An Exciting Beginning

Jesuit launched the school year with gusto this week, culminating three busy days of ramping up for 2026-27 with a wonderful all-school celebration in recognition of the baseball and swimming State Championship teams from last school year.

Friday (Aug. 7) in the Tiger Palace at the conclusion of Schola Brevis, the team members received their championship rings in front of the student body from school president Fr. Vincent Giacabazi, S.J. and principal Mike Scicchitano. The respective head coaches, Robbie Shaffer '19 (swimming) and Miguel Menendez (baseball) addressed the assembly, and afterward, all of the athletes and their families gathered outside by the team championship monuments: swimming with a new granite slab inscribed with “2025” added to its previous three State titles in 2017, 2018, and 2020, and baseball with a “2026” slab, the program’s record eighth State title, the most of any Jesuit sports program, and fourth under Menendez.

It all began on Wednesday, as the 2026-27 school year took its first steps. The students convened by grade-level in the Antinori Center on Wednesday morning for a one-hour class meeting with Scicchitano, student activities rep Corey Perich, asst. principal for discipline Carmelo LoSauro, and their respective grade-level counselor, with each class laying the foundation for a phenomenal school year. After renewing friendships, having their portrait taken in the Tiger Palace (once they passed the grooming check), and the freshmen picking up their iPads, the students were dismissed.

Thursday was Freshman Orientation. With some 100 Big Brothers (juniors and seniors) there to assist them, and a world-class faculty and staff to guide them for the next four years, the 225 members of Class of 2030 took their place at Jesuit High School. They learned how to enter the Chapel of the Holy Cross (silently), where to sit for Mass and daily Convocation, met their teachers and toured their entire class schedule, celebrated Mass, and departed mid-day as fledgling scholars, brothers, and Men for Others, embarking on a four-year journey that will change their life.

Friday they were joined by the seniors, juniors, and sophomores for Schola Brevis, which ended with the festive State Championship celebrations.

This week, the generosity of Anthony Garcia '89 and Paul Puleo '90 to Jesuit High School has been visible to the students as they returned to campus. Inside the Tiger Palace, the brilliant new scoreboards on the north and south ends are named in honor of Garcia, whose son Lucca Garcia '29 is entering his sophomore year. The beautiful entry pavilion along Loyola Lane, shortly after you turn onto campus, is now the Puleo Family Pavilion in honor of the generosity of Puleo, whose son Evan Puleo, P '27 is entering his senior year.

Thank you to Anthony Garcia '89 and Paul Puleo '90 for your leadership support of the mission of Jesuit High School.

Monday is the first full school day and beginning of Welcome Week activities.

View below some images from this week, and for many more images visit the Facebook page Jesuit High School of Tampa.