The Jesuit MCJROTC program received outstanding grades in its annual inspection held in the Roussel Building. The inspection included a personnel inspection of all 111 cadets in the Battalion, drill by five platoons, and drill by the Battalion Color Guard. The inspection was conducted by Marines from Marine Forces Reserve Headquarters in Algiers and from the Marine Air Group in Belle Chasse.

Freshmen are eating up Mrs. Kate-Arthurs-Goldberg’s speech class — literally. On the day the Wild Photographer stopped in for a visit, Harrison Robichaux showed his classmates how to cook quesadillas, Gavin Sheng, whose family owned the House of Lee — a popular Chinese restaurant in Metairie — used a PowerPoint presentation to roll out his recipe for egg rolls, Tanner Booth yucked it up during his speech about yogurt pops, and Alex Petty dished out delicious brownies. As Dick Bruce used to say in those McKenzie’s commercials, “MMM…mmm!”

When the weather is 80° one day and 45° the next, Blue Jays scurry to find jackets and pullovers that satisfy uniform requirements. Freshmen Chris Ross, Jake Theriot, and Andrew Hemelt seem to have it all figured out. “Top’s Tip of the Day” recommends that now is a good time to review the Bulletin with reference to what is allowed to be worn in cooler weather.

A most unusual artifact was spotted on the altar in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs at the conclusion of November’s monthly Mass for the Jesuit Community. An oval-shaped brass or silver frame protected by a thin piece of glass, under which were the names of 33 Saints meticulously inscribed in Latin, was actually an exquisite reliquary, which serves to protect the relics of these holy men and women. Each of the 33 Saints, many of whom were Jesuit martyrs (this being the feast of St. Stanislaus Kostka, he is included — his name is in the right column, fifth name from top) have a tiny fragment of what appears to be a “1st Class Relic” preserved below the name. According to Catholic Doors Ministry, the Catholic Church defines a 1st Class Relic as a part of the Saint, such as a bone or hair, that is, the instruments of Christ’s Passion. The 2nd Class Relic consists of something that was owned by the Saint or instruments of torture used against a martyr. The 3rd Class Relic consists of something that has been touched to a 1st or 2nd Class Relic. Anyone can make their own 3rd Class relics by touching an object to a 1st or 2nd Class Relic, including the tomb of a Saint. The reliquary appears to be very old, ancient in fact. Brady Stiller, a junior, borrowed this venerable and delicate historical object from Fr. Ian Bozant, the parochial vicar at Mary Queen of Peace Church in Mandeville, to bring to today’s Mass and afterwards to the theology office. An amazing artifact with, to be sure, an incredible history. Perhaps one day the whole story will be told. 

Seniors Jack Marzullo, David Senentz, and Bobby Comeaux picked up their copies of the 2013-2014 Blue Jay Annual. The yearbooks are being distributed in Room 132 first to seniors. Upcoming pick-up dates for other classes will be announced throughout the week. The books were also mailed to the class of 2014.

Juniors Charles Glass and Joshua West are happy to be at the front of the lines to get a piece of cake being cut by MGySgt. J.R. Piseno after the MCJROTC held a cake-cutting ceremony in Traditions Courtyard on this 239th birthday of the United States Marine Corps. Each year, Jesuit’s MCJROTC honors one person during the ceremony. This year, Academic Asst. Principal Kathy Juhas was honored. The first piece of cake was given to Mrs. Juhas as the ceremony’s honoree. The second and third pieces of cake are traditionally reserved for the oldest and youngest cadets present, respectively. The MCJROTC also celebrates the occasion with an evening ceremony and reception attended by family and friends.

On behalf of the student body, junior Jakirai Wiley, senior Foster Moreau, and junior Kalija Lipscomb present a gift to the cafeteria staff manager, Ms. Anne Broussard, to share with her staff for Cafeteria Workers’ Appreciation Day.

