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

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A Scene Two--- Our Sophomore Year We came hack in September as experienced Sophomores and looked in pity at the poor bewildered Freshmen, wondering, Were we ever like tl1at?,'Besides the new Freshmen.there were other newcomers we had to meet. Four members of the faculty: Father Jude, Sister Lucy, Sister Juliana, and Sister Magdalen joined us in September, 1953. Being the largest, noisiest class, we gave the Freshmen sufficient reason for fear when we announced the dreaded initiation. But looking back, we were really thoughtful. Not forgetting the angiush we felt at the no lipstick rule, we let the Freshies wear all the lipstick they wanted. In fact, we made them cover their faces with it, then sat back and laughed at the products of our creative imaginations during those two days. During October the Congreation of the Sisters of St. John the Baptist celebrated its 75th anniversary. On October 17, Bishop James McNulty celebrated a Pontifical High Mass in which the High School Choir participated. Later that day, after dinner, the Glee Club gave a concert in honor of the Bishop. At Halloween the Juniors gave the first dance of the year, the Spook Session. Besides this dance, we also went to a Student Council Winter Wonderland and a Senior Valentine Dance . Christmas finally came, Maddy Oppel drew Cherubs galore. We de- corated our room as the Sophomore heaven. We had angels on the win- phere at St. J 0seph's. elassmen. . -, gg.. ,t .131 M: . i as-Jae, + .W Ll practice were really worth it! , -1 , R 4 -- . - , 11- ' :Ji Ag' gi- .1 ' . Q,W,.,ggi,, J... in Q .sm . . ., gg! . 4. N ' we . s Q , . .. 58 1 ,V 'il' 'lsfi' , S f .r I ' Engng NR. : v, , N .. 'L . , , fa 3, . .J . -1 EHS :'. -t i Qi -rv W f, 'i cs , .1 ij 1 . w ' -L 1 ' serie '1' i..r-5- ' 1 -wa. . .. .. 3 as W U -1 ga ff ff .. ,, , f af. .., .g , K ,, ,ls 1 -as i R. 2 'e'- K -V Ewa ix . ! , - , I ,Q 2 - , .Y g .. 4.5, il fi it .S Z use are .4 is 21. ,. , 3 f ii- V X lv f u srl 1 ' ii isnt a i NIS ii: 5 dows, on the blackboard and on the bulletin board. The day before vacation we had a private party, after which we proceeded solemnly around the school, treating everyone to our melodious caroling. After Christmas we returned full of New Year's resolutions We would faithfully do our work, be quiet, obey rules and, in general be just like our Christmas angels. But this lasted only until after exams when we returned to our normal noisy selves. ' In February of our Sophomore year we began the custom of having First Friday Mass in School. That afternoon we all left for our first closed retreat at St. J oseph's Villa. We were rather awed by St. Joseph s at first, but gradually settled down to the quiet and peaceful routine of the retreat under Reverend Francis Drolet S.J. As the retreat ended with banana splits and soda, we were all sorry to leave the comforting atmos Strains of Gilbert and Sullivan echoed through the hills as we pre pared for The Gondoliersf' Sr. Mary Louise practiced with us for weeks during school practice periods and after school. We sang, picked flowers marched and sang some more. Finally we were ready, and even though most of us had stage fright, the operetta was a success. All the hours of All the talk of dances and parties came to a climax in May when the Juniors had their Prom. The Sunday after the Prom the Glee Club had their annual concert in an auditorium decorated for the Prom. Soon school ended and at graduation time we were real pp ,fit J ff

