Belcroft December 2010

December 2010 Volume Twenty Number 4

Dear Parents and Guardians, Ready or not the Christmas season is upon us. With less than twenty-five days remaining and all the things that still need to be done, I suggest that you keep a balance in your life by remembering the “Reason for the Season”. Just taking a few moments each day to reflect upon the significance of God’s entry into the world will help focus your energy and place a priority on the right things during these hectic days. A better idea is to take some time as a family and set aside a few moments each day to reflect on the true meaning of this season. What a difference this would make in the way we celebrate the Birth of our Savior.

As a community, La Salle joins in thanking so many for making this year’s annual auction another success. In challenging economic times, the La Salle community again performed magnificently in supporting the school through the mission and priorities of the Mothers’ Club and Men of La Salle. The final results of our efforts will most likely not be available until the end of December, but I believe the major benefit of this evening is the bonding experienced as a result of working together on a common goal. Thank you to our Co-Chairs, Mr. Steve Duzinski and Mrs. Chris Giaimo, along with Donna Bennett and Susan Bilotta, our Auction Coordinators. Without many hands this effort would never occur.

Open House this year was crowned with a record number of visitors all looking seriously at Catholic independent education. Our faculty, students and parents again stepped to the plate and volunteered to share their “Why La Salle” experience with prospective students and their families. All here at La Salle join with me in thanking you for your positive support of our school.

Congratulations to the Football Team and their coaches on winning their third consecutive Philadelphia Catholic League Championship and fourth title in the five-year career of Coach Drew Gordon. Our fall sports programs have quickly given way to the winter season and a whole new rhythm to life around campus. Once again our teams will be out to be positive and competitive challengers. Plan to spend some time this winter enjoying our Explorer Swimming, Basketball, Bowling, Ice Hockey, and Indoor Track. Our supportive fans always bring out the best in our athletes.

Congratulations to our students who have successfully adjusted to the expectations of a new academic year and the challenges of the first quarter. If there is still room for improvement, it is good to address the situation early. May the students and their teachers enjoy a most successful second quarter of studies.

In these times, our focus should be on family, faith and friends. I would like to wish each of you a meaningful Advent Season and a Merry and Blessed Christmas.

Sincerely yours,

Brother Richard Kestler, FSC ‘60 President

La Salle Auction An Evening In Tuscany Saturday, November 6, 2010 Thank you to everyone who contributed to make the evening a success.

Grazie!

The annual Auction was held on Saturday, November 6, 2010. Over 500 members of the La Salle community and their guests attended the event, th which is now in its 28 year. The night featured both a silent and live auction along with a variety of raffles. The $20,000 raffle prize was won by Jim Carroll ’83 (Jim ’13).

The Co-Chairs of the event were Mr. Steve Duzinski and Mrs. Chris Giaimo. The theme for the evening was Bella Luna – An Evening In Tuscany and the building was decorated like the Tuscan countryside. The event raised over $200,000, which will be used to provide funding for the projects of the Mothers’ Club and Men of La Salle in support of the school.

3 The Belcroft December 2010

Office of the Principal Joseph L. Marchese Principal

Dear Parents and Guardians, With the Advent season upon us, La Salle is “beginning to look a lot like Christmas”. Christmas wreaths, Nativity scenes, and the Christmas tree in the Main Office all point to that wondrous day when Our Lord became Man. Let us remind ourselves to take time away from the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping to focus on Advent – the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

La Salle had a fantastic Open House last month with over 550 families making the trip to 8605 Cheltenham Avenue. It is wonderful to know that the excitement around La Salle is generating such great interest in our school. The Scholarship and Entrance will be administered on Saturday, December 4, 2010 8:30 am. If you know of any good candidates for our freshman class, please encourage them to register by calling La Salle and asking for the Admissions Office. Word of mouth is quite often the best recruitment tool, so please don’t hesitate to enthusiastically endorse La Salle with your friends, family, colleagues, etc.

You will remember reading in previous issues of The Belcroft about an International Boys Schools Coalition Conference st on “21 Century Learning” that La Salle co-hosted and about twenty of our faculty members attended last June. As a follow-up to that conference, La Salle faculty members joined the faculty of St. Joseph’s Prep for an In-Service Day last month on the topic of “Thinking at Every Desk”. This workshop was conducted by two professors from Cornell University and focused on incorporating the teaching of thinking skills into our curriculum. This initiative flows from one of the Middle States performance goals that La Salle adopted during its last accreditation review and will continue to be our focus this year and beyond. The workshop was not only informative, but also the collegiality experienced by the two faculties, as they worked together during the day, was an added benefit.

Congratulations to the La Salle football team for winning its third consecutive Philadelphia Catholic League Championship by beating Roman Catholic by a score of 35-16. The following week, the Explorers successfully retained the District 12 (City) Championship with a 35-0 shutout of Northeast High School.

If you would like to get into the Christmas spirit, please make a point to join us for La Salle’s two wonderful Christmas concerts. The Band Christmas Concert will take place in the school auditorium on Monday, December 13, 2010 at 7:15 pm. You can join us the very next week for our Choral Christmas Concert on Monday, December 20, 2010 at 7:15 pm.

If you have not yet had a chance to hear the near-professional quality of La Salle’s Music Program, these are two “can’t miss” events.

In closing, I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year. The celebration of the birth of the baby Jesus reminds us that Our Lord lives among us. Our challenge is to find him in all that surrounds us. His presence is certainly palpable here at La Salle College High School!

Merry Christmas!

Sincerely yours,

Joseph L. Marchese Principal

4 The Belcroft December 2010

Office of Academic Affairs Thomas R. Barna Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs

Academic Support Resources Now that the second marking period has begun, it is appropriate to remind students and their families of the support services that are available for all La Salle students. Please keep in mind that a poor performance (grade) is typically the result of falling short in the areas of ability and/or effort.

Allow me to share a personal experience that highlights the importance of serious daily study. With the Class of 2015 admissions process in full-swing, La Salle has been th blessed with a number of 8 grade students spending a day on our campus. Part of a visitation includes a 15minute personal interview with an administrator. It is a wonderful opportunity for us to get to know prospective students on a personal level. Not surprisingly, these young men typically make a very nice first impression; however, the one concern that surfaces repeatedly pertains to a part of the conversation where La Salle’s homework recommendation is discussed. The suggestion of spending 20-minutes per night per subject (a rather conservative 2-hour per night estimate) th shocks many 8 graders. Now that academic habits are being rooted, it is a good time to remind students of the academic commitment expected outside of the classroom. Please encourage your son to followthrough on spending significant quality time (quite and away from distractions) on his studies daily.

