La Salle ParentNewsletter For Parents and Friends of La Salle High School • Pasadena, CA • November 2018
Principal Ideas Hello. November is here and, although in some ways it feels like school just started, we are heading into the homestretch of the first semester.
Courtney R. Kassakhian Principal
Did You Know? Saint John Baptist de La Salle
Founded the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools (Christian Brothers) in 1681 and was proclaimed the patron of all teachers of all youth by Pope Pius XII in 1950.
There are only six weeks before final exams. These weeks will go by quickly! If your child is doing well, encourage them to keep it up for the rest of the semester. If your child is not achieving their potential at this point, talk to them about what changes they can make to achieve the grades they will be happy with and proud of at the end of the semester. Student Success Workshop meets every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:30 to 3:30pm, giving a students a place to work on homework after school with faculty members; and Academic Support occurs at least once a week giving students opportunity to meet one on one with their teachers. Please encourage your students to take advantage of these resources. October was a marking point for the academic program, with quarter grades going out mid-month. It was also filled with extra and co-curricular events. I’d like to thank Ms. Whitney Strouse '07 and all the students and faculty involved Student Life for a wonderful homecoming week. Viva Las Vegas was filled with school spirit and fun activities. I was especially proud of how the student life team incorporated our One Book program into the homecoming decorations throughout the building. When Nita Belles, the author of In Our Backyard: Human Trafficking in America and What We Can Do to Stop It, came on campus to speak with our parents and our students, I had the pleasure of showing her the displays our students had created, acknowledging Las Vegas as a locale where there is human trafficking under the glitz and glamour. She was very impressed with the work of our students. Our community also took part in a number of service activities throughout the month, including the Boxes of Love campaign in support of military families and our first blood drive of the year in coordination with Huntington Hospital. October also had a group of junior Principal continued on page 2
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November 2018
Principal Ideas
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and senior students, accompanied by Ms. Julia Frisina and Ms. Strouse, go on El Otro Lado, a border immersion trip done in coordination with another Lasallian school - San Miguel High School in Tucson. And the month ended with our first group of junior students attending their retreat. Thank you to Mr. Ed O’Connor and the rest of the retreat team for enabling our students to have this important opportunity for spiritual reflection and growth. Now November is here and we have just as many exciting events happening this month as last. Of course, one of the most important events is our annual Open House on Sunday, November 4. All of us La Salle community members - parents, staff, faculty, alumni and students - know what an incredible place La Salle is. Open House is our opportunity to share that with others who are not yet part of the La Salle community. If you have friends or family with children currently looking at high schools, be sure to let them know about our Open House and invite them to attend. The event is 12:00 to 2:30pm and visitors will be able to get information on all of the academic and co-curricular programs La Salle has to offer. An additional highlight will be the ability to check out our newly remodeled Blakeslee Learning Commons. Many of you know the Blakeslee Library has been closed for remodel since May. We will be able to do a soft opening for Open House
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and hope to have our students back in using and enjoying the space by mid-November. The space truly looks incredible and will be so much more student friendly than it was in the past. I encourage all of our parents to come to our next Parent Association Meeting November 13, which will take place in the Blakeslee Learning Commons, and see the space yourself. On November 5th and 6th our sophomores will go on their annual retreat and our fall play, Argonautika, opens November 3 and runs on weekends through November 18. Additionally, six of our Academic Decathletes will be traveling to Yale, representing La Salle in the World Scholars Cup Tournament of Champions. And of course, we end the month of November with Thanksgiving. Of all the holidays that we celebrate each year, Thanksgiving is my favorite. For so many other holidays we give things: gifts at Christmas, cards at Valentine’s Day, candy at Easter. At Thanksgiving all we are asked to give is thanks. And, if we are fortunate enough, we get to give thanks while eating wonderful food around tables filled with loved ones. I know I have much to be thankful for this year, including the opportunity to work with all you here at La Salle. May you be fortunate to spend your Thanksgiving Day with your family and friends and enjoy a thanksgiving meal to celebrate your own blessings.
