Juniors in Ms. Nilda Rivera’s Spanish IV class spent the last period on Friday telling jokes as an exercise to demonstrate the management of both English and Spanish. The original joke is a simple one in English, geared for kids 5-10 years-old. The challenge is to translate the joke into Spanish, retaining the nuances that make it funny. This is more difficult to pull off successfully because culture does not translate. The trio of jokers, from left, Nick Rosenson, Anthony Taffaro, and Josh de Boisblanc discovered that a thorough understanding of the language is the key to delivering an effective punch line.

Freshman Troy Reilly laughs in amazement at a magic card trick performed by Mr. Mike Dardant in Mrs.Kate Arthurs-Goldberg’s speech class. Mr. Dardant is the coach of Jesuit’s improv team, the J-Troupe. He visited speech classes today to introduce improvisational skills which are useful public speaking skills. J-Troupe auditions are being held Friday, Oct. 4, and Friday, Oct. 11 at 4 p.m. in the auditorium.

Sophomores Brady Stiller (left) and Nick Slay use the time afforded during a free period to conduct research in the Resource Center for a project that was assigned by Mr. Ron Rossi, longtime history teacher at Jesuit High School.

Pre-freshmen in Ms. Katie Single’s Spanish 8 class enjoy CBI – computer based instruction – that is becoming an important supplement to the curriculum. CBI provides immediate feedback with self-quizzes and features videos of tutorials for review prior to tests. Additionally, CBI engages Blue Jays with grammar and vocabulary games such as “Battleship” and “Rags to Riches,” as well as music videos that convey grammatical concepts. Rote is out, CBI is in. CBI: a new, different, and interesting way to learn Spanish, as these Jays will readily affirm. From left are Mike Hull, Joey Dupepe, Cari Robinson, Ryan Hamilton, Mason Peres, and Anthony Kelly.

There is always humor to be found in analysis class, right? Well, yes, especially in Mr. John Lavie’s learning laboratory where these juniors react with amusement during Monday’s lesson which focused on graphs of typical functions and shifts.

Freshman Austin Ros almost jumps out of his uniform during Friday’s lunchtime pep rally after he was the first to successfully sail his paper airplane into the front seating area of a very special Blue & White Mercury Grand Marquis parked in the Traditions Courtyard. Only three other Blue Jays – junior Peter Kim and freshmen John Crowson and Michael Scillitani – were able to accurately navigate their planes into the unique looking car from 20 feet away. The winners get to choose a free treat from whatever bag of goodies Br. Billy Dardis, S.J. happens to be selling to raise money for the Jesuit Missions.

View 16 Images in the Pep Rally Photo Gallery.

Freshman Aaron Baker buys a frozen treat from Br. William Dardis on a too-warm autumn day after school. Br. Dardis regularly sets up a table outside the Student Commons to sell sweets to raise money for Jesuit’s Mission Drive.

Sophomores work diligently painting banners Jesuit Blue and White in anticipation of Friday’s match up against Pensacola, a game that will re-ignite a classic rivalry from the 1940s through 1960s. From left, sophomores Justin Vlosich, Ryan Nguyen, William Brewster, and Mark Jaunet paint their banner as Student Council Moderator Mr. Chris Bowes looks on. Throughout the football season, homerooms within the same grade level will compete in a homeroom banner contest. The winner of each grade level will receive 50 Homeroom Showdown points. The spirited sophomore class banners will hang in the Traditions Courtyard Thursday and Friday.

Ms. Mona Anchan sent her Physics students on a campus-wide scavenger hunt using scientific measurements as directions. Senior Brock Lingle, senior Jorge Galdamez, and junior Thomas Eggleston gathered this item on their hunt — an envelope from the President’s office.

Could there be a future paparazzo in this group? Or even a couple of Wild Photographers? Time will tell. Blue Jays interested in cameras and digital imaging for the Jesuit web site, the Blue Jay student newspaper, or the Yearbook met on Monday with Dr. Jean-Marc Duplantier, an English teacher who is moderator of the Photography Club and the Yearbook. Clockwise from bottom right are pre-freshmen Brett Power and Paul Myers, sophomore Brady Stiller, and freshmen Colin Scripter, Luke Navarro, and Bailey Termine.

The old playground game Four Square attracted players and spectators alike on Friday at lunch in the Traditions Courtyard. Serving as unofficial referees are juniors Ben Hess (arms extended facing camera), David Gaines (blue jacket), and Chris Mills, who puts on a good performance in ejecting one of the players.

In the Traditions Courtyard after school, pre-freshmen Gabe Dupuy and Shane Lanson engage in an intense discussion of the tech-trending topic of iOS7, the new software update for iPhones.

Freshmen Andrew Keeler (left) and Ethan Healy finish folding the flag — appropriately and correctly, of course — to the applause of their MCJROTC classmates in Leadership 101, a course taught by MGySgt Johnny Piseno.

Several Blue Jays spend part of their lunch hour taking part in the Fall Foosball Tournament, hosted by the Foosball Club. Sophomores Connor Schexnayder and Tony Nguyen (left) battle it out at the foosball table against freshmen Joon Lee and Sam Schiff, while pre-freshman Thomas Sagona helps keep score. Teams consist of two players, and the games often attract a group of spectators. Tournament play continues through November when the last standing team will be named the tournament victor.

Junior Alex Daigle gets a few minutes during his lunch hour to practice for the Philelectic Society’s auditions of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare. Auditions will be held in the auditorium at 5:30 p.m. on both Tuesday, September 17, and Wednesday, September 18. Get audition details.

These pre-freshmen football players practiced with the rest of the team on the Will Clark Field on Monday afternoon in preparation for their game against the Rummel Raiders this Thursday (September 19) at John Ryan Stadium. The six players — three quarterbacks and three wide receivers — practiced several plays designed to surprise, confuse, and frustrate their opponents’ defense. From left are Reed Huguet (QB), Alex Watermeier (QB), Blake Mire (WR), Christian McClure (WR), Harrison Robichaux (WR), and Michael Torry (QB). Who knows, four years from now, they might be leading the varsity Jays to a winning season.