St Bernards High School - Bernardian Yearbook (Fitchburg, MA)

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The class of ’61 entered SBHS with an enrollment of 238, and was assigned to portable rooms, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45. English and Algebra were required subjects for all, with Latin, History, Economic Geography, and General Science, as electives. The class made a fine showing in the Diocesan Declama- tion contest, with thirty-three persevering to the end. James Connors and Sara Mansfield were chosen to repre- sent the school in the freshman-sophomore division at the semi-finals in Worcester. Jean Cormier and Jacqueline Sherwin were selected from among the- twenty-seven freshmen who tried out for cheerleading, September 9. Sandra Lehto, violinist, joins the school orchestra. Claudia LeBlanc and Ann Reddy make the all-school play, “Success Story.” Milton Morin, Dennis Kurasowicz, and Ray Girouard make the varsity football team. Ann Reddy is elected secretary of the Booster Club and Kathleen Carney, on the rally and dance committee, in preparation for the November 1 rally at Bowl and the SBHS-FHS game. Sandra Leger and Suzanne Leger receive NOMA cer- tificates for excellence in spelling. Denise Normandin, Patricia O'Sullivan, Colleen Trudel, and Jane Wironen join the Sodality of Mary. Barbara Bourque, Jean Cormier, Anne DeCosta, Jeanne Dextraze, Christine Ethier, Kathleen Carney, Jane Comeau, Janice Dupuis, Jane Enright, Catherine Flynn, Jacqueline Frye, Bettina Mittola, Kathleen O'Connell take part in the Christmas program. Jean Cormier, Cecile Dauphinais, Jane Enright, Patricia McHugh, Kathleen Pliska, Mary Ann Small write for the school paper—The Blue and Gold. The following is taken from an early issue in which Mary Ann expresses her own individual experience as a frosh: Everyone has heard of a poor little rich girl, But how many know about the tall Small girl ? Ever since I can remember there has been some Confusion with my name and size; but it has Reached its peak, since entering high school. At the beginning of school, it was very amusing To watch the different Sisters focus attention On some petite girl like Suzanne Leger to answer To the call of Mary Anne Small. But how astonished everyone was when I raised My five-foot-eight frame in answer to the name. Then there was the day, I heard someone say, “We need someone small.’’ Of course, I decided That I was the one they wanted, so volunteered— But I never became the little angel in the play. So upperclassmen, when you look over the names Of the frosh, you may think that Susan is Earley, Janet is Swift, and Ann will certainly be Reddy, But never think that Mary Anne will be Small. S98 inet Ne ar nope ee ba THE LITURGICAL C see eaeetst tt: lla : | Ae | {

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St. Bernard, the patron saint of SBHS, is a classic ex- ample of a man who found his life by losing it. As a young man, he gave up all his cherished ambitions of making a great name for himself in the world, to bury himself in a poor and obscure monastery, where it would seem, he would never be heard of again. But through this very act of heroic surrender and generosity, he achieved fame and influence that have endured for over 800 years. Bernard was born in 1090 in Burgundy. Even today, something of the past lingers in this fertile countryside with rich fields and vineyards. Approaching Dijon now, the towers of the Chateau of Fontaines are seen above the fruit trees and on a clear day the great crest of Mt. Blanc. Nothing authentic remains of the castle of Bernard’s father; but the view with Mt. Blanc in the distance would not have changed. His father had the reputation of being a brave and honorable knight. Through his mother, Aleth, he was con- nected with many of the noble families in Burgundy. She was a woman of strong character, who without neglecting her duty to her husband and her seven children, devoted all the time she could to her religious devotions and the poor. Stunned at the unexpected death of his mother, Bernard declared his intention of becoming a monk at Citeaux, a poor monastery in an unwholesome swamp. To his family, this was a wicked waste of his brilliant talents. At length, Bernard gave way, agreeing to go to Germany to finish his literary studies. It was autumn when Bernard set out to say goodbye to his brothers in camp. The leaves along the road had begun to turn and the rhythm of his horse’s hoofs set Bernard thinking. He began to wonder what his mother would think about his changed plans. He seemed to see her looking at him sorrowfully. Entering a small chapel near- by, a sharp fight with himself took place. Before leaving, he determined to do what his mother expected of him. Bernard persuaded, not only his brothers, but also many of his friends, about thirty in all, to join him in the austere life at Citeaux. In 1115, Bernard, with twelve monks, set out to select a site for a new monastery of which he was to be the abbot. During the months before the newly cultivated land had begun to yield, the monks often had nothing to eat except .what they could find in the woods. Every time that the end seemed to have come, Bernard prayed and the way opened up far enough for the next step. For the last forty years of his life, Bernard dominated the whole Church. He counsélled and fearlessly rebuked popes -and kings, upheld the cause of the poor, and made- peace between warring armies. He was unsurpassed as preacher, writer, diplomat, and statesman.

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Freshman Student Councillors a Nancy Belliveau Catherine Flynn Barbara Bourque Paul Hanno Robert Burns Robert Nowd Edward Culley Joyce Saucier Richard Ferrera Colleen Trudel DIOCESAN DECLAMATION DECLAIMERS Irene Belliveau Sandra Leger Ann Caisse Sara Mansfield Gail Cancelliari Margaret McFarlane Kathleen Carney Barbara McGuirk James Connors Milton Morin Helen Ducharme Joseph Murphy Susan Earley Patricia O'Sullivan Jane Enright Kathleen Pliska Carol Ethier Janice Poirier Sheila Gorham Catherine Shea Beatrice Kasper Mary Ann Small Carol Kinsella Colleen Trudel Janet Kwiatkoski Janet Swift Annette Lamothe Carol Veasey Jane Wironen =) “hi og YU Joyce Saucier, winner of the girls’ championship in her division at the International Federation of Bow and Arrow. Reporting at the gym on December 4 for basketball practice, coached by Richard Mc- Namara, were frosh: Fred Bacon Raymond Girouard Richard Bussiere Dennis Holman James Connors Dennis Kurasowicz Ronald Cormier Paul Mattila Edward Culley Milton Morin Richard Ferrera Joseph Murphy Robert Nowd Taking third place in the newly formed area league for frosh teams, the young Bernies closed the season with a 7-3 record. They topped intra- city rivals Notre Dame and FHS. In the special triple games with St. John’s Prep, the frosh squad was the sole victor for SBHS. In the individ- ual scoring, Ronald Cormier took the lead, hooping 117 points: Dennis Kurasowicz was second with 108 points,