School Photo
Our Lady of Bethlehem Convent in Columbus was founded by the Sisters of the Poor Child Jesus on its current site on November 23, 1956. The school was also scheduled to open that fall, but bad weather intervened and the opening was delayed. On April 1, 1957, the Kindergarten at Our Lady of Bethlehem School opened. Sister Mary Catherine taught the first Kindergarten classes. Later, Pre-Kindergarten classes for four year olds were added. 
 
In 1972, Sister Mary Thomasina John, P.C.J., came to Columbus from West Virginia to oversee the school and teach half-day Kindergarten classes. She taught the Kindergarten classes for 23 years. Sister Frances Teresa Holzberger, P.C.J., Head Provincial of the North American Sisters of the Poor Child Jesus, came to live at Our Lady of Bethlehem in 1972. In 1981, she organized the school to obtain its state charter through the Ohio Department of Education; she then became principal. In 1986, Sister Mary Innocentia, P.C.J., opened a child care center at the school. 
 
In 1994, the first lay principal was hired to oversee the school, and Sister Frances Teresa became the School Board President. To date, many changes have occurred since the school first opened in 1957. Our Lady of Bethlehem now provides Preschool, Pre-Kindergarten, half and full-day Kindergarten, First, Second and Third Grades. The Childcare provides care for children on all of these levels and at the 2 ½ year-old level.
 
Since its founding, the Sisters and staff at Our Lady of Bethlehem have helped begin the education of thousands of central Ohio children. The staff of Our Lady of Bethlehem School and Childcare is most proud to be a part of the Sisters’ history. We are happy to welcome the general public, local parishioners, alumni, parents and friends to the school.
 
 
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine upon us,
that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.
Psalm 67:1-2