Mr. Jason Giaccone sells Krispy Kreme donuts to hungry Blue Jays during the 10 minute break Tuesday morning. All proceeds from the donut sales will go toward the Mission Drive. Blue Jays can also purchase slices of pizza during lunch on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during lent with those proceeds also benefiting the Mission Drive.

Mrs. Kathy Juhas holds a study session with seniors Jake Fasick and Thomas Hellmers who are reviewing lessons from their Dual-Enrollment Analysis senior elective. As a dual enrollment class, the students are receiving full college credit for the year-long course (6 credits). Mrs. Juhas is certified by LSU and teaches the class just as it is taught in college. Students submit all assignments and tests online and receive their grades from LSU.

The Marine Corps Mounted Color Guard from Barstow, California visit with members of Jesuit’s MCJROTC Friday morning. The Mounted Color Guard members are active-duty Marines who volunteer their time — evenings, weekends, and holidays — to participate in parades, rodeos, and other events and ceremonies. The unit is in New Orleans to march in several Mardi Gras parades. The horses in the unit are wild mustangs adopted from the Bureau of Land Management’s Adopt a Horse and Burro Program. The guard will appear in several parades this weekend. The group will finish up their Mardi Gras visit when they march in Rex on Fat Tuesday.

With Mardi Gras less than a week away, members of the French Club get into the carnival spirit with a sample of a French king cake, or galette des rois. The club enjoyed the delectable pastry treat and discussed the French traditions associated with the cake. Pictured, from left, are: club president  Thomas Hellmers, Ryan Nguyen, Tyrus Norcise, and Zach Gandy. The French Club — along with the entire student body — will nosh on traditional New Orleans king cakes tomorrow at the annual King Cake Party in the Traditions Courtyard. Since 2009 Blue Jays have celebrated the Friday before Mardi Gras with second lines and king cakes for the entire student body to enjoy.

Freshmen D.J. Ferrier and Willie Robinson compete in a battle of strength and technique in an arm wrestling competition sponsored by the Student Council. Winners of the homeroom contests represented their class in a competition for all to watch during lunch in the courtyard. To no one’s surprise, senior Guy Patron won the championship hands-down.

Juniors Luke Navarro, Nikil Gogenini, Christian Gonzalez, and Samy Amkieh participated in an experiment with the newly-founded Biotechnology Club that involved the transfer of genes, which are coded for a luminescent pigment found in some jellyfish, to E. coli bacteria. This produced bacterial colonies that glowed in the dark. The club, which plans to host monthly biotechnology-focused experiments, is moderated by biology teacher Mrs. Amy Tassin.

After morning assembly in Traditions Courtyard, freshman Nicholas Lacour found his way quickly to the alumnus who spoke and braved the question common of any fan: “Can I get your autograph?” Happy to oblige was 1971 alumnus Steve Foley who played for the Denver Broncos and played twice in the Super Bowl. Foley spoke to the assembly and presented the NFL’s special Golden Football to Jesuit. As part of the Golden Anniversary of the Super Bowl, the NFL is recognizing schools and communities that contributed to Super Bowl history and positively impacted the game of football.

It was serendipity that a group of pre-freshmen found alumnus Nick Rauber ’98 in the hallway after his Career Day presentation to grades 8-10. When Rauber discovered the Blue Jays were about to begin their world geography class taught by Mr. Kevin Murphy, he related stories of his international travels—many with the Outdoor Wish Foundation, which he founded—to their current studies.

A symphony of pings and pongs reverberates through the fourth floor hallway during the Table Tennis Team’s meeting Tuesday afternoon. Freshman David Nimmo (foreground) and pre-freshman Sid Trouard (background) are among a group of three tables playing during the after school practice. The team is moderated by Mr. Alex Nay.

On a cold Friday afternoon in a nearly silent first floor hallway, freshmen and pre-freshmen Debate Club hopefuls make their final preparations just before the start of tryouts. Devoted to debate, original oratory, extemporaneous speaking, dramatic interpretation, and humorous interpretation, the club gives its members an opportunity to participate in competitive interscholastic speech tournaments at the local, state, and national levels. The club is a member of the National Forensics League, the Catholic Forensics League, and the Louisiana High School Speech League and is composed of students from all grade levels. (See Debate Team News.)

The Phils choreographer, Mr. Kenny Beck ’79, directs students in some simple dance movements at auditions for the spring musical “On The Town” on Monday, Jan. 18 in the auditorium. Students are invited to the second and last night of auditions on Tuesday, Jan .19. Get more information and required forms online. Students must have their parents sign the forms to audition for the show.

Senior Cole Retif (standing center in gray pullover) serves as an usher to direct Blue Jays to their pews at January’s monthly Mass, celebrated Wednesday for the entire student body in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs. The principal celebrant was Jesuit president Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J. ’66, who in his homily, spoke of the challenge we face in listening to God’s word and being open to God’s will in our lives: “We ask God for the grace, strength, and insight in our daily lives to see where He is leading us, the power He has given us, the power to heal. We all have power to heal, not physically, but we all have power to heal relationships… God gives us the strength to battle the forces of evil, the forces of evil that want to convince us that we are in charge; that ours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory; that force of evil that wants us to have our way always. The power of God, the power of the Spirit working in us enables us to respond as Jesus did… We ask God for grace and strength to make the right decisions in life.”

Freshman Tyler Lobitz (left) spins the 5×5 Rubik’s Cube while freshman Trevor Spinosa tries to understand the mechanics of the Skewb. The solutions to the both cubes are more than puzzling to most. By twisting and turning the pieces, each player hopes to match all the colors on one side of his 3D puzzle cube. The puzzles are so popular that hundreds of websites and videos are dedicated to helping players “solve the cube.”

Sophomore Kevin Gallagher checks the first floor bulletin board just outside the Student Commons for information about the upcoming intramural basketball season. Play in the first two rounds begins Wednesday in the gym and Roussel Building. The intramural sports program provides an opportunity for students of all grade levels to participate in recreational sports. Under faculty supervision, grade-level leagues are formed for touch football, basketball, and other sports throughout the year. In each sport, homeroom teams compete against each other in games held during the lunch period.

Freshman Freddie Washington goes airborne in a lunchtime slam dunk contest in the Traditions Courtyard. Blue Jays of all grade levels gathered to watch their classmates’ dunks, which ranged from awe-inspiring to downright comical. Members of the Blue Jay basketball team judged each dunk with large scorecards — to the delight of the audience gathered. The contest was all in good fun and to promote the Jay’s district-opening basketball game against Holy Cross on Friday night.

Seniors Evan Slattery (left) and Brady Stiller, along with Sodality Director Mr. Julio Minsal-Ruiz, S.J. and Director of Community Service Projects Mr. Kevin Murphy, place a box outside the Resource Center to collect collect cold weather items for the homeless. The box is one of several placed around campus to collect such items for the Harry Tompson Center, which serves the homeless in New Orleans. The Sodality and the Class of 1984 are working together to collect the items, including men’s coats, winter hats and gloves, and backpacks, underwear, and socks. (More info here.) Donations will be accepted through Friday, Jan. 15. In addition, on Wednesday, Jan. 13, a representative from the Harry Tompson Center will be on campus to speak to Blue Jays about homelessness in New Orleans. The talk will take place in Room 329 during lunch.