September 2011 Volume Twenty-One Number 1
Dear Parents and Guardians, September marks the 153rd time that La Salle College High School has opened its doors to young Explorers of the Delaware Valley. This year, we will welcome a total of 1,074 students – 801 upperclassmen and 273 members of the Class of 2015 – which is one of the strongest enrollments in school history. I would like to especially welcome the thirty-six young men who are transferring to La Salle this fall from other schools. I look forward to meeting all of our new students and their families in the coming months.
staff has likewise been busy with not only the usual summer projects, but the construction of our newest Technology Center, which is adjacent to the McShain Library. With research being paramount to many projects and creative writing assignments, this new area will be greatly utilized. Our library staff is looking forward to providing expanded services to our students. Over the past five years, it has been my privilege to keep you informed of the progress of Fulfilling The Promise, our capital campaign. I am pleased to report that in June, we surpassed our goal of $25 million.
This summer was particularly busy as over 600 students attended our various camps and enrichment programs. A very interesting addition to the campus the last two years has been our Future Stars Camp. This program is for boys and girls ages 4-13 and we have enjoyed seeing the enthusiasm that these children bring to our campus. Over the summer, student workers made some rather significant improvements to our grounds. They are to be commended for the creation of three beautiful spaces on our campus and I want to thank them for all their hard work. Come and see our new park-like settings and developing environmental study area. Our maintenance
This accomplishment, which was achieved amidst difficult economic conditions, is clearly a testament of the loyalty and love of the La Salle community. I am likewise proud that every segment of our community was active in making this goal a reality. Congratulations to La Salle and our special family. I would like to wish you a wonderful year. Please know that you are always welcome at social events, games, and those occasions when you simply stop by. I wish your son every academic success and hope that he will engage himself in life beyond the classroom. Please encourage your son to take advantage of all that La Salle College High School has to offer. Sincerely yours,
Brother Richard Kestler, FSC ’60 President
COMMUNITY
Join me in welcoming Mr. Kevin Dougherty ‘00 as our new Director of Admissions and Financial Aid. Kevin is very enthusiastic about this new responsibility and would welcome your assistance in helping him in the recruitment of future classes of Explorers. Brother James Rieck, FSC ‘57 is continuing at La Salle, but in a new capacity as our Lasallian Animator. In his new role, Brother James will be fortunate to work with the entire La Salle community. Please join me in wishing both of these men every success.
Caring
Welcome to a new year at a special school and a caring community.
La Salle College High School is a community whose students are taught to make use of their freedom and overcome prejudices, ready-made ideas, and social pressures. La Salle boys are encouraged to listen, seek, understand, trust, love, respect, and contemplate – all in an attempt to develop in the image of God.
Enter to Learn
Dates to Remember Spend A Day At La Salle Starting September 19, 2011 Open House Sunday, November 13, 2011
Leave to Serve
Admissions Deadlines Eighth Grade Scholarship and Entrance Exam Saturday, December 3, 2011 Seventh Grade Practice Test Saturday, March 3, 2012
Friday, November 25, 2011* (for all applications) Wednesday, November 30, 2011 (for filing for Financial Aid) * Applications will be accepted up until and including the day of the Scholarship/Entrance Exam.
La Salle La Salle College College High High School School 8605 8605 Cheltenham Cheltenham Avenue Avenue Wyndmoor, Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania Pennsylvania 19038 19038 215215 402402 4800 4800 phone phone 215215 233233 0284 0284 fax fax admissions@lschs.org admissions@lschs.org www.lschs.org www.lschs.org
Office of the Principal JOSEPH L. MARCHESE PRINCIPAL
Dear Parents and Guardians, Welcome back! I hope that your son had an enjoyable and restful summer and that both you and he are excited to be returning to “life at La Salle.” I am pleased to announce that we are welcoming 273 young Explorers into our 9th Grade class as well as thirty-six transfer students into our upper classes. We are blessed to have such strong interest in a La Salle education. La Salle is a rigorous academic institution as can be seen by the number of National Merit Semifinalists and AP scholars it produces each year. However, if all La Salle did was to focus on the acquisition of knowledge, it would be failing in its mission. So, while we are interested in challenging your son to be the best student he can be, we place equal importance on his spiritual development and the development of his character. Our theme for this school year is “Honor and Integrity” and our expectation is that your son will “do the right thing even when no one is looking.” We share this important mission with you, his parents. It is only with your unwavering support that we can accomplish this task and we thank you for working with us. As you know or will come to know, La Salle is a very busy place. With that in mind, I would like to highlight some important dates in September. Parents of freshman are asked to join us at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 for our Freshman Orientation Induction Ceremony. This is a new event at La Salle and one that we hope will make your son’s acceptance into the La Salle community a very special one. While your sons are sharing their first meal together in the cafeteria, parents are asked to report to the auditorium for a light meal and an information session. The Induction Ceremony will follow at 6:00 pm.
expectations and preferred contact information. There are also two special social events for new parents in September. The Men of La Salle will be hosting a Freshman Fathers Welcome BBQ on September 15, 2011 at 6:30 pm in the cafeteria and the Mothers Club will hold the annual New Mothers’ Tea on September 25, 2011 at 1:00 pm in the auditorium. Both of these events are great opportunities to get to know the parents of some of your son’s classmates. La Salle tries very hard to keep parents informed. You will find a wealth of information on our school website (www.lschs.org) and will have access to the school calendars, sports schedules, the Daily Bulletin, The Belcroft, and faculty contact information. In addition, La Salle employs the AlertNow messaging system to inform parents about schoolrelated emergencies and weather-related delays and closings. Please make sure that the Main Office has your updated contact information (telephone numbers and e-mail addresses). Parents of returning La Salle students who have made recent changes in their phone numbers or e-mail addresses should forward that information to Mrs. Carol Haggerty at haggertyc@lschs.org as soon as possible. We continue to experience difficult economic times and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is not immune to the challenges we face. As a result, the funding for state textbooks that schools have been receiving has been cut significantly. Consequently, some workbooks which previously were provided by the State now have to be purchased. We regret the additional cost to our students, but this is something that is completely out of our control. Hopefully, the economy will recover and funding for state textbooks will improve in the future. I would like to say how happy I am to be returning to La Salle for another year. La Salle is truly an amazing place. We are very grateful that you have entrusted your sons to our care and look forward to a wonderful school year. Sincerely yours,
Joseph L. Marchese Principal
On Thursday, September 22, 2011 at 7:00 pm, we will have our “Back-To-School Night” for all parents. Please take advantage of this opportunity to follow your son’s roster and meet his teachers. You will not only get an overview of each of your son’s courses, but also get to hear about each teacher’s
La Salle College High School – The Belcroft September 2011 3
Office of Academic Affairs THOMAS R. BARNA ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Welcome to a New Academic Year As the hot summer fades the refreshing academic rhythms of a new school year arrive. The office of Academic Affairs is proud to offer another exciting year of educational opportunities to all of our students. Academically, this year is expected to be as rewarding as ever. Momentum generated from previous successes shows no sign of weakening. Guided by our school’s latest and not-so-recent reaccreditation, we continue to move toward reaching several lofty goals set by our Lasallian community. As a reminder, these strategic benchmarks are in the specific areas of Lasallian Values, Academic Performance and Initiative, and Communication, and Critical Thinking. Expect work to continue this year in these areas; especially in the area of Critical Thinking. The administration and faculty are confident that the collective effort of our school community, in due time, will develop an even more complete Christian gentleman and college bound learner. Not surprisingly, our academic data continues to suggest that La Salle College High School has much to be proud of. Thank you for your generous support of our school’s efforts.
Academic Adjustments for 2011-12 There are a few changes in our program of studies for 2011-12. Despite the myriad of constraints associated with running a dynamic academic program, La Salle is proud to offer more curricular additions than deletions. It is always with regret that we are unable to schedule a few courses due to low class size/interest. Placing our teaching resources in areas of need is a realistic dilemma that we encounter annually. Thank you for your understanding here. As you have come to expect, this process is ultimately motivated by our school’s desire to develop our students into Men of Intellect and Accomplishment, Men of Faith and Compassion, Men of Service and Justice, and Men of Integrity and Respect. Overall, the changes described are reminders that an ambitious and dynamic curricular program is alive and well at La Salle College High School. All course details, as well as academic policies, are explained in La Salle’s Program of Studies and available through the school’s website under the Academic Life subheading. The beginning of the year is always a good time to remind parents and students of La Salle’s Math Resource and Writing Centers. The popularity of these help centers is high. By design, these learning spaces are for students looking to get extra academic support in the areas of Mathematics and English. After a successful first year, La Salle will also continue to generously staff its World Language Resource Room. These help centers will be open during school hours and staffed by La Salle teachers in
these respective areas of study. Last year over 200 students were served in these areas. It is La Salle’s hope that similar rooms in the disciplines of Science and Social Studies will also be made available to students in the near future.