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Scene One- - - Our Freshman Year g No one can look as young and frightened as new Freshmen. But us! We were exceptional Fresh- men. We arrived at St. John's secretely bewildered, but we could not admit that to anyone. We valiantly showed the rest of the world the very confident and sophisticated demeanor of our whole 14 years. We were ready to face anything and everything. We quickly became accustomed to the uniforms and saddle shoes. We even learned to obey the marshals as we walked around the hall. But there was one rule that took a little longer to get used to: N0 LIPSTICK. Why, most of us had received the privilege of wearing lipstick only recently, and now it was being taken away. Oh well, for the honor of M.S.J.A. .... After we had begin to think of ourselves as almost permanent fixtures, the Sophomores decided to initiate us. We had heard about initiation since the first day of school, but we still had no idea what it would be like.When the Sophomores finally told us we had to come to school with blackened faces, two different shoes and socks and the horrible outfits, we were agahst. Suppose someone sees us! What would he think? All of our new found dignity as High School Freshmen was imperiled. But, we decided it would be exciting, so weicntered into the fun with all possible zest. After initiation, we newly recognized Freshmen settled down to our studies. Algebra and Latin were different from anything we had had before! Venimus, vidimus, sed non vicimus. Halloween meant party time. After stuffing our- selves at a party the Sophomores gave us, we went to our .the year. first High School dance, a masquerade given by the Juniors. As winter began and Christmas approached, we practiced the carols we were to sing at the Christmas Play. It was the first of the many times we would don the long choir gowns and give a concert. The week before Christmas brought another experience, new for most of us. Father Finley C.S.P. conducted our three day retreat. Would we ever be able to keep silent for three days? We did, and because of our retreat we experienced a happier Christmas than ever before. We returned from our joyful Christmas vacation only to be faced with the horrible thought of January exams. How the midnight oil burned those last nights! We astounded ourselves and others by the amount of studying we did, only to discover how little we knew. Soon after the exams, Lent came, bringing with it the practice for the Passion Play. On Passion Sunday, we in- vited all our parents and friends to come see the talent which the Freshies added to the Upper Room. In May we gave our first Spring Concert. For weeks we practiced singing. How would we ever memorize the words and keep the harmony harmonious? Finally the day came when we pressed our maroon gowns and then I marched in and let the world hear our singing. May also meant Junior Prom. We helped the Juniors decorate, drawing monkeys in art class, and then putting up palm trees in the auditorium. The night before the Prom, the P.T.A. held a Fashion Show in which we modeled. Would the wonders of High School ever cease! The following night, some of us put on our gowns for the big night of May was over, and it was June. We began preparing for the Seniors' graduation, the first High School graduation at M.S.J.A. It was hard to realize that the beloved Seniors were leaving and that the Last of the Pioneers were now Sophomores.

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Scene Three- - - Our ,Junior Year g At Last! After threshing over in our minds the fact of finally being Juniors, we immediately began the year by having a class meeting con- cerning our Prom only 8 months away! Facing our financial problems, our first concrete action was appointing the bakers for a cake sale. By the end of the first cake sale we had our Prom arranged and the decor- ations decided. The Autumn Frolic was held at Halloween and saw our Lise crowned Queen. That was our first excitement, to he closely followed by a one act play in honor of the Marian Year, in which a few of us had leading roles. The most united class in the high school, we were accused of pos- sessing a one track mind. Of course our thoughts didn't dwell completely on the Promg we had our rings for diversion. When Christmas came around we literally squealed with delight at our new badges of dignity. However, there was nothing dignified in our ostentatious display of them. After our vacation we returned to begin preparations for the first dance we held. Modern Daze proved that our creative and artistic abilities had not decreased since our Freshman year, and we were so fired by our success that we began our decorations for the Prom. In the meantime, as soothing balm to our aches and worries, came our Retreat. It came, and went, leaving a mark on our frenzied souls, making us think, plan, and hope. they had dreamed of. our exams and were at last SENIORS. May 21 approached very quickly. F lnally our long awaited Prom was here. For weeks we secretely planned, designed, wrote letters and visited lumber companies. We drew up plans for our arbor and then made roses to put on it. It seemed that we made thou sands of roses, but we could have used twice the num ber produced. Saturday morning dawned a warm sun ny day, and we were all very joyful. That same day some of us took College Boards, but at night very happy Juniors gathered with their escorts for the night It was only a fleeting moment from our Prom to graduation and the realization dawned: we had passed