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The WALRUS The time has come, the Walrus said, to talk of many things: Of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings. - Lewis Carroll Vol LXVII, No. 5 St. Sebastian’s School March 2014 Trustee Day Provides Great In- sight Into Daily School Life and more demanding high school to the board to show their answers By GREG DEMATTEO ‘16 classes. Finally, Mr. Nerbonne was great.” Mrs. Mullin also said This past Thursday, March explained one of the most important that the St. Sebastian’s experience 6, members of the St. Sebastian’s effects of the visit day was that the was “nothing” like her own experi- Board of Trustees returned to the trustees who “have been incredibly ence at school. Her description of school for the annual Trustee Visit generous to the school with both their her high school classroom was one Day. Their goal for the day was time and resources, can see exactly with “thirty or more students who to observe the daily routine of the how they are benefiting the school. were mostly disengaged. We just school, find out what it means to be 95% of what St. Sebastian’s is takes read from books and lectures from a St. Sebastian’s student, gain insight place in the classroom, and it’s very teachers, no smart boards, projectors, to the quality of the instruction important for our trustees to get a or even worksheets. There were no offered, and to see how teachers in- good sense of the day to day life of discussions between students, which tegrate the use of modern technology the school.” The day also serves as a made it difficult to challenge each into their lessons. After spending the way for two usually separate parts of other.” Overall, she thought the day afternoon in the classroom, they held the school to come together. was very valuable and eye-opening. a Board meeting to discuss their find- The trustees aren’t the only Mr. Robert Mulroy ‘82 also took the ings and experiences from the day, as ones who benefited from the day. time to tell us about his experiences. well as various other important and Mr. Lawler thought the day was a Mr. Mulroy came into the day hoping confidential matters. Overall, the day great success, and was also beneficial to experience a little piece of what was a great experience filled with for him as a teacher. He said “it’s life was like as a Seb’s student today. lots of learning by both the trustees great to know that the trustees truly After sitting in on Mr. Lawler’s and the students. care about us and that they’re willing sophomore honors English class, he Things ran very smoothly to take the time out of their busy told us that gained a new perspec- and every trustee got to sit in on a schedules to experience what it’s like tive and insight into how an English wide range of classes, thanks to the in the classrooms today.” He thought class operates at St. Sebastian’s. Mr. Mr. Chris Lynch talks with trustee Christine Reed, P’15, 17, while David Abelson and Shane McDonald annotate Lear. hard work put in by Mr. Nerbonne it was a great opportunity for the Mulroy told us that it was interesting prior to the visit day. In fact, many students to demonstrate what they’ve to hear current students discuss how weeks prior, Mr. Nerbonne sat down learned and their ability to think criti- Charles Dickens’ novel Tale of Two Foreign Languages Week Concentrates on and began the arduous task of setting cally to more people. Cities, a book he read in high school, up the day’s schedule. “We have Many trustees got the chance to sit compares to the unrest in Ukraine, each trustee tell us what classes they in on classes during the afternoon and hear students describe the simi- would like to see, and then I as- to learn about what happens during larities and differences between the Language’s Importance to Global Unity sign each of them to a specific class a typical day at school. Mrs. Kim French Revolution and the Ukrainian By SAM CULLEN ‘17 use various activities and this year, ting in the front office. I counted and in the field of study they request.” Mullin, President of the Guild of St. crisis. Finally, he stated that it was the very interesting (and at points yes, I am 100% sure there were 21 Mr. Nerbonne said he looks at what Irene and parent of Brian ‘13 and very good to see that both the teach- With the arrival of March and the very touching) “If the world were a packages in the container. And com- classes and grade level each trustee Peter ‘16, expected to learn about ers and students were very engaged imminent coming of spring, National village…” demographic sheet. After ing back on Wednesday to the front visited in previous years, and tries to what happens after she drops her and participating in the classes. Foreign Languages Week is in full asking if the week was meant to office, I noticed that somebody took place them in classes that are differ- kids off at 7:45. She sat in on an Once again, the annual Trustee Visit swing, having been kicked off by encourage us to study abroad, Mrs. one from the container, which wasn’t ent from the ones they saw last time. AP Biology class, and was fasci- Day was a huge success. The day Monday’s assembly. The assembly Schwimmer replied, “not just that, full anymore, and was quite irritated. He also stated that he does his best nated by the use of technology in the was highly beneficial to every mem- was entertaining as we were given but to be aware that the world is a Really? Anyways, back to the in- to vary what classes and subjects a classroom. She explained, “After ber of the St. Sebastian’s community, a small peek into the diverse travels big place,” and “English will not terview: when I asked them for any trustee sees on the day. “If he sees a sitting in that classroom, I now know and everyone had a great time. The of our community. No matter the always be the answer” when encoun- hints, “We don’t even know…” they middle school English class the first everything Headmaster Burke says trustees were able to feel the daily story, however, the diversity of our tering different peoples. I followed replied, “Only one person knows.” period, I want to make sure that his about the school is true: the teachers routine of the students and see the student’s travels demonstrates the up by asking what is becoming the And I immediately prepared to hunt next class is a high school science are engaging, the students are eager huge impact that their decisions have true internationalism of our school, most useful language to learn today, down that person. My highlight or math class.” Mr. Nerbonne also to learn, and the technology they had on everyone. Unfortunately, which this week is meant to cel- to which Ms. Gilman replied that of the week, however, was not the made it clear that it is important that use improves the class so much.” despite having such a great time, ebrate. while “all languages are useful, some delicious pastries or even Eldridge’s the trustees don’t see the same grade When asked about what surprised none of the trustees felt compelled With the globalization of society, are more popular than others. And it near-virtuous resilience in Tunisia. level over and over again. Instead, her during the course of the day, she to re-enroll in school, but they look due to advances in communications just depends on what you’re looking Instead, it was the Spanish posters, to keep the day entertaining, he gives said “the students’ willingness to be forward to another opportunity next technology and travel infrastruc- to do.” And even if we aren’t going gracing our halls with short articles them a mix of middle school class engaged, raise their hand, and go year. ture, learning foreign languages has to need a modern language for our about celebs in Español, babble become more important than ever careers, it is important to note that to mere us mere Latin students. I before. In order to become well- America is becoming even more of couldn’t help but stare and squint rounded members of the world to- a melting-pot with a stunning 37.2% in distress at the small poster of day, a second or even third language of NYC residents having been born Kendall Jenner hanging in the third is a must. Not to mention the fact outside of the United States, a num- floor hallway, as I hoped to salvage that knowing another language helps ber still rising according to Metro my third-grade Spanish knowledge, open more opportunities throughout US. Not to mention the fact that in vain. the globe. And the reason for For- Toronto, is a whopping 52% foreign- National Foreign Languages Week eign Languages Week is to encour- born, reports the CBC. All the signs has more benefits than just choco- age us to break out of our shells and point to Americans being even more late-y croissants in Ward Hall in the at least be aware that English isn’t demographically pressured to learn morning, but rather it is to increase the world’s only language.

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