St Sebastians School - Arrow Yearbook (Newton, MA)

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THE ATHLETE OF CHRIST T PAULYS many comparisons of the Christian man to an Athlete S of Christ must have taken deep root in the heart of Sebastian, the Soldier Saint who is the Patron of our School. Seen through the eyes of the Apostle of the Gentiles, life here on earth took on for the young Roman the aspect of an athletic contest in which the wily adversary to be defeated is the Prince of Darkness. Since the foe is so cunning and the struggle so fierce, the individual Athlete of Christ must be instructed and disciplined in mind and in body before he can be permitted to come to grips with his Satanic enemy. In his preliminary training for the life-long battle, the young Christian must have his mind sharpened and enriched with both natural and supernatural truths so that in the combat of life he may detect all the craft of his opponent, at the same time his physical prowess must be developed and disciplined to the end that it may not be a source of weakness in the Athlete when'the fray is at its height. Our four years at St. Sebastian's have been spent as Athletes of Christ, training in mind and body for the contest of life that lies ahead of us. In this preparatory period we have had our School for a Training Ground wherein the Faculty, acting as Mentors, have instructed and trained us together with our Fellow Students, our Companions-in-Arms, both in the Classroom and on the Athletic Field, which may be termed the Proving Ground. Fortunately, too, the Athletes of other Days, the School's Alumni, have served as an inspiration and example to us. In view of the evident fpropriety of these applications it has seemed good to us to take or the theme ofthe 1946 Arrow , The Athlete of Christ. Fx MAX - F XV

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QUR LADY OF ST. SEBAs'1'1AN's

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THE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL IDEAL AT ST. SEBASTIAN'S The Country Day school idea first found tangible expression on Nonantum Hill in Newton in 1907. At that time Mr. Shirley K. Kerns established the first Country Day school on the site now occupied by St. Sebastian's Country Day School. The plan devised by him at that time has been followed very closely in the many schools which have adopted the Country Day ideal since the Country Day School was founded. At the time, Mr.Kerns expressed the main point involved in his new venture in this Way: i'The working plan which it is proposed to adopt is modelled on that of the best boarding schools, the intention being to give boys, as far as possible, the advantages of a boarding school without separating them from their parents. This ideal has been adopted to meet the obvious requirements of a Catholic Country Day School at St. Sebastian's. At half-past eight in the morning, Mass is said in the School chapel. The Boys are not required to attend this Mass, but are trained to visit the Blessed Sacrament of their own volition before classes begin. The Presence of Christ in the chapel may be said to be the inspiring factor in the entire life of the School. This fact is stressed constantly, with most impressive consequences. From nine in the morning until twelve-thirty, the boys are engaged in recitations and study periods. At twelve-thirty the boys are served a substantial dinner. The individual tables are presided over by one of the priests of the faculty. After dinner there is a brief period of recreation. At one-thirty classes are resumed, and are con- tinued until three. At three o'clock the various teams assemble either in the gym- nasium during the winter months, or on the playing field during the milder weather. Not only does the School organize major teams, but the younger boys are carefully trained under the supervision of the members of the faculty. At four-thirty the signal is given for the end of the school day. After the boys have showered, they gradually drift down the hill toward home. We might say at once that the school is situated Within easy reach of the Newton-Brighton car line, so that the boys can go back and forth daily from their homes. Once a year a Retreat is given to the students under the direction of a skilled re- treat master. Every First Friday the boys attend Mass in a body, and receive Holy Communion together. The First Friday Breakfast is a pleasant feature of the School's life. One of the important advantages of the School is the presence of the Masters after the regular classes are ended, to aid and assist the students in any of their scholastic difficulties. The spirit of cooperation between students and masters is both important and impressive. It is very necessary, because the boys must be taught the proper methods of study which will enable them to carry through their scholastic training successfully and with facility. In a word, St. Se-bastian's Country Day School endeavors to give every boy a well- trained mind in a strong body, together with an all-pervading sense of his dignity and the responsibilities of Catholic manhood. This is the ideal of the School. With the blessing and help of St. Sebastian we are approximating our ideal.