Blue Jay E-News June 2009 Vol. 1; No. 13 Dear Blue Jays:
This marks the final edition of Blue Jay E-News for the 2008-09 school year. The presses will be silent in July and start up again in August.
Two big alumni events are coming up fast — the annual Jesuit Golf Classic returns to City Park on Friday, June 12. And on Saturday, June 20, the Jesuit Fishing Rodeo takes place. Read more about these events by scrolling below. Meanwhile, sign-up online for both of these events: Events Online Registration.
This Month’s Lead Story…
2008-09: It Was a Very Good Year!
Jesuit’s 2008-09 school year was indeed a very good year! A brief tally of the record book partially tells the tale: 243 graduates in the Class of 2009; 35 National Merit Semifinalists; almost $22 million in scholarship awards offered seniors; four state championships; and more than 24,300 hours of service to the community. But these facts and numbers do not tell the whole story. The success Jesuit enjoys is directly attributed to each Blue Jay who willingly agrees to meet the school’s challenges. We offer a closer look at Jesuit in four distinct categories — academics, faith and service, athletics, and co-curriculars and student life. Check out all of these on Jesuit’s web site: The Year in Review. And if you happen to know a family whose elementary school age son has Jesuit on the radar screen of high schools to look at, please send them the above link to review.
Jesuit Alumni…
Jesuit Annual Golf Classic — Friday, June 12, Noon Tee Time
Round up a foursome of your Jesuit classmates, friends, or business associates and tee it up on Friday, June 12 for a relaxing round of golf at the new Bayou Oaks Golf Course, formerly City Park North. Jesuit’s 2009 Golf Classic will have a 12 Noon shotgun start and the format is a 4-Jay scramble. This year’s event is limited to 124 players, the fee is $100 per golfer, and online registration is required: Sign-up for Golf Classic. (Better hurry, only a few slots left!) Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. and grilled burgers and hot dogs will be served for lunch starting at 11 a.m. After the tournament, all golfers will be treated at “Jayson’s 19th Hole” to hot crawfish and jambalaya, prizes, and trophies! Jesuit Fishing Rodeo — Saturday, June 20 Jesuit fishermen will be roaming the marsh and Gulf in search of first place trophy fish during the annual rodeo, which takes place Saturday, June 20. The weigh-in will be at the Breton Sound Marina in Hopedale. Alumni, students, parents, and friends must sign-up online for this event: Sign-up for Fishing Rodeo. The cost remains the same — $35 per adult and $20 for fishermen 18-years-old or younger. The fee nets all fishermen the always-terrific looking Blue Jay Fishing Rodeo official t-shirt, another Bro. Dardis-supervised all-you-can-eat lunch, zillions of door prizes, and trophies for the winning catches. (Don’t forget your Louisiana fishing license.) LEF and PAG Drives Enter Final Days
Alumni and parents with outstanding pledges to either the LEF or PAG drives should make their donations before June 30, which marks the end of Jesuit’s 2008-09 fiscal year. The LEF and PAG drives are two of the most important fund raisers that Jesuit depends upon to help offset the school’s operating expenses. Here are some results through June 5: LEF has $1,050,971 in pledges from 3,211 alumni; 83% (2,670) have completed their donations, which total $895,490. Compared to this time last year, donations are down $28,471. How does your class stack up against others in the current LEF drive? Check out: LEF Results by Class. And if you have not yet donated to the 2009 drive, then take matters into your own hands and click this link: Online Gift to the LEF. The PAG drive has $1,197,458 in pledges from 1,071 parents with 779 parents completing their pledge, donating a total of $1,015,711. The gap between what was pledged and what has been donated thus far is almost $182,000. Compared to the same time frame last year, PAG donations are down approximately $115,000. Parents may donate online: PAG Online Donation. Information about this year’s drive can be found on the PAG Home Page. Jesuit thanks its parents and alumni for their generosity.
Jesuit Alumni In the News A new feature on Jesuit’s web site is “Alumni in the News.” The page contains links and photos to articles about Blue Jay alumni. View the page: Alumni in the News. Jesuit New Orleans on Facebook Jesuit’s alumni office has established a presence on Facebook. The page is “Jesuit New Orleans Alumni.” When you pull it up, become a “fan” by adding your name and profile to the page. So far, there are more than 1,000 fans of this page, a number that will be expanding as we pull in more alumni who already belong to other pages or groups associated with Jesuit. Class Reunions Update With most of the reunions finished, only three classes have not had theirs yet: 1984 — June 12-13; 1989 — July 18; 2004 — June 20. Many Blue Jays have discovered the ease and comfort of signing up online for their reunions: Events Online Registration. Currently, Blue Jays from the Classes of 1984 and 2004 may sign up online for their upcoming events. The Class of ’89 is still planning their event.
Important: Blue Jays, please check the contact sheets near the registration table at your reunion to ensure your personal information is accurate and up to date! At each reunion, a group photo of the class is taken and a nice 8 by 10 print is mailed to each Blue Jay who attended. In addition to the group photo, one of Jayson’s Wild Photographers roams the reunion snapping candid shots of happy faces which are then posted in photo galleries on the Jesuit web site. The group photo of the most recent reunion is usually on the Alumni Home Page. Photo galleries still need to be posted for the Classes of 1949, 1964, and 1959. But there are many others to view: Photo Galleries of 2009 Class Reunions and Gate to Archived Class Reunions.
Reminders...
June 12 — Alumni Golf Classic
June 20 — Jesuit Fishing Rodeo
June 21 — Father’s Day
June 30 — End of Fiscal Year
July 10 — Summer Session Ends
August 14 — Official Start of 2009-10 School Year
Used Book Sale — Wednesday, August 5
2009 Used Book Sales Information
Summer Camps at Jesuit
Click the links below for information about the various summer camp programs. While some of the sessions have already taken place, others are closed, there are a few activities that remain open to new summer campers. Questions may be addressed to admissions director Jack Truxillo ’73, who coordinates the Jesuit summer camp program. His email is truxillo@jesuitnola.org.
Jesuit Day Camp Info
Athletic Camps Academic & Arts Camps
Baseball Camp Band Camp
Basketball Camps Drama Camp
Football Camp Science Camp
Wrestling Camps
Jesuit Events...
Graduation 2009
Jesuit held Commencement Exercises for the Class of 2009 on Tuesday, May 26 at the Pontchartrain Center. The ceremony, from the time the curtain opens until it closes, is an example of Blue Jay succinctness. No one can accuse the Jesuits of beating around the bush while wasting time and annoying others. The entire event, including the National Anthem, invocation, the conferring of three major awards (along with recognition of seven valedictorians), the valedictory address, the conferring of diplomas, the president’s address, and singing the Fight Song and Alma Mater, lasted less than 50 minutes. View the photo galleries and listen to the speeches on the Class of 2009 Commencement Home Page.
Jesuit Academic News… Profile of a Jesuit Teacher Awards The recipients of the second annual Profile of a Jesuit Teacher Awards were announced at the end-of-year faculty-staff dinner in May. This year’s deserving teachers are: Mrs. Helen Swan (science and director of student service projects); Mr. Jack Culicchia ’83 (English and Jesuit’s webmaster); Mrs. Kathy Juhas (math and assistant principal for academic affairs); and, Dr. Thomas “Spitz” Spitzfaden (theology), who is retiring after 37 years of teaching at Jesuit. In addition to a handsome plaque commemorating their distinctive honor, each teacher received a $2,500 check. Check out the award winners at: Profile of a Jesuit Teacher Awards.
Principal’s Corner…
From the Desk of Mike Giambelluca ’82, Principal of Jesuit High School
The beginning of June always signals a new pace for us on Carrollton and Banks. Regular classes stop for about 10 weeks, and our attention here turns to discussion, reflection, and planning about how we can make the next school year even better than the year just completed. With all of the academic and co-curricular successes we had in 2008-09, topping them for 2009-10 will not be an easy task. However, we must constantly be searching for ways in which we can be better—better students, better teachers, better administrators, and better staff members. Maintaining the status quo translates into falling behind. Jesuit High School calls us all to rise above the status quo because our faith requires us to do so. We have been given so many gifts, and our task is to maximize our gifts as our way of saying thanks to our very generous God. The Administrative Team just had its end of the year workshop on May 28 at Longue Vue Gardens. It is a great day for us to take stock of the year that just concluded. Among other aspects of the day, each team member creates a list containing items that were highlights of the year, and each also creates a list of areas where improvement might occur in the next year. Of course, having a sense of humor is most important. We have a little fun at these workshops, especially when each comes up with creative ways to summarize the year from individual perspectives. In the graduation edition of Jaynotes, you will hear more about some of the specific matters discussed at this workshop. Our hiring process has concluded for next year, and we are delighted to have 11 new faculty members. We look forward to what we will learn this summer after reviewing the responses from the rising junior interview surveys as well as from the senior and parent surveys. We are especially curious about the objective portion of the junior interview surveys because this is the first year we have employed an objective component. Because accountability in the classrooms is a must, faculty members are evaluated on a regular basis by various members of the administration as well as by their respective department heads. Faculty members also have the opportunity on an annual basis to give feedback to a number of administrators about various aspects of our job performances. Besides me, other administrators being evaluated by faculty members this year include Kathy Juhas, Malcolm Villarrubia, Top Abshire, and Mike Prados. Each of us looks forward to how our faculty members view what we do. As I write this article on the afternoon of June 5, much planning has already begun for next year. The calendar is nearly complete, and numerous other publications are being revised for their final forms. Department heads are hard at work finalizing teaching assignments for 2009-10. Our student population is taking shape while our physical plant continues to receive upgrades.
Of course, we are extremely excited about the Big J Read, which is in full swing. Have you begun reading Boy’s Life by Robert McCammon? If not, you are missing out on a great read. We encourage all members of the Jesuit High School community to read Boy’s Life this summer. Before heading out to the beach, be sure your copy of Boy’s Life is snug in your backpack. Before settling into that lounge chair next to the swimming pool, be sure Boy’s Life is next to your tumbler of iced-tea. And then plan on being with us on August 17 at 7 p.m. in the Jesuit auditorium for an evening program with the author, Robert McCammon. The Administrative Team will convene on August 3 and 4 for our beginning of year workshop, and that will be the official start of 2009-10 for administrators. Final plans for the beginning of the year will be implemented, and all faculty members will participate in an in-service on August 10, which marks the official start of the year for faculty. And, of course, students are not far behind, with all students officially beginning August 14. In the meantime, enjoy the summer. We look forward to a great 2009-10!
All the best and God bless.
AMDG
MG
Jesuit Athletics…
American Legion Baseball Retif Oil is once again sponsoring Jesuit’s American Legion team this summer. Check out Retif Oil’s 2009 American Legion Schedule. And we have plenty of action-packed photo galleries to peruse of the Retif team: Retif Oil - Ponstein's Legion Photo Gallery Retif Oil - LAS Legion Photo Gallery Retif Oil - Durr Heavy Construction Photo Gallery
Retif Oil - YDA Photo Gallery
American Legion Baseball: First District Results/ Stats
Contact Info
Important: If any of your contact information has recently changed, please let Jesuit know. It’s easy to submit any changes online: Contact Information. Or send an email to: alumninews@jesuitnola.org.
Jesuit is seeking stories, recollections, and memoirs about your days at Carrollton and Banks. Submit Your Blue Jay Memoirs Online Now!
Questions about any events? Email: info@jesuitnola.org.
About Blue Jay E-News
Blue Jay E-News is produced and disseminated by the alumni and development office of Jesuit High School in New Orleans. Blue Jay E-News features a variety of Jesuit news items, many with links to our web site (www.jesuitnola.org) so you may read the entire stories and view photo galleries.
The purpose of Blue Jay E-News is to inform the Jesuit community about current, recent, and upcoming special events, including sports, academics, co-curricular, spiritual, parent, and alumni news. If you know someone who may not be on our email list, forward your copy to them and let us know.
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Blue Jay E-NewsMay 2009 Vol. 1; No. 12 Dear Blue Jays:
The 2008-09 school year is rapidly coming to a close. Seniors have finished their exams and underclassmen begin theirs next week. Commencement Exercises are Tuesday, May 26 at the Pontchartrain Center. Students, parents, and teachers all eagerly anticipate some summer R&R.
But wait, no snoozing yet. There is news to spread, E-News that is!
Jesuit’s baseball team is in the state playoffs. The track team is still competing. The football team enjoyed an annual rite of spring training with the annual Blue and White Game this afternoon (Friday, May 8) on Will Clark Field. Check out the action: Blue and White Football Scrimmage Photo Gallery. On the academic front, five Blue Jays brought home blue ribbons from the State Literary Rally and 14 other Blue Jays were recently recognized for their proficiency in the 2009 Latin and Greek Exams. Five reunions have so far been held this season, bringing together hundreds of Jesuit alumni from a cross-section of graduating years. A sixth reunion, for the Class of 1999, takes place this weekend, and seven other reunions are scheduled before the end of July.
Additionally, at this time of year, alumni look forward to the annual Golf Classic, which returns to City Park on Friday, June 12. A week later, alumni go fishing with Blue Jay students and parents at the annual Jesuit Fishing Rodeo, which will be Saturday, June 20. Sign-up online for both of these fun events: Events Online Registration. And finally, what would May be like without Mothers’ Day to celebrate on Sunday the 10th? So, to all Jesuit moms out there, Happy Mothers’ Day and many more!
This Month’s Lead Story… All About Jesuit Alumni! Jesuit Reunions
With the Class of 1999 holding their 10-year reunion this weekend, that brings to six classes (ending in grad years 4 and 9) that have held their reunions this season. They include the Classes of 1944, 1954, 1969, 1974, 1979, and 1999. For your convenience, here is the schedule for the remaining class reunions, although you may also find it here: 2009 Reunions Schedule.
1949 — May 15-16 1959 — June 5-6 1964 — May 29-30
1984 — June 12-13 1989 — July 18 1994 — May 23 2004 — June 20 Many Blue Jays have discovered the joy and convenience of signing up online for their reunions — just click Events Online Registration. Currently, Blue Jays from the Classes of 1949, 1959, and 1994 may sign up online for their upcoming events. We will be posting soon the Class of 1964 online invite. The hard invite for 1964 was mailed about a week ago. Printed invitations are sent to alumni for all reunions.
Important: Blue Jays, please check the contact sheets near the registration table at your reunion to ensure your personal information is accurate and up to date! Invitations to the reunions for the Classes of 1984, 1989, and 2004 are being prepared. When finished, they will be mailed and the information will also be posted on the Events Online Registration page so that alumni may begin to sign-up without using a 44-cent stamp (remember, it goes up 2 cents on Monday). At each reunion, a group photo of the class is taken and a nice 8 by 10 print is mailed to each Blue Jay who was there. In addition to the group photo, one of Jayson’s Wild Photographers roams the reunion snapping candid shots of happy faces which are then posted in photo galleries on the Jesuit web site. The group photo of the most recent reunion is on the Alumni Home Page.
To find photos of all the reunions this year, and in the past, simply go to: Photo Galleries of 2009 Class Reunions and Gate to Archived Class Reunions.
Jesuit Annual Golf Classic — Friday, June 12
This annual fun event for Blue Jay alumni should be memorable because the tournament returns to City Park where it was held for many years on the old West Championship Course up until the mid-90s. On Friday, June 12, Jesuit golfers will tee it up on the old North Course, which was reopened a few months ago. The Park has done a great job of repairing the damage to the course caused by Katrina and the layout has changed only slightly.
The tournament is open to the first 124 players who sign-up online at Events Online Registration. The fee is $100 per golfer. Hole sponsorships are available for $150 — a smart way to advertise your business or yourself among Blue Jays. The shotgun start for this four-Jay scramble has been moved up to Noon. This will allow foursomes to finish their round sometime between 4:30 and 5 p.m., allowing enough time to enjoy the magnificent crawfish boil, catfish fry, and jambalaya fest that Bro. Billy Dardis ’58 has in store at the 19th Hole for all Blue Jay duffers. Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. and a lunch of grilled burgers and hot dogs will be served beginning at11 a.m. Lunch and the 19th Hole will take place under the Pavilion directly across the street from the putting green. Refreshments will be served throughout the afternoon. Throw in a ditty bag chocked full of Jesuit items, door prizes galore, prizes for the Longest Drive, Closest to the Hole, and a brand new car from Banner Chevrolet for the Blue Jay who makes a hole in one on the designated hole, plus trophies for the winning foursomes, and everyone comes out a winner. Jesuit Fishing Rodeo — Saturday, June 20 Jesuit fishermen should mark their calendars for the new date of the annual rodeo, which will be held Saturday, June 20 at the Breton Sound Marina in Hopedale. The date had been originally set for June 27, but several months ago, the marina notified Jesuit of a conflict, so we had to reschedule the rodeo to June 20. Alumni, students, parents, and friends are able to sign-up online for this event: Event Registration Online.
The cost has not increased and remains the same — $35 per adult and $20 for fishermen 18-years-old or younger. The fee nets all fishermen the always-terrific looking Blue Jay Fishing Rodeo official t-shirt, another Bro. Dardis-supervised all-you-can-eat lunch, zillions of door prizes, and trophies for the winning catches. (Don’t forget your Louisiana fishing license.) If you don’t think Blue Jay fishermen enjoy this event, take a peek at the 2008 Fishing Rodeo Photo Gallery as well as a list of the 2008 Fishing Rodeo Winners. Jesuit New Orleans on Facebook In an effort to enhance communications with alumni, Jesuit’s alumni office has established a presence on Facebook. The page is “Jesuit New Orleans Alumni.” When you pull it up, become a “fan” by adding your name and profile to the page. So far, there are approximately 720 fans of this page, a number that will be expanding as we pull in more alumni who already belong to other pages or groups associated with Jesuit. Alumni director Mat Grau ’68 encourages Blue Jays to get involved and stay connected. Several Jesuit classes have their own Facebook page and we know of a few more classes who are getting ready to have a presence. You don’t have to be a tech wizard to stay connected. As one witty twit puts it, all you need is a basic working knowledge of myface and spacebook.
Jesuit Today…
LEF and PAG Drives Enter Final Weeks
Alumni and parents who pledged to either the LEF or PAG drives should fulfill their commitments in the next few weeks. Jesuit’s fiscal year ends June 30, which marks the end of the 2009 LEF and PAG drives. These are two of the most important fund raisers that Jesuit depends upon to help offset the school’s operating expenses.
How does your class stack up against others in the current LEF drive? Check out: LEF Results by Class. And if you have not yet donated to the 2009 drive, then take matters into your own hands and click this link: Online Gift to the LEF. Parents may do likewise by making a PAG Online Donation. Information about this year’s drive can be found on the PAG Home Page.
Commencement Luncheon Honors Class of 2009
The Class of 2009 is about to graduate and head off in different directions. These 246 seniors are our newest Blue Jay Alumni and on May 1, they were welcomed into the Jesuit Alumni Association at the 8th Annual Commencement Luncheon. Approximately 200 Jesuit alumni attended the event at the Sheraton New Orleans Canal, where they shared tables with our current seniors. This year’s guest speaker was Sal Liberto ’90, who is the vice-president for enrollment at Loyola University. If you missed it, here are all the links guaranteed to make you sigh and never miss another! 2009 Commencement Luncheon Backstage Photo Gallery
2009 Commencement Luncheon Photo Gallery #1 2009 Commencement Luncheon Photo Gallery #2
Event Photos for Students
Senior Shirt Signing Photo Gallery Senior Day Morning Assembly Photo Gallery
Audio: State of the School - Jacques Landrieu '09 — this is the annual address given by the outgoing student council president to the student body. It takes place on the morning of the final assembly, a day which has come to be known as Senior Day.
Reminders...
May 17 — Baccalaureate Mass - Chapel of the North American Martyrs: 10 AM
May 26 — Junior Interviews: 8 AM - 10:30 AM
May 26 — Graduation - Pontchartrain Center: 8 PM
May 29 — Summer Session Registration: 8 AM - Noon
June 1 — Summer Session Begins
Used Book Sale — Wednesday, August 5
2009 Used Book Sales Information Mothers’ Mass The monthly Mass for Jesuit mothers will be held Wednesday, May 13 at 9 a.m. in the Holy Name of Jesus Chapel, located on the second floor of the Banks Street administration building. Summer Camps at Jesuit
Click the links below for information about the various summer camp programs. Questions may be directed to admissions director Jack Truxillo ’73, who coordinates the Jesuit summer camp program. His email is truxillo@jesuitnola.org.
