Venango Christian High School - Saga Yearbook (Oil City, PA)

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Latest Reports About You and Me! Photos by Ted Szalewicz Sister Virginio: English Father Murray: Religion, Readingj English Mr, Cavanaugh: Religion, Latin, English, Reading Every year brings new resolutions, new students, and most impor- tant, new faculty members. In order for the student and teacher to be- come better acquainted, The Barque has attempted to lind out their first impressions and attitudes toward the school. We approached them with this question: WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR NEW TEACH- ING ASSIGNMENTS? SISTER MARY MICHAEL, familiar with the Oil City area says, It’s nice to be back with all of the nice students, especially to find many of the juniors and seniors I know. I thought that they had already graduated.” SISTER JANET explained, I like the students best of all; the students are a wonderful group.” then smiled after being handed a lost purse, but they are constantly losing things.” FATHER MURRAY, whose appointment to Venango is his first teaching experience is intent on, trying to accept the challenge of bringing Christ to the student and helping them to develop a full per- sonality.” MR. CAVANAUGH, on the other hand, likes the good sense of discipline in this school.” The opportunity to have a part in the education of young people, to help them realize the effect that Christ may have in their lives, and,” FATHER KREBS added, to bring the real Christ into their lives.” SISTER MARY LOURDES expressed, the thrill of the wonderful advantages of a new school. The building is so well equipped; every facility is here to make teaching easier.” SISTER TERESITA says the thing she likes best is the effort to give the student a great deal of freedom; 1 have especially noticed this at lunch time.” This is the first time in many years 1 have had mixed classes,” explained SISTER VIRGINIA. But the first question posed another one: HOW DO THE STUDENT BODIES OF PREVIOUS SCHOOLS COMPARE WITH OUR STUDENT BODY? This school is about one-third the size of the school 1 taught in last year. Venango is about four times as big as Saint Gregory’s North East, where I taught recently,” SISTER MARY MICHAEL said. SISTER JANET hates to compare schools because she says VCHS is different than schools in big cities. But she did say that there is no one like the people in Oil City, they are so friendly.” FATHER MURRAY thinks we have a good group of students here who are typical teenagers with the usual ups” and downs”. The students here are a little more eager to learn than the ones I have been in contact with before,” stated MR. CAVANAUGH.

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How many times have you heard these words? Seldom in the halls of Ven- ango Christian, that’s for sure. When the class bell rings, it takes all of the three minutes’ time for the sisters and priests to cross the hall from one room to another. If one were to stand back and observe, he would see approximately one out of every twenty students step back to let a faculty member pass. Lunch would be more complete if we could stand aside and let the teach- er pass through our lines instead of making them battle their way through. I wonder if we couldn’t start proving we are real Christian students by carrying away the trays for the teachers after they have eaten. It would be a sight for sore eyes. My Life is Your Life by Diane Did you ever notice how This Guy’s life is based on That Guy's opinions? I sometimes wonder if any other generation practiced this theo- ry. According to my parents, such a notion is completely absurd and “Good heavens, what will this world come to!” Maybe they're right. On the bus one morning, I over- heard Jane whispering frantically, ”Oh, Mindy, what can I do? Ralph likes me! He kept calling me all week-end. Well, yes, I guess I like... no, don't you dare breathe a word! You heard what Carol said just yes- terday, and if she disapproves, the whole gang will think I'm out of it.” The next night, 1 was going from house to house collecting signatures on a petition so that Jane could like Ralph without harming her reputa- tion. At Peg’s house, I walked in on an argument: Peg versus Peg’s mot- her... Mother! I can’t wear this dress to the dance! It’s last year’s style! Absolutely no one wears this color anymore. Why, everyone will say I'm out of it”...l crept back down the stairs. I just couldn't bear to tell her my dress was going to be the same color. Furthermore, I could not stand the thought of initiating one more petition. Wilson BUT, I HAVE my problems, too. My mother insisted on setting my hair for me last night, and I’ll swear she must have lived in the Middle Ages! You have never, in your entire life, seen anything like it. I know all about parental authority, etc., but when she told me to go to the show looking like that, I refused. It’s a matter of self-honor and re- spect. I met the kids at the theatre for the second movie after resetting my hair. An arm shot out from the drapes and grabbed me as I slipped in the side entrance. Bertha! Quick, it's me! I had to come with the family tonight, but I sneaked a- way. I can’t walk in there with ten little brats and two big ones. If I did that, I’d really be out of it”... Oh, by the way. did you hear that Carol likes Ralph now? She took a three week course called How To Play Chess In Fifty-Two Lessons.” It didn’t take her long to wrap the National Chess Champion around her little finger. I THINK THIS theory is what used to be called keeping up with the Jones’.” It’s a frantic life with no- thing gained, but with much lost. Look at Jane: she lost Ralph. ROOTED b Dwight McGinnis Stands lonely, the tree in the corner of the meadow not so much unlike the love of a boy and a girl. Like the trunk of the mighty tree, love is unconquerable only to those who have known it not. Some think: Who can hurt love, who can cut it down, who can destroy such a beautiful creation. But they, on whom love bestows its existence, know that in each of them are the insects of hate and envy which can fell the strongest of passions. Love branches into inummerable trials and pains that. like the ever-growing tree, offer these and many more tribulations to heaven Praying for the quiet rain of understanding. All too many times the axe of merciless rumors cuts down the tree of love leaving splintered hearts to lay motionless in the brambles and busha of a world made cruel by the sins of men. Some still escape this dreadful fate because like the roots of the tree they are firmly planted in the earth; the roots of true love are planted in God. And to those who are afraid to love there are still secluded forests of bliss where love can bloom in all its beauty and bear witness to God.