Reintroducing “My Backpack” Two years ago students began accessing their grades online. Parents also took advantage of this opportunity. Grades were posted regularly. By all accounts this realtime information was extremely well received by all of the school’s constituent groups. Digital gradebooks will continue to be available through the student and parent portals of La Salle’s website. As a parent of an incoming freshman or transfer student, you should expect to receive information explaining the process and how the system works. Obviously it may take some time for you to become comfortable with this technological tool. This is a good time to remind students and parents that written progress reports are no longer issued at the midway mark of each academic term since access to a teacher’s digital gradebook will provide each family with an ongoing report on progress. Parent-teacher meetings have also evolved as a result of open access grading. A first quarter parent-teacher conference night has been scheduled for Wednesday, November 16, 2011. Meeting with teachers after this date should be done on an as need basis. It is a parent’s prerogative to request a meeting with a teacher or teachers any time during the academic year. Grade level counselors and learning specialist can be helpful in coordinating such a meeting.
First Days of School Freshmen report to school at 12:30 pm on Tuesday, September 6, 2011. Orientation activities will take place throughout the afternoon. Incoming freshman parents are asked to join the festivities at 5:00 pm for an information session in the auditorium, while the boys eat their first meal together. At 6:00 pm there will be an Induction Ceremony that will conclude the day. A similar orientation day for transfer students and parents is also planned. Transfer student orientation is scheduled between 9:00 and 10:30 am on Wednesday, August 31, 2011. A follow-up for transfer parents will be offered on that same day between 7:00 and 8:30 pm. The entire student body will report for class on Wednesday, September 7, 2011 (an “A” Day) beginning with homeroom at 8:00 am. Be sure to bring a copy of your first semester roster.
La Salle College High School – The Belcroft September 2011 4
Office of Academic Affairs NICHOLAS J. COGGINS DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION, AND ASSESSMENT
Curriculum Notes for 2011-12
Multimedia Update
Year after year our curriculum is tweaked in an attempt to respond to the interests and needs of our students. The faculty in the English, Social Studies, and World Languages departments all proposed changes for this year. In some cases, the decisions about which courses to run were based on the responses from student surveys. The list, when compared to previous years, was fairly long, and the students responded favorably by selecting those courses during the registration period.
Robert Johnson Director of Multimedia Technology
The new courses are all electives. Chinese 1 is a fullyear option and we intend to run Chinese 2 next year. Our Latin program has been reorganized to include Advanced Placement Latin, also a year-long course. Now, a sophomore in Latin 1 or junior in Latin 2 can set his sights on AP Latin in his senior year. The History of Philadelphia, a new one-semester course, and the U.S. Civil War, a resurrected one-semester course, will be offered every other year beginning this year. Two electives will alternate with these two in a cycle so that more students will be able to take more courses that match their interests during junior and senior years. Finally, the full-year Trigonometry/ Statistics course gives a senior the option of a math course if Precalculus is not desirable. Our Advanced Placement Program continues to attract a high number of students and those students continue to produce high levels of achievement on the exams. We will run thirty-five sections of AP classes for nineteen different subjects this year. The AP offerings change from year to year depending on subscription. In addition to adding, AP Latin, we are pleased to bring back AP Statistics, but we regret that AP French will be put on hold. Adding courses only increases the stress on an already stretched master schedule, but the effort is worth it for student, teacher, and administrator alike once the learning begins. All course details, as well as academic policies, are outlined in La Salle’s Program of Studies and available through the school’s website under the Academic Life tab.
WEXP TV Studio WEXPTV is a fully digital student-produced television station that produces a live morning show in homeroom daily. Tryouts for anchors, news, and sports reporters will be held in early September. Check the Daily Bulletin and the WEXP web site for updates. If you are interested in joining WEXP this year in any capacity, you can fill out an application online at www.lschs.org/WEXP. Due to the increased amount of interest in the program, spaces are limited, so please apply early if you didn’t sign up at the end of last year. WEXP is looking for students to work behind the camera, on-air, as well as editors. If you are into producing multimedia content, sign up for WEXP.
Social Media and Live Streaming La Salle College High School will provide occasional updates, news items, video highlights, and links via Facebook and Twitter during the school year. You can find La Salle on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lschs and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/lschs. La Salle will also provide live streaming of select school events during the school year. Check www.lschs.org/stream for the latest schedule.
Multimedia Gallery All multimedia from La Salle College High School (video, pictures, MP3’s) can be accessed in the multimedia gallery at all times. The latest multimedia is also featured on the homepage of the school website near the bottom half of the page. Check the homepage for all of our latest images and highlights from the school year. We are always looking for the latest videos and pictures from events and games to share with the La Salle community via the La Salle web site. If you are interested in sharing photos or video you take from events during the school year, contact Rob Johnson at johnsonr@lschs.org for more information.
La Salle College High School – The Belcroft September 2011 5
Virtual Bookstore
We are pleased to announce that La Salle College High School has partnered with Follett Virtual Bookstores, the leading supplier of virtual bookstore services! Follett Virtual Bookstores will fulfill your student’s book needs for the 2011-2012 school year via a new customized online textbook website. A link to the new site will be available later in the year. We encourage you to sign up for the bookstore email mailing list so you receive important information and dates about your student’s books. Please sign up today at www.lschs.bkstr.com/email. Many suppliers were explored and we decided that Follett, with its 135 year history of serving education, was the best book solution for La Salle. These are some of the factors that helped us choose Follett Virtual Bookstores:
Easy Ordering – The Virtual Bookstore website directs you step-by-step through placing an order. If you wish to order via phone, you may do so by calling Follett Virtual Bookstores, (877) 827-2665 and a live customer service representative will assist you.
Book Options – Follett is able to offer different versions of the educational materials we require.
Fast Delivery – All orders placed by 12:00 pm CST are packed and shipped the same business day. Follett will be offering free ground shipping for the first thirty days after the booklist is available. Sign up at www.lschs.bkstr. com/email for a reminder email. In addition, Follett Virtual Bookstores offer a variety of FedEx services to ensure that your books arrive when you need them.
New Books – As the largest player in the industry, Follett has key connections with publishers to source and stock the exact books our teachers need. Used Books – By serving hundreds of private schools with their textbook buyback program, they will be able to provide our students with a wide selection of high quality used books at greatly reduced prices. Textbook Rental – Book rental will be available to La Salle families, a program that can save more than 50% of the book cost. eBooks – Follett is at the leading edge of book technology and is able to deliver eBooks solutions as they become available. Customized Solution – Follett Virtual Bookstores work directly with our faculty and the publishers to ensure the approved book is available for purchase on our custom website. Follett stocks these books in their centralized warehouse, eliminating the need for La Salle to coordinate book operations or carry inventory costs.
No-Hassle Returns – All books can be returned within thirty days from purchase or the first day of classes – whichever is later, provided the books are in the same condition in which they were purchased. Additional Return On Your Investment – Follett Virtual Bookstores’ upcoming Textbook Buyback Program will provide you with an opportunity to sell your textbooks from the previous year. Details will be available as the end of the school year nears. We believe Follett Virtual Bookstores understands how important it is for you to get books when you need them and at affordable prices. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact the school or Follett Virtual Bookstores directly at (877) 827-2665.
La Salle College High School – The Belcroft September 2011 6
Keeping Pace on the by C.J. Burdulis ’12
Over this summer, the IT Department has been incredibly busy offering new services to students, including Microsoft Certification classes, and implementing new technologies and servers throughout our infrastructure. A few of the projects that we have been working on include: 1. We have increased our bandwidth from a 45Mbps download speed to a 90Mbps speed, doubling the speed of the internet on the campus. This will allow a quicker and more reliable connection to MyBackpack for teachers, parents, and students both on and off campus. 2. We have added two new server hosts to our Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper V Cluster, along with backup batteries capable of supporting the servers for nearly an hour without power. We now have a total of six hosts on which the servers can be run, and if one of the hosts fail the servers running on it will be transferred to another host without any noticeable downtime. This will increase server uptime and reliability. 3. We have also added a new lab to the library. The technology center was outfitted with 36 all-in-one Lenovo M90z Multi-Touch computers. These touchscreen computers will be able to take full advantage of the new features in Windows 8, the next version of windows coming out in 2012.The IT Department will have early access to beta versions of the OS and will be able to test and implement it in its thousand user network. This lab will be available for teachers to bring their classes down to use it for class projects and allow them to have access to both online databases and the library itself. Teachers will be able to sign out the lab on the Portal so as to coordinate scheduling among all faculty members. It also includes a SMART board, teacher workstation, printers, and wireless connectivity.