If your son is struggling or frustrated in a specific area, please encourage him to meet with his classroom teacher. When experiencing difficulty in any course, a student’s first response should always be to see his teacher for help. One outcome may include the development of a routine tutoring arrangement with the instructor. A student’s grade-level counselor can also help in developing a plan of action if a student’s academic struggles are pervasive or if his comfort level with the situation is less than ideal. Know that outside of his classroom teacher, additional academic support services are available. La Salle’s chapter of the National Honor Society coordinates a peer tutoring program that provides students with student-to-student help on many levels in several areas. When possible, help is arranged during the school day. NHS tutoring is coordinated by Ms. Tina Shustack and Mrs. Dorothy Marchese, our faculty moderators. Furthermore, La Salle has the benefit of running a Math Resource Room, Writing Center, and World Language Resource Center to help students in these targeted areas. They are open throughout the school day and staffed by our own teachers (whenever available). Our records indicate that hundreds of students take advantage of these resources annually. In addition to the services listed above,

families may benefit knowing that La Salle’s McShain Library is opened Monday through Thursday, 7:30 am to 5:00 pm, and Fridays between 7:30 am and 3:30 pm. Our Main Computer Labs, located in the basement of Saint Michael Hall, are open daily until 4:00pm and 3:00 pm on Fridays.

Some Important Dates La Salle’s Christmas recess begins at the end of school on Thursday, December 23, 2011. Classes resume for 2011 on Monday, January 3, 2011. The first semester ends at the end of the day on Friday, January 14, 2011.

First semester exams begin following the Martin Luther King holiday weekend. Midterms start on Tuesday, January 18, 2011 and end on Monday, January 24, 2011. Again, there are no classes scheduled for Monday, January 17, 2011.

The second semester begins on Tuesday, January 25, 2011 with an “A” day schedule. New schedules for the second semester will be issued to all students in homeroom on that day. Student rosters are also available at anytime by accessing the MyBackPack software through the Student Portal. Please note: freshmen who had gym in semester one, will have pool (aquatics) in semester two; students who had pool in semester one, will have gym in semester two.

Semester Examinations and Schedule As identified on the school calendar, examinations for the first semester will be given primarily during the week of January 18-21, 2011. This year they will spill over into the following Monday, January 24, 2011. The midterm exam schedule, although not developed for this submission, will be posted at the end of the first week of January both in school and on the website under the Academic Life tab. Although it may seem early, please encourage your son to begin preparing for exams as soon as possible.

National-Recognized Teen Motivational Speaker Josh Shipp Thursday, February 17, 2011 7:30 pm Auditorium Josh will address the students during the day and then speak to parents that evening.

5 The Belcroft December 2010

Office of Academic Affairs (Continued) Thomas R. Barna Assistant Principal for Academic Affair

Attendance Reminder

Campus Store

With cold and flu season already here there may be days when your son in unable to attend school. La Salle understands this. Please remember an excused absence is one that is due to illness or family emergency. If your son is absent he should be proactive. Contacting a reliable classmate the night of the absence and/or communicating with teachers at the earliest convenient time is expected; absent students are responsible for missed work.

The Campus Store is stocked, but the closer we get to the Holidays, sizes become limited, so do your Christmas shopping early. There are a few new items, so come check us out. The Anniversary Book with the history of the School would make a great gift.

On a related note, it is important to clarify that outside of illness or emergency, school attendance is compulsory. A family vacation does not qualify as an excused absence. School holidays and breaks are published well in advance so as to offer parents an opportunity to plan their vacations at a time that does not interfere with attendance policies. Families and their sons cannot expect teachers to accommodate missed work/opportunities for any unexcused absence.

Unexcused absences during midterm or final examinations are strictly prohibited.

Please keep in mind that attendance throughout the school year is vital to a student’s academic success.

There is no doubt that the correlation between absences and grades is extraordinary. As a rule of thumb, students who miss school have grades that reflect their gaps in learning. Please support our efforts to have your son in school daily and on time.

Remember, the school’s main number should NOT be used to report any student absence. All attendance matters are expected to be reported to the Attendance Line at (215) 233-4140 before 8:00 am. A note is required upon returning to school. Thank you for your help in supporting La Salle’s protocols and policies related to attendance.

SAT Information Attention juniors, the SAT will be offered nationally on January 22, 2011. Spring SAT dates include March 12, 2011, May 7, 2011, and June 4, 2011 (for details check out www.collegeboard.com or “college links and resources” at www.lschs.org/college).

For your shopping convenience the store is now open Monday and Wednesday from 7:45 am to 1:45 pm and Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 8:45 am to 5:00 pm. The store be also be opened on Saturday, , December 4 2010 from 8:30 am to 11:30 am for the Scholarship and Entrance Exam. The store will also be open the following day on Sunday, December 5, 2010 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm for the Mothers’ Club Christmas Shopping Spectacular. If we can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to call us during business hours.

6 The Belcroft December 2010

Office of Student Affairs Julia K. Maher Assistant Principal for Student Affairs

La Salle Responds

Character Education At La Salle

The Office of Student Affairs and Campus Ministry have sponsored two dress-down days so far this year.

Students pay $5 for this privilege and the funds are distributed to outside groups/causes. $4,800 was at the end of October, and since October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the football game against St. Joseph’s Prep was a great venue to promote this cause.

Both schools donated some of the proceeds from the game to the Kelly Rooney Foundation (a non-profit organization which focuses on breast cancer prevention in young women and the challenges they face when diagnosed with this sometimes deadly disease) and La Salle an additional $2,500 to the Foundation. The students were also able to support the Breathing Room Foundation in the amount of $1,000, which is an organization established by Mr. Bernie Fitzgerald to support families who are dealing with the effects of cancer. Donations in November were used to purchase turkeys for Thanksgiving dinners and honor applications for funds submitted by students, faculty, and staff.

“Honor and Character” on gold signs greet everyone who enters the main office. These tenets are core values at La Salle College High School. This is evident in the attitudes and actions of the students, especially our graduates. When a man receives a La Salle College High School diploma it is more than an endorsement of academic performance, Man of Intellect and Accomplishment. It is certification that the graduate is a Man of Faith and Compassion, Service and Justice, as well as Integrity and Respect. Our boys become men of Character in their time at La Salle.

Going On Vacation?

A reminder to all parents: If you are planning a family vacation during days when school is in session, please notify your son’s teachers and the Attendance Office (215-233-4140) beforehand.

School Closing for Inclement Weather School closings will be communicated via the Alert Now messaging. We will also notify KYW 1060 Radio as early as possible. Our school closing number is 333. La Salle’s WEB page is also a source for such announcements www.LSCHS.org. Two TV stations will also carry information for La Salle – WPVI-TV, Channel 6 Action News, and NBC, Channel 10. In case of snow during a school day, parents will be notified via an Alert Now message, KYW radio and the TV stations as soon as a decision has been reached for an early dismissal.

