The Plank - Student Life
Shadow Days offer prospective students a glimpse of life on campus
From Oct. 28 to Jan. 9, Jesuit High School Sacramento is welcoming middle and high school students who are interested in attending Jesuit.
The STAR Team is looking to offer prospective Marauders a glimpse inside an average day on campus. The “shadows” will be assigned to a current Jesuit student, who will chaperone the shadow through the first three periods of the day. After experiencing life inside the classroom, shadows will have the chance to eat food from Epicurean and then depart with their parents during lunchtime.
Nurturing relationships at the Mother-Son Mass
On Sunday, Oct. 27, Jesuit High School Sacramento hosted its annual Mother-Son Mass in the Chapel of the North American Martyrs, showcasing the appreciation and love students have for their mothers and mother figures.
Senior Nicolas Norton ’25 has attended the mass every year during his four years at Jesuit, and enjoys the opportunity to nurture his relationship with his mom.
You Odda-See This Fall Play
Starting Nov. 1, Jesuit Drama brings to the stage Will Averill’s comedy “The Odyssey: by Thespis and the Peloponnesian Midwest Regional Third Place Chorus.” Performed in the Black Box Theater, the drama team – made up of Jesuit, Saint Francis, and Rio Americano high school students – is ready to bring to life their unique take on The Odyssey.
Artistic Director Mr. Ed Trafton is excited for this rendition of The Odyssey. While it may be a familiar narrative, Averill’s version brings a comedic twist.
Art Event helps fund Jesuit
On Thursday, Oct. 24, Jesuit High School Sacramento hosts the Jesuit Art Event, where renowned local artists get to showcase and sell their artwork.
Executive Director of Advancement Ms. Kim Kalmbach explains that while the primary goal of the night is to highlight artists, the event also benefits Jesuit.
Open House helps Jesuit make its mark
This Sunday, Oct. 20, Jesuit High School Sacramento opens its campus to the larger Sacramento community at its annual Open House.
At the event, teachers and students will welcome incoming students to give a sense of what life at Jesuit offers. Counselor Ms. Gianna Wheeler feels that Open House is a valuable opportunity for families considering Jesuit.
Mini but Mighty RACC College Fair
On Thursday, Oct. 17, during lunch at the Senior Quad, Jesuit will be hosting a college fair with guests from the Regional Admission Counselors of California (RACC). RACC is an organization of college representatives for schools outside of California, and this fair will provide a great opportunity for students to learn about out of state schools.
Counselor Ms. Angela Harger believes that college fairs offer unique opportunities to connect with knowledgeable college representatives.
Homecoming Preview: Nightmare on American River Drive
On Oct. 12, Jesuit High School Sacramento’s annual Homecoming dance will take place.
A highly anticipated event among students, homecoming is an occasion for all to participate in a classic high school tradition. Students of all grades from Jesuitare welcome to attend with a date, alone, or with friends.
Cole Arnold ’25 believes that Homecoming fosters a sense of unity among students and enables them to meet new people.
National Testing Day offers students a chance to practice
On Oct. 9, Jesuit High School Sacramento students will come to campus just like any other day – only this time they will be taking grade-specific tests instead of attending class. National Test Day exists to help students prepare for the different standardized tests that they will encounter in the college admissions process, giving them a baseline of where they stand amongst others in their graduating year throughout the nation.
Freshman will take the Educational Development test, or EDT. This test is very similar to the entrance exam they took as eighth graders entering Jesuit, and it is a good test to identify strengths and weaknesses in students to guide them on their high school journey.
Big Bash brings back brothers
On Saturday, Oct. 5, the Jesuit High School Sacramento alumni department will hold their Jesuit Big Bash for alumni, their families, and other members of the Jesuit community. The theme for this 21 and over event will be Oktoberfest flare.
The Big Bash is an opportunity for Alumni and Jesuit parents to come back and reconnect with their brothers that they made during their four years at Jesuit. Alumni Office Support Ms. Allison Hoferer, who is working on the Big Bash, wants to get as many people back to Jesuit as possible.
Showcasing the wonder and beauty of the human spirit
Over the summer, Studio Art Teacher Ms. Jillian Taylor joined Jesuit High School Sacramento’s art department. In her new position, she will teach various levels of art, from Studio Art to AP Studio Art.
Having served as a co-director for an art gallery in Miami and as an assistant director for an art gallery in Paris, Ms. Taylor brings a wealth of experience with her to Jesuit. Her interest in the arts began with her Ivy League education.
Alumni Spirit Shines
On Saturday, Sept. 28, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Jesuit High School Sacramento will be hosting their first of many Alumni & Family Monthly Masses at the Phelan Chapel of the North American Martyrs. While the mass is for alumni, it is not exclusive and can be attended by anyone.
Fr. Harris believes that these masses can help people rekindle their connection with Jesuit.
Club Day offers new opportunities to explore
On Monday, Sept 23, 2024, Jesuit High School Sacramento’s Club Day will give students an opportunity to discover and sign up for the various clubs offered at Jesuit.