November 2018
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November 2018
Parent Association Report
Cherry Agapito P’18,’20 Parent Association President
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As we move into November and the season of Thanksgiving, we begin to hear the word ‘thankful’ more often in our daily conversations. But what does being thankful mean? Merriam-Webster defines thankful as “expressive of thanks, grateful.” With the recent hurricane in Florida last month, the nation watched the devastation to the coastal towns and surrounding areas. As we watched many people risking their lives to help others affected by Hurricane Michael, all I could think about was how grateful I was to see so many people helping each other in their time of need. In the spirit of giving thanks, I ask that we pray for everyone affected by Hurricane Michael, as their Thanksgiving dinner may not be how they may have imagined it to be this year. I wanted to take this opportunity to share how thankful I am for all the volunteers that either bring donated items to events or those who physically volunteer at the events. The volunteers and donated items ensure that our Parent Association, Academic Booster, Athletic Booster, and Arts Booster events are successful. It’s because of your efforts and time that I am truly thankful for you! In addition, we have many upcoming events and opportunities to volunteer and donate goods. Committees are working on putting up the volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Please go to https://www.trackitforward.com/site/la-sallecollege-preparatory to sign-up and to log your hours. Some upcoming Parent Association events and volunteer opportunities for the remainder of the year are shown at the right. In closing, I’d like to take this opportunity to share how thankful I am for my husband, Gil, and my children, Garien ‘18 and Cameron ‘20 and to my extended La Salle Families. It takes a village to be able to find balance and make time between work, home and volunteering, and my family and friends are my village. I’m very grateful for all their support! Our next Parent Association meeting is on November 13th at 6:30pm in the Blakeslee Learning Commons. Food and drinks will be hosted by Dr. Gray. The Academic, Arts and Athletic Booster meetings will follow at 7:30pm. I look forward to seeing you there! I hope everyone has a safe and blessed Thanksgiving. We have many things to be thankful for!
November 2018
Parent Association Event Calendar Parent Association Meetings November 13, 2018 January 15, 2019 February 12, 2019 March 12, 2019 April 9, 2019 Parent Association Events November 4 - Open House 12 - Junior Leadership Ceremony December 7 - Crystal Ball Christmas Gift Gathering Party 12 - Christmas Treat Dessert Bar for Faculty & Staff 15 - Adopt-a-Family Christmas Party February 10 - Gifts from the Heart March 9 - Registration Day April 17- Grandparents Day May 10 - Crystal Ball
Speech & Debate Coaches Elizabeth Meerson and Jeff Niemiec report that the La Salle Speech & Debate team traveled all over the United States this month, competing at Presentation High School in San Jose, and Bronx High School of Science in New York. Seniors Sebastian Dunbar and Jackie Henley (shown above with Ms. Meerson) got to the top 8 teams at Presentation, and the top 16 teams (of 204) at Bronx, earning two Gold Bids to the Tournament of Champions in less than a week! At Bronx, senior Nicole Strubinski broke to outrounds in Extemporaneous Speech and Humorous Interpretation, and then advanced to semifinals in Humorous Interpretation.
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November 2018
La Salle Matters A market research study measuring the general population’s attitudes, opinions, and perceptions on Catholic education in America and what drives parents’ decisions about educational choices for their children was the focus of a recent joint commission by NCEA (National Catholic Educational Association) and FADICA (Foundations and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities) entitled:
Dr. Richard Gray President
The Catholic School Choice: Understanding the Perspectives of Parents and Opportunities for More Engagement This national study sought to clarify what supports and hinders parents’ decision to enroll their children in Catholic schools. Dr. Thomas Burnford, President of NCEA, had this to say about the Study’s findings: For example, quality education and moral formation are two key drivers in parents’ school choices for their children. These findings, which affirm two hallmarks of Catholic school education, challenge Catholic schools to better communicate and tell their story to parents – especially parents who value the tenets of Catholic education but who may not have chosen a Catholic school for their children. This got me to thinking about our recently launched “Brand Refresh” (cf. my columns in the August and September Parent Newsletters – online at lasallehs.org). Readers of this space will recall that this initiative was launched over two years ago in order to build on the accomplishments of the last 60 years and to ensure that La Salle’s distinctive “voice” could be heard above the “noise” of an increasingly competitive educational marketplace here in Pasadena. As I reviewed The Catholic School Choice study – which is national in scope - I realized that its findings have relevance here in Pasadena. For example, factors having the greatest impact on parents’ willingness to consider Catholic schools for their children are:
• Offers a good balance between academics and religious teachings
• Creates an environment where everyone is welcome
• Places an emphasis on community service and volunteerism
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November 2018
