These two Blue Jays look extra blue today as the Wild Photographer peers through the blue screen walls of a life-size maze in Traditions Courtyard. The “Zoo Maze” was part of a safari-themed Welcome Week for Blue Jays of all classes, hosted by the Student Council. Photos from Welcome Week can be found on the Student Life page.

Freshman Matthew Vlosich picks up his ACT Aspire score report from Guidance Counselor Mr. Andrew Schiro. Freshman filed in and out of St. Ignatius Hall throughout lunch Tuesday to pick up their standardized test scores. The ACT Aspire assesses student readiness in English, math, reading, science, and writing. Jesuit offers several ways to help Blue Jays prepare for various standardized tests, such as the ACT and PSAT/SAT Prep Courses.

The Fencing Club members star-cross their foils for a quick photo as they come together for their first meeting of the school year. Pictured from left are sophomores John Drake, Ryan Tucker, Andrew Gruntz, and Eddie Redmann with the club president, senior Ethan Gilberti. The students practice and compete with one another every Monday after school. The club is moderated by Mr. Wade Trosclair ’07. This is one of over 60 active co-curricular clubs and organizations offered at Jesuit. Blue Jays will learn more on Rush Days held during the lunch hour on Sept. 8-10 .

Audio-visual coordinator Jason Giaccone steps back from his video camera to take a penetrating stare at someone else taking pictures at Morning Assembly – the Wild Photographer. Giaccone, who is also assistant band director and a fine arts teacher, was shooting the video of the Katrina 10-year remembrance addresses by Fr. McGinn and alumnus William Stoudt ’07.

Junior Nick Pham takes a turn at the board working through a problem in Mr. John Lavie’s math class.

Blue Jays take advantage of the quiet and the latest technology while studying and working in the Resource Center Monday after school. Located on the second floor in the Hall of Honors, the Resource Center is open 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. on regular instruction days; 8:50 a.m. – 4 p.m. on faculty meeting days; and, 7 a.m. – noon on exam days. (See Campus Map.)

During school time, students must have their cell phones turned off and out of sight. Woe to the Blue Jay whose cell phone goes off during class. But moments after the dismissal bell rings, cell phones become ubiquitous around Jesuit. They magically appear everywhere. These eight sophomores, seated in the Traditions Courtyard while patiently waiting to be picked up Friday afternoon, were thoroughly engrossed with their various cellular devices. All eight Blue Jays said they were using their cell phones to text friends and family. From left are Stephen Ecuyer, Jackson Butterbaugh, Clayton Merwin, Brian Taylor, Malcolm Sundell, Robert Christmann, Albert Bienvenu, and Eddie Redmann.

Alumnus Scout Serpas ’13 talks to Mr. Michael Prados’ sophomore English class Thursday afternoon. Serpas is currently at LSU majoring in finance with a minor in Spanish. Serpas told Blue Jays stories about how he spent the summer living in Argentina. He encouraged Blue Jays to travel and do service work if they are able. Serpas served as senior class president for the Class of 2013.

These four pre-freshmen — Jonathan Howat, Jacob Treigle, Grant Jordan, and Beau Burk — were among those Blue Jays enjoying a chicken sandwich during the morning break. Due to a small price increase, Jays will dish out an extra quarter (now $1.75) to satisfy this late-morning craving. For meal prices and more information, visit the Cafeteria page.

Blue Jays gather in the auditorium to watch and cheer on Jesuit-based Retif Oil playing for the 2015 American Legion Word Series baseball championship. The game, held in Shelby, N.C., is being broadcast on ESPNU and streamed online. The Oilers are playing in their final game of the season against Chapin-Newberry, S.C., the same team they defeated on Saturday, 5-2. The Oilers last won the Legion’s World Series in 2012 and hope to reclaim the national title. (#ALWS2015 is the official hashtag for the tournament.)

New faculty member Mrs. Kate Brauner uses real-life and tangible examples to explain points, lines, and planes to her freshmen geometry class. Jesuit welcomes Mrs. Brauner as one of 15 new faculty members to join the staff this year. Use the online faculty and staff directory to find contact information.

Freshmen Payton Hedrick (left) and Jake Stiegler review their schedules as they head toward their first class following Morning Assembly in the Traditions Courtyard. Today was the first day for all 1,395 Blue Jays, including 24 new freshmen.

Maintenance staff members Brian Habisreitinger, Jimmy Huck (director of maintenance), and Ernest Pierre helped to move new desks into Room 231 just in time for the start of school. The room was among six second-floor classrooms along Banks and Palmyra streets that were renovated over the summer, a project that is a part of a five-year plan to upgrade and enhance the infrastructure and technology in the school building. Blue Jays will see other updates when they return to school on August 14 as well. Among them are an improved courtyard (drainage), larger hallway doors, and new computers in the labs.

The Marine Corps JROTC rifle team cadets take a break from training during their two-day camp. MCJROTC is holding camps for its co-curricular teams this week (Aug. 3-7) in preparation for the the school year. New cadets attended an orientation on Monday, followed by two days each of Rifle Team camp, Drill Team camp, and Marine Band camp. Cadets also practiced in Armed and Unarmed Drill Team camps. Learn more about Jesuit’s MCJROTC and the other 60+ co-curricular activities offered in the 2015-16 school year.

Campers in Jesuit’s Robotics Summer Camp, use their hands-on experience with LEGO® Mindstorms® EV3 Robots to engage in a friendly competition. Teams of campers designed, built, and programmed autonomous robots to complete a set of missions in a competition. The competition, which was the campers’ final camp activity, was attended by an audience of family and friends. The camp is in its second year of operation and is organized and run by Mr. Kyle White, who teaches physics at Jesuit and moderates the school’s robotics club. Jesuit Robotics Camp is open to boys and girls going into 6th-8th grades. 

A Jesuit Summer Day Camper kicks around a soccer ball Friday during a water play day. Some campers had a blast playing in the big water slides set up on the back field, while others took up a game of wiffle ball, soccer, or other fun field activities. Jesuit Summer Day Camp is open to boys ages 5-12. Camp activities include: field trips and tours, swimming, bowling, softball, kickball, Laser Tag, movies, Bounce Spectrum, flag football, basketball, picnics, and more! For more information on Day Camp, or all other Jesuit summer camps, visit the Summer Programs page.