St Sebastians School - Arrow Yearbook (Newton, MA)

Page 13 text:

'CIE CD61 Saint Sebastian's Country Day School was born into a war-torn world less than six months before Pearl Harbor. At the time that His Eminence, the .late William Cardinal O'Con- nell, founded our school, he insisted that it should serve the needs of the times, and the times were definitely militaristic. Accordingly, he placed the new foundation under the patron- age of Saint Sebastian, the Soldier Saint, whose martyrdom came to him on the deadly wings of the executioner's arrows in the year 286. In filial tribute to their valorous Patron, the graduating classes of St. Sebastian's Country Day School have entitled their annual The Arrow, as being most symbolical of the life he sacrificed for Christ. Furthermore, since it was the banner of the Soldier Saint that rallied us into a solid phalanx of comradeship, it is entirely fitting that we knit together the sections of this record by means of the implements that were the conjoined witnesses of his unflinching loyalty. In this spirit then we shall have occasion to refer to The Archer, The Arrows, The Bow, The Quiver and The Vanes. W al 9 1-I

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Tbe Country Day Scbool Ideal at St. Sebazslimzif 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: The working plan which it is proposed to adopt is modeled 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 adapted 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- nasimn 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 retreat 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 most 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 train- ing successfully and with facility. In a word, St. Sebastian'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. .-1 a 1--

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WSW ., ,M Che flllyapel O The scene from which the School de- rives its motivating spirit: scene of our morning and afternoon visits, our monthly Confession and Communion, our annual Retreat, our personally cared-for May Altar. Our four years have been spent as guests in this earthly House of God, and in consequence our lives will be lived in such a way as to win eternal residence in His Heavenly Home.