a very wise person and I learn a lot of life lessons from her. Both of these Sisters were from the Congregation of Saint Agnes. Catholic education helped to make me the person that I am today and helped in developing my faith life and my interest in being active in my parish." Marie Gmeinder


"Basketball!" Richard McFarland


"What I clearly remember is that we moved from Beaver Dam to Watertown when I was 7 years old. We lived on Cady St, from which we could see Lincoln School and St. Bernard's Steeple. I remember my mother asking me if I wanted to go to Lincoln School or St. Bernard's where the Sisters taught. I chose the Sisters' School. Sometime in the 8th grade Sister Justine talked about life in the convent. That's when I decided I would like to be a Sister. I also remember that the 8th Grader's made a retreat. That may have been when the seed for a religious vocation was planted. Now, in my 50th year of religious life, I have never regretted the decision to attend the Sisters' School and to eventually follow their way of life." Sister Beatrice Grams, CSA (now deceased)


"I remember Sister Rose singing and playing her ukulele for us. In particular, my favorite song was 'The Bear Song'. As an adult, going back and teaching at St. Bernard's, one of the highlights was working with seven of my former teachers and principal! Catholic education is important to me because it provides you with the important foundations of our true beliefs in Jesus Christ and our Mother Mary". Gabrielle Lueck Zastrow


"Jars of Science Specimens." Francis Allen McFarland


"My Catholic education at St. Bernard's helped me because it made me smart!" Douglas Siebel


"Catholic education at St. Bernard's helped me because the god sisters who taught me at St. Bernard's were a great influence in my desire to become one of them." Martha Gmeinder


"Where to begin! I remember my great acting debut as Sherlock Jones; working as a safety patrol in 6th grade. I remember my friends and teachers having 'bug races'. Getting yelled at for our antics on the snow pile, etc. etc. My Catholic education at St. Bernard's laid the foundations to be able to meet the challenges of studying at the university level. Laura Ebert


"A good preparation for High School." Rose McFarland Erdman


"Saint Bernard's had a family environment where someone was always there willing to help out and share. Catholic education led the way to learning the basics about Christian faith and how important it is all throughout life." Hattie Swiggum


"Recess - King of the Hill in the snow." Ron McFarland


"I remember the Boy Scout Troop 44, being an Altar Boy, Athletics at St. Bernard's, & Hard Noses Nuns. In third grade, punishment was math, so I learned math." James Patrick Brady


"Running to Union Park for gym class." Ellen McFarland


"Mrs. Wereschnig's Pizza." Jeannie McFarland


"My memory of Saint Bernard's was having Sister Steven for four years. A Catholic education at Saint Bernard's provided me with the ability to bring my children up in a Christian upbringing." Robert McFarland

"My memories of St. Bernard include the following people and events: Great students and wonderful parents! Mr. Allen, our principal who allowed his staff to creatively engage the students in new learning opportunities! A great staff who shared their talents and energy with each other. Mrs. Klecker, Sister Anthelma, and Mary McFarland as very special additions to the wonderful staff with whom I had the pleasure of working! Halloween parties, sock hops, forensics, field trips, and talent shows! These memories and many more embody the fun, excitement, dedication, and learning that made St. Bernard's a such a special school community!" Kathy Wickmann: parent and former 4th grade teacher

One of my favorite memories of St. Bernard's School would have to be Mr. Manning, our playground supervisor. He was what the people of St. Bernard's was about. Caring, loving, trustworthy, and willing to welcome you into their hearts. I also remember the wonderfully pep assemblies we would have and the amount of fun I had growing up in such a spectacular school. My mother was born and raised in this school and congregation and I believe she would have loved to celebrate such a wonderful occasion. She always believed in this school and felt it was the foundation of her life. Now as a teacher at St. Bernard's, I realize how important it is to have a Catholic education and how blessed I am to have the opportunity to teach here. " - Sandra Brunk Hinrichs

My favorite memory of St. Bernard's is working with the wonderful students, parents and staff. I cherish the years I taught there and miss the friendships I made. When I left, I took a part of St. B's with me and it has made me a better mother, wife, teacher and friend. May God bless all of you. - Mrs. Lea Abel

In the early 60's we had one TV set for the school. All the grades would gather in the gym/auditorium for Art. A Sister of Notre Dame had an Art Program on TV. We all listened to the lesson and then went back to our classroom and put the lesson into practice. The kids loved it because she showed pieces of Art Work that were sent into the station from different schools. Some of our kid's works were shown. Sister Mary Albert Flynn

I have many fond memories of my years of teaching Kindergarten and Second Grade at St. Bernard's School. I enjoyed working with Mr. Allen, the staff, and the families. One of my favorite memories is when Father Tom would visit the classroom and tell stories of his childhood. I'm sure you've heard many of the same stories. I really looked forward to the Friday School Masses and helping the children prepare the Mass when it was our turn. I especially enjoyed helping the Second Graders prepare for their First Communion. I am proud of my years at St. Bernard's School. Happy 150th Birthday! - Sincerely, Mrs. K. Batzko Ferguson

I could write a book of memories because the eight years (Sept. 1951-June 1959) I spent at St. Bernard's led directly to the life I've lived as a Sister of St. Agnes since 1966. I will spare everyone that "book" and simply thank the pastor and associate priests who were present during my days as a student at St. Bernard's and the Sisters who taught me so well and invited me by example to join their way of life. Sisters Anthelma Feuerstein and Marie Endres were key persons in helping me to realize that I might have a call to religious life and to follow through on that call. All the Sisters I knew during my grade school years shaped my own work later as a teacher and my way of living among the Sisters wherever I was assigned. Thank you all.

When I was in fifth grade (1956) the first lay teacher in our experience, Miss Catherine Cleary, became part of the faculty.

Another memory I will share leads me to express a deep thank you to the parish and Fr. Patrick Dolan, CSC, for welcoming a handful of first graders from St. Joseph Church, Richwood, to St. Bernard's in the early 50's. We were not parishioners. I think that we were the only kids to ride the bus daily at the time, and were at some time in every winter marooned at home in the country unable to get to school because of ice and/or snow though school remained open for our classmates. I remember daily Mass at 8:00 a.m. for eight years--a special start to our day but also a bit challenging for kids (bundled up in the winter) after a 5-mile or more bus ride on an empty stomach so that we could receive communion at Mass in the days of the midnight fast. During those years we brought breakfast and lunch with us and the first scheduled event after Mass was eating breakfast in our classrooms. Sister Jeremy Quinn, CSA