Academic News

DECA Students Drive for More

Twenty-two De La Salle Collegiate students who participate in the DECA program (Distributive Education Clubs of America) attended the DECA State Leadership Conference in early November at the Detroit Marriott. Students attended workshops on public speaking, advertising, marketing, and brand management. The DECA group at De La Salle, begun just two years ago, has had great success, with three students qualifying for the 2015 nationals, and five qualifying in 2016. To reach the national level, the students take an online test in December, and then take part in a “role-playing” competition in January against mostly Oakland County schools. Scores from both the online test and the role-playing competition are used to determine state qualifiers. Coaching the group are teachers Dennis Koch, ‘94, and Stephanie Howay. Dennis says, “DECA gives our students an outstanding opportunity to showcase their academic skills in all business subjects, demonstrate their superior public speaking skills in role plays during competitions, compete against other area schools, and have fun - all at the same time. It is a tremendous experience for our students and our students continue to be among the best in the area year after year.” The students who participate

are enthused and praise their DECA experience, and the recent conference. Senior Dominic Sciturro said, “The DECA State Leadership Conference provided a unique experience for students not only to learn the best strategies to compete in DECA, but also to meet with real-world business professionals. Throughout the conference, students were able to learn about sports and entertainment marketing, running a school store, building your personal brand, and the professional use of social media. This is truly one of the best field trips De La Salle Collegiate has to offer and I encourage all students, no matter what their interest is,

Academic News

Advanced Placement Results

Congratulations to our De La Salle Collegiate Classes of 2016 and 2017 on their outstanding achievements on the May 2016 Advanced Placement exams. Of those students, 11 have been named AP Scholars with Distinction, 8 have been named AP Scholars with Honor,and 15 have been named AP Scholars.

AP Scholars with Distinction:

students who received an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. • Joseph Caron • Trevor Dame • Casey Hempel • David Jimenez • Michael C. Nicholas • Austin Piontkowski • Michael Riehs • Colin Roach • Brendan Sulkowski (‘17) • Joseph Taras • Alexander Yeiser

AP Scholar with Honor: students who received an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams. • Brendan DeSantis (‘17) • Matthew Held • Russell Hu (‘17) • Michael Lipinski • Thomas Meram • Justin Pauken • Alexander Schienke (‘17) • Steven Staeb

DECA, continued

to attend and learn life and Mr. Koch.” AP Scholar: students who received an average score of at least 3 on three or more AP exams. • Joshua Cormier • Rene Demers (‘17) • Gabriel Harris • Michael Kostuch • Benjamin Nicol (‘17) • William Overcash (‘17) • Sungmo Park • Macarthur Pellerito • Andrew Piasecki (‘17) • John Ruskus • Nicholas Scott • Evan Sobetski • Alex Studnicka • Nicolas Taylor • Josh Wilk In May 2016, 164 students wrote 299 Advanced Placement Exams

skills and network with professionals!” Senior Alex Aiuto was equally enthused. “I thought the overall feedback from the group was positive and everyone took advantage of the wonderful opportunity. We met with several different CEO’s during our two days downtown. DECA is something I would recommend for everyone. It is a club that is growing rapidly and it has a strong leadership with Mrs. Howay in 15 subject areas.

DECA Seeks Alumni Businessmen

Alumni with business experience are invited to assist DECA with role playing practice in January. Jerry Zaccardelli, ‘75, has helped out for the last few years. Jerry says, “DECA is providing students with the basic training blocks of proposing and supporting arguments on their product or service. As coaches and judges, we are using reallife situations that challenge the students to think on their feet. The students develop a sense of how they need to be prepared for anything, not just what they have learned, but also incorporating creative thinking to augment their position while still making their point! “As a judge, I look for not only how the facts are presented, but how the student responds to the challenges of my questions! Well-coached students know there are several ways to respond and often use more than one point to support their position! It is a real-time response that very often imitates a real-life situation!!” Interested alumni should contact Dennis Koch at dkoch@delasallehs. com or Stephanie Howay at showay @delasallehs.com.