Jesuit Day Camp
Athletic Camps
Baseball Camp
Basketball Camps
Football Camp
Wrestling Camps
Academic & Arts Camps
Band Camp
Drama Camp
Science Camp
Jesuit Events... The Big J Read The Big J Read is Jesuit High School’s first community read project. Over the past several years, communities around the country have come together to read a common book. You may be familiar with our city’s community read project, One Book One New Orleans. Now the community of Jesuit High School—students, teachers, staff, administration, parents, alumni, and friends—join together this summer in reading the same book. And that book is Boy’s Life by Robert McCammon.
“Since this is a community project, we are strongly encouraging you to participate—participate by reading the book yourself and by engaging your son in conversation about the story,” says Mike Giambelluca ’82 in his Principal’s Letter about the Big J Read. “This is not the usual book assignment with an objective evaluation on a set date. This is a community endeavor designed to foster both the pleasures of reading a book and the pleasures of discussing that book. To facilitate both goals, we are preparing several events including a visit and presentation by the author during the first days of school in August. In the meantime, let’s meet on the Jesuit website for information and to discuss the novel.” Check the Jesuit web site next week for a Power Point Presentation about the Big J Read that faculty and students have already experienced. Welcome Day for Parents of New Students
Jesuit welcomed the parents of new students at its annual New Parents’ Mass and Reception on Sunday, April 19. Following Mass in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs, our newest families walked downstairs to the Jesuit Auditorium for a presentation about the Society of Jesus and the history of Jesuit High School. Parents also learned about important school events for both themselves and their sons. The event ended with a reception in the Student Commons. Jesuit warmly welcomes our new parents and their sons to the school community. Jesuit looks forward to working with each family for the next four or five years. Check out the New Parents’ Mass & Reception Photo Gallery. Welcome Day for New Students
Welcome Day brought some 300 new Blue Jays to Jesuit on Sunday, May 3. These incoming students for the 2009-10 year officially met their Big Brothers, attended Mass together, and enjoyed a video and a presentation in the Auditorium before heading to the Traditions Courtyard where all partook of grilled burgers.
Welcome Day New Students Photo Gallery
Audio: Welcome Day New Students - Fr. McGinn's Mass Homily Volunteer Workers Crawfish Party
Several hundred Jesuit volunteers converged on the Traditions Courtyard on Friday, April 24 for the annual “Thank You” party, polishing off and demolishing the entire trailer-load of boiled crawfish, some 1800 pounds! Volunteer Workers’ 2009 Crawfish Party Photo Gallery
Jesuit Academic News… Quartet of Seniors Merits St. Timothy Award
Congratulations to seniors Jonathan Coote, Chris Heneghan, Stephen Merritt, and Jared Rodrigue for receiving the St. Timothy Award for outstanding service and leadership in their parishes. These Blue Jays, along with ten other recipients, recently met with Archbishop Alfred Hughes at St. Louis Cathedral, where they were acknowledged at a prayer service. Read more about these Blue Jays’ honor in The Clarion Herald. 2009 State Literary Rally
Congratulations to the Blue Jays who participated in the 2009 State Literary Rally. Five Blue Jays placed first, with four students recognized as overall winners in their discipline. These blue ribbon winners were: Andrew Burmaster ’13 (First Place Overall, Latin I); Daniel Cooper ’11 (First Place Overall, American History); Benjamin Guerra ’13 (First Place Overall, Intro to Business Computer Application), Lucas Lavoie ’13 (First Place, Algebra I); and, Chris Munna ’11 (First Place Overall, English III). To see how Jesuit performed at the 2009 State Literary Rally (Division I), visit the State Literary Rally Results. Greek & Latin Exams
Congratulations to the Blue Jays who participated in the 2009 National Latin and Greek Exams, sponsored by the American Classics League. In the National Greek Exam, 95% of the Blue Jays earned a ribbon for their efforts, a percentage that far exceeds the national average of 55%. In the National Latin Exam, Blue Jays merited 199 awards, including 55 gold medals. Fourteen Blue Jays who took the National Greek Exam earned blue ribbons for their outstanding performance: Tommy Barnett ’10, David Brett ’11, Ian de Boisblanc ’10, Max Fisk ’10, Taylor Hillburn ’09, James Lynch ’12, Ryan Migliore ’11, Jacob Moore ’11, Martin Plauche ’09, Alex Sherry ’12, Nick Wallbillich ’11, Brett Weber ’10, Stuart Wilson ’12, and Matthew Young ’12.
Principal’s Corner…
From the Desk of Mike Giambelluca ’82, Principal of Jesuit High School
April and May are event-filled months at Jesuit, where we prepare for, participate in, and witness a myriad of end-of-year events, while also planning for the next school year. On Sunday, April 26, the Blue Jay Band performed their spring concert and had an awards ceremony. Our seniors and parents gathered in the Student Commons on April 27 to hear end-of-the-year information, and they also all took part in an objective exit survey. Later that same week on April 29, the MCJROTC cadets completed a successful Change of Command Parade on Will Clark Field. On the very next night, we honored our student-athletes in the sports of baseball, golf, track and field, and tennis at the Spring Sports’ Recognition Night. On May 1, our juniors had a great time on their Fine Arts Field Trip, and our seniors had a great Senior Day and Commencement Luncheon. New students celebrated Welcome Day on May 3 by attending Mass with their Big Brothers, viewing a presentation in the auditorium, and finally, by enjoying some of Brother Dardis’s delicious grilled hamburgers. I am composing this article on the morning of Friday, May 8, and just last night, those students meriting special distinctions celebrated Awards’ Night in the auditorium — the photo gallery is posted here: Awards Night Photo Gallery. As I write this article, seniors are lining up outside my office door to come in and claim their tickets for Baccalaureate Mass and Graduation, two events which are highlights of our year. Our baseball team had a big win in their first round playoff game last night, and our tennis team claimed the state championship earlier this week. Golf did well in state competition, finishing third, and track and field will have their state competition in the next few days. Our faculty and staff had a fun night earlier this week at a Zephyr baseball game. Rising juniors and their parents are preparing for junior interviews on May 26. We have added a written, objective survey to this year’s junior interview process. Excitement is building for the Big “J” Read of Boy’s Life by Robert McCammon. Students have been purchasing the book all this week, and students and teachers have already viewed a Power Point Presentation about the book and its author. We’re hoping that parents, alumni, and friends of Jesuit join us in this community project. We’re not completely done with our hiring process for next year, but we are nearly there. We are very excited about these new faculty members joining us next year.
I wrote a Principal's Letter to All Parents About Health (Flu) Concerns that is posted on our web site and I encourage all of our parents to read it. The flu has not been a serious problem at Jesuit. All the best and God bless.
AMDG MG
Jesuit Athletics…
Tennis Team Reigns as 2009 State Champs! Congratulations to Coach Bro. Larry Huck ’87 and the Blue Jay Tennis Team which recently captured the state title, their 10th one in the past 11 years. Individual results are as follows: Jordan Ezell ’09 and Gerard Suhor ’09 - Doubles State Champions; Paul Mickan ’10 and Ed Sampognaro ’09 - Doubles Quarter Finalists; and, Dylan Kennedy ’12 and Sean Laughlin ’12 - Doubles Quarter Finalists. Read The Times-Picayune story on Jesuit’s accomplishment on the Tennis Home Page and check out the 2009 LHSAA Tennis Tournament Photo Gallery. Golf Team Places Third in State
Congratulations to Coach Chad Laborde ’98 and the Jesuit varsity golf team for a great effort at this year’s state tournament in Zachary. The Jays finished tied for third with St Thomas More. Special congratulations to sophomore Myles Lewis for winning the individual state title for the second year in a row! Visit the Golf Home Page for more details about Myles’s and the team’s performances, courtesy of The Times-Picayune. Soccer Team Corners #1 National Ranking Jesuit’s 2009 state championship soccer team has been twice honored as the number one team in the nation — by ESPNrise.com as well as in a poll by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/ Adidas. ESPNrise.com, part of the network which focuses exclusively on covering high school sports across the country, noted that Jesuit Dallas topped the rankings for the first 16 weeks before Jesuit New Orleans grabbed the spot in the final two weeks. “The New Orleans powerhouse becomes the first winter FAB 50 No. 1 from a state other than California, Florida, or Texas,” wrote Sheldon Shealer of ESPNrise.com. Visit the following sites to learn more about the rankings and Jesuit soccer: Click here to view the National Soccer Coaches Association of America and Adidas Poll. Click here to view the NSCAA Rankings Process. Click here to view the story at ESPNrise.com.
Check out the 2008-2009 soccer season at the Jesuit Soccer Home Page.
Blue Jay Baseball’s Jay Watcher Keeps You in the Thick of Play!
Solid pitching and missed opportunities from both squads brought a close, exciting opening round playoff game between Jesuit and Lafayette to extra innings on Thursday, May 7 at Kirsch-Rooney Stadium. Jesuit and Lafayette played a tough contest that was finally settled after playing two extra innings.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Jays had the bases loaded with no outs. Sophomore Bubby Riley (2) came to the plate looking to put the ball in to play to score the winning run for Jesuit. However, in the end, all this Blue Jay had to do was stand in the batter’s box. With a 2-1 count on the Jesuit batter, the Lion pitcher hit Riley, who was awarded his base, scoring sophomore Josh Faciane (10) from third base. Check the action in the Jesuit-Lafayette Baseball Playoff Photo Gallery. Missed the game but want to see how our Blue Jays performed? Visit Jay Watcher: Lafayette Lions vs. Jesuit Blue Jays (5/7).
And pull up Jay Watcher on your computer on Monday at 4 p.m. when Jesuit travels upriver to Destrehan for a second round playoff game. Jesuit Baseball Alumni
Follow this quartet of Blue Jays who are playing minor league baseball — Ryan Adams ’06, Jimmy Cesario ’04, Johnny Giavotella ’05, and Anthony Scelfo ’05, all of whom are working hard to make it to the big league. Check out the links to where they are playing, along with their stats, on Blue Jays Ready to Play! Club Sports
Lacrosse
Last weekend, Blue Jay Lax fell to Loyola College Prep of Shreveport, 10-3, in the state championship game. Jesuit’s Varsity Lacrosse ended their season with 10 wins and two losses. Congratulations to the varsity on being in this final state game! Placing second in state is no easy feat. The Lacrosse team graduates one senior, goalie Wayne del Corral. “We’re a young team, full of juniors and sophomores,” says Lacrosse Head Coach Mike Brantley. “We have every intention of being in the final game again next year!” For photos and other information, visit the Lacrosse home page.
Contact Info
Important: If any of your contact information has recently changed, please let Jesuit know. It’s easy to submit any changes online: Contact Information. Or send an email to: alumninews@jesuitnola.org.
Jesuit is seeking stories, recollections, and memoirs about your days at Carrollton and Banks. Submit Your Blue Jay Memoirs Online Now!
Questions about any events? Email: info@jesuitnola.org.
About Blue Jay E-News
Blue Jay E-News is produced and disseminated by the alumni and development office of Jesuit High School in New Orleans. Blue Jay E-News features a variety of Jesuit news items, many with links to our web site (www.jesuitnola.org) so you may read the entire stories and view photo galleries.
The purpose of Blue Jay E-News is to inform the Jesuit community about current, recent, and upcoming special events, including sports, academics, co-curricular, spiritual, parent, and alumni news. If you know someone who may not be on our email list, forward your copy to them and let us know.
If you have any comments, suggestions, or ideas, please email: alumninews@jesuitnola.org. To access archived editions of this newsletter on Jesuit’s web site, go to: Blue Jay E-News.
There’s something for every Blue Jay in Blue Jay E-News!
Jesuit High School
4133 Banks St.
New Orleans, LA 70119
504-486-6631
www.jesuitnola.org
This newsletter was produced and disseminated by the alumni and development office of Jesuit High School.
If you no longer wish to receive this monthly newsletter from Jesuit, please reply and insert UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
We will continue to periodically send emails about Jesuit events unless you instruct us otherwise.
If you do not wish to receive any emails from Jesuit, hit reply and insert UNSUBSCRIBE ALL EMAILS in the subject line.
Blue Jay E-NewsApril 2009 Vol. 1; No. 11
Dear Blue Jays:
Jesuit High School hopes that its students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends experienced a peaceful, holy, and joyous Easter. For details about Holy Week activities at Jesuit, including the Good Friday: Nine Churches Walk and the Holy Wednesday Mass Photo Gallery, visit the Spirituality Page.
Students return to school on Tuesday, April 14. The seniors’ last day of school before exams is Friday, May 1, which also happens to be the date of the annual commencement luncheon (more on that below in Alumni News). Alumni may sign-up for the luncheon and their upcoming reunions at Event Registration Online.
This Month’s Lead Story… Blue Jay Baseball’s Jay Watcher Is Live! If you follow Blue Jay baseball but find it difficult or impossible to attend the games, you’ll be happy to know that Jesuit has unveiled its Jay Watcher, which allows fans to watch live progress of Jesuit’s baseball games no matter where the team is playing. Watch it from your home or office computer. (If you’re watching from your office, try not to yell too loudly when the Jays score!) The link is: http://www.jesuitnola.org/cgi-bin/livebb.pl -- bookmark it as a separate feature of Jesuit’s web site.
There have been more than 930 visits to the Jay Watcher web site. The page automatically refreshes every 30 seconds but by scrolling to the bottom of the page, you may also choose the time interval for the page to refresh. Games are archived on the Jesuit Baseball Home Page, so if you happen to miss the live action, or want to know how either team scored runs, or who got the hits, then follow the link associated with that game. For example, for a recap of Saturday morning’s game against the Purple Knights, visit: Jay Watcher: St. Aug vs. Jesuit (4/11). For some action photos of this game, visit: Jesuit-St. Aug Baseball Photo Gallery. To view other photo galleries, and those archived games on Jay Watcher, go to: Jesuit Baseball Home Page.
Jesuit Today…
April 19 Mass-Reception for Parents of New Students
Parents of new students are reminded that they are invited to Jesuit High School on Sunday, April 19 for a Mass, followed by brief program in the auditorium, and a reception in the Student Commons. The Mass begins at 11:30 a.m. New parents are also invited to catch the Philelectic Society’s Sunday matinee performance of Big River. All new parents will be admitted free to the 2 p.m. performance. Read on for more information about Big River…
Philelectic Society’s Big River
For its spring musical, Jesuit’s Philelectic Society will stage Big River, which won the 1985 Tony Award for Best Musical. Big River is the musical version of Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn by country music legends Roger Miller (King of the Road) and William Hauptman (Tony Award winner for the book of this show).
The show runs April 15-18 at 7:30 p.m. and a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m. is slated for
April 19. Reserved seats are available at a cost of $12 for all non-students and $5 for all Jesuit students. Tickets will be available at the door. Reservations can be made by email: jayphils@jesuitnola.org or call the Philelectic’s office: 483-3877. Marc E. Belloni ’83 directs a cast of more than 30 students and includes special faculty guest performances by Leslie Merritt, Jay Hooks, S.J., and Rachel Sharp. Gregory Rittiner ’10 as Huck and B.J. Acosta ’09 as Tom Sawyer head the cast, fresh from the fall musical The Fantasticks. Football and Track senior standouts Rene Gurdian, Matthew Sewell and Kyle “Skittles” Huber are also featured in roles. For a Big River photo gallery and other good stuff, visit the Philelectic Society Home Page.
Reminders... Volunteer Workers Crawfish Party
All Jesuit volunteers are reminded that Friday, April 24 is the annual “Thank You” crawfish boil. Volunteers, along with their spouse or guest, who worked the various Jesuit events, including Celebration, Blue Jay Bazaar, and the PAG and LEF drives, are invited to this fun event in the Traditions Courtyard from 7-10 p.m. Seniors-Parents Mandatory Meeting
There will be a mandatory meeting of all seniors and their parents in the Student Commons on Monday, April 27 at 7 p.m. Seniors and at least one parent must attend this important meeting which will last about an hour. Seniors and their parents will be receiving information in the coming week or so about this mandatory meeting.
Junior Prom Night
A reminder that the annual Junior Prom will take place at the Board of Trade on Magazine Street on Friday, April 24 from 9p.m.-midnight.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher conferences are scheduled Tuesday, April 21 from 5-7 p.m.
Mothers’ Mass
The monthly Mass for Jesuit mothers will be held Wednesday, April 22 at 9 a.m. in the Holy Name of Jesus Chapel, located on the second floor of the Banks Street administration building.
Jayette Tryouts Know someone who wants to be a Jayette? Tell them about the tryouts on Sunday, April 19 in Jesuit’s gym. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and tryouts start at 10 a.m. For more information, including what to bring and what to expect, visit the Jayettes' Home Page.
Summer Camps at Jesuit
For information about various summer camps, visit: Jesuit Day Camp, Basketball Camps, Football Camp, Wrestling Camps.
Jesuit Events...
Celebration 2009: Wet But Fun, Successful
Celebration 2009 (March 14) was wet and wild, but it was still a whole lotta fun. Thanks to this year’s Celebration co-chairs Anne Barnes and Christine Zazulak, Auction co-chairs Marian Gibbs and Kathy Weidner, and the legion of Celebration volunteers for all of their hard work.
Missed any of the photos? We have two galleries for your viewing pleasure, beginning with the second one: More Celebration Photos! (You can jump to the first gallery from this one.) Check out the winners of Jesuit’s 3rd Annual Online Auction by visiting the Celebration 2009 Home Page.
Blue Jay Bazaar A Beautiful Day
As rainy as Celebration was, the annual Blue Jay Bazaar on Sunday, March 29 turned out to be a drop-dead gorgeous sunny day, attracting hordes of Blue Jays to Mid-City for food, contests, and just meeting up. Thanks to Bazaar co-chairs Cindy Kehoe and Darleen Robért, along with their enthusiastic volunteers, for making this another successful and fun event.
Visit the Alumni Home Page to find out who won the various Bazaar raffles. Relive the Bazaar by scrolling through two giant photo galleries: 2009 Bazaar Photo Gallery #1 and 2009 Bazaar Photo Gallery #2.
Jesuit, Jazz, & Jambalaya
JJJ took place Sunday, March 22 and provided a unique opportunity for prospective students, along with their parents and families, to discover and explore Jesuit outside of the traditional and hectic fall open house season at area high schools. Judging by the turnout and interest shown this year, JJJ will be an annual event for entire families to discover and casually explore Jesuit High School on their own terms. Check out the Jesuit, Jazz, & Jambalaya Photo Gallery on Jesuit’s Admissions Home Page, where you can also view the Video: About Jesuit.
Jesuit Academic News…
Blue Jay Quiz Bowl Team Captures State Title!
Congratulations to Jesuit’s varsity quiz bowl team for winning the 2009 state title. On their way to claiming the state championship, the quiz bowl team -- James Burvant ’09, Nicholas Chedid ’09, Daniel Cooper ’11, Jonathan Coote ’09, Taylor Hillburn ’09, and Kanwal Matharu ’09 (Captain) -- went undefeated in tournament play. Coached by social studies teacher Ron Rossi, Jesuit’s quiz bowl team will represent Louisiana in a national competition this summer at Disney World. For more details about the state tournament, and a photo of the team, visit the Quiz Bowl Home Page.
Mu Alpha Theta Takes Second Place
Jesuit’s Mu Alpha Theta team captured second place overall in the competition this year at the 2009 MUT Convention. Congratulations to all of the participants for their great effort. View Jesuit’s results from the 2009 Mu Alpha Theta Convention. Check out a photo of the winners on the Mu Alpha Theta Home Page.
27 Blue Jays Compete at State Literary Rally
See how Jesuit performed in the Division I district competition at the State Literary Rally: 2009 District Rally Results. View a photo of the participants on the Academics Home Page.
