2023 De La Salle High School Viewbook

DISCOVER BELONGING IGNITE POTENTIAL

About De La Salle

For more than 50 years, we have educated thousands of young men in the tradition of a Lasallian Catholic education.

We believe that all students should have access to an education that will prepare them for the future — to complement a robust academic curriculum with the tools they need to become productive capable leaders of society. Throughout campus, students also see our integral student outcomes, a list of three expectations for every De La Salle graduate:

Integral Student Outcomes

A De La Salle graduate is a Man of Faith

Who prays and integrates Gospel values Serves others, especially the poor and the marginalized And appreciates our Lasallian Catholic tradition.

A De La Salle graduate is a Man of Integrity

Who respects himself and others

Embraces social and personal responsibility And nurtures a healthy lifestyle.

A De La Salle graduate is a Man of Scholarship

Who thinks creatively, critically, independently, and collaboratively Strives for academic excellence

And pursues life-long learning.

Faith Integrity Scholarship Brotherhood

These four humble and profound ideals center our students, provide inspiration in the classroom, and motivate us every day.

If you talk with students, parents, faculty and staff members, or alumni about what makes De La Salle so special, you will often hear of the Spartan Brotherhood. This Brotherhood rests on the idea that we are a community working together to achieve a shared goal. Spartans have a deep sense of pride in helping each other achieve their own objectives. Students are encouraged and challenged to “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve,” to use the gifts they have received to help others, especially the socioeconomically challenged, and to have a deep sense of responsibility for humanity’s future. Through this connection, students find support, love, and care, whether through a group project, retreat, community service, or athletic competition.

Academic Life

De La Salle offers students a diverse and challenging curriculum designed to provide a thorough education rooted in the traditions of the Catholic faith.

Our academic requirements are designed to meet or exceed the admissions requirements of public and private University Systems Nationwide including the University of California. Across all disciplines, our courses are designed to teach critical thinking skills and to enable students to achieve their educational goals. Below are examples of courses that are available to incoming students:

Freshman Curriculum:

• Religious Studies

• Core Principles of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology

• English

• First Aid/Health

• Mathematics

• World History

• World Languages: Spanish, French, Italian, Latin, or American Sign Language

Freshman Electives:

• Physical Education

• Concert/Marching Band

• Jazz Band

• Chorale

• Technical Theater

• Drawing, Sculpting, and Painting

• Yearbook

• Intro to Computer Science

• Multimedia Design

Student Support Services

Meeting the needs of our students

De La Salle High School offers a comprehensive counseling program to meet the various needs of our students. This department of four offers each student planning, personal counseling, and responsive services. The student-counselor relationship is cultivated intentionally, over time, through retreats, classroom engagement and non-traditional interactions. This provides both student and counselor with numerous opportunities to get to know each other in various contexts to facilitate authentic connections.

Mental Health

In a post-COVID school community, we value relationship building and a heightened sensitivity to mental health. As an all-boys school we also recognize the significance of building literacy and vocabulary around emotional expression rather than internalizing or externalizing the challenges our young men face.

College Counseling

We have two dedicated College Counseling Directors who assist students and parents with the process of college admissions, scholarships, and financial aid applications. Additionally, Seniors have a college advisory class to assist them through the application process. Each of our counselors is trained in cultural competency to develop the framework to support a wide variety of students. Our aim is to provide personalized care based on the small number of students trusted to each counselor, the training they receive, and the spiritual grounding of the work at hand.

Library and Learning Center

We have two dedicated spaces that offer a wealth of resources for our students: our Library and our Learning Center. Our Library serves as a meeting space, study space, and access point to traditional and electronic text, literature, and resources. It is equipped with books, computers, display facilities, and workspaces for individual and class groups.

Our Learning Center features three conference rooms, office space, a quiet room, and 20 carousel stations. Students go there to meet with peer groups or to receive help from student and adult volunteer tutors. With dedicated staff in each location students have ample opportunity to develop new skills to succeed both in and out of the classroom.

