School News

Students Learn from Alumni Experiences

DLS Campus Minister Brian Barker and Chris Godfrey (‘76).

Chris Godfrey spoke to seniors at the annual senior retreats over three days in February. He lives in South Bend with his wife and six children. Chris heads Life Athletes (lifeathletes.org), the organization he founded, and is a frequent speaker to high school groups around the country.

Vince Thomas (‘96), speaking with students.

Vince Thomas, visited De La Salle and spoke with the DECA Club in March. Thomas challenged the aspiring business leaders to devote their talents to work they love doing, and to seek out a business culture that fits their personality and strengths.

2015 Raffle A Success

Nicholas Redmond, Grand Prize Winner Norm Raymond, and Br. Tom Lackey.

The 41st Annual Student Raffle is now history, with DLS students, along with the support of alumni, exceeding the school goal of $175,000. Our winners are: Grand Prize $10,000 Winner: Norm Raymond – Ticket number 66724. The winning ticket was sold by sophomore Nicholas Redmond. 2nd Prize $5,000 Winner: Rosemary Schaffer – Ticket Number 30091. 3rd Prize $2,500 Winner: Karen Wlasiuk – Ticket Number 34662. Thanks to Allied Printing and Paul C. Zimmer, Class of ’66, for the printing of the tickets.

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DLS Adopting Project Lead the Way to Address “STEM” Curriculum

Beginning in the 2015 - 2016 school year, DLS is introducing Project Lead the Way (PLTW) that will “bring all our engineering opportunities under one umbrella,” according to Principal Patrick Adams. Adams said there have been two issues in the existing DLS STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology, and Math) curriculum. “Kids were coming in at the ninth grade level, and had already experienced the topics covered in our current eleventh grade Robotics class. This was problematic. You can’t have kids wait until junior year to cover material they already know.” The other issue was the tremendous expansion of the CATIAv6 classes. The CATIA courses, using the sophisticated computeraided design technology used in industry, “began to grow legs. More and more students wanted to be involved, and we were putting more and more human and monetary resources into the program,” said Adams. Adams first heard about PLTW two years ago at a Lasallian educators conference. “Two Lasallian schools were struggling with the same things we were.” He said one adopted the PLTW curriculum, while the other school created its own. PLTW began about 15 years ago as an industry attempt to fill a void in the technology sector. “Industry was finding high school graduates did not necessarily have the ability to begin a rigor

ous engineering program, such as Purdue University’s Engineering program,” said Adams. “Nor did students have the skills to be employed at a base level in the industry.” He explained that industry approached major universities and districts across the country. “They said, here’s what kids need to know. Here’s the curriculum we suggest. We’ll help find sponsors if you will institute this curriculum.” Project Lead the Way (PLTW) programs are now offered in more than 4700 middle and high schools in all 50 states. There are currently 118 schools offering PLTW programs in Michigan. De La Salle becomes the first high school in Macomb County to offer PLTW. Adams said, “I believe PLTW is an initiative that fits perfectly into what we are trying to do. Essentially this will give us an engineering track that in our estimation can become a huge program over the next five years.” Assistant Principal Steve Stewart says that 40 students, not including the incoming freshmen, have requested the Introduction to Engineering Design (IED) course for next fall. “The PLTW curriculum sets a class size limit of 20-24. Which students get into the class depends on the master scheduling process.” Adams also says PLTW fits in perfectly with the ultimate goal of creating a working opportunity in the second semester of senior year. “Project Lead the Way will give kids the opportunity to be

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employable with relevant skills while in high school, and be prepared for co-op opportunities in college.” Stewart notes that the outlook for STEM-related college degrees is good. “Recent reports say the deficit in STEM-based occupations will last through 2020, and probably beyond.” The lead teacher for the initial PLTW class will be Ron Barger, the Catiav6 teacher. Barger is trained in Industrial Technology and CAD (Computer-Aided Design). Because Physics is a part of the PLTW curriculum, both of De La Salle’s Physics teachers, Jim De Haan and Eric Leichtnam, are also involved. This summer, Barger and DeHaan will take Year 1 Training. In 2016, DeHaan and Leichtnam will take the Year 2 Training for the second year of the program, Principles of Engineering. PLTW has certified various partners to train teachers; Eastern Michigan University is the closest site. To cover the costs associated with PLTW, including the curriculum, materials, and teacher training, as well as an annual fee, Stewart wrote a grant application for $25,000 from General Motors. That grant, along with an anticipated second grant from a non-industry source, will help cover the first-year fees. To learn more about Project Lead the Way, visit the non-profit’s website at www.pltw.org.

What the teachers say about Project Lead the Way Ron Barger

In the Fall we will start implementing Project Lead the Way, and the first piece of the puzzle starts with Introduction to Engineering (IED). Throughout the course, students will design, analyze, and communicate possible solutions to a variety of environmental and technological problems. It is about applying engineering, science, math, and technology to solve complex, open-ended problems in a real-world context. Students focus on the process of defining and solving a problem, not on getting the “right” answer.

Jim DeHaan

I am looking forward to seeing students being immersed in this curriculum. Rather than being an engineering class, this program looks to give the students the experience that is needed to truly understand physics and mathematics concepts. Right now, the AP Physics 1 curriculum is completely laboratory-based, but PLTW turns these labs into projects. I am looking forward to being a part of this.