In a similar vein, the Study noted 74% of all respondents agreed with the notion that recent changes in society and technology mean students need a firm moral background as part of their elementary and secondary educational experience. In Pasadena, where 28% of households send their children to some form of private education (8% state-wide), schools like La Salle occupy a unique position regarding the three drivers noted above, especially with respect to establishing a balance between academics and religious teachings. And yet, the Study also reports: • Few Americans say they feel very knowledgeable about Catholic schools and what they offer. • Slightly fewer feel knowledgeable about Catholic schools in their own area. • For the few who do recall hearing something recently about Catholic schools, the majority say their source was the news media (TV, newspapers, and radio), not their church or someone they know and trust And, here’s the punchline – …parents rely heavily on information provided by other parents in the local community when researching schools for their child. These results suggest that Catholic schools appear to be missing a very cost-effective opportunity to promote what they offer at the local level. In light of these findings, our “Brand Refresh” strikes me as particularly critical to our efforts to get the word out regarding the unique benefits of a La Salle education. As I’ve noted in this space and elsewhere, La Salle is singular in the Pasadena educational marketplace because of the combination of these four factors:
Catholic
College Preparatory
Co-educational
Diverse
Which made this finding from the Study all the more intriguing: Parents are least likely to ascribe these offerings to Catholic schools in this country:
• • • •
a diverse learning environment; having a strong arts program; cutting-edge science and technology instruction; and providing adequate resources for students with learning challenges and disabilities.
Anyone who has been affiliated with La Salle College Preparatory for any length of time will recognize that all four of these factors typify the student experience when they Matters Continued on Page 9
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November 2018
Homecoming 2018 - Viva Las Vegas!
2018 Homecoming King and Queen, Clayton Searcy, Mina Ramirez. Below, Corbin Jones, #3.
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Matters
continued from Page 7
arrive on campus. We are proud of the evolution of our STEAM initiative (please join us at the November Parent Association meeting in the newly renovated Blakeslee Learning Commons); we know we support the most diverse student-learning environment in the area and we recognize – and have programs in place – to support students with learning challenges throughout the course of their four years here. These strengths, along with our refreshed messaging system positions La Salle to speak with clarity and conviction about the benefits of this Catholic school in one of the most challenging educational marketplaces in the nation. And because we provide curious and capable young adults with opportunities that encourage growth, exploration, discovery and excellence, La Salle College Preparatory is where the students entrusted to our care will discover their path to excellence in high school and beyond. 2018 Homecoming Rally
As far as I’m concerned, the findings of the Catholic School Choice Study reinforce what we as a school community have been moving towards for the better part of the last two years. I can’t think of a more exciting time to be a part of the community of La Salle College Preparatory.
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November 2018
Year End Tax and Financial Planning that Addresses Your Goals and the Mission of La Salle La Salle College Preparatory is blessed with a growing number of financial supporters who have enhanced the School’s endowment and supported the capital improvements that are on the way to being developed. Academic year 2017-2018 showed several such legacy gifts, and for this our School is most appreciative. With the end of 2018 approaching, many of us will begin to address year-end tax and financial planning issues. With the passage of the federal tax legislation in 2017, this process in many cases will require more time and the review of different strategies that have been prevalent in the past. By taking advantage of financial opportunities that provide you both tax and financial/investment benefits, you can also help support the Mission of La Salle College Preparatory A “Planned Gift” (as opposed to an “annual gift”) is a donation to La Salle College Preparatory made in one’s lifetime or at death that is a part of a donor’s overall financial and/or estate plan. Such gifts enhance the endowment of our School by supporting and ensuring the commitment to its Mission. Year-end planning can be executed in many ways. These include:
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Donating appreciated assets (real estate and securities as examples) that you have owned for more than one year will avoid federal and state capital gains taxes on the appreciation while creating a tax deduction. Even with recent market corrections, the stock market is at or near record highs, and as such, this is an opportune time to consider such strategies.
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Gifts payable at death (a bequest or designating our School as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement fund) are exempt from estate taxation.
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Using a donor advised fund for charitable giving might help work around certain parts of the tax legislation that in part reduce the benefit of a charitable donation.
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Taxpayers age 70 ½ or older can receive tax benefits from having one’s required annual IRA distribution directed to La Salle College Preparatory. Limitations apply in this scenario, but with retirement assets at very high historic levels, this strategy can be beneficial to the both the taxpayer and our School.