4. We have moved the Senior Systems front end server, which hosts MyBackpack and the senior systems database, to a virtualized environment, which will increase the speed, uptime, and reliability of the server and connection to senior systems. 5. We have revamped the Server Room in the Computer lab and now have three Dell racks for mounting servers and networking hardware. We have also added a desk and workstation computer that has direct access to the servers and hardware. 6. Also, as we do every summer, the computers in the Main Lab and the Teaching Lab have been imaged and reinstalled. This makes them faster and ready for when students come back this school year. 7. For the first time this past summer, the IT Department offered two sessions of courses that allowed students, including incoming freshmen, to obtain their Microsoft Technical Associate certification in Server Fundamentals and Networking Fundamentals. These certifications are highly valued in industry and build a good foundation for students who want to take Mr. Sigmund’s more advanced classes during the school year. The students learned hands-on experience by setting up their own servers in virtualized environments, being instructed by Mr. Sigmund and Mr. Bonner. A total of sixty-three students took both courses and 94% achieved a passing rate through an intense boot camp of three hour sessions every weekday and one six hour session every Saturday for two weeks. This greatly surpasses the average Microsoft certification passing rate of 20%. The students in both classes were highly motivated and truly wanted to learn more. Many of them will go on to take several other of Mr. Sigmund’s classes during the school year and some will apply for the Lab Manager program, which offers daily hands-on experience with La Salle’s network.
La Salle College High School – The Belcroft September 2011 7
College Counseling Center MARY KAY MULLEN DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING
The college search and application process can be a challenging experience for students and their families. Our goal in the College Counseling Center is to educate your sons regarding the process and to support them in their efforts. The College Counseling Department consists of three college counselors and an administrative assistant – Mrs. Mary Kay Mullen, Director of College Counseling; Brother William DiPasquale, FSC, Associate Director of College Counseling; Mr. Gerard Brett, Associate Director of College Counseling; and Mrs. Kathleen O’Connell, Administrative Assistant. Each of the counselors will be responsible for one-third of the senior class and one-third of the junior class for college counseling. The alphabetic division of the class of 2012 is as follows: Brother William DiPasquale, FSC A-G Mr. Gerard Brett H-O Mrs. Mary Kay Mullen
P-Z
The College Counseling Department exists in addition to the Guidance Department. Mr. Michael Dolan, senior counselor, and Mrs. Jeanne Holt-Brabson, junior counselor, will work with the juniors and seniors with grade level academic issues and personal issues. As you know, one of the greatest strengths of our College Counseling Center has been and will be our teamwork. This teamwork allows us to share insights about the process, about the latest happenings in the field, and about our students. This past summer, members of the College Counseling Department visited college campuses and met with admission officers and attended state and national conferences regarding the college admission process. In order to bring clarity about the college process in general and specifically at La Salle College High School, we encourage you to become familiar with our site on the school website – www.lschs.org/college. The link to Naviance, an important college research tool, can be found there. In early September, we will send the parents of seniors information about our “Question and Answer Evening for Parents of Seniors” on Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 7:15 pm in the auditorium. In order to facilitate the organization of that evening, a form will be included for you to respond with a list of questions you have about the college process.
The College Counseling Center will communicate with your sons in advisory classes, on the website, the Daily Bulletin (posted each day on the website), the daily WEXP morning news program, in homeroom, on the college and scholarship bulletin boards, and in person. Please encourage your sons to check these many sources for pertinent information to help navigate the college search and application process.
SAT/ACT Test Registration Late Deadline Registration
Test
SAT
10/01/11
09/09/11
09/21/11
Students can register for the October SAT at www.collegeboard.com
ACT
09/16/11
09/30/11
10/22/11
Students can register at www.actstudent.org.
Please remind your sons to enter La Salle’s CEEB No. 393370 when registering. Students must send their standardized test scores directly from the testing agencies to the colleges to which they are applying.
College Interview Day (for Seniors) College Interview Day will take place on October 4, 2011. Admissions officers from approximately sixty colleges will be on campus to conduct interviews with our seniors. Look on our website at www.lschs.org/college in September for the list of colleges attending. Feedback from our students and college admission officers clearly indicates the value of this event.
Early Action/Early Decision Any student planning to meet an early deadline must alert the College Counseling Center as soon as possible. Counselors and teachers need sufficient time to write letters of recommendation to meet early deadlines.
NCAA Clearinghouse Eligibility Any student interested in playing intercollegiate sports must meet NCAA Clearinghouse standards and file an eligibility form with the NCAA. The academic requirements are listed on the last page of our school calendar as well as on our website www.lschs.org/college. Please become familiar with the information. Questions can be directed to the athletic director, coaches, and guidance counselors. The NCAA website is www.ncaaclearinghouse.net.
La Salle College High School – The Belcroft September 2011 8
L I G H T S La Salle Intervention: Giving Help To Students
The LIGHTS Team The Student Assistance Program of La Salle College High School Ms. Tina Shustack Program Coordinator Mathematics Department Ms. Lisa Agnew David Program Mr. Greg Bielecki Social Studies Department
Families and LIGHTS: Partnership in Assistance The LIGHTS Team works together with the parents of academically or behaviorally troubled students. To that end, the LIGHTS Team contacts parents of referred students early in the process. In some cases, a student will require assistance which La Salle cannot provide. In these cases, the LIGHTS Team will work with parents to facilitate the process of accessing resources in the community.
Help Us Help Your Son The goal of LIGHTS is to help referred students overcome their academic and behavioral difficulties. Ideally, parents and LIGHTS work together toward this goal by offering mutual respect and support, open channels of communication, awareness of the student’s strengths, and shared responsibility.
Mr. Lew Clark Campus Ministry Mr. Matthew Derrick English Department Mrs. Rosemary Gedeik World Languages Department
Student Referrals
Mrs. Jeanne Holt-Brabson Guidance Department
A student may be referred to the LIGHTS Team in a number of ways.
Mrs. Julia Maher Assistant Principal for Student Affairs
A faculty or staff member may express his or her concerns regarding a student’s academic performance or behavior to a member of the LIGHTS Team. A parent with similar concerns may refer his or her son to the LIGHTS Team. A friend or classmate who is worried about a certain student may refer him to the LIGHTS Team for assistance. A student may refer himself to the LIGHTS Team for assistance.
The LIGHTS Team The LIGHTS Team, a Student Assistance Program (SAP), assists La Salle students as well as the families of those students, who face behavioral and/or academic difficulties. The team is comprised of specially-trained school faculty and staff, who meet weekly to discuss the needs of referred students.
All information about referred students is kept strictly confidential.
The LIGHTS Team works to identify problems and seek out solutions. The LIGHTS Team does not diagnose or treat students. The LIGHTS team seeks out and collates information about referred students from a variety of sources, including parents, teachers, coaches, and the school nurse, and uses the information to determine suitable strategies for helping the students.
La Salle College High School – The Belcroft September 2011 9
Office of Student Affairs JULIA K. MAHER ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS
School Dances
Student Council
School dances are held several times throughout the school year. This year’s Super Mixer is scheduled for Friday, September 30, 2011. Attendance is restricted to La Salle students and female students from the other Catholic private academies. A limited number of tickets are available for each dance. Tickets can only be purchased in the Student Affairs Office and at published times. No one will be admitted to a dance without a ticket. No tickets will be sold at the door the night of a dance. A student who is in possession of or using alcohol or illegal substances may be turned over to civil authorities. The student will be suspended, put on disciplinary probation, and be subject to expulsion.
Student Council elections were held last spring for the 2011-2012 officers and senators. Members of the student council are:
No Smoking Policy La Salle College High School is a smoke-free campus. Smoking and the use of smokeless products in the buildings and on the campus of La Salle College High School are prohibited. Students are required to refrain from smoking and the use of other forms of smokeless tobacco products on campus and while traveling in school vehicles.
Busing A reminder to all students who ride district or private buses to La Salle – students are only permitted to ride on the bus for which they have been registered. Insurance coverage is only for the students who live in the various school districts or who pay for private busing. No permission will be granted to change a bus or ride a bus for which one is not registered.
