St Catharines Academy - Mercian Yearbook (New York, NY)

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SOPHCMORES In September, 1951, the doors of St. Catharine's Academy were opened once again to a group of anxious, but uncertain freshmen. We could hardly realize that a summer had changed us from silly ele- mentary scholars -to young ladies of the Academy. As we were assigned to our classrooms, we could only guess, concerning the times awaiting us. We studied entirely new and different subjects - Latin, science and algebra. initiation, Christmas, and Retreat flew by in succession and before we knew it, our first school year had come to an end. When we returned to St. Catharine's in l952, we were no longer noisy freshmen, but sophisticated sophomores. We were assigned new subiects once again - French, world history and biology. Before long, we were preparing for our Christmas play. Next year, however, we shall be looking forward to being the first juniors in the new academy. 25

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SOPHOMORES As we approach iunior year, we look back with happy memories on our first two years in our already beloved S.C.A. The first day we were a large frightened group, scared of new subjects, wonder- ing what the new world would be like. After our initiation party, we learned that the seniors weren't the orgies of which we had dreamed. Instead, they made us feel at home and happy in our new school. Many activities kept us on our toes all year, our successful part in the canned goods drive, the Christmas entertainment, and Turn Back the Melody, a musical comedy, in which we starred in the chorus and skits. After we had finished our first year Latin, and lived through twg weeks of tests and suspense, we knew we had conquered the Gauls, too, and approached the next September eager, and with high spirits. The Catholic Press Drive started the round of new activities in our sophomore year and by Thanks- giving we were well on our way to becoming successful St. Catharine's sophomores. After the traditional Christmas festivities we began practicing for another successful St. Catharine's play. Our basketball team started to warm up and before we knew it the Regents exams had arrived. During that eventful week everything was hushed while the students transferred on paper the learning they had daily stored over a long period of time. The building we had learned to love so well, we knew we must hesitatingly leave, never to return. Since spirit makes the school we are determined to bring along that same spirit which must pervade our new building. 24

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FRESHME The first few weeks of school were ones of confusion, hustle and hilarity. We walked into the school yard expecting anything. We stood in place listening, as a girl called out our names and the class to which we were assigned, silently praying we would be in the same class as our old friends. Classes were arranged and new friends made. We were sent home early the first few days to secure our books. Some of them were very large and although we didn't know anything in them, we felt very old and intellectual. During the following week we were initiated. We had plenty of fun. The seniors made us wear signs telling everyone we were freshmen. Each freshman had to bring a baby's bib, lollipop, and wear dif- ferent colored socks and one sneaker to school. Although we did look silly, it was all in the spirit of fun. At two o'clock the seniors gave us a party. Seniors are human after alll Some of the freshmen sang and danced. This was followed by the seniors singing our school song. The party was a great success. As time went on, we made new friends and discussed ways to learn to decline Latin nouns, get in each syllable in our new scientific words, and progress each day on our algebraic equations. Lunch time was a feature each day. Some felt like two lunches to satisfy an appetite sharpened by bus travel. We, the Freshman Class, are glad we came to Saint Catharine's and we hope we can live up to the superb record it has had since the school was built. 26