November 2018
Matching Gifts
These are a few of the opportunities available in the world of Planned Giving. Determining what type of Planned Gift is appropriate for you depends on your personal financial goals and the various circumstances that encompass your personal situation. In these months of compiling your tax and other financial documents for income tax return preparation, it is an opportunity to review the tax and financial benefits available to you from these strategies. Please review the Planned Giving articles in future publications of both the Parent Newsletter and Lancer Magazine for ongoing updates in the Planned Giving Program.
In Summary La Salle College Preparatory can provide more information, both generically and specifically, regarding the benefits available through Planned Giving. For more information, please contact Jon Keates, the Vice President for Institutional Advancement at 626.696.4344.
If you are an employee of a matching gift company, we would love to work with you. This is an easy way to raise funds for La Salle. If you are not sure if your company participates, you can ask your employer or contact Tara Morales at: tmorales@lasallehs.org or call 626.696.4381.
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November 2018
La Salle Administrators, Faculty and Staff Celebrated the 2018 Commemorative Convocation On October 2, La Salle recognized various community members for their many years of service to La Salle. By Courtney Kassakhian, Principal
30 Years
M Patrick Henry "Thirty years is a long time. Sorry Pat, but I’m going to point out that we have a fair number of faculty who have not been alive as long as you have been at La Salle. As you all can imagine, over 30 years at a Lasallian school you end up wearing a lot of hats, and Pat surely has. We all know that he is currently an academic advisor, and has had that role for some time, but he has also been a social studies teacher, department chairperson, Admissions director, and I just learned this one, director of student activities. Pat is seldom without a smile; it is clear he enjoys his work and has a passion for Lasallian education in general and La Salle College Preparatory in particular. He was a Signum Fidei recipient in 1994. We are lucky to have him as our colleague and generations of students have been lucky to have him as a teacher, advisor, and mentor. "
25 Years
Michael Keating "Michael is our technology specialist, and nearly single-handedly ensures that our school stays connected and all of our data safe. And this is no small thing. As you may recall, less than two years ago two Catholic schools in our area had serious data breaches in their technology systems that caused major chaos at those schools. So, I am very thankful for the job Michael does in keeping our school safe. His work with technology keeps him busy and Michael cannot always easily be found in his office because he is frequently moving around campus helping people with their computers, printers, etc. Besides technology, Michael also teaches in our science department, the position he was originally hired for when he came to La Salle. He has been a trailblazer in terms of using standardized grading, and has been a resource to other teachers looking to make that bold move. He was a Signum Fidei recipient in 2005 and 1997 and we are lucky to have him."
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November 2018 15 Years
Tina Bonacci "There are not many people who have a greater understanding of the worldwide Lasallian world than Tina. Her introduction to La Salle obviously came through her father Pat, and then she began her own Lasallian journey when she was part of the first cohort of girls to attend La Salle in the early 90s, graduating in 1994. Originally planning to study to be a pharmacist, she eventually changed paths to study English and go into education. She returned to teach at La Salle in 1999, however, she had already been working part-time here throughout college doing a variety of jobs including payroll clerk, LEAP coordinator and substitute teacher. During her first stint at La Salle she taught English, was English department chairperson, worked with student life, and was director of service learning among other things. She also serves or has served our school as part of the mission support team, the alumni council, and the retreat team and in 2004 she was a Signum Fidei recipient. She left La Salle for a time, but continued her work in the Lasallian world with jobs in the Midwest district among other jobs. In 2015 she returned to La Salle in the counseling department and last year stepped into the role of Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction and in a short time has made an enormous, positive impact on our academic program. We are lucky to have her as a colleague." Nancy Doede Nancy started at La Salle as a part-time teacher working with the previous dance teacher, but over time took over as our lead dance teacher, overseeing a program that sets us apart from other area schools. Nancy works with students who come to La Salle with all levels of dance ability: those who have been trained in studios for 10 years and those who have never taken a dance class in their lives. Yet she manages to get every student on a stage to perform at concerts twice a year; giving some of them their first and perhaps last time that they are in such a position under the lights and hearing applause. If you have never been to a dance concert and seen the work Nancy pulls out of our students, I’d encourage you to do so. We are very lucky to have such a talented educator and artist here at La Salle." Debby Sinnette-Baird Debby, like many of our students, arrived at La Salle by way of Holy Angels elementary school, where she was a science teacher and guidance counselor. She has for the last 15 years been our leaning specialist, working with the ever-growing number of students who have learning differences. Over her 15 years here at La Salle, Sinnette-Baird continued on page 14
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November 2018
Sinnette-Baird continued on from 13 she has had many roles and has been involved in many programs: counseling and guidance chairperson, study skills teacher, psychology teacher, mentor committee, and frequent retreat leader are just a few. Debby loves La Salle and she is not the only one in her family with a La Salle connection: both of her daughters, as well as her son-in-law are La Salle graduates, and perhaps in 18 years her grandson will be too. Debby was awarded the Lasallian Educator of the year in 2011 and Signum Fidei in 2015."
