St George Academy - Crusader Yearbook (New York, NY)

Page 16 text:

GISIOI' GCQQQGC IDIS The timid freshman was now entering a higher form of learning. As he walked into St. George Academy the thoughts which he had wrongly but wishfully entertained' during the sunmer vacation were shattered and the colossal building, with long twisting corridors, marble floorings, and golden doorknobs was once more little St. George. Freshman year was one of trials. Each and every student would shake and shiver when the Mighty marine would walk the lunch room. All dreaded science during which test tubes were smashed to smithereens and the evil castigated. And we can never forget Latin when Caesar's best, Mr. Matthews, preached his doc- trin of hic, haec, hoc by the sword. In order to alleviate the surpressed freshman, basketball was introduced. A team was organized under the leadership of Mr. Pitt, but it was not permitted to participate in league games because of inexperi- ance and lack of facilities. The yard was converted into a semi-basketball court and some of the best but bloodiest games were held there. Intramurals were held and of course, without a doubt, the crusaders took first. Surrmer came and we were glad to be out of the lowest form of high school life. In sophrnore year our attention began to sway away from our studies and toward those activities, legal or otherwise, which suited our fancy. Basketball, boxing, ping-pong, track, indoor swinming, dramatics and language clubs were sponsored, while others such as indoor football, wrestling, board-eraser battles, heckling, desk designing and the like were prohibited. Among the outstanding legitimate activities, basketball and dramatics ranked tops. The dramatic club or the Thespians was known for its superb acting ability and humorous presentation. The basketball team was known for similar reasons? Regardless of the faith of the basketball team, they deserve endless admiration and praise not only because they were our team, but also because they were true Crusaders. They never quit, they never slowed down, they always fought, the dragon. Also held in the sophmore year, were the extremely successful social affairs. Father and Son Nights, which featured boxing, wrestling, and movies, left every one delighted. A good time was had by all at the Sports- Night except for the hecklers who folmd themselves outwitted by the comedians. Before we realized it another school year had flown by and we weren't sorry either. On arriving at school in September, we were a little more alert. We had become aware that by study alone could we avoid the horror of failure. So study we did. In history we were taught world relations and were introduced to term papers and research. In time we learned that improper diction was a sign of ignor- ance andanimpediment to social and business achievements. Thus we studied so as not to have our wrists slapped . Biology would have been very interesting were it not that it preceded lunch. The dissecting of frogs did not exactly provoke our appetite. With the use of Coca-Cola bottles, as examples, we learned how to solve problems in Math. A good many of us, however, did not pass the regents because the questions did not involve cokes. In religion not one of us was dubbed gentlemen because of the fact that it was slightly beyond our capacity to memorize every definition word for word. But junior year was not all studies, there were also recreations and organizations. In junior year the first Student Council was established. Although it had trying times before it was well underway, it man- aged to secure a smoking lounge for the seniors and gave the Crusaders the necessary experience on sucl Drocedures.

Page 15 text:

MH. THOMAS DALY MB. L. ROLAND GENISE B.A., Cand.M.A., B-S-, Bklyn College Fordham University CaIld.M.A. , U. MB. MICHAEL P. STARRS MR. MICHAEL CIOFFI B.S., St.Francis Xavier B.A.g Brooklyn College Mntigonish, Nova Scotial M.A., N.Y.U. M.A., St.John's University

Page 17 text:

The school newspaper, The Georgian, was reorganized and performed a worthy service in supplying the news of the school, such as the outcome of sports events, club accomplishments and other things which were of particular interest. When spring arrived, the first St. George Academy baseball team was formed. It played against some of the stiffest opposition and acquired the sufficient know how' ' so that the following year it was able to defeat some of the best teams in the league and bring honor to St. George Academy. Then came June, the time of reckoning, and vacation. Finally we were intellectuals of the highest type or better, sophisted seniors. Do you remember arainy morning one September when the doors of St. George Academy opened to admit its sumner weary students? This was to be the last year spent together by the class of '51, after which they were to be far apart, some to continue their education, some to seek employment and others to serve their country. And when they were finished, and out in the competitive world they would try to remember the place which they so often tried to forget. They would relive in their imagination things, which, when they nad occurred, seemed unimportant and these things would bring them joy. They would recall Shakespeare and the way they murdered his works, chemistry and the smell of rotten eggs, lunch and the smoking lounge, religion with Father Paschak leaning over the desk explaining agnostics, history and the Daly hour reci- tation, Spanish and Hasta la Vista , they would remember the boat ride, the junior hop and the girls they took home, the Prom, their first big night, and the Christmas party, the smokers, the Student Coun- cil, the year book, the faculty, the Fathers and their friends. And now, having received their instructions, each stood alone encircled by an infinite desert of life They were told to.go forth: sometimes the heat would become intense. At times they would fall. They would. be tempted by luring mirages, but they were well trained and they would not fail. j J l5Af!--i