We would appreciate your cooperation in NOT calling the school on these days.

Reporting Absences Calls for student absences MUST be made to the attendance line (215-402-4140 or 215-233-2911 with a prompt) by 8:00 am in order for the Dean’s Office to have accurate roll for any given day. Your cooperation will eliminate phone calls to you from the school in reference to student absences. Students MUST bring a note signed by one of his parents to the Dean’s Office before going to class on the day he returns to school.

The maturation from boy to man happens during a student’s time at La Salle. Instilling the values mentioned above is not an easy task and it does not happen in isolation. It is the result of hard work by parents, members of the extended family, and the La Salle community. Most importantly, there needs to be “buy-in” from a young man, a willing soul, and a desire to be someone that will make a difference.

La Salle plays an integral part in the moral and ethical development of its students through a variety of approaches.

The most powerful is modeling on a consistent basis by the adults in the community. La Salle is increasing its efforts to educate the whole student and provide students with an opportunity, and a push, to become quality men through a coordinated effort of teachers, administration, campus ministry and upperclassmen.

The freshmen class is presented with a challenge at orientation to be more and do more than other boys their age. They are told that being a La Salle man means standing up or speaking out for what is right when others are unwilling. In late October the freshmen have their first class retreat which emphasizes Faith, Service, and Community as well as their Lasallian Identity. Freshmen in the past would have their next experience in the winter, hearing Ryan Manion speak about the heroic life of her brother, Travis, through the Character Does Matter presentation. A new piece of La Salle’s character education will begin this year.

Early in December the freshmen homerooms will be presented with a challenging case study and guided through a discussion of the issue by a teacher and senior mentor. The goal of this is to have the young men wrestle with an issue that challenges them to think through acting in one’s best interest or foregoing that, to act honorably. This will also serve to connect the October retreat with the winter presentation. Other speakers will be brought in throughout a student’s time at La Salle and current retreat programs and presentations may be modified to continue the emphasis in the area of character development.

Hopefully our efforts with the support of parents and guardians will produce men that are not only well educated, well rounded, and well intentioned, but men who lead and act to make the lives of others better; men that can be counted on to do what is right in the toughest of times.

7 The Belcroft December 2010

Lasallian Service Corps Lew Clark and Thomas Devlin ‘00 LSC Coordinators

Sunday St. Francis Inn Sunday Before the First Monday of the Month 10:00 am Prepare sandwiches to be delivered to a soup kitchen in inner city Philadelphia.

Contact: Mr. Chuck Cirelli Monday Elder Share 2:45 to 5:00 pm Provide companionship to residents of a local nursing home.

Contact: Mr. Mike Ponisciak, Mrs. Dorothy Ponisciak, and Mr. Joe Radvansky Tuesday La Salle Academy Tutoring 3:00 to 6:00 pm Tutor inner city children at La Salle Academy, the original site of La Salle College High School.

Contact: Mr. Dan Cipolla, Ms. Pam DeRose, Dr. Rosina Ryan, or Mr. Dan Williams Human Rights Forum 2:30 pm Meet and discuss justice issues, the release of political prisoners, and reconciliation among people.

Contact: Mrs. Betty Field Triest House 4:30 to 5:30 pm Assist mentally-challenged adults with physical therapy.

Contact: Mr. Al Puntel Wednesday Providence Center 3:00 to 6:00 pm Tutor children in a center in Kensington run by the Sisters of the Holy Child.

Contact: Mr. Tom Barna or Mrs. Cathy Winning Thursday Homeless Outreach Serve a meal and provide friendship to the poor in Philadelphia.

5:00 to 9:00 pm Contact: Mr. Joe Parisi and Mrs. Carol Haggerty

Saturday and Sunday Saint Vincent’s Soup Kitchen Saturday and Sunday Morning 9:00 to 11:30 am Last Sunday of the Month 12:30 to 2:30 pm Prepare and serve meals to the poor of Germantown.

Contact: Men of La Salle --- visit www.lschs.org Summer Immersion Opportunities Project Appalachia (Kentucky) Contact Mr. Tom Devlin Building Bridges of Solidarity International Service in Bolivia Contact: Senora Lastenia Breen Navajo American Experience (Arizona) Contact: Mr. Micky Dominick Lasallian Youth Assembly Contact: Mr. Lew Clarke or Mr. Tom Devlin De La Salle Blackfeet (Montana) Contact: Mr. Tom Devlin Philadelphia Urban Immersion Contact: Mr. Lew Clark Seasonal Opportunities Magazine Drive Thanksgiving Food Drive for St. Vincent’s Parish Mission Drive Secret Santa Operation Santa Claus Respect Life Events Grade Level Opportunities Freshman and Sophomore Branch-Out Days Junior Urban Challenge

9 The Belcroft December 2010

Men of Service Summer Service Opportunities Call for Volunteers This summer, La Salle is pleased to offer seven summer service immersion trips. La Salle students will have the opportunity to spend a week living in community and volunteering in Bolivia (two weeks), Kentucky (Appalachia), Arizona, Montana, the Gulf Coast, and Philadelphia (Urban Immersion - Sophomores Only). Each trip will be chaperoned by two to three faculty members.

For specific information regarding the trips, please visit La Salle’s Summer Service Immersion web page at www.lschs.org/summerservice. This site has information regarding work sites, the application process, fees, pictures, and more. This will also give you information regarding the contact person for each trip. Please note that each trip requires fundraising.

There will be information meetings held on Wednesday November 17, 2010 (for juniors) and Thursday November 18, 2010 (for sophomores) about the projects. Follow-up meetings will be held on Monday, November 22, 2010 in the Campus Ministry Meeting Room at 7:35 am and 2:30 pm.

Please attend one of the meetings if you would like to hear more about the trips.

The application for the trips is posted at www.lschs.org/summerservice and is available in Campus Ministry. Please see Senora Breen if you are interested in applying to the Bolivia Service Trip. The application forms (except for Bolivia) are due in Campus Ministry no later than Wednesday, December 8, 2010. A $300.00 deposit is required for participation in any trip AND is due with your application. Selections will be posted outside Campus Ministry before Christmas break. If you are not selected (space is limited), your check will be returned. Please make all checks payable to La Salle College High School and put summer service in the memo line.

In January, there will be a mandatory meeting for selected students and their parent/ guardian.

Thank you for considering our summer service programs and feel free to contact Campus Ministry if you have any further questions.