10 Years
Pam Wagner "Pam is our religious studies department chair and so much more. As the senior service coordinator she undertakes the difficult job of finding sites for all of our seniors to complete service every year. The senior service program is one unique and special to La Salle and enables our students to truly enter to learn leave to serve. As the leader of Music for the Masses she prepares our students and faculty singers to create beautiful and inspiring music and leads our entire community with gusto at our liturgies and prayer services. And as a teacher and department chair, her work is at the core of why we exist as not just a school, but a Lasallian school"
5 Years
Kate Williams "Kate, in her brief, in comparison, time at La Salle she has had a great impact on our students. In just her third year teaching at La Salle she was honored as the Lasallian Educator of the Year, indicating not only her good work with her students but the respect she has of her colleagues. Besides teaching art, she has also been a part of the student life team. Last year she stepped away from student life to focus on becoming a mom. This year, we are so happy to have her back with us full-time so that she can continue to guide and inspire our student artists this year and into the future."
In Addition...
Community members who were unavailable to attend the convocation were Rodolfo Rodriguez, grounds keeper, celebrating 25 years at La Salle. Steve Haderlein P'12,'16, social studies teacher and Girls Head Golf coach and Kristen Schultz, '98 Director of Alumni Relations and Senior Class moderator, celebrated 15 years at La Salle.
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November 2018
La Salle Christmas Trees Order By November 7 Trees can picked up on December 7 from 4:00 to 7:00pm and on December 8 from 9:00am to noon. Delivery service is available.* Please use the order form attached to this newsletter or you can order online at www.lasallehs.org/xmastree2018 Don't need to a tree for yourself? Purchase a tree for a military family at Fort Irwin in Barstow, CA. Help us spread the joy of Christmas as we support our troops. You only need to buy the tree and La Salle will handle the delivery Questions? Call Mr. Ed O'connor at 626.696.4329 or eoconnor@lasallehs.org All Proceeds Support Student Life *Within 10 miles of La Salle
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November 2018
College Center News College Counselors Tam Ly, Owen Hou'90,P'21, Marcia Yu'21
College Application Filing Deadlines
Please be reminded that November 30 is the last day to apply to the University of California (UC) and the California State University (CSU) systems. Please note that both systems make no exceptions for late submissions. In order to avoid frustration, do not wait until November 30 to file electronically. The servers may be very slow accepting files due to the high traffic on the website in the last days. We recommend students to submit their applications before the Thanksgiving holiday. Please pay close attention to the application requirements and deadlines for your specific colleges – many colleges have unique deadlines. Please encourage your student to have a balanced list of colleges that they are applying to, meaning that they have safety, realistic and stretch goals in their list. We also encourage parents and students to have a discussion about what colleges are a good fit in terms of affordability. Most colleges offer a net price calculator in their websites that provides an initial estimate in terms of the cost of attendance, as it varies from family to family based upon factors such as income and size.
Standardized Testing (Seniors)
In most cases, the last standardized test date that most colleges will accept in their admissions process is December (December 1st SAT and December 8th for the ACT). Please be aware that the last day to register for the December SAT and ACT is November 2nd.
Senior Meetings with College Counselors
Your college counselors have met with all the students who have submitted their Senior College Planning Surveys to discuss their college opportunities. Please encourage your student to complete the survey if he or she hasn’t already done so.
FAFSA and Cal Grant GPA Verification
The 2018-2019 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) has been open for submission since October 1, 2018. Parents will complete it using their financial information from the 2017 tax year. Please check with your student’s college of interest for the FAFSA deadline. The priority deadline is March 2, 2019 but we encourage families to complete it as soon as possible. The FAFSA can be completed at https://fafsa.ed.gov/. La Salle has electronically submitted GPAs to the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) for all seniors who completed coursework at La Salle. Cal Grant provides aid for California students planning to attend college in California. Students who submitted the FAFSA will automatically be considered for the Cal Grant. Please see your student’s College Counselor if you have questions about the submission process or about financial aid in general.