“The next-to-none care from DLS faculty and counselors allow for an enormous variety of student services, which are all catered to the different needs of each student. When properly taken advantage of, these resources do not only help students through tough educational and personal times, but also help us truly excel.”

- Gabe ‘24

College Bound

Each year juniors and seniors can attend presentations on the De La Salle campus from college and university representatives from nearly 150 schools.

♦ Information and guidance on a full range of post high school options, including four-year colleges, community colleges, technical and vocational programs, gap year programs, and other possibilities are provided beginning in sophomore year.

♦ Sophomores take a career interest assessment which exposes them to possible career opportunities that match their interests and skills. This allows them to:

 See what majors relate to that career

 Discover what colleges offer that major

♦ Parent college planning informational webinars

♦ Students are provided access to SCOIR an online platform used for college searches and applications. SCOIR helps students/families:

 Research colleges

 Access past De La Salle applicant data history, which allows student to compare themselves to alumni who have attended their college of interest

♦ Financial aid and scholarships speaker series

♦ Our college counselors are available to students, parents, and guardians by phone, email, and family meetings.

Where is the De La Salle Class of 2023 attending college this year?

40% of the class are attending 4-year institutions in CA

30 different schools (20 public, 10 private)

61 are attending 4-year out-ofstate institutions

30 states, 3 countries

9 average number of colleges and universities students applied to Average acceptance rate of 66%

28 students were recruited for the NCAA

11% of the class

85% 4-year institutions

209 students

12% 2-year institutions

31 students

Students are invited to see the Divine within and in all that surrounds them. As they navigate their four-year journey, we aim to create servant leaders; young men who have the skills, drive, capacity, and passion to make the world a better place.

Campus Ministry:

Campus Ministry is an integral part of student life at De La Salle and with participation in the Lasallian Youth, students are able to emulate the life and deeds of our Founder in service, faith and community. Our Campus Ministry empowers De La Salle to respond to the Lasallian call of Faith, Service, and Community (FSC) and about the meaning of “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve.”

By providing opportunities to serve those less fortunate than ourselves, we respond to the Gospel call to service. All of these experiences combined help to build a strong community committed to building the Kingdom of God.

Essential to our approach is the spiritual education that our students receive.

Forming Men of Faith

Retreats:

Our four-year retreat program offers thoughtful and engaging options for students, parents, and faculty to consider their journey of faith. Each grade level experiences a retreat corresponding to their level of independence and cognition.

Freshmen participate in an on-campus retreat, “Brotherhood,” where students focus on community-building.

Sophomores participate in an off-campus retreat, “Metanoia,” where they focus on becoming a Man of Integrity with Jesus as our model.

Juniors participate in an off-campus immersion in San Francisco with St. Anthony’s Foundation. These FSC immersions challenge students to be Men of Service, serving the most in need.

Seniors participate in a three-day “Kairos” retreat at the Vallombrosa Retreat Center. Students focus on their relationship with themselves, with others, and with God.

Prayer/Liturgies:

Morning Mass is offered every morning at 7:45 am in the chapel before school for those who are interested in coming. Every grade has a Class Liturgy on a weekend throughout the year for them and their families to pray together. There are seven all-school liturgies throughout the year, celebrated in the Hofmann Center, for all students to worship together.

Immersions:

Students have the opportunity to participate in an immersion experience outside of the Bay Area called “Ven a Ver,” or “Come and See.” These immersions offer students an opportunity to truly learn and see the realities facing our marginalized communities.

Creating Men of Integrity

Co-Curricular Activities

De La Salle High School students are highly encouraged to participate in the co-curricular life of school. Over 73% of the student body are student-athletes, 62% participate in student clubs, and many are involved in our Visual and Performing Arts programs. These programs are designed to promote the physical and social development of the student, to provide opportunities for leadership and service to the community, and to develop interests and talents. A core tenet of these activities is building a commitment to others, learning to respect differences, and striving to be well-rounded.

