LA SALLE CELEBRATES ITS
In early 1955, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles began construction of a new high school at the corner of East Sierra Madre Boulevard and Michillinda Avenue. Concurrently, the Cardinal Archbishop of Los Angeles, invited the Christian Brothers to administrate the new school and consequently the name La Salle High School was adopted. It was to be a Roman Catholic college preparatory school enriched by the tradition of Lasallian education developed by St. John Baptist de La Salle, founder of the Christian Brothers, whose reputation for innovative excellence in education extends back to 1680. In November 1955, construction began on the School’s main building. The building would include eight classrooms, science laboratories, mechanical drawing and typing rooms, library, bookstore, audio-visual room, cafeteria, locker room, and offices. The Brothers’ residence and chapel would be built before the opening of the School. La Salle High School opened its doors in September 1956 with Brother Celestine Cormier, FSC, as the first principal. 10
LANCER MAGAZINE
That first semester, 117 freshman boys from fourteen nearby communities entered the original school building that would eventually accommodate nearly 450 students in 1964 with a teaching faculty of 11 Christian Brothers and six lay teachers. In 1965, construction of the Michillinda wing was completed and included a library, biology lab, five additional classrooms, an assembly hall, student bookstore, seminar room, and faculty offices. In 1986, the first formal discussion occurred regarding the possibility of coeducation at La Salle High School. The Fall of 1991 was a significant time for La Salle High School. Most importantly, co-education became a reality as young women were officially admitted to the School. Additionally, on September 14, 1991, La Salle fielded its first football team ever. The first game was played against Temescal Canyon at La Canada High School.