10 The Belcroft December 2010

College Counseling Center Mary Kay Mullen Director of College Counseling

Financial Aid Information about financial aid – forms to be completed, deadlines, loans, etc. – can be found at our website: www.lschs.org/college in the “Links and Resources” section on the left hand side. Scroll down and click on the “Paying for College” link. Check out www.fafsa.ed.gov, www.finaid.org, www.collegeboard.com, www.educationplanner.com, www.pheaa.org, and www.aessuccess.org.

Be aware of the financial aid forms needed for each college since each college has its own requirements and deadlines. The possibilities are the FAFSA, the CSS PROFILE, and the college’s own financial aid form. Be aware of deadlines for these application forms.

Given the increasing cost of a college education and the current economy, we urge students and their parents to be diligent about filing the forms in a complete and timely manner and to take advantage of every scholarship opportunity. An estimate of family eligibility for federal student aid can be determined by visiting www.fafsa4caster.com.

Information about scholarships that come to the College Counseling Center is posted on www.lschs.org/college under “Scholarship Information” in the “Paying for College” section. Seniors applying for scholarships from a college or university often need to meet an early deadline. Take note of the specific requirements. The following are scholarship search sites: www.fastweb.com, www.brokescholar.com, www.finaid.com, and LaSalle College Counseling Center Scholarship List.

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) cannot be filed until January 1, 2011; however, students and parents should apply for Personal Identification Numbers (PINS) before beginning the process at www.fafsa.ed.gov. This four-digit number will serve as your electronic signature and it also can be used whenever corrections need to be made to the FAFSA. The number remains the same throughout the student’s college years and should be kept in a secure place.

Additions to List of Colleges Seniors are reminded to inform the College Counseling Center by Wednesday, December 1, 2010 about any colleges they are adding to their original list. The counselors need time for processing these requests before the Christmas holidays. The College Counseling Center will be closed for the holidays from December 23, 2010 to January 3, 2011.

Copies of letters of acceptance and scholarship awards should be brought to the College Counseling Center.

Important Reminder for Juniors and Seniors Keep in mind as you are preparing for semester exams that your GPA in college preparatory courses is the most important criteria in the college admission process. Keep up the good work.

Juniors The college counselors suggest that the juniors make plans to take standardized tests in second semester.

Check out the “test preparation” module on Naviance.

SAT and ACT sample tests and preparation packets are available. Juniors should have taken two of the same test – either SAT or ACT – by the end of second semester junior year. A complete schedule of tests and registration deadlines is available at our website, www.lschs.org/college, www.collegeboard.com (SAT), and www.actstudent.org (ACT).

Advisory classes for juniors regarding the college search and application process will begin second semester.

Check out our website for comprehensive information, including the advisory class syllabus.

Save The Date College Information Night for Parents of Juniors on February 8, 2011 and February 9, 2011 in the School Auditorium at 7:15 pm. Details to follow.

11 The Belcroft December 2010

The Transformation

by Jo Ann Cohen, Ph.Dd and John Keenan, M.Ed.

Part of my work as a psychologist and learning specialist is to help students succeed. I evaluate different individuals to assess their learning style and ability which helps identify exactly what learning techniques will be helpful. A few months ago in my private practice, I evaluated a young boy. Stephen’s parents had come to my office, because they were concerned about their son’s academic performance. Despite Stephen’s obvious intelligence, he was having trouble getting grades reasonably in line with his apparent ability. The results included frustrated parents, an explosive young man, and family disharmony. I began the evaluation with an instrument to measure his intelligence, and Stephen’s anxiety stricken mother immediately asked for the results.

Stephen was in the room. I said to him, “Stephen, you emerged in the gifted range. You did extremely well in several areas. Each group of tasks gets a score. Do you remember putting the blocks together? Your score showed that you could do that better than 99 out of 100 people.” Stephen’s eyes grew wide with excitement. “I love doing that stuff!”

After the evaluation was completed, Stephen and his family left for vacation. School had already started before they came back to my office to talk about family issues. As they left the session, I called Stephen’s parents back and asked when they wanted to find out the results from the completed evaluation. “Oh, we’ll call for an appointment,” his mom said waving her hand nonchalantly. “Things have really changed.” His dad chimed in, “Stephen’s had a real change in attitude. Stephen heard what you said, and he now believes in himself. He thinks he can do anything his teacher gives him. He is doing his homework without any intervention.” His mother’s enthusiasm was palatable. “You should see his grades! But mostly, it’s his self-esteem. We always knew he was smart, but now he is proving it.”My jaw dropped. Was this the anxiety stricken mother and the defiant child I had seen only a few months ago?

Stephen’s story reminds me that we often do not believe in ourselves. We repeatedly demand that others supply us with substantiation for who we are and what we should do. Validation remains a critical factor in striving for confidence.

Current research on Positive Psychology is proving the obvious. Abraham Maslow and Carl Rogers identified the importance of self-actualization and nonjudgmental positive regard in the mid-20th century. Their insight changed the direction of psychology from treating patients using a medical model, to giving them responsibility in the healing process.

Other professionals have written about the value of being positive and taking responsibility for personal growth. You Can if You Think You Can, and the Power of Positive Thinking were penned by Norman Vincent Peale. Bernie Siegel authored Love, Medicine, and Miracles. People in a variety of fields have been researching factors that encourage optimism, increase well-being, and improve motivation. Ironically, our worth had already been established years ago.

More than two thousand years ago, a child was born in a tiny obscure village. His parents were poor and without influence. He grew to adulthood. He possessed neither wealth nor worldly influence. Despite His lack of formal education, His impact on the world has been remarkable. No library could hold the books that have been written about Him. His birth and life have inspired hundreds of songs. He has healed more hearts and bodies than any medical center.

No king is as well-known or as powerful. Jesus is our gift at Christmas. Christmas is a constant reminder that God believes we are worthy and valuable.

Stephen was able to believe in himself because he was given concrete evidence of his ability. Stephen’s ability never changed. Stephen’s transformation occurred through outside intervention, but our transformation can occur when we remember God’s gift to us at Christmas – the Word made flesh. When we see ourselves through the eyes of God, we too can be transformed.

12 The Belcroft December 2010

Practical ideas for parents to help their children.

Brain researchers say teens need sleep in order to learn.

Do you know how much your son texts?

If your son says, "I studied it, but I can't remember what I studied," the problem may be lack of sleep.

Brain researchers have learned that sleep is part of the learning process.

Did you know that 75% of teen cell phone users have plans that include unlimited texting? These teens send an average of 70 texts per day – that’s around 2,100 each month! And one in three teens sends more than 100 texts per day – or over 3,000 each month!

During the time we are asleep, our brains consolidate what we have learned. While we are asleep, our brains actually practice new learning.

In addition, fully two-thirds of teens say they are more likely to use their cell phones to text their friends than talk to them by phone.

