In 2007, graduating Blue Jays honored their alma mater by donating a statue of Saint Francis Xavier to the school. Led by senior class president Will Baay, the seniors raised $2,000 (primarily by selling chicken sandwiches at lunch) for the gift. Baay and other senior class leaders Jeff Schott, Philip Sampognaro, and Patrick Vocke—with the help of Whitney Keller ’81, Mike Varisco ’83, and Br. Dardis ’58—installed the statue in the garden near the Palmyra Street side of the entrance to the chapel. The statue stands as a tangible sign of the class’s appreciation for the education and formation they received during their years as Blue Jays. Jesuit would like to thank the Class of 2007 for their most generous gift and wish them well at their 10-year reunion this weekend. Have fun, guys!

Out with the old, and in with the new. Ms. Sharon Hewlett, Jesuit’s Director of Information Technology, needed a few extra hands last week in order to deliver these 125 boxes to the Resource Center. Happy to help were summer aide Ryan Berzas ’15, events coordinator DJ Galiano ’07, and new database administrator Jordan Holmer ’12. Each box contains a brand new Dell computer that will be set up and ready for the start of the new school year. The technology department refreshes the school’s computers every summer and replaces them every other summer. The aim is to provide students the opportunity to work on systems that have maximum power and take up minimum space.

Talk about a magical moment in Blue Jay history! Blue Jay magazine history, more specifically. In fact, this year marks the 90th year since the student-run publication existed.

This week’s Throwback Thursday photo shows three Blue Jay golfers meeting “The King” of golf. Arnold Palmer, often called “The King” or “Arnie” for short, had won six major championships by 1963. With this success he drew such a diverse following, known as Arnie’s Army. All seniors at the time, Chick Schoen ’63, Mike Guarisco ’63, and Mike Eagan ’63 got the chance of a lifetime when they shook hands with Arnie at Lakewood Country Club. Lakewood was the site of the New Orleans Invitational (now the Zurich Classic); and it was the late Garic Schoen ’38, Chick’s father, who brought in Palmer for the PGA tournament. Although Arnie died in September of last year, his name, his Army, and this picture will live on forever. Jesuit photographer Richard Cambre ’66 captured this unforgettable memory.

This information is just a summary of the “Annus Mirabilis” section from last semester’s issue of Jaynotes. Look out for stories like this in the Spring/Summer 2017 issue, hitting mailboxes in August!

“Complete body control, stamina, grace, balance, poise, and a certain artistic sense is what makes a good gymnast,” according to the 1961 Blue Jay Gymnastics Team. Mr. Fred Martinez put together Jesuit’s first gymnastics team in 1958. In the team’s second year of competition, the Jays would capture the LHSAA state championship. A dynasty was born. The Blue Jays won the state title seven times between 1958 and 1967. Gymnastics remains an LHSAA sport today, though Jesuit does not field a team. Pictured here, Gerard Louis Danos ’61 executes an “L-sit” on the still rings apparatus.

Two Fridays ago, the summer day campers had the time of their lives! Why? It was not only Friday, but it was also Water Day. Blue Jay Summer Camp director Troy Baglio and his team of moderators prepared four giant water slides on Will Clark Field. The two outside slides named “Big Kahuna,” along with the “Wipe Out!” and “Rockin’ Rapids” inflatables, left every camp member with the most fun-filled Water Day. Camp ends next Friday, July 7.

While Bob Barker and Oprah Winfrey made the “car giveaway” a showbiz staple, Jesuit once raffled off its own donated car for only $1 at the 5th Annual Blue Jay Bazaar in 1979. That’s right. For $1, you could win a new car. A dollar. Seriously! And pictured here, proudly displaying the beautiful, brand-spankin’ new 1979 Monte Carlo Landau (fully loaded and Jesuit Blue!) are Bazaar Co-Chairs Mrs. Jane Kingsmill, Mrs. Mary Ellen Yager, and Mrs. Sally Duplantier. Be sure to come back next week for Throwback Thursday when we pull another gem from the Jesuit archives!

Assistant football coach Troy Baglio—along with a handful of linemen from the team—provided some muscle early this morning by carrying a newly crafted altar up three flights of stairs into the sanctuary of the Chapel of the North American Martyrs. The facilities and maintenance department was very grateful for the help. Pictured left to right are Matthew Frischhertz, Dylan McKeough, Mitchell Berry, Sonny Hazard, Perry Ganci, Gabe Bopp, Anthony Ciblich, and Coach Baglio.

