SEM and the Spanish Flu

Sem & The Spanish Flu

By Deanna Arthur ‘10

Since opening in 1851, SEM has worked through its fair share of trials and tribulations, victories and celebrations from World’s Fairs to World Wars. 2020 is certainly not the first time that SEM has had it's readiness tested. In fact, it’s not even the first time that the school has had to adapt in the face of a pandemic. While a lot has changed between 1919 and 2020, a look at the 1919 Seminaria gives some insight into how SEM handled the Spanish Flu pandemic. As SEM adjusts (and sometimes readjusts) to meet the challenge of Covid-19 and the current times, a trip down memory lane shows how the school has persevered in the past.

Take a peek inside the 1919 Seminaria to see for yourself!

In her piece titled “The Flu,” Emily Newman from the Class of ‘20 (and that’s 1920, not 2020) shared a firsthand account of the impact of the influenza on life at SEM. Instead of Zoomfueled remote learning, students received their assignments via snail mail. Some elements, however, feel very familiar. References to closed movie theaters call to mind the different stages of reopening in New York State. Even then, wearing masks was an important aspect of running errands. Heartwarming references to faculty assisting at emergency hospitals show a commitment to community that SEM still carries today.

Emily “Em” Newman went on to be the 1920 Editor-inChief of the Seminaria in which she was recognized for her slow eating and her bookishness. After graduating, she went to Smith College.

The 1918-1919 calendar shows how the students took closures in stride, referring to three weeks of “unalloyed bliss on account of the epidemic.” On top of the pandemic, World War I continued to loom in the background of the school year. Students successfully fundraised for the war efforts with their Liberty Loan Drives.

Another influenza-related disruption reflected on the calendar was the indefinite postponement of the Senior Class play. Luckily, the show must go on! The seniors were able to perform “A School for Scandal,” a few weeks later.

Some events on the calendar were business as usual even in those more trying times. The familiar and withstanding tradition of Hornets versus Jackets continued throughout the school year.

As a Jacket myself, I was excited to see that not only did the friendly spirit of Hornet versus Jacket competition survive, but the Jackets also pulled out a 1919 victory! Jokes, short stories, poems, and cartoons comprised most of the 1919 Seminaria, showing how much student spirits remained intact. The Spanish Flu and the war beyond did not get in the way of the creativity or humorous outlook of SEM’s students at that time. Flipping through the fragile pages, I was reminded that SEM has weathered storms in the past, but the community will continue to grow and flourish with the unique combination of positivity, flexibility, and perseverance that defines SEM.

100% OUR YOUNGEST DONOR IS A MEMBER 75 New annual fund donors in 2019-20 OF SEM TRUSTEES GAVE TO THE ANNUAL FUND YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE FOUNDERS’ SOCIETY: CLASS OF 2004 990 OF THE CLASS OF 2022 Alumnae gave in 2019-20 681 The freshman and senior parents tied Annual fund donors for greatest percentage of parent participation. 125 DONORS GAVE $1,000+ GIVE TO Annual fund gifts range from $1 to $30,000, but the average gift was $541 WHAT YOU LOVE! MOST DONORS CHOSE TO GIVE TO SEM’S AREA OF GREATEST NEED, FOLLOWED BY FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS. Greatest class participation: SEM's oldest THE SEM COMMUNITY GETS INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT! DECEMBER 2019 WAS THE BEST MONTH FOR THE ANNUAL 1956 1949 1962 alumna donor graduated in 1939 FUND, TOTALING SEM FACULTY $137,924. & STAFF Most ARE GENEROUS! 100% donors by decade 1960's MADE AN ANNUAL FUND GIFT 205 MEMBERS JOINED THE 10% LEADERSHIP CLUB, GIVING AT LEAST 10% MORE TO THE ANNUAL Most generous decade 1970's FUND THAN IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR

December 6, 2019. The greens were once again hung at SEM. Another pine-scented day of music, light, dancing, food, arts & crafts, and door decorating for Hornet-Jacket points was celebrated by all.

We fit as many winter holidays from as many cultures that we could into the day! We had Hindu dance for Diwali, lantern making for Lunar New Year, a Menorah lighting, and some intense rounds with the dreidel for Hannukah. Holiday sweaters were donned, doors were wrapped, and Buches de Noel were decorated and consumed... judged. We danced, we origami’d, we made paper chains, a class banner, snowflakes, and orange pomanders. We made a warmth tree of donated hats, mittens, and scarves, and we ate cinnamon buns that a lot of people thought were the best they’d had in their entire lives! And finally, we ended happily with a mini concert by Zak Ward.

Then we were ready to house the BSAA’s annual Holiday Bazaar, the proceeds of which go to The BSAA Scholarship at SEM.