Seniors David Stahl and Austin Galy serve as foley artists performing sound effects in the Public Speaking class’ Radio Theatre performance of “The Wright Brother’s First Flight” by John De Lancie and Leonard Nimoy. The presentation, which served as a portion of the students’ final exam for the class, took place in the Auditorium during 4th period and was attended by fellow Blue Jays, faculty, and staff.

After school, seniors Jorge Galdamez and Pablo Amador hold a friendly conversation in the Commons about Jorge’s experiences on last year’s Pro-Life trip to Washington, D.C. Read about 2014 Pro-Life trip.

Pre-freshmen Shane Lanson (left) and Daniel Sentilles play table tennis during lunch in the Student Commons. The board behind them features the bracket of the ongoing Ping Pong Tournament. The tournament will conclude this week when the final grade level winners play Friday during lunch.

The editorial board of The Blue Jay, the student newspaper of Jesuit High School, met Friday during the lunch hour to begin discussing the myriad of intricate details involved in writing, editing, and publishing the popular “senior edition,” which is traditionally distributed the morning of graduation rehearsal (May 22). The brainstorming budding journalists are, from left, Matthew O’Neill ’17 (photo editor), Brendan Besh ’14 (entertainment editor), William Fine ’17 (news editor), Jack Caliva ’14 (editor-in-chief), Mr. Ted Mahne (moderator), Patrick Fine ’15 (managing editor), and Quinn Stiller ’14 (features editor). The Blue Jay is in its 86th year and has been published continuously in one form or another since 1926-27, the year the school opened on Carrollton and Banks. Through the decades, the newspaper has been recognized for numerous achievements while consistently garnering honors at student journalism competitions.

Blue Jays were treated to a Brown Bag Concert performed by the Jazz Band from Jesuit High School of Sacramento. The fellow Jesuit students were in town for a service trip and tour of New Orleans, timed to enjoy some live music performances this weekend.

Members of the National Honor Society met at John Ryan Stadium Wednesday after school to say goodbye to graduating seniors at their 2nd Annual Senior Send-Off party. NHS members enjoyed burgers, hot dogs, and sweets, as well as games on the field. Pictured with the NHS members are co-moderators Ms. Nilda Rivera and Mr. Andrew Dykema, and Mr. Dykema’s son, Oscar. The National Honor Society, founded in 1921, is the nation’s premier organization established to recognize outstanding students. The NHS fosters excellence in scholarship, leadership, character, and service among its members.

Pre-freshman Brett Power, lost in thought, waits for his ride home on Tuesday. The Blue Jay was sitting on the steps leading to the Auditorium entrance on South Solomon Street. In the background is a statue of St. Francis Xavier, one of the original founders of the Society of Jesus. The statue was a graduation gift from a senior class a few years ago. However, the plaque with the class year that gifted the statue is missing. Well, here’s a nugget of info about St. Francis Xavier, written in a Jaynotes issue some seven years ago (Jaynotes, Winter/ Spring 2006-07) by one of our longtime resident theologians, Fr. Nick Schiro, S.J. ’44. The article, “Three Jubilees,” was about three college roommates – Ignatius of Loyola, Peter Faber, and Francis Xavier. According to the story, “Xavier was a harder nut to crack. Francis took an immediate dislike to Ignatius and frequently put him down for his great spiritual desire. But Ignatius saw something special in Xavier and tried in every way to win him over, even helping him out when he was low on funds. He would frequently quote to him the words of the gospel: “Francis, Francis, ‘What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his soul?’” Ignatius finally broke through the hard shell and ignited the flame in Xavier’s heart that would make him the great missionary saint of India.” Something to remember next time you pass that innocuous looking statue with its hand pointed toward the heavens.

Sophomores Rob Hinyub and Alexander Vargas meet with Mr. Bret Hanemann to find out more about being a Big Brother. They are preparing for Welcome Day on May 10 when they will meet with incoming Blue Jays. In their new brotherly role, they will assist the new students with the transition into Jesuit High School.

Three Blue Jay alumni—Colin Fulham ’12, Alex Hotard ’11, and Nick Graves ’11— visited Mr. Dave Storm’s senior chemistry classes to give a demonstration in thermodynamics using an assortment of metal solutions and a blowtorch. The alumni volunteered to return to Carrollton and Banks as part of the “Chem Demo” program at Louisiana State University.

Senior Alex Brewster makes a point to show that his foot touched the home plate—at the expense of losing his glasses—after he rounded the bases in a senior intramural cabbage ball game. The entry price to participate in the intramural games was $10 per team. The benefits include the chance to win a championship t-shirt and creating team names such as these: “Velvet Fog” and “The Commons Are Closed.”

Fr. Raymond Fitzgerald, S.J. ’76 is the main celebrant of the monthly Mass held Thursday, April 10 in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs for the Jesuit community of students, faculty, and staff. The April Mass is the last one of the 2013-14 school year for the whole student body before Fr. Fitzgerald steps down as president of Jesuit next month to focus on his health and fighting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease. Father Fitz, you will always be in our hearts and in our prayers.

Members of the Chorus, led by Ms. Kate Arthurs-Goldberg, practice in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs Wednesday after school. The Chorus was spending the afternoon preparing for the school-wide Mass tomorrow and the Stations of the Cross next Wednesday. The chorus assists the school community at all liturgical functions. Members of the chorus grow their musical talents through technical training in voice, music reading, interpretation, and appreciation.

Just before the end of the school day, Blue Jays heard a tapping on the windows—a noise a little different from seasonal rainfall. According to the WeatherBug perched atop the school building, the percussion was caused by pellets of hail brought in with a cluster of strong thunderstorms moving through the southeast. Stadium manager Floyd Guidry captured this picture of hail covering the field at John Ryan Stadium.

Pre-freshman Matthew Richards finds a shady spot in the Traditions Courtyard to peruse the April issue of The Blue Jay Monday after school. Print copies of the fifth issue of the 2013-2014 school year are available in the Student Commons while supplies last. Copies of this issue, as well as past issues, are posted on The Blue Jay Newspaper page. View the online version of Vol. 86, No. 5, April 2014.

Annette, the red-shouldered hawk who with her mate Dennis built a nest in one of the Banks Street oak trees next to Jesuit High School, was screeching a little more often than usual on Friday. She had good reason to. One of the two eggs Annette has been incubating for the last month suddenly hatched around noon. The hatchling, weighing perhaps 1.2 ounces, appears hungry, while nervous mom keeps a sharp and wary eye on the Wild Photographer. Hopefully, Dennis will come to his senses and soon show up with the groceries for Annette and her brood.

Senior Colin Burgess helps sell pizza for homeroom 1203 to raise money for the Lenten Mission Drive. Mr. Cyril Lagvanec has coordinated the fundraiser for his homeroom for five years running. This year the senior homeroom will buy a total of 650 pizzas and sell slices at $2 a piece. To date, the class has raised over $1,000 for the drive.