Executive Officers President
Emre Karatas ’12
Vice-President
Malcolm Flynn ’12
Secretary
Sean Burke ’12
Officers And Senators Class of 2012
Class of 2013
Class of 2014
Max Breitmayer, President
Andrew Schieve, President
Andrew Garoppo, President
Chris Knight, Vice-President Nathan Ezzo, Vice-President Brennan O’Donnell, Vice-President Jason DeNofa
Matt Chadwick
Jim Foley
Sean Dougherty
Mike deLuca
Robert Gillies
Joe Guiliano
Denis Harp
Colin Happ
Nick Mather
Connor Masterson
Andrew Knowles
Kevin McBride
Nolen McElwee
Timothy McAuliffe
Jon McCarry
Preston Murray
Tom McClain
Tim Pleskunas
Chris Rocco
Tim McElroy
Jake Sciola
Anthony Sticco
John McGranaghan
Dillon Smith
Kyle Stofka
David Price
Bill Toner
Jason Yoon
Installation of Student Council will take place at the Opening School Liturgy on Friday, September 16, 2011. The Moderators for the respective classes are: Mr. Charles Cirelli for the Class of 2012, Mr. Joseph Parisi for the Class of 2013, and Mrs. Rosemary Gedeik for the Class of 2014. Freshman officers and senators will be elected in October. Mr. Terrence Gillespie is Moderator for the Class of 2015.
Magazine Drive
Junior Ring Measurement
Plans for the annual Magazine Drive are well underway. Letters will be sent asking for support of the student body’s only fund raiser each year. This year’s profit goes to fulfilling the Student Pledge to the Capital Campaign.
The representative from Jostens will be here on Thursday, September 22, 2011 during the lunch periods for ring measurements and orders. Information packets will be distributed to the juniors at their orientation on September 14, 2011. The Ring Liturgy is scheduled for Thursday, December 1, 2011 at 7:15 pm in the auditorium.
Students will be given copies of last year’s sales so subscribers can renew. If you have already renewed on your own, you can extend subscriptions at any time. The drive will begin on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 with the Magazine Drive Assemblies. The first day for collections will be Friday, September 23, 2011. Other days for returns are Monday, September 26, 2011, Wednesday, September 26, 2011, and Friday, September 30, 2011. Your involvement in the drive will go a long way in helping the students reach this year’s pledge to the capital campaign. Many thanks in advance for your support.
La Salle Responds This past school year was our second year with this endeavor to assist many worthwhile organizations with financial support. There were six dress down days in which over $2,700 was raised. Thirty different groups benefited from the generosity of the students, faculty, and staff. We will once again be sponsoring these days to assist more groups. Applications (obtained from the Student Affairs Office in the fall) can be submitted by students, faculty, and staff. Watch for news from the Student Affairs Office and the Student Council in future issues of The Belcroft. Have a great year!
La Salle College High School – The Belcroft September 2011 10
Saint John Baptist de La Salle and Diversity by Gerald Evans, Jr.
The purpose of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christians Schools is to give human and Christian education to the young…according to the ministry which the Catholic Church has entrusted to it. Christian Brothers Conference, 2011 Who are the young? In Jean Baptiste de La Salle’s day, they were, by and large, “the children of artisans and the poor.” But they were not the only groups to whom the early brothers ministered. In addition to founding the schools “traditionally” thought of as Lasallian Schools, the Founder began schools for training school for teachers (1686), the Sunday Academy for workers (1698), a boarding school at Saint Yon’s (1705), and a school for delinquents (1706). The De La Salle Christian Brothers (and their lay partners) are part of an educational heritage of more than 300 years that ranges from store-front schools to great universities in over eighty countries.
“Lasallians are also very active in special educational needs programs to court-adjudicated youth, to at-risk youth, and through residential, outreach, and after school programs. If it has to do with the education of youth, especially those most in need, it’s likely that you’ll find the Lasallians there.” The Brothers of the Christian Schools United States and Toronto Region, 2011 There is a history of diversity of ministry in the work begun by Saint La Salle. How do we at La Salle College High School honor that legacy? Our mission statement says we are “a Catholic, independent, college preparatory school for young men of varied backgrounds . . . .“ In an effort to be true to this statement, we need young men who have the aforementioned varying backgrounds. We need students from all parts of the Delaware Valley. We need academically talented students. We need students who are talented athletically as well as those who are artistic. We need suburban students. We need city students. We need students who, upon being graduated, will have to choose
between Notre Dame and Georgetown as well as students who, upon being graduated, will choose between Temple and Penn State. We need students whose grandfathers, fathers, uncles, and brothers attended La Salle College High School as well as those who may be among the first members of their families to attend a non-public school. Why do we need such variety in our student populations? In addition to honoring the legacy of the Founder and the successors to the tradition, we, as a college preparatory school, should be exposing students to the varieties of people with whom they will come in contact and helping them to develop the skills and abilities to deal with those who look, think, pray or act differently from the way they do. If education has the dual function of integration and differentiation, a homogenous population undermines the latter. A diverse student body does not undermine the former.
“God has been good to us, making this work his own for the service of the children of the artisans and the poor, a more and more diverse work.” Fratelli Delle Scuole Cristiane – La Salle 2010
Our student body should mirror this diversity.
La Salle College High School – The Belcroft September 2011 11
Men of Faith by Lew Clark
Welcome to Campus Ministry
Service
The Campus Ministry and Service team along with the support of the faculty, staff, and administration, are responsible for the spiritual development of our young men. Through liturgies, prayer services, retreats, service programs, and more, our goal is to develop men of faith, service and justice, and respect.
Not only does La Salle offer students the opportunity to grow individually and as a community, we also offer many opportunities for our young men to put their faith into action. La Salle does NOT have mandatory service hours for our students; rather, service is seen as part of the fabric of our Christian community and a responsibility, not a requirement of each member of that community. Freshmen and sophomores are introduced to this spirit of service early on through their Branch-Out Day. In this day of service, the entire freshmen or sophomore class, volunteers at a local service organization. However, they do not do this alone. In addition to a faculty chaperone, their father or other significant male is invited to share in the experience, thereby providing a visible example.
Liturgy and Prayer Services La Salle is a faith community. As such, we gather together “in the holy presence of God” throughout the year to worship as a community. Students volunteer to serve in a variety of capacities, such as altar servers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and music ministers. Students also organize and lead our popular Advent and Lenten morning prayer services. They take ownership of every aspect of the prayer service from selecting the gospel, to writing the prayers, giving a reflection, and performing music.
Retreats While we gather as a faith community, we also provide each student the opportunity to reflect on their own spiritual journey through our retreat program. Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors attend one day retreats on campus that are organized by Campus Ministry as well as faculty and upperclassmen. The themes for the retreats are aligned with the religion course for that year. Seniors have the option of participating in one of our six Kairos retreats or the one day retreat which is held off campus in the month of December. The Kairos retreat is held at Diamond Ridge Conference Center in Jamison, PA and is a three night and three day retreat. The Greek word Kairos means “special time of the Lord” and the experience is a special time for our seniors to grow in faith, as well as grow as a senior class. In total, Campus Ministry coordinates twenty-three retreats each year.
The cornerstone of our service program is our on-going service projects. Students can participate in a variety of service projects seven days a week. Whether tutoring a grade school student, serving a meal to a person on the streets, spending time with the elderly or disabled, or more – there is an opportunity for everyone. These projects are directed by faculty and staff and include transportation and supervision. In addition, our Lasallian Service Corps is a group of over fifty students who lead our Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other seasonal drives. They work through homerooms to generate interest and spirit in our service program. When the school year ends, our service program does not. Last summer, over 200 students participated in one of seven service immersion programs. Groups of students, faculty and staff traveled near and far to not only serve those in need, but to learn about their culture and reflect on their own faith. This past summer La Salle students volunteered in Philadelphia, Kentucky, New Orleans, Arizona, Montana, and Bolivia. Each month in The Belcroft, we will spotlight one of our programs. If you have any further questions, contact staff members, or for a detailed description of all the programs, please visit us on the web at www.lschs.org/ministry.