Class of 2020 – February 9th ACT
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November 2018
This month, all juniors will register to take the ACT at La Salle on February 9th , 2018. College Counselors will assist with the registration. Please note, La Salle has already paid for this test and there is no expense on your part. Should your student decide not to take the ACT this academic year, we will have to bill the cost back to you.
Classes of 2019 and 2020 - College Tours
We are offering the following college tours in the spring: San Diego College Tour​ February 18, 2018 University of San Diego, UC San Diego, San Diego State University Bay Area College Tour March 18-19, 2018 Universities to be announced in January
University of San Diego
Finishing Each Semester Strong
Please encourage your student to finish each semester at their best academically. By doing so, students are better prepared for more advanced coursework and for standardized tests, which will eventually translate into a competitive application to their colleges of choice in the future as well as being a contender for college scholarships. Even if your student is a senior, it is still important to be at their best because their first semester grades are sent to private schools they are applying to and all colleges expect that their applicants will demonstrate a strong senior year in high school.
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November 2018
Lancer Armory The Lancer Armory is going strong! We have old favorites as well as some exciting new additions! Yummy treats, new T-shirts and great new bags for the students!
Evan Nahra '22
Our Lancer Armory volunteer team has grown and we want to thank our experienced Armory crew, as well as our newly trained team members for keeping the Armory running smoothly and always being willing to step in and help! We truly appreciate you and couldn't make it work without you! We are hoping to make the shopping experience easier for our parents and will be having a sale on Saturday, November 17th from 10:00am to 2:00pm and another on Saturday, December 8th. With the holiday season quickly approaching, this is a great opportunity to get some spirit wear or cozy La Salle gear for your favorite Lancer!
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November 2018
Senior Tribute Pages Attention Senior Parents -By now you should have received in the mail the Centurion Senior Tribute ad flyers for the 2019 yearbook. This year's Centurion promises to z bigger and better than last year's and will be a wonderful treasure trove of countless memories of La Salle for your child. Full page, half and quarter page ad layouts are illustrated on the flyer with complete instructions for submittal. Please return the order form with your photos, text and payment to La Salle before December 17. The Centurion staff thanks you in advance for your support. If you have questions, please contact John Blackstock at jblackstock@lasallehs.org.
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November 2018
Patrick Bonacci 2018 SFNO Distinguished Lasallian Educator
Patrick Bonacci, AFSC Vice President for Mission
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The District of San Francisco New Orleans has announced that Patrick Bonacci, AFSC, of La Salle High School, Pasadena, California, is its recipient of the Distinguished Lasallian Educator Award for 2018. The announcement was made by District Office of Education Director Michael Daniels, Ed.D. The annual Distinguished Lasallian Educator Award is sponsored by Christian Brothers Conference and is presented in the name of all Lasallians of the Lasallian Region of North America (RELAN) to honorees from each of the RELAN Districts. It recognizes educators who exemplify the ideals of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, Patron of Christian Teachers of Youth. “I am honored,” Bonacci says, “to receive this award and humbled to be in the company of so many distinguished Lasallian Educators. As I enter my 47th year of being a Catholic School Educator, I know without a doubt that God is directing my journey. I am so grateful that the journey brought me to Lasallian education – first as a student at Saint Mary’s College of California and for the last 33 years as an educator at the sacred community that exists at La Salle, Pasadena.” Bonacci is in 33rd year at La Salle High School, where he currently is Vice-President for Mission. At La Salle, he has served in numerous other capacities, including dean of students, admission director, dean of studies, assistant principal, and principal. Bonacci introduced the school’s service learning program, expanded its service immersion program, and established its Founder’s Week of Service activity. In 2006, he was made an affiliated member of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. In his letter nominating Bonacci for the Award, La Salle president Richard Gray wrote of Bonacci’s “involvement in the local community, his commitment to faith and justice education, and his deep involvement in service to others which demonstrates his limitless potential for transforming Lasallian communities…Pat has constantly focused his attention to the students entrusted to his care, their parents, and teachers.” Brother Donald Johanson, Visitor of the San Francisco New Orleans District, offered his congratulations, saying, “We are blessed to have Pat as a member of our Lasallian family, and we are pleased to be able to publicly honor and thank him for his many contributions and years of dedicated service.” Bonacci, together with the recipients from the Midwest District and the District of Eastern North America, will be presented with the Award at the closing banquet of the Huether Lasallian Conference, which will take place November 15-17, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
