Ms. Helen Swan, director of student affairs, meets with juniors Myles Blunt, Jacob Alterman, and Matthew Mitchell to discuss the scheduling of senior courses for next year.

Prof. Nilda Rivera gives seniors Luke Hahn (left) and Quentin Marks a little guidance in a Spanish language lab Wednesday afternoon. Blue Jays watched a Spanish-language film, then answered comprehension questions on a computer-based system.

Sophomore Philip Meric and junior Matthew Mitchell visited a representative from The Putney and National Geographic Student Expedition program during lunch to learn about pre-college enrichment programs all over the world in areas of community service, photography, cultural exploration, and global awareness.

Members of The Blue Jay Yearbook staff and students in Dr. Jean-Marc Duplantier’s Publications class stand ready with the 2012-2013 edition of the annual journal. While last year’s book may be hot off the presses, there is no rest for the weary as the class continues their hard work on the 2013-2014 edition. From left: seniors Matthew Alikhani, Blake Baker, C.J. Avrard, James Licciardi, and Brian Sevin.

Jesuit scholastic Julio Minsal-Ruiz, S.J. displays a crucifix to Blue Jays while leading Friday’s Assembly in morning prayer. A member of the theology department, Mr. Minsal-Ruiz teaches courses in Christian morality and Christian vocations. He routinely uses appropriate “props” for emphasis and motivation in the classroom – obviously in the Traditions Courtyard as well – and to hook his students’ interest, stimulate their curiosity, and unleash their imagination. Beginning his second semester at Jesuit, Mr. Minsal-Ruiz also enjoys working with the Sodality.

Sophomore Peyton Ruppert picks up an agenda for today’s Pro-Life Club meeting that focused on the club’s upcoming trip to Washington, D.C. Club co-moderators Susan de Boisblanc and Scott Delatte will lead 47 students in the annual March for Life event held Jan. 18-22. They march in solidarity with thousands of other Americans, mainly young people, who believe that the right to life is inherent from the moment of conception and present until the moment of natural death. Parents of participating students will meet on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 6 p.m. to review trip details.

The Wild Photographer catches Mr. Jason Lalonde, S.J. distributing tests to his sixth period class. These studious Blue Jays are no doubt well prepared to take one of their first tests of the new quarter.

Pre-freshman Kaden Knecht buys a Jesuit sweatshirt from the Blue Jay Shop after school on Tuesday, Jan. 7. Daily after the dismissal bell, students file into the shop to purchase Jesuit-imprinted jackets, sweatshirts, P.E. apparel, and spirit wear, as well as books and supplies. The Blue Jay Shop is open regularly during lunch and after school.

The cold weather was a topic of conversation for these Blue Jays in the Traditions Courtyard Monday after school. Pre-freshman Thomas Sagona, juniors Daniel Sagona and Westley West, freshmen Noah Griffin and Jared Tonglet, and pre-freshman Alec Maraldo are dressed for the weather. As below freezing temperatures blanket the metro area beginning Monday night, Blue Jays and their families are encouraged to protect their plants, pets, and pipes. And with the cold expected to last until Wednesday, Blue Jays should also review the cold weather dress code policy, located on pages 49-50 of The Bulletin.

Events Coordinator & Auditorium Manager D.J. Galiano ’07 and Special Projects Director Br. William Dardis, S.J. ’58 proudly display a gift from Santa Claus, a Jesuit school bus. Jesuit has several buses, used for transporting students to and from co-curricular events and athletic games and practices. The newest arrived just in time for Christmas and the new year.

Members of the student council, assorted minstrels, elves, and gypsies strolled through the administration building on Friday singing Christmas carols and extolling the staff to shake the Scrooges off and grab some spirit of the season.

Sophomore Alexander Vargas watches his experiment go up in flames in Chemistry I taught by Mr. David Storm. After completing a unit on chemical reactions, students used magnesium and hydrochloric acid to produce hydrogen gas which was collected in a balloon. Using a flame at the end of a long stick, students finished their experiment by holding a flame to the balloon and hoping for the flash of an exothermic reaction.

Members of the Odd Instruments Orchestra entertain Blue Jays in the Traditions Courtyard by performing in a Brown Bag Concert. The group played a mix of contemporary hits and holiday tunes… each with unconventional instruments. Brown Bag Concerts at Jesuit began in the early 1980s, when as a sophomore, Harry Connick, Jr. ’85 approached then-student activities director (current alumni director) Mat Grau ’68 with the idea. Over the years, travelling bands and groups, alumni, and current Blue Jays have all performed during the lunchtime concerts.

Pre-freshmen Christian Lacoste, Roux Stedman, Tyler Mire, Harrison Landry, and Mitchell Berry keep their hands under cover of pockets and long sleeves in this week’s Christmastime cold temperatures hovering under 50 F. See live weather conditions and the forecast through the eye of camera perched atop the school.

Long lines form in St. Ignatius Hall as Blue Jays receive their PSAT results Monday afternoon at lunch. Sophomore Darren Ruiz reaches the front of one of the lines and is greeted by Guidance Counselor Aurora Daigle, who gives him his results packet. Parents should review their sons’ scores using the PSAT Tutorial for Parents. Students and parents can also review several free resources here.

Seniors, from left, Patrick Russo, Reuben Hogan, and Paul Cousins were part of a contingency of Blue Jays who spent their P.E. period on Friday afternoon assisting with the preparations for the annual Christmas Boutique at Jesuit on Saturday, Dec. 7. The helpful bag Jays carried sacks of greens containing Christmas wreaths and garlands which have been stored in the walk-in cooler for the past few days. The Christmas greens were brought to the Student Commons, where volunteers organized the merchandise for easy pick-up on Saturday.