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Trustees Visit Classes by TOM HOFF ‘11 Classes 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 LXIII, No. 5 St. Sebastian’s School March 2010 Harvard Model Congress Trustees Visit Classes BY TOM HOFF ‘11 classes. However, beyond religion Apparently, the trustees were very classes, many were impressed with overjoyed when relaying their Gets the Job Done On Thursday, the 4th, many trustees the teachers’ use of technology, impressions to Mr. Nerbonne about visited numerous classes here at St. and Mr. Nerbonne reinforced what I how teachers suggested to students Sebs. According to Mr. Nerbonne, had heard on these subjects: “In the in the classes that they should the trustee visit is “an annual event meeting that followed the day’s hap- receive extra help. At other schools, when the trustees send in requests penings, I heard so much about the including the high schools that to see three departments that great things that the trustees saw. most of the trustees probably went interest them, and they see what They talked about student – teacher to, teachers wouldn’t really want to happens in some classes of one of relationships, energy and enthusi- stay after 2:30 or whenever school those departments.” During the asm, the quality of instruction and ended. Some may even be like the day, many wishing to learn more how the teachers made sure that teachers in The Hangover, when the about the daily life of our school sat the students understood everything, teachers says that “School’s over, it’s in on classes. They observed how a and especially how well the teachers the weekend, I don’t know you any- teacher runs a normal class, how the use the new technology.” more.” However, I’ve met with many students and teachers interact, and From that quote alone, we can see teachers, no matter what hours, and how the students learn the informa- that the visiting day was a success. the teacher has never wanted to say tion which they are taught. We all The fact that the technology was so that he didn’t know me. know that if a trustee visits our room, well used has shown many that our All in all, the purpose of we should make it be a normal class, school can keep up with not only the trustees’ visit was to open our but also be on our best behavior. modern, but very effective ways of school and show how we function as In my U.S. history class, Mr. Thomasy learning. The smartboards gener- a community. People wanted to see joked that “We need to pretend that ated the most love. They have be- what happens, and we were willing we actually do something in this come a part of the way that teachers to provide them with that experi- class.” That’s not to say that we all instruct us here. ence. We don’t want to say that they don’t learn valuable lessons from Mr. However, we need to focus on the saw what makes us great, but that’s Thomasy’s great lectures, especially other things that Mr. Nerbonne what it ended up being, and I’m not his rants about the government. mentioned. The student-teacher trying to brag. Along with Mr. Ner- Unfortunately, our class didn’t get relationships are perhaps the defin- bonne’s quote from above, we know a trustee, and Mr. Thomasy barely ing factor of our school, other than that what the trustees told Mr. Burke Dillon Ecclesine ‘11 enjoys time with fellow Congressman Colleen Josephs last weekend. survived. However, from what I’ve learning about our religion. In our and Mr. Nerbonne was great news. heard from others, there were a lot classes, as the trustees saw on Thurs- As Mr. Nerbonne said, “The feedback government, such as the Presidential ways, like protesting, which basi- BY JOE ALBANESE ‘10 of trustees in the religion depart- day, teachers respect students, and was overwhelming.” Simply put, the Cabinet, the media, and the National cally consisted of big signs and lots ment, as that’s what distinguishes students respect teachers. I have trustees loved what they saw. What Security Council. After first sign- of yelling and interruption. In one Who would have thought that a our school. never seen a class in my five years in they saw was the defining factors ing up for the Congress in October, case the libertarian think-tank, CATO bunch of teenagers from around It was very important for these which a student feels that he cannot that set St. Sebastian’s apart from twelve St. Sebastian’s upperclassmen Institute, lacking a Harvard under- the country could do the gov- people to see exactly what types ask a question. The teachers will other secondary schools. Here, it’s were eventually given their own spe- grad to supervise its group, decided ernment’s job better than, well, of spiritual discussions in which we always answer so that the student not about the superficial things that cific positions. After a few months of to kidnap the Harvard student who the government? Spending the partake a few times a week. The stu- understands, and feels that he can people associate with a school, but researching their roles and preparing was playing President Obama, make weekend at the Sheraton Hotel in dents were encouraged to say their ask for more help. In particular, one rather about the relationships that for the Congress, students departed a hostage video, and demand free Boston, supervised primarily by full beliefs and not to change what thing that I have been impressed we form, what we learn to help us from school in February on the day ice cream for the delegate dance. Harvard students, the men of St. they said because someone was in with, just like the trustees were, is in our later years, and the lasting of parent-teacher conferences. They were subsequently tried by Sebastian’s were given a prime op- the room, and that was a good move the fact that teachers don’t just give, impression that the school leaves on On the first day, the Sebs the District Court special program, portunity to run everybody’s show. as it showed what happens in the but encourage extra help. us. Whether it was shunning nay- group was split up, and each student although not convicted of treason. sayers with a verbal dose of Krav went off to find his own show to The lobbyists also hosted an ice Maga, or blowing away stiffs with run. All the juniors and one senior cream party in a suite near the top some well-choreographed dance were assigned to leg it up in the floor of the hotel, which was widely moves, Harvard Model Congress Senate and House of Representa- attended by other members of spe- was certainly a good time for all. tives, where they discussed issues cial programs. Surprisingly, however, Harvard Model Congress, as the such as Somalia pirates, the death the consensus was that the National name implies, is a simulation of the penalty, health care, and torture. Economic Council was the most fun United States government con- Special programs spent their time on special program. This was due to ducted by Harvard undergraduates more specific goals; the Media spent the fact that the chairs from Harvard with over a thousand high school their time reporting, interviewing were very, well, open-minded, and students from various regions of and writing stories. Lobbyists had allowed for the delegates in that the country. Students are given a great deal of freedom, basically group to call in whomever they roles to act out- mostly they are roaming around different commit- wished for a bro session. By Sunday, meant to imitate a Congressman or tees, testifying before Congress and at least half of the St. Sebastian’s Senator and within that role craft showing why the bills proposed by crew had been adopted by the their own laws to debate and vote the Democratic majority were favor- Council. This group’s activities con- on with other students. There are able or flawed (the latter was mostly also “Special Programs” roles which the case). They were also given a CONTINUED on page 2 include other facets of American free hand to be obnoxious in various National Foreign Languages Week Sweeps through School Mr. Elcock ‘77 of the Board of Trustees sits in on Mr. Drummond’s English 12H Class. of the most lively, enthusiastic cul- The aim of the assembly is to spark cious assortment of bakery goods tures to date. This diverse, interna- an interest among the entire com- and refreshing Italian-ice treats, for tionally rounded population enables munity and in essence, “get the ball which sales would be donated to the United States of America to be rollin’’” in terms of beginning what al- New Orleans and the Haitian relief. a “petri-dish” for some of the most ways proves to be an event-packed, National Foreign Language vibrant, unique culture the world has highly educational week. This year, week is not only vitally important to to offer. the assembly consisted of a series of the mission of the International Club The International Club speeches designed to provide the of St. Sebastian’s, but also to the offers an opportunity for students students of St. Sebastian’s with fur- growth and nurturing of the entire in grades ten through twelve to ther insight into not only the unique school community.
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