PRINCIPAL'S CORNER

Principal Peter Kernion ’90 has been at the helm of Jesuit New Orleans for 8 years and has handled the challenging and peaceful times with resolve, confidence, and diligence. Going into the 2020-2021 school year, we decided to sit down with him to see how he and Jesuit were handling the unprecedented circumstances. We quickly found that, while the times are objectively different, his mission remains the same: foster an environment that forms men of faith and men for others.

How have the hard-working faculty at Jesuit made this difficult year more manageable for you and the school?

Certainly, this has been a tough year for all of our students and their families, but our teachers have gone above and beyond and have done an exceptional job during this time. This has been a stressful and uneasy school year as teachers have had to change learning models and adapt to new ways of teaching their students while continuing to uphold and promote the mission of Jesuit High School. I am very thankful for all of the flexibility and hard work of our faculty members this year.

Were there any extra positions appointed to combat this difficult time?

As student activities were forced to be dialed back this school year, Matt Orillion ’98 has been very helpful with taking on the role of COVID-19 Director. I know this is not what he expected to spend so much time dealing with this school year, but we are thankful for all of his work in this area.

How has the parental response been during this year in particular? Overall, parents have been understanding and supportive throughout this process. As we made safe in-person learning a priority, many parents expressed their support even through the unfortunate contact tracing that took place throughout the school year.

safely. Ultimately, for the good of our students, it is important for us to continue the most important ministry of teaching and learning and the advancement of the mission of Jesuit High School.

Through your observations, how did the students handle the hybrid and at-home learning models?

In the face of all of these changes, including the cut-back in student activities, the reduced numbers of students at events, and the cancellation of so many events that add to student life and school spirit, our students have been understanding and have worked through this and even excelled in ways that have made all of us proud of these Blue Jays.

If you could go back, what advice would you give yourself at the beginning of the pandemic?

I think the advice I would have given myself is to be patient as we continue to look for ways to return to some sort of normalcy here at school. What has become obviously clear as we move through this pandemic is that we cannot expect teaching and learning, student life, and other activities to be the same as they have been. Hybrid schedules, split lunch periods, and the large number of student activities that have been postponed, cancelled, or re-imagined have taught us this. That being said, we will continue to look for ways to successfully fulfill our mission as we work through these difficult and unusual times.

You have been principal for 8 years. Specifically, how has this year been different?

Since March of 2020, life at Jesuit High School has certainly changed drastically and has presented us with many challenges. This school year has been dominated by COVID-19 and the constantly changing guidelines and mandates that require a number of new hurdles to clear in order to continue to have students on campus

While these circumstances have been difficult, how does the Jesuit educational system keep weathering the storm?

It is my hope that we are not far off from the time when we can get back to some “normal” activities and events that will engage our students in ways that are more conducive to learning as they continue to grow as men of faith and men for others. •

JESUIT HIGH SCHOOL | NEW ORLEANS | 7