Mount St John Academy - Veritas Yearbook (Gladstone, NJ)

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meeting a conspiracy against the tnlsuspcarting freshies. The costumes were un- believable, the formulated dialogue to be recited at the foot of each noble Sophomore, nonsense, and our hilarity, a mixture of humor and nostalgia. Winter came swiftly and soon the Mount became a wonderland of ice and snow. With the Christmas Season came the usual round of parties. gifts and good wishes, filled with the joy or comraderie. The vacation commenced, and cries of Merry Christmas, and See you next year, rang through the halls. When classes were resumed, we returned to a different sort of world--a world of ice, encasing our school in a crystal wonder. Still the snow came a11d one cold day, we awoke to a most surprising fact . . . we were snowbound! No School Today! was the joyous shout and rusty sleds were pulled out and mittens pulled on. Soon the slopes of Mount St. John were dotted with figures sledding, making snow- men, tossing snowballs, 'til faces were ruddy and eyes bright. Ever so slowly the cold, snowy winter evolved i11to spring and quite suddenly, hirds were chirping, buds peeking and the scent of springtime brought a lethargy, a spring fever into the classrooms and halls. We soon tired of books and vaca- tion was upon us. We said Ngoodhyesi' in the wondrous anticipation of our future year as Juniors In September we returned as npperclassmen and were 5'Big Sisters to the new freshmen. Immediately we plunged into the seasonal spirit with a dance, 'gSpook Session, a ghostly affair. with witches, goblins, owls, cobwebs and, it has been re- ported, a bat who enjoyed the dance so much that he is yet perched on a rafter awaiting the return of spooky festivities. The Christmas season brought more than the usual surprises. As wc tore away the paper from a tiny box we had received, the room echoed with squeals and squeaks of joy and the longed-for blue and gold school rings were on our fingers. The high school was invaded by the juniors who were flashing rings and demanding admiration. Time passed quickly and one day in late winter, we were delighted to hear of a proposed trip to Washington, D. C. We immediately O.K.'ed it and from that time until we stood, bag and baggage in front of the U. S. Capitol building, we spoke of nothing else. The three days spent in the Nation's Capitol were among the most memorable of our lives. Together with the Seniors, we travelled over the city, inspected the most famous signs and several of lesser fame, toured the city by night, were thrilled by the simple magnificence of the Lincoln lVlemorial and inspired by the words of the greatpman in whose honor it was erected. We al- most met the President and had a lot of fun and excitement trying lo engineer that allair. We left our mark at the Willa rd llotel. formerly known as the home of Presidents. We took loads of snapshots, and wore out at least three cameras tak- ing unusual snaps of classmates unaware! We piled into the bus. wishing we could remain a bit long- er, while our more practical school- mates Hled memories and discussed with animation various nondescript materia.',

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l sf The homeward bound journey brought with it a new surprise. As we neared home, we realized that spring had arrived and with it, the realization of a dream-the Junior Prom! The next few weeks were spent in wistful anticipation, planning, worrying, decorating, hoping and praying that our Prom would be the best yet. Time passed quickly and as the Prom drew near, Fatima Hall was in a perpetual state of gleeful uproar, and certain homes about the countryside were scenes of furious battles with lace and pins, supervised by weird-looking creatures with tight pincurls and thick cold cream. At last the night arrived and the girls with whom we had mopped floors and cracked jokes emerged as story-book princesses, amid a flurry of net and talfeta, looking twice as lovely as any fairy princess. There was a magic spell in the dim lights, the soft music, and the 'strange underwater creatures had marvelous tales to tell of the unforgettable night. The following days were spent in romantic reverie that was broken only by the impending peril of Exams For once we welcomed the usually dreaded three days, for passing these tests meant the attainment of the long-sought and almost re- spected title of Seniors. The last summer passed too slowly for us. There was so much to be done, so much joy to be packed into this last year, that we feared we would never have had time to accomplish all we had planned. But, as ever, September rolled around again and we greeted each other with Hi Senior. Isn't it wonderful? Then in rapid succession we were assigned to the duties that are the honor, and sometimes the despair of every senior class. The Marshal Squad, the Yearbook Staff, and for a favored few, the Student Council. The Yearbook kept .us busy collecting ads and writing far into the night, but we welcomed the weariness with knowl- edge that we were doing something. We were showing our school spirit and creating a monument of our class to be handed down to those who came after. As seniors, we came to know the meaning of fulfillment, and while rejoicing in our coming of age, we were yet afraid. We feared the unknown, the world we would have to face, and most of all, our own weakness and inability. The Retreat seemed as an oasis of peace in a desert of uncertainty and fear. We prayed as we had never before, to know the will of God in our lives, and to find that spiritual certainty which has eluded us thus far. We returned to the harsh rea- lities of life, fortified to seek our places in the world. unafraid. Each action, this year, was performed with the realization that this was the last time and we threw ourselves with new vigor into all activities, determined to live each moment of our last year to its hilt, so as to treasure it forever. That Graduation Day is close, became more obvious each day. The name cards and graduation portraits arrived and were given out to the eager Seniors who spent the following weeks signing and giving out pictures and cards, till each could legitimately claim a case of writer's crampf' Through the practices and fitting sessions, the College Exams and the special talks ran an undercurrent of excitement and anticiption, until Sunday, June l9. dawned and High School Com- mencement, the dream of four years, hecame a fulfillment .... As we prepare to leave our Alma Mater, with a tinge of sadness and a veritable trunk- ful of precious memories, our thoughts turn to yon, dear under classmen. Our parting gift? The joys and the sorrowsg the worries and the gaietyg and, lastly, the fulfillment of those happy years. Seize them: profit by themg enjoy them to the full, so that one day, your reminiscing may hte as rich and satis- fying as ours. Lots of love, Marilyn Dolccy Editor, Veritas