November 2018
Tercentenary Commemorative Art Tablaux Tours SFNO District Two identical paintings set as a backdrop to the relics of four Brother Saints are touring the schools District of San Francisco New Orleans during the tercentenary of the entrance of Saint John Baptist de La Salle to eternal life. Created by Oakland, California artist Bill Weber, the works began their tour on August 8, 2018 and will spend three weeks at each school in the District. The tour concludes on May 27, 2019, after which the art pieces will be on permanent display at Saint Paul’s School in Covington, Louisiana and at Mont La Salle in Napa, California. The tour also is taking place in conjunction with the District’s celebration of the centenary of the Brothers continuous presence in Louisiana and the sesquicentennial of their presence in California. The three anniversaries are depicted in the painting with images of Brother Saints La Salle, Benilde, Mutien-Marie, and Miguel as well as the founding Brothers of Saint Paul’s School in Covington in 1918 and Saint Mary’s College in San Francisco, California (now in Moraga) in 1868. Our Lady of the Star, flanked by Saint Paul and Saint Peter (in commemoration of the Brothers 1918 foundation of St. Peter’s College in New Iberia, Louisiana), top the painting. Relics of the Brother saints and wood historic to the pasts of the Brothers of the two States finish out the piece.
Lancer Athletics
For specific game dates, times and locations log on to www.lasallelancers.org or www.lasallehs.org Athletics. Please visit the La Salle Athletics Boosters page at www.lasallelancers.org under Boosters for volunteer opportunities. 21
November 2018
Kevin Delaney '89 Returns Home to La Salle
Kevin Delaney '89 Vice President for Marketing and Development
Kevin Delaney '89 has returned to his alma mater as VicePresident for Marketing and Development as of October 22, 2018. This is a newly created position, intended to ensure the successful implementation of the School’s annual restricted and unrestricted fundraising goals while Richard Gray, President and Jon Keates, Vice-President for Institutional Advancement prepare the La Salle community for a capital campaign to build a Wellness Center. Kevin’s extensive background in philanthropy has been honed by his membership in the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Council for the Advancement & Support of Education. He brings significant strengths in the areas of volunteer engagement, communications and marketing, database management, admissions, special events and alumni engagement. His experiences after leaving La Salle ten years ago have expanded his repertoire of skills as a fundraising professional and will greatly benefit La Salle, as will his substantive relationships not only as an alum but also as a former teacher, coach and development officer. With time spent at both Loyola Marymount University and Chaminade College Preparatory, we are excited to welcome him back home!
Mothers of Alumni Council Christmas Boutique and Luncheon November 16 Altadena Town and Country Club 10:00am to 2:00pm
See website for reservations and more information
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November 2018
All Saints Mass On November 1 the La Salle Community celebrated All Saints Day. We honored the Saints who devoted their lives to following the will of Christ and are models of human excellence. Often we perceive the legacies of these seemingly perfect characters to be unattainable and of the past. However, in contrast, even today sainthood should be our human mission. The focus of the Mass was to always strive for holiness. Seven new saints were canonized this past year including Blessed Pope Paul VI, Blessed Oscar Romero, Blessed Vincent Romano, Blessed Francisco Spinelli, Blessed Nunzio Sulprizio, Blessed Nazaria Mesa and Blessed Catherine Casper. Our AP Spanish students and teachers and the Blakeslee Learning Commons created an alter for Dia de Los Muertos that was part of the All Saints Day celebration.
Father Mark Strader Paster, St. Luke Parish, Temple City
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November 2018
Poinsettias add Wonderful Holiday Color to Your Home
La Salle White and Red Poinsettias
Student Life of La Salle is offering Poinsettias to help decorate your home for the holiday season! Buy your Red or White Poinsettias today! Please use the order form below and return it to room 122 or order online to pay by credit card at www.lasallehs.org/Poinsettia2018.All proceeds benefit Student Life activities.
Senior Service Recognition For over five years, groups of seniors have spent time with residents of Monte Vista Grove Home (a retirement community for Presbyterian ministers and their spouses) as part of their senior service class. In recognition, Monte Vista presented La Salle with an award at their annual gala in Descanso Gardens. Graduated Seniors Melody Griffin, Michael Piesik, and Paula Velosa (shown above) joined Ms. Pam Wagner to accept the award on behalf of all the seniors who loved to visit the residents, taking them on walks around the gardens or just engaging in uplifting conversation.
