LASALLIAN
VISIONS
BROTHERS OF THE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS H DISTRICT OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA
OCTOBER 2017 • NO. 21
SAN MIGUEL SCHOOLS CONTINUITY & CHANGE
Given its direct service to the economically poor and its reliance on God’s providence for its sustenance, a Miguel School has an undeniable identification with the story of our Founder, Saint John Baptist de La Salle. A San Miguel school is a small, Lasallian elementary or middle school that is not tuition-driven, and is established to serve students of all faiths and cultures from the most economically depressed situations. Almost all students are considered at-risk due to the voids and pressures associated with low-income neighborhoods. The first to establish the San Miguel model was Brother Lawrence Goyette, FSC, with the creation of San Miguel School of Providence RI in 1993. Since then, the District of Eastern North America has founded three others: The De La Salle School in Freeport NY, La Salle Academy in Philadelphia PA, and San Miguel in Washington DC. The four schools now serve approximately 300 students annually, and stay connected with more than 600 alumni. While the San Miguel model quite directly mirrors the work of De La Salle himself, it has always been the vision that they could be led not only by Brothers, but by anyone with a desire in his/her heart to fulfill the Lasallian mission. In that same spirit, the leadership at all four of our Miguel schools has now very successfully been turned over to non-Brother members of our Lasallian family. The most recent of these new leaders is Mr. William Gault, Executive Director of The De La Salle School in Freeport NY. His thoughts below give a little view into life at our Miguel schools: Brother Thomas Casey, FSC, was at the helm of The De La Salle School and throughout the year the Tuesday evening study hall welcomes all of since its inception in 2002. In July 2016, he passed that responsibility our high school-age alumni for food, relaxation, and tutoring. to me as he handed me his keys, with his prayers and best wishes for Enrollment for 2017-2018 is sixty-nine students, the largest a smooth transition. As I complete my first year and venture into the enrollment at The De La Salle School since our founding in 2002. second as head of this incredible mission called The De La Salle School, We are at capacity and have a waiting list, news that makes all of our faculty, staff, and board members very excited and I am grateful to God for the many blessings that our “I applaud the Board of Trustees extremely proud. Starting our new school year, we school has received. In June we celebrated our twelfth graduation and for ensuring that the mission of move forward with our theme of “Continuity and now have 157 young men who have the distinction the school, and our quality Lasallian Change” by introducing to the school community of having earned a diploma from The De La Salle education, not be compromised. our new principal, Mrs. Jeanmarie Becker. School. Thirty-two of our alumni who are Their choice of Mr. Bill Gault is As we write the next chapter of The De La Salle attending Catholic high school receive financial testimony to their attentiveness to School we do so with deep faith along with the assistance through our graduate support program, their responsibility.” hope of fulfilling the Lasallian characteristics of – Br. Thomas P. Casey, FSC Founder, The De La Salle School
Br. Thomas and Mr. Bill Gault congratulate Carlos ’17 on his graduation, accompanied by his siblings: Henry ’08 Hofstra University, Ruben ’09 who is at Nassau Community College, and Christian ’10 at Manhattan College. Carlos is now attending Holy Trinity High School.