Eric Leichtnam

I am extremely excited about the addition of Project Lead the Way to our course offerings at DLS. The students who choose to take part in this segment of STEM courses are going to get valuable hands’-on experience solving problems that the engineers of today solve in their daily work. Perhaps most exciting is that our students will partner with local businesses. This will allow students to see problem solving happen in the workplace and also give them an opportunity to begin networking with engineers in the field. There will be a heavy emphasis on traditional Physics concepts in the second-year PLTW course: Principles of Engineering. When students enter this course, they will bring the basic concepts and strategies that they learned in the Introduction to Engineering course to help them solve problems that are much more complex in nature, both physically and mathematically.

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Four Students Qualify for DECA International Competition

Sixteen students in De La prepare a speech or presentaSalle’s newly-formed chapter tion for the judge. of Distributive Education DECA is an international Clubs of America (DECA) association of high school and participated in state competicollege students and teachers tion in Grand Rapids in midof marketing, management March, after qualifying at the and entrepreneurship in DECA District Competition, business, finance, hospitalheld in Detroit in January. ity, and marketing sales and Ten of the 16 received awards service. The organization for their performances, and four qualified to compete at Jason Kathawa, Michael Smigiel, Zach Giannetti, and Jon Miko. prepares leaders and entrepreneurs for careers and the International Conference The State Competition awards education in marketing, finance, in Orlando, FL, at the end of April. are based on the online exam that hospitality, management, and other The four national qualifiers students took at the end of February business areas. include seniors Zach Giannetti, Jon Miko,and Mike Smigiel, and sophomore Jason Kathawa. and two judged role plays at the competition. Students are given a scenario and have ten minutes to The DLS DECA Chapter is moderated by Mrs. Stephanie Howay and Mr. Dennis Koch.

Senior Team in State’s Top Five in Fed Reserve Challenge

Three DLS seniors - Nicholas monetary policy recommendation. Jozefczyk, John Miko, and The team must then defend its preMichael Smigiel - competed in sentation before a panel of judges the High School Fed Challenge in a 13-minute Q and A. Judges at the Federal Reserve in Detroit are New York Fed economists, as on March 13, and finished in the well as staff who are experts on top five in the state. Michael also economics and monetary policy. participated last year. The students must think on their The competition is a simulated Federal Open Market Committee Jon Miko, Michael Smigiel, and Nicholas Jozefczyk feet, as well as thinking analyti cally, making an effective pre(FOMC) meeting. The FOMC is sentation, and working as a team the policy making group that makes interest rate - skills that are valuable in both academic and decisions to foster economic strength and stability. professional careers. The students prepared for the competition by reading the Wall Street Journal, reading minutes of the FOMC, and studying economic indicators, such as labor statistics. The competition consists of a team 12-minute presentation: a short-term forecast for the economy and a Michael said, “I am truly honored to compete with such a great group, and for such a great school. Even though we won’t be going on to nationals, the experience enhanced our economic knowledge.” Mr. Dennis Koch, who teaches Banking and Economics, is the group’s coach and moderator.

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Marching Band at the ‘Joe’ for DeKeyser Bobblehead Night

The Marching Pilots performed on the steps of Joe Louis Arena in early March, prior to a Red Wings’ home game vs. the Edmonton Oilers. The occasion was Danny DeKeyser “Bobblehead” Night. DeKeyser is a 2008 De La Salle graduate. After performing, the musicians, and nearly 250 family members and friends, enjoyed the game. DeKeyser has been extremely supportive of the school. He appeared in Red Wings’ produced videos in the days prior to the De La Salle vs. Muskegon Mona Shores state championship game at Ford Field in November. He wore a Pilots’ football jersey, with his Wings’ number, 65, and made a friendly wager with his Wings’ teammate, Justin Abdelkader, a Muskegon Mona Shores graduate. The Marching Band is pictured on the steps of Joe Louis Arena. In the photo: Standing in front of the Band, along with DeKeyser’s family, Music Director Mike Szczegielniak (third from left) and Drum Major Christian Miller (far right). DeKeyser himself was warming up, but did talk about the Pilots and their success in pre-game interviews with Red Wings’ TV and radio announcers.

Mock Trial Team Earns High Praise

The DLS Mock Trial Team took third at the Macomb County Regional Tournament in early March, and earned high praise from several local judges and attorneys. The third-place designation came with Honorable Mention honors, and a “wild card” possibility for the State Tournament in Lansing.

The Mock Trial Tournament is sponsored by the Michigan Center for Civic Education. Teams of 6-10 students present arguments for Ben Aloia (‘91), Michael Nicholas, Mario Fusciardi, Joe Hallman, either the plaintiff or defense before panels of Kyle Walters, Ryan Wisniewski, Michael Kostuch, Nicolas Taylor, real judges and lawyers who serve as the preJustin Pauken, Jacob Jones, and Kyle Kole (‘06). siding judge and jury. The 2015 team consisted entirely of juniors, with The mock trial experience gives students exposure four students returning from last year’s team. to an actual trial, and enables them to make connecThe team held practices at De La Salle, at Aloia’s tions with well-respected area lawyers. offices in Mt. Clemens, or at the 37th District Attorney Ben Aloia, (‘91), served as the team’s coach, Courthouse in Warren and also watched the proalong with attorney Kyle Kole, (‘06), and Jacob Jones, ceedings of a real trial at the Macomb County the DLS School Psychologist and Counselor. Circuit Court in Mt. Clemens.