Have you ever noticed the façade above the entrances to the auditorium and the Chapel of the North American Martyrs? It bears striking bas reliefs of three of the North American Martyrs (Saints John Lalande, Isaac Jogues, and Rene Goupil). A bas relief sculpture is when the shapes carved are slightly higher than the flat background, allowing the work to be viewed from many angles without distortion of the figures themselves. Pictured here, maintenance and facilities staff member Jack Truxillo, Jr. stands on a crane in order to clean the entirety of the façade. For a detailed history of the talented sculptor who created the decorative elements on the façade, be sure to read the Annus Mirabilis section in the summer issue of Jaynotes that will hit mailboxes in early August.

The 1930s was a robust time in New Orleans for jazz and swing music, and it was no different for the Blue Jay Orchestra. Every school function during the 1929-30 school year was enlivened by its perfect interpretations of the classics and modern jazz. The orchestra’s fame spread well beyond the walls of the school, and on frequent occasions, they were asked to perform for various events at schools, and even convents, around the city. During the football season, a few brass-playing members of the orchestra banded together to play at the games. Though small, their efforts paid off in a big way. By the start of the 1930-31 school year, a 40-piece, uniformed Blue Jay Marching Band was introduced; and the rest is history! Keep checking the website on Throwback Thursdays for more from the Blue Jay archives!

Congratulations to the classes of 1967 and 2012 for a record-setting reunion weekend. Celebrating their Golden Anniversary 50-year reunion, the ’67 class gathered on Friday for a stag reception in the Student Commons and returned to Jesuit on Saturday for a couples’ mass in the small chapel. Then, the couples migrated to the delicious buffet dinner at New Orleans Country Club. Meanwhile on Saturday, the Class of 2012 broke the previous 5-year reunion record (148), which was held by the class of 2004, with 150 Blue Jays in attendance at the Rusty Nail.

June can only mean one thing – it’s time for summer camp! Rising seniors Frank Sclafani and Brandon DeRojas aren’t headed to space camp or outdoors camp to begin their summer but to Krewe de Camp – a week-long, overnight summer camp experience for children with developmental disabilities. Frank and Brandon krewe up here with their two campers for arts and crafts. Other activities include swimming, outdoor games, concerts, a dance, and a fair. All members of the Class of 2018 will be participating in a variety of service opportunities during the summer as intensive experiences of living as Men for Others.

Jesuit’s commitment to academic excellence doesn’t stop when summer sets in. Members of the math department put their first few days of the summer break to good use by holding a curriculum institute. The three day evaluation of the curriculum sought to make sure students are reaching their potential through the current classrooms channels of challenge and support. Math department members demonstrate here that their hard work can also come with a few smiles.

Back in 1982, computers were still a thing of the future. A handful of classrooms throughout the school were equipped with television monitors and WJHS was the hottest TV channel (and radio station) on campus. Senior elective courses were offered in film-making, advertising, and radio-tv production. Pictured here, Roy LeBlanc ’83 is practicing for his future in broadcasting.

Over the course of the summer, the JHS web team will be digging through the Blue Jay archives to post a series of Throwback Thursday Wild Photos! Check back every week for a walk down memory lane. 

As mentioned in yesterday’s Wild Photo, the meticulous Maintenance and Facilities crew are taking advantage of the summer break by working on some special projects around campus. One of the team’s recently finished works is the newly painted ceiling in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs. A big thanks to longtime staff members Sidney Gleason and Kent Broussard for the job well done.

Mr. Eddie Habisreitinger, who has served on the Jesuit Facilities and Maintenance crew for 29 years, continues his work on a current project for the Chapel of the North American Martyrs. This morning in the boiler room, the journeyman carpenter measured the 8 feet by 3 feet altar that he hopes to complete in a swift two weeks. The finish on the altar will be a golden oak stain. The recently completed project in the chapel involved other members of the maintenance team – Sidney Gleason and Kent Broussard – who painted the ceiling above the altar.

The Baccalaureate Mass on Saturday afternoon showcased the Jesuit choir’s long year of hard work and preparation. On Friday before the group practiced the repertoire for Mass, they met on the steps of the Chapel of the North American Martyrs for a noontime end-of-the-year barbecue. Manning the pit was junior Jordan Merritt, while freshman Carlos Barrera stood by to add a slice of cheese. Choir members John Nuttli, Thomas Sagona, Leo John Arnett, William Mentz, Chris Ross, and Ben Finicle enjoy the sunny afternoon as they wait for the burgers to grill.