Interview with Mr. Boyle

by Patrick O'Leary '15

What are you planning on doing with the Edmund Rice Society this year?

Mr. Boyle:  The Edmund Rice Society is a service organization.  It is a leadership group.  Some of the activities the students do include recycling and helping homeroom teachers in their classrooms.  We have partnered with Project Give, which is a charitable organization, to help people within the CM community and in service projects outside of the school.  Project Gift will be providing us with $5,000.00 this year to do community service projects.  Our students will choose the projects they want to work on this year.  Last year the Society went to the Irish Pastoral Center in Quincy.  At this center, there are older people who are widowed.  We brought 18 students and they spent some time with the people and gave them flowers that they still have with a personal letter.  That is only one project example, there are many more. 

Mr. Boyle with the members of the Edmund Rice Society

What are your plans for student government?

Mr. Boyle:  The Edmund Rice Society and Student Government are mostly the same thing, but student government is more focused on Catholic Memorial.  They try to improve C.M. and things within the larger community.  They help with school dances, the Thanksgiving Food Drive, and the Christmas Gift Drive.  The student government will also put together a gym night where all types of sports games are played and organize a Middle School Olympic Day at the end of the year.

How is the football team going and how do you think the season will end? 

Mr. Boyle:  We are 3 and 3 right now.  We had a tough start because it was a quick start.  We did not have many practices.  Then, we won three in a row and got a little too confident.  We lost the next game which was a good thing to get us back on track.  There are two games remaining and I think we have a good chance if we remain focused.

How is the swimming team looking this year? 

Mr. Boyle:  It is looking great.  We have a lot of returning students, but we lost 14 seniors.  We have a lot of good juniors like Dominic Montabano, Ryan Clifford, Matt Farrell and Ryan Shannahan.  In the Middle School we have kids like Matt Young, Matt Chipman, and Chris Broderick.  The top swimmer in the Middle School, Ryan Dennehy, got a varsity letter as a seventh grader.  We also have some good freshman and sophomores.  We are getting better and better every year.  We have a chance to move way up in the Catholic Conference this season.

Freedom Trail Preview

By  Seventh Graders Paul and John Marino

Wednesday, October 13^th, was a memorable learning experience at the Catholic Memorial Middle School.  The knowledge that we gained was something that none of us will ever forget. We learned about the Boston Common, Battle of Bunker Hill, the Old Church, and the Old State House.  A moving, well-composed speech by Captain Daniel Malcolm from the Freedom Trail Foundation, taught us about the Revolutionary War and what it was like to live back then. It was a day that all CM students will always cherish.

The first thing we did on this day was to go to three different classrooms where we learned about the Freedom Trail. During this excursion, the focus in the first classroom was the Boston Common in Mrs. Murphy's room. We were taught everything there is to know about this historical place, starting from its inception in 1634 until  the present day. For example, we discovered the city was honored with a visit from Pope John Paul II in 1979, and he gave a speech there. Next, we went to Mr. Boyle's room, where he explained about the history of the Old Church, and the famous lantern that hung there during the midnight ride of Paul Revere. At that time, the Old Church was the highest building in the area, so when they placed the lantern at this site to warn everyone that the enemy was coming, everyone could see it and be prepared.  Also, in that room, Mr. Murray taught us about the old State House. This was a powerful and sorrowful experience as we discovered that the Boston Massacre took place right outside. Finally, we went to Mrs. McCauley's room where Mr. Carey described the Battle of Bunker Hill. This amazing battle had a significant place in American history. Although the English won this battle, which took place at Breed's Hill, the Americans actually used this defeat to build momentum and rally their troops to eventually win the Revolutionary War.

Afterwards, we ate pizza and listened to a presentation in the auditorium by Captain Daniel Malcolm. He described what it was like to live during the Revolutionary War. He also talked about the weapons back then. One weapon he spoke about was the musket. This weapon was a gun that ignited gunpowder to launch a lead bullet when you pulled the trigger. The most significant difference between guns used today and back then was the inaccuracy of the weapons. In fact, weapons like the musket were so imprecise that soldiers never knew exactly where the bullets would land, which made hitting your enemy extremely difficult. The best part of the talk was at the end when Capt. Malcolm let us feel the guns to understand what it was really like to use them.

Learning about the history of Boston and the significant landmarks there was informative and exhilarating. It was particularly meaningful to be taught about the historical background of places we have all passed by many times when we visit Boston. We are all extremely grateful to the Middle School teachers for taking the time to give us this unforgettable experience. It is one we will carry throughout the rest of our lives.

                    Paul and John Marino