The newly formed Field Games Club – playing games such as Spikeball, gaga ball, and corn hole – gathers for the first time during lunch on Will Clark field. More than 30 Blue Jays and a handful of faculty members attended the club’s meeting to show support. Mr. Peter Flores and Mr. Gary Wyss even added disc golf, another lawn game, to the mix!

In remembrance of the September 11 attacks and the innocent lives lost 18 years ago, Jesuit president Fr. Christopher Fronk, S.J., stops in front of this framed American flag, now on display in the first floor hallway outside the faculty lounge. This hallway display means a great deal to Fr. Fronk especially this week, as it marks the 2-year anniversary of his presenting the flag to the school community at Morning Assembly. Fr. Fronk was activated to cover Easter services during 2017 Holy Week on board the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) in the Persian Gulf, since there were no other priests available for the job, and this flag was flown on board the ship in appreciation for our president’s sacrifice. On this week two years ago, Fr. Fronk received the framed memory from the ship’s commanding officer Captain Will Pennington.

Poised pre-freshman Ethan Schaeffer marches down the 3rd-floor hallway during lunch on a Regular Order, Day 1. This day has more significance for Jesuit MCJROTC cadets, who have been issued the camouflage uniform to wear on Day 1, known for cadets as “Uniform Day.” The Marine Corps JROTC program requires that cadets wear their uniform at least one day a week. Any time a cadet wears his or her uniform, it should always be worn with pride and care. Cadets must always be careful to be on their best behavior when wearing their uniforms. Improper behavior by cadets is not tolerated at any time, and is severely dealt with if in uniform. The uniform worn by Schaeffer and other cadets on this particular Day 1 is called the Utility/Camouflage. Soon, the cadets will be issued their “Charlies,” the service uniform.

A senior-heavy weekend is upon the Class of 2020 as they are all smiles on Senior Shirt Day at Friday Morning Assembly. Seniors standing amongst their homerooms, lined up in unison, and wearing matching T-shirts given to them by the Alumni Association was a positive image for the rest of the student body. Senior Ring Mass is this Saturday at 5 p.m., and the Senior Ring Dance follows at Magnolia Plantation from 9:00 p.m. to midnight. Dress code is semi-formal attire. Enjoy the weekend, seniors!

Pre-freshmen Michael Stackpole and Brady Luminais take a look at all of the options for Rush Days. During lunch this week, students are introduced to the 80-plus co-curricular clubs, organizations, and teams during Jesuit’s annual Rush Days held in the Student Commons. Throughout the year, but especially at Rush Days, Blue Jays old and new receive the chance to get involved, meet new people, and expand horizons. Co-curriculars also help students foster meaningful friendships, time management skills, and engage in competition that stimulates personal achievement. The sense of belonging at Jesuit was certainly felt both by eager underclassmen and seasoned upperclassmen.

A big shout-out goes to Mr. Bill Poynot (standing, 2nd from left), father of alumnus Joe Poynot ’09, and Blue Jays from the Class of 1966 (kneeling) for cooking and serving the jambalaya for the annual Big Brother-Little Brother Jambalaya Lunch. This event connects new students to their Big Brothers and to the Jesuit Alumni Association; it’s truly the perfect way to cap off Welcome Week. Jesuit thanks Mr. Poynot and these alumni for the delicious jambalaya!

Welcome Week continues with ice cream and trivia as Matthew Poyner, Jony Morse, and Mandell Blackstone visit the Stranger Things Starcourt Mall for some Scoops Ahoy! ice cream. Blue Jays have to defeat the Demagorgon and enjoy Big Brother-Little Brother Jambalaya at lunch on Thursday.

Blue Jays, meet your student leaders, the 2019-2020 Student Council Executive Board: Effy Marks (President), Chris Charles (Vice President), John Gunaldo (Treasurer), Carlo Barrera (Secretary), Dalton Baglio (Senior Class President), Zack Jaubert (Junior Class President), and Patrick Albright, Hunter Richardson, & Dylan Sellars (Executive Aides). After being sworn in to office on Friday, Aug. 23, student council members hosted their first event of the school year—the Back to School Dance. They returned from the weekend and appeared at Morning Assembly once again, this time to announce the theme and schedule for Welcome Week 2019. Enjoy the week of fun!

School chaplain Fr. Kevin Dyer, S.J., reads from a book containing minutes of a Jesuit New Orleans Sodality meeting in 1919. Fr. Dyer then introduced this year’s theme of the Sodality—Jesus Christ—reminding members that the Anima Christi prayer, when recited at Mass and Eucharistic Adoration, increases devotion to Christ. Both the Sodality and Student Campus Ministry met during the first full week of school in St. Ignatius Hall in order to start a spiritual fire that will bring students closer to the mission of Jesuit High School. Visit the Spirituality page to learn how Christian formation is an integral part of Jesuit’s educational mission. 

Senior executive board aide Dylan Sellars hangs up the first student council flyer of the year, conveniently placed across the student council office and above the water fountains. The flyer promotes the annual Back to School Luau, which is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 24 in the Gayle & Tom Benson Arena. Click here to see all the details! 

Junior Luke Besh takes a look at the new Student Handbook and Planner during the first full week of the 2019-2020 school year. With five minutes remaining in Mr. John Lavie’s last-period math class, students were given the time to organize their upcoming assignments and prepare for after-school activities. In addition to their planners, students can make use of the Weekly Calendar of Events page on the Jesuit website. 

After Investiture ceremony, the featured event of New Students’ Orientation, new Blue Jays ended their day waving goodbye to the past. As instructed by Coach Terry Ursin, the newcomers then turned around to see their Big Brothers, who led everyone in the auditorium to cheers and chants filled with Blue Jay spirit. The welcoming pep rally gave new students a glimpse of future fun events that happen throughout the school year. Leading the pep rally were the Blue Jay Band, the cheerleading team, the new student council executive board, and Coach Ursin.

Senior Big Brother BJ Williams enters the first floor hallway with his Jesuit Little Brothers Troy Holden (left) and Mandell Blackstone (right), who each came prepared and dressed in coat and tie for Pre-Freshman Book Day. The new Blue Jays appreciated the experience of their Big Brothers as they took their ID photos, turned in paperwork, and proceeded through the queue of stations in preparation for the new school year. The Jesuit admissions office thanks the Big Brothers for helping their Little Brothers navigate the second of two Book Days. 

Junior Jeremy Howat leads the charge moving boxes from the loading truck to the Blue Jay Shop as (left to right) freshman Wade Rogers, junior Kian Badie, senior Ryan Castellon, senior Richard Montoya, and junior Zack Casebonne push their carts up the ramp. The half-dozen Blue Jays have kept their business ties strong, all working together for consecutive years to help maintain the order of the Blue Jay Shop. 

Nicholas Cantelli ’19, who just graduated, stops by Jesuit to drop off used uniforms for the Used Book & Uniform Sale, set for Wednesday, Aug. 7, from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. in the Student Commons. The Used Book & Uniform Drop Off took place on Monday, Aug. 5, 9 a.m. to noon. Jesuit thanks the young alumni, returning students, and parents for their generosity and effort that will allow students and parents to shop for great deals at this year’s sale.

Just before leaving for their annual band camp, the spirited and seasoned Jayettes gather with new members of the squad. With the school year just around the corner, the Blue Jay Band and Jayettes are spending the last week of summer gearing up for the fall season. They traveled by bus to Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, where they welcomed new members into their ranks for a week of hard work, team-building, and fun. As the auxiliary to the Blue Jay Band, the Jayettes are spending the week learning the coordinates for the field show for the 2019-2020 school year.