200 Years of Learning, Serving, Leading, Succeeding
The theme for this year’s celebration of Catholic schools could not sum up any better the key to Bethlehem’s 200 year success. In preparation for our bicentennial observance, we’ve been researching our heritage and poring over historical articles from the local newspaper in Nelson County, The Kentucky Standard. Although the look of Catholic education has changed over the years, the impact of instilling these values in thousands of students in the last two centuries has not. Take a look at some of these examples of Learning, Serving and Leading from our past:
1912 An article from The Kentucky Standard announcing commencement exercises sums up Bethlehem’s longtime pursuit of academic excellence. “The best and most advanced methods of pedagogy are in vogue in the classroom and no pains considered too irksome to advance the scholars in the acquisition of knowledge.”
1918 Bethlehem was leading the environmental awareness movement, celebrating “Thrift Day” by tagging coal shovels. The tags reminded users to be conservative in their use of coal. The students were encouraged to write essays and jingles promoting coal conservation. The winner was awarded the honor of tagging the shovels at Bethlehem and St. Joseph Church.
1927 Developing leadership skills was always promoted, and students honed those skills in the roles of “Toast Mistress” or “Giftorian” The Toast Mistress not only gave the opening toast to begin a banquet but also served as emcee for the evening festivities. The Giftorian chose gifts for the graduates to celebrate their commencement.
1930 Virgil Week was held to celebrate the Aeneid. Students were dressed in Roman garb at a banquet of ambrosia, honey cakes, raisins, olives, and nuts. Fortune-telling, juggling, pantomime, dancing, and flute and harp music were all part of the entertainment.
1932 Headline-Huge Motorcade Meets Bee Champ
“News came over the wire that Kenneth Cecil [Courier-Journal National Spelling Bee Runner-Up] would arrive about six o’clock. A spontaneous uprising resulted in a motorcade of several dozen machines lead by the city fire truck, loaded with his Bethlehem Academy schoolmates, and accompanied by a band, headed out the Louisville Road to catch first glimpse of the conquering hero, who was returning with his teacher, Sister Mary Dominica, instructor of four state spelling champions.”
1934 St. Joseph Preparatory boys debated the Bethlehem Academy girls on the topic: “Should the United States adopt the British system of radio control and operation?”
We won’t mention who won.
1939 Headline-Bethlehem Academy Wins Trophy for Best Record in Mission Work
Paladin jewels were conferred on Sr. Mary Theodosia, leader of the Bethlehem unit for the “highest record” of Catholic Student Mission Crusade activities. A crowd estimated at 10,000 took part in the colorful pageant at the May C.S.M.C. rally.
1941 February was Catholic Press Month and the junior “Speak Well” club gave biographical sketch presentations about notable Catholic authors. Some fifty pamphlets written by Catholic leaders on political, religious and social topics were read and discussed by the sophomores and freshmen in the “You-tell-’em” club.
The coursework and the activities have changed immensely over the years and will continue to do so, but the purpose and the value of a Catholic education remains steadfast. This statement from a 1912 article is as relevant today as it was then:
“Bethlehem antidates the most ancient of the Fathers of the Community...it remains full of life, of vigor, of usefulness in the field of education: Like the Eagle, it renews its strength. It never grows old in its work of educating the youth of the community and surrounding county, but contrariwise, year by year, it adds to its efficiency and God-given mission of imparting to its wards a thorough Christian education.”
A Toast Mistress could not have said it better herself.
Mary Ann Downs, Dean of Academics