History of St. Bernard's SchoolWhen Father Joseph Creeden arrived at St. Bernard's Parish in Saranac Lake, NY in 1922; he noticed the parish lacked a school. He immediately set out to correct this. Fr. Creeden acquired a small house located on what is now the school playground. This five room schoolhouse opened that fall to receive students. During the second year of operation the school's enrollment increased to the point where a new school was needed. The present school building at 32 River Street was completed in 1924 and classes began in the fall. St. Bernard's added a sixth grade in 1926, a seventh grade in 1932 and an eight grade in 1933.In 1957 Father Zimmerman set out on a plan to build a new Catholic high school. In the fall of 1959 St. Pius X High School opened and at that time students in grades seven and eight were transferred from St. Bernard's to the new high school. In 1962 a four-room primary school was built next to St. Bernard's elementary facility. Today, this "little school" as it is commonly referred to, houses grades PreK through second. Pius X closed in June, 1971. The original elementary facility houses grades three through five, in addition to housing our library, music/art room and computer lab. Grade six was eliminated in 1976 with the introduction of the middle school concept into the Saranac Lake School District. St. Bernard's serves, on average, 155 students with 18 faculty and staff. |