Researchers studied teens that learned how to do a simple task – catching a ball on a string in a cone-like cup. With practice, the teens could do this task faster and more accurately. A few days later, researchers found that the students who got a good night's sleep continued to do well. But students who slept for six hours or fewer either did not improve or actually did worse.

While it's good that teens are communicating with their friends, it's important that you:

Clearly, sleep matters. Whether your son is learning history or algebra or science, he needs to get a good night's sleep.

It is hard to make sure teens get enough sleep. But there are things you can do. Enforce a regular bedtime.

Keep distractions (like cell phones) out of the bedroom.

Encourage your son to be active, especially earlier in the day. All these will make sleep easier and will help your son’s brain remember.

Reprinted with permission from the December issue of Parents Still Make The Difference! ® (High School Edition). Copyright © 2010 The Parent Institute ®, a Division of NIS, Inc.

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Set limits on phone use. Make sure your son isn't texting when he should be sleeping or doing homework.

Support school rules on cell phone use – and teachers' specific classroom rules.

Encourage your son to talk to friends face-toface. This uses important social skills. Teens will be unable to text their way through job interviews.

Reprinted with permission from the December issue of Parents Still Make The Difference! ® (High School Edition). Copyright © 2010 The Parent Institute ®, a Division of NIS, Inc.

Support your son’s growing selfdiscipline.

By high school, teens should have developed some selfdiscipline. To encourage self-discipline in your son:

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Avoid rescuing your son. If he gets himself into a jam, let him handle the consequences. If he forgets his homework at home, he'll have to talk to his teacher about doing a makeup assignment.

13 The Belcroft December 2010

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Don't do things your son can do for himself.

Your teen is perfectly capable of making a snack, folding laundry, etc. If he isn't, he needs to learn.

Encourage your son to take part in activities that develop self-discipline. Any activity – like a sport, band or a play – for which your teen needs to practice a skill is an activity that builds self-discipline.

Expect your son to develop his own study schedule – and stick to it. It's up to your son to decide when he'll complete his homework and to make sure it gets done.

Allow your teen choices about which responsibilities he'll share in your home. Let him decide whether he'd rather clean the bathrooms or mow the lawn.

Reprinted with permission from the December issue of Parents Still Make The Difference! ® (High School Edition). Copyright © 2010 The Parent Institute ®, a Division of NIS, Inc.

Talking with your son can prevent drug and alcohol abuse.

A recent study has revealed a startling change in teens' abuse of and attitudes about drugs and alcohol. From 2008 to 2009:

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The number of high school-age students who used alcohol in the past month increased by 11%.

The number of past-year ecstasy users jumped from 6% to 10%.

Past-year marijuana use showed a 19% increase.

Not only has use of drugs and alcohol increased among teens, but teens are beginning to look at these illegal activities in a more favorable light. 51% of high schoolage students agreed that "being high feels good," while 75% reported that "friends usually get high at parties."

Yet, the scariest statistic might be the number of teens who agreed strongly that they "don't want to hang around drug users" – this number has decreased over the year, from 35% in 2008 to a mere 30% in 2009.

That doesn't mean that your son has to be one of these numbers. Here's what you can do:

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Talk with your son. Discuss your views on drug and alcohol abuse.

Know where your son is going. Make sure all parties he attends are supervised by an adult.

Meet your son’s friends and their parents.

That way, when your son says "Everyone's going!" you can find out if "everyone" really is.

Reprinted with permission from the December issue of Parents Still Make The Difference! ® (High School Edition). Copyright © 2010 The Parent Institute ®, a Division of NIS, Inc.

Are you helping your son become a problem solver?

You can never anticipate all the problems your son will face in his life, but you can help him learn how to solve problems as they arise. Answer yes or no to the questions below to find out if you are helping your teen become a problem solver: ___1. Do you help your son define exactly what the problem is? ___2. Do you brainstorm possible solutions? At this stage, the more solutions, the better. ___3. Do you discuss the good and bad points of each of the strategies? Also think about the consequences of each possible choice. ___4. Do you remind your son about your family rules and values when he is choosing which solution to try? ___5. Do you help your son teen come up with a Plan B if the first solution is not successful?

How well are you doing?

Each yes answer means you are helping your teen develop the skills to solve problems successfully. For no answers, try those ideas.

Reprinted with permission from the December issue of Parents Still Make The Difference! ® (High School Edition). Copyright © 2010 The Parent Institute ®, a Division of NIS, Inc.

14 The Belcroft December 2010

Mothers’ Club Susan T. Gillespie President

Upcoming Calendar of Events

Mother/Son Service Project

December 1, 2010

December 5, 2010 10:00 am January 2, 2011 10:00 am Cafeteria

December 2, 2010

December 5, 2010

December 5, 2010

December 5, 2010

January 2, 2011

January 6, 2011

NEW EVENT

January 27, 2011

Senior Mothers’ Tree Trimming Event Auditorium Mothers’ Club Meeting 9:15 am Auditorium Mother/Son Service Project 10:00 am Cafeteria Alumnae Liturgy 10:30 am Marian Chapel Christmas Shopping Spectacular 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm Auditorium Mother/Son Service Project 10:00 am Cafeteria Mothers’ Club Meeting 9:15 am Auditorium Winter Blues Night Out! 6:30 pm

All mothers are cordially invited to attend the monthly Mothers' Club meetings, which are generally held the first Thursday of the month in the auditorium. Please refer to the Calendar Events above for the dates of the meetings. Refreshments are available starting at 9:15 am and the meetings begin promptly at 9:30am, with the exception of evening meetings. Board members will report on recent and upcoming Mothers' Club events.

Please e-mail Susan Gillespie, Mothers’ Club President, at scmgillespie@aol.com if you would like to join us!

The Mothers’ Club is partnering with Mr. Chuck Cirelli on a service project for mothers and their sons to make sandwiches for the homeless and poor served by Saint 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: Therese Rose trose@turnberrysolutions.com (215) 654-8989

Sally Foster Gift and Gift Wrap Sale Thank you to everyone who supported the Gift Wrap sale in September. Do you still need some gift wrap or gifts for the holidays? Please order online by December 1, 2010 for standard delivery before Christmas. La Salle earns 40% of all proceeds while you enjoy great products. La Salle will continue to receive full credit for all orders placed online until June 30, 2011. Think of Sally Foster for graduation gifts.

Go to www.sallyfoster.com, click on support a fundraiser, reference our school's Account No. 67725, and begin shopping. Your order will be shipped promptly to your home address. If your order is more than $50.00, shipping is free. Please invite family and friends to join in this great fundraiser.

For more information contact:

Volunteer Opportunities The Mothers’ Club is in need of volunteers throughout the year to help before, during, and after our events.

