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 LXIV, No. 5 St. Sebastian’s School March 2011 Back To School: Trustees Visit During these two periods, to participate. The Board Member By Peter DeMatteo ‘13 the eleven Board Members expe- in a particular class would also take rienced many different disciplines. part in the discussion, adding his or On March 3, 2011, many Trustees would watch teachers her thoughts to the class. After the members from the Board of Trustees demonstrate the material and the school day finished, the entire Board visited different classes near the end student’s responses. Taking impor- met to talk about how they will of the school day. Eleven Board mem- tant time out of their busy days, help the school, focusing on what bers were present in a wide variety these eleven privileged trustees the Members who attended classes of rooms, watching and taking part learned more about the St. Sebas- thought and saw in particular. in discussions and other activities tian’s community, which they put so In the past, and also in in these classes. The trustees were much time and such a large commit- 2011, the Trustee Visit Day has been able to gain personal experience of ment into. Watching students try a great success, bringing some of each class they visited and a closer to appear to be smart in front of the the most important members of St. look at what is taking place in the visitors, the trustees are able to get Sebastian’s to get an intimate ex- school they devote so much time and a greater insight into what the most perience in the classroom that they energy. pressing needs of the school are. would not be able to get otherwise. The school day ran on a Having a trustee in class Although many of the board mem- reverse schedule for the Trustees’ can be a stressful time for some stu- bers are alumni or the parents of St. benefit. Although this caused confu- dents. Many students are torn be- Seb’s students both past and pres- sion for many students and teacher, tween talking and therefore showing ent, they get a closer look by coming everyone was able to sort out the off for the trustee, and keeping to a class then listening to stories anticipated classes that the Trustees their mouths shut in fear of giving or going to other events at Seb’s. actually visited. The trustees arrived an incorrect answer, embarrassing Classes and learning are the most for the last few periods of the day themselves. However, teachers important event at our school, so it as, during the last couple of periods, also make the class with the trustee is beneficial for the Trustees to get a many students have either study halls visiting especially clear and well run. more concrete picture of a normal of gym. Therefore, the Trustees were The material is therefore very well day of classes at Seb’s. In conclu- able to see the most important part explained, as many teachers spend sion, everyone is most thankful for of the day at St. Seb’s, the courses. extra time preparing a special class the trustees for taking their most After a lunch prepared by Joe, the that is both challenging enough valuable time available to attend the trustees were escorted to the differ- to impress the trustee, and simple classes help St. Seb’s become a more ent classrooms by seniors. At Harvard Model Congress, enough that the students are able vibrant and effective place. Arrows Make Their Point By Dillon Ecclesine ‘11 special programs. People attend- HMC, and was flat out rejected. She SENIOR EDITOR ing HMC for the first year are a part even stormed out, tearing up…if “Who the heck is this kid? of Congress or Senate, so all the you think you’ve seen an awkward I wanna throw him in the river like juniors and most seniors (except for situation before, think again. Finally, Rasputin.” With these golden words first-timer Alex Hunnewell ’11) were and possibly the funniest moment of from Coach Steve Thomasy (about in one of these. Seniors who went the trip, Lou Heck ’11 did a face plant a kid who asked a very strange last year, however (Dillon Ecclesine, while walking up to the podium in question at the opening ceremony), Charlie Callanan, Lou Heck, Scott front of roughly 500 people. Some Harvard Model Congress 2011 began Smith, and Nick Franco) were in one truly entertaining moments, to say in full swing. Six seniors and six of the special programs. I myself was the least. juniors packed into two mini-buses in the National Economic Council, Last came the HMC Dance, to drive to the Sheraton in Boston on which is essentially a gathering of also known as the Delegates Ball. Thursday, February 17th in order to all of President Obama’s economic This is always a very amusing time. participate in a mock trial that would advisors. Scott was in the West Wing, Pat McLaughlin ’12 showed some end on Sunday morning. Although, Callanan in Media, Lou in the Consti- great Lil B cooking abilities; I think really only five juniors were present tutional Convention, and Franco in it’s safe to say he has reached the at the time. Pat McLaughlin ’12 was something I honestly can’t remem- level of Master Chef. I would hope finishing a physics test, so he actually ber. HMC Media was apparently very so, considering there is a rumor drove in later. Needless to say, Coach fun, in which the students go around floating around that he cooks in Thomasy was absolutely thrilled. interviewing and reporting on the front of the mirror for thirty minutes The bus actually almost left without discussions and happenings of other every night before he goes to bed. Mr. Thomasy (who was looking for groups. They even got to make a Another dance move commonly Ike Okwerekwu ‘13 and trustee Mr. Elcock listen to a conversation in English class Pat), but when he began running at sweet music video. featured at the dance was the ever a full sprint to catch up, we stopped The meetings were obvi- popular “Move it Like Bernie.” If any- the buses. Good thing Coach hasn’t ously academic and informative, but one has ever seen the 1980s movie missed a daily run in forever. there were other parts of HMC that “Weekend at Bernie’s,” then you Once we arrived at the were also quite fun. Mr. Thomasy, for would understand this dance. If not, Seniors Celebrate Final 100 Sheraton, we unloaded our gear example, is always good for a few I recommend you watch the original and travelled into the lobby. Coach laughs. One time I was walking to scene on YouTube, as well as the Thomasy went to get our room keys the Senate in order to testify, and new remix of the song. It’s a dance and told us not to move, wander, get as I walked through a certain room move that you certainly want to put Days Before Graduation lost, or get kicked out of the hotel. I saw Coach Thomasy sitting at a in your arsenal. Charlie Callanan and We began scouting out our fellow table, taking a little power nap. NB: Lou Heck have this one mastered, so By Nick Chappel ‘11 of Ward Hall after their 100 days to get along with your friends from members of congress, hoping to see This happened several other times ask them if you have any questions. “Congratulations on mak- graduation breakfast and thinking high school because you usually some kids who looked friendly. When during the conference. But can you Overall, Harvard Model ing it this far” was a common say- that I will never be there. It seemed tend to hang around with the same Coach came back, we piled into the really blame the guy? After all, this is Congress was a truly great experi- ing throughout the morning as the too far away. Now, it’s here. Within a groups of people. Edmund Murphy elevator and arrived into our rooms, his 25th year doing the conference, ence. Not only did we learn a great seniors gathered together for the month, most of us will know where will find two friends at Middlebury unpacking our belongings. In the and as Mr. Thomasy said: “I’ve been deal about how our government 100 days to graduation breakfast. At we are going to college. The 100 whose names start with “A” and Sheraton, the two hotel towers face trying to get someone else to do this works, but we also had a fun time. first we didn’t know what to think—is days to graduation breakfast was a “C”, and they will always hang out each other, meaning that if you look for the last 15 years, but nobody vol- We met some very interesting there a reason we shouldn’t have good reminder that these are the together, no matter what. out your massive window you can see unteers. It all blends in now, I have people, witnessed a lot of hilari- made it this far? But, eventually we last days of our high school careers. As the days count down to hundreds of people doing the same no idea what happened 15 years ago ous moments, and got to hang out accepted it and went on with the These are the last days we will spend graduation, none of us really act any on the other side.