Eight Blue Jay Band Members Perform with High School Honor Jazz Band
The High School Honor Jazz Band and the All-Star Middle School Jazz Band featured eight Blue Jay musicians at their recent concerts earlier this month at UNO. For the second year in a row, Jesuit High School had twice the number of participants in the high school group than any other school.
Congratulations to the following Blue Jay Band members for their selection to this prestigious honor: Peyton Fine ’13 (alto sax-MS), Jonathan Hartmann ’09 (alto sax-HS), Chris Heneghan ’09 (trumpet-HS), Robert Perez II ’09 (tenor sax-HS), Joseph Poynot ’09 (drums-HS), Ian Rohr ’13 (bass-HS), Ben Sketchler ’12 (trombone-HS), and Zach Swan ’09 (piano-HS).
Check out the Blue Jay Band’s contributions to the Jesuit community by visiting the
Blue Jay Band Home Page.
Principal’s Corner…
From the Desk of Mike Giambelluca ’82, Principal of Jesuit High School
The Profile of the Jesuit Graduate at Graduation was created more than 30 years ago, and the Jesuit Secondary Education Association (JSEA) is asking the faculty of all the Jesuit high schools in the United States – more than 50 – to "revision" how the Profile might be expanded. Our faculty will be engaging in this revisioning activity during our next faculty meeting on Wednesday, April 15.
Current sophomores and their parents will be receiving information in the coming weeks about the Junior Interviews which will take place on Tuesday morning, May 26. We will be adding an objective component to this year’s interview process. A committee of administrators and faculty recently has chosen one novel for the entire Jesuit High School community to read this summer. Stay tuned for more details about this project in the near future. AMDG MG
Jesuit Athletics…
Tennis Jesuit’s Tennis Team is currently 9-1 (its only loss dealt by Strake Jesuit) and appears to be in fine form. Blue Jay players will face in quick succession St. Augustine, Bro. Martin, Rummel, and DeLaSalle before Regionals begin on April 29-30 at UNO. A few days of rest and the Tennis Team heads to the State Tournament on May 4-5 at ULL and St. Thomas More High School. The Jays, under the tutelage of Bro. Larry Huck ’87, recently defeated Newman, 7-0. Check out the Jesuit-Newman Tennis Photo Gallery and all the galleries of other matches on the Tennis Home Page.
Soccer Jays on Academic All-State, All-Metro, All-District Teams
The Louisiana High School Soccer Coaches' Association recently announced the 2009 Boys' Academic All-State Team, which included four senior Blue Jays -- Zach Correa (midfielder), Chris DeRojas (forward), Trey Kramer (defender), and Michael Simmons (mid-fielder). Congratulations to seniors Charles Kleinschmidt, Mark Reuther, junior Patrick Mullins and sophomore Steven Cabos for being named to The Times-Picayune’s All-Metro Soccer Team.
Additional honors were bestowed on Jesuit soccer coach Hubie Collins as Metro Coach of the Year and to junior Patrick Mullins as the Metro Soccer Player of the Year. This is the second year in a row Mullins was honored with this recognition. Congratulations to those Blue Jays named to the All-District Soccer Team, including seniors Stephen Andrieu (goalkeeper), Trey Kramer (defender), Daniel Moise (midfielder), Charles Kleinschmidt (forward), Mark Reuther (forward), and junior Patrick Mullins (midfielder). Finally, read the article by Times Picayune reporter Tammy Nunez, “Accolades of the Unbeaten,” which was published March 19, 2009 on the Soccer Home Page.
Club Sports
Here are the links to the home pages, featuring photo galleries and schedules, of Jesuit’s popular club sports: Lacrosse, Inline Hockey, Rugby, Bowling Club, and the Sailing Club.
Sailing
The weekend of March 28-29 brought beautiful weather and strong winds for the Southeastern Regional High School Sailing Championships. In fleet racing, Blue Jay sailor James Pottharst ’09, with crew Stanton Murray ’10 and Bren Davis ’11, won first place in the A fleet, winning all but two of the 12 races. On Sunday, the Jay Sailors captured the Baker Team Trophy to advance to the Baker Cup National Championship Regatta, which will be held May 23-24, 2009 in Palo Alto, CA.
Congratulations to team-racing sailors Ryan Acomb ’11, Bren Davis ’11, Trey Faget ’10, Stanton Murray ’10, James Pottharst ’09, Austin Slakey ’09, Roddy Stieffel ’12, Kenny Taylor ’09, and Kevin Tully ’12.
Check out the Sailing Club Baker Team Trophy Photo Gallery.
Jesuit Alumni News…
Commencement Luncheon Set for May 1
Jesuit High School’s 8th annual Commencement Luncheon, at which our alumni welcome the graduating seniors into the Alumni Association, will be held on Friday, May 1 at the Sheraton New Orleans Canal St. The event will begin at 11:30 a.m. and conclude by 1 p.m. There is no charge to seniors; alumni pay $32 each. Our guest speaker will be Sal Liberto ’90, who is the vice-president for enrollment at Loyola University. Sign-up online for the luncheon: Events Online Registration. For more information about the Commencement Luncheon, visit the Alumni Home Page.
2009 Blue Jay Reunion Schedule
At Jesuit High School, spring ushers in the reunion season, which continues into summer and sometimes beyond. The 2009 reunions are underway for Blue Jays who graduated in years ending in “4” and “9.” When is your class reunion? Find out here: 2009 Reunions Schedule. Details on several reunions are still being worked out by the class committees, so be sure to check back as the date approaches. Alumni will be able to sign-up online to attend their reunions. In fact, the Class of ’79, which is holding their reunion on May 1-2, may sign up today: Events Online Registration. Photo Galleries of 2009 Reunions feature the reunions of the Classes of 1954, 1969, and 1974.
Career Day at Jesuit
More than 30 Jesuit alumni came back to Jesuit on Wednesday, April 1 to talk to juniors and seniors about their jobs. The annual Career Day is a much-anticipated event by students and alumni alike. And it shows in the Career Day 2009 Photo Gallery. Thanks to all Blue Jay Alumni who took the time to clear their schedules to be with the students for a couple of hours.
Jesuit Golf Classic is June 12
A reminder that the annual Blue Jay Golf Classic will take place Friday, June 12 at a new location – Bayou Oaks Golf Course, formerly known as City Park’s North Course. As we get closer, look for more information and the ability to sign-up online.
Blue Jay Fishing Rodeo Is June 20
Jesuit fishermen should mark their calendars for the new date of the annual rodeo, which will be held Saturday, June 20 at the Breton Sound Marina in Hopedale. Scratch the date of June 27 from the calendar. Because of a conflict with another group at the marina, Jesuit decided to move the rodeo to June 20. Alumni will be able to sign-up online for this event.
LEF and PAG Drives Enter Final Weeks
Alumni and parents who pledged to either the LEF or PAG drives should fulfill their commitments in the next few weeks. Jesuit’s fiscal year ends June 30, which marks the end of the 2009 LEF and PAG drives. These are two of the most important fund raisers that Jesuit depends upon to help offset the school’s operating expenses.
How does your class stack up against others in the current LEF drive? Check out: LEF Results by Class. And if you have not yet donated to the 2009 drive, then take matters into your own hands and click this link: Online Gift to the LEF. Parents may do likewise by making a PAG Online Donation. Information about this year’s drive can be found on the PAG Home Page.
Contact Info
Important: If any of your contact information has recently changed, please let Jesuit know. It’s easy to submit any changes online: Contact Information. Or send an email to: alumninews@jesuitnola.org.
Jesuit is seeking stories, recollections, and memoirs about your days at Carrollton and Banks. Submit Your Blue Jay Memoirs Online Now!
Questions about any events? Email: info@jesuitnola.org.
About Blue Jay E-News
Blue Jay E-News is produced and disseminated by the alumni and development office of Jesuit High School. Blue Jay E-News features a variety of Jesuit news items, many with links to our web site (www.jesuitnola.org) so you may read the entire stories and view photo galleries. The purpose of Blue Jay E-News is to inform the Jesuit community about current, recent, and upcoming special events, including sports, academics, co-curricular, spiritual, parent, and alumni news. Additionally, Blue Jay E-News is a fast vehicle to deliver news, some significant and some just plain interesting, about achievements and accomplishments by our students, teams, and alumni. If you know someone who may not be on our email list, forward your copy to them and let us know.
If you have any comments, suggestions, or ideas, please email: alumninews@jesuitnola.org. To access archived editions of this newsletter on Jesuit’s web site, go to: Blue Jay E-News. There’s something for every Blue Jay in Blue Jay E-News!
Jesuit High School
4133 Banks St.
New Orleans, LA 70119
504-486-6631
www.jesuitnola.org
This newsletter was produced and disseminated by the alumni and development office of Jesuit High School.
If you no longer wish to receive this monthly newsletter from Jesuit, please reply and insert UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
We will continue to periodically send emails about Jesuit events unless you instruct us otherwise.
If you do not wish to receive any emails from Jesuit, hit reply and insert UNSUBSCRIBE ALL EMAILS in the subject line.
Blue Jay E-News March 2009 Vol. 1; No. 10
Dear Blue Jays:
March is one of the busiest times of the school year jammed with important events so we’re sending this special edition of Blue Jay E-News a few days early. While students are preparing for exams next week, parents are setting the stages for two fund raising events -- Celebration Auction on Saturday, March 14 and the Blue Jay Bazaar two weeks later on Sunday, March 29. The development and alumni office is gearing up for the spring LEF phone drive (March 16-18), Career Day (March 30), and the class reunions for alumni that begin in a few short weeks. Meanwhile, the admissions office is focusing its efforts on Jesuit, Jazz, & Jambalaya, a new event that takes place Sunday, March 22 for families of prospective students.
You can read all about these Blue Jay happenings while toggling back and forth to bid on the assortment of interesting items that are up for grabs on the Jesuit Online Auction.
This Month’s Lead Stories… A Grand Slam: Celebration, JJJ, Bazaar…
Celebration: Saturday, March 14!
Jesuit, Jazz, & Jambalaya: Sunday, March 22! Blue Jay Bazaar: Sunday, March 29!
Our Jesuit parents are diligently working to make the annual Celebration gala and its accompanying auctions (online, silent, and live) plenty of fun and huge successes. Of course, the same is true of our dedicated Bazaar workers. In fact, “diligently working” is an understatement, but this is a family E-Newsletter. Throw in an extra handful of descriptive adjectives about our bevy of mothers (and more than a few fathers) and you get the picture – all are working tirelessly, courteously, industriously, assiduously, patiently, and indefatigably. All you need to do is be a part of the turnout for these important fundraising events. Jesuit Online Auction Celebration and Patron Party Tickets Online We have 19 thoroughly unique items (OK, a couple could be considered strange) that are currently up for bid on the third annual Jesuit Online Auction. This auction mania features a grab bag of vacations, weekend stays, airline tickets, a fishing trip, Hornets and Zurich Classic tickets, a trumpet, a TV station tour, and a circa 60s-70s signed Yankees jersey. The online auction closes Thursday, March 12 at 11:01 p.m. (or five minutes after the final bid on an item is submitted.) If you haven’t already done so, dream up a login ID and a password and start bidding. And here’s a secret only 9,500 people now know: the reserve prices and minimum bids on some items were recently adjusted downward. If only avocados were that cheap to buy. The Patron Party, with its scrumptious food and palate-pleasing libations, gets underway at 6 p.m. in the Traditions Courtyard. Celebration starts at 7:30 p.m. with additional silent auction boards opening at intervals inside the Student Commons. You won’t want to miss the live auction, enthusiastically hosted by Jesuit parent Tom Bagwill. We will be posting some of the special items that go up for bid in the silent auctions. Keep a sharp eye on the Celebration 2009 Home Page. Yes, we know the economy is gasping (along with the rest of us), but what better reason to forgetaboutit one night for a few hours? Celebration and Patron Party Tickets Online – go ahead and click the link, buy the tickets, and give someone in your life a nice surprise. Tickets purchased online will be held at the “Will Call” table and may be claimed the night of the event. Send any inquiries to: questions@jesuitnola.org.
Thanks to Celebration co-chairs Anne Barnes and Christine Zazulak, along with Auction co-chairs Marian Gibbs and Kathy Weidner. And a tip of the Blue Jay hat to online auction coordinator Carolyn Lorio. Jesuit, Jazz, & Jambalaya Before we move on to promote all good things at the Bazaar, there is a new and original event scheduled on a Sunday at Jesuit in between Celebration and the Bazaar. After hearing a few suggestions, admissions director Jack Truxillo ’73 decided to call this event Jesuit, Jazz, & Jambalaya. JJJ takes place Sunday, March 22 and will offer a unique opportunity for prospective students in grades 4-7 AND their parents and families to discover and explore Jesuit outside of the traditional and hectic fall open house season at area high schools.
JJJ begins with the celebration of Mass at 10 a.m. in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs. Following Mass, families will experience a Blue Jay Virtual Tour in the Jesuit Auditorium. Families are then free to embark on their own leisurely tour of Jesuit. Whether this exploratory tour takes 20 minutes or 90 minutes, families will cap it off with a stop in the Student Commons where they will be served home-cooked jambalaya and ice cold refreshments. They will also be serenaded by the sounds of a talented group of Blue Jay musicians who comprise Jesuit’s Jazz Band.
Now you understand why Mr. Truxillo calls it Jesuit, Jazz, & Jambalaya. JJJ promises to be a unique annual event, a great way for entire families to discover and casually explore Jesuit High School on their own terms. If you happen to know such a family who would be interested in attending, please pass this information on to them, or contact the admissions office: admissions@jesuitnola.org.
Blue Jay Bazaar
The Blue Jay Bazaar consumes Jesuit on Sunday, March 29 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. This event is for the entire Jesuit community – students, parents, grandparents, alumni, and grandchildren – as well as the residents of our Mid-City neighborhood, friends, relatives, and acquaintances.
Think of it as a giant Blue Jay festival of sorts – there’s something for all who show up. Admission is free. And you’ll find that a lot of things are free once you’re inside the Bazaar compound. You reach in your pocket only when you decide you’re hungry (great oyster po-boys and grilled burgers and chicken) or thirsty (snoballs dripping in syrup or some other kind of icy refreshment), or if you want to take a chance and acquire one or more Bazaar Raffle Tickets. As some character in a cheap detective novel once said: one never knows, do one? Not even Fr. McGinn, until he plucks the winner from the raffle drum. Hey, take a chance because the $5,000 grand prize is nothing to sneeze at these days. The raffle drawings will not be witnessed by a legislative auditor, but you can bet that Bazaar co-chairs Cindy Kehoe and Darleen Robért, along with a legion of stalwart volunteers, will be right there watching Fr. McGinn pull the winning ticket. The herculean efforts by the organizers of this spring ritual guarantee that it will be a fun, low stress day. With the chosen theme of “Springtime in New Orleans,” you read it here first: Bazaar weather is predicted to be sunny and mild with temperatures in the low 70s. Think positive.
Keep thinking positive and feel all that energy that is emitted when our volunteers tape together the thousands of eggshells with confetti inside just so some kid can buy a dozen and act like, well, a kid. There can never be too many egg shells donated for the cause. There is an assortment of items our volunteers still need. Check out the Bazaar Bulletin Board to find out what they are looking for. And if your Blue Jay possesses a smidgen of artistic talent, encourage him to enter the Bazaar T-Shirt Design Contest. The deadline of Friday, March 6 is fast approaching. Jesuit Alumni News
LEF Spring Phone Drive March 16-18 Volunteer Online for the Spring LEF Drive
The LEF spring drive starts Monday, March 16, and ends Wednesday, March 18. Class Captains and LEF volunteers are needed to contact their classmates. No Experience Necessary! It's fun and it's for a great cause, so sign-up online to volunteer today! Volunteer for the LEF. If you are the least bit curious about how your class stacks up against others in the current LEF drive, then check out: LEF Results by Class. And if you have not yet pledged or donated to the 2009 drive (which started July 1, 2008 and ends June 30, 3009), then take matters into your own hands and click one of these links: Online Gift to the LEF Online Pledge to the LEF 2009 Blue Jay Reunion Schedule
The Jesuit reunions scheduled in the spring and summer of 2009 will be for Blue Jays who graduated in years ending in 4 and 9. View the schedule and some of the details here: 2009 Reunions Schedule. First up is the Class of ’54 on March 21; the Class of ’74 holds a stag reception on Saturday, April 4. The Class of ’69, which plans a heavy schedule the weekend of April 3-4, may sign-up online: Events Online Registration. The Class of ’54 and ’74 will soon be able to sign-up online as well. As other reunions approach, online registration will be available for all. Look at it as a one-stop shop. No postage stamps, no envelopes, no mailing. Experience the future now.
Jesuit Golf Classic is June 12
A reminder that the annual Blue Jay Golf Classic will take place Friday, June 12 at a new location – City Park’s North Course. As we get closer, look for more information and the ability to sign-up online.
Blue Jay Fishing Rodeo Is June 20
Jesuit fishermen should mark their calendars for the new date of the annual rodeo, which will be held Saturday, June 20 at the Breton Sound Marina in Hopedale. Scratch the date of June 27 from the calendar. Because of a conflict with another group at the marina, Jesuit decided to move the rodeo to June 20.
Commencement Luncheon Is May 1
Alumni should mark their calendars for May 1 and make plans to attend the annual Commencement Luncheon honoring the seniors of the Class of 2009 who are graduating. This popular event will take place at the Sheraton Hotel Canal Street. This year’s guest speaker is Sal Liberto ’90, who is Loyola University’s vice president for enrollment. More details will be available on our web site as this event draws nearer. Look to sign-up online.
Jesuit Today…
New Blue Jays A special welcome is extended to new Blue Jays and their parents and families. Our new Blue Jays recently received their acceptance letters. These new Blue Jays will graduate in 2013 and 2014. As soon as they opened their “Dear Blue Jay” letters, the inquiries started coming in fast and furious – how do we buy a yard sign, some Blue Jay apparel, a ticket to the pool on the… well, you know?
Here are some helpful links: JHS Boutique Order Forms. To purchase a Jesuit yard sign or a Jesuit sports towel, go to: Jesuit Yard Sign/ Towel Order Form.
To purchase other items from the Jesuit Boutique, go to: Jesuit Boutique General Order Form.
And don’t forget the Blue Jay Shop.
There will be a Mass and reception for the parents of our new students on Sunday, April 19 at 10 a.m. This event is strictly for parents. We roll out the blue and white carpet for our new Blue Jays (no parents) on Sunday, May 3, beginning with a 10 a.m. Mass and followed by a grilled burger lunch. Jesuit Athletics… Soccer Wins 9th State Title! The Blue Jay soccer team came from behind to beat Capt. Shreve, 4-1, in the State Championship Match, earning Jesuit a ninth state title and closing out the season undefeated (30-0-2). This marks the third time that Jesuit’s soccer team stitched together an undefeated season, a remarkable “feet” especially given the caliber of their opponents. Check out the Jesuit-Capt. Shreve Soccer Championship Photo Gallery.
For more details about this year’s championship match and to access Soccer Photo Galleries, visit the Soccer Homepage. Bonus: View the Video of Patrick Mullins: World Class Talent
Courtesy of WWL-TV’s HS Game Time Jesuit Wrestling Team Wins State! The Blue Jay Wrestling Team has brought home the State Championship trophy. Again. For the 23rd time. And this one was especially sweet because it was so anticlimactic -- the Blue Jays were in control of the outcome before the final matches even began.
Jesuit’s first place finish at the Pontchartrain Center can be attributed to an extraordinary team effort -- the Jays managed to place a wrestler in all but one of the 14 weight classes, accumulating more than enough points in the preliminary, consolation, and semifinal rounds to snatch back the state trophy by the end of the semifinal matches. Check out the 2009 State Wrestling Tournament Final Matches Photo Gallery and other galleries, along with details, by visiting: Wrestling Wins State. Jesuit Basketball Notches a District Title
The Blue Jays played their hearts out but when the game ended, Jesuit’s basketball season also came to a close. Mandeville won the bi-district game, 54-53, by sinking a couple of free throws with less than two seconds remaining, and knocking the District 5A champions out of the playoffs. Still, the varsity team compiled a 22-13 record enroute to winning the district title. Jesuit - Mandeville Basketball Playoff Photo Gallery #1
Jesuit - Mandeville Basketball Playoff Photo Gallery #2 More Info and photo galleries can be found on the Basketball Home Page.
