Toby Hekkanen ‘25
Plank Staff, Copy Editor
Toby Hekkanen ‘25
Attendance (916) 482-6060
Jesuit music program bands together for a spectacular performance
On Wednesday, April 16, Jesuit High School Sacramento held their Spring Band Concert, where the Funk Band, Prelude Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Band all performed. Their performance consisted of Silent Movie Suites, video game music, and many other interesting pieces.
Clarinet and Baritone Sax player Samuel Gegax ’25 is very proud of his bandmates’ performances, and is happy that everyone’s hard work paid off.
Mary Poppins Pops off in the Black Box Theater
From March 7 to March 16, Jesuit High School Sacramento’s drama department performed the musical “Mary Poppins.” The play sold out in the first 3 days, breaking the Jesuit Drama record.
The exceptional performances were in large part due to the hard work put in by the cast and crew.
“We rehearsed for almost 15 hours every week for two months, learned a lot of complicated choreography, and memorized a lot of lyrics for songs,” said cast member Ali Zaidi ’25. “Everyone gave it their all and did a great job.”
See what’s Poppin’ in the Black Box Theatre
On Friday, March 7, Jesuit High School Sacramento’s Drama program, along with students from Saint Francis High School, Christian Brothers High School, Rio Americano High School, and Country Day High School will present Cameron Mackintosh and Disney’s “Mary Poppins.” This musical is the largest production Jesuit Drama has brought to stage in recent years, so the performance will be a night to remember.
George Srabian ’25 is excited for this performance, as he and the rest of the team have put in many hours to make this musical as special as possible.
Orchestra and Symphonic Band combine forces at Honors Music Recital
Yesterday, Feb. 26, Jesuit High School Sacramento’s Orchestra and Symphonic Band performed in their Honors Music Recital.
Cello player Nicolas Padilla ’25 believes that the performances throughout the night went off without a hitch.
Samuel Gegax ’25: the man, the myth, the musician
Everyone who’s met Samuel Gegax ’25 knows about his love for music, and the time and effort he puts into his practice, having taken advantage of every opportunity presented to him over his four years at Jesuit High School Sacramento.
At Jesuit, Sam has become the section lead in Jazz Band, the concertmaster in Symphonic Band, and the Woodland section leader in Marching Band. This year, he even made the prestigious California All-State Band on clarinet.
Drop of blood, an ocean of difference
On Wednesday, Jan. 22, the student council will be hosting their 35th Annual Blood Drive on campus at Jesuit High School Sacramento. This opportunity to donate blood will be available to students and faculty from 8:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Jesuit’s tradition of giving blood is a great way to give back to the community and save lives.
Raphael Edralin ’25: Lead, Laugh, Love
The spirit of a true marauder is loud and proud, and there’s no one that embodies this better than Raphael “Rafi” Edralin ’25. From hearing him on the loudspeaker to seeing him hype up the Holy Bowl crowd, Jesuit students are constantly made aware of Rafi’s presence.
As Head Cheerleader, Rafi always plans activities with enjoyment as his biggest priority.
Symphonic and Jazz Band show off hard work at Winter Band Concert
On Thursday, Dec. 12 Jesuit High School Sacramento’s Symphonic Band and Jazz Band will perform at their annual winter band concert in the Harris Center.
Sam Gegax ’25 has been a member of the Symphonic and Jazz Band for the last four years. He is excited to see how far he and the rest of band have grown with their music throughout the year.
OSU: a world of opportunity
Over the summer, I had the opportunity to travel to Oregon to tour colleges – one of which was Oregon State University (OSU). Upon arriving, I noticed the expansive size of the campus. At 420 acres, it is roughly eight times the size of Jesuit, but with over 30 times the number of undergraduate students. While the campus is nowhere near the largest for a college, it is dense and large enough to host over 200 undergraduate programs and 16 great sports programs.
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.
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.
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.
Christopher Rotelli ’24: setting the tempo
Whether serving as the percussion captain in the marching band or as a Senior Retreat Team leader in Campus Ministry, Chris Rotelli ‘24 has set a great example of leadership for his fellow students to follow.
Opinion: “My Pandemic Love Story” strikes a perfect balance
Students from Jesuit High School Sacramento joined students from Saint Francis High School and Rio Americano High School to produce the Fall Play event entitled “My Pandemic Love Story” (MPLS). Through song, dance, and monologue, the performers relived and revealed the realities they experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Appreciating our Military Veterans
Military Veterans are the silent heroes that keep our nation safe, and Jesuit High School Sacramento is lucky enough to count several Veterans among our faculty and staff.
Fall Play helps students process their pandemic experiences
This November, Jesuit High School Sacramento drama presented the fall play, “My Pandemic Love Story,” an original Black Box performance written by the cast. This production was a way for students’ to share personal anecdotes about their experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jesuit Drama to stage another masterpiece
This November, Jesuit Drama will present “My Pandemic Love Story,” an original production that delves into the experiences of students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ms. Fox shares the beauty of the Spanish language
Spanish teacher Ms. Katy Fox has returned to Jesuit High School Sacramento after four years away. Having worked at Jesuit from 2011 to 2019, she is excited to once again teach Jesuit students the wonders of the Spanish language.
National Test Day can give freshmen a helpful benchmark
Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023 is National Test Day, when Jesuit High School Sacramento students will take various standardized tests as a way to practice for the ACT and SAT.