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AN INTERVIEW WITH NEW FACULTY MEMBERS by Nancy Petulla It is difficult to make an exact statement,” SISTER VIRGINIA decided, except that the girls have to raise their standards.” Then we asked, DO VENANGO CHRISTIAN STUDENTS HAVE AS MUCH SCHOOL SPIRIT AS OTHER STUDENTS? SISTER MARY MICHAEL: In some ways, perhaps. We have some kiddoes who could learn to apply themselves scholastically. 1 would like to see more enthusiasm in the matter of scholarship. SISTER JANET: Well, they have wonderful school spirit, es- pecially the in-coming freshman. They were really interested in the Christmas Drive. They talked over making posters to encourage the rest of the school to do their part. I think they only learned this from older brothers and sisters and older friends.” FATHER MURRAY: The school spirit seems to be growing I think it is something the students and faculty build up together.” MR. CAVANAUGH: There is good school spirit; I have had some association with school spirit and I think it is improving here.” FA I HER KREBS: believes, The school spirit is very impressive at the present time.” SISTER MARY LOURDES: Venango has great school spirit if one bases it on the rally. In fact, I was pleased and edified by the way they attend Mass, but scholastically! hope to see the girls and boys doing better.” SISTER TERESITAthinks that the school spirit is in the process of being organized as an educational unit. There is more interest in per- sonal activities than in school functions.” Finally, one question concerned student-teacher relationships: IS THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN STUDENT AND TEACHER DIF- FERENT HERE THAN AT OTHER SCHOOLS? The replies were more thoughtful: Well, to some degree it is easier than at previous schools. I have many extra curricular activities and more of a chance to under- stand the students,” relayed SISTER MARY MICHAEL. One thing, the students have not hesitated if they needed any help,” SISTER JANET said, but I think the student has to consider the school as a Mystical Body all working toward a single goal.” MR. CAVANAUGH tells us, No. I haven’t found much yet.” FATHER KREBS says, The problem is that I have taught the lecture methods and students just took notes. Whereas, with these stu- dents, it is very much easier to supply the need. The students are very open to ask questions for additional help.” The communication between student and teacher is on a per- sonal basis rather than strictly being student-teacher. I don’t think it is what it should be. I don’t understand the courtesy or lack of cour- resy here,” says SISTER TERESITA. SISTER MARY LOURDES ended with, The communication is favorable. ” Sister Mary Michael: Spanish, His- tory Sister Mory Lourdes: Office Prac- tice, History, English, Reading Father Hartle: Math, Religion, Phy- sical Science, Algebra Father Krebs: Religion, History, Latin 5