POETRY OUT LOUD CONTEST AT SBP

Elizabeth Schweers, a Junior from Madison, AL claimed the school contest for Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest. Schweers recited Annabel Lee by Edgar Allen Poe, and Dreamers by Siegfried Sassoon. The competition, presented in partnership with the Alabama State Council of the Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Poetry Foundation, is part of a national program that encourages high school students to learn about great poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. Schweers will advance to the district Poetry Out Loud contest to be held at UAH in Huntsville, AL. The Alabama champion will advance to the Poetry Out Loud National Finals on April 28-29 in Washington, DC, where $50,000 dollars in scholarships and school prizes will be awarded.

The winner at the state level will receive $200 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, DC, to compete at the National Finals. The state winner’s school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. One runner-up in each state will receive $100; and his or her school will receive $200 for the purchase of poetry books.

A total of $50,000 in scholarship awards and school stipends will be awarded at the Poetry Out Loud National Finals, with a $20,000 college scholarship award for the National Champion. The second-place winner will receive a $10,000 college scholarship award; the third-place winner will receive $5,000; and the fourth to twelfth place winners will each receive $1,000. The schools of the top 12 finalists will receive $500 for the purchase of poetry books.

English instructor, Stella Couch directed the contest. “I compare this competition to the National Spelling Bee,” Couch said. “It is competition within the classes and then the entire school.” Students are judged on physical presence, voice and articulation, appropriateness of dramatization, level of difficulty, evidence of understanding, as well as overall performance.

Runners up in the competition were Jesse Schaffers and Grace Larkin.

SBP Volleyball teams to compete at Sub-State

St. Bernard Prep School Volleyball team will travel to Gaston High School, just north of Gadsden. They play Gaston High School in Sub-State competition at 1:30 p.m. There are 16 1-A teams in Alabama still in play-off competition this year. Our Lady Saints are among them. Congratulations to them and to Coach Harris. Team members are: Oakley Garnett, Jodie Glenn, Mary Katherine Gray, Natalie Kelley, Allison Mescher, Kiki Meyer, Maria Mueller, Brittney Schaefers. Mgr.: Quintoya Buggs.

St. Bernard receives AHSAA Star Sportsmanship Award

St. Bernard Preparatory School in Cullman was the recipient of the Star Sportsmanship Award given by the Alabama High School Athletic Association recently in Huntsville, Alabama.

The program, designed by www.learningthroughsports.com and its director Brian Shulman, is designed to promote a higher awareness of the importance of sportsmanship.

Students in grades 7 through 12 must complete the on-line interactive program and meet all other established requirements in order to be eligible for high school interscholastic athletics. A certificate of completion must be kept on file in the school principal’s office along with other eligibility items, including birth certificate and the physician’s statement.

Athletic Director, Ray Heitmueller said the online quiz takes about one hour to complete. It is a one time quiz which gives an observation of sportsmanship. Students and coaches watch films and clips and answer a series of questions related to situations that could happen during a competition.

Proudly Heitmueller said, “St. Bernard qualified because we had no ejections by either coaches or students, and zero fines to the AHSAA for 2007-08.” St. Bernard Prep received a banner which read “AHSAA Sportsmanship Award 2007-08 Star sportsmanship – Learning through Sports” to hang in the Fazi-Richard Athletic Center.

St. Bernard Prep boast 88% of the 2007-08 student body participated in athletics. Anyone wishing information on the school should call 256-739-6682 or visit the web www.stbernardprep.com.

Middle School Scholars Bowl defeats Fairview

Congratulations to the Middle School Scholars Bowl team on their 235-195 victory over Fairview. The game was played at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville.

St. Bernard students win art competition

St. Bernard Prep Senior, Johnathan Denson, Gadsden, AL claimed first place at the 2008 Oktoberfest Art competition held recently in Cullman with his drawing of “The Barn at St. Bernard” in Cullman. Senior, Emily Kim, Korea, earned the Best of Show Award with her penciled drawing titled “Jesus.” Students are taught by Mrs. Mona Ivey.

Open House held at Middle School

St. Bernard Prep Middle School recently hosted Open House. Families from Arab, Cullman, Hartselle, Hanceville and Decatur were in attendance to get a first hand tour of the school and facilities. St. Bernard Middles School parents and students were available to offer assistance to visitors expressing concerns about the school.

Susan Brown of Arab said her daughter is very happy at St. Bernard. “I asked Michayla just recently if the school had met her expectations, and her reply was, “I love St. Bernard.” Brown serves on the Board of Directors at St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Cullman, and said they were very pleased with the academic program at St. Bernard. Her sentiments were echoed by other parents throughout the afternoon.

The small class environment and strong study skills are the driving force in the Robinson family from Hanceville, Alabama. “Our girls came to St. Bernard with a weak academic background, but when they were taught how to study and be prepared for class, things have changed. Now we are looking at sending our third daughter to the Middle School,” commented Harold Robinson.

A panel discussion for all visitors was held where questions were received from the guests and answered by St. Bernard parents and students. Concerns regarding the school verses public education were addressed with confidence. Gina Merrill of Arab, Alabama said she has been in both places, but having been at St. Bernard has been a positive experience for her daughter. “She is with students who are motivated to do well, and enjoys being in a small classroom setting with personalized attention,” Merrill said.