Please check The Belcroft and the website each month to see where help is needed and e-mail Mary Frances Kelly, our volunteer coordinator, or one of the committee chairs listed to let her know your availability.

If the activity fits into your schedule, please join us as volunteering is a great way to get to know La Salle moms in a casual and fun environment.

If you able to assist, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator: Mary Frances Kelly mfkelly@lschs.org

Eileen Smith eileensmith7@verizon.net

SAVE THE DATE! Mother/Son Communion Brunch Sunday, February 27, 2011 10:00 am Williamson’s The guest speaker will be none other than Neil Hartman, anchor and reporter from Comcast SportsNet. Please note that this event was originally planned for February 6, 2011. Please disregard earlier communications for that date.

15 The Belcroft December 2010

Mothers’ Club (Continued)

Senior Mother Tree Trimming

Ho! Ho! Ho! Even Santa Needs Help!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010 7:00 pm Auditorium

Monday, December 13, 2010 9:00 am Brothers’ House Garages (AKA Santa’s Workshop)

Spend the evening with your fellow Mothers of the Class of 2011, trimming the tree with your son's personalized ornament and enjoying light refreshments, while Christmas music fills the air. Invitations to this special event were mailed in November.

Join the members of the Mothers' Club as we wrap and decorate presents for "Secret Santa", a project which brings Christmas to children at St Christopher's Hospital.

Attention All Senior Mothers!

Bring your scissors, tape and wrapping paper and join the other elves as we capture the true Christmas spirit!

For question, please contact: Cindi Kane mcckane@aol.com

eScrip

Christmas Shopping Spectacular

Please log onto www.escrip.com and register to do your on-line shopping with hundreds of merchants at the new “Online Mall”. The La Salle code is 6525176.

In addition to regular shopping, you can even make purchases for travel, airlines and online services. In the event that you are already supporting another institution with eScrip, your contributions can be split.

Local eScrip merchants will contribute up to 8% of the purchases you make to La Salle College High School.

Sunday December 5, 2010 12:00 to 4:00 pm Auditorium Preceded by an Advent Liturgy at 11:00 am organized by the Mothers’ Club Alumnae Committee.

Invitations have been mailed for this fabulous one stop Christmas shopping bazaar! Over forty vendors will be at La Salle to sell their unique merchandise. So grab your mother, daughter, sister, or your friends and come “shop till you drop.”

For tickets and more information, contact:

Help La Salle earn thousands of dollars.

It’s Easy! It’s Free! It’s Powerful!

1.

2.

3.

Go to www.escrip.com Click on “Sign-Up” Follow the instructions

Joanne Quinn (215) 793-9934 joannevquinn@verizon.net

Register for Genuardi’s Cash Back Program with your Genuardi’s shopping card number. When you shop at any Genuardi’s store, a percentage of your bill will automatically be credited to La Salle. Please register soon, so La Salle can be a winner all year long.

Mothers' Club New York Trip

For more information, please contact:

Wednesday, April 13, 2011 8:00 am to 11:00 pm There are a few tickets remaining for for this fantastic trip to the Big Apple. Tickets are $175.00 per person, but quantities are limited and going fast!

For information and reservations, contact: Celeste LePrevost cprevost8@comcast.net (215) 248-1153

Jeanette Baldini jmbaldini@comcast.net

SAVE THE DATE! Fashion Show Thursday, March 31, 2011 (Please note change of date from school calendar) Spring Mill Country Club Ivyland, PA

16 The Belcroft December 2010

Mothers’ Club (Continued)

Musical Keyboards Needed

Donations For Saint John’s Hospice

The Mothers' Club will be collecting new or gently used musical keyboards for La Salle Academy, a school dedicated to educating children in grades three through eight, whose potential is limited by social, academic, or financial challenges, and whose parents desire, but cannot afford, a Catholic education. Last year this collection was very successful and LSA was deeply grateful to our school community. Only a few more keyboards are needed to provide each student with individual instruction.

The Alumnae Committee will be accepting donations of toiletries and socks for the clients of Saint John’s Hospice in Philadelphia. Please bring any donations to Dunleavy Center whenever Shared Treasures is open.

If you have a musical keyboard to donate, please contact: JeriBeth Subers jbsubers@verizon.net (215) 641-0522.

Advent Liturgy We hope to see a big turnout of mothers of alumni for the Mothers’ Club Christmas Shopping Spectacular on December 5, 2010. Please note that the Liturgy to be offered by Father Anthony Janton in the Marian Chapel will begin at 10:30 am, rather than 11:00 am. Light refreshments will be served immediately following Mass.

All current parents, parents of alumni and friends of La Salle are most welcome to join us in worship.

Please help us determine the amount of food needed by emailing Terry Millet at tmillet@comcast.net no later than December 3, 2010 if you will be able to attend the Liturgy.

Christmas Treasures at Shared Treasures

Alumnae Mothers’ Committee News We welcome all mothers of alumni to join us as we work together in support of the Mothers’ Club and of La Salle. Our events are a great way of staying in touch with all of the friends you have made during your son’(s’) years at La Salle. Someone asked recently, “I have a son who has graduated, but have another one still at La Salle. Am I part of the Mothers’ Club alumnae? The answer is a resounding “yes.”

All mothers of alumni should be receiving our monthly newsletter.

If you are not seeing it in your inbox, please e-mail: Kathy Caramenico kcaram@yahoo.com

This month’s featured merchandise at Shared Treasures includes a wide assortment of decorative items for the holidays. From whimsical collectible Santas to beautiful holiday trays, we have everything you’ll need to deck your halls and celebrate the season in style.

“Shared Treasures,” your source for fabulous finds and fantastic values is open each Wednesday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm at Dunleavy Center, as well as the first Saturday of the month from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm.

Merchandise changes weekly, so be sure to stop by often and shop from a terrific selection of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and accessories, home décor, books, small pieces of furniture, and more!

Tax-deductible items of gently used items are also gratefully accepted and can be left on the covered porch on the side of Dunleavy Center. Please consider helping out in the shop, too, if you have a couple of free hours during the month.

For information, call:

The Mothers’ Club Alumnae Committee Kathy Caramenico, Donnamaria Dolan, Lynn Gates, Pam Grady, Karen Guerra, Barbara Houldin, Janet McBride, and Terry Millet

Barbara Houldin (215) 990-2843 bag553@aol.com

17 The Belcroft November 2010

Grandparents’ Day November 24, 2010 Grandparents’ Day was held on Wednesday, November 24, 2010. Over 325 grandparents of current freshmen participated in a Thanksgiving Prayer Service celebrated by Reverend Anthony Janton, AFSC ‘69. The grandparents heard from Brother Richard Kestler, FSC ’60 along with Mr. Benjamin Ventresca, Jr. ’70, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. The morning concluded with a reception as the boys came down to the gym to meet with their grandparents. The students took their grandparents on tours of the school and stopped for a photo that will become a cherished item.