Student Activities Director Mr. Peter Ferrari encourages students to make the most of Club Day by engaging in as many activities as possible.
Neon night open dance aims to bring students together
On the evening of Saturday, Sept. 21, Jesuit High School Sacramento will be hosting its first Frosh Soph Open Dance of the school year. This exciting “neon night” will be held from 7 P.M. to 9:30 P.M. in the Father Barry Gymnasium.
Student Activities Director Mr. Peter Ferrari and the student council organized this night full of festivities.
Service and Justice Agency Fair: A Wide Array of Opportunities
Jesuit High School Sacramento’s annual Service and Justice Agency Fair will take place on Thursday, Sept. 5, during the community period. The fair presents a valuable opportunity for anyone who’s hesitant about their service to connect with various service organizations.
Gordon Kim ’25 recalls how the fair introduced him to Loaves and Fishes, an organization dedicated to providing essentials for homeless adults and children.
“[The fair] gave me an idea of what I was getting myself into, which really helped me, since I’m one of those guys who is really uncomfortable doing things without knowing who I’m doing it for,” Gordon said.
Back to School Night grants parents a promising start to the school year
On Tuesday, Sept. 3rd, Jesuit High School Sacramento will hold its annual Back to School Night.
While Back to School Night functions roughly the same between classes, each teacher has a different style of presenting. For English Teacher Mr. Kyle Trivits, his presentation revolves around giving parents and guardians the student experience.
“I try to accomplish two things,” Mr. Trivits said.“I want parents to experience my class, to get a taste of what it’s like for their students day to day. And the second thing is an overview. What sorts of things I hope to accomplish, my goals, and the ways I go about accomplishing those goals.”
Freshman Overnight, an initiation into the brotherhood
On the evening of Saturday, Aug. 24, Jesuit High School Sacramento’s Freshman Class of ’28 had an experience they will never forget. A night filled with games, prayer, and community bonding, the Freshman Overnight Retreat served as a way to welcome this year’s freshmen into the Jesuit community.
Student Activities Director Mr. Peter Ferrari was an integral part in coordinating an evening full of fun and games. During this time, freshmen at the retreat were able to connect with their classmates and form relationships that will last throughout high school.
“[The retreat offered] a shared experience, an opportunity for the Freshman to get to know and bond with their classmates,” Mr. Ferrari said, “[They got] a shared experience, an opportunity to step out of their routine and explore a little bit of their relationship with God, and explore who they are in this community.”
“Pass the ball,” Jesuit celebrates its annual Mass of the Holy Spirit
At the start of every school year Jesuit high schools and universities all over the world celebrate the Mass of the Holy Spirit, spiritually centering themselves to start the year off strong. Jesuit High School Sacramento celebrated its mass on Friday, Aug. 23, 2024.
Each year, a set of special rituals are performed during the Mass of the Holy Spirit. At the start of the gathering, School President Jayden Canio ’25 and Vice President Justin Paredes ’25 named every school in Jesuit’s West Province, praying for them. Then, each class president lit his class’s candle, as Jayden and Justin explained the meaning of each class color.
Let there be lights
Jesuit High School Sacramento has reached a key milestone in its endeavor to install stadium lights on the football field. At a hearing on Wednesday, June 4, 2024, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the installation of the lights, giving the go-ahead for a proposal that has existed since the fall of 2021. Jesuit has been working over the summer to fundraise for the construction of the four stadium lights, and as the school year begins, those permanent stadium lights are closer than ever to becoming a reality.
In the fall of 2021, Jesuit submitted Use Permit PLNP2021-00262, which marked the start of the school’s quest to acquire stadium lights. Over the next few years, the proposal went through a long county approval process filled with planning, analyzing, and communicating with neighbors. The proposal was finally set to be approved last March this year, but on the last day of public comment an appeal was filed and accepted by the county. So, a hearing was scheduled on June 4, which resulted in the long-awaited approval of the installation of stadium lights on the football field.
Learning the beauty of game design
Since Jesuit High School Sacramento’s computer science curriculum began offering Honors Game Development, the class has undergone immense changes.
Honors Game Development teacher Mr. Peter Strawn ’04 has taught computer science at Jesuit for six years. He teaches a broad scope of video game topics in the class, from their code to their visuals and everything in between.
“[Game development is] all about, in my mind, studying the art, science, design, and beauty of video games,” Mr. Strawn said. “From the basics of how they’re made, to understanding the mechanics of the games that students already play and to building things of their own creativity.”
Showcasing the harmony of teamwork
On Thursday, April 18, Jesuit High School Sacramento’s Orchestra performed their spring season concert at the Phelan Chapel of the North American Martyrs, where they got the opportunity to showcase their teamwork and skill.
Samuel “Sam” Gegax ’25 is happy with the turnout and feedback from the audience and feels like the orchestra’s hard work paid off.