La Salle College High School – The Belcroft September 2011 12
Ministry and Service Calendar Freshmen Retreats (Theme: Lasallian Identity) October 25, 2011 (1A-5A) October 26, 2011 (6A-10A) Sophomore Retreats (Theme: The Road to Emmaus) December 6, 2011 (1B, 2B, ½ 3B) December 8, 2011 ( ½ 3B, 4B, 5B) December 13, 2011 (6B, 7B, ½ 8B) December 14, 2011 ( ½ 8B, 9B, 10B) Junior Retreats (Theme: Choices) February 10, 2012 (1C/2C), February 11, 2012 (3C/4C) February 14, 2012 (5C/6C), February 15, 2012 (7C/8C) February 22, 2012 (9C/10C) Senior Retreats Kairos 37-81 Kairos 37-82 Kairos 37-83 Kairos 37-84 Kairos 37-85 Kaiors 37-86 One Day Retreat
October 4- 7, 2011 November 8- 11, 2011 December 13- 16, 2011 January 31- February 3, 2012 February 28- March 2, 2012 April 24- 27, 2012 December 5, 2011
School Wide Liturgies and Prayer Services Opening of School Liturgy September 16, 2011 All Saints Day Liturgy November 1, 2011 Thanksgiving Prayer Service November 22, 2011 Immaculate Conception Liturgy December 8, 2011 Christmas Liturgy December 22, 2011 Ash Wednesday Prayer Service February 22, 2012 Lenten Liturgy April 3, 2012 Founder’s Day Prayer Service May 10, 2012 Ascension Thursday Liturgy May 17, 2012 Student Led Prayer Services (7:35 am in Marian Chapel) Peace.Light. Hope. in HIS footsteps
Fridays During Advent Fridays During Lent
Sacrament of Reconciliation November 15, 2011 and February 28-29, 2012 Eucharistic Adoration and Daily Mass Varies On- Going Service Projects Monday Elder Share Tuesday La Salle Academy Tutoring, Triest House, and Human Rights Forum Wednesday Providence Center Tutoring Thursday Street Outreach and Sarnelli House Friday Lasallian Service Corps Saturday Saint Vincent’s Dining Room Sunday Saint Vincent’s Dining Room, Saint Francis Inn Sandwich Making
Seasonal Drives Magazine Drive for Grade Schools Thanksgiving Food Drive Operation Santa Claus Secret Santa La Salle Responds Initiative
September 26-30, 2011 November 14-22, 2011 November 28, 2011 – December 24, 2011 November 28, 2011 – December 24, 2011 Ongoing
Grade Level Opportunities Freshmen Branch Out-Day Sophomore Branch Out-Day Junior Urban Challenge
October 18, 2011 March 28, 2012 October 26-27, 2011, December 6-7, 2011, and February 1-2, 2012
Summer Service Opportunities Urban Immersion (Philadelphia) June 3-8, 2012 and June 10-15, 2012 Project Appalachia (Kentucky) June 3- 19, 2012 Navajo Experience (Arizona) June 17-23, 2012 and June 24-30, 2012 Building Bridges of Solidarity (Bolivia) Dates TBD Lasallian Youth Assembly Dates TBD Blackfeet Immersion (Montana) July 29-August 4, 2012 and August 5-11, 2012 Gulf Coast Immersion (Louisiana) Dates TBD
For additional information, please contact Campus Ministry: Lew Clark Director of Campus Ministry clarkl@lschs.org Mark Chesnik Assistant Director of Campus Ministry chesnikm@lschs.org Micky Dominick Assistant Director of Campus Ministry dominickm@lschs.org www.lschs.org/ministry
La Salle College High School – The Belcroft September 2011 13
Pa re n t s St i l l Ma k e T h e Di f f e re n c e P R A C T I C A L I D E A S F O R P A R E N T S T O H E L P T H E I R C H I L D R E N .
Make your expectations clear at the start of the school year. High school matters. The grades your son receives can affect everything from how much you’ll pay for car insurance to whether he can play sports in college. So it’s important to give your son a solid foundation. Research from the Harvard Family Research Project shows that there is one thing every parent can do – expect a lot. When you expect that your son can do well in high school, he picks that up. As a result, he also starts believing that he can do well. That means he spends more time doing homework. The result, of course, is that he does better in school. Here are three things you should do every day: 1. Talk with your son about school. Tell him you want him to do his best each day. Your son may not be at the top of his class, but he can always do his personal best. 2. Talk about next steps. Help him see the link between good grades and success in his future.
Attendance is the key to school success. School success is impossible without one factor – attendance. Your son’s attendance is the single most important element for school success, this year and every year. Research shows how important attendance really is. So this year, make attendance your entire family’s priority: • Never let your son stay home to miss a big test or to rest up for a big game. • Don’t use your son as backup child care. Make other plans before your younger children get sick. • Don’t make it a treat to stay home. Any boy who is too sick to go to school is also too sick to watch TV, play video games, or use the computer. • Don’t schedule appointments during school hours. Reprinted with permission from the September 2011 issue of Parents Still Make The Difference!® (High School Edition). Copyright © 2011 The Parent Institute®, a Division of NIS, Inc.
3. Emphasize effort. When your son is feeling like he can’t do his math or his English report, encourage him not to quit. Boys need to learn to stick with a tough task even if it’s a bit of a challenge. Reprinted with permission from the September 2011 issue of Parents Still Make The Difference!® (High School Edition). Copyright © 2011 The Parent Institute®, a Division of NIS, Inc.
La Salle College High School – The Belcroft September 2011 14
Pa re n t s St i l l Ma k e T h e Di f f e re n c e P R A C T I C A L I D E A S F O R P A R E N T S T O H E L P T H E I R C H I L D R E N .
Review your son’s responsibilities and make changes.
Help your son start the school year with solid study habits.
This September, take some time to review your son’s current responsibilities. Boys can grow up a lot in a year, and it may be time for a change. Think about ideas like these: • Has your son gotten his license over the summer? Maybe he’s ready for the new responsibility of picking up the dry cleaning or running some other errands for you.
It’s a new year, new teachers – and an opportunity for your son to revamp those old study habits. Try sharing these four tips with your son:
• Did he manage to keep to his curfew this summer? Maybe you could extend his curfew an extra half hour on Saturday nights. • Has he been begging you for a way to “prove” he’s an adult? Give your son sole responsibility for the family pet – feeding it, walking it and even making appointments to see the veterinarian. Boys may seem apathetic sometimes, but that’s just their way of trying to assert their independence and show that they don’t really need their parents. But the vast majority of boys actually want their parents’ approval. Divvying up the household chores shows your son: • That he is an important part of the family. • That you believe he’s capable of completing responsibilities. • That his newfound independence has not gone unnoticed. Updating your son’s responsibilities will show him you are proud of him and will also prepare him for the responsibilities of adulthood.
1. Get a planner. The only 100% effective way to remember what you have to do is to write it down. A planner helps you keep track of everything--from what chapter to read and what homework problems to complete, to when the next test is and when your next volleyball game is. That way, you’ll always be prepared and able to avoid those all-nighters. 2. Take notes--in every class. When your teacher is talking, she’s not doing it to waste your time. She’s telling you exactly what you need to know about the subject and what’s going to be on the test. Develop a way of taking notes that works for you--and use it. And if you spend a little time each day reviewing those notes you took in class, you will be better prepared at test time. 3. Think about your study spot. If you do your homework in the same place every day, your body actually gets used to it and it takes you less time to focus once you sit down. A good study spot is quiet, comfortable, welllit and stocked with your study essentials--pens and pencils, paper, reference books, etc. 4. Form a study group. It can help to discuss some subjects with other students. Try to keep your study group small, though--and make sure your friends realize it’s for serious studying, not socializing. Reprinted with permission from the September 2011 issue of Parents Still Make The Difference!® (High School Edition). Copyright © 2011 The Parent Institute®, a Division of NIS, Inc.
Reprinted with permission from the September 2011 issue of Parents Still Make The Difference!® (High School Edition). Copyright © 2011 The Parent Institute®, a Division of NIS, Inc.