Jesuit Tennis Team Loving It
Jesuit-St. Martin's Tennis Photo Gallery
For more details about the Blue Jay Tennis Team, visit the Tennis Homepage.
Jesuit Baseball Swinging Bats
Jesuit - Slidell Baseball Photo Gallery
Jay Watcher on Track
If you are a Blue Jay baseball fan but find it difficult or impossible to attend the games, you’ll be pleased to know that Jesuit will soon unveil Jay Watcher this season. Jay Watcher will give fans the ability to watch the progress of Jesuit’s baseball games live as they unfold from inning to inning. Jay Watcher, which can be bookmarked as a separate feature of Jesuit’s web site, is being tested to work out the technical kinks. We are certain that Jesuit baseball fans from LaPlace to Liverpool will be impressed when they discover Jay Watcher. Look for it to go live pretty soon!
Scores & Schedules
Club Sports
Here are the links to the home pages, featuring photo galleries and schedules, of Jesuit’s popular club sports: Lacrosse, Inline Hockey, Rugby, and the Sailing Club. Information About Jesuit’s Day Camp and Wrestling Camps can be found by clicking the links.
Principal’s Corner…
From the Desk of Mike Giambelluca ’82, Principal of Jesuit High School
SACS Accreditation
All high schools in the State of Louisiana must complete an accreditation process under the auspices of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) every five years. The ultimate purpose of the SACS accreditation process is to identify school strengths deserving of commendations, as well as to develop recommendations that may help to strengthen the various programs of schools. Jesuit High School most recently took part in this accreditation process in March, 2004. Thus, our next accreditation process is scheduled for the spring of 2010, and preparations have already begun.
As we make our initial plans for this SACS accreditation process, we will be retaining the services of Catapult Learning to implement its Sustaining Excellence program here at Jesuit beginning in the remaining months of the 2008-2009 academic year. Sustaining Excellence helps individual schools meet the challenges of total school improvement and involves the entire school community—students, faculty, parents, and alumni. Upon the completion of the Sustaining Excellence program next fall, we will be primed for our SACS accreditation process. Fr. Dooley’s Visit to Jesuit Fr. Mike Dooley, S.J., the Provincial’s assistant for secondary education (PASE), completed his annual visit to Jesuit High School during the week of February 16. During these annual visits, which he makes to every Jesuit high school in the New Orleans Province, Fr. Dooley conducts both individual and group interviews with students, faculty, administrators, and staff over the course of several days. Upon the conclusion of these individual and group meetings, Fr. Dooley has obtained a very good sense of the state of the schools. Fr. Dooley is in the process of preparing his final report, and we look forward to what insights, commendations, and recommendations he will have for us. Time in Tampa Fr. McGinn and I recently attended a meeting in Tampa with the presidents, principals, rectors, and board chairs of the Jesuit high schools both in the New Orleans and Missouri Provinces. There are 10 schools in the two provinces. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss ways in which the schools of both provinces might begin to work together as we anticipate the coming together of both provinces into one in the coming years. We look forward to the wonderful opportunities our schools will have to grow as we learn from one another. Music Men We are excited about musicians from two schools visiting Jesuit High School this month. Strake Jesuit’s (Houston) band will visit Jesuit on March 26, and we look forward to the bands from both schools performing for one another during the afternoon of that day. Additionally, Stanford University’s Mixed Company A Cappella, will perform a Brown Bag Concert for the school community during lunch on March 23.
AMDG
MG
Contact Info
Important: If any of your contact information has recently changed, please let Jesuit know by sending an email to: alumninews@jesuitnola.org. May we suggest another way to send us your updated contact info? Submit a memoir online about your days at Carrollton and Banks. Complete the contact info and we will compare it to what is already in our database. Go to: Submit Your Blue Jay Memoirs Online Now! Questions about any events? Email: info@jesuitnola.org.
About Blue Jay E-News
Blue Jay E-News is produced and disseminated by the alumni and development office of Jesuit High School. Blue Jay E-News features a variety of Jesuit news items, many with links to our web site (www.jesuitnola.org) so you may read the entire stories and view photo galleries. The purpose of Blue Jay E-News is to inform the Jesuit community about current, recent, and upcoming special events, including sports, academics, co-curricular, spiritual, parent, and alumni news. Additionally, Blue Jay E-News is a fast vehicle to deliver news, some significant and some just plain interesting, about achievements and accomplishments by our students, teams, and alumni. If you know someone who may not be on our email list, forward your copy to them and let us know.
If you have any comments, suggestions, or ideas, please email: alumninews@jesuitnola.org. To access archived editions of this newsletter on Jesuit’s web site, go to: Blue Jay E-News. There’s something for every Blue Jay in Blue Jay E-News!
Jesuit High School
4133 Banks St.
New Orleans, LA 70119
504-486-6631
www.jesuitnola.org
This newsletter was produced and disseminated by the alumni and development office of Jesuit High School.
If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter and future emails from Jesuit, please reply and insert UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
Blue Jay E-News
February 2009 Vol. 1; No. 9
Dear Blue Jays:
The shortest month of the year often yields a myriad of activities, goings-on, and planning for upcoming events at Jesuit High School. While the Blue Jay soccer team is focused on state playoffs, our wrestling team anticipates great performances at this weekend’s state wrestling tournament. The Blue Jay Marching Band and the MCJROTC are polishing everything from shoes on up to belt buckles and instruments so that all shine in their scheduled appearances in Mardi Gras parades. The student council will once again raise its own operating funds by taking charge of Jesuit’s school yard for Endymion parade parking ($20 per car). Meanwhile, a core group of dedicated parents are busy preparing for Jesuit’s two big annual fund raisers -- Celebration on Saturday, March 14 followed by the Blue Jay Bazaar on Sunday, March 29.
This Month’s Lead Story…
Celebration Tickets Available Online
The annual Jesuit gala known as Celebration is only a month away – it takes place in the Traditions Courtyard and the Student Commons on the evening of Saturday, March 14. View the Celebration 2009 Invitation and then go online to Buy Your Celebration and Patron Party Tickets. You won’t want to miss out on all the fun, delicious food from great restaurants, and the silent and live auctions featuring a variety of interesting and one-of-a-kind items. Tickets purchased online will be held at the “Will Call” table and may be claimed the night of the event. This marks the third year that Jesuit will hold an online auction in the days and weeks leading up to Celebration. Jesuit’s 2009 Online Auction is scheduled to start Monday, February 16. Look for some exciting, as in hot, items to bid on for Jesuit’s online auction, including a relaxing week’s stay at a Florida beach condo. In the meantime, get in a celebratory mood by taking a look at the Celebration 2009 Home Page. Also, it’s not too late to Donate an Item to the Celebration Auction.
If you have any questions about donating an item, contact online Auction coordinator Carolyn Lorio at 504-835-5629, or Auction co-chairs Marian Gibbs, 504-453-8266 and Kathy Weidner, 504-737-0035. The co-chairs of Celebration 2009 are Anne Barnes and Christine Zazulak.
Jesuit Athletics…
Soccer
Jesuit’s undefeated soccer team (27-0-2) plays a second round state championship playoff match against Byrd High (Shreveport) on Thursday, February 12 at 3:15 p.m. at Pan American Stadium in City Park. In the opening round, the Jays overwhelmed the Natchitoches Central Chiefs, 14-0. Here are the Division I Playoff Brackets. To access the soccer photo galleries from the most recent matches, visit the Soccer Home Page. Wrestling
The Blue Jays are ready for the State Championship Wrestling Tournament which will be held this weekend (February 13-14) at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner. For information about the state tournament, visit the LHSAA Wrestling Championship Zone. To view the seedings for the event, visit the LHSAA State Wrestling Tournament Brackets. For more details about the state wrestling seedings from The Times-Picayune, visit Jesuit’s Wrestling Home Page. View an Interview of Senior Shane Delery (a Blue Jay heavyweight contender) who discusses the upcoming state tournament. You may also take a peek at the Jesuit-Shaw Wrestling Dual Photo Gallery, along with details about other duals and tournaments, by stopping by the Wrestling Home Page. Basketball
The Blue Jay hoopsters are in the midst of a furious second round battle that will eventually determine which teams make the state playoffs. The Jays (19-12) recently beat Rummel, but lost to St. Augustine. Take in the action by visiting the Jesuit-St. Aug Basketball Photo Gallery and the Jesuit-Rummel Basketball Photo Gallery. More photo galleries can be found on the Basketball Home Page. Blue Jay Football Players Sign to Play College Ball
At a college signing day ceremony held in St. Ignatius Hall, seniors Payten Jason and Shane Delery committed to play football at Tulane University, Chance Van Meter will head north to Yale University, and Beau Mothe is headed to Southeastern Louisiana University. A photo of the quartet can be found on the Football Home Page. You may also watch the video of the signing ceremony at Prep Football Central as well as the interview of Jesuit Head Football Coach Wayde Keiser ’78 at Prep Football Central. Baseball Making its debut this season will be Jay Watcher. If you follow Blue Jay baseball but find it impossible to attend the games, you’ll be happy to discover Jay Watcher, which gives fans the ability to watch the progress of Jesuit’s baseball games live online. Jay Watcher, which can be bookmarked as a separate feature of Jesuit’s web site, is currently being tested to work out all kinks. We are certain that Jesuit baseball fans from Metairie to Madagascar will be impressed when they discover Jay Watcher this season. Companies interested in underwriting the cost of this great feature should send an email to: development@jesuitnola.org. Club Sports
Here are the links to the home pages, featuring photo galleries and schedules, of Jesuit’s popular club sports: Lacrosse, Inline Hockey, Rugby, and the Sailing Club.
Jesuit Today… Want an Original Jesuit Cypress Window? What can you do with an original Jesuit window, one that was installed circa 1925 when the school was under construction at Carrollton and Banks? Turn it into a unique Blue & White objet d’art! If you are willing to put a little bit of elbow grease into turning one of these original cypress windows into a distinctive decorative masterpiece, then you must act now. Several of the windows will be refurbished and auctioned at Celebration. More information, and some photos of before and after, may be found here: Get a 1925 Jesuit Window!
Blue Jay Marching Band and the MCJROTC in Mardi Gras Parades The Blue Jay Marching Band will be representing Jesuit in the Carrollton Parade on Sunday, Feb. 15 and in Bacchus on Sunday, Feb. 22. The MCJROTC will march in Sparta on Saturday, Feb. 14, Hermes on Friday, Feb. 20, and in Endymion on Saturday, Feb. 21. The Blue Jay Band takes its annual (and well-deserved) trip to Disney World beginning Monday, Feb. 23 through Saturday, Feb. 28. Endymion Parade Parking at Jesuit
Don’t forget that Jesuit is a convenient place to safely park for the Endymion Parade on Saturday, Feb. 21. The yard opens approximately 8 a.m. and the fee is $20 per car. Funds raised help the Jesuit student council with its activities throughout the year. Third Quarter Progress Reports Are Available Online
Jesuit parents who wish to view their son’s progress reports may do so by Logging In. All parents (A to Z) are reminded of Third Quarter Parent-Teacher Conferences on Thursday, Feb. 12 from 5 – 7 p.m. Here are the Parent-Teacher Conferences Room Assignments. Parents' Events Photo Galleries
We have created a page for parents where photos and photo galleries of special events are archived. The Parents' Events Photos link is in the “About Jesuit” drop-down menu. The page currently features the 2009 Jesuit Father - Son Mass & Breakfast Photo Gallery, along with Audio of Fr. McGinn’s Homily at the Mass and the Audio of Senior Peter Flores’s Talk at the breakfast. Jesuit, Jazz, & Jambalaya
If you know parents of a prospective Blue Jay, please tell them about a new event that is debuting on Sunday, March 22 – Jesuit, Jazz, and Jambalaya. Of course, JJJ will be held at Jesuit, beginning with Mass at 10 a.m., followed by a brief presentation in the auditorium that will include showing a new video, a casual “open house” tour of the school, and a reception in the Student Commons where some delicious jambalaya will be served. This event is strictly for parents whose sons are in elementary grades 4-7 in Catholic and public schools throughout the New Orleans area. We feel an event such as this one held outside the normally busy fall high school Open House season will provide prospective parents with a less hectic and decidedly more meaningful approach to choosing a school for their sons. You’ll learn more about this event next month. Blue Jay Bazaar is Sunday, March 29
In addition to Celebration, the vast Jesuit corps of volunteers is diligently planning the Blue Jay Bazaar, another annual fun event. Make your way to Jesuit’s campus for food, refreshments, games, raffles, entertainment, and lots of Blue Jay Spirit. Want to volunteer? All you have to do is call Jesuit’s volunteer office at 483-3947. Our Bazaar co-chairs this year are Cindy Kehoe and Darlene Robért. Principal’s Corner…
From the Desk of Mike Giambelluca ’82, Principal of Jesuit High School
New Teachers’ Retreat Approximately 10 of our new teachers spent a couple of days on retreat in St. Louis. The retreat is part of a process by which the Jesuit New Orleans and Missouri provinces will eventually become one. We look forward to the inspiration that our new teachers gleaned from this retreat as well as their sharing of information with the rest of our faculty.
Hiring Process Underway
We have begun the hiring process for the next school year. We anticipate that there will be a few openings and we will need to hire new faculty. We are in the process of determining which positions will need to be filled. Interviewing candidates will take place over the next several weeks and months.
Summer Reading Program
Plans for a summer reading program for parents, students, and faculty are moving along. We are almost at the point of selecting our first book from a list that has been compiled by the group that has spearheaded this innovative and interesting summer program. Crawfish Class
Blue Jays in Mrs. Helen Swan’s biology class have been dissecting different specimens in class the past few days, most recently, crustaceans. We think you’ll be interested in the Biology: Crawfish Dissection Photo Gallery.
AMDG.
MG
Jesuit Alumni News…
Prayer Requests
A new feature on Jesuit’s web site is Prayer Requests. Alumni, parents of alumni, and parents of current students may submit their prayer requests to: prayerrequests@jesuitnola.org. The page will be updated as needed.
Jaynotes Graduation 2008
The newest issue of Jaynotes covers spring sports from the 2007-08 school year, along with the 2008 Commencement Exercises. Although some of the material is, well, aged, Jaynotes is still packed full of interesting articles of a timeless nature. A PDF of the issue is posted here: Jaynotes Graduation 2008. 2009 Blue Jay Reunions Schedule The Jesuit reunions scheduled in the spring and summer of 2009 will be for Blue Jays who graduated in years ending in 4 and 9. The schedule has been updated recently and you can find it here: 2009 Reunions Schedule.
Jesuit Golf Classic
The annual Blue Jay Golf Classic will take place Friday, June 12 at a new location – City Park’s North Course. As we get closer, look for more information and the ability to sign-up online. New Date for Blue Jay Fishing Rodeo
Jesuit fishermen should mark their calendars for the new date of the annual rodeo, which will be held Saturday, June 20 at the Breton Sound Marina in Hopedale. Scratch the date of June 27 from the calendar. Because of a conflict with another group at the marina, Jesuit decided to move the rodeo to June 20. Submit Your Jesuit Memoirs Online!
In connection with the Jesuit History and Archive Project, we’ve made it convenient and easy to Submit Your Blue Jay Memoirs Online about your experiences at Jesuit.
Looking for a few pictures from Jesuit’s past? Look no further than the Annus Mirabilis Archives on Jesuit’s Alumni Home Page. Sign Up to Volunteer for the Spring LEF Drive Calling all Jesuit Alumni LEF Class Captains and Volunteers! The annual LEF spring phone and email drive is almost here! Class Captains and LEF volunteers are needed to contact their classmates. No Experience Necessary! The LEF spring drive is only three nights and starts Monday, March 16, and ends Wednesday, March 18. It's fun and it's for a great cause, so sign-up online to volunteer today! Volunteer for the LEF. If you are the least bit curious about how your class stacks up against others in the current LEF drive, then check out: LEF Results by Class. Online Gift to the LEF Online Pledge to the LEF Jesuit thanks its generous alumni for their unwavering support.
Contact Info
Important: If any of your contact information has recently changed, please let Jesuit know by sending an email to: alumninews@jesuitnola.org. May we suggest another way to send us your updated contact info? Submit a memoir online about your days at Carrollton and Banks. Complete the contact info and we will compare it to what is already in our database. Go to: Submit Your Blue Jay Memoirs Online Now! Questions about any events? Email: info@jesuitnola.org.
About Blue Jay E-News
Blue Jay E-News is produced and disseminated by the alumni and development office of Jesuit High School. Blue Jay E-News features a variety of Jesuit news items, many with links to our web site (www.jesuitnola.org) so you may read the entire stories and view photo galleries. The purpose of Blue Jay E-News is to inform the Jesuit community about current, recent, and upcoming special events, including sports, academics, co-curricular, spiritual, parent, and alumni news. Additionally, Blue Jay E-News is a fast vehicle to deliver news, some significant and some just plain interesting, about achievements and accomplishments by our students, teams, and alumni. If you know someone who may not be on our email list, forward your copy to them and let us know.
If you have any comments, suggestions, or ideas, please email: alumninews@jesuitnola.org. To access archived editions of this newsletter on Jesuit’s web site, go to: Blue Jay E-News. There’s something for every Blue Jay in Blue Jay E-News!
Jesuit High School
4133 Banks St.
New Orleans, LA 70119
504-486-6631
www.jesuitnola.org
This newsletter was produced and disseminated by the alumni and development office of Jesuit High School.
If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter and future emails from Jesuit,
please reply and insert UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
Blue Jay E-News
January 2009 Vol. 1; No. 8
Dear Blue Jays:
The new year is off to a fast start at Jesuit High School. Students and faculty returned fresh from the Christmas holidays to begin the second semester. Jesuit’s basketball, soccer, and wrestling teams are in full swing. The annual Father-Son Mass & Breakfast is January 25. Alumni are anticipating their reunions with the first one up for all Los Angeles-area Blue Jays on January 16. Never a dull moment at Carrollton and Banks…
This Month’s Lead Story…
Jesuit and NOLA.com Team Up for Live Broadcasts of Blue Jay Soccer!
Blue Jays all over the world will be able to watch two live streaming broadcasts of Jesuit soccer on NOLA.com. Watch the Jays go against district rivals Brother Martin on Wednesday, January 14 and Rummel on Wednesday, January 28. The action for both games gets underway at 7 p.m. at the newly reconstructed Pan American Stadium in City Park. This is a first for NOLA.com, Jesuit, Blue Jay alumni, and fans of high school soccer.
Describing the match action for Blue Jay fans will be two former standout Jesuit soccer players, Scott Aertker ’98 and P.J. Kee ’00. As members of Jesuit’s storied soccer program, Aertker and Kee were three-year lettermen and captained the team in their senior year. Each was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Louisiana. After college careers in soccer, both alums played professional soccer as members of the New Orleans Shell Shockers, and they remain active in the local soccer scene. Boasting a 19-0-1 record thus far, the 2008 Jesuit soccer team is already in the midst of a great season. During the Christmas holidays, the Blue Jays won all five of their matches to place first in the St. Paul’s Tournament in Covington. Check out some of the action from this event: Jesuit vs. Mandeville Photo Gallery and Jesuit vs. St. Louis Catholic Photo Gallery. The Jays go back in action on Saturday, January 10 when they meet Catholic High of Baton Rouge for what promises to be an exciting match at Pan Am Stadium at 3 p.m. Jesuit’s only match that ended in a tie earlier this season was against Catholic High. Prior to the game, Jesuit soccer fans will be tailgating with a pig roast at Pan Am. Tailgating starts at 1 p.m., with food served at 1:30 p.m. A $5 donation is requested. Blue Jay soccer fans may access the live streams by going directly to www.nola.com, or to Jesuit’s Home Page beginning at 6:30 p.m. on both January 14 and January 28. Mark those dates and catch the spirit of Blue Jay Soooooooooooccer! Until then, visit the Soccer Home Page because it includes a really nice feature article on our team that was recently posted on WWL-TV’s HS Gametime.