Academic News

New Program Teaches Retail Skills

An exciting new program was introduced to students this semester, the Pilot Hangar Student Assistant Program, designed to teach students the inner workings of a retail store.

Seniors Noah Lawrence, Dominic Sciturro, and Michael DeDecker are the first students in this inaugural program.

They are gaining a better understanding of time management, improved money management, merchandising and communication skills, and most importantly, the Seniors Dominic Sciturro, Mike DeDecker, and Noah Lawrence opportunity to make a difference in the bookstore that is our own, The Pilot Hangar. Students work with the store manager, Mrs. Joann VanderPutten, in a one-on-one setting that allows them to learn the daily operations of the store. Business Teacher Dennis Koch says, “This is a great opportunity for these students to get some hands-on experience in a real-world setting, and at the same time have the chance to learn skills, communication, time management, security, and money management. The students may count some t-shirts, but they are there to learn and do much more than that.” To be eligible for the Pilot Hangar Student Assistant Program, students must be a past or current student in at least one Business course, such as Accounting, Banking, IB Business Management, or Advanced Placement Economics. Dennis adds, “Along with the experience students can gain by being in the Banking class and working

Dominic Sciturro describes a Pilot Hangar product to a prospective customer

in the Christian Financial Credit Union (CFCU), now in its sixth year, students definitely have an advantage when they go to college and are seeking parttime work. They have more experience than others, which opens up more opportunities.”

Academic News

Steve Stewart Named Principal

Assistant Principal Steve Stewart assumed the title of Interim Principal in late June 2016, and with it all of the day-to-day responsibilities of running our school. In early November, President John M. Knight named Steve as Principal. “When I asked Steve to assume the role of Interim Principal, I was hopeful that over the first few months of the school year that it would become clear to me and to my colleagues on the Faculty and Staff that the Interim tag would soon be dropped, and that Steve would simply, and most importantly, serve our school as our Principal,” said Mr. Knight. “Well, that is in fact what has happened. In the midst of a very sensitive and challenging time, Steve has displayed the essential qualities necessary to lead our school in the years to come.” Although Steve is new to the principal role, he has been an educational leader and administrator at De La Salle since 2004. Steve brings a great deal of experience (academics, instruction, curriculum, teacher evaluations, technology, registrar, and data analysis to name a few) as well as bringing continuity to the Collegiate. He has contributed to many of our initiatives over the years to make De La Salle a better place. Steve is very excited to continue and expand upon our fantastic educational programs. His initial priorities include getting into the classrooms, linking what students should learn to educational standards, and providing meaningful feedback to students and parents. He is looking forward to working collegially with all of our stakeholders - students, parents, teachers, staff, alumni, and the greater community - this year. “De La Salle’s course is most definitely heading in the right direction,” says Steve. “It is a privilege and honor to work with such dedicated and passionate professionals who put students first. I am blessed.” President Knight says, “I have come to know Mr. Stewart as a man of integrity, compassion, and understanding, and one who embraces the goals of a Lasallian secondary education. Mr. Stewart has the respect and admiration of the Faculty and Staff. “I am grateful to him for accepting the opportunities, challenges, joys, and sorrows that accompany the role of Principal. “I have every confidence in Mr. Stewart’s continued ability to serve our school as our chief academic officer, and to partner with me and the office of the President in the years to come.” Steve has degrees from the University of Michigan (B.A. in Political Science and History), Eastern Michigan University (History), and Oakland University (Ed. Specialist in Educational Leadership).

Alumnus Joins Staff

Welcome home to Brother Ken Kalinowski, ‘84, who is joining the DLS Faculty as a member of the Religion Department. Brother Ken was most recently teaching in Papua New Guinea. He pronounced his Final Vows as a Brother of the Christian Schools (FSC) in July 2016.