La Salle College High School – The Belcroft September 2011 15
Capital Campaign DANIEL L. MCGOWAN VICE-PRESIDENT OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT
State-of-the-Art Facilities
Athletic Fields for Every Team
Promise Fulfilled Congratulations and thank you. La Salle College High School is very pleased to announce that we have surpassed our goal for the Fulfilling the Promise Capital Campaign. Thanks to the generosity of 1,275 donors, the campaign raised an unprecedented $25,106,013. Under the leadership of Brother Richard Kestler, FSC ’60 and Campaign Chairs - Charlie Dunleavy ’61 and Al Gabriele, this historic campaign paved the way for the new academic addition, the renovation of McLean Hall, land acquisition and creation of new athletic fields, and funding for endowment and financial aid. The Alumni, Trustees, Friends, Foundations, Corporations and the Parent communities, all responded to the appeal of the Christian Brothers to help them shape the future of La Salle College High School and to fulfill their promise to future generations of La Salle students. Unprecedented in this campaign, was the support of the parent community. Given the challenging economic times of the recent recession, it is incredible that current and past parents donated over $2 million – 8% of the total amount raised. Overall, the average gift to the campaign was an extraordinary $20,000, while most people made a gift of $500. The most senior supporter was Edward Davis ’36, and the youngest was recent graduate Stephen Duzinski ’11. The gift that came from furthest afield was from Denis Normile ’69 who lives in Japan, while the closest gifts came from our faculty and staff members, seventy-two of whom donated almost $150,000. For more information or to see have various Alumni classes fared in their fundraising efforts visit, please visit www.lchs.org/promise La Salle College High School – The Belcroft September 2011 16
Brand Ed CHRISTOPHER M. CARABELLO DIRECTOR OF MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS, AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
It began with a phrase. Actually, it began with the search for a phrase that best described La Salle College High School. Almost two years ago, the Board of Trustees and the Office of Institutional Advancement began the process of developing a tag line – a slogan or often repeated phrase associated with the school. In the end, a survey was distributed to the entire La Salle community – students, parents, faculty/staff, and alumni – the results of which made it clear the phrase that best described the La Salle experience. One of three people surveyed felt that the signs at the entrance and exit of the driveway – “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve” – were the words that best resonated the mission and vision of the school. In 2009, another survey of those same individuals revealed that the primary benefits of La Salle College High School were academics, the faculty, extracurricular activities, the facilities, and community service. In preparing new admissions materials, focus was placed on providing an answer to the question “Why La Salle?” Through the use of adjectives and alliteration, the original answers to the survey were expanded to: Academic Excellence Dedicated Faculty Extraordinary Extracurriculars First-Class Facilities Commitment to Service Caring Community “Caring Community” was added in an effort to encompass the worldwide network of alumni, the Lasallian network of schools, the involvement of our parents, and the ever presence of God in our Catholic community. The community aspect of La Salle College High School is often implied or taken for granted; nevertheless, is an integral part of La Salle. The six benefits have been subsequently coined the “Six Pillars of La Salle” as they add clarity to the valueadded elements offered by the institution.
You will begin to see the tagline and six pillars throughout the campus and in all of our printed materials. Changes have also been made to the school’s website and our digital media. An effort will be made to brand the tagline and six pillars to reinforce the identity that is La Salle College High School. Our goal is to provide a memorable phrase that will sum up the tone and premise of our brand as well as reinforce our target market’s memory of our product and benefits. Telling people how our brand is better will allow us to stand out in a highly competitive market. It is our hope that our branding initiatives will make people “think twice” about La Salle College High School and motivate them to take action such as visit our campus during our Open House, spend a day at La Salle, take our scholarship/entrance exam, or simply attend one of our events. We are asking the entire La Salle community to assist us in this process by using the tagline and six pillars as much as possible; particularly, when describing the La Salle experience. In addition, we would ask that you help us in our marketing efforts and promote the Open House to prospective students and their parents. At Back-To-School Night on September 22, 2011, each family will receive two car magnets. We would ask that you affix them to your vehicles and follow the instructions included with the magnet and remove the Open House portion at the appropriate time. Every member of the La Salle community is an integral component of our marketing effort and we appreciate your assistance in this process.
La Salle College High School – The Belcroft September 2011 17
Men of La Salle KEVIN R. CONNOR ’82 PRESIDENT
Dear La Salle Fathers and Families,
Best to everyone in the La Salle family for a successful year.
Welcome back to what promises to be a year of excitement and activity in 2011-2012 for all returning and new families. On behalf of the Board of the Men of La Salle, I want to congratulate all new fathers on joining existing fathers in the Men of La Salle.
Sincerely yours,
Founded almost seventy years ago, with the intent of ensuring that no La Salle student would be forced to end his education due to the loss of a parent or guardian, our group continues to support that mission. This past year alone we supported seven students. These were seven boys just like yours and mine who faced an unexpected tragedy and were able to continue their Lasallian education without having to worry about paying their tuition. Today, we continue with this tradition and have expanded our role in supporting other efforts on campus with our time and treasury. By far our largest contribution continues to involve organizing and administering events that bring fathers and sons together. When our boys are at an age that increasingly finds them stretching their activities beyond the home, we plan activities allowing them to engage with both their fathers and their friends together. I encourage all fathers to get involved in maintaining the success of our organization. It’s yet one more way for you to participate in your son’s life and the larger La Salle community. Whether you participate every month or when your schedule permits, your volunteering keeps the traditions alive, your family together and our contributions ongoing. Our events come up quickly.
Kevin Connor ’82 President
Executive Board 2011-2012 Kevin Connor ‘82 President John Weinrich ‘81 Vice-President of Board Activities Don Cericola Vice-President of Father/Son Activities Gerry Plourde ‘71 Vice-President of Fundraising and Auction Co-Chair Jeff King Treasurer Mike Happ Secretary Brother James Rieck ’57, FSC Moderator Thank you to all of the fathers who expressed a desire to help with our organization. Your response to our call for volunteers was overwhelming. Please lend your support to the incoming Board.
First General Meeting
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Campus Store
New Fathers’ Welcome/BBQ
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Father/Son Golf Outing
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Grand Re-Opening Come See our new look!
Auction
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Father/Son Banquet
Thursday, November 17, 2011
In addition, you will want to mark your calendar for the annual Auction, which we co-sponsor with the Mothers’ Club. This year’s theme – A Renaissance Faire – promises to be an evening to remember. Please stay tuned to The Belcroft for further updates throughout the year. Information will also be posted on the school website at www/lschs.org. You can follow the Men of La Salle specifically at www.lschs.org/mol. Make this the year that has you getting involved. As an alum, I’m honored to be serving both you and your sons as President of the Men of La Salle. Please feel free to contact me directly at kconnor@modernsbc.com if I can be of assistance.
Store opens on Monday, August 29, 2011. The hours for that week are as follows: Monday, August 29, 2011
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Thursday, September 1, 2011
10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
11:30 am to 2:00 pm and 7:00 to 8:30 pm
Our regular hours begin on Wednesday, September 7, 2011: Monday
7:40 am to 2:00 pm
Tuesday through Friday
7:45 am to 5:00 pm
La Salle College High School – The Belcroft September 2011 18
19 The Belcroft September 2010
La
Sa
ll e A u c ti o n
1 0 2
1
Hark Lords and Ladies! Please join the Men of La Salle and the Mothers’ Club for a festive night.
Saturday, November 5, 2011 • La Salle College High School 6:00 PM Cocktails, Hors d’oeuvres and Silent Auction 7:45 PM Dinner • 9:00 PM Live Auction Followed by Mass and Continental Breakfast For more information please contact the auction office at 215.402.4915 or auction@lschs.org
Mothers’ Club SUE MISCHLER PRESIDENT
Mothers’ Club 2011-2012
Dear Parents and Guardians,
President Vice President Treasurer Recording Secretary Corresponding Secretary Technical Communications Past President Moderator
Welcome the 2011-2012 School Year!
