New Blue Jays and Parents Experience Welcome Day
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Junior Gentry Major welcomes his Little Brothers Gardner Ebrahim and Luke Fontenot at the Welcome Day reception in Traditions Courtyard.
On Saturday, May 11, Welcome Day for New Blue Jays and Parents hosted the more than 300 incoming students and their parents for a special presentation and reception. Members of the Class of 2023 and the Class of 2024 were invited with their parents to Jesuit’s campus to meet their Big Brothers, learn about their new school’s history and traditions, and get to know their new classmates.
View the Photo Gallery from Welcome Day for New Blue Jays and Parents
The program for both parents and students began in the Jesuit auditorium with words of welcome from admissions director Bret Hanemann ’85. Jesuit president Fr. Christopher Fronk, S.J., then spoke about the history of the Society of Jesus, touching on hallmark features of Jesuit education. Students were then dismissed to the newly-renovated gym, while their parents remained in the auditorium.
Parents then heard about the history of the high school, presented by alumni director Mat Grau ’68. School principal Peter Kernion ’90 then spent time giving an overview of many programs of formation at Jesuit. New parents then were presented with opportunities to meaningfully connect with Jesuit by the director for institutional advancement Tom Bagwill.
New students reported to classrooms to participate in a few activities before moving across Banks Street to Benson Arena. In the arena, incoming students and their Big Brothers heard from Mr. Hanemann, who introduced student council executive board members Effy Marks and Chris Charles.
Welcome Day concluded with a reception for parents in the Student Commons and one for students in the Traditions Courtyard. Parents had a chance to mingle with other incoming parents and meet members of the school’s administration. In addition to being able to purchase Blue Jay clothing and spirit items from the Blue Jay shop, families were also given a complimentary copy of Gallant Fighting Sons, the book which chronicles the history of Jesuit. Parents also signed up with one of the many volunteer opportunities available to parents.
New Blue Jays will catch back up with their Big Brothers again in August for Book Day and New Student Orientation. The Big Brother program is just one way that new students learn Blue Jay traditions and receive the support they need for a successful transition to high school.
Galleries
Welcome Day for New Blue Jays and Parents, May 11, 2019
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Fr. Christopher Fronk, S.J., speaks to new students and parents about the history and mission of the Society of Jesus. -
New Blue Jays and their parents filled the auditorium for the event. -
Alumni director Mat Grau '68 tells the parents about historical developments to Jesuit's campus and exciting future plans. -
Peter Kernion '90, Jesuit's principal, talks about the many ways that new Blue Jays will be encouraged to grow over their time at Jesuit. -
Tom Bagwill, Jesuit's director of institutional advancement, gives an overview of parent activities throughout the year. -
Meanwhile, new Blue Jays gathered in Benson Arena for a presentation on student life at Jesuit. -
Admission director Bret Hanemann '85 speaks to new Blue Jays about the journey they begin as Jesuit students. -
Effy Marks, next year's student body president, presented to new students about student life over the years... -
...along with Chris Charles, next year's student body vice president. -
New students and their Big Brothers enjoy the presentation. -
Junior Gentry Major with his Little Brothers Gardner Ebrahim and Luke Fontenot -
Bradley Eschmann, Hayes Martin, Dylan Sellars, Ryan Hollander -
New students, Big Brothers, parents, and faculty mingle in the courtyard after the program. -
Alumni director Mat Grau '68 visits with his son, Ben, who is a parent of a new Blue Jay. -
Fr. Fronk welcomes new Blue Jays Omar Hassan (with Big Brother Aqib Zakaria) and Ryan Hollander (with Big Brother Dylan Sellars).