More Jesuit Athletics…
District Play Set to Begin for Jesuit Basketball Jesuit’s varsity basketball team, currently 14-6, will open district play against Rummel on Tuesday, January 20 with tipoff at the Raider gym at 7:30 p.m. Over the Christmas holidays, the Blue Jays captured second place at the Georgetown Prep Tournament in Washington, D.C. When you visit the Basketball Home Page, you’ll be astonished at the number of photo galleries that capture all the action on the court, including this week’s win over longtime rival, Holy Cross: Jesuit-Holy Cross Basketball Photo Gallery. Jesuit Wrestling Homecoming Is January 15 All Jesuit alumni grapplers are invited to the Blue Jay wrestling homecoming festivities on Thursday, January 15 right here at Carrollton and Banks. The fun starts at 5 p.m. in the Student Commons and then at 6:30, the Jays take on the Rummel Raiders in a dual meet in our gym.
Blue Jay wrestlers will be participating in the Lee High Wrestling Tournament in Baton Rouge this weekend. Good luck to the wrestlers as they prepare for district and state competitions. The state meet is scheduled February 13 and 14 at the Pontchartrain Center.
Check out the Jesuit-Holy Cross Wrestling Photo Gallery and all the other action on the Wrestling Home Page.
Jesuit Alumni News…
Reunion for Los Angeles Area Blue Jays on January 16: RSVP Online Los Angeles area Blue Jays and their guests are invited to a reception and dinner, hosted by Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J. ’66, president of Jesuit High School on Thursday, January 16 from 7-9 p.m. at Maggiano’s Little Italy (Farmers Market Location). Alumni may RSVP Online for this free event.
2009 Blue Jay Reunion Schedule The Jesuit reunions scheduled in the spring and summer of 2009 will be for Blue Jays who graduated in years ending in 4 and 9. The schedule has been updated recently and you can find it here: 2009 Reunions Schedule.
President’s Report 2007-08 The President’s Report covering Jesuit’s 2007-08 fiscal year is in the process of being printed and mailed to parents and alumni. A PDF of the Report is posted on Jesuit’s web site.
Commencement Luncheon May 1 for Class of 2009
Alumni should mark their calendars for May 1 and plan to attend the annual Commencement Luncheon honoring the seniors who are graduating. This popular event will take place at the Sheraton Hotel Canal Street. This year’s guest speaker is Sal Liberto ’90, who is Loyola University’s vice president for enrollment. More details will be available on our web site as this event draws nearer.
Submit Your Jesuit Memoirs Online!
In connection with the Jesuit History and Archive Project, we’ve made it convenient and easy to Submit Your Blue Jay Memoirs Online about your experiences at Jesuit.
Looking for a few pictures from Jesuit’s past? Look no further than the Annus Mirabilis Archives.
Jesuit Today…
Father-Son Mass & Breakfast Is Sunday, January 25 – Sign-up Online
The annual Blue Jay Father-Son Mass & Breakfast will be held on Sunday, January 25, 2009 in the Sheraton Canal Street’s Grand Ballroom on the 5th floor. Doors open at 9 a.m. and Mass begins at 10 a.m. Breakfast and a speaker will follow Mass. Seniors and their dads will have reserved seating near the front. Cost is $28 per person and you may RSVP by going to Jesuit Events Registration. Town Hall Meeting For Parents on February 3
A reminder that Jesuit will have a Town Hall meeting open to all parents on Tuesday, February 3 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the auditorium. The meeting’s theme is “Navigating Mardi Gras/ Spring Break Responsibly and What Awaits Your Sons If You Don’t.” Speakers for this panel discussion will include Fr. McGinn, Christian Harris, and representatives of the Louisiana state police. At least one parent is asked to attend this important meeting. As the event draws near, a reminder will be posted on the web site and parents will receive an email.
Celebration 2009 Is Saturday, March 14
Celebration 2009 takes place on Saturday, March 14, 2009 right here at Jesuit High School’s Mid-City campus! Jesuit needs items to be donated to the Celebration’s Auctions. All three auctions -- live, silent, and online -- will be fun, exciting, and successful, but we need your help. Our Auctions are always great and they will once again feature fabulous gifts and prizes. For the third consecutive year, Jesuit will hold its online auction in the weeks leading up to Celebration 2009. Your donations for the Auctions are needed now. We are looking for tickets to concerts, sporting events, plays, hotel stays (local and out of state), vacation condos, chartered outdoor trips, cooking school, restaurants, spa treatments, and golf packages.
You can easily make a donation online of an auction item by completing the form on Jesuit’s website: Donate Item to Jesuit’s Celebration Auction. Or if you prefer, bring your items to Jesuit’s Volunteer office located on the first floor of the Banks Street building. If you have any questions about donating an item, contact online Auction coordinator Carolyn Lorio at 504-835-5629, or Auction co-chairs Marian Gibbs, 504-453-8266 and Kathy Weidner, 504-737-0035. The co-chairs of Celebration 2009 are Anne Barnes and Christine Zazulak.
Blue Jay Bazaar is Sunday, March 29
In addition to Celebration, the vast Jesuit corps of volunteers is diligently planning the Blue Jay Bazaar, another annual fun event. Make your way to Jesuit’s campus for food, refreshments, games, raffles, entertainment, and lots of Blue Jay Spirit. Want to volunteer? All you have to do is call Jesuit’s volunteer office at 483-3947. Our Bazaar co-chairs this year are Cindy Kehoe and Darlene Robért.
Principal’s Corner…
From the Desk of Mike Giambelluca ’82, Principal of Jesuit High School
Sophomore Father-Son Retreat For a number of years now, our sophomore students have had very few opportunities to have a meaningful spiritual retreat. These opportunities have been provided to pre-freshmen, freshmen, juniors, and seniors with various forms of retreats, but we have known that something had to be done to include sophomores more often. We began to address this need last year with the creation of the Sophomore Days of Reflection at Manresa House of Retreats. From all indications, these days of reflection have proven successful for the sophomores. However, we believe that the sophomore year is such an important time in the life of the Jesuit High School student that we are planning an optional father-son retreat for interested sophomores and their fathers on April 3 and 4 at the Solomon Episcopal Retreat Center on the north shore in Robert. Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J., the president of Jesuit High School, will direct this retreat which will be an overnight retreat. Plans call for the retreat to begin at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 3. It will end on Saturday, April 4 at 2:30 p.m. There will be a nominal fee to help cover the costs of lodging and meals for the retreat. Space is limited, so please let me know as soon as possible about your interest in attending this retreat. The deadline for expressing your interest is Friday, January 23. Send me an email: giambellucam@jesuitnola.org. I will respond to you with more details. Special Assemblies and One-Act Play Festival We have created several special assemblies this year to highlight the talents of our students in our band and in our performing arts. Our band assembly occurred back in October and was an excellent opportunity for our band members to showcase their talents to the student body and faculty. We look forward on January 22 to a special assembly for our sophomores, juniors, and seniors to enjoy a performance from our One Act Play Festival, scheduled officially for the general public on Friday, January 23 and Saturday, January 24. This year, Jesuit senior B.J. Acosta directs Take Five by Westley Pederson. The play is a hilarious, bizarre occurrence of a show on opening night when it’s not ready, and there are no actors prepared. While this special assembly is happening, our eighth and ninth graders will participate in a presentation concerning the harmful effects of alcohol and other substance abuse. Meanwhile, the Phils’ Home Page has more information about this Festival, as well as the casting audition for Big River, The Musical Adventures of Huckleberry Finn for Saturday, January 24 at 10 a.m. in the auditorium. Whiffenpoofs from Yale at Jesuit
We had the opportunity on January 5 to schedule a special performance of the Yale Whiffenpoofs, the oldest collegiate a cappella ensemble in the United States. Students and faculty truly enjoyed their performance, and you can, too, by listening to one of the songs they sung: Whiffenpoofs Song. Dr. Richard Cash As many of you recall, both faculty and parents had the opportunity this past August to enjoy presentations from Dr. Richard Cash on motivating the adolescent male. If you would like to revisit his helpful advice by receiving his Powerpoint presentation via email, please email me: giambellucam@jesuitnola.org. Language Lab Jesuit’s Modern Foreign Language Department has taken the next step in providing Blue Jays with the best experience to master a second language. Utilizing the Sony Virtuoso Digital Language Software, Spanish and French teachers are now able to listen, to interact, and to record student conversations. With these software tools and other educational assets, teachers will be better able to evaluate and to develop student oral comprehension, and to provide instructional feedback in conversational skills. High School Placement Test We look forward to the several hundred applicants who will descend on Jesuit High School to take the High School Placement Test (HSPT) on Saturday, January 10. Throughout the Metro New Orleans area, all applicants to area Catholic high schools will be using those brain cells to perform well on this test. Results from this test are only used for placement purposes once a student is accepted for high school. Welcome Back and Congratulations We welcomed back to Jesuit in the second semester faculty member Mr. Paul Frederick following his second knee replacement surgery. And we congratulate faculty member Mrs. Sarah Richert and her husband, Chad, on the birth of their second son, Collin, born on January 5. AMDG. MG
Students’ News & Achievements…
Quiz Bowl Team Grabs World Ranking!
Congratulations to Jesuit’s varsity quiz bowl team for their strong showing in the Worldwide Knowledge Master Open Tournament last month. Out of 695 participating schools, the Jays placed first in Louisiana and 43rd in the world. Check out the photo of our whiz Jays on the Quiz Bowl Home Page.
Scholarships for Seniors
Ryan Gupta ’09 recently won the Global Junior Achievement Careers with a Purpose Essay Competition. Gupta, who was already winner of the 2008 Regional Junior Achievement Essay Scholarship, was inspired by President Franklin D. Roosevelt and wrote his national essay on resilience. For his efforts, Gupta earned a $250 regional scholarship and a $1,500 "global" scholarship for finishing first at both competitive levels. He will receive his awards at the January 13 meeting of the New Orleans Junior Achievement board of governors.
Kanwal Matharu ’09, was selected National Youth Leader of the Year by the National Council on Youth Leadership at its annual fall convention held in St. Louis. Matharu was awarded the group’s Paul W. Brandel $1,000 Scholarship “based on qualities exhibited as a student leader, an excellent student, and someone who cares about the community in which he lives.”
Congratulations to seniors Tim Lala and Gerard Suhor, who are two of six local high school student-athletes to receive a $1,000 scholarship from the Louisiana American-Italian Sports Hall of Fame. Lala and Suhor will receive their awards at the Annual Hall of Fame Induction Banquet on Saturday, January 10 at the New Orleans Hilton Riverside and Towers.
Jesuit 2008 Service Projects Click the link above to take a look and see the many ways that Blue Jays worked the past calendar year in the service of others.
Christmas Eve Midnight Mass
Listen to the audio: Fr. McGinn's Christmas Midnight Mass Homily.
Annus Mirabilis…
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
When it snowed on December 11, our Blue Jays made the most of it during their break and lunch time. Here’s a double photo gallery: Snow Day at Jesuit Photo Gallery and Lagniappe: Blue and White Christmas Photo Gallery.
Contact Info
Important: If any of your contact information has recently changed, please let Jesuit know by sending an email to: alumninews@jesuitnola.org. May we suggest another way to send us your updated contact info? Submit a memoir online about your days at Carrollton and Banks. Complete the contact info and we will compare it to what is already in our database. Go to: Submit Your Blue Jay Memoirs Online Now! Questions about any events? Email: info@jesuitnola.org.
About Blue Jay E-News
Blue Jay E-News is produced and disseminated by the alumni and development office of Jesuit High School. Blue Jay E-News features a variety of Jesuit news items, many with links to our web site (www.jesuitnola.org) so you may read the entire stories and view photo galleries. The purpose of Blue Jay E-News is to inform the Jesuit community about current, recent, and upcoming special events, including sports, academics, co-curricular, spiritual, parent, and alumni news. Additionally, Blue Jay E-News is a fast vehicle to deliver news, some significant and some just plain interesting, about achievements and accomplishments by our students, teams, and alumni.
If you have any comments, suggestions, or ideas, please send an email to: alumninews@jesuitnola.org. To access archived editions of this newsletter on Jesuit’s web site, go to: Blue Jay E-News. There’s something for every Blue Jay in Blue Jay E-News!
Jesuit High School
4133 Banks St.
New Orleans, LA 70119
504-486-6631
www.jesuitnola.org
This newsletter was produced and disseminated by the alumni and development office of Jesuit High School.
If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter and future emails from Jesuit, please reply and insert UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
Blue Jay E-News
December 2008 Vol. 1; No. 7
Dear Blue Jays:
Christmas is only two weeks away! Bring the entire family to Jesuit for the celebration of our Savior’s birth at Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs. All are invited – students, parents, grandparents, alumni, relatives, and friends. The elevator on the Palmyra Street side of the school will be in operation to whisk those individuals who, for whatever reason, cannot climb the seemingly endless “stairway to heaven.”
This Month’s Lead Story… Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Christmas Doors
Yes, it is the most wonderful time of the year, and here at Jesuit, the spirit of Christmas is everywhere – on classroom doors, in the band rehearsal rooms, the Blue Jay Shop, and of course, the Chapels. Blue Jays get into the Christmas spirit by decorating their homeroom doors for the annual contest sponsored by the Student Council. From traditional holiday themes to the creative seasonal spoofs, students in homerooms transform ordinary classroom doors into seasonal, sometimes funny, often clever works of art and usually with a message. The winning homerooms earn a donut breakfast courtesy of the Student Council and, more importantly, bragging rights among their classmates, at least until next year’s contest. Check out some of the decorations in the 2008 Christmas Door Photo Gallery. Blue Jay Band Christmas Concert
And if you need a little motivation to get into the spirit, then come to Jesuit and enjoy the Blue Jay Band’s annual Christmas Concert. This show takes place Friday, December 12 at 7 p.m. in the Jesuit Auditorium, and it’s a spectacular multimedia event, certainly one of the many highlights in the band's annual performance schedule. The Clarinet Choir, the Concert Band, and the Jazz Band will play several popular Christmas pieces. Admission is free, along with the reception that will follow immediately in the Student Commons.
Until the concert photo gallery is posted this weekend, you can revisit the 2007 Christmas Concert Photo Gallery.
Christmas Bargains Galore at the Blue Jay Shop Does the Santa in your life need some Blue Jay gifts and stocking stuffers? Then stop by Jesuit no later than Monday and visit “Santa” Paul Rogers in the Blue Jay Shop where he will help you find all sorts of essential and not-so-essential items and clothing for Blue Jays young and old. Check out all the stuff: Blue Jay Shop. The Blue Jay Shop’s holiday hours are:
- Thursday, December 11-- 7:15-7:45 a.m.; 12:15-1 p.m.; and 3-4 p.m.
- Friday, December 12 -- 7:15-7:45 a.m.
- Last chance Christmas shopping on Monday, December 15, 3-6 p.m.
Jesuit Today… Fr. Harry Tompson, S.J. ’54 Inducted Into Hall of Honors Fr. Harry Tompson, S.J. ’54, who served as principal and president of Jesuit High School in the 70s and 80s, is the latest inductee into the school’s Hall of Honors. Fr. Tompson was posthumously inducted on Monday, December 8, 2008, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, traditionally the day when Jesuit bestows this honor on an individual.
A photo of Fr. Tompson was unveiled in a section of the second floor hallway that has been well traversed by thousands of Blue Jays. His gaze undoubtedly will fall on thousands of Blue Jays yet to pass through this hallowed hall. Blue Jays will enjoy reading an article that was published in 2002 by Gambit Weekly on the occasion of its selection of Fr. Tompson as New Orleanian of the Year. Parents and alumni who knew Fr. Tompson can reconnect with him through this article on the Hall of Honors Home Page. Audio: Fr. McGinn's Homily on Fr. Harry Tompson Check out the Photo Gallery: Feast of the Immaculate Conception Mass
and Harry Tompson Hall of Honors Reception A memorable part of the Mass on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8 was the playing and singing of the Avé Maria by two pre-freshmen. Vocalist Carl Hellmers was accompanied by Matthew Wolff on the piano. For your listening pleasure, here is the Audio of Their Performance.
2008 Thanksgiving Drive
Thanksgiving at Jesuit is always a special time of year, especially for new Blue Jays who participate in the timeless tradition of preparing and delivering Thanksgiving baskets to the needy families in our area. This year, baskets were distributed to 450 families, and each one – baskets, that is – featured a turkey. The Class of 1983 has been donating turkeys for the Thanksgiving drive for so long that it is semi-officially known as “The Turkey Class.” Coordinating the mechanics of the drive is the responsibility of Ms. Helen Swan, who teaches science when she is not wearing her hat as director of community service projects. This year’s faculty speaker at the service for students on the Wednesday morning of the drive was theology teacher James Michalik. He had more than a few pearls of wisdom and advice for Blue Jays and the evidence is here: Thanksgiving Drive Talk by James Michalik.
We decided to document the 2008 Thanksgiving drive by Scotch taping some video together. The result was a 3:22 video which has been viewed more than 5,900 times on our web site. In the event you are not in that number, you can view it here: 2008 Thanksgiving Drive Video. And check out these two photo galleries: 2008 Thanksgiving Drive Student Photo Gallery and the 2008 Thanksgiving Drive Alumni Photo Gallery.
On Thanksgiving Day, a Mass brought some 200 people to the Chapel of the North American Martyrs, where they heard Fr. McGinn’s 2008 Thanksgiving Mass Homily.
Celebration 2009 Needs Your Auction Items! Celebration 2009 takes place on Saturday, March 14, 2009 right here at Jesuit High School’s Mid-City campus! Jesuit needs items to be donated to the Celebration’s Auctions. All three auctions -- live, silent, and online -- will be fun, exciting, and successful, but we need your help. Our Auctions are always great and they will once again feature fabulous gifts and prizes. For the third consecutive year, Jesuit will hold its online auction in the weeks leading up to Celebration 2009! Your donations for the Auctions are needed now. We are looking for getaways, tickets to concerts, sporting events, plays, hotel stays, vacation condos, chartered outdoor trips, cooking school, restaurants, spa treatments, and golf packages.
You can easily make a donation online of an auction item by completing the form on Jesuit’s website: Donate Item to Jesuit’s Celebration Auction. Or if you prefer, bring your items to Jesuit’s Volunteer office located on the first floor of the Banks Street building. If you have any questions about donating an item, please contact online Auction coordinator Carolyn Lorio at 504-835-5629, or Auction co-chairs Marian Gibbs 504-453-8266 and Kathy Weidner 504-737-0035. The co-chairs of Celebration 2009 are Anne Barnes and Christine Zazulak.
Student Retreats
Blue Jays recently travelled to Rosaryville for a three-day Kairos retreat. Seniors directed juniors on this retreat that focused on exploring and deepening each participant’s relationship with God and his community. Kairos retreats are offered in addition to the traditional junior retreats conducted throughout the year.
Kairos Retreat Photo Gallery
Exam Week Schedule
Here is the 2nd Quarter Exam Schedule that is posted under “This Week at Jesuit” on Jesuit’s Home Page. There is also a Special Schedule on Monday, Dec 15.
Open House at Jesuit Jesuit High School rolled out the “blue and white carpet” for prospective students and their parents at the annual Open House on Wednesday, Nov. 12. Thanks to all our Blue Jay tour guides, alumni, and parents who helped to make this a special event. Check out the 2008 Open House Photo Gallery.
The Philelectic Society’s Winter Production
The Jesuit Philelectic Society held its winter production earlier this month, Tom Stoppard’s comedy, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Directed by Marc Belloni ’83, this play drew rave reviews from all in attendance. If you missed it, check out the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead Photo Gallery on the Phils’ Home Page.
