St Bernadette’s, a primary school in Nunthorpe, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, marking half a century of inspiring young people.

The school commemorated the occasion with a series of special events and activities, including inviting former pupils to share their career journeys, a visit from a BBC Tees reporter, a Mass and celebration for past and present staff and governors, and a 1970s-themed party for current pupils and staff.

The celebration kicked off with the school’s “Career Journeys” campaign, which invited former pupils to share their career paths and how St Bernadette’s helped shape their careers. The campaign received an overwhelming response, with hundreds of former pupils sharing stories of success and accomplishment. The alumni who responded now work in a wide range of exciting roles, including engineers, artists, doctors, and many more. The school collated all the responses and created a fantastic display, reminding current pupils that they too can achieve anything they set their minds to.

The celebrations also included a visit from Charlotte Brammer, a reporter from BBC Tees, as part of the station’s Make a Difference campaign. Brammer took photographs of the pupils with a drone and interviewed some of them for a radio report. During the interview, the school talked about its vision of being courageous and shining in the light of Christ, making a positive impact in the world, and how its values help pupils make a positive difference wherever they go. The school also shared its work on vocations and Pope Francis’ letter on the environment, Laudato Si’, which the children have taken to heart.

The celebrations continued with a Mass and celebration for all past and present staff and governors, followed by an exhibition of old photographs and the school’s original logbook, open to everyone who has a connection to St Bernadette’s, including parents, carers, families, and former pupils. The visitors took a trip down memory lane and reminisced about their time at the school.

The following day, the current pupils and staff put on their dancing shoes for a 1970s-themed party day in school. The day was filled with groovy music, disco lights, and plenty of fun activities.

Overall, the celebrations were a fantastic way to mark the 50th anniversary of St Bernadette’s. The school has played a vital role in shaping the lives of many young people over the years, and it was wonderful to see so many former pupils, staff, and governors come together to celebrate its achievements. As the school’s mantra says, once a St Bernadette’s child, always a St Bernadette’s child! The ties of family and community will undoubtedly continue to thrive and blossom in this very special community for many more years to come.