Clubs

Student activities are a vital part of the curriculum at De La Salle. Here is a sample of clubs offered:

• Asian Pacific Islander Club

• Astronomy Club

• Black Student Union

• Chess

• Film Club

• Green Club

• Habitat for Humanity

• Healing Spaces

• Hermanos Unidos

• Improv

• Japanese Anime and Manga

• Lasallian Youth

• Mentors in Violence Prevention

• Model United Nations

• National Honor Society

• Robotics Club

• Student Coalition on Respectful Education

• Sociedad Honoraria

Hispanica

• Thespian Society

• Yearbook

Arts

Immerse yourself in our vibrant arts program, where creativity knows no bounds. With a state-of-the-art fabrication shop, you’ll sculpt your ideas into reality. Our renowned theatre company invites you to step into the limelight, while our concert and jazz bands set the stage for melodic harmonies to soar. Unleash your inner artist in our visual arts studio, where your imagination takes form on canvas. Join us to shape your artistic journey and unlock your creative potential.

Spartan Athletics

Our Athletic Department is committed to providing a well-rounded program for our 750 student-athletes. It provides student-athletes with a program that is not only physically challenging but complementary to the spiritual and academic values of St. John Baptist de La Salle.

We recognize and foster the development of commitment, brotherhood, and sportsmanship, and hope to instill, in all of the student-athletes, a sense of pride, achievement, and integrity.

Our interscholastic athletic teams compete in 14 Sports in the East Bay Athletic League (EBAL) and the North Coast Section (NCS) of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF).

Fall

Cross Country Football

Water Polo

Winter

Basketball

Soccer

Wrestling

Spring

Badminton

Baseball

Golf

Lacrosse

Swimming & Diving

Tennis

Track & Field

Volleyball

*De La Salle has a number of club teams that are not CIF sanctioned.

Club*

Rugby (Winter)

Ice Hockey (Spring)

Trap Shooting (Spring)

Developing Men of Scholarship

We empower students to take charge of their learning journey and equip them with the skills needed to tackle real-world challenges.

Through our innovative curriculum, interactive teaching methods, and collaborative learning environments, we foster a culture of active engagement and critical thinking. De La Salle students demonstrate a genuine passion for learning, enabling them to explore their interests, delve into meaningful projects, and develop the skills needed to navigate a rapidly changing world.

Our students benefit from personalized guidance, mentorship, and hands-on learning opportunities. Our curriculum is designed to nurture well-rounded individuals who possess the resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving abilities necessary for success in college, career, and beyond.

Discover Our Campus

A thriving and diverse community located near Walnut Creek and beautiful Mt. Diablo

Academics

Our classrooms are equipped with a variety of technology including SmartBoards, computers with full internet access and LCD projectors with surround sound. The Kenneth H. Hofmann Student Center is a focal point of our campus that contains our cafeteria and also acts as a gathering place for liturgies and student assemblies.

Arts

Our theater hosts performing arts productions and is connected to a music building with practice facilities for our jazz, concert and marching bands. The Fabrication Shop — shared between theater set building, metal, and wood sculpture making, and robotics — is a collaborative space for those interested in fabrication, woodworking, metalworking, and electronics.

Athletics

Our facilities include a newly renovated gymnasium and locker room as well as two weight rooms. Our outdoor athletic venues include a stadium with new artificial turf used for many different sporting events; a track with shot put, high jump, long jump and pole vault facilities; swimming pool; a baseball field with a grass infield and outfield along with an indoor batting cage; and a large, grass all-purpose practice field.

We hope that you feel inspired by this glimpse of our community, and invite you to continue to explore all of the aspects that distinguish us. Please contact us with any questions you may have.

Mr. Free Gary Director of Admissions

Mrs. Megan Lopoz Admissions Associate