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November 2018
Lancers Celebrate Hallows' Eve
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November 2018
The La Salle Alumni Association Presents a fundraiser at
698 E. Colorado Blvd Pasadena 8:00am-9:00pm
695 E. Green Street Pasadena 10:30am-9:30pm
696 E. Colorado Blvd. Suite 17 Pasadena 8:00am - 8:00pm
Tuesday, November 13 from 8:00am – 9:30pm (hours vary by location)
Eat In or Take Out Join us and enjoy some delicious food and coffee at these three establishments owned by Armando Ramirez ’93 (father of Yahaira ’14 and Vanessa ’20) Present this printed flyer (see attached downloadable flyer) when you order and these establishments will donate 15% of the receipts generated to the La Salle Alumni Association Scholarship Fund. You must have the flyer printed out. All La Salle students are invited to apply for the Alumni Association College Scholarship the spring semester of their Junior year and all prospective students are invited to apply for the Alumni Heritage Scholarship their eighth grade year. These are annual opportunities.
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Thanksgiving Boxes of Love
During this year’s Box of Love Drive the Support Our Troops Club packaged 89 food boxes for military families and as a community we will be able to provide over 110 $25 gift cards to the commissary on base so that families can purchase a turkey to complete their Thanksgiving Dinner. A special thanks to Mentor Teachers and Classes who went above and beyond like Mr. Ed O’Connor’s filling multiple boxes! And a special thanks to non-mentors who donated to or filled a box including Tom O’Connor, Pat Bonacci, Nancy Doede, Elizabeth Silva, Kathy Medlock, Ely Tango, Elizabeth Mullen, Michael Keating, Scott and Elsa Barnard and Ozzie Barrero. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Protein Shakes with Love Check out some of our students staying on top of their game with our protein shakes and snacks after school! At left, Todd Rodriquez '21 and Nick Mena '21.
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November Highlights November 1 Liturgy Schedule All Saints Day-Dress Uniforms 9:30am Dining Hall
November 16 MAC Christmas Luncheon and Boutique 10:00am - 2:00pm Altadena Town & Country
November 3 Saturday Opening Night Fall Play "Argonautika" 7:00pm Portico's Art Space*
November 17, 18 Weekend Fall Dance Concert 4:00 - 5:00pm Portico's Art Space*
November 4 Open House 12:00 - 2:30pm Campus November 5 2019 - 2020 Financial Aid Applications Available November 12 Late Start Junior Leadership Ceremony Dress Uniform 7:00pm Dining Hall November 13 Parent Association Meeting 6:30pm Blakeslee Learning Commons Parent Boosters Meetings 7:30pm Campus Locations November 14 ACT Registration for All Juniors 2:25pm Dismissal November 15 College List/School Report Form Due to Counselor for Seniors. Naviance Counselor Brag Sheet Due to Counselor for Seniors, If applicable
November 20 Liturgy Schedule Thanksgiving Prayer Service A1 Special Schedule Dress Uniform 9:15am Dining Hall November 21-23 Thanksgiving Holiday November 30 Application Deadline for Cal State and UC Colleges Lancer Film Festival 7:00-9:15pm Grinstead Theatre December 1 Saturday AP Art Show 4:00pm Blakeslee Learning Commons December 7 Crystal Ball Christmas Holiday Gift Gathering Party 6:30 - 10:30pm Altadena December 11 Liturgy Schedule Dress Uniform 9:15am Dining Hall
*Porticos Art Space, 2033 E Washington Blvd., Pasadena. See page 4 for additional play dates.
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LA SALLE COLLEGE PREPARATORY 3880 E. SIERRA MADRE BLVD. PASADENA, CALIFORNIA 91107-1996 • TELEPHONE 626.351.8951 FACSIMILE 626.351.0275 WWW.LASALLEHS.ORG • LA SALLE PARENTNEWSLETTER IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY EXCEPT JANUARY AND JULY BY LA SALLE HIGH SCHOOL OF PASADENA, INCORPORATED © 2018
• EDITOR, JOHN BLACKSTOCK ’67 DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS TELEPHONE: 626.696.4316 • EMAIL: JBLACKSTOCK@LASALLEHS.ORG
Transforming Lives Since 1680
November 2018
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