PRINCIPAL IDEAS
THE ROAD TO PERFECTION Welcome to the Spring/Fall Issue of Lancer Magazine. In this issue you will latest read about arts programs. Welcome to the issueour of fantastic Lancer Magazine. The La Salle has been blessed with the leadership Dr. Jude theme for this issue is “Better Together” ofand that Lucas for 17 years. Under her guidance, our arts course is a terrific way to summarize the strength of our offerings and programming have expanded dramatically Lasallian community. The last twelve months have so much so that this year, we have split our Arts and Media been challenging for everyone in different ways, but, Department into two distinct departments: Performing Arts as they led say,byevery cloudand has a silver lining. For Kate the & Media, Dr. Lucas, Visual Arts, led by Mrs. La Salle Community silver lining our has students quite often Williams. Within these that two departments are able to grow and learn in the disciplines of acting, dance, been the reminder that we are not alone in these filmmaking, music, and the visual arts, including drawing, strange times. Our community of current students, painting, photography and sculpture. Our robust arts parents, alumni, employees and friends is a strong program is an important part of the La Salle difference.
one that provides support for each other in both good times and bad.
William Bennet, Former U.S. Secretary of Education, said, “The arts are an essential element of education, just like That support looked different thisdance, year as many reading, writing,has and arithmetic…music, painting, in-person by virtualhuman ones. and theaterevents are allhave keysbeen thatreplaced unlock profound understanding and accomplishment.” All students at La Salle As you’ll read, our alumni have participated in Zoom take at least one art class before they graduate and many reunions with their former classmates and teachers, take arts classes throughout their La Salle through in addition to connecting with time our at current students our four year arts program. The students highlighted in this through participation in virtual career day and panel issue - James Fall ’20, Sophia Jasper ’22, Lily Polchow discussions. They have also joined in serving our ’22 and Elijah Reyes ’19 – are four examples of the talent community. Despite distance, La illustrate Salle has of our students and their experiences thestayed power committed to theand motto Learn, Serve, and had of the arts program the commitment of Lead our arts faculty.
successful Boxes of Love and Adopt a Family events in One of the qualities of our arts program is the the fall, in distinctive addition to numerous drives for the needy many opportunities our students have to perform and throughout the year. share their work with the community. I know you will be impressed when you read about and see photos of our AP In addition to finding new ways to keep old traditions and Spring Art Shows, Band, Strings, Choir concert and our going, the changed circumstances of the last year Jazz Concert.
brought new opportunities. Despite being unable to operate classes on our campus forlifemost of the 2020Like our arts program, student program is one that 2021 school year, wereand able to continue to have attracts students to we La Salle allows them to grow and challenge themselves as they journey through their time students on campus for our Health and Wellness here. Mr. Fitness Ed O’Connor P’16, Led ’17, by known as EOC director, to most Through program. our athletic students, has been at La Salle since 1995. Throughout Brian Walsh, this program was born out of the desire that time Mr. O’Connor has led our Student Life team, to keep our community of students strong physically, overseeing everything from service to dances and rallies to mentally, and socially in a safe way.
retreats. So much of what makes a student’s experience at La Salle memorable and fun starts in Mr. O’Connor’s office. Our athletic department wasand notyou’ll alone inthat helping to He truly is an amazing educator see through serve our students during this unique year. As you’ll his profile.
see, our counseling department has also worked Along with our veteran are always lucky tirelessly to many support oureducators, studentswe throughout this to welcome new members to our La Salle community. In school year. 4
LANCER MAGAZINE
January, Ben a part family as This issue willBuys alsobecame introduce you of to our oneLancer of our fantastic our new head football coach. Our student athletes often educators, Mr. Jeff Niemiec. Besides being a member spend more time with their coaches than they do with of our technology and engineering department,their Mr. teachers, easily spending 15 hours a week with their team Niemiec coaches our incredibly successful speech and coach while in season. Therefore, although coaching and debate team. Speech and debate is a great ability and experience was paramount in our search, we example of a that pivoted butbedid not slow also wanted toprogram find someone who could a great role down the pandemic. In person tournaments model during for our young men. We found that in Coach Buys went virtual and our students have been as busy and and we are excited about what this year’s football season will bring. successful as ever. So much happened at La Sallealso overcontains the last semester. We And of course, this issue our annual raised the most money ever for our twinning school through report. The philanthropic efforts of our community our annual Riley’s Race for Change event and were able are a great example of one of the ways that when to send more than $18,000 to Mont La Salle College in we come together we can do fantastic things.member We are Naka, Nigeria. We honored Board of Regents grateful to all of ’21 youatwho La Salle during Leigh Oliver, P’12, our supported annual Crystal Ball. And of this past With with yourour help, students returned course we year. celebrated 160our graduates at our annual commencement exercises thenew end science of May. labs, better to campus this spring to at two able to help them investigate and discover, as well as There is so much going onart at La Salle; this issue of Lancer completely remodeled studios in which they can Magazine will give you a peek into the excitement. Thank create and express themselves. you for your continued support of La Salle, our students, and the mission of nurturing, inspiring, motivating and So enjoy this issue Lancer and thank challenging all of our of diverse andMagazine capable students to you for being a part people. of this community, where we are become extraordinary
always better together.
COURTNEY KASSAKHIAN PRINCIPAL
