Six plus one: alumni director Mat Grau ’68 (third from right) plants himself in the middle of this table of new parents; clockwise, from left: Christine Dupre, Liz and William Bostick, Louise Bellazer, Kimberly Francis, and Jennifer Demarest.

Parents of new students are attending “Breakfast with the President” this week, an informal event for Jesuit president Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J. ’66 and a few others to introduce themselves while offering sage advice about Carrollton & Banks.

The first two breakfasts were held on Tuesday and Wednesday (August 19-20). The third and final one takes place Thursday, August 21 in St. Ignatius Hall, located on the third floor of the administration building.

Parents enjoyed a breakfast buffet as they took note of the advice about how to make the most of their experience at Jesuit, not just their own, but their sons’ as well.

Tom Bagwill, the director of  institutional advancement, served as host, welcoming parents and introducing the speakers.

Fr. McGinn also welcomed parents and thanked them for choosing Jesuit to educate their sons. He also encouraged parents, as well as their sons, to get involved.

“There is this myth you may have heard that it is best to let your sons acclimate themselves to their surroundings before joining teams, clubs, or any of the numerous co-curricular activities at Jesuit,” said Fr. McGinn. “However, what we have found is that the sooner your boys become involved with something that holds their interests, the better they will do academically and the more productive they will be in the classroom.”

Gerald Duhon ’85, who is the chairman of this year’s Parents’ Annual Giving (PAG) drive, echoed Father’s remarks with an emphasis on parental involvement in some of the many events and causes that take place throughout the school year. He encouraged new parents to volunteer for one or more events, including the PAG drive, the Blue Jay Bazaar, and Celebration, Jesuit’s gala and auction that takes place Saturday, November 1.

Wendy Schneider, coordinator of alumni events and social media, introduced parents to some of the many features of Jesuit’s website.

Andrew Schiro, a guidance counselor at Jesuit for the past 33 years who works exclusively with pre-freshmen and their parents, offered a “Top 10” list of “Secrets to Success” that includes these nuggets:

• Turning your cell phone off when doing homework
• Knowing where to go for tutoring
• Exercising on a daily basis
• Drinking plenty of water during the day
• Doing 2-3 hours of homework in the evening (homework is more than just written homework). Studying and looking ahead EVERY night is the best way to prepare

View the Photo Gallery of the 2014 Breakfasts with the President