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THE GRADUATION YEAR

In the beginning...

8th Grade PTO Class Rep

Washington DC Trip

Fundraising

Miscellaneous Events

Dances

Choosing a High School

Graduation

After Graduation

Thank You

In the beginning...

Mrs. Maki is the eighth grade home room teacher and the advisor for all eighth grade events. Messages may be left for her during school hours. She can only return a call during "free" periods.

In September only the eighth grade class hold elections for the following offices:

- President

- Vice-President

- Treasurer

- Secretary

Campaign posters are made and the candidates make political speeches. Do not take seriously promises for free pizza on Fridays!

After elections the class asks for certain privileges, one of which may be whether boys may wear novelty and other print ties as opposed to the plain blue uniform tie. They may vote as to whether girls may wear print tights as opposed to blue or white. The class will also vote on a monthly amount of dues.

The 8th grade PTO Class Rep:

Your PTO Class Rep may call you to fill parents in on class events. The class rep organizes the 8th Grade game room for the Holiday Fair. He/she will probably ask you for $5.00 and/or leftover Halloween candy for the event. Buy the bags after Halloween for 1/2 price. The $5.00 will pay for the rooms' prizes, and prevents depleting the class treasury. The game room usually nets $300.00, but with work can earn much more.

The Washington DC Trip:

"The Washington Trip" is what many students dream of for eight years. It's a chance to take on responsibility and learn...the kids call it having fun. Many of the eight grade activities are aimed at reducing the cost of this annual trip. It costs approximately $500.00, for one student to join the trip, based on quadruple occupancy. Parental chaperones cost more. The actual cost of the trip depends on how many fundraisers the eighth graders host and their net proceeds. A convenient monthly payment plan makes it a bit easier to pay for.

For detailed information, attend the parent meeting Mr. Farnsworth holds one evening in October. The meeting is so good both parents may want to attend. You will be given the students' itinerary and hear all the safety precautions and rules first hand. You will have plenty of opportunity to ask questions. Many parents remark yearly at how well this program is run.

FUNDRAISING

School Store: One of the privileges of the eighth graders is to run the school store. The store may be open before school and during lunch periods. Your student may be asked to come in early to work in the store. Profits from the store go into the class treasury. Miscellaneous school supplies and small items are sold. Some months the students may organize a raffle at the store. Hooded and non-hooded sweatshirts, navy fleece jackets, and baseball caps will be in the store by the end of October — Ready for Christmas gifts!

Holiday Fair: The class will make between $300-900 in one day, depending on the amount of help from the 8th grade parents. Volunteer to bring in raffle items, to supervise that day or make a donation to cover the cost of one game. The games only cost 25-50 cents to play, so the better a game is planned, the more money will be made. Many games are already at the school.

Car Wash: In the early part of school year, while the weather is still warm, the eighth graders usually hold a car wash on the school grounds. The price is usually $3.00-$5.00, but may change.

Yearbook: The eighth graders assemble, edit and produce the school yearbook. The cost of the yearbook is usually $20.00. It is a chronicle of each grade and highlights the 8th graders and their various activities. The class goal is to sell 200 yearbooks each year. Families may buy as many books as they need. Class time is scheduled to work on the yearbook. You will be surprised at the quality of the publication.

Regular School Fundraisers: Eighth graders are notorious for not bringing home their notices. Typical school fundraising events will continue to take place. So even if you get no notices, eighth grade parents are asked to participate in the Carnival, Holiday Fair and Spaghetti Supper, etc. Please check this web site for updates. To volunteer, call the PTO member in charge of the event. If you are in doubt, the office will know the chairperson's name.

MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS

7th and 8th Grade Hike: This event, usually held in September or October, is not a fundraiser. Both the 7th and 8th grade climb Mount Monadnock. It is a great chance for the two grades to bond to the outdoors and each other. Pictures gathered on the hikes often show up in the yearbook or the slide show viewed at the eighth grade dinner the week of graduation.

8th Grade Only: Sometimes an eighth grade only event will be organized. The class may gather for sledding, or a pizza party or to play volleyball. These events are not fundraisers by any means. They are meant to be an important part of your child's education: simply having fun.

DANCES

At STB only 7th and 8th graders are allowed to attend dances. Dances are a co-operative effort by the area Catholic schools to familiarize the students with each other. The Halloween Dance is usually the dance that our eighth graders sponsor. There is a fee to attend all dances.

CHOOSING A HIGH SCHOOL

Representatives from the following schools come to the eighth grade classroom to talk about what high school choices the eighth graders have:

* St. Bernard's Central Catholic High School

* Fitchburg High School

* Monty Technical

* A School Choice High School in Massachusetts

Your student will be sent home with the various paperwork for all high schools except school choice.

GRADUATION

Graduation and the activities leading to it are a special time in your child's life. This guide is meant as an outline to help it be a less hectic one.

Memorial Day Week-end:

Washington DC trip

Early June:

* Eighth grade retreat

* Eighth grade dinner, award ceremony and slide show (sponsored by the 7th grade)

* Eighth grade graduation at Church

* Eighth graders end school early

AFTER GRADUATION, DEVELOPMENT STILL NEEDS YOU...

Sometimes by the time a parent gets a child to the eighth grade, he/she has spent many years helping our cause to provide children with a quality Catholic education. Try to continue to remember the school and its needs. Here are a few tips that can save you time if you choose to take the year off from working events.

* Buy individual sized baked goods for Bake Sales.

* Buy cakes for a cake walk at the grocery store for $5.00.

* Write a check for a flat amount for the Walk-a-jog-a-thon.

* Send in a gift certificate for the Holiday Fair Auction Table.

* Donate a roll of stamps to the Development Office.

* Buy any bookcase for a classroom from a Garage Sale.

* Adopt a book from the library wish-list.

* Buy a present or gift certificate to the whole school instead of to several teachers.

* Call Development and see what the school's needs are.

* NEVER throw away a computer without calling us.

* DON'T let your company throw away good paper, bring it in.

* REFER a neighbor to our school.

* TALK positively to the community about your STB experiences.

THANK YOU

* Thank you for the support you have shown your child during their years at St. Bernard's Elementary.

* Thank you for the contributions you have made to our school.

* Thank you for encouraging your child to reach his/her potential.

David Farnsworth, Principal

Diane JB Tagliavia, Development Director

"Education with a heart since 1886"