St Johns Catholic Academy - Eagle Yearbook (Syracuse, NY)

Page 12 text:

Ten THE EAGLE CLASS HISTORY Night is falling Alma Mater,-the long day is o'er, And e'er we leave your halls of learning, Let us repeat our history o11ce more. Alma hlater, let us turn back the pages of those last four eventful years spent within your walls,-years that were filled with sun- shine and few disappointments. Yvhat a glorious feeling it was when, on September T, 192+, you accepted us in your Academic Department for the first time! How proudly we, a carefree but hopeful group, filed into the freshman class. There we were wel- comed by a most amiable teacher and we were filled with a great determination to fight the good fightv under the standard of St. John's Catholic Academy. During those first months we discovered the values of X and 'Cyn and were introduced to that science called Biology. Then Civics made its appearance, accompanied by Latin and English. After much conscientious study, we mastered these subjects and each one passed the Regent Examinations. Summer was again upon us and vacation time drew the curtain on the stage of that first year. After two months we returned to resume our studies and also to encounter our first disap- pointment. Our principal had been trans- ferred. Our anxieties were soon dispelled, however, because her successor was a teacher of most noble character and it was not long before she had won a place in our hearts. How patiently we waited for this new judge to pronounce our fate! At last the verdict was given. lve were all sophomores! It was at this time that great Roman gen- eral made his debut. Caesar came, he saw, but lve conquered after months of plodding. 1926. And almost before we realized it, we were Juniors. This year we made desperate efforts to imitate the oratorical ability of Cicero and to adopt the French tongue. This proved to be a very charming language, but we decided 'fto stick to old U. S. Af' The regular routine of study was somewhat broken during our Junior year. It was our privilege to entertain the Seniors at various parties. Of these the farewell banquet proved the most momentous because, although it meant au revoir for the Seniors, it filled us with greater anticipation for the coming year. Three years had now passed and in the fall of 1927 St. John's re-opened her doors to the class of '28. VVhat changes time can make! Contrast this body of students with that care- free group of '24, Diligent study, careful training and the persevering attention of our loving teachers had changed us to stately, seri- ous-minded Seniors. This was a most eventful year. The selec- tion of our class rings was our first thrill and next to this perhaps was the editing of our Year Book. Incidentally this is the opportune time to narrate that too much cannot be writ- ten about the Juniors who entertained us most royally in the way of banquets and parties. The last, but by no means the least, touch of enjoyment was our Senior Dance, held in the Knights of Columbus ballroom on April 27. Here we close our book of Fond llemories Here each member of the class of 1928 takes up new and individual volume whose pages are still unwritten. And now our Alma Blater sends us forth bearing the seal that closes each high school course and imbued with a spirit of confidence and security, reverence and love. virtues which have been woven into our lives by our beloved teachers. It is our ardent hope that future graduates, in their turn, may add new splendor and life to St. John's and hand down to her, achievements greater and richer than those which we leave today. BIAVRICE P. BIORIARTY, 7 Class Historian.

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THE EAGLE Nine W ll gi n 5 Q er -cg? ' L ' A.'.'.'.',lfQ fy.. nv . Flin, ST. JOHN'S CATHOLIC ACADEMY On either side of the stone steps leading into St. John's Catholic Academy can be seen in bold relief the numbers 1882. YVhat does this date signify? Let us go back in retrospect and see that day in eighteen hundred and eighty-two on which the corner stone of this building was laid. Father Guerdet was then the pastor of St. John's Church! the diocese of Syracuse was not yet formed. Perchance to some of those present on that day, a vision of the succeeding years may have been given. The following year saw the building com- pleted, saw the teachers, the Sisters of St. Joseph, saw the first pupils, entering the portals of St. John,s Academy. How many pupils since that first day have entered its doors? How many, having received the honors of the school, have continued their studies in higher institutions of learningg how many dis- tinguished citizens of Church and State have trodden the halls of this same St. John's? Can the inHuence of this Academy, one of the oldest Catholic schools in the city, be measured? Probably notfyet its students of almost half a century, given a Catholic educa- tion, lnust have left their impress on the com- munity in which they have lived. Truly these students realize fully the debt of gratitude they owe to those teachers, who con- secrating their lives to the glory of God, have taught them the real duty of Christian youth. For no artist ever had a vocation so noble, so blessed as he who moulds the youthful soul. God continually calls unto Himself, the saintly ones whom He has chosen to do His work. Yet time will never erase the memory of those who led these scholars to the home of a Chris- tian education. VVe, the class of '28, trained in principles of honor and love, principles which like a fan on smoldering embers of a iire, have ever kept alive in us the spirit of Christian youth, are enabled to have a greater devotion to the institutions and ideals of God and of Country. RAYMOND H. BILLS.

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THE EAGLE Eleven BL E A D SILVER Blue and Silver have been selected as the school colors of St. Johnls. The Class of ,28, realizing the significance of this choice, is eager to impart to the reader what these colors really mean. Blue signifies sincerity, fidelity, loyalty and Chastity. Silver is symbolic of innocence, humility and worth. Fidelity to the ideals of God a11d country, loyalty to our school, our teachers, our old friends and classmates, purity in our words and actionsg sincerity in our life,s work and in our intercourse with others- these are the qualities set forth by the beautiful color, blue. Our other color, silver is emblem- atic of innocence of dishonest affairs, humility in word and deed and the worth that con- tributes to modern progress. Surely these colors portray the character- istics desired by the members of the Class of 528. They are colors worthy of adorning our Senior Banner. lvho of us can look at that banner, without being proud of its glorious folds?p lvho can gaze upon it without desir- ing higher ideals? YVho, on beholding it, is not moved to greater loyalty to our dear Alma lllater? Our banner is a thing of beauty, in itself as well as in its symbolic meaning. On a back- ground of blue, the silver lettering stands forth prominently. Every thread in this material is stained with significance. Its meaning is sim- ilar to that of our colors, but a little more pro- nounced. The blue field shows the sincerity and honor, to which we have pledged ourselves, virtues which we hope will remain with us after our school life. The silver letters HS. J. C. Af, show the innocence and humility which we have tried to retain during our short years of school life at St. John's. Colors and letters gleaming overhead will make our banner a standard to be cherished and long remembered by each graduate who, after four years of diligent, study, leaves St. Johnls, his school of learning. FLORENCE YVHELAN. 'J E' if '1 55555 . - ' . fs:-.ails ' -:sys-ein xg' ,Q 'ti-I 121- f, :- - 4 . f V' 7:51 5,1 1 , iii?