St. Bernard Preparatory School in Cullman welcomed 130 students on Sunday, Aug. 10, marking the start of the 2025–26 academic year. Forty-nine of the students are new to the school, with 27 boarding students joining from across Alabama, several U.S. states, and countries including China, Ukraine, Brazil, and Spain (pending visa approval).

President Father Joel Martin said faculty and staff are eager to continue the school’s tradition of academic excellence and spiritual growth. This year brings several campus upgrades, including the repaving of the high school parking lot, a new entrance for the Swisher Classroom Building, and major bathroom renovations. The middle school has also returned to Founders Hall after serving as temporary monk housing during Abbey Monastery renovations.

Senior Luke Baney and his Scout troop added a new wayside shrine near the classroom building as part of his Eagle Scout project. Inspired by the Bavarian heritage of Ave Maria Grotto creator Brother Joseph Zoettl, the shrine features a crucifix mounted on a wooden pillar beneath a protective roof, with landscaping completed by the troop.

New this fall, St. Bernard will launch an in-school ACT Boot Camp for sophomores, juniors, and seniors, providing focused college entrance exam preparation during class hours.

Founded in 1891, St. Bernard Preparatory School is a co-educational, Catholic boarding and day school for grades 7–12, operated by the Benedictine monks of St. Bernard Abbey. The 800-acre campus offers a college preparatory education rooted in the belief that every student is “created for greater things.”

For more information, visit www.stbernardprep.com.