18 The Belcroft December 2010

Men of La Salle John P. Toner ’82 President

Upcoming Calendar of Events

Night At The Sixers

December 9, 2010

We have organized a new event for the Men of La Salle this year. Mark your calendars for a Father/Son Night at the Philadelphia 76’ers on Friday, February 25, 2011, when the Sixers will be hosting the Detroit Pistons.

More information will be published in an upcoming edition of the Belcroft.

January 6, 2011

February 3, 2011

Monthly Meeting 6:30 pm Study Commons Guest Speaker: Ray Shay Monthly Meeting 6:30 pm Study Commons Guest Speakers: Lew Clark and Tom Devlin Monthly Meeting 6:30 pm Study Commons Guest Speakers: College Counseling Center

EITC Did you know that you can earn a substantial tax credit by helping a La Salle student reach his full potential?

The Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) provides businesses the opportunity to invest in the education of La Salle students.

Companies who donate through the EITC program can contribute to the academic success of students and earn a substantial tax credit in the process.

EITC donations for students at La Salle College High School are used to provide need-based tuition assistance subsidies. Last year, over forty La Salle students received such assistance. A one-time donation can earn your business a 75% tax credit; however, a two-year commitment results in a 90% tax credit. Your business, or any of its operating subsidiaries, can receive up to $200,000 in tax credits annually.

Although several large companies participate, most EITC contributors are small businesses, donating smaller sums of money. The charitable contribution reduces the amount of a business’s taxable income as tax credits reduce tax bills dollar-for-dollar.

If you are interested in participating in this program or receiving additional information, please contact Paul Colistra ’00, Major Gifts Officer, at (215) 402-4811or colistrap@lschs.org

An Evening In Tuscany On the evening of November 6, 2010, the school was transformed into the Tuscan countryside for the annual auction. From all accounts, the evening was a tremendous success. The auction raised over $200,00 for the La Salle community. I would like to add my personal thanks to Steve Duzinski, our Auction coChairman, and all of the numerous volunteers from the administration, Mother’s Club, and Men of La Salle who made this special evening possible. Also, I would like to thank all of the sponsors and guests who supported this event with their generous contributions. This is the single largest fundraiser that supports our mission.

Father/Son Banquet The venue is warm and comfortable. Many of the faces are familiar and friendly. It feels like an extension of a family gathering – a very large family gathering! On Thursday, November 18, 2010, we hosted the annual Father/Son Banquet at Williamsons in Horsham. This year, almost 700 people attended. As a father, this was my fifth banquet. Each year, I am amazed by the camaraderie of the evening. Not only do the individual fathers and sons have a chance to make some shared memories, but the boys get a chance to connect with their friends outside of school. This year, Randy Logan, former All-Pro Eagles Safety and current Dean of Students at Saint Gabriel’s Hall, delivered an inspiring keynote speech.

Merry Christmas As we enter this very special season, I think it is important to reflect for a moment on all the blessings we have received throughout the year. There is no greater joy than being able to share all our successes with our sons and families. In this Christmas season, let’s not forget that it is not only our sons who enter to learn and leave to serve, but we as parents do also. On behalf of the Men of La Salle, our dedicated board, and all who volunteer so much time to make La Salle so special, I would like to wish you and your family a very safe, joyful, and Merry Christmas!

19 The Belcroft November 2010

Men of Faith 61st Annual Father/Son Banquet November 18, 2010 The 61st Annual Father/Son Banquet was held on Thursday, November 18, 2010 at Williamson’s Restaurant in Horsham. Over 670 students, fathers, and grandfathers enjoyed the event.

The attendees heard Randy Logan, a former All-Pro Safety with the Philadelphia Eagles and current Dean of Students at Saint Gabriel’s Hall in Audubon, PA, speak about the support of family and friends, teamwork, the importance of moral values, and how that equates to greatness in a person.

He shared some inspiring stories of his upbringing, and people that touched him, and gave him a chance, saying that we should heed those actions, and be moved to recognize those that might need our help. One memorable quote from his speech was, “If you want to be great, Serve!” This is certainly applicable to La Salle and its mission.

20 The Belcroft December 2010

Men of Accomplishment All-Catholic/All-State Selections Fall 2010

Cross Country

Golf

Football

First Team Alex Chrostowsk i* Tom Coyle * Seamus Morgan * Brendan Stone * Tom Trainer *

P.J. Acierno * Morgan Dougherty C.J. Dunton Jack Gregor * Joe Markmann Frank Worthington

Honorable Mention Jack Magee** Kevin Quinn** Matt Greco **

* All-District 12

First Team Jamal Abdur-Rahman Sean Burke Dan Ezzo Connor Daly Kevin Forster (WR and DB) Ryan Geiger Joe Naji Tim Wade Second Team Colin Buckley Cameron Cappo Sean Coleman Mark DiFrangia Ryan Geiger

st * 1 Team All-District 12 nd **2 Team All-District 12

MVP Jamal Abdur-Rahman

Water Polo All-State First Team Ian Thompson All-State Second Team Eric Schultz

Soccer First Team Khristian Hall Darius Madison *# Leonardo Romero # Second Team Craig Kikendall Chris Pawlowski * All-State # All-Southeastern PA

All-State Third Team Matt McCrudden Chris Catalino

Coach-Of-The-Year Drew Gordon

21 The Belcroft December 2010

Varsity Sports Schedules Tony Resch Athletic Director

Basketball

Indoor Track

Joe Dempsey Head Coach

Greg Bielecki Head Coach

December

December

11

11

13 17 18 20 23 27 29 30

Murrell Dobbins Tech 12:00 pm Scholastic Play by Play Philadelphia University Germantown Away 3:45 pm Calvert Hall (MD) Home 8:30 pm Christian Brothers Classic St. Peter’s (NY) Home 6:30 pm Christian Brothers Classic Malvern Prep 6:50 pm Coaches vs. Cancer Philadelphia University Chestnut Hill Academy Home 7:00 pm Wissahickon 6:15 pm Pete Nelson Classic Gwynedd-Mercy College Bethesda (MD) 1:15 pm Boardwalk Classic Wildwood, NJ Communications Tech TBA or Rancocas Valley (NJ) Boardwalk Classic Wildwood, NJ

18 23

TFCA of GP Meet No. 1

8:30 am Lehigh University TFCA of GP Meet No. 2 12:30 pm Lehigh University TFCA of GP Meet No. 3 2:00 pm Lehigh University

