From June 7-25, 95% of our incoming 8th and 9th-grade students attended our annual Summer Enrichment Program organized and directed by the Admissions Office and Assistant Principal for Admissions, Mr. Carlos Bogran III ’99. The purpose of Summer Enrichment is to provide students with the opportunity to begin their transition to their new school environments. Students attend academic classes in the morning, eat lunch in the Benson Mall, and participate in extracurricular activities in the afternoons. Every part of the program is specifically coordinated to assist students with their transition, but the best part of the program is the opportunity for students to socialize with their new classmates who will soon become lifelong friends. 

Each day starts with students attending academic classes with a focus on skills in English, Math, and Brother Martin 101. These classes are designed to review past skills as well as to begin challenging students with new skills as a Brother Martin student.  

The afternoons were filled with academic and athletic opportunities for students to explore. The activities included Academic Games, Baseball, Computer Game Programming, Cross Country, Football, Lacrosse, Rugby, Soccer, and Wrestling. 

The final week offered students the chance to learn about the Brother Martin Service Learning Program which requires students to earn service hours each school year. Students were introduced to service by participating in an afternoon of Service with Ozanam Inn where students made 450 sandwiches and packed 225 toiletry bags to be distributed to the homeless population in our city.

On Thursday of our final week, students were treated to a barbecue and swim party at Woodlake Estates Tennis and Swim Club. This day was centered on all of us being together to continue building upon the camaraderie and Crusader spirit that was formed throughout the entire Enrichment Program. Crusaders enjoyed swimming, waterslides, wiffleball, basketball, beach volleyball, and yard games.   

Field Trips and real life experiences are always a part of our Enrichment Program. Each Friday, the students were divided into three groups and participated in either our Etiquette Class with Chef Tom Wolfe of the Rib Room in Omni Royal Orleans, canoed with Canoe and Trail Adventure (Chad Almquist ’02) on the Bogue Falaya, and bowled at Colonial Lanes in Harahan which is home to the 5-time State Champion Crusader Bowling Team. 

It was an exciting June for our newest Crusaders and now we turn our sights to August and the official start to the 2021-2022 school year. We are expecting great things from members of the Classes of 2025 and 2026 as they begin their Crusader journey here on Elysian Fields!