The Plank - Features
Technology for the community
Despite having a beautiful campus, Jesuit High School Sacramento had been seeing a noticeable increase in trash in the months before the school moved to remote learning. To combat the trash dilemma, Michael Equi ’20, along with the Bytes Robotics team, worked for months on a new robot called “Garbage Bytes” to serve as a mobile trash can.
When one door closes, another one opens
“You are never going to walk again; you are never going to move your hands.”
On May 6, 2017, a doctor from the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center uttered these words to Robert Paylor ’15, then a sophomore on the UC Berkeley rugby team. Paylor had sustained a spinal cord injury in the Varsity Cup Championship match against Arkansas State University.
Lives joined in service for and with others
Two longtime fixtures at Jesuit High School Sacramento, Mr. Tom McGuire and Ms. Cleann McGuire, will be retiring this year after over 50 combined years of serving Jesuit — the former as a teacher and coach, and the latter as a counselor and assistant registrar.
Embodying Jesuit’s religious spirit
If you didn’t already know him from his over-the-intercom examen prayers and his readings at Mass, then let us introduce Grant Houle ’20, the religious coordinator for Jesuit High School in Sacramento.
Making connections in heart and soul
Director of Liturgy and Theology Teacher Ms. Charlene Cardenas started teaching at Jesuit High School Sacramento in 2002 when the Class of 2020 were infants or yet to be born. Now, as the Class of 2020 graduates, she prepares to retire.
To properly say farewell
Even with Digital Learning Days changing many aspects of life at Jesuit High School Sacramento, the school is doing its best to keep students connected with their end-of-year events. Donghwan Park ’20, this year’s valedictorian, is a crucial part of the effort to have graduation remain a memorable celebration for the Class of 2020.
Making dough during the pandemic
Luigi’s Pizza Parlor, located on Stockton Boulevard, is one of the oldest pizza parlors in Sacramento. After opening in 1953, Luigi’s has had several different owners, with the current owner being Jesuit High School Sacramento alumnus, Mark Delgado ’97.
Willy Park, a man of community and service
It goes without saying that Jesuit High School Sacramento’s campus is impressive, accentuated by manicured sports fields, beautiful grounds, and well-maintained buildings — the resulting aesthetics of Plant Manager and Maintenance Supervisor Mr. Willy Park and his team.
Deuce Zak ’20, the ultimate team player
It’s often said that for a team to reach success, each individual must subordinate their personal desires for the betterment of the team. Deuce Zak ’20 perfectly embodies this saying.
Jonathan Fong ’20, the spirit of “Work Hard. Play Hard. Pray Hard.”
At Jesuit High School Sacramento, students are taught to model their lives after the Grad-at-Grad principles in the ultimate expression of being a “man for others.” Throughout his time at Jesuit, Jonathan Fong ’20 has done just that — applied himself to the callings in his life, a journey that has led him to become the Class of 2020’s Salutatorian.
Jesuit says goodbye to one of its longest-tenured faculty members
After 43 years of working at Jesuit High School Sacramento, the 2019-2020 school year will be the “last dance” for Mr. Ross Evans.
There isn’t much Coach Isaac doesn’t do
Holding the titles of prefect coordinator, VIP student coordinator, director of Academics Plus, and coach on the football and soccer teams at Jesuit High School Sacramento, there isn’t much Jonathan Isaac doesn’t do.
Through her love of Catholic education, Mrs. Cerati left her mark on Jesuit
Since attending high school at Marymount International School, a Catholic institution in Rome, Italy, Mrs.Victoria Cerati never lost her “profound respect and love for Catholic education.”
On the field, in the classroom, as the president
A standout leader, athlete, and student at Jesuit High School Sacramento, Cole Barrett ’20 is hard to miss.
A season cut short, a career still budding
With six graduates currently in professional baseball, Jesuit High School Sacramento has a reputation for producing some of the area’s best baseball talent. That number could grow even larger this summer when Major League Baseball holds its annual First-Year Player Draft.
Former Jesuit slugger hopes to make Giants roster
With eight years of professional baseball experience, Jesuit High School Sacramento alumnus Zach Green ’12 hopes to be a member of the San Francisco Giants once or if the baseball season commences.
The Role He was Born to Play
“Could you do anything else?”
This was an important question posed to Riley Shanahan ’10 in a New York City Starbucks many summers ago when he was still a student at Jesuit High School Sacramento.
A Home on the Stage
The transition to Jesuit High School Sacramento for many freshmen is a crossroads for self-discovery and change. For Kevin Sheahan ’20, the Black Box Theater is the place where he found his passion and voice.
Opinion: Looking back at a crimson and gold decade
Brightened by a myriad of student accomplishments, the 2010s at Jesuit High School Sacramento were a decade of brilliance and reinvention, filled with stories of thrilling victories, dazzling performances, and breakthroughs that changed our community.
Drivers, drive-ins, and rides
Every morning and afternoon, hundreds of students and dozens of teachers and faculty flood in and out of Jesuit High School’s parking lots. For most, the lots are just a symbol of commuting drudgery, a dull back-and-forth between school and home. For others, the lots, as well as the commutes, hold their most prized possessions — their cars.