St Columbkille High School - Columb Yearbook (Brighton, MA)

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H ave Recorded in making daily Visits to the Blessed Sac- rament for the recitation of the Rosary. With October came the tidings that the Sophomores, after a prescribed initiation, would be allowed to join the Kappa Lambda Alpha, the Latin Club. Mary Kenney was elected class quaestor while Mary Driscoll was chosen aedile. At each meeting held monthly, the Sophomores participated and contributed to the happy times had by all. The Sophomores were well represented on the Girlsi Debating Team with Anne D0n0van, Virginia Cusick and Mary Lit- tlefield sharing the honors which the team achieved. We also assisted in the publishing of the school paper, tlThe Ionian? Christmas vacation was now upon us, and we looked forward to the joyous holi- day season. Just as eagerly did we await our return to our respective classrooms with the realization that we were starting the last lap in the journey of another school year. On our return midayear eX- ams were held, after which we began with new vigor to prepare for the completion of the year. Inspired with great zeal, we undertook the task of purchasing a Mass Kit for a Chaplain in the Armed Forces, assisted by the Senior, Junior and Freshmen Classes. The results were most gratifying and a letter of praise was received from the priest who benefited by our gifts. The field of sports now stretched be- fore us, offering opportunities to the Sophs to play a leading part. The basket ball team began its second year as a par- ticipant in the Catholic Youth Organiza- tion League. The boys who tried for the team were Wfilliam OiLeary, Joseph McMahon, and Martin Halleran. A group of girls were then selected to be cheer- leaders. Six of our number were chosene Virginia Cusick, Mary Littlefleld, Bar- bara Calnan, Helen Flanagan, Dorothy Gaughan and Dorothy Murray. With snow white sweaters and bright green skirts as their special uniform, the girls cheered the team through a promising season. On the girls, basketball team, Kathleen OlNeill received honorable men- tion on the All-Catholic Team as a possi- ble threat to future opponents. The Sophomores who made second team were Teresa Spanbauer, Helen F lanagan, Claire Short, Mary Sigsworth, Dorothy Curley and Ellen O,Donnell. With the month of February came the Annual Spelling Bee Contest in which we were represented by Mary Driscoll as Grade Champion at Boston College High School. Red Cross activities next claimed our attention. Claver Darwin, Anne Heiser, Francis Yurt and others who as- sisted these three, received the grateful thanks of children who were bedridden in hospitals throughout the city, for the many booklets that were made to bring sunshine and gladness into their lives. A statue of the Infant of Prague was won by Billy Wright and a War Bond by Johnny Jones in a rafHe sponsored throughout the school. - The ttCall to Arms,, was an inspiring piece of work that decorated our bulletin board for the season of Lent. Everyone participated in the making of it and each by his attendance at Holy Mass watched himself advance from a lowly Buck Pri- vate to a Colonel. Anxious to help the Senior Class, we all attended their Annual Penny Sale. On May 17, the Sophomores and Fresh- man Classes held a social in the school hall-eall in attendance declared it a tre- mendous success. Soon after this the gymnasium exhibition was held. One of the features of the evenings program was an Oratorical Contest in which Virginia Cusick brought honor to her class by winning first prize for the splendid de- livery of her essay on nMary, Queen of Peace? Barbara Calnan attained second prize for her tribute to Our Lady under the title of thorning Star? Toward the end of the month the annual May pro- cession became uppermost in all our thoughts. The Sophomores were well rep- resented and again pledged devotion to their Heavenly Mother. Finally, the great battle with examina- tions loomed on the horizon, but with careful preparation and sharpening of the edges of our swords of memory, we thun- dered on to victory. Great was the re- ward: we were free once more to traverse the peaceful vale of summer. MARY DRISCOLL

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FRESHMAN YEAR Just as in the days of old the monks recorded the events of the times, so it is the duty and pleasant task of the Class Historians to delve into the archives of the past four years and register the hap- penings of the famous and illustrious Class of 1945. After receiving the blessing of our Lord in Benediction, with our minds filled with the splendid dream of success, and our imaginations 0n tire, with all living reduced to one essentialethat we were Freshmen 0n the marchewe entered the gates of Columb High on that glorious September morning in 194.1. Positive proof that we had reached our goal was the stack of books we proudly carried home each night-do or die as well as the long-awaited privileges of staying for lunch and mingling with the upper Classes. We welcomed and were welcomed by our new Superior, Sister Mary Imelda, who has given us so much valuable advice and assistance during our high school career. Welcome was also extended to Virginia Cusick, John Noonan, Lorraine MeArdle and Joseph MCArdle who joined our ranks. Immediately we plunged into hard work and continuous study,ethe only possible roads to success. Our Class was divided into two groups, the tot, group and the iiMi, groupeeach striving earn- estly to outdo the other. Before long we made the acquaintance of the famous declensions and conjuga- tions in Latin. Some of us met our Water- loo here. To others, the x in Algebra ever remained an unknown quantity. We likewise braved the tempestuous seas of English, Ancient History and General Science. We gave our whole-hearted cooperation and support to our upper classmen throughout the debating and basketball seasons hoping that our few crumbs of loyal support in school activities would eventually return a substantial loaf in our own future class projects. A Class Beano and our tireless efforts in furthering the cause of the Senior Penny Sale won for us commendation and congratulation. Thus swiftly the weeks sped byieach happier than the one before. May ar- Y our Class Historians rived! According to parish traditions, hundreds of school Children participated in the annual May procession,eheld on the twenty-fourth of the month. This participation enabled us to contribute to the honor and praise of Mary, our Queen. Examinations followed in rapid order. Though formidable in anticipation, they were not insurmountable in actuality. As a climax to our year, we then held our Freshman Class Day at which our proph- ecy, will and Class history were read. This was followed by a dancing party and re- freshments-during which we enjoyed ourselyes whole-heartedly knowing that we had at least laid a solid foundation for success in our high school career. Hardly credibleebut our Freshman Year was over! DOROTHY CURLEY SOPHOMORE YEAR The warm summer days of July and August 1942, Iiew by with amazing rapid- ity, and we found ourselves seated once more behind our desks, looking forward with eagerness to the new school year opening before us, not as Silly Freshmen, but as Sophisticated Sophomores. We welcomed to our midst Dorothy Murray, Anne Heiser, Jean Cody and Theresa Leonard. A problem now arose. Which course were we to take? Would we struggle with Caesar through his numerous campaigns or learn the intricate ways of commercial life? With our decisions made we began in earnest, and looked forward to success in our Chosen fields. Once classes were resumed time elapsed very quickly. Our special project in religion was the study of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. In order to bring the im- portance of the Mass home to us, we at- tended a special Mass said by Father Frawley at eight thirty oiclock one day each week. With his aid and the com- bined efforts of our teachers, we learned the value of Holy Mass, our greatest offer- ing to God. To lend Spiritual aid to the boys and girls in the service of their country, the Sophomores joined with the other Classes