Tryouts for the popular TV game show “Let’s Make a Deal” took place today in the Birdcage at Jesuit High School. Actually, that’s not true. But we got your attention, right? While these wonderful, whacky, winsome Blue Jays, all seniors we might add, might look like they belong on a cheesy game show, they’re just showing off their vim and vigor at the most recent pep rally, which took place right before the Wild Photographer went on a mysterious hiatus. Be on the lookout for the even whackier photo gallery.

Sophomore Jack Jackson takes a turn shooting hoops in Traditions Courtyard during a Fun Day Friday lunchtime event coordinated by the Student Council. The banners hanging from the balcony and the change from the everyday khaki also indicate that the Jays are having a spirit-raising Blue and White Day for the big Jesuit vs. Rummel football game on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m.

All this week sophomore artists are creating spirit signs in anticipation of Saturday night’s big game against Archbishop Rummel. The rails running along the second and third floor breezeways that overlook Traditions Courtyard are resplendent with the brightly painted ginormous sheets, including this one which serves as a billboard to: 1) Send Jays to the Dome; 2) Repel the Raiders; 3) Repel Breast Cancer –  symbolized by the Pink ribbon (October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month); 4) Recognize CDUBZ #74, also known as offensive lineman Corey Dublin, the only sophomore starter for the varsity Jays. Clockwise from front left are CDubz’s fellow sophomores: Ian Doskey, Guy Cresson, Colton Bell, Louis Flores, and Matthew Guernsey.

Alumnus Dave Schof ’56 returned to his alma mater to visit with two of Mr. Matt Firmin’s ’10 Environmental Science classes. Schof explained the fresh air system he helped design for the Apollo space program. At the time, Schof was a graduate student on a NASA scholarship at Tulane. He also talked about NASA’s Constellation program, established with the goal of taking a man to Mars. Schof is a volunteer with the Blue Jay Band and an active member of the Class of 1956.

From the vantage point of Jesuit’s roof Monday afternoon following dismissal, Will Clark Field becomes an epicenter for practice. While the eighth and ninth grade football teams ran through their drills, the musicians in the Blue Jay Marching Band serenaded the Mid-City neighborhood with Rhapsody in Blue, composer George Gershwin’s famous composition that remains instantly recognizable some 90 years after it was first played February 12, 1924 at a concert in New York City.

On this final day of exams of the first quarter of the 2014-15 school year, pre-freshman Jacob Randolph somehow lands in this Mid-City oasis, a sanctuary of sorts — Traditions Courtyard, the perfect spot for a new Blue Jay to wait for a later-than-usual ride home, stretch the cramped fingers of his writing hand, shun the sun and soak up the shade, and embrace the solitude and the silence — while contemplating the curious nuances discovered that afternoon in a purely Jesuit document entitled The Profile of a Graduate at the Time of Graduation.

Who says tutoring and exam review can’t be fun? Not juniors Will Hurley, J.T. Odell, Johnny LaForge, and Felix Rabito taking Anaylsis with Mr. John Lavie ’83. After exams on Thursday, math teachers held exam reviews and tutoring to help students prepare for their exams on the following day.

Blue Jays of all grade levels fill the Resource Center between exams Tuesday morning. The Resource Center is open from 7 a.m. to noon this week for students looking for a silent spot to study and prepare for their first quarter exams. The Resource Center provides space for research, leisure reading, individual silent study, and information literacy instruction. The center includes computer workstations; book, serial, audio-visual, and reference collections; a student services area; a library staff workroom and offices; and, computer labs.

A quintet of junior Blue Jays relax under the oak trees of the Traditions Courtyard following their Monday morning exams. Pictured from left are: Chris Johnson, Will Hurley, Tyrus Norcise, Carlo Carino, and Caleb Chauhan. First quarter exams began Monday and continue through Friday. On Wednesday, sophomores and juniors will take the PSAT, while all other students get the day off from school.