Category: General

Summer is a wonderful season of fun, relaxation, and invaluable family time. It’s a chance to rest, play, and let our imaginations take flight—and those experiences are incredibly important when it comes to preparing for a new school year!

We want to harness that natural excitement and energy our students bring to the classroom after a summer off. With just a few simple strategies, you can keep that vibrant summer spirit alive while gently preparing your child for the academic journey ahead.

Revive the Reading Routine

It’s incredibly easy to fall out of the habit of daily reading during the busy summer months. However, re-establishing a 20-minute daily reading routine right now is one of the best things you can do for your child’s academic stamina. Did you know that reading just 20 minutes a day adds up to over 1,500 minutes of reading? That gives your child a massive head start for the school year. Sneak those 20 minutes whenever you can—in the car, before bed, or down by the lake—and watch how much easier the transition back to the classroom becomes.

• Level it up (Comprehension): Ask your child open-ended questions after they read to reinforce their comprehension and critical thinking.
• Level it up (Writing): Challenge your child to write a “sequel” to their favorite book. It’s a fantastic, low-pressure way to spark creative writing and imagination before school starts!

Spot the Everyday Math

The “summer math slide” can be one of the most notable academic setbacks when students return to the classroom. You can fight that slide simply by drawing attention to the math all around us on a daily basis! Heading to the pool? Read the depth signs and identify the measurement labels. Going to camp? Have your child calculate the start and end times to figure out the elapsed time in between. Cooking dinner? Discuss fractions and liquid measurements using cups, quarts, and tablespoons.

The opportunities are endless, and these quick everyday discussions make a massive impact on your child’s mathematical readiness for the fall.

• Level it up (Computation): On a road trip? Have your child look at license plates and either call out the numbers, add them together, or multiply them based on their grade level.
• Level it up (Financial Literacy): At the grocery store or a local ice cream shop? Have your child estimate the total cost of a few items, determine if you have enough cash, or calculate the change you should receive.

Keep the Faith in Motion

Our spiritual journeys don’t pause when the school year ends. In fact, summer is a beautiful season to step back and marvel at everything God has created and gifted to us. Look for spontaneous moments to pause and thank God for your family’s favorite memories—whether hiking in the woods, playing with friends, or boating on the lake. You can also use these weeks to experience the liturgy in new ways. Heading “up north”? Locate a local parish within our Wisconsin dioceses to attend Mass. Busy weekend ahead? Find a peaceful weeknight Mass to switch things up. Even if you are short on time, taking advantage of a weekday confession, a brief prayer session, or Eucharistic Adoration at a nearby parish is a powerful way to recharge your family’s spiritual battery.

• Level it up (The Prayer Journal): Encourage your child to create a simple summer prayer journal. Use it as a quiet space to draw or write down God’s weekly blessings, cultivating a heart of gratitude before the school year begins.
• Level it up (Scripture Connections): Read the upcoming Sunday Gospel together as a family before heading to Mass. Ask your child: “What is Jesus teaching us in this story, and how can we practice that virtue with our new classmates and teachers this year?”

Summer is a sacred time to connect with family, learn through play, and experience God in new and vibrant ways. By intentionally weaving these simple reading, math, and faith moments into your final weeks of summer, you are partnering with us to ensure your child steps into the classroom with confidence.

We wish you a safe, joyful, and faith-filled summer. We cannot wait to welcome your children back to school!

St. Bernard Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. St. Bernard’s provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

Catch up on the latest news within GRACE in the Summer 2026 Newsletter! Read an interview with the student who was a president for a day at SJPII, learn all about the new leadership within the GRACE System, get back-to-school tips, catch up on all the ongoing facilities projects, and more!

Read now!

St. Bernard Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. St. Bernard’s provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

We’re pleased to announce that we now provide Champions, a division of KinderCare Learning Companies, before-and-after- school programming at St. Bernard Catholic School! The program is available to any child enrolled.

Learn more about the program, take a virtual tour, and register here.

St. Bernard Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. St. Bernard’s provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

Thank you to David Gusloff for his dedicated leadership and service as principal of St. Bernard Catholic School. Your commitment to our students, staff, and families has made a lasting impact on the school community. We are grateful for all you have done!

St. Bernard Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. St. Bernard’s provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

St. Bernard School was filled with music, joy, and school spirit during two wonderful spring concerts that showcased the incredible talents of our students from kindergarten through 8th grade. Families and staff gathered to celebrate the hard work, growth, and dedication of our student musicians under the direction of Mrs. Eva Hess, Ms. Brenda Winkler, and accompanist Mrs. Anne Gerlach.

On Tuesday, May 12, students in the 4th–8th grade instrumental music program took the stage for the Spring Instrumental Concert. The evening featured performances by Beginning Orchestra, Orchestra, Beginning Band, and Concert Band students. Audience members enjoyed a wide variety of musical selections ranging from folk songs and classical favorites to modern pieces and video game music.

The Beginning Orchestra delighted the audience with recognizable tunes such as “Hot Cross Buns,” “Ode to Joy,” and “Can-Can.” Special featured performers included Eva and Amaya during “Natalie’s Rose,” along with Rossebella and Hailie during “Song for Maria.”

The Orchestra continued the evening with energetic performances including “Firoliralera,” “Shipwreck Coast,” and “La Bamba,” featuring Natalia on piano. Beginning Band students showcased their progress with selections such as “Android Attack,” “Distant Journey,” and a fun “Video Game Medley.”

