Saint Benedicts Academy - Benedicta Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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I i morning in four Chapel. Our annual retreat which we awaited eagerly was con- ducted by Ryev. Edwin Heyl. Excitement prevailed in the classroom as we antici- pated the coming of the annual Mother's Day celebration, which included the drama of thie Mass, the devotional exercises at the Grotto, the presentation of Pearls, and a delicious luncheon served by the seniors. . 1941-1942 JUNIOR President-RUTH M1-IYERL Secretary-MARcm.LA THANHR Vice President-1-MARY JEAN STEFFL TTCHSUTZT-MARKSIE BRUNNI-IR Graciously we opened the school door and stepped over the threshold of Junior- dom. We now took upon ourselves the glory and problems of upper-classmen. We had as our home room teacher, Sister Gertrude, whose sunny disposition and kindness inspired us to do bigger and better things. Our first social was a military dance held at Saint Boniface. We drew a large gathering and received many compliments on our excellent arrangement. This year also saw the birth of various clubs: the Debating Club with Sister Perpetua as sponsor, the Magic Carpet His- tory Club with Sister Dorothea as Aladdin, the Sewing Club, the pride and joy of Sister Gertrude, and the Science Club was renewed with zeal under the capable supervision of Sister Pauline. Our annual retreat was conducted by Rev. Romuald Walsh, O.P. During this period of our High School career we received the long anticipated treasure, our class rings. We again came into the public spotlight with Honest Peggy, Miss Burnett, and The Ghost in the Green Gown. These plays were niet with hearty enthusiasm. A second time our class was chosen as the garden from1which God plucked a lily from the soil of love, Eleene Walsh. Our hearts were pierced deeply with the sword of sorrow as we searched in vain the classroom, the halls, etc., for a glimpse of the familiar figure of her whom we all loved. We were guests of District Attorney Russell Adams and Judge McNaughterg we also witnessed a court trial which filled us with a new love and appreciation for our American Democracy. The third chapter of our High School life was climaxed by the Senior's prom held at the Highland Country Club. Amid mag- nificent surroundings, gaiety, and beautiful gowns came the melodious magic of Joey Simms and his orchestra and the close of our junior Year. p 19424943 SENIOR President-JEAN! PIROTH Secretary-MARY JEAN STEFFL Vice President-kMARcARE'r CHEET1-IAM TTCHSUTCT-MARYROSE WEBER SENIORSLSENIORS! How we envied that title three short years ago! Today we realize that we are not to be envied by the Freshman for we know that instead of the beginning of this oasis of pleasure in our school life, we are coming, all too soon, to its close. Mfith Sister Regina, we planned and enjoyed many pleasant affairs: the skating party held at West View Park, the Hallowe'en Barn Dance held in the social hall which was cleverly decorated, our Valentine dance appro- priately calletl the Heart Hop, the annual week of prayer and self scrutiny under the direction of Rev. E. Heyl, the thrill of having our pictures taken, plan- ning and editing our Yearbook, choosing our Class Play, the last minute suspense before the curtain rises, the queer feeling at our throats during our Last Assembly, the realizatioh of graduation and our honest pride when handed our diplomas. The Class of V43 journeying through St. Benedict Academy, has learned to love The Castle on the Hill, and now as we are about to leave as students we wish our faculty, the students, the many friends we made at school a fond ADIEU. A Mary Grace McCarter l

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f Q f fi lly ' The Years Thctt Were 1939-1940 F R E S H M A N Presidente-BERN1cl-L KIM Secretary-MARY JEAN S'l'l-1FFl. Vice PTE.dd61lt-ALMA HOHMAN Treasurer-RUTH MEYERL Th sun, refreshed from its rest smiled down upon forty-five timid girls as they st' ted up the seemingly unending hill towards St. Benedict Academy. The older g'rls, sensing their nervous tension, chatted gaily with them all the way up the ce CHL walk. As we entered the red brick edifice we were met by smiling nuns w o spoke encouragingly to us. Their cheery words dispelled our fears and we bre' thed a sigh of relief. We were next ushered to our home rooms and intro- duced our home room teachers, Sisters Perpetua and Pauline. Being the first excepti nally large class in the history of St. Benedict's, we were placed into two groups but this division did not separate us in spirit. WVe really felt grown up when actually bragged to our parents and friends that we were studying Latin, Algebr , and General Science. We had a delightful wiener roast on the campus in late eptember, after which we filled the air with melody and song. Exhausted after a hilarious treasure hunt, we dropped on a velvet rug of soft grass under huge s reading oaks and sang and told stories. Then followed the Hallowe'en Party ld by the Sophomores in the Social Hall during which time we were ini- tiated. n St. Patricks Day we presented a playlet to the student body. Due to circum tances beyond our control we were unable to secure a statue of Saint Patrick but we substituted an image of St. joseph and nonchalantly explained our di iculty to St. Patrick. Both he and Saint joseph understood our situation, since n ither complained. Later we made our Theatrical Debut to the public by pre angel of our in our the res of a re solemn Rev. j Freshi School Pres iden V ice Pre As classro happi home Ghost pleasu It was caliber nting a play entitled My Cousin from Sweden. One day a beautiful vered in our midst and selected as her companion Marian Gimber, one lassmates, for her trip back to Heaven. Marian's absence left an emptiness earts as well as in the classroom. Her vacant desk was never occupied for of the year. This year also brought to us a facsimile of Heaven in the form reat. We discarded our cloaks of gaiety and giddiness for the garment of ty and dignity as we retreated back to God under the devout guidance of mes O'D. Hanlon. Before we realized it, we were no longer Frightcned but Studious Sophomores. Thus ended the first chapter of our High life. 1940-1941 S O P H O M O R E --JEAN Pmoru Secretary-M. GRACE MCCARTLR ident-RUTH GANZ TTEUSUTCT-ADELAIDE BUECHELE ophomores we felt more secure. One could not help upon entering our m to notice the smiles on the girls' faces. lt was a true reflection of the ss in our hearts when we started another year with Sister Perpetua as our oom teacher. The two big events of the year were the plays entitled, A f Deep Dean, for Hallowe'en, and Pearls for Mother's Day. YVe had the of welcoming a new member to the faculty, Rev. Charles Wiesmann. ith pride and appreciation that the students welcomed a priest of his to our teaching staff. We were now privileged to hear Mass every Tuesday

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SNAPS . . . Past and Present