At a lunchtime Pep Rally on Friday in the Traditions Courtyard, Blue Jays are pumped up for the big football game against crosstown rival Brother Martin.

Juniors and seniors in Mrs. Kate Arthurs-Goldberg’s Public Speaking classes performed radio theater versions of Rudyard Kipling’s “Mark of the Beast” and Edgar Allan Poe’s “Cask of Amontillado” today in the auditorium for fellow Blue Jays. The performances included always-entertaining Foley sound effects. Performers included seniors Ryan Bergeron, Mitch Bourgeois, Austin Lanier, Coury Miller, Ashton Queyrouze, Preston Raffray, and Dalton Stieffel; and juniors Nathan Cusimano, Dylan Daboval, Garrett Perez, and Paul Stapp.

Several Blue Jays used their lunch time Wednesday to think about their college careers. These Blue Jays met with a representative from the University of Notre Dame. Students were able to ask questions about the university and college life. Representatives from a colleges throughout the United States regularly visit Jesuit to give out informational materials and answer student’s questions. Check the calendar on the College Planning page for upcoming college visits.

When freshman Ryan Armond went to the Student Commons to get a flu shot, he questioned the size of the needle. But after getting his vaccination, he admitted to the nurse that despite the size of the needle he didn’t really feel much of anything. At the day’s end, 82 vaccinations (shots and nasal mist) were administered.

Admissions director Bret Hanemann ’85 meets with Open House tour guides in the Auditorium Monday during lunch. Several juniors and seniors, and their Little Brothers, will guide prospective students and their families through Open House on Wednesday, November 6. The tours help prospective Blue Jays not only explore Jesuit’s campus, but also its co-curricular activities, student life, traditions, academic excellence, and, of course, Blue Jay spirit.

Just beyond the Fossil Excavation activity in Traditions Courtyard, pre-freshman Preston Dantin multitasks during lunch period, having a bite to eat while catching up on homework.

An installation crew from BigSigns.com hangs a mesh banner emblazoned with the Jesuit “J” on the second floor Roussel Building. The banner is one of several being installed this week. The signage not only adds Blue Jay spirit, but also privacy for locker rooms and camouflage for storage areas. Additional signage will be installed on the first floor of the Roussel Building.

Sophomore Matt Zabrowski listens to sophomore Felix Rabito playing a few tunes on the piano in the Student Commons after school today. Felix, who says he has been playing piano since he was six, gets a kick out of being a member of the Odd Instruments Orchestra, one of the 50-something co-curriculars offered at Jesuit.

Members of the Student Council, with the help of Events Coordinator & Auditorium Manager D.J. Galiano ’07, transport a unique decoration into the Traditions Courtyard in honor of the theme for Homecoming Week 2013: Jurassic Park. The adventure 65 million years in the making continues as Homecoming activities occur each day throughout the week.

Following the completion of exams on Friday, the Blue Jay varsity football team gathered on the Will Clark Field for a dress rehearsal in preparation for Saturday afternoon’s game against Archbishop Shaw.

The Urban Farming club on Thursday plants its winter crop just across the street from Will Clark Field. From left, club co-moderator Mr. Gavin Daigle ’04, freshman Sam Amkieh, senior Connor Gruntz, and junior Juan Martinez  plant broccoli, cauliflower, and flowers as natural pesticides. The club of about 35 dedicated students — more than double from last year’s number — meets on Saturdays and teams of students water the garden after school throughout the school week.

These Blue Jays were having fun playing a pickup football game, 4 vs. 4, on the Will Clark Field at the end of the second day of 1st quarter exams. And then the Wild Photographer happened along, interrupted their airplay, and lined them up for a photo. They cooperated and did not seem to mind, and went back to their game moments later. From left are juniors Kevin Kelley and Tyler Fox; sophomore William Waguespack; junior Hector Zepeda; sophomore Matt Zabrowski; juniors Matt Subervielle and Andrew Liang; and, pre-freshman Nicholas Ho.

As the first day of 1st quarter exams end, a trio of pre-freshmen, from left, Mel Allen, Andrew Dufour, and Joshua Candies, patiently wait under one of the oaks in the Traditions Courtyard for their rides home to materialize. The three Jays hail from three distinct neighborhoods – Gentilly, Gretna, and River Ridge.

Blue Jays relax in the Traditions Courtyard on Wednesday following their taking of standardized tests such as the PSAT, PLAN, and Explore. Blue Jays hold animated conversations under the oaks while devouring snacks that are washed down with ice cold refreshments. Students can take a deep breath knowing that come Thursday and Friday, they will have completed their first quarter exams.

Fr. John Brown, S.J. was determined to relocate a possum that had sought refuge in a small tree in the Traditions Courtyard. When Morning Assembly was over on Friday, Oct. 11, Fr. Brown coaxed the critter out of the tree and chased it all the way to the front entrance of the auditorium on S. Solomon Street. There, the lumbering 20-pound nocturnal animal did what it is best known for — it played possum. This gave Fr. Brown an opportunity to grasp the only native North American marsupial by its tail and move it from harm’s way. “We released a happy and healthy male possom in a much larger tree where he will be safe,” said Fr. Brown, a native of Patasá, a town of some 250 Cajuns just south of Eunice, LA. Growing up on a crawfish/ rice/ wheat farm with his parents and 11 siblings, Fr. Brown learned at an early age to catch all sorts of God’s creatures.

(Photo courtesy of Mr. Matt Orillion ’98, Jesuit’s director of student activities.)

After taking a quick in-house jog, freshmen Jackson Melnyk blows bubbles in a blue liquid solution to test for levels of carbon dioxide during biology class taught by Ms. Holly Smith. Freshmen Matt Nguyen and J.P. Tujague watch the solution turn from blue to green.