Java assignment to print a 5x5 square

OvercomplicatedWayToPrintA5x5Square.java

/* filename: OvercomplicatedWayToPrintA5x5Square.java */  
public class OvercomplicatedWayToPrintA5x5Square  {
    /*
     * An abstract class representing a shape that can be printed to the console.
     */
    private static abstract class Shape {
        /*
         * Prints the contents of the shape to the console.
         */
        public abstract void printToConsole();
    } /* end class Shape */
    
    /*
     * class Square
     * Represents a square that can be printed to the console.
     *
     * Extends Shape.
     */
    private static class Square extends Shape {
        private int mSize;
        /*
         * printHorizontalSide is an entirely unnecessary function that prints <size>
         * space-separated asterisks to the console.
         *
         * This is a multipurpose function, it can either be used to print the top
         * of a square, or the bottom.
         */
        private void printHorizontalSide() {
            /* Start the row of the asterisks with a single asterisk. */
            StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder("*");
            /* Add size - 1 asterisks, space separated. */ 
            for (int i = 1; i < mSize; i++)
                sb.append(" *");

            /* 
             * Print the contents of the StringBuilder, showing the contents of the
             * horizontal side.
             */
            System.out.println(sb.toString());
        } /* end printRow method */

        /*
         * printVerticalSides is an entirely unnecessary function that prints
         * size - 2 rows of two asterisks, separated by 2 * (size - 1) + 1 spaces,
         * to the console.
         */
        private void printVerticalSides() {
            StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder("*");
            /*
             * Append two spaces to align the asterisks to the length of printHorizontalSide's
             * output.
             */
            for (int i = 1; i < mSize - 1; i++)
                sb.append("  ");
            /* Append the last asterisk. */
            sb.append(" *");
            /* Convert the StringBuilder to a String. */
            String s = sb.toString();
            /* Print out size - 2 rows of asterisks. */
            for (int i = 1; i < mSize - 1; i++)
                System.out.println(s);
        } /* end printColumn method */

        /*
         * Prints the contents of the square to the console.
         */
        @Override
        public void printToConsole() {
            /* First, we must print the top row of the square. */
            printHorizontalSide();

            /* Print the sides of the square. */
            printVerticalSides();

            /* Finally, print the bottom side of the square. */
            printHorizontalSide();
        } /* end printToConsole method */

        /*
         * This constructor will create a Square of asterisks with a side
         * length of size, which can be printed to the console.
         *
         * Size must be equal to 5.
         */
        public Square(int size) throws Square.DimensionException {
            if (size != 5)
                throw new Square.DimensionException(size);
            mSize = size;
        }
        public static class DimensionException extends Exception {
            DimensionException(int size) {
               super("Square dimension must be equal to 5, got unexpected value "
                       + size + ".");
            } /* end Square.DimensionException constructor */
        } /* end class Square.DimensionException */
    } /* end class Square */
    /*
     * main is the first function called on starting the program. 
     * This program will print a 5x5 square to the console.
     */
    public static void main(String args[])  {
        try {
            /* Print a square to the console. */
            Square square = new Square(5);
            square.printToConsole();
        /* printSquare may throw a Square.DimensionException */
        } catch (Square.DimensionException e) {
            System.err.println("Failed to create a square!");
            System.err.println(e.getMessage());
        }
    }/* end main method */  
}/* end class OvercomplicatedWayToPrintA5x5Square */