The Concert Band closed the evening with a strong and memorable performance that included “The Star Spangled Banner,” “Spirit Dance,” “Air Force One,” and “Clarinet Polka.” Several students were highlighted throughout the performance, including Natalia, Molly, Clara, Abbi, Vita, and Max.

A special thank you was extended to Principal David Gusloff and the St. Bernard staff for their continued support of the instrumental music program and for encouraging students throughout the year.

Just a few days later, on Monday, May 18, students in kindergarten through 8th grade performed in the St. Bernard Spring Choir and General Music Concert. The concert featured performances by the Primary grades, Intermediate grades, and the 5th–8th grade choir.

The 5th–8th grade choir opened the evening with beautiful and heartfelt selections, including “Down in the River to Pray,” “When I Close My Eyes,” and “This Is My Country.” Vita and Abbi performed a duet during “When I Close My Eyes,” while Vita was also featured as a soloist during “American Lullaby.”

Students in grades 3–5 brought energy and excitement to the stage with performances of “The Water is Wide,” “Wade in the Water,” and “Under the Sea” from The Little Mermaid. The 3rd and 4th-grade recorder ensembles were also featured during the concert.

Our youngest students in grades K–2 charmed the audience with performances of “I’ve Got Peace Like a River” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag.” The evening concluded with audience sing-alongs of “America the Beautiful” and “This Land is Your Land,” creating a meaningful moment of community and celebration for everyone in attendance.

We are so proud of all of our student musicians for the dedication, courage, and hard work they demonstrated throughout the school year. These concerts were a wonderful reminder of the joy that music brings to our St. Bernard community.

St. Bernard Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school that serves preschool and elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. St. Bernard’s provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

Catch up on the latest news within GRACE in the Spring 2026 Newsletter! Discover what students have been working on, meet those at the heart of the classroom (our teachers), learn why summer reading matters and ways to keep it enjoyable for students, and more.

Read now!

St. Bernard Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. St. Bernard’s provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

What a blessing it has been for our 2nd graders and Ms. LaFrombois-Pethan to spend this semester learning and growing alongside Ms. Megan Salentine, our talented student teacher from St. Norbert College.

We are proud to celebrate Ms. Salentine, who was recently honored with two outstanding awards. She received the Distinguished Scholastic Achievement Award for her academic excellence, as well as the Sister Sally Ann Brickner Award for Excellence in Education, an honor selected by faculty to recognize her promise as a future educator.

It has been a joy to witness her dedication in the classroom each day. Her care for students and love of teaching are evident in all that she does. She has built meaningful relationships with our students and has contributed positively to our school community throughout her time here.

We are grateful to have been part of her journey and are excited for all that lies ahead.

Congratulations, Ms. Salentine!

St. Bernard Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school that serves preschool and elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. St. Bernard’s provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

St. Bernard Catholic School proudly hosted its annual 5th Grade Science Fair on Thursday, April 23. This long-standing tradition continues to be a highlight of the school year, giving our students the opportunity to explore their curiosity and share their learning with others. This year’s event, organized by Ms. Dallapiazza and Ms. Davenport, featured a wide range of creative and thoughtful projects.
Throughout the day, many of our classrooms had the chance to visit the science fair and learn from the 5th-grade students. We were also excited to welcome a large number of parents who came to support the students and hear about their work. The room was filled with energy as students confidently presented their projects and engaged with visitors.
Each student developed an individual project that included a clear hypothesis, data collection, and results. They created detailed poster boards to display their findings and prepared a summary to share with anyone who stopped by their booth. It was clear that a great deal of time and effort went into each project, as students worked for weeks to bring their ideas to life.
This year brought many new and interesting project ideas. Some students explored how gummy bears dissolve in different liquids, while others examined the effects of texting and driving or tested which types of shoes are best for running. The variety of topics reflected both creativity and real-world thinking.
We are so proud of our 5th grade students for their hard work, dedication, and willingness to take on this challenge. Their efforts truly paid off in an impressive display of learning and growth.

St. Bernard Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school that serves preschool and elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. St. Bernard’s provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

On Sunday, April 12, St. Bernard Catholic School proudly hosted its third annual Spring Fling, welcoming families, parishioners, and community members from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for an afternoon filled with fun, fellowship, and support for our school. The event brought a wonderful turnout, with many members of our community coming together to celebrate all that makes St. Bernard such a special place.

Guests enjoyed a wide variety of activities throughout the day. From carnival games and bounce houses to raffles and a well-supported silent auction, there was something for everyone to enjoy. Attendees also had the chance to enjoy delicious food while spending time with friends and connecting with other families in our school and parish community.

One of the highlights of the day was the incredible participation in the silent auction and raffles. Thanks to the generosity of those who attended and placed bids, the event successfully raised funds that will directly support our students and school programs. This level of engagement is a true reflection of the strong support system that surrounds St. Bernard Catholic School.

We are deeply grateful to everyone who attended and contributed to the success of the Spring Fling. A special thank you goes to the many volunteers who generously gave their time and energy to plan, organize, and run the event. Their dedication made the day run smoothly and created a welcoming, joyful atmosphere for all.

The success of this year’s Spring Fling is a testament to the strength of our community. We are thankful for the continued support and look forward to building on this tradition in the years to come.

St. Bernard Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school that serves preschool and elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. St. Bernard’s provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.

A heartfelt thank you to Katie Switzer and Beckie McDermid of St. Bernard Catholic School for generously sharing your time and talents with our community. Your support makes a meaningful difference!

St. Bernard Catholic School is part of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. It is a private Catholic school serving Preschool and Elementary through 8th grade (PK3-8) with open enrollment. St. Bernard’s provides an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually.