In 1976, during the height of the martial arts boom, Jesuit established a karate club. By the 1980s, the team was so popular that it was participating in—and winning—various tournaments throughout New Orleans. At one point, the Blue Jays had one of the most prestigious teams in the Southern Region before finally disbanding years later. Pictured here is the 1983 Karate Club. (Front row) Mark Bazin, Jeff Carter, Austin Lin, Ricky Trahant, Instructor Mike Urpschot, (Back row) Asst. Instructor Chuck Madden, Robert Walksh, Mike Prados, Paul Comeaux, and Peter Crapanzano.

The 2015-2016 yearbooks have arrived! Sophomore Ryan Castellon (left) and senior Tanner Tripoli were two of the first students to flip through the pages of the new edition. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors will receive a copy of the yearbook at their respective Book Day. The Yearbook staff will mail copies to those students who have since graduated. Enjoy the read!

Last week, one of Jesuit’s current students spent the day with a veteran Blue Jay who served in World War II. The National WWII Museum volunteer department featured the photo in its Volunteer Weekly Newsletter. Ben Martinez ’35, who serves as a WWII Veteran volunteer, enjoyed the company of rising junior Duncan Royster, a High School Summer Service Hour volunteer. Martinez, a frequent attendee of the annual Commencement Luncheon, was honored at the luncheon in May, together with Dan Barret ’34, as “the oldest Blue Jays in the room.” In less than two weeks Martinez turns 98 years old, born on August 21, 1919. Eighty-four years apart, Martinez and Royster remain forever connected in the bond of service. Jesuit thanks Beth Kliebert for capturing this moment.

An undated, archival photo depicts the Blue Jay Marine Battalion Band playing under the direction of Prof. Michael Cupero. In the background is the old gym, which stood at the corner of S. Solomon and Palmyra until it was removed to make way for the Chapel of the North American Martyrs and school annex. The major force behind the construction of the chapel was Rev. Laurence O’Neill, S.J., president of Jesuit from 1946-1953. The chapel was dedicated September 13, 1953. You can read more about the chapel in the “Annus Mirabilis” section of the upcoming issue of Jaynotes, which should hit mailboxes in early August.

This week’s Throwback Thursday segment honors a dedicated Blue Jay graduate who recently passed away on June 30, 2017. The photo shows current English teacher Mal Villarrubia, Jr. ’66 and Glenn Gennaro ’66 at their 45-year reunion back in June of 2011. Being members of the Class of 1966 is not the only thing these two have in common, for they also share the fact that they have both worked as administrators at Jesuit High School. Mr. Villarrubia is Jesuit’s director of professional development (as well as an English teacher), while Gennaro was director of admissions and counseling for five of the six years he served here at Carrollton and Banks (1985-1991). Gennaro worked for seven other schools during his 43 years in education. Earlier this week, he was the subject of a featured article in the Clarion Herald titled “The Man Who Would Give You The Clothes Off His Back.” In loving memory of Glenn Gennaro, the Jesuit High School community adds this photo to our archives. Goodbye, old friend. Your memory will never be forgotten.

Under the supervision of math teacher and Blue Jay Shop manager Paul Rogers, students help prepare for the upcoming Book Days by organizing boxes. Pictured here (left to right), freshman Jeremy Howat works in Room 122 with sophomores Jonathan Howat and Richard Montoya. These Blue Jays spent time last week moving, sorting, and counting Jesuit PE shirts and shorts. The bookstore will be open prior to the first day of school during the following times: Aug. 7 – 11 (9 AM – 4 PM) with extended hours on Aug. 9 (7 AM – 5 PM) and Aug. 12 & 14 (hours TBA). Only transactions associated with Book Days will be accepted on Aug. 15 (seniors, juniors, and sophomores) and Aug. 16 (freshmen and pre-freshmen).

In 2007, graduating Blue Jays honored their alma mater by donating a statue of Saint Francis Xavier to the school. Led by senior class president Will Baay, the seniors raised $2,000 (primarily by selling chicken sandwiches at lunch) for the gift. Baay and other senior class leaders Jeff Schott, Philip Sampognaro, and Patrick Vocke—with the help of Whitney Keller ’81, Mike Varisco ’83, and Br. Dardis ’58—installed the statue in the garden near the Palmyra Street side of the entrance to the chapel. The statue stands as a tangible sign of the class’s appreciation for the education and formation they received during their years as Blue Jays. Jesuit would like to thank the Class of 2007 for their most generous gift and wish them well at their 10-year reunion this weekend. Have fun, guys!

Out with the old, and in with the new. Ms. Sharon Hewlett, Jesuit’s Director of Information Technology, needed a few extra hands last week in order to deliver these 125 boxes to the Resource Center. Happy to help were summer aide Ryan Berzas ’15, events coordinator DJ Galiano ’07, and new database administrator Jordan Holmer ’12. Each box contains a brand new Dell computer that will be set up and ready for the start of the new school year. The technology department refreshes the school’s computers every summer and replaces them every other summer. The aim is to provide students the opportunity to work on systems that have maximum power and take up minimum space.