Parents commented on the orange card program. The orange card program was designed last year by Mr. John Tekulve, principal of the Middle School. The program makes the child accountable for their work, and keeps parents up to date on progress. If students miss homework assignments or make below a 70 on any given assignment, they must sign the orange card and state why they made a poor grade or missed their homework assignment. Admissions Director, John Arndt said Tekulve presents the card daily to the parent s when they pick up their child after school. “This is immediate attention to the problem, and works well. No student wants to be the recipient of an orange card,” Arndt said.

Personal attention, motivated peers, and small class environments makes St. Bernard the choice of education for thirty-eight students in seventh and eighth grades. St. Bernard offers instrumental music, art, foreign language, chorus, journalism, and a broad range of athletics to all students.

St. Bernard currently operates a bus service to Decatur, Alabama. Arndt says anyone interested in a personal tour should contact the school at 256-739-6682 ext 128.

Kiki Meyer named National Merit Semifinalist

The National Merit Scholarship Program recently announced that Kristin N. Meyer, a senior at St. Bernard Preparatory School, has been named a National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist. She will be competing for approximately 8,200 merit scholarship awards valued at over thirty-five million dollars to be awarded next spring.


Kiki, as she is known by her friends, is the daughter of Ms. Mary Sullivan of Cullman, AL. While at St. Bernard she has been involved in many leadership programs such as the Model UN-Vice President; Cullman Youth Leadership; and Hugh O’Bryan Youth Leadership. She currently is serving as the President of the Senior Class. She volunteers time at her school, animal shelter, and sunshine center. She recently spent time in Kenya as part of a cultural exchange program. She actively participates on the school’s basketball, volleyball and softball team. Kiki is a member of Junior Classical League, Mu Alpha Theta, and National Honor Society.


“We are proud to see Kiki achieve this distinction,” said Barbara Rasplicka, Guidance Director at St. Bernard Prep School. “She not only is academically gifted but she also has a strong work ethic. She participates in a wide range of extracurricular activities from athletics to the fine arts. She is the kind of student that sets goals and achieves them.”


John Odle and Nino Yutiamco were named Commended Students, and have been recognized for their exceptional academic promise.

Senior Dedication Mass held at St. Bernard

Thirty five seniors at St. Bernard Prep School in Cullman were honored recently during a special Eucharistic celebration in the Abbey Church. Fr. Marcus Voss, President, and Fr. Joel Martin, Headmaster, concelebrated the Mass which focused on the Senior Class and their role of leadership in the community.

Fr. Marcus Voss told students during the homily, “You are our campus leaders. You set the tone and serve as our models. Our school will grow and thrive because of you.” He reminded them of their years of experience on the campus. “All of you remember your first day at St. Bernard,” he said. “Whether it was finding your way to class or moving into the dorm and meeting the dorm parents, there was uneasiness of the unknown. Now you know this place and one another. You have competed on our athletic fields, you have participated in drama, you have sung and danced, you have studied for exams, you know our faculty and you know one another,” he continued. “With that knowledge comes the responsibility to serve as good leaders and set the example for others to follow.” During the homily Fr. Marcus used the disciples of Jesus as an example. He said, “The disciples of the Lord came to know who they were because of their relationship to Jesus. They, in turn, put this knowledge into practice. Because of them the world was changed. In the Scriptures, a wise person takes what he has been given and uses it for the good of all.”

During the ceremony, each student was recognized individually and was presented a cross. The presentations of the crosses recognized their lives of service not only at St. Bernard community but in whatever they would do. Prayers accompanied this presentation asking God to bless all those who dedicate themselves to lives of service. Fr. Marcus said, “We pray that all of our students be filled with gratitude for the opportunity to be of service in our community and live lives of true freedom, and happiness.”

The 2009 senior class at St. Bernard Prep is helping to shape St. Bernard Prep to prepare people who come after them. The service concluded with Fr. Marcus asking God’s blessing upon this senior class that they may faithfully serve as leaders in the School and prepare the way for others who will become part of the St. Bernard tradition.

SBP Middle School Scholars defeat Cullman Middle School

Congratulations to St. Bernard Middle School Scholars Bowl team in their victory over Cullman Middle School yesterday 210-150. The game was played at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, AL.

Middle School to host Open House

St. Bernard Preparatory Middle School will host Open House on Sunday, October 19th at 2 p.m. Guests will have the opportunity to tour Founders Hall, our recently renovated Middle School facilities. The faculty and administration will be on-hand to discuss the benefits of the programs offered at St. Bernard. Students will be in attendance to speak about their experiences with the program.

St. Bernard Middle School offers instruction to students in grades 7 & 8 and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Students follow the standard curriculum required for middle school students throughout the state of Alabama. In addition they also have the opportunity to participate in exploratory classes each semester, including but not limited to foreign language, music ensemble, instrumental music, and art.

St. Bernard offers a Christian education. Students are bound by common aspirations and find an environment where peer pressure works toward education. The atmosphere is conducive to academic achievement. Headmaster, John Tekulve said, “While intellectual curiosity can't be taught, it can be caught. A students interests can be encouraged and rewarded in order to lay the foundation for a lifetime of achievement. Our dedicated faculty commit themselves to developing students wholly – in mind, body and spirit.”

Anyone interested in more information about St. Bernard Middle School should contact the Admission Office by calling 256-739-6682 or visit http://www.stbernardprep.com/.

Instrumental Band to perform at Oktoberfest

St. Bernard Prep School's Instrumental Music Program will perform on Sunday, October 5 at 2 p.m. at Ave Maria Grotto's Oktoberfest Celebration. Under the direction of Lester Harris, the students are expected to be Rockin' at the Grotto. The public is invited to attend.