Principal’s Corner…
From the Desk of Mike Giambelluca ’82, Principal of Jesuit High School
Revising the Profile
The Profile of the Graduate at Graduation has been in place at all Jesuit high schools throughout the country for more than 20 years. When educators from all Jesuit schools gather at the next JSEA (Jesuit Secondary Education Association) Colloquium in summer 2010 at the University of Santa Clara, we will discuss revising these five characteristics, which currently are: Open to Growth, Intellectually Competent, Religious, Loving, and Committed to Justice.
Padding Next Year’s Calendar
We have begun our initial plans for the 2009-2010 school calendar. While nothing is set in stone at this time, it is likely that school will begin earlier next year than it has in recent years. We are doing this in preparation for the possibility of losing days to hurricanes. A few extra days of “padding” will help us stay on track. Our plan calls for new students to have their orientation on Thursday, August 13, 2009. All students will have a shortened day on Friday, August 14. Thus, Monday, August 17, 2009 will be the first full regular day of classes for all students. Whiffenpoofs at Jesuit
The Centennial Yale Whiffenpoofs, the oldest collegiate a cappella ensemble in the United States, will perform at Jesuit for students and faculty during a special assembly on Monday, January 5. This will be a great way to start the second semester. Tech Training for Teachers
Beginning in the second semester and continuing throughout the rest of the year, all faculty members will receive a minimum of 6 hours of training to help them become more proficient in the use of technology in the classrooms. Faculty may receive as much as 12 hours. We look forward to how this training will translate into students becoming even more engaged in the classroom. Faculty Retreat
All faculty members will participate in a silent retreat at Manresa on January 19 and 20. This retreat will be directed by Fr. Richard Buhler, S.J., a Jesuit priest who also is an alumnus of Jesuit High School from the Class of 1956. Ho-Ho-Ho
Faculty and staff members had a great time this past Friday, December 5 at the annual Christmas party. It was held at Rock and Bowl, where everyone had the chance to bowl, sing karaoke, and just generally have fun and enjoy each other’s company.
Blue Jay Wishes
We continue to wish Spanish teacher Mr. Paul Frederick well as he recovers from his second knee surgery. We also wish Mrs. Yvonne Leger and Mrs. Sarah Richert well as they begin maternity leave later this month. May everyone have a Merry Christmas and a happy and safe New Year. AMDG.
Blue Jay Athletics…
34 State Swimming Championships! Congratulations to Coach Bret Hanemann ’85 and the Jesuit varsity swim team for winning the 2008 State Swimming Meet, held in Sulphur, LA last month. With this year’s victory, Jesuit has earned a total of 34 state swimming titles. At the state meet, juniors Marc Dorsey and Brian Carr led the Jays’ strong performance that racked up 315 points to secure first place. More results, along with a link to watch a broadcast of the meet on NOLA.com, can be found on the Swimming Home Page, where you may also view the 2008 State Swimming Photo Gallery.
Cross Country Team Grabs Runner-up Spot at State
Jesuit’s Cross Country team ran a great race at the State Meet in Natchitoches, finishing second to Catholic High of Baton Rouge. Read the article about the meet on the Cross Country Home Page and check out the 2008 Cross Country State Meet Photo Gallery. Preceding the state meet was district and the Blue Jays returned that title to Jesuit for the sixth consecutive year. The road to the district championship was truly a team effort, starting with a first place finish by senior Peter Flores. In addition to Flores, Cross Country Head Coach Peter Kernion ’90 notes that the 2008 team featured several prominent runners, including seniors Taylor Bacques and Alex Bukaty, juniors Fritz Metzinger, Patrick Schmidt, and Stanton Murray, and sophomore Philip Aucoin. See a lot of them in action in the Cross Country District Championship Photo Gallery.
Blue Jay Basketball The Blue Jay varsity Basketball team hit the court running, racking up a 7-2 start for the 2008-09 season. The pair of losses was in the finals of the Stanley Ray Memorial Tournament and, more recently, the CYO Tournament. Coach Chris Jennings ’78 has a very competitive team led by seniors D.J. Lewis, Rontrell Edwards, and Cameron Eckholdt. The Jays play exciting basketball – the evidence can be found in the numerous photo galleries on the Basketball Home Page.
Blue Jay Soccer
Jesuit’s Soccer team is off to a fast 7-0-1 start (the 2-2 tie coming against Catholic High earlier this month). The Jays travel to Mississippi the weekend of Dec. 12-13 to compete in the Brooke Welch Tournament. The Soccer Home Page features a couple of photo galleries of our Jays on the field – Jesuit-Vandebilt Photo Gallery and the Jesuit-Woodlawn Photo Gallery.
Wrestling Season Begins
Coach Carlos Bertot ’86 and the Blue Jay grapplers have taken to the mats, the wrestling mats that is. The Jays recently split two tournaments, placing first in the Catholic High Invitational and taking third place in the George Trygg Tournament. Senior wrestlers leading the squad are Bat Brunner, Stephen Vocke, Jonathan Dupre, Jared Munna, Patrick Nance, and Philip Zanco. For more details about the Jays at both of these events, visit the Wrestling Home Page. And don’t forget to check out the Jesuit-Catholic High Invitational Photo Gallery.
Blue Jays Eliminated by Destrehan in Football Playoffs Coach Wayde Keiser’s 2008 football team finished its season 5-5, which includes the 29-7 loss to Destrehan in the first round of playoffs. Review the entire season by visiting the Jesuit Football Home Page. And there are two excellent galleries covering the Jesuit-Destrehan game: Jump to Photo Gallery #1 or Jump to Photo Gallery #2. Congratulations to the following Blue Jay football players for their selection to the 10-5A all-district football team: First team selections were all seniors, including defensive lineman Shane Delery, offensive lineman Kyle Huber, and wide receiver and punter Beau Mothe. Delery was also picked for The Clarion Herald’s “2008 All-Catholic Elite Football Team.”
Second team selections included junior quarterback Ethan Oddo, senior tight end Rontrell Edwards, senior offensive lineman Malcolm Andry, and senior defensive back Tim Lala.
Fall Sports Recognition Night
The Fall Sports Recognition Night will take place Thursday, December 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium. Student-athletes in the sports of cross-country, football, and swimming will be recognized. All lettermen are required to attend, and all other team members are encouraged to attend. Parents and other family members may also attend. Attire is coat and tie. Schedules & Scores for All Jesuit Sports
Alumni News…
2009 Blue Jay Alumni Reunion Schedule
The Jesuit reunions scheduled in the spring and summer of 2009 will be for Blue Jays who graduated in years ending in 4 and 9. The schedule has been updated recently and you can find it here: 2009 Reunions Schedule.
Submit Your Jesuit Memoirs Online!
In connection with the Jesuit History and Archive Project, we’ve made it convenient and easy to Submit Your Blue Jay Memoirs Online about your experiences at Jesuit.
Ron Drez ’58 is writing the definitive history of Jesuit High School and is currently in the research phase. In addition to the written submissions submitted by alumni, Jesuit has also conducted interviews with nearly 60 Blue Jays. These interviews are being transcribed and will be archived on Jesuit’s web site sometime in the future. So what are you waiting for? Be a part of tradition and history and Submit Your Blue Jay Memoirs Online Now! Looking for a few pictures from our past? Look no further than the Annus Mirabilis Archives.
LEF Fall Drive Results Are Terrific!
The results of the 2008-09 LEF drive, which began July 1 of this year and ends June 30, 2009, keep getting better all the time. The four-night fall phone and email campaign helped push the drive into third gear. The results of those four nights are fantastic — $297,835 in pledges from 999 Blue Jays! A total of 166 callers filled St. Ignatius Hall during the four evenings of the drive, Nov. 17-20, 2008. “These results are outstanding,” says John Fitzpatrick III ’86, who is chairman of this year’s drive. “I thank everyone who came to Jesuit and called their classmates, and I also thank those Blue Jays who responded by making a pledge. For those Blue Jays who have not yet contributed, it’s easy to get it done with an LEF Online Donation.”
Missed all the fun and excitement that only a night at the LEF can bring? Then check out the LEF Fall Phone Drive Photo Gallery. Curious about the LEF results to date, as well as which classes in each decade are leading the rest of the pack? You’ll find all this info when you visit 2008-09 LEF Drive.
Contact Info
Important: If any of your contact information has recently changed, please let Jesuit know by sending an email to: alumninews@jesuitnola.org. May we suggest another way to send us your updated contact info? Submit a memoir online about your days at Carrollton and Banks. Complete the contact info and we will compare it to what is already in our database. Go to: Submit Your Blue Jay Memoirs Online Now! Questions about any events? Email: info@jesuitnola.org
About Blue Jay E-News
Blue Jay E-News is produced and disseminated by the alumni and development office of Jesuit High School. Blue Jay E-News features a variety of Jesuit news items, many with links to our web site (www.jesuitnola.org) so you may read the entire stories and view photo galleries. The purpose of Blue Jay E-News is to inform the Jesuit community about current, recent, and upcoming special events, including sports, academics, co-curricular, spiritual, parent, and alumni news. Additionally, Blue Jay E-News is a fast vehicle to deliver news, some significant and some just plain interesting, about achievements and accomplishments by our students, teams, and alumni.
If you have any comments, suggestions, or ideas, please send an email to: alumninews@jesuitnola.org. To access archived editions of this newsletter on Jesuit’s web site, go to: Blue Jay E-News. There’s something for every Blue Jay in Blue Jay E-News!
Jesuit High School
4133 Banks St.
New Orleans, LA 70119
504-486-6631
www.jesuitnola.org
To unsubscribe from this e-newsletter, please reply to this e-mail and insert UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
Blue Jay E-News
November 2008 Vol. 1; No. 6
Dear Blue Jays:
With Thanksgiving a little more than two weeks out, the Jesuits would like to extend their best wishes to the entire Blue Jay Community for a wonderful holiday. All Jesuit families are invited to attend Mass on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, at 10 a.m. in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs. To access archived editions of this newsletter, go to: Blue Jay E-News.
This Month’s Lead Story… Open House for Prospective Students-Parents Is Wednesday, November 12! Jesuit High School rolls out the “blue and white carpet” for prospective students and their parents at our annual Open House on Wednesday, Nov. 12. There will be three separate tours at 6, 6:45, and 7:30 p.m. In addition to the personal attention he will receive from our junior and senior tour guides, as well as faculty and alumni, each prospective student will also be given a Jesuit bag stuffed with information about the school, along with a few surprises. Next time you catch Jesuit’s 15-Second Open House Spot, think of someone whose son is in fifth, sixth, or seventh grade and who may be interested in becoming a Blue Jay. Forward the Open House info to them, along with Facts About Jesuit Admissions and Local Tuition Comparisons, and encourage them to come to Open House on Wednesday evening. “Open House gives prospective Blue Jays, along with their parents, the unique opportunity to get a personal and up close view of many of Jesuit’s greatest strengths and traditions,” says Jack Truxillo ’73, director of admissions. “Students and parents can ask questions, see the innovative technology we use in the classrooms, and by the end of the evening, they have a pretty good understanding of why we say Jesuit is a school that will change a young man’s life.” Prospective students (and parents) can discover more information about the school that is known for changing lives by checking out the Admissions Home Page.
Blue Jay Athletics… Destination: Destrehan Congratulations to the Blue Jays for securing their spot in the 2008 LHSAA Football Playoffs. Ranked #31, the Blue Jays will travel west on Friday, Nov. 14 to play the #2 ranked Destrehan Wildcats in the opening round. Kickoff is 7 p.m. This should be a great game. Because they are the home team, Destrehan may opt to stream this game live on NOLA.com with their own broadcast team calling the play-by-play action. Check Jesuit’s Home Page later in the week for an update on this aspect of the playoffs. Game tickets will be on sale throughout the week at the switchboard from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. and at lunch in the Student Commons on Friday. The pre-sale ticket price for adults, students, and children is set at $6. The ticket price at the gate is $8. According to LHSAA rules, student, faculty, and staff IDs, as well as season passes, will not be accepted at the gate. Directions to Destrehan High School. View the LHSAA-5A Football Playoff Bracket. Interested in viewing the Jesuit-Destrehan series record? Here it is: Jesuit-Destrehan Series Record.
Missed the Jesuit-St. Aug Game? Watch It Here! In defeating old rival St. Augustine last Friday evening at Tad Gormley, 44-14, the Blue Jays put together their best performance of the year. And a lot of Jesuit fans, besides the ones at the stadium, got to see this exciting contest, courtesy of NOLA.com, which streamed the game live on its web site. This was the first high school game streamed by NOLA.com which featured play-by-play commentary. (Typically, NOLA.com streams the video with audio provided by the stadium announcer). However, Jesuit’s primary broadcast team of Danny Riehm ’00 and Coach Mark Songy were both sidelined by previous commitments. So, the Blue Jays looked to their bench. And that’s where we found Joey Latino, Jesuit’s assistant athletic director, who proved he was adept at handling a microphone as he is keeping track of rule changes at the LHSAA. Paul Brennan, a junior who is the team’s statistician, joined Mr. Latino to provide color analysis. If you happened to miss this dynamite game, then you didn’t see the Blue Jays’ explosive start in which they scored 21 unanswered points in the first 90 seconds. Don’t fret your nerves as NOLA.com has archived the entire game right here:
Jesuit - St.Aug Football Game - First Half
Jesuit - St.Aug Football Game - Second Half. Here is The Times-Picayune’s account of the game: Jesuit Football Home Page. And don’t forget to check out the Jesuit - St. Aug Football Photo Gallery for some close-up shots of the action. For the sideshow on the sidelines, check out the Jesuit-St. Aug Performance Groups Photo Gallery.
Jesuit Swimming Team Wins 25th Metro Championship… IN A ROW!
Blue Jay swimmers dominated the Metro Tournament this past weekend, just like they have for the previous 24 years. When all the races, medleys, and relays were completed on Saturday afternoon at the Tulane University athletic complex, Jesuit’s swimming team compiled 429 points and, for the 25th year straight, a first place finish. Jesuit swimmers are pouring it on as they continue their march to the LHSAA state meet, to be held in Sulphur in two weeks.
Read The Times-Picayune’s account of the Metro Tourney on the
Swimming Home Page and check out the 2008 Metro Swim Tourney Photo Gallery.
“Sixcess” for Blue Jay Cross Country Team
Congratulations to the varsity cross country runners who brought back the district title to Jesuit for the 6th consecutive year. The road to this year’s district championship was a team effort, with seniors Peter Flores, Taylor Bacques, and Alex Bukaty, juniors Fritz Metzinger, Patrick Schmidt, and Stanton Murray, and sophomore Philip Aucoin all contributing to the win. Read the article about the meet on the Cross Country Home Page and check out the 2008 Cross Country District Meet Photo Gallery.
Jesuit Golfers Undefeated After Fall Season Jesuit’s golf team finished the fall season with a perfect 5-0 record. The Jays secured their last win after defeating Brother Martin on a tie-breaker earlier this week. The golf team takes winter off but will be back on the course in spring to prepare for district, regional, and state tournaments. Visit the Golf Home Page.
Winter Sports Almost Here! The basketball, soccer, and wrestling seasons are almost upon Jesuit’s varsity teams which have been preparing by putting in many hours of practice, practice, practice. The soccer team scrimmages St. Paul’s on the school’s northshore field on Saturday, November 15. The Blue Jay wrestling team also heads across the lake that same day to pin their opponents at the Mandeville Open. Jesuit’s basketball team opens with a non-district game against Warren Easton on Monday, November 17 in the Eagles’ nest. View all the schedules of these sports: Schedules & Scores for All Jesuit Sports.
Blue Jay Academics & Honors…
National Merit Blue Jays Since 2000, Jesuit has produced 378 National Merit Semifinalists, 28 National Hispanic Scholars, and 18 National Achievement Semifinalists. This is quite an achievement for these students and includes the 35 honorees from the Class of 2009. These 35 Blue Jays represent the largest number of honorees from a Louisiana school and the largest number of semifinalists among Catholic schools in the U.S., according to data provided by the NMSC. Jesuit also has two National Achievement Semifinalists and five National Hispanic Scholars. Each year, Jesuit produces a brochure that recognizes their accomplishments: Class of 2009 National Merit Semifinalists’ Brochure. Check out the full story right here: Jesuit’s National Merit Semifinalists, and look for the links to the archived brochures from the past three years.
Meet Jesuit’s 62 AP Scholars
CollegeBoard’s Advanced Placement Program offers high school students the opportunity to earn college credit. AP credits earned in high school are transferable based on the criteria set by the university that a student selects to continue his studies. At Jesuit, Advanceed Placement courses are open to all qualified students regardless of their academic program to which they are assigned. Congratulations to a long list of Blue Jays who were recently named 2008 AP Scholars.
Medical Research Is Blue Jay Senior’s Forté
Kudos to Jesuit senior Greg Tobin for his efforts working in Ochsner Hospital’s Star Program this past summer and assisting hospital researchers in compiling information for a scholarly article published in the fall 2008 edition of The Ochsner Journal. Tobin is credited with helping with some of the research for a “clinical trial to determine whether vitamin D supplementation is required to prevent rickets in breast-fed children.” Read the Study’s Abstract from The Ochsner Journal.
Jesuit Senior to Be Honored by Allstate Sugar Bowl Congratulations to senior Jordan Rittiner for being selected as the Allstate Sugar Bowl Amateur Athlete of the Month for August 2008. This award will be presented next spring at the annual Greater New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Ceremony. For details, view Jordan Rittiner Recognized by Sports Group.
Blue Jay Wins National Youth Leader of the Year Award Jesuit senior Kanwal Matharu was selected by the National Council on Youth Leadership as its National Youth Leader of the Year at a convention held in St. Louis. Matharu was awarded a $1,000 scholarship “based on qualities exhibited as a student leader, an excellent student, and someone who cares about the community in which he lives.”
Check out his picture here: Kanwal Matharu Honored with Award & Scholarship.
Jesuit Today… Christmas in November
The annual Christmas Greens event will be held Saturday, December 6 in the Student Commons at Jesuit High School. However, you must place, and pay for, your order no later than Friday, November 14. This is a great way to obtain holiday items with which to decorate your home for Christmas while supporting Jesuit at the same time. For Christmas 2009, you will be able to purchase these Christmas Boutique items online. But for this year, print and complete the form, which you can find by viewing the Christmas Greens Home Page.
If you have any questions, please call Marilyn Beauford, who is Jesuit’s volunteer coordinator, at 483-3947, or email: beauford@jesuitnola.org.
Band on the Run The Jesuit Blue Jay Band is “Excellent.” While we already knew this, it was confirmed with the rating the band received after performing their intricately choreographed show, “Spies Like Us,” during the LMEA District VI Marching Festival on Wednesday evening, November 5 at Joe Yenni Stadium. While the band ran off with an overall “Excellent” rating, “Superior” ratings were awarded to the band’s Percussion unit, drum major Daniel Swear ’09, and the Jayettes.
Let’s have a drum roll, please, for the excellent photos of the 2008 LMEA Festival.
Jesuit MCJROTC Celebrates USMC Birthday
The USMC celebrated its 233rd birthday and on Saturday, November 8, Jesuit’s MCJROTC recognized the festive occasion with the usual pomp and circumstance that you will see in the Jesuit MCJROTC Birthday Celebration Photo Gallery.
Presidential Pomp and Politics at Jesuit Forum Every four years when it’s time to elect the President of the United States, Jesuit’s Student Council prepares and hosts an informational forum for all Blue Jays. On Tuesday, October 28, Jesuit students marched over to the gym, which had been converted from an all-purpose sports facility to a patriotic, festive, and political cocoon of sorts, decorated with balloons and red, white, and blue bunting.
In one corner, representing the Republicans and their nominee, Sen. John McCain, was Tommy Capella ’83, who is chairman of the Jefferson Parish Council. In the other corner, representing the Democrats and their nominee, Sen. Barack Obama, was Austin Badon, Jr., a Louisiana state representative from Orleans Parish. Each candidate addressed their attentive audience and then took questions from approximately a dozen Blue Jays on issues ranging from the economy to abortion to the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. An event such as this stimulates Blue Jays to think about the real, complex, and consequential issues that constitute much of the political discourse in our country. Anyone can see that in the faces of students who make up the 2008 Jesuit Presidential Forum Photo Gallery. Read About the 2008 Presidential Forum.