Talk about a magical moment in Blue Jay history! Blue Jay magazine history, more specifically. In fact, this year marks the 90th year since the student-run publication existed.

This week’s Throwback Thursday photo shows three Blue Jay golfers meeting “The King” of golf. Arnold Palmer, often called “The King” or “Arnie” for short, had won six major championships by 1963. With this success he drew such a diverse following, known as Arnie’s Army. All seniors at the time, Chick Schoen ’63, Mike Guarisco ’63, and Mike Eagan ’63 got the chance of a lifetime when they shook hands with Arnie at Lakewood Country Club. Lakewood was the site of the New Orleans Invitational (now the Zurich Classic); and it was the late Garic Schoen ’38, Chick’s father, who brought in Palmer for the PGA tournament. Although Arnie died in September of last year, his name, his Army, and this picture will live on forever. Jesuit photographer Richard Cambre ’66 captured this unforgettable memory.

This information is just a summary of the “Annus Mirabilis” section from last semester’s issue of Jaynotes. Look out for stories like this in the Spring/Summer 2017 issue, hitting mailboxes in August!

“Complete body control, stamina, grace, balance, poise, and a certain artistic sense is what makes a good gymnast,” according to the 1961 Blue Jay Gymnastics Team. Mr. Fred Martinez put together Jesuit’s first gymnastics team in 1958. In the team’s second year of competition, the Jays would capture the LHSAA state championship. A dynasty was born. The Blue Jays won the state title seven times between 1958 and 1967. Gymnastics remains an LHSAA sport today, though Jesuit does not field a team. Pictured here, Gerard Louis Danos ’61 executes an “L-sit” on the still rings apparatus.

Two Fridays ago, the summer day campers had the time of their lives! Why? It was not only Friday, but it was also Water Day. Blue Jay Summer Camp director Troy Baglio and his team of moderators prepared four giant water slides on Will Clark Field. The two outside slides named “Big Kahuna,” along with the “Wipe Out!” and “Rockin’ Rapids” inflatables, left every camp member with the most fun-filled Water Day. Camp ends next Friday, July 7.

While Bob Barker and Oprah Winfrey made the “car giveaway” a showbiz staple, Jesuit once raffled off its own donated car for only $1 at the 5th Annual Blue Jay Bazaar in 1979. That’s right. For $1, you could win a new car. A dollar. Seriously! And pictured here, proudly displaying the beautiful, brand-spankin’ new 1979 Monte Carlo Landau (fully loaded and Jesuit Blue!) are Bazaar Co-Chairs Mrs. Jane Kingsmill, Mrs. Mary Ellen Yager, and Mrs. Sally Duplantier. Be sure to come back next week for Throwback Thursday when we pull another gem from the Jesuit archives!

Assistant football coach Troy Baglio—along with a handful of linemen from the team—provided some muscle early this morning by carrying a newly crafted altar up three flights of stairs into the sanctuary of the Chapel of the North American Martyrs. The facilities and maintenance department was very grateful for the help. Pictured left to right are Matthew Frischhertz, Dylan McKeough, Mitchell Berry, Sonny Hazard, Perry Ganci, Gabe Bopp, Anthony Ciblich, and Coach Baglio.

Have you ever noticed the façade above the entrances to the auditorium and the Chapel of the North American Martyrs? It bears striking bas reliefs of three of the North American Martyrs (Saints John Lalande, Isaac Jogues, and Rene Goupil). A bas relief sculpture is when the shapes carved are slightly higher than the flat background, allowing the work to be viewed from many angles without distortion of the figures themselves. Pictured here, maintenance and facilities staff member Jack Truxillo, Jr. stands on a crane in order to clean the entirety of the façade. For a detailed history of the talented sculptor who created the decorative elements on the façade, be sure to read the Annus Mirabilis section in the summer issue of Jaynotes that will hit mailboxes in early August.

The 1930s was a robust time in New Orleans for jazz and swing music, and it was no different for the Blue Jay Orchestra. Every school function during the 1929-30 school year was enlivened by its perfect interpretations of the classics and modern jazz. The orchestra’s fame spread well beyond the walls of the school, and on frequent occasions, they were asked to perform for various events at schools, and even convents, around the city. During the football season, a few brass-playing members of the orchestra banded together to play at the games. Though small, their efforts paid off in a big way. By the start of the 1930-31 school year, a 40-piece, uniformed Blue Jay Marching Band was introduced; and the rest is history! Keep checking the website on Throwback Thursdays for more from the Blue Jay archives!

Congratulations to the classes of 1967 and 2012 for a record-setting reunion weekend. Celebrating their Golden Anniversary 50-year reunion, the ’67 class gathered on Friday for a stag reception in the Student Commons and returned to Jesuit on Saturday for a couples’ mass in the small chapel. Then, the couples migrated to the delicious buffet dinner at New Orleans Country Club. Meanwhile on Saturday, the Class of 2012 broke the previous 5-year reunion record (148), which was held by the class of 2004, with 150 Blue Jays in attendance at the Rusty Nail.