Sue Mischler Laura O’Connor Therese Rose Cindi Kane Barbara Chrostowski Susan Martin Susan Gillespie Brother Richard Kestler, FSC ’60
The Mothers’ Club of La Salle College High School would like to welcome the following members to our Board for the 2011-2012 school year: Donna Bennett Susan Bilotta Randie Bishof Rosanne Campanella Ellen Cericola Mary Chandler Helene Crozier Lisa Denton Diana Driscoll Diana Eidenshink Lynne Ewell Kathy Farris Maureen Fillenwarth Anne Flynn Donna Geppert Gina Giuliani
Joanne Quinn Melanie Reinhardt Jeanne Rihm Teresa Roberts Laura Savage Theresa Schmitz Sharon Silvestri Regina Sontag Norma Spiteri Cate Stefanski Mary Stone Andrea Sullivan Kathy Tavolaro Jackie Toner Amy Worster Dana Worthington
Barb Ilsemann Kathy Clark Kelley Mary Frances Kelly Janet Lynch Patrice Lynch Eileen Maginnis Terry Maginnis Eileen Markmann Donna Marzullo Melanie May Ellen McCann Micki McShane Mary Meehan Beth Napolitano Ann Otis Jennifer Princivalle
Upcoming Calendar of Events September 21-30, 2011 Magazine Drive
(Drive Support – Volunteers Welcome)
September 25, 2011 New Mothers’ Tea Auditorium
1:00 pm
October 2, 2011 Mother/Son Service Project Cafeteria
10:00 am
October 6, 2011 General Meeting Auditorium
7:00 pm
October 13, 2011
Honors Convocation (Event Support – Volunteers Welcome)
October 16, 2011
Fall Family Liturgy
November 3-5, 2011
Auction Set-Up (Event Support – Volunteers Welcome)
November 5, 2011
Auction
10:30 am
November 6, 2011 Mother/Son Service Project Cafeteria
10:00 am
November 10, 2011 General Meeting Auditorium
9:15 am
November 13, 2011
I am delighted to offer you my heart-felt and most sincere welcome to the Mothers’ Club, and to the community of women responsible for a young gentleman about to start a new school year at La Salle College High School. I hope you feel, as I do, that this is a wonderful time of year for our boys, one that is full of the promise of new beginnings. It’s also a special time for us as we look to reconnect with friends throughout the La Salle community. I feel privileged to serve as the President of the Mothers’ Club this year and I hope that you will take advantage of the many opportunities that the Mothers’ Club offers to become involved in events that support our goals. The Mothers’ Club is comprised of all mothers and female guardians of our fine young men. I encourage you to “put yourself out there” by becoming involved in our events and monthly meetings. I have every confidence that, if you do, you will be delighted to find that you share many common bonds with the women you meet. The goals of the Mothers’ Club are two-fold. First and foremost, we strive to continue the advancement of the strong bonds throughout our La Salle community. We have a wonderful network of past and present family members. This extended La Salle family provides our sons with an excellent example of a strong and loving community. The second key goal of our Mothers’ Club is fundraising. Our primary fundraising events include our Auction, our Fashion Show, and our ongoing eScrip and Genuardi’s campaigns. Last year, the Mothers’ Club was able to give a year-end gift of over $100,000 to La Salle, some of which helped to support the purchase of a new sound system for the auditorium and the creation of the new Library Technical Center. These fundraising events also facilitate our own “memory-making” events. For those of you who are new to La Salle and may not be aware of these special affairs, they include the New Mothers’ Tea and the Senior Mother/Son Liturgy. I urge you to stay connected with us by reading The Belcroft each month, by visiting our Mothers’ Club page on La Salle’s website (www.lschs.org - Parent tab), or by reading our periodic emails for details about our upcoming activities. In the event that you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via email at mischfam@comcast.net Best wishes to you and your son for a successful school year! With warm regards,
Open House (Event Support – Volunteers Welcome)
Sue Mischler President La Salle College High School – The Belcroft September 2011 20
Mothers’ Club (CONTINUED)
New Mothers’ Tea
Volunteers Needed
September 25, 2011 1:00 pm Auditorium
New Mothers’ Tea Volunteers are needed for set up and clean up for the New Mothers’ Reception and Tea. Set-up will be on Saturday, September 24, 2011 from 9:30 am until 3:00 pm. Cleanup volunteers are needed for Sunday, September 25, 2011 at 3:00 pm. All interested volunteers should contact:
All freshman mothers as well as mothers of new students are invited to join us for this traditional welcome. Look for your invitation in the mail. Come “get to know us” during a lovely afternoon where you will meet new friends and rekindle old acquaintances. A lovely lunch including tea sandwiches and pastries will be served along with tea and coffee from our special silver services. We look forward to meeting all new mothers as we welcome them to our wonderful La Salle community. You will find the experience warm and rewarding as you learn about the many La Salle events and activities that take place during the school year. For information, contact committee members: Patrice Lynch Sharon Silvestri bandplynch@aol.com ssilvestri@aol.com (215) 646-3443 (215) 794-5853
Patrice Lynch bandplynch@aol.com (215) 646-3443
Magazine Drive If you can help tally orders during the Magazine Drive, which is held from September 21, 2011 through September 30, 2011, please contact: Jackie Toner jackie_toner@comcast.net (610) 666-5310
Mother/Son Service Project October 2, 2011 10:00 am Cafeteria The Mothers’ Club is partnering with Mr. Chuck Cirelli and Campus Ministry on a service project for mothers and their sons to make sandwiches for the homeless and poor served by St. Francis Inn. We meet on Sundays before the first Monday of the month to prepare the bagged meals. If you and your son would like to participate in this project, please contact: Maureen Fillenwarth phlfilly@comcast.net (215) 997-2778
Mothers’ Club Alumnae Committee News The Mothers’ Club Alumnae Committee welcomes our newest members – the mothers of the Class of 2011 – into our ranks. We hope that they, and all mothers of La Salle alumni, will participate as actively as their schedules permit in both Mothers’ Club and Mothers’ Club Alumnae Committee activities. It’s a great way of maintaining the friendships developed with other moms during your sons’ years at La Salle. In addition to a monthly article in The Belcroft, the Alumnae Committee also sends out a monthly e-newsletter to keep mothers of graduates up to date on both Mothers’ Club and Mothers’ Club Alumnae Committee events. Anyone who has not yet received the August Alumnae Committee e-newsletter is asked to e-mail Kathy Caramenico at kcaram@ yahoo.com so that their name can be added to the distribution list. All events and activities, including information about Shared Treasures, are also listed in the Mothers’ Club area of the school website, www.lschs.org/ mothers Please also note that some alum moms have told us they are not receiving the monthly alumnae e-newsletter or other alumnae committee electronic communications, even though they have submitted their e-mail addresses to the committee. We have been told that the likely cause is that recipients’ computers are treating these communications as spam. If you hear of an alum mom that she is NOT receiving e-mails from us, please ask her to make sure that her spam filter does not trap mail that originates from mcalumnae@lschs.org.
La Salle College High School – The Belcroft September 2011 21
Shared Treasures Reopens September 7, 2011 We are pleased to announce the start of the third year of our thrift shop, located at Dunleavy Center, where fabulous finds and fantastic values rule. From men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and accessories to home décor, you’ll always find something that just begs to go home with you. We are open on Wednesdays from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm and on the first Saturday of the month from 9:00 am until Noon. We will NOT be open on September 3, 2011. We welcome your donations of gently used items, especially home goods. All donations are tax-deductible. Please contact Barbara Houldin at (215) 9902843 or bag553@aol.com if you would like to arrange to drop off donations prior to September 7, 2011.
Alumnae Committee To Offer Ink Cartridge Recycling Beginning in September, the Alumnae Committee will collect and recycle used computer printer ink cartridges. You can drop off cartridges in the recycling bins, which are located in the Main Office at school as well as at Dunleavy Center. Please contact Kathy Caramenico at (610) 608-2950 or kcaram@yahoo.com if you have any questions about this program. The Mothers’ Club Alumnae Committee Kathy Caramenico, Donnamaria Dolan, Roseanne Duzinski, Lynn Gates, Karen Guerra, Pam Grady, Barbara Houldin, Janet McBride, Terry Millet
Fall Family Liturgy Sunday, October 16, 2011 10:30 am Celebration of Mass in the Lourdes Grotto (weather permitting)
La Salle College High School 8605 Cheltenham Avenue Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania 19038 215 233 2911 phone 215 233 1418 fax
Continental Breakfast to Follow Auditorium $10 per person $25 per family
www.lschs.org
Please return the attached form with payment or register online via a secure server at www.lschs.org by October 7, 2011. Please note: we will be unable to accept online registration after October 7, 2011.
Family Name
Please return registration form to: Maureen Fillenwarth 2070 Brentwood Drive Hatfield, PA 19440 (215) 997-2778 phone phlfilly@comcast.net
Phone or Email
Address City State Zip
Number Attending
at $10 per person or $25 per family
Amount Enclosed $
I am interested in serving as (La Salle College High School students): o Lector or Intercession Reader (4)
o Altar Server (2) o Offertory Gift Bearer (2)
o I am interested in serving as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist (two parents needed).
Mothers’ Club New York Trip Wednesday, April 18, 2012 2:00 pm (Matinee) Broadway Theatre 1681 Broadway New York, NY 10019 $175.00 per person
Includes: • Bus Transportation • Ticket to the Show • Box Lunch • Refreshments/Goodies on the Bus Make checks payable to: La Salle Mothers’ Club La Salle College High School 8605 Cheltenham Avenue Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania 19038
Seating is limited! Tickets are first come, first serve!
