Saint Sebastian's School

Infobox Secondary school
name = St. Sebastian's School

established = 1941
headmaster = William L. Burke III
city = Needham
state = Massachusetts
country = USA
campus = Suburban
type = private, male only
faculty = 60
founder = William Cardinal O'Connell
students = 350
grades = 7-12
mascot = Arrow
colors = Red and Black
rival = Belmont Hill School
website = [http://www.stsebs.org/ www.stsebs.org]

Saint Sebastian's School, also known colloquially as St. Seb's or Seb's, is an independent, all-boys Catholic secondary school located in Needham, Massachusetts on 26+ acres, in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston. The school instructs young men in grades seven through twelve. Founded in 1941 by William Cardinal O'Connell, Archbishop of Boston, the school is named after Saint Sebastian, the Christian martyr who survived an attempted execution by arrows. It is the only Catholic school in the prestigious Independent School League. Approximately 340 students are enrolled, with 25% receiving financial aid. As of 2008, the School headmaster is Mr. William L. Burke III.

Academics

The School features a rigorous academic program focusing on the liberal arts and the classics. Freshmen (9th grade) students take a special course to hone their writing skills. Public speaking is also emphasized, with each student required to deliver an annual speech during his class' weekly chapel meetings. The average SSAT percentile is 81, and the average SAT score for graduates (under the old scoring regime) is 1350.

The student:teacher ratio at St. Sebastian's is 7:1, and 60% of the faculty hold graduate degrees. The average class size is 11.

In recent years, the greatest numbers of graduates have gone on to the following colleges: Boston College (58), College of the Holy Cross (24), Fairfield University (21), Harvard College (14), and Providence College (14).

chool Hymn

To Be a Pilgrim

He who would valiant be ’gainst all disaster,

Let him in constancy follow the Master.

There’s no discouragement shall make him once relent

His first avowed intent to be a pilgrim.

Who so beset him round with dismal stories

Do but themselves confound - his strength the more is.

No foes shall stay his might; though he with giants fight,

He will make good his right to be a pilgrim.

Since, Lord, Thou dost defend us with Thy Spirit,

We know we at the end, shall life inherit.

Then fancies flee away! I’ll fear not what men say,

I’ll labor night and day to be a pilgrim.

Athletics

St. Sebastian's has a competitive athletic program, with 11 varsity sports, and 35 teams in total. Its school colors are red and black, and teams are known as the Arrows. Over the years an the Arrows have had an intense rivalry with the Belmont Hill School. The St. Sebastian's School is a member of the prestigious Independent School League.

The school has one of the top ice hockey programs in the United States, dating to its founding in 1941. Each year several players go on to play at top Division 1 colleges, such as Harvard, Boston College, Holy Cross, and Boston University. The school regularly produces picks in the NHL Entry Draft, notably, four first round draft picks in its history, the most of any high school in the US. In June 2003 the school was tied for the most picks from a single high school, ever, at four. [http://www.stsebs.org/athletics/hockey/hockeyoverview.htm] [http://www.hockeysfuture.com/prospect.php?pid=3529] The team has been coached by Steve Dagdigian, a former Harvard hockey player, since 1994. St. Sebastian's has produced the most current NHL players of any high school, at four.

The campus rink, the Henry T. Lane Rink, is named in honor of Henry Lane who served the school for over 40 years, first as the Varsity Hockey coach and later the Athletic Director.

St. Sebastian's has also had great success in recent years with lacrosse (with two All-Americans over the past two years). The School's sailing team was also ranked seventh in the country in 2001. More recently, the varsity baseball team won the ISL championship in 2007, handing Roxbury Latin School MLB prospect Jack McGeary his only loss of the season.

Extracurricular Activities

The school newspaper, "The Walrus", is published monthly. The school's debate team competes among the most elite private secondary schools in New England. Other student groups manage "The Arrow", the school yearbook, as well as "The Quiver", a creative literary magazine, and "The St. Sebastian's Journal", a collection of the school's best student-written scholarly essays. Other students run the school's closed-circuit television network, perform community service (The Arrow Club and Labels Are For Jars), perform in dramatic productions, compete in such activities as chess, robotics, support students of color (MPA), and advocate against destructive decisions (SADD).

Traditions

*Red & Black Day: A field day in which the student body is split into two teams (Red and Black). During the day these teams compete in competitive events like tug-o-war, frisbee golf, and Jenga. This day promotes school spirit and unity through healthy competition.

*Painting The Hills: On the day before St. Sebastian's homecoming, students paint the numbers and nick-names of the varsity football and soccer players on the hills that overlook the respective fields.

*Football Haircuts: When a new player makes the varsity football team, it is traditional that he receive an odd or outrageous haircut from the team's seniors. In recent years arrow shaped Mohawks, bald spots, and names have been shaved into the heads of the rookie players.

Notable alumni

Media

* Dr. Robert Arnot, medical correspondent for NBC News
* Will Burke, writer for ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live"
* Lawrence O'Donnell, MSNBC analyst and writer/producer for NBC's "The West Wing"

ports

* Rick DiPietro, goalie for the New York Islanders hockey team
* Mike Grier, right wing for the San Jose Sharks hockey team
* Joe Hulbig, former National Hockey League forward
* Mike Morrison, goalie for the New York Islanders hockey team
* Mike Smith, Major League Baseball pitcher
* Noah Welch, defenseman for the Florida Panthers National Hockey League team
* Brian Boyle (ice hockey) ice hockey forward for the Los Angeles Kings
* Sean Sullivan ice hockey defenseman for the Phoenix Coyotes

Other

* Justin Carven, inventor of the Greasecar biodiesel conversion kit [http://outside.away.com/outside/features/200412/adventure-allstars_11.html] , [http://www.greasecar.com/]
* Paul G. Kirk, Jr., former Chairman of the Democratic National Committee
*John Slattery, Emmy-nominated screen and stage actor

References

* [http://massachusetts.schooltree.org/private/St-Sebastians-009704.html St. Sebastian's School profile] provided by schooltree.org

External links

* [http://www.stsebs.org/ Saint Sebastian's School website]
* [http://www.stsebs.org/school/facts.html Saint Sebastian's School fact sheet]