Jesuit High School welcomed Mr. Chris Orazio as the 2021-2022 school year began this fall. 

This year, Mr. Orazio will be working with the campus ministry team here at Jesuit, primarily focusing on the encounter program, as well as supervising the Gedrose Student Center and the Holman Family Student Union. 

“I’m excited to get to know the students,” said Orazio, “If anyone wants to come say hi to me they’re more than welcome to. I’m always in the Gedrose Student Center.”

Although he has never worked at a school, Mr. Orazio taught first aid, CPR, and lifeguarding classes at Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreations District (THPRD), giving him plenty of experience working with teenagers. 

An alumni of Jesuit High School, Mr. Orazio graduated with the class of 2009. 

He noticed many changes since his time at Jesuit including a looser dress code, the building of Elloriaga, and the use of iPads throughout campus.

“It’s fun being back and getting to see students. The community will never change at Jesuit,” Orazio said. 

Full Interview Transcript (edited lightly for length and content)

How long have you been working at schools?

I’ve never actually worked for a school. I’ve worked for Tualatin Hills Parks and Recreations District, which is similar.

What did you do at THPRD?

I taught a lot of first aid, CPR, and lifeguarding courses, so I was working with a lot of teenagers.

What are your duties at Jesuit this year?

Mainly supervising the Holman Center. Also supporting the campus ministry department, primarily focusing on the encounter program.

What are you doing in the encounter program?

Choosing who is going on encounters right now. 

What excites you about being at Jesuit this year?

I’m an alumni, class of 2009 so it’s fun being back and getting to see students. The community will never change at Jesuit, so being back has been really good.

Is being back very different from your experience at Jesuit?

Yes and no. Jesuit has changed in a lot of ways for the better, like loosening the female dress code. When I was a student, girls couldn’t even show their collar bone. Elloriaga didn’t exist either. The biggest change is seeing iPads everywhere. They didn’t come out until 2010, a year after I graduated. 

What is something the community should know about you?

I’m enthusiastic and energetic. I love working hard and I want to get to know the students. If anyone wants to come say hi to me they’re more than welcome to. I’m always in the Gedrose Student Center. 

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?

Learning to say no. We are taught so often to say yes all the time. Even as a child, if you said no to your parents, they said, “What’d you say to me!?” But when you get older, being able to say, “No I have too much on my plate,” and adapting to know that no doesn’t necessarily mean anything bad is important.