School Calendar Updated Just a reminder that the school calendar for November and December has been updated to reflect schedule changes in the 2nd quarter that were caused by Hurricanes Gustav and Ike. Updated School Calendar
2008 Homecoming Court During halftime at the Jesuit-Rummel football game Saturday, October 11, the 2008 Blue Jay Homecoming Court was introduced to the crowd. Congratulations to 2008 Jesuit Homecoming Queen, Miss Caila Gowland, who is a senior at Mt. Carmel Academy, and the entire Homecoming Court. View the 2008 Jesuit Homecoming Court Photo Gallery.
Daily Mass at Jesuit Each month, Jesuit’s student body gathers in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs to celebrate a community Mass. However, Jesuit also offers Mass Monday through Friday at 7:15 a.m. in the Holy Name of Jesus Chapel, which is the smaller chapel located on the second floor of the Banks Street administration building. Parents who drop off their sons are welcome to join students and faculty for this daily Mass. Check out the Jesuit Community Mass Photo Gallery.
Student Life at Jesuit
Jayson’s Daily Wild Photo Archive is a fantastic way to get your daily dose of Blue Jay life at Carrollton and Banks. Each afternoon, Jesuit’s webmaster, English teacher Jack Culicchia ’83, combs through the hundreds, sometimes thousands, of incredible pictures taken that day or weekend by the school’s roving “Wild Photographers” and selects the very best one. This photo becomes “Jayson’s Daily Wild Photo” and is posted without fail at the bottom of Jesuit’s Home Page. All you have to do is scroll down to it.
The Philelectic Society’s Winter Production
The Jesuit Philelectic Society proudly announces its winter production, Tom Stoppard’s comedy, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. Show dates are December 3-6 at 8 p.m. No matinee will be performed for this production. General admission tickets will be available to adults for $10 and $5 for all high school students. There are no reserved seats for this production. Tickets will go on sale after Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, view The Fantasticks Photo Gallery on the Phils’ Home Page.
Alumni News…
2008 Alumnus of the Year, Homecoming, and Back to Banks Jay C. Zainey, a 1969 graduate of Jesuit High School who is a tireless champion for people with special needs, as well as a staunch advocate for the homeless, was honored at Homecoming Mass on Sunday, October 12 as the school’s 2008 Alumnus of the Year.
“Jay Zainey embodies the Jesuit ideal of being a ‘Man for Others’ and we are proud to honor him as our Alumnus of the Year,” said Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J., president of Jesuit High School. “He has always set the bar high by working in a professional and ethical manner, while channeling his enormous energies into several humanitarian projects which have improved the lives of people, especially those with special needs in our community.” The numerous links below will connect you to this incredible Blue Jay event. Jay Zainey Named 2008 Alumnus of the Year
2008 Back to Banks Photo Gallery
2008 Homecoming Mass Photo Gallery 2008 Homecoming Jazz Brunch & Reception Photo Gallery Class of 1969 Luncheon in Honor of Jay Zainey Photo Gallery 2008 Alumnus of Year Dinner Photo Gallery Alumnus of Year Master Archives Audio Clip: Fr. McGinn Introduces Jay Zainey.MP3
Audio Clip: Judge Jay Zainey Addresses Blue Jays.MP3
2009 Blue Jay Alumni Reunion Schedule
The Jesuit reunions scheduled in the spring and summer of 2009 will be for Blue Jays who graduated in years ending in 4 and 9. Check out the 2009 Reunion Calendar.
JSEA Online Survey for Jesuit Alumni in Classes 1988 through 2003 The Jesuit Secondary Education Association (JSEA) is revising the “Profile of a Jesuit Grad at Graduation.” The JSEA is interested in the thoughts of alumni who graduated between 1988 and 2003. Your insights are vital to us as we consider the challenges that future Jesuit students will be facing. Please help us now by completing a brief online survey. Open to growth, intellectually competent, loving, religious, and committed to doing justice are the traits that have helped define Jesuit education for the last 25 years. Make your voice heard now and aid in the shaping of Jesuit education for years to come. JSEA Survey
Wanted: Your Memories of Jesuit High School
C’mon, what are you guys waiting for? We’ve received about 25 submissions in connection with the History of Jesuit High School Book & Archive Project. We can do better than that because there are plenty Blue Jays who have countless stories about their days at Carrollton and Banks.
Ron Drez ’58 is writing the definitive history of Jesuit High School and is currently in the research phase. In addition to the written submissions submitted by alumni, Jesuit has also conducted interviews with nearly 60 Blue Jays. These digitally recorded interviews are being transcribed and will be archived in the future on Jesuit’s web site. Be a part of tradition and history and lend us your memories of Jesuit. For guidelines, visit the History of Jesuit High School Book & Archive Project.
LEF Fall Drive November 17-20
Blue Jays are needed to volunteer for the LEF phone and email campaign which begins Monday, November 17 and ends Thursday, November 20. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria each night; calling your classmates begins at 7 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m. in the newly renovated St. Ignatius Hall. The 2009 LEF drive, which began July 1, 2008 and ends June 30, 2009, is chaired by John Fitzpatrick III ’86. Volunteers can RSVP online for one or more nights – go to Volunteer for LEF; or phone 504-483-3815. Or send an email to: alumni@jesuitnola.org.
Blue Jay alumni recently received the annual LEF mailing, which includes information about this year’s drive as well as a pledge card and return envelope. More information about the drive can be found on the LEF Home Page. Online Donation to the LEF OnlinePledge to the LEF
Spiritual Exercises for Jesuit Alumni Fr. Norman O’Neal, S.J., who serves as Jesuit’s alumni chaplain, is once again offering Blue Jays the opportunity to make the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. This modified version covers the total Exercises but over an extended period rather than for 30 consecutive days as St. Ignatius originally gave them.
“The Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life” originally involved praying over the week’s prayer for four or five hours each day for 30 days. In Fr. O’Neal’s modified version, the meditations are taken one at a time. The amount of time to go through all of them in this manner takes about five months. “It is not for everyone,” cautions Fr. O’Neal, “but for those who are interested in furthering their religious life and advancing in their prayer life, it is a wonderful way to do so without taking off from work for an entire month.”
If you are interested, or if you have questions, contact Fr. O’Neal by email: oneal@jesuitnola.org. He can also be reached at the Jesuits’ Banks Street residence, 483-3907.
“There will be no obligation to pursue this, just an opportunity to discuss whether you think this would be for you,” says Fr. O’Neal.
Contact Info
Important: We will be mailing Jaynotes soon. If Jesuit does not have your correct address, the Post Office will not forward it. If any of your contact information has recently changed, please let Jesuit know by sending an email to: alumninews@jesuitnola.org. Questions about any events? Email: info@jesuitnola.org
About Blue Jay E-News
Blue Jay E-News is produced and disseminated by the alumni and development office of Jesuit High School. Blue Jay E-News features a variety of Jesuit news items, many with links to our web site (www.jesuitnola.org) so you may read the entire stories and view photo galleries. The purpose of Blue Jay E-News is to inform the Jesuit community about current, recent, and upcoming special events, including sports, academics, co-curricular, spiritual, parent, and alumni news. Additionally, Blue Jay E-News is a fast vehicle to deliver news, some significant and some just plain interesting, about achievements and accomplishments by our students, teams, and alumni.
If you have any comments, suggestions, or ideas, please send an email to: alumninews@jesuitnola.org. There’s something for every Blue Jay in Blue Jay E-News!
Jesuit High School
4133 Banks St.
New Orleans, LA 70119
504-486-6631
www.jesuitnola.org
To unsubscribe from this e-newsletter, please reply to this e-mail and insert UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
Blue Jay E-News
October 2008 Vol. 1; No. 5
Dear Blue Jays:
This 5th edition of Blue Jay E-News is being sent to you on the eve of an exciting weekend at Jesuit High School -- Back to Banks, Homecoming, Alumnus of the Year. To access this current issue, and archived editions of this newsletter, go to: Blue Jay E-News.
This Month’s Lead Story… Hon. Jay C. Zainey ’69 Named Jesuit’s 2008 Alumnus of the Year The Honorable Jay C. Zainey, a 1969 graduate of Jesuit High School who is a tireless champion for people with special needs, as well as a staunch advocate for the homeless, has been named the school’s 2008 Alumnus of the Year. Judge Zainey will receive the award at Homecoming Mass for Jesuit alumni on Sunday, October 12 at 10 a.m. in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs on the school’s campus. A jazz brunch and reception will follow in the Student Commons. The Class of 2009 is especially invited to attend the Homecoming Mass. Additionally, the Classes of 1958 and 1983 will be recognized, respectively, for their 50-year and 25-year anniversaries. Read the Entire Story and View Photos from the 1969 Jesuit Yearbook Alumnus of the Year Archives Can’t recall who was Jesuit’s Alumnus of the Year back in 1969, 1983, or 1958, which was the first year the award was presented? Check out: Alumnus of the Year Home Page.
Information About Back to Banks & Homecoming
Be in that number of Blue Jays this Saturday afternoon for the annual Back to Banks festivities in the Traditions Courtyard. The entire Jesuit community is invited, including young and very young. Bring the grandchildren and ride the train with them. Get their faces painted. Just don’t let them get lost in Jayson’s Maze. Come hungry because Bro. Dardis will be serving grilled hamburgers and hot dogs from 3-5 p.m. In connection with the History of Jesuit High School Book Project, alumni who come to Back to Banks are encouraged to visit the small conference room behind the switchboard to reminisce about their Blue Jay days. A digital recorder will be set up for alumni to tell stories in their own words about their glory (and not-so-glorious) days at Jesuit High School. Dominic Massa ’94 will ask the questions. All you have to do is show up and have some answers.
To get everyone pumped up for the Homecoming Game the Blue Jays will play that evening against the Rummel Raiders, a pep rally starts at 5 p.m., featuring the Jesuit Cheerleaders, the Jayettes, and Jesuit alumnus Mickey Bordes ’78, who promises a rousing and spirited speech. Afterwards, join the motorcade to Tad Gormley Stadium.
Homecoming Game on WGSO 990-AM Radio! With the Jesuit-Rummel Homecoming game Saturday evening, Blue Jay football takes to the air. The game will be broadcast WGSO 990-AM Radio and audio-streamed on our own web site: Jesuit’s Home Page. The pre-game show at begins at 7:15 p.m. and kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. at Tad Gormley Stadium. WGSO’s Kenny Trahan is substituting this week for regular Blue Jay play-by-play announcer Danny Riehm ’00. Former Jesuit head football coach Mark Songy will be handling analysis. Both announcers will be assisted by Jesuit statistician Paul Brennan ’10. Tickets for the game will be sold at Back to Banks ($5 for adults and students; $3 for children under 12). Tickets may be purchased at the switchboard until 4 p.m. today (Friday). Student, faculty, and staff IDs, as well as season passes, will be accepted at the gate for this District 10-5A contest.
Note: City Park has requested that fans avoid parking on the neutral ground for games at Tad Gormley Stadium. We assume this means the neutral grounds along Marconi Drive as well as the one in Roosevelt Mall. City Park has said that cars parked on the neutral ground will be towed. If you can’t be in the stadium watching it live, the next best thing (at the moment) is the radio or a live broadcast stream right here on our website: Jesuit’s Home Page. And tune in to hear live action for the November 1 game pitting Jesuit against Bonnabel at 2 p.m.
Students Celebrate Homecoming in Their Own Crazy Ways
Students have been whooping and hollering all week long as Homecoming weekend approaches. Each day at lunch time, the Student Council has sponsored an activity that is as crazy as it is fun. Check out the following photo galleries created by Jayson’s Wild Photographer: Monday: American Gladiator Tuesday: Dunk Contest Wednesday: Arm Wrestling Thursday: Senior - Faculty Football
Exam Schedule October 13-17
At some point this weekend, all this fun will turn to serious study. A reminder that Blue Jays take their 1st quarter exams next week. The schedule is posted here: 1st Quarter Exam Schedule.
Class of 2009 Produces 35 National Merit Semifinalists
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) recognized 35 seniors from Jesuit High School as semifinalists in the 2009 Merit Scholarship Competition, representing the largest number of honorees from a Louisiana school and the largest number of semifinalists among Catholic schools in the U.S., according to data provided by the NMSC.
Jesuit’s honorees make up 15% of Louisiana’s 227 National Merit Semifinalists who come from 54 schools. The outstanding performance of these 35 Blue Jays ranks Jesuit among the top 30 public and private high schools in the United States. Did you know? Since 2000, Jesuit has produced 378 National Merit Semifinalists, 28 National Hispanic Scholars, and 18 National Achievement Semifinalists. Check out the full story right here: Jesuit's National Merit Semifinalists.
Mother Son Breakfast
More than 500 Blue Jays and their mothers gathered Sunday, October 5 for the annual Mother-Son Mass and breakfast at the Sheraton Canal Street. Listen to a great talk by senior Danny Fitzpatrick: Audio: Danny Fitzpatrick Talk - Mother Son Mass Breakfast Fr. McGinn has some simple advice for Blue Jays and thanking your mothers is a good start: Audio: Fr. McGinn's Talk - Mother Son Mass Breakfast And don’t forget to check out the 2008-09 Mother - Son Mass & Breakfast Photo Gallery.
Blue and White Friday Night
Approximately 500 prospective Blue Jays from elementary schools throughout the New Orleans area were treated to a taste of Blue Jay student life at the school’s first annual “Blue and White Friday Night.” The evening included sports demonstrations, a Fantasticks performance by the Philelectic Society, and an exhibition by the Jesuit Cheerleaders. The event concluded with spirited participants chomping on hot dogs and nachos, and tossing around their souvenir Blue Jay footballs in the Traditions Courtyard. It’s all right here: Blue & White Friday Night Photo Gallery.
Open House and Admissions Information
Jesuit High School promises the “blue and white carpet” treatment for prospective students and their parents at its exciting Open House event on Wednesday, Nov. 12. There will be three separate tours at 6, 6:45, and 7:30 p.m. If you happen to know someone whose son is in fifth, sixth, or seventh grade and may be interested in experiencing Blue Jay Spirit and Jesuit’s rich traditions of academic, co-curricular, and athletic excellence, we encourage you to forward this information to them. Include the following links: Admissions Home, Day Tours of Jesuit, Admissions Brochure, and Academic Overview.
And here is something else you may pass along to parents of prospective Blue Jays: · Teachers at Jesuit High School assume many important roles. Instructors, advisers, moderators, and coaches, they are mentors and role models for students. Of the 110 faculty members, 48 hold masters degrees and five have doctorate degrees in their fields. · Our faculty includes 29 women and eight Jesuits. Nearly one-third of our teachers have taught at Jesuit more than 10 years. All of our teachers are distinguished by a passion for teaching and their commitment to the formation of young people. · In 162 years, no qualified young man has been refused admission to Jesuit because his family could not afford the tuition. Tuition is $6,450 for the 2008-09 year and happens to be one of the lowest among private high schools in the area. It is a myth that Jesuit accepts only applicants with a “Blue Jay connection.” Here are the facts about the 2008-09 new freshmen and pre-freshmen Blue Jays: · Jesuit has a total of 299 new students this year, 244 in 8th grade and 55 who are freshmen. · 53 of these new students are sons of alumni; 63 are brothers of an alumnus or current student; · A total of 116 new students (that’s 39%) have an alumnus or family connection. · Of the 299 new students, 66 (22%) are minority, representing one of the largest minority classes in recent Jesuit history.
Fantastic Fantasticks!
The curtain goes up, or rather, opens on the Philelectic Society’s fall production, The Fantasticks. Directed by Marc Belloni ’83, The Fantasticks has become one of the longest-running musicals on and off Broadway, and fans of the Phils know that cast and crew will stage the production in their usual phenomenal fashion. Here are the dates: Wednesday, October 22 - Saturday, October 25; Curtain at 7:30 p.m. On Sunday, October 26, there will be a 2 p.m. matinee performance. Admission is $5 for high school students and $12 for adults. To purchase tickets, contact jayphils@jesuitnola.org. Read more about the play and the cast on the Philelectic Society’s Home Page.
Cheers for Jay Thomas ’66 and Dookie Chase ’67 for Speaking to Student Assemblies
Alumni Jay Thomas (himself a former Phil) and Dooky Chase were recent speakers at two different assemblies. Jesuit appreciates these two Blue Jays giving their time by coming back to their Alma Mater. Check out the photo of Chase on the Alumni News Home Page. Thomas’s picture can be found by accessing Jayson's Daily Wild Photo Archive.
Today's Announcements
An excellent way for not only students but also parents and alumni to see what’s happening at Jesuit on a particular day is to click: Today's Announcements. Each day, nearly 500 people keep up with what’s going on at Jesuit with the various clubs, organizations, and co-curriculars by checking out the daily announcements page. All this information is compiled by English teacher Mike Prados ’83, who is also director of student activities.
In Memoriam
A reminder to alumni that funeral information for deceased members of the Jesuit community are posted daily on Jesuit’s In Memoriam web page. Did you know that approximately 150 Blue Jays visit this page on a daily basis? A big thanks to Bro. Billy Dardis ’58 for keeping up with what is a time-consuming task of carefully reading death notices and posting information about the deceased members of the Jesuit community.
Learn More about Jesuit’s Parent-to-Parent Program
The Parent-to-Parent Program provides Jesuit’s parents practical ways to use their power to protect adolescents from societal dangers. This program helps create a positive counter culture by influencing not only your child but also your child’s spheres of influence. To learn more about the Parent to Parent Program at Jesuit, visit the Parent-to-Parent Webpage.
Mothers' Rosary Group
For the past fourteen years, the Jesuit Mothers' Rosary Group has met every Wednesday during the school year to pray the rosary for the Jesuit community. Mothers interested in joining this rosary group are asked to meet in the Holy Name Chapel (small chapel on the second floor of the Banks Street building) every Wednesday at 8:15 a.m. during the school year.
2008-09 PAG Drive Info
By the end of what is called THE most important day on the school calendar -- PAG Sunday --Jesuit’s parents had pledged $1,142,000 to the Parents’ Annual Giving drive. The PAG drive helps to close the gap ($2,350) between the amount Jesuit charges for tuition ($6,450) and the actual cost of educating a Blue Jay ($8,800).
“Parents understand the importance of this drive and what it means to the education of our sons,” says this year’s chairman, Paul Perez ’79. “On behalf of all the class tri-chairs and captains, I thank parents for their participation and generosity. And I encourage parents who have not yet made a pledge to do so today.” The results by class are updated monthly and can be found on the 2008-09 PAG Drive Home Page.
Mothers’ Coffee Forges Spirit
A good time was had by all Blue Jay moms who gathered at the River Ridge home of Lana and Gordon Konrad for the annual Mothers’ Coffee on Tuesday, September 16. In case you missed the event, check out the 2008 Mothers’ Coffee Photo Gallery.
Grandparents’ Day
Hundreds of Blue Jays and their grandparents come together for Mass in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs on Sunday, September 14. A reception followed in the Student Commons for this annual event, known as Grandparents’ Day. Check out the pictures: Grandparents’ Day 2008 Photo Gallery
Football Team
The Blue Jays are 2-2 going into the Homecoming game against Rummel this weekend. Last week, the Jays defeated the Holy Cross Tigers in the teams’ 89th meeting. It truly is a Great American Rivalry and you can check out all the action of that game, the overtime win against Catholic High the week before, and a nice article that was published in The Times-Picayune today about senior defensive stalwart Shane Delery simply by clicking: Jesuit Football Home Page.
Cross Country Team
Jesuit’s cross country team is off to the races. With another season underway, the Jays look to be strong competitors. Last week, the team won the Holy Cross-Chalmette Invitational. Check out the pictures of that event here: Holy Cross - Chalmette Cross Country Invitational Photo Gallery. Visit the Cross Country Home Page for access to additional photo galleries.
Swimming Team
Jesuit’s swimming team is undefeated after five events, the most recent of which was a dual meet against Brother Martin. Check out the Blue Jay swimmers: Jesuit - Br. Martin Swimming Dual Photo Gallery. Jesuit’s Swimming Home Page also has links to other photo galleries. Access Schedules and Scores for All Jesuit Sports
Contact Info
If any of your contact information has recently changed, please let Jesuit know by sending an email to: alumninews@jesuitnola.org.
