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.

Does Jesuit have a new mascot in the works? Well, not exactly. If you’ve ever walked around campus at lunch time, you may have seen Jesuit’s president, Fr. Christopher Fronk, S.J., walking with his best buddy, Shipmate. Shippy, as he’s affectionately known, is a fetching mixed-breed pup (Yorkshire Terrier and Shih Tzu) and no stranger to hard work. Shippy can sit, shake, rollover, stick-em-up, jump through hula-hoops, and even say his prayers. Fr. Fronk adopted Shippy when he returned from his tour of duty in Afghanistan, and it’s a match made in heaven…

On Wednesday in Traditions Courtyard, Blue Jays on the MCJROTC color guard prepare after exams to become the new leaders of the battalion. As MGySgt. J.R. Piseno directs sophomores Gus Huete and Marseyas Fernandez to practice their march, juniors Will Shropshire and Gabe Dupuy show their support from the back of the line for the previous pair. The rising juniors and seniors in the color guard look forward to continued success and leadership in the MCJROTC program.

About 30 rising seniors met with school administrators in St. Ignatius Hall on Tuesday to take part in the Class of 2018 Student Leadership Meeting. Student council members, team captains, and club presidents discussed ways to improve attendance at school events, grade level interaction, and use of technology in student life. The class leadership initiative was started in 2013 by Fr. Raymond Fitzgerald, S.J. ’76.

The first day of 4th quarter exams ended at noon today, and many hard-working Blue Jays remain hungry for the finish line. Freshmen Luke Haefele, Lloyd Passafume, Stewart Talbot, Connor Quaglino, Hayes Martin, Mr. Ryan Migliore ’11, Tom Levy, Darren Tsang, and Jonathan Tittle feasted on pizza at Theo’s today after exams. Mr. Migliore taught them for either Latin (last year) or Theology (this year). The rising sophomores wanted to get together for lunch with one of their favorite teachers to wish him farewell and good luck in graduate school at the University of Michigan.

One might think that the last thing students would want on their final day of classes is to spend more time with their teachers. While other Blue Jays were racing to get home after a long year of studies, sophomore William Bostick takes time to catch up with his former theology teacher, Mr. James Michalik, talking about – of all things – his upcoming finals. Students will navigate their exam schedule next week as a final test of their knowledge before taking a much deserved break from studies over the summer.

Following the recent Cinco de Mayo celebration, the newly elected student council officers get into the spirit by giving out churros during lunch in Traditions Courtyard. Freshman Keating Landry walks away from the table more than satisfied as juniors Adam Larriviere, John Howell, and Robert Cerise hand out the delicious treats.

On Day 152 of the school year – with only two days to go – students are by this time very much in their element in chemistry class. Juniors Gabe Sims, Chris Ross, Matthew Ward, and Alex Stapp show great ease in navigating the acid/base titration lab for their teacher, Mr. Peter Muller ’81. The state-of-the-art labs were part of a plan to overhaul the science facilities beginning with the 2002 renovations of the third floor labs and completed in 2008-2009 with the four labs on the fourth floor.