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JUNIOR CLASS September brought us together again, eager to assume our responsibilities as Juniors. We all resolved to work with a spirit of industry and camaraderie in our various courses. From Brighton High Thelma lMCDonald nad iMary Heittman joined the ranks of Juniors. Claire Wil- liams came from Dorchester and con- tributed much to our happiness and en- joyment by her fun-loving spirit. But 4 the joy of greeting these new comers was mixed with a feeling of sadness at the departure of these members of our class who joined the armed forces. Among these were John Robinson, Robert Beggs: John Jones and Joseph Hughes. The Classicals were introduced to the mysteries and wonders of the Chemical world. Many brilliant Madame Curiels and Mendelejefjfls came into prominence during the year. We thought we were quite intelligent because we knew there were ninety-two elements, that sulphur was extracted from the earth and not from ground matches, and every time we had an ice-cream soda we consumed carbon di- oxide gas. Moreover, to make bur Chemis- try class more interesting we. became aHiliated with the Science Clubs of Amer- iea and selected for our club the fitting title lTWhirling Atomsll, although some- times we more nearly resembled Inert Solids. Joseph McMahon, a capable leader, was chosen President. The oHiee 0f Viee-President was given to Helen Burns, and Mary Driscoll was our Treasu- rer with Dorothy Curley, Secretary. Likewise the Commercial students found themselves in the midst of many new studieSeshorthand, typewriting and book- keeping. Diligently they tried to pound away at their Royal or Remington keys and at the same time look up at the chart, but although they found this feat almost impossible at the beginning of the year, by persevering effort they mastered it in the end. While in the Shorthand Class the bud- ding amanuenses wondered if they had been sent to the Greek Class by mistake. As time went on the slogan NPraetiee makes Perfectil proved true. November brought once more a series of debates for the Girls Debating Team, which had opened the season with re- The Events of Time newed vigor, delving into books and maga- zine articles concerning the Sales Tax Question. The team was ably represented by three Juniors;Virginia Cusiek, Mary Littlefield and Anne Donovan. With the exception of one tie, the team entered un- defeated into the Semi-Finals in January against Cheverus High School of Malden. Although they met defeat at this point, the girls gained much in poise and ex- perience. They demonstrated that they could be fine losers as well as humble Vic- tors. . i Twice again, Virginia Cusiek repre- sented our school most ereditably in the John Paul Jones Oratorical Contest and in the Diocesan Oratorieal Contest. The cheerful sound of Basketball prac- tice now echoed through Columbls halls. Many Junior boys and girls showed loyalty and school spirit by participating in bas- ketball activities for the ensuingr season The enthusiastic and untiring players for the girls, team were Jeanne Callahan, Nora Fitzgibbon, Lorraine MeArdle, Kathleen OlNeill, Teresa Spanbauer, and Claire Short,ewhile the boys3 team included such capable players as Joseph Dobbratz, Mar- tin Halleran, Joseph McMahon and VVil- liam O,Leary. Although Enal victory was not achieved by either team, great pro- gress and fine sportsmanship were ex- hibited throughout the season. The morale of the teams was sustained by our peppy and spirited Cheer leaders in the persons of Barbara Calnan, Virginia Cusick, Hel- en Flanagan, Dorothy Gaughan, Mary Littlefield and Dorothy Murray. To our pleasant surprise the Christmas recess began earlier than usual beginning on December fourteenth. However; many of the vacation days were not spent in an idle manner as a majority of the Juniors showed their patriotism by sharing in relieving the drastic man-power shortage in the work-a-day world. The Christmas season with its usual jovial and festive airs, alas, came to a finale and we returned to our classes with renewed vigor and an- ticipation of the Senior Prom. The Juniors had been Cordially invited to this ever popular school activity, which for the first time, was being held in mid-winter. The enjoyment of the evening far ex- ceeded all our expectations, and imbued us with the desire to make our Senior