Throughout our years at FSHA, we’ve all made countless friendships on the Hill. But there’s a special group of girls at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy who have shared a bond since kindergarten.
They’re known as the St. Bede Eight and they originally met in first grade at St. Bede the Vulnerable in the fall of 2011. Remarkably, they’ve been together ever since. Their names: Mari Owen, Anaiis Calderon, Adalina Van Dyke, Abby Richert, Emma Okland, Audrey Pernacky, Emma Gorde, and Patricia Tomasulo.
After twelve incredible years as classmates and friends, the final chapter of their journey is quickly reaching its conclusion.
Reflecting on the many memories they made together through the years, Anaiis Calderonoften thinks about the annual St. Bede parish birthday parties.
“Every year the parish birthday was something all the students would look forward to. Regardless of your grade it was a fun time to get together and have fun within the church community. We played games like cornhole, and there was a mechanical bull which was my favorite,” said Anaiis.
Adelina Van Dyck, one of four siblings and the oldest in her family, naturally serves as a role model to her younger siblings. Her time at St Bede has also shaped her connection with her peers, something she reflects on fondly.
“Overall I would say how close each girl got to each other after spending so many years watching each other grow up,” said Adelina.
One of her favorite memories at St. Bede was going on adventures with her Girl Scout troop, made up entirely of her St. Bede classmates.
“We had sleepovers together, went camping in Big Bear, and walked across the Golden Gate Bridge together after receiving our Bronze award as a team,” said Adelina.
Another standout aspect of St. Bede is its exceptional sports program, which helps prepare students for success in high school athletics. Adelina Van Dyck, Abby Richert, Mari Owen, and Patricia Tomasulo are all standout runners who have represented FSHA’s Cross Country team the past four years. They developed their running prowess together at St. Bede.
“Cross country at St. Bede was so much fun. On Fridays, we’d head straight from school to Hahamongna Park and run different trails together as a team,” said Mari.
St. Bede also took part in semi-annual meets, where they competed against other cross-country teams. Abby Reichert described the events as “exciting.”
“After training together for weeks, we were always both nervous and excited when the meets came around. It was that good kind of nervous, and we usually ended up doing really well,” said Abby.
Patricia Tomasula ’25 who not only ran cross country but also played volleyball here at FSHA, learned a lot about teamwork, athleticism, and sportsmanship from the athletics program St Bede offers.
Patricia recalled her middle school years playing sports with friends at St. Bede, calling it “a great team-building experience.”
“Playing volleyball helped me bond with girls from other grades and really taught me how to be part of a team,” said Patricia.
In addition to its impressive athletics, St. Bede’s is known for its strong religious foundation. Every Tuesday, the entire school would gather as a community to celebrate mass. For students like Audrey Pernecky and Emma Okland, these moments became treasured memories—especially sitting beside their best friends and serving together during the liturgy.
“I remember in first grade, our whole class would go up to the altar and bow together,” Emma recalled. “Now when I attend Mass and see the younger classes doing the same, it’s really sweet to reflect on how I was once that little, surrounded by all my friends.”
As for Audrey Pernecky, her connection to religion was recognized and she was awarded recently with the Christian Service Award in March 2025.
“St. Bede had a big impact on me personally,” she said. “It helped me build a deep connection with my faith, and I’m truly grateful for the guidance it’s given me over the years.”
Emma Gordo says she will be forever grateful for the connections and friendships she made with her fellow Day Ones.
“St Bede left such a positive impact on me personally and academically. I learned so many things that I will carry with me throughout my future, and I truly made some of my closest lifelong friends,” said Emma.
Sadly, none of the St. Bede Eight will be attending college together, so their remarkable 12 year journey together will end on June 1st, when they graduate from FSHA.
But just because they won’t see each other every day at school, doesn’t mean their friendship won’t last a lifetime.