Questions about any events? Email: info@jesuitnola.org
About Blue Jay E-News
Blue Jay E-News is produced and disseminated by the alumni and development office of Jesuit High School. Blue Jay E-News features a variety of Jesuit news items, many with links to our web site (www.jesuitnola.org) so you may read the entire stories and view photo galleries. The purpose of Blue Jay E-News is to inform the Jesuit community about current, recent, and upcoming special events, including sports, academics, co-curricular, spiritual, parent, and alumni news. Additionally, Blue Jay E-News is a fast vehicle to deliver news, some significant and some just plain interesting, about achievements and accomplishments by our students, teams, and alumni.
If you have any comments, suggestions, or ideas, please send an email to: alumninews@jesuitnola.org.
There’s something for every Blue Jay in Blue Jay E-News!
Jesuit High School
4133 Banks St.
New Orleans, LA 70119 504-486-6631 www.jesuitnola.org
To unsubscribe from this e-newsletter, please reply to this e-mail and insert UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
Blue Jay E-News
September 2008 Vol. 1; No. 4
Dear Blue Jays:
This 4th edition of Blue Jay E-News has something for all segments of the Jesuit community – parents, alumni, teachers, and even students. Remember that the current newsletter and earlier editions are posted on our web site: Blue Jay E-News. We Begin with Breaking News… Blue Jay Football on the Radio Tonight! Blue Jay football is back on WGSO 990 AM Radio and on our own web site: Jesuit Home Page. In a rare Wednesday evening (that’s tonight!) contest, thanks to Hurricanes Gustav and Ike, the Jays travel across the world’s longest bridge to take on the Fontainebleau Bulldogs in a pre-district contest. Jesuit’s superb broadcast team warms up with their pre-game show at 6:45 p.m. and then swings into action with the rest of the Blue Jay team at the 7 p.m. kickoff. Our play-by-play announcer is once again the knowledgeable and loquacious Danny Riehm ’00. Adding color to tonight’s commentary is current head baseball coach Tim Parenton ’80, who also knows a few things about football. After all, Parenton was a gifted four-sport letterman who started at quarterback four consecutive seasons while attending Jesuit. Parenton is pinch-commentating for former Jesuit head football coach Mark Songy, who is temporarily sidelined this week as a result of schedule complications courtesy of Gustav. Riehm and Parenton could not carry the torch by themselves without someone constantly feeding them numbers. And statisticians do not come any better than what Jesuit has in junior Paul Brennan. Halftime guest is Jesuit’s admissions director Jack Truxillo ’73. Blue Jay fans, whether they are in Gretna on the Southshore, Bogalusa on the Northshore, or anywhere between Belgium and Bangkok, may listen to the live broadcast stream right here on our website: Jesuit’s Home Page. And tune in to hear live action for four upcoming Jesuit football games: - September 10 vs. Fontainebleau 7 p.m.
- October 4 vs. Holy Cross 2 p.m.
- October 11 vs. Rummel 7:30 p.m.
- November 1 vs. Bonnabel 2 p.m.
This Month’s Lead Story… Hurricane Gustav Forces Jesuit (and Everyone Else in New Orleans) to Evacuate With Gustav bearing down on South Louisiana almost three years after Katrina made its sorry mark, Jesuit students, teachers, and their families got out of town fast. Gustav swiped New Orleans but it was enough to keep the school, and virtually everything else, closed for the entire Labor Day week. A few of the Jesuits evacuated to Spring Hill College in Mobile, including Bros. Billy Dardis, S.J. ’58 and Larry Huck, S.J. ’87. As soon as the rain stopped, the dynamic duo found their way back to Carrollton and Banks to assess the damage. They were pleasantly surprised – a few tiles missing from the chapel roof and some downed oak tree branches (nothing huge) just about sums up the extent of Jesuit’s damage. During the evacuation, many teachers were able to post assignments for their students on our web site. If you would like to see evacuation-weary Blue Jays on their first day back to school, click: Jays Return with Gusto after Gustav.
In Wake of Gustav, Jesuit Revises Several Events on School Calendar Attention Blue Jay Families: Changes have been made to the Jesuit calendar as a result of Hurricane Gustav and the evacuation. Please review the events and dates below and amend your Jesuit calendar at home.
September 10 -- Football: Jesuit @ Fontainebleau, 7 PM (Rescheduled from Sept. 12)
September 11 -- Seven Period Day 1A
PAG Captains' Meeting in Student Commons, 7 PM (Rescheduled from September 3)
September 12 -- Seven Period Day 7B
September 14 -- Grandparents Day: 10 AM Mass, followed by Breakfast (No Change)
September 15 -- Regular Order Schedule, Dismissal 3 PM
September 16 -- Mothers' Coffee: 11 AM (Rescheduled from September 10)
September 17 -- Senior, Junior, & Parents College Information Night: 7 PM
(Rescheduled from September 10)
September 20 -- Ring Mass: Chapel of the North American Martyrs, 5 PM
(Rescheduled from September 6)
September 21 -- PAG Sunday, 9 AM Mass, light breakfast follows (No Change)
September 22 -- Senior Ring Holiday (Rescheduled from September 8)
September 23 -- Progress Reports Due: 8 AM (Rescheduled from September 16)
High School Info Night: Pontchartrain Center, 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM
(Rescheduled from September 10)
September 25 -- Regular Order Schedule
Alumni Steering Committee: Noon (Rescheduled from September 11)
October 2 -- Assembly Order #3: 2 PM Dismissal
Parent Teacher Conferences (A-Z) 5 PM - 8 PM
(Rescheduled from September 25)
October 7 -- Town Hall Meeting: Jesuit Auditorium, 7 PM (Rescheduled from September 9)
October 9 -- BJPCEB, 7 PM (Rescheduled from October 2) Questions about any events? Email: info@jesuitnola.org
Sans Gustav, New Year Begins Routinely The first day of school for all Blue Jays was Tuesday, August 19. Check out the following photo galleries below: First Week of School Photo Gallery Orientation and Investiture for new Blue Jays took place Monday, August 18.
Investiture-Orientation Photo Gallery Mass of the Holy Spirit took place Friday, August 29.
Mass of the Holy Spirit Photo Gallery Book Day for seniors, juniors, and sophomores was August 14.
Book Day 2008 Senior Photo Gallery Book Day for freshmen and pre-freshmen was August 15.
Book Day 2008 Freshmen Pre-freshmen Photo Gallery
New Parents Orientation Jesuit High School president Fr. Anthony McGinn, S.J. ’66 addressed new parents on Tuesday, August 26 in the school’s auditorium. At orientation, new parents were
introduced to several of Jesuit’s administrators as well as volunteer parents who help with the PAG drive, Jesuit’s annual gala Celebration/Auction, and the Blue Jay Bazaar. Jesuit principal Mike Giambelluca ’82 also addressed parents. Listen: Audio of Fr. McGinn's Talk to New Parents Listen: Audio of Mr. Giambelluca's Talk to New Parents
New Faculty for New Year Jesuit welcomes several new teachers who join our faculty. Jesuit now has 110 faculty members, including 48 with masters degrees and five with doctorates in their fields. Our faculty includes eight Jesuits (four priests, two brothers, and two scholastics) and seven guidance counselors, two of whom focus exclusively on college placement. Check Out Our New Faculty and What They Teach
Jesuit Bulletin Online For the convenience of our parents, we have the 2008-09 Jesuit Bulletin posted on our Academics Home Page.
Blue Jay Sports Update Parents and alumni may purchase football season ticket packages online: Buy Football Season Tickets. In Jamboree action, the Blue Jays scored several times in shutting out Grace King, 35-0. Read about it on Jesuit’s Football Home Page, then check out the Jesuit-Grace King Football Photo Gallery. The Jesuit-Holy Cross football game on October 4 will be featured as one of the 2008 Great American Rivalry games. For the past five years, iHigh and the U.S. Marine Corps have recognized the great prep rivalries throughout the country. The sponsoring organizations award the player from each team with the highest GPA a $500 scholarship, recognize one participant as the game’s Most Valuable Player, honor players and coaches from past games, and broadcast the game over the Internet. Meanwhile, if you cannot get enough of this rivalry, check out Jesuit-Holy Cross Football Rivalry. One final football note: The Catholic football game on September 26 will be video broadcast live on CST (Cox Sports Television) at 7:30 p.m. CST is channel 37 in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes. This will be a regional broadcast throughout the Gulf Coast area (LA, MS, AL, Texas, and FL). Check your local TV listings and be on the lookout for replays of this game. Jesuit’s swimming team and cross country team also begin their seasons. Blue Jay swimmers open their season Thursday afternoon (Sept. 11) at Crossgates against Northshore in a dual meet that starts at 4:30 p.m. Access Schedules and Scores for All Jesuit Sports
American Legion Baseball Blue Jays who played on the Retif Oil-sponsored American Legion baseball team this summer should be proud. Coached by Tim Parenton ’80, the team won district, state, and regional titles and earned a trip to Enid, OK to play in the World Series. Unfortunately, the Jays stumbled hard in the double-elimination tournament, dropping their first two games by scores of 8-4 and 18-6. The 2008 team was only the fifth Jesuit squad to advance to the American Legion World Series since 1946, the year Coach Eddie Toribio’s team won it all. And just for the record, the only other Jesuit team to win the American Legion World Series was the 1960 Blue Jay team under Coach Kevin Trower. Check out Jesuit’s American Legion Baseball Home Page for photo galleries, stories, and even a play-by-play review of the two games the Jays played at the World Series.
Two Reminders for Jesuit Parents…Grandparents’ Day… Two events NOT re-scheduled as a result of Gustav are coming up this month. The first is Grandparents’ Day on Sunday, Sept. 14. Mass will begin at 10 a.m. in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs, followed by refreshments in the Student Commons and a tour of the school.
Grandparents’ Day is always a joyous occasion at Jesuit. It is a low-key event that provides Blue Jays the opportunity to spend valuable time with their grandparents. To continue the success of this event and to celebrate the extended Jesuit family, we ask that your son invite his grandparents. Dress code for students is coat and tie.
The elevators have been refurbished and are working. Grandparents who may find it difficult to climb the stairs to the chapel may take the elevator on the Palmyra Street side of the school to the third floor. Although a few parents help serve refreshments, this event is intended for your son and his grandparents. Photographers will be available to take pictures for a reasonable price. Deceased grandparents will be remembered in our prayers that day. If grandparents are deceased, or they are unable to attend, your son may invite his godparents or a special aunt and uncle.
... Mark Your Calendar for PAG Sunday, September 21
The other important Jesuit event NOT re-scheduled is PAG Sunday. All Jesuit parents and their families are invited to Mass at 9 a.m. in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs. A light breakfast will follow in Jesuit’s cafeteria.
The 2008-09 Parents’ Annual Giving drive is underway. The PAG Captains’ meeting scheduled Wednesday, Sept. 3, was postponed because of Gustav, but has been re-scheduled for Thursday, September 11 at 7 p.m. in the Student Commons.
Paul Perez ’79, who is chairman of this year’s campaign, sent parents a letter which contained a Brochure and other information about the drive. Fr. McGinn sent a letter that parents should receive any day now. Fr. McGinn’s letter to returning parents contains a pledge card that parents should return to school as soon as possible.
To find out more about this year’s PAG drive, check out the PAG Home Page. Click here to Donate Online.
Alumni News A reception to thank members of the Ignatian Circle for their generosity was held recently. The Ignatian Circle comprises benefactors who contributed $3,000 or more to Jesuit High School during the 2008 fiscal year, which ended June 30. Check Out the Ignatian Circle Reception Photo Gallery. Check Out the 1847 Society Reception Photo Gallery.
Back-to-Banks and Homecoming 2008 Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 11 and Sunday, October 12 for the following events for Blue Jays. - Back-to-Banks is Saturday, October 11 from 3–6 p.m. in the Traditions Courtyard. All Jesuit families are invited to this special event.
- Homecoming Game features the Blue Jays against the Rummel Raiders on Saturday, October 11 at 7:30 p.m. in Tad Gormley Stadium
- Homecoming Mass and Recognition of Alumnus of the Year is Sunday, October 12; Mass begins at 10 a.m. in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs. This event is for Jesuit alumni only. A Jazz Brunch will take place following Mass in the Student Commons.
Tell a Story About Your Days at Jesuit Ronald J. “Ron” Drez ’58, a noted author, lecturer, and historian, is writing the definitive book about the history of Jesuit High School, beginning with its formation by the Jesuits in 1847 and continuing through post-Katrina times. Jesuit High School will publish the book. As part of his wide-ranging research, Drez encourages all Blue Jays and their families to contribute something towards Jesuit’s historical archives which will serve as the foundation of much of the book. Read the rest of the article that contains more information about this project, including guidelines for submission of your memoir: History of Jesuit High School Book Archive and Book Project.
Contact Info
If any of your contact information has recently changed, please let Jesuit know by sending an email to: alumninews@jesuitnola.org.
About Blue Jay E-News
Blue Jay E-News is produced and disseminated by the alumni and development office of Jesuit High School. Blue Jay E-News features a variety of Jesuit news items, many with links to our web site (www.jesuitnola.org) so you may read the entire stories and view photo galleries. The purpose of Blue Jay E-News is to inform the Jesuit community about current, recent, and upcoming special events, including sports, academics, co-curricular, spiritual, parent, and alumni news. Additionally, Blue Jay E-News is a fast vehicle to deliver news, some significant and some just plain interesting, about achievements and accomplishments by our students, teams, and alumni.
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Blue Jay E-News
August 2008 Vol. 1; No. 3
Dear Blue Jays: Welcome to the third edition of Blue Jay E-News. If you missed the first two, you can easily catch-up by accessing Blue Jay E-News on Jesuit’s web site. This Month’s Lead Story…
Blue Jays’ American Legion Baseball Team Wins State! On to Oklahoma!
The Jesuit-based championship American Legion team, sponsored by Retif Oil, is in Oklahoma to compete in the Legion’s Mid-South Regional Tournament. The double-elimination marathon baseball endurance tourney begins August 14 in Enid, OK. Retif plays its first game on Thursday at 1 p.m. against the winner of the Legion state tournament in Mississippi. To check out the rest of the schedule, visit Jesuit’s Home Page. To secure their plane ticket to Enid, the Retif team (21-5) pulled out the equivalent of a hockey hat trick by thrice defeating the Bro. Martin-based Peake BMW team in the city (7-2), regional (6-2), and state finals (6-5). There are a lot of talented heroes on Coach Tim Parenton’s squad and you can check all of them out, along with photo galleries galore, by visiting Legion Baseball on Jesuit’s web site. Of course, we’ll keep you posted on our Legion team’s progress in Okie. Here’s a bit of Jesuit-Legion baseball history courtesy of David Moreau, who was head coach of Blue Jay baseball for 23 years before assuming his current position as athletic director two years ago.… 14 seems to be a mystical number for the Jays when it comes to American Legion baseball -- it’s been 14 long years since a Jesuit-based team won the state American Legion tournament and advanced to the regional tourney in Oklahoma.
The last to do so was the 1994 Retif Oil team coached by Moreau. Fourteen years earlier, the 1980 Jesuit-based Odeco Drillers, coached by Frank Misuraca, won state and secured a spot in the Oklahoma tournament. The 1980 team made it to the World Series but lost while the 1994 team did not advance past Oklahoma. In fact, there have been only two Jesuit-based teams to win the whole enchilada, the American Legion World Series -- the 1946 Blue Jay team (which did not have a sponsor at the time) and, 14 years later, the 1960 team, sponsored by Tulane Shirts.
Back to School for All Blue Jays on August 19
Book sales take place Thursday (seniors, juniors, and sophomores) and Friday (freshmen and pre-freshmen). New students’ orientation is Monday, August 18 (dismissal at noon). The first full day for all Blue Jays is Tuesday, August 19 (dismissal at 2:30 p.m.). At book sales, calendars and student directories will be distributed.
The home page of Jesuit’s web site – www.jesuitnola.org – contains important information about mandatory forms students must bring with them to book sales. Parents should make sure their sons carefully read this information before coming to school on Thursday or Friday.
2008 Jesuit Summer Although the official 2007-08 academic year ended on May 27, there was a constant whirlwind of activity on Jesuit’s campus during the summer. From summer camps to important construction to technology updates to academic workshops, Jesuit’s campus bustled with various activities that enhanced either the physical facility or the young men who participated in the many summer events. During the summer hiatus, lots of happenings took place around Carrollton and Banks. Catch up by paying a visit to the 2008 Jesuit Summer.
Purchase Blue Jay Football Season Ticket Package Online Here’s a deal that’s perfect for enthusiastic Jesuit football fans – you may purchase a season ticket package online on Jesuit’s web site for six games the Blue Jays will be playing (sorry, no individual game tickets available online).
The athletic department wants to remind you of the support your purchase of pre-game tickets gives to our program. Jesuit keeps 100% of pre-game sale money. We only keep 50% of at-the-gate ticket sale money. Obviously, we encourage you to purchase as many pre-game tickets from Jesuit as you need. To view the 2008 Jesuit Varsity Football schedule, visit the Blue Jay Football Scoreboard.
By the way, every Blue Jay student is admitted to District 10-5A games simply by showing his Jesuit ID Card. Everyone else needs to purchase tickets. To buy season tickets online, click: Purchase Blue Jay Football Season Ticket Package Online.
Three Blue Jay Athletes Make Early Commitments
A trio of Jesuit athletes announced their intention to play ball (and study, of course) at Tulane University and LSU. Senior pitcher Jordan Rittiner heads to LSU. In the 2008 regular season, Rittiner was 8-4 with a 1.64 ERA and one save for the Blue Jays, who were the Class 5A runners-up in the state championship tournament. In American Legion ball, Rittiner has really cranked it up a few notches, compiling an 8-0 record. In the state championship game, Rittiner pitched nine innings, allowing nine hits and striking out seven batters. To catch Rittiner’s form on the mound, visit the Baseball Home Page. Meanwhile, Blue Jay senior running back Peyton Jason recently announced his commitment to play college football for Tulane University. Jason, a 6-foot, 190-pound athlete with 4.4 speed, is expected to fill the void at running back created when Tulane starter Matt Forte was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 2008 NFL Draft. Senior Jesuit lineman Shane Delery is expected to help anchor the Green Wave’s defensive line. Delery announced this week his intention to play football for the Green Wave next fall.
Check out the Football Home Page to view photos of Jason and Delery in action as well as the Times-Picayune article about Delery.
ACT, SAT, and PSAT Prep Classes Once Again Offered at Jesuit The start of school also means preparing for the various standardized tests. Jesuit offers its own prep courses here at the school. Jesuit parents are, of course, free to choose whichever course they feel will best prepare their sons for the tests, even if it means going somewhere else. Jesuit does not aggressively market its own prep courses directly to the parents of other schools because we feel it is inappropriate to do so. Depending on space, students from other schools are more than welcome to enroll in Jesuit’s ACT, SAT, and PSAT prep courses.
For the past 10 years, Jesuit’s ACT-SAT-PSAT prep courses have been successful in achieving high scores for students. The courses are taught by experienced teachers, including longtime Jesuit English teacher Malcolm Villarrubia ’66 and math teacher Kathy Juhas, who also serves as academic assistant principal. Perhaps the best reason of all to have your son sign-up for the Jesuit course is our own prep classes are approximately one-third the cost of many other similar courses. For more information about the fall standardized test prep course schedules and to access the registration forms, visit: Jesuit ACT-SAT-PSAT Home Page.
Tell a Story About Your Days at Jesuit
Ronald J. “Ron” Drez ’58, a noted author, lecturer, and historian, is writing the definitive book about the history of Jesuit High School, beginning with its formation by the Jesuits in 1847 and continuing through post-Katrina times. Jesuit High School will publish the book. As part of his wide-ranging research, Drez encourages all Blue Jays and their families to contribute something towards Jesuit’s historical archives which will serve as the foundation of much of the book.
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