2019 Honoree

fident that they had nailed this tough exam. Most of the time, they were right.

Anecdotes from Journalism classes come to mind. The excitement of putting out special editions after a big team conference win. Sitting with students in my old office by Room 325, going through drafts, talking about layouts, talking about writing. The time one student called neighboring schools to ascertain their ACT scores. Fun times. Moderating the Co-Pilot for so many years, and working with so many students, continues to be one of the highlights of my teaching time at the Collegiate. Every English teacher has favorite books, and while some of the ones I used in class 37 years ago, I wouldn’t use again now -- so much more is available that can grab a student’s interest -- two particularly stand out. I always asked seniors to write a paper at the end of their senior year about what they had liked/disliked in four years, and these two books always stood out as impactful.

One is Larry McMurtry’s Lonesome Dove, a tale of two retired Texas Rangers who see the west becoming “civilized,” and decide on one last cattle roundup to Montana. The book is 843 pages. I had some reluctant readers in Senior English about 25 years ago, and reluctant is a generous term. Yet, this book and its characters grabbed them and pulled them into the world of 1870s Texas. Many previously disinterested readers became so enamored of the story that they finished the book well in advance of the due date, and went on to read the sequel, and the sequel to the sequel, and the prequel. Ask them now who their favorite literary character is, and many of those alumni will say Gus McRae, the character played in the movie version of the book by actor Robert Duvall.

The other book is Watership Down, a fantasy about rabbits. Written by the late Richard Adams, the book follows the adventures of a group forced out of their homes by new housing. While the book may seem juvenile, how happy I was when freshmen “got it” -- got the allegory in the book to different societies and governmental systems, got the theme of environmental impact, got the characters, albeit, talking rabbits. And I loved that they got some comfort from those characters. That the smallest rabbit in the group made one of the biggest contributions to their survival. That students from my classes still remember some of the specialized vocabulary Adams created, including the ubiquitous “hraka” which is fitting for almost any situation.

Other memories include hilarious pep rallies (Popelawski). Homecoming float parties. The ill-fated IM basketball team, “Granger’s Weasels,” where

I was scoring more points than the guys -- we dropped off the schedule quickly. Games and dances and honors banquets and baccalaureates and graduations -- even the graduation that featured a mouse, and the graduation that featured “marbles” -- he just “wanted to give my friends something to remember me by.” Fun moments in class where plans went out the window as we giggled over a silly phrase. Getting to know my students and their parents outside of class. Attending students’ graduations, and college graduations, and visiting them in the hospital when they were sick or injured. Holding an alumni’s newborn son. Traveling to Europe with students and watching their awe in seeing the Eiffel Tower, the Mona Lisa, and their somber visit to the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. Serene and sad moments when a student or faculty member passed away, and we joined as a community to mourn their passing.

My teaching extended through 2004, when Brother Bob Carnaghi decided to include me in the Advancement Department on a part-time basis. I handled the website from 2001 through 2018, parent emails, alumni emails and newsletters, public relations, and social media. The part-time aspect offered great flexibility for babysitting grandchildren and engaging in community activities, and for some down time after years and years of intense work in the classroom. I miss the classroom, those moments of the light bulb going on that show in a student’s eyes, but know that my work has made a difference in the school’s existence and future.

I have the best of both worlds, and am deeply thankful that President John Knight has given me the opportunity to enjoy this part 3 in my DLS life. How fortunate I am to have daily contact with students, and to write. Coming to school is a joy, not a chore. Every day, I get to chat with students about their college plans, the prom date (or lack of one), how they’re doing on the track team.

The faculty and staff we have in place are second to none. I get to connect with my colleagues -- men and women who are committed to the Lasallian mission. I am just a teeny bit jealous of all the tech “toys” available, especially those smart boards. I was the first teacher to really have a website for classes, back in the days of Microsoft Front Page and the pre-cloud era. I have worked with terrific colleagues in Advancement on the annual raffle, the Christian Brothers’ Dinner, the alumni golf outing. We have a fantastic team, and I am so lucky to be part of our efforts to secure the school’s future.

St. John Baptist de La Salle told the brothers to “touch their students’ hearts.” Thank you, for touching mine.

We

Congratulations to my wife, our mom, and our grandma

We’re very proud of you!

The Silent Auction

Through the generosity of family, friends, and supporters of De La Salle Collegiate High School, we are proud to offer you the Annual Silent Auction. Many of the items are social events to be shared with family, friends, and business associates. A list of Auction Items can be found on your table.

We are using technology and saving the planet at the same time by teaming with Qtego for “electronic bidding” on the auction.

It’s easy to register and you can bid right from your phone!

See the following page for instructions on registering and bidding.

If you need any help, please ask one of the Qtego representatives or one of the DLS staff members for assistance.

As always, enjoy the evening and thank you for your continued support.

https://qtego.net/qlink/dls

The Auction will close and check out will begin at 10:00 p.m.

If you do not take your winnings home tonight, we will contact you within the next week and make arrangements to pick up your item(s) at DLS.