Swimming Frank Lichtner Head Coach December 10 14 21

Bonner-Prendergast Roman Catholic St. Joseph’s (NJ)

Home Home

3:40 pm 3:45 pm 4:00 pm La Salle University

Bowling Steve Faunce Head Coach

Wrestling

December 7 9 14 16 18

Archbishop Ryan Roman Catholic Cardinal O’Hara Conwell-Egan Holiday Tournament

21

Lansdale Catholic

Away Home Home Away

3:15 pm 3:15 pm 3:15 pm 3:15 pm 8:00 am Thunderbird Lanes Home 3:15 pm

Vic Stanley Head Coach December 12 18-19 29-30

Travis Manion Tournament 8:00 am La Salle Beast of the East Tournament TBA University of Delaware Powerade Tournament TBA Canon McMillan

Hockey Wally Muehlbronner Head Coach December 1 9 13 15 22 27-29

Portledge School

4:00 pm Hatfield Ice World St. Joseph’s Prep 8:00 pm Skatium Holy Ghost Prep 3:30 pm Grundy Ice Center Gloucester Catholic 4:00 pm Hatfield Ice World Archbishop Wood 7:30 pm Hatfield Ice World Mount Saint Charles TBD Academy Tournament Adelard Arena (RI)

Live Streaming Update La Salle College High School has offered live streaming of school events and Varsity Football games during the school year. Over 1,500 viewers logged into www.lschs.org/stream to view the Philadelphia Catholic League Championship game against Roman Catholic High School on November 12, 2010. Parents who were not able to make the Honors Convocation in October were also able to enjoy the ceremony online via our video stream.

Check our streaming page at www.lschs.org/stream for a list of upcoming live events, which will be streamed live online, including action from all of our winter sports including the defending PIAA District 12 Champion Basketball team. All questions, comments, and sponsorship inquiries can be directed to Rob Johnson at johnsonr@lschs.org

22 The Belcroft December 2010

Men of Respect Coach Bill Leahy Inducted Into Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame

by Mike Morsch Executive Editor Montgomery County Newspapers Bill Leahy, Lacrosse Coach at La Salle College High School, was inducted into the Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame on Tuesday, November 23, 2010.

Bill Leahy doesn’t look like a tough guy. Clean cut and soft spoken, he looks more like what one would expect a high school guidance counselor to look like, which is exactly what he is at La Salle College High School.

But talk to Leahy — the La Salle lacrosse coach for the past twenty years — for even the shortest of time and the conversation will likely turn to toughness.

“Everyone thinks they’re tough, but they’re really not,” said Leahy. “It’s something that’s ingrained. Make fine people, have good grades, play the game right and be tough about it. And toughness is a choice.”

And that goes a long way to explaining why Leahy — whose La Salle lacrosse teams have amassed an impressive 345-65 overall record and three state championship titles in 2004, 2008 and 2009, as well as sixteen Philadelphia Catholic League titles with an astounding 231-3 league record — is being inducted into the Montgomery County Coaches Hall of Fame at the young age of 41, the first lacrosse coach to be honored by the group.

“It’s really an honor. I was humbled,” said Leahy. “I didn’t have much response to my wife other than, ‘Wow, Tommy Lasorda and me!”(Lasorda was inducted in 2002 and was the group’s Lifetime Achievement Award winner in 2008.)

Leahy essentially started the lacrosse program from scratch some 20 years ago after arriving at La Salle via Calvert Hall High School and Loyola University in Baltimore, where he starred for a lacrosse team that made it all the way to the 1990 college Division I national championship game only to lose to Syracuse.

He also spent some time playing professional lacrosse for the Philadelphia Wings before becoming a high school coach.

“It was terrifying (starting the lacrosse program at La Salle),” said Leahy. “I remember when I arrived, we met the boys in the gym and one raised his hand and said, ‘Will this be our home arena?’ I was like, ‘Excuse me?’

And he said, ‘Ya, like the Wings?’ And I said, ‘No, no, no buddy. We play outside.’ Right then I thought of packing up and heading back to Baltimore.”

“We never lost a lot of games, but we also were at the right place at the right time,” said Leahy. “Here we were entering the Catholic League as it was starting lacrosse. And then we had the cosmic forces of good coaches, great kids and the right school environment and support. It was like catching that right wave and being out in front of it the whole time.”

In addition to crediting great coaches and a bevy of great athletes to coach over the years, Leahy said that the environment at La Salle has contributed greatly to both the lacrosse team’s success and his personal growth and satisfaction as a coach and teacher.

“I love La Salle, the community, my colleagues and friends,” he said. “You can’t beat having a place to come every day and you don’t even think about when you get your paycheck. It makes going to practice easy.

Leahy said the athletes haven’t changed a whole lot over the years, but what has changed is the way those athletes are coached.

“Growing up in Baltimore where lacrosse is probably the No. 1 sport, I was used to getting yelled at and being driven to succeed,” said Leahy. “When we lost, we’d practice before we went home, parents waiting in the parking lot – kind of old school.” But over the years, that doesn’t work anymore. You have to make it fun and creative or players will just pack up. Ultimately what changed was to lighten up and have fun while still holding the same demands and expectations about how the game is played.”

Leahy knows that his team’s run since the first state championship in 2004 through the 2010 season — where the Explorers lost in a championship game they were not expected to be in after winning consecutive state titles in 2008 and 2009 — will end some day. But he hopes to continue to stay out in front and ride that big wave for as long as possible.

“If I can have future teams that come that far (dealing with challenges and injuries like the 2010 squad), I think I’ve something else to enjoy than just state championships and league titles, maybe I’m growing up me,” said Leahy.

“You kind of hope you can be in the moment and enjoy that run because high school sports are cyclical.

After that, you can enjoy a season like last season and it makes it just as rewarding in a different way.”

December 2010 Volume Twenty Number 4

Calendar of Events December 2010 1 2 4 5

8 9 11 13 14 14-15 14-17 20 22 23-3 24 25

Early Dismissal Senior Mothers’ Tree Trimming Mothers’ Club Meeting Junior Ring Liturgy Scholarship/Entrance Exam SAT I and II Mother/Son Service Project Mothers’ Club Alumnae Liturgy Christmas Shopping Spectacular Board of Trustees Meeting Men of La Salle Meeting ACT Band Concert Alumni Board Meeting Junior Urban Challenge Kairos 37-77 Choral Concert Christmas Liturgy Christmas Recess Secret Santa Operation Santa Claus Christmas Day

1:35pm 7:00 pm 9:15 am 7:15 pm 8:30 am

11:00 am 12:00 pm 2:30 pm 6:30 pm 7:15 pm 7:30 pm

7:15 pm