215 233 2911 phone 215 233 1418 fax
Buses will depart from Montgomery Mall, Montgomeryville, PA promptly at 8:30 am. Box lunches will be provided. Dinner will be on your own. Buses will depart New York City at 8:00 pm and return to Montgomery Mall at approximately 10:30 pm. Everyone will be assigned to buses. We will do our best to accommodate your party (seating on the bus and in the theatre). Reservations accepted with payment only. Your cancelled check is your receipt. Please fill out the response form completely, detach, and return with payment (photocopies accepted).
www.lschs.org
In the event you have any questions, please contact Mary Chandler at (610) 287-3264 or mary.chandler@aol.com
Mothers’ Club New York Trip Response Form Please mail this form along with payment in full to: Mary Chandler New York City Trip 970 Turnberry Circle Schwenksville, PA 19473
Name Address City State Zip Telephone
Number Of Tickets At $175.00 Each
E-mail Total Enclosed
Names Of Others In Your Party
O Yes, I Will Serve As A Bus Captain O I want to be on the bus that will drop-off at Canal Street and understand that I will be responsible
for my own transportation to the Broadway Theatre.
Top 10% Group Earnings Anchorage Youth Symphony PTSA West High School PTSA Mission Hili Middle School Santa Rosa Christian School Kings Beach Elementary School
$25,098 $25,042 $17,860 $17,295 $14,914
HELP OUR SCHOOL EARN! Do it through eScrip! • • • • •
Log onto www.eScrip.com Enter the La Salle College High School ID No. 6525176 Register your credit and debit cards and use them for all your purchases Shop at eScrip merchants A percentage of your purchases will be contributed to La Salle by the merchants That’s it! It’s that easy – your family shops – our school earns dollars!
Shop at Genuardi’s
Between August 10, 2011 and September 13, 2011 • Purchase any of the select thousands of items marked with the school bus tags and La Salle College High School will receive 10% of the purchase price. • Look for a message that prints on your receipt between September 19, 2011 and October 10, 2011 and turn in those receipts by October 12, 2011 to the school office or to any Mothers' Club Board Member. • LaEven BetterCollege – go to www.escrip.com right now and sign up to Salle High School – I.D. #6525176 support La Salle with your Club Card and La Salle College High School will receive the automatically. Any question s, contribution please contact:
Mary Chandler
Questions mary.chandler@aol.com
Mary Chandler (610) 287-3264 mary.chandler@aol.com (610) 287-3264
Check The Belcroft each month for important dates and information on the Mothers’ Club!
The Mothers’ Club cordially invites all mothers to the Fall General Meeting Thursday, October 6, 2011 7:00 pm Auditorium There will be a brief business meeting followed by a presentation by Brother Kevin.
Refreshments and a social hour will follow the presentation. There is no charge for this event, but, in order to plan appropriately, we do need an accurate count of those who will attend. Please let us know if you’ll be able to join us on October 3, 2011, by clicking on the “reservation” link of the “Mothers’ Club website, www.lschs.org, no later than October
Presentation by Brother Kevin Dalmasse, FSC Former Director of Education Office of Lasallian Mission Topic: The Lasallian Mission Leadership, vision, and a commitment to excellence are the hallmarks of Brother Kevin’s time as Director of Education. These qualities were particularly evident at the two major conferences that were part of his responsibilities, the Huether Conference and the Lasallian Association of Secondary School Chief Administrators. Under Brother Kevin’s leadership, the Huether Conference experienced unprecedented growth, annually welcoming 300 or more participants. Brother Kevin constantly stresses the need to make sure everyone has the opportunity to participate in the ‘initial’ Lasallian formation experience and will introduce the Lasallian Mission during his presentation.
3, 2011. If you encounter a problem in making a reservation, please e-mail Sue Mischler, Mothers’ Club President, at mischfam@comcast.net
La Salle College High School 8605 Cheltenham Avenue Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania 19038 215 233 2911 phone 215 233 1418 fax www.lschs.org
Varsity Sports Schedules TONY RESCH ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
September Cross Country
Soccer
Greg Bieleck1 ‘99 Head Coach 1 Haverford School 10:00 am 7 PCL Meet No. 1 14 PCL Meet No. 2 17 Briarwood Invitational 21 PCL Meet No. 3 24 Carlisle Invitational 28 PCL Meet No. 4
Bob Peffle Head Coach 2 West Chester Bayard Rustin 3:30 pm 6 George School 3:45 pm 8 Saint Joseph’s Prep 7:00 pm 10 Pittsburgh Central Catholic TBD 13 Lansdale Catholic 3:45 pm 15 Bishop McDevitt 3:45 pm 16 Holy Ghost Prep 3:45 pm 19 Father Judge 3:45 pm 21 Cardinal O’Hara 3:45 pm 23 Central High School 3:30 pm 27 Archbishop Ryan 7:00 pm 29 Conwell-Egan 3:45 pm
Haverford College Belmont Plateau Belmont Plateau Belmont Plateau Belmont Plateau Carlisle High School Belmont Plateau
Football Drew Gordon Head Coach 3 North Penn 6:00 pm 10 Bergen Catholic (NJ) 2:00 pm 16 West Catholic 7:00 pm 24 Monsignor Bonner 7:00 pm
Plymouth-Whitemarsh Plymouth-Whitemarsh Springfield (Montco) Upper Darby
Golf Marty Jackson Head Coach 1 Saint Joseph’s Prep 3:00 pm 7 Monsignor Bonner 3:30 pm 14 Conwell-Egan 3:30 pm 15 Roman Catholic 3:30 pm 29 Cardinal O’Hara 3:30 pm
Philadelphia Country Club Bala Country Club Whitemarsh Valley Country Club Walnut Lane Golf Course Paxton Hollow Golf Course
Away Away La Salle University Away Home Home Home Away Away Home Away Home
Water Polo Steve Duncheskie ’94 Head Coach 1 Haverford School 6 Upper Merion 8 Upper Perkiomen 14 Perkiomen Valley 15 Souderton 21 Wilson Area High School 23 Beast of the East Tournament 24 Beast of the East Tournament 27 Governor Mifflin 28 North Penn
La Salle College High School – The Belcroft September 2011 26
9:00 am 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm 4:00 pm
Away Away Away Away Away Away
4:00 pm Away 4:00 pm
Homecoming ‌the tradition continues.
Friday, September 16, 2011 5:00 to 7:00 pm New Athletic Fields Park at Springfield High School and Walk Across Paper Mill Road to the New Fields
$20 per person Free for Children 12 and Under Price includes BBQ, Beverages, and a Ticket to the Football Game You must register in advance to receive a free ticket to the game.
Followed by La Salle College High School West Catholic High School
vs.
Springfield High School Stadium 7:00 pm Halftime Ceremony Honoring the 1989 Catholic League Championship Football Team
RSVP by Monday, September 9, 2011 Register online at www.lschs.org or call (215) 233-2350
8605 Cheltenham Avenue Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania 19038
First Class Mail
www.lschs.org
September 2011
Volume Twenty-One Number 1
The Belcroft is named in honor of the mansion that first occupied the campus of La Salle College High School. Built in 1927, the home of Clarence M. Brown now serves as the residence of the Christian Brothers Community.
The Official Newsletter of La Salle College High School President Brother Richard Kestler, FSC ’60 Principal Joseph L. Marchese Vice President of Institutional Advancement Daniel L. McGowan Director of Communications and Public Relations Christopher M. Carabello ’82 The Belcroft La Salle College High School 8605 Cheltenham Avenue Wyndmoor , PA 19038 215 233 2911 phone 215 233 1418 fax www.lschs.org
The Belcroft is published by La Salle College High School during the months of September through May.
Calendar of Events September 2011
First Class Mail The Belcroft welcomes articles and submissions from the entire La Salle Community. The deadline for submissions is the fifteenth day of the month prior to the date of publication. All submissions received after the fifteenth of the month will not be included in the upcoming issue; rather, will be considered for inclusion in a future issue. The Editor of the The Belcroft reserves the right to make all decisions regarding the content and layout of the newsletter.
Enter to Learn
5
Labor Day
6
Freshman Orientation – Students Freshman Orientation – Parents
12:30 pm 5:00 pm
7
Classes Begin – “A” Day
8
Men of La Salle Meeting
10
ACT
11
Patriot’s Day
12
Student Photos
13-15
Senior Photos
13
Alumni Board Meeting
7:30 pm
14
Q & A Night (Senior Parents only)
7:15 pm
15
Freshman fathers’ Welcome
6:30 pm
16
School Liturgy Homecoming
5:00 pm
20
Activity Fair
21-30
Magazine Drive
22
Back-To-School Night
23
Awards Assembly
25
New Mothers’ Tea
30
Student Council Dance/Mixer
6:30 pm
7:00 pm
7:30 pm
Leave to Serve
La Salle College High School 8605 Cheltenham Avenue Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania 19038 215 402 4800 phone 215 233 0284 fax admissions@lschs.org www.lschs.org