After final exams were finished, more than 20 members of the Class of 2017 gathered to brainstorm ideas for the upcoming school year. The rising seniors broke into various groups and discussed topics ranging from how to encourage Blue Jay spirit to planning for events and pep rallies. Mr. Matt Orillion, director of student activities, led the workshop.

Junior Zach Smith drops off items for the Used Book Sale to volunteer Christine Zazulak on Tuesday morning. Blue Jays may drop off the books they want to sell in the Used Book Sale to volunteers outside Room 329 throughout this exam week. Learn more about the Used Book Sale and read the drop off instructions.

Juniors in Ms. Jennifer Buuck’s English IV class met in the Traditions Courtyard to hone their public speaking skills. Kai Rozas demonstrated how to throw a cast net. After giving a speech and demonstrating the technique himself, Rozas turned the net over to his classmates, who put what they learned in action to throw the net themselves.

In an inter-class competition, juniors Mason Graham, Nate Beech, Daniel Leithman, Jaord Larriviere, and John Bagert watch marshmallows being catapulted from their homemade mini-trebuchets. The students built the machines using only newspaper, tape, toilet paper rolls, and string for Ms. Khanh Nguyen’s physics class as an example of a siege engine that transfers gravitational energy into kinetic energy. The “best” trebuchet of the day was judged on shooting distance, sturdiness, and aesthetics. The winning MacGyver-esque machine was built and captained by Nate Beech who won a dozen egg rolls, homemade by Ms. Nguyen.

Jesuit’s faculty and staff members who serve as moderators of various clubs and organizations throughout the school year were treated to a delicious lunch. The special meal was hosted by the Office of Student Activities and the mother’s lunch committee, which is organized by Ms. Kim Lee. Moderators noshed on a huge spread of delicious homemade salads, pasta, side dishes, and desserts.

Sophomore Seth Silva looks up from his solar cooker created to cook a hot dog with heat from the sun as a final project for Mr. Sheridan Moran’s environmental science class. The students used a variety of recycled and reusable household materials – from pizza boxes and aluminum foil to baking pans and sheets of glass – to craft their cookers and heat the hot dog to 200 degrees Fahrenheit to complete the project.

Mr. Bob Roso received a pleasant surprise this week when a former student showed up to offer thanks. Nathan Vicknair, a 2011 alumnus, stopped in the Jesuit cafeteria, where his former English teacher was on lunch duty, to let him know that his pupil has been accepted to medical school. Vicknair, who received his undergraduate degree at LSU, will be attending the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) in Spartanburg, South Carolina. He starts in July. Roso taught Vicknair when he was a junior and assisted him with the personal essay he used in his medical school application. “I couldn’t have done it without you,” Vicknair shared with a smile. The vote of confidence prompted an even larger smile from his appreciative and extremely proud teacher.

At Morning Assembly students honored the Blessed Virgin Mary by celebrating the annual May Crowning ceremony. Junior Denny McGinnis led the student body in a reflection on the Marian meaning of the Alma Mater and invited members of the Sodality of Our Lady to come forward to lead the school in singing. The Alma Mater not only shows respect for Jesuit High School, which helps form students throughout their teenage years, but also pays special tribute to Mary, the “star” of students’ “youthful years,” whose banners lead the way to victory in “heaven’s spheres.” Pre-freshman Christopher Charles crowned the statue of Mary in the Traditions Courtyard with assistance from junior Cameron Maheu.

When the dismissal bell rang, whoops and hollers filled the halls as the Class of 2016 raced out the school doors, through the Traditions Courtyard, and onto Will Clark Field to celebrate their last full day of class as Jesuit students. Waiting in the parking lot were several parents with smartphones and tablets at the ready to video the spectacle. (View the video of the senior exodus.)

Sra. Nilda Rivera’s Spanish AP students gathered for a final class lunch today as a farewell to their senior classmates. The fiesta pequeña featured arroz congri, costillas, tostones, and flan. Pictured from left are senior Aubrey Champlin, Sr. Rivera, senior John James, senior Andrew Cerise, sophomore Franco Funes, junior Nate Beech, and senior Joshua Lacoste.

A quintet of freshmen relax in the Traditions Courtyard Tuesday after school. Pictured from left to right are: Joshua Stedman, Sal DeMatteo, Matthew Sauviac, Ian Recile, and Jonathan Rink.

Juniors went on a class field trip today to explore art in many forms around the city. On their visit to the YAYA Glass Factory, they watched a thorough demonstration of how to make a glass flower vase. They also observed the architecture of the Immaculate Conception Jesuit Church and viewed the exhibits in the New Orleans Museum of Art and Sculpture Garden. Mrs. Meg Jennings, Jesuit’s fine arts instructor, organized the trip. Photo by junior Alex Tran for the Media Club.

Jesuit alumnus Jerry Ward ’76 returned to his alma mater to host a photography workshop for the Media Club. Club members Nikhil Gogineni (left) and Alex Tran listen as Ward teaches them photography techniques and gives them easy tips to remember. Ward’s work has been published in Sports Illustrated, Bon Appétit, The New York Times, USA Today, Esquire, Newsweek, The Sporting News, and many others. His diverse body of work includes photos from multiple Super Bowls, Olympic Games, Saturday Night Live, and Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. He specializes in food, architecture, and sports photography. Ward also worked for Tulane University for 15 years and Cannon USA for more than a decade. He currently lives in Dallas where he works as a photographer for the Dallas Museum of Art.

The Faculty and Staff members and seniors took to Alumni Field at John Ryan Stadium to engage in a friendly game of softball where the winners take home bragging rights for at least the remainder of the school year. The game was originally conceived as part of the stadium’s opening weekend festivities. Game organizers hope to make it an annual event. Today’s Senior Class lineup featured: William Brewster, Kyle DiMarco, David Discon, Evan Dudenhefer, Dillon Fuchs, Ro Harper, Peter Hontas, Scott Jenkins, John Kemmerly, Guy Patron, Jr., Zack Robert, Karson Schmitt, Roshan Sojitra, Nolan Stone, and Zack Young. The Faculty/Staff lineup consisted of: Tom Bagwill, Todd Bourgeois, Greg Ernst, Tim Falter, Gino Giambelluca, Jonathan Hernandez, Conner LeBon, Alex Nay, Jay Napolitano, Jeremy Reuther, and Gary Wyss. The game was umpired by Mark Kuss, the father of senior Myles Kuss.

Students and faculty were treated to a guest lecture by the accomplished conductor and opera director Robert Lyall, invited by the Quiz Bowl team. Quiz bowlers often encounter questions about fine arts, and Mr. Lyall was able to help by presenting a detailed overview of all things opera – its history, themes, popularity, and nomenclature. Mr. Lyall is widely known as a conductor of opera, symphony, and ballet and as a creative Artistic Director and producer of opera. He was named the General and Artistic Director of New Orleans Opera in 1998.

Seniors Chase Mascaro (left) and Victor Castellon donate to the blood drive during the morning break Thursday. The National Honor Society sponsored the drive, which was hosted by The Blood Center’s mobile blood drive program. The Blood Center says as many as three different patients may benefit from each Blue Jay’s individual donation.