With exams out of the way and students home on break, things sure are quiet here at Carrollton and Banks. There’s no better place on campus to see evidence of that than the usually bustling Student Commons, which — besides the ever-festive, albeit lonely, Jayson — will remain empty until classes resume on Tuesday, Jan. 3. Jesuit High School’s faculty, staff, and administration wishes everyone a blessed, happy, and safe Christmas and New Year!

Facilities department team member Mr. Sidney Gleason is busy spreading holiday cheer in the weeks leading up to Santa’s trip down the chimney. During the season, Jesuit displays festive Christmas trees across campus, from the switchboard to the Chapel of the North American Martyrs.

Jesuit’s MCJROTC put on quite the display of strength, determination, and healthy competition during a field meet to close out the first semester. Students split into squadron teams and ran a dizzy bat relay and were splattered with yolk during an egg toss. Perhaps the highlight was a tug-of-war match that even saw Master Gunnery Sergeant J.R. Piseno get in on the action. Pictured here, (from front) pre-freshman Jonathan Morse, freshman Dylan Pearce, freshman Sebi Maraldo, pre-freshman Trevor Chase, freshman Terrol Perkins, and pre-freshman Christopher Ciaccio dig their heels in during an early round of tug-of-war.

Having a little holiday fun of their own, Jesuit’s MCJROTC held a friendly game of White Elephant to celebrate the season. To play, each participant brought a wrapped present and picked a number. When his number was called, the player either chose a new gift or stole someone else’s present. Rather than go for the steal, pre-freshman John Toso tries his luck with a mystery gift, while junior Gabe Dupuy helps him figure out which looks the most promising based on wrapping paper and shape.

After watching the movie Mar Adentro or The Sea Inside, Spanish AP students conducted a trial totally en español for one of the characters. As part of this persuasive exercise, each student played a part — from the accused and witnesses to the defense lawyers and prosecution. Pictured here, senior Joshua Sauviac takes the witness stand as Rev. Francisco, S.J., while his defense attorneys junior Donald Barrett (left) and senior Noah Martin (right) plead his case. As always, Profesora Nilda Rivera plays the leading role as impartial judge.

This week, Mrs. Leslie Merritt’s honors students used their creativity and critical thinking to make geometry take flight. Using only one letter-sized sheet of copy paper, Blue Jays created paper airplanes. While cutting was allowed, students were not able to add weight to the planes by using tape or glue. They then wrote directions — words only, no pictures — on how to make the airplanes, which included 10 different geometric terms. Students then participated in class competitions for distance, creative flight, and accuracy. Pictured here, a group of students launches their planes from the second floor balcony.

On Thursday, the Jesuit table tennis team’s drop shot abilities were on display as players faced Dominican and Ben Franklin in the schools’ first-ever tri-meet competition. In initial rounds, students played members of their own team, with the best Blue Jays moving on to take on opponents from the other schools. Pictured here, junior Christian Lacoste and senior Nikhil Gogineni battle it out in the first bracket in hopes of showcasing their skills in subsequent rounds.

One of the highlights of the Christmas season is being able to spread a little holiday happiness to those in need. In conjunction with the national U.S. Marine Corps Reserve drive, Jesuit’s MCJROTC launched its annual Toys for Tots homeroom contest on Monday. Founded in 1947, the program distributes toys to children whose parents are unable to purchase Christmas gifts. Students will collect new, unwrapped toys for area children through Friday, Dec. 9, and homerooms at each grade level with the most support will win a donut party. Last year, Blue Jays collected nearly 1,000 toys. Pictured here, pre-freshman Gavin Fitzpatrick readies Homeroom 216’s box for filling.

It’s all up in the air as homerooms 802 and 807 battle it out in the class championship game for the fall season of intramural football. Homeroom 802 came away the victors in a hard fought pre-freshman contest, while homeroom 903 won the freshman championship played on Field 2. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors look forward to their class championships all week during lunch on Will Clark Field.

On Monday, the Student Council decked the halls of Jesuit’s first floor, hanging decorations and lights with great care. William Fine, Bo Bell, and Jonathan Vegh make their contributions to the festive spirit (with Mr. D.J. Galiano ’07 providing administrative support), and homerooms will add to the cheer in the weeks ahead by decorating their doors in preparation for the annual Christmas Door Decorating Contest to be judged on Dec. 6.

Students in Homeroom 907 make their final preparations for one of the best days on the Jesuit calendar, the Thanksgiving Drive. The class collected money by donating $5 to post a feather on their homeroom turkey, filling the colorful bird—and the tables of needy families throughout New Orleans—with their generosity. Doing so, the homeroom was able to surpass it’s goal of $350. Homerooms will complete the preparation for their Thanksgiving baskets early Wednesday morning at Robért Fresh Market. After a brief prayer service back on campus, Blue Jays will fan out across New Orleans to deliver the baskets to New Orleans families.

In a nod to the popular reality television show, a staff panel of “shark” investors determined whether or not student-pitched business concepts would sink or swim during this morning’s senior economics elective. Pictured here, Will Landrieu and William Rosevally try to sell their “Wise Ties” idea to the faculty cast, including (from left) their teacher Mr. Tim Falter ’02, Mr. Peter Flores ’09, Mr. Bret Hanemann ’85, Mr. Matt Orillion ’98, Ms. Sylvia Schild, and Mr. Bob Roso. Though the sharks sought out holes in the business plan, the student salesmen held their own and managed to work out a deal.

During an optional community service day for pre-freshmen, a group of Jesuit 8th graders and a lone junior proved that they are sprouting firm foundations as Men for Others. Last weekend, 200 students from across the area planted trees at Joe Brown Park, formerly the Audubon Nature Center, in conjunction with the Audubon Nature Institute. The Jesuit contingent included (from left) science teacher Mr. Andrew Lade ’07, Mason Mahfouz, Dane Moisant, James Bostick, Christopher Gillen, Maxwell Jubenville, Daniel Lichtl, Jackson Gordon, Jacob Nguyen, junior Robert Cerise, and community service director Mr. Kevin Murphy ’00. Photo courtesy of sophomore student photographer RayVan Bellazer.

Jordan Holmer ’12 is spending his first year out of college giving back to his alma mater as a member of the Alumni Service Corps (ASC). ASC participants teach two classes, tutor students, and assist with co-curricular activities, retreats, days of reflection, service days, dances, class-level events, and other programs and activities throughout the school. Here, Jordan is offering his talents to help with the Academic Games program. Applications are now being accepted for the 2017-2018 Alumni Service Corps (ASC). Applicants must be recent graduates of Jesuit High School (Classes of 2012 or 2013) and must have attained a college degree before participating in the program. The deadline to submit applications is Feb. 1, 2017.

Jesuit faces a familiar foe in the opening round of state playoffs, and during a lunchtime pep rally Blue Jays proved that — at the very least — they’ve got the spirit to conquer the Raiders from Archbishop Rummel. Pictured here, team manager Brent Brocato and Student Council president William Fine hype up the crowd, leaving little doubt that Jesuit will emerge victorious. The game kicks off at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12, at Joe Yenni Stadium. Click here for more game details and live streaming information.

In English V AP with Mr. Gary Wyss, the students are the ones doing all the talking. In an effort to increase student engagement, five students are selected to sit in the “inner circle” and lead classroom discussion topics, this time the book The Awakening by Kate Chopin. Christian Gonzalez (bottom right) offers his perspective while (moving clockwise from Christian) Fletcher Lavie, Dylan Meyer, and David Crowson listen and await their opportunity to jump in. Students in the outer circle take notes on the discussion to help broaden their understanding of the text.