June/July 2016 Parent Newsletter

ParentNewsletter The La Salle

FOR PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF LA SALLE HIGH SCHOOL • PASADENA • CA • JUNE/JULY 2016

Principal Ideas The Interview Learn•Serve•Lead

Transcribed by Justin DeMesa '17

On Tuesday, June 14, newly elected Student Life President, Max DoVale, sat down with Mrs. Courtney Kassakhian, who begins her tenure as La Salle's 15th principal on July 1st and asked her a few important questions.

Max DoVale: Thank you for meeting with me. Since we are both leaders stepping into new positions at La Salle, myself as Student Body President, and you as Principal, I believe this will greatly benefit our closely knit community at La Salle. So to start off, what would you like the La Salle community to know about you?

Courtney Kassakhian: Well, first let me say how excited I am to be coming to La Salle. I have, you know, spent most of my career in high school, the last few years in elementary, and so this feels like a homecoming to be coming back into high school and to this really pivotal part of the lives of you as students as you’re transitioning from children into young independent adults. So I’m so excited to be part of that phase of your life again and hopefully guide all those people who are guiding you, your teachers, your coaches that you’re coming into contact with everyday.

MD: What is your personal philosophy about the benefits of a catholic college preparatory education?

CK: I think I have a special kind of understanding of that because I didn’t have a Catholic high school college prep education, I had the Catholic K through 8, but I didn’t have the opportunity to go to a Catholic

Principal Ideas Continued on page 2

More About The De La Salle Christian Brothers Today, some 1,700 de La Salle Christian Brothers, with the 85,000 lay colleagues worldwide, minister to nearly one million students in over 900 educational institutions in 84 countries on six continents. The schools serve nearly every ethnic group and religion around the world.

1

ParentNewsletter

JUNE/JULY 2016

Principal Ideas Continued from page 1

THE NEW ERA BEGINS

2

High School. Having worked in a Catholic High School for 12 years I see the huge difference that the Catholic High School education experience has on students: One is in the ability for you all to continue in your spiritual growth. To have the opportunity to go on retreats, to have the focus on service. I think we see how important teaching people about love and compassion and service is in light of the tragic events happening in our world, as recently as this last weekend in Orlando, Florida. Our world would be a lot better if more people went to Catholic High Schools and learned those values.

MD: What specifically do you know about Lasallian education?

CK: Well, I’m still reading up on that. (Smiles) But the one thing that has stuck out to me was the very clear vision of La Salle: Learn, Serve, Lead. That’s so easy to remember, it’s so short but so meaningful in just three words. It’s the academic learning, but we’re learning so that we can better serve others and through our service be leaders in our community. Again, back to your last question, we want our world to be led by people of compassion and kindness and heart.

And that’s hopefully what students are learning to become when they attend La Salle.

MD: What does La Salle’s diverse culture mean to you?

CK: That’s something that really draws me to the school. I grew up in a very diverse community. Both the schools I worked at have been in very diverse communities as well. I think that we all benefit by getting to know people that come from different ethnic backgrounds than us, different religious backgrounds than us, different socioeconomic statuses than our families have. That helps to expand our world view and make us more empathetic, which is an important quality for us to have.

MD: What did your experience as principal of Incarnation Elementary and as an administrator at Notre Dame High School teach you and how do you plan on applying that to La Salle?

CK: There are so many things. I learn something new literally every day. I think my biggest thing that I learned at Incarnation is that the most important thing to show people is that you love and care for the school community and its students. That if they are aware that all the choices you are making are being made out of wanting to help the students, out of love for the community, that even if they don’t agree with it, then hopefully they can respect it.

MD: Now, you mentioned care. So, what practices do you expect to use on a regular basis to interact with students? Where would we find you, before school, after lunch, after school?

CK: Hopefully walking around during lunchtime.

That’s what I do now at Incarnation, I tell the secretary: “I’m taking my sanity walk!”, because when you’re a principal and administrator, you have a tough job where things get thrown at you all the time. It’s good to get out and walk and be with the students because that’s why you’re there. It’s really easy to get lost behind the computer answering emails because you want to be responding to all the

parents and all the teachers. But, the reason you are doing what you do is because of you (pointing to Max), because of the students. So that’s what I like to do, kind of take my “reminder” walk, at least once or twice a day, during break, lunch, whatever it is. To say hi, to find out what’s going on with the

Principal Ideas Continued on page 13

ParentNewsletter

JUNE/JULY 2016

From the Parent Association

Just the Right Fit

The sign on the side of the freeway said “UCLA Next Exit.” I couldn’t believe it! My mother and I had driven down from San Francisco in our red Ford station wagon, and I arrived just in time for sorority “rush,” a newly minted freshman, setting foot on the UCLA campus - sight unseen.

That’s right, horrified reader, no extensive college tours for me.

For many in those days, the college application process was laughably simple: show up one Saturday morning to take the SAT, cold, no prep classes, tutoring, or family drama; submit handwritten forms (via registered mail of course) by the November deadline; know roughly whether your grades and test scores fit the schools’ requirements; and wait for those acceptance letters to roll in. I only applied to the U.C. and State University System; with two brothers following closely behind, family finances precluded other, more exclusive options. Then and now, however, California’s public universities have few equals anywhere, so I never felt deprived.

And, fortunately, UCLA fit me like a glove. I joined Alpha Phi Sorority (my mother was also an Alpha Phi at San Jose State), completed my studies at UCLA with a BA in Geography, and had my future husband Matt in my life. I made great friends that I still have 38 years later, and have wonderful memories of football games, fraternity “raids,” spring sings, late nights editing the UCLA Yearbook, “The Bomb Shelter Deli” where I worked during my years at school, and of course the incredible professors in the Geography Department. College rewarded me in ways I never could have imagined on high school graduation day.

Now, of course, the college application pro-

cess resembles something considerably less relaxed, say, Patton’s race to capture Messina during World War II. Rare is the parent who would leave her child in complete charge of the application process. Vast amounts of time, and often money, are invested in preparing our kids for the campaign ahead, with the life or death goal to capture the flag that reads, “the college of your choice.” No wonder families are exhausted by the time high school graduation day rolls around!

CHECK OUR WEBSITE FOR SCHOOL AND PARENT EVENTS

And yet… our children do capture the flag and go on to live rewarding lives in college and beyond. They are well prepared, capable, resourceful, and loved. Their La Salle education will serve them well, and serve them best when life’s challenges require them to dig deep to reckon with the unexpected.

Our daughter, Emily, will have her own unique experience in college, as will her fellow graduates in La Salle’s Class of 2016. I hope they will find, as I did, just the right fit. Whether east coast, west coast, or heartland; whether the campus is UCLA huge or Haverford intimate, I hope their choices help mold them into the people that God means them to become.

Emily will attend The University of Redlands in the fall; happily, her first choice. It was a long process for her, including all the trappings of the contemporary college search: campus tours, SAT tutoring, late night essay writing, and online applications.

We believe that she has found, for herself, just the right fit, but only time, and her own effort, will tell. We are grateful to La Salle, whose counselors, especially Tina Bonacci, Parents

Continued on page 9

3

ParentNewsletter

JUNE/JULY 2016

La Salle Matters

With this issue of the ParentNewsletter we welcome the Class of 2020. We are delighted to report that, for the first time since the advent of the Great Recession, we enrolled substantially more students than we planned for; and they are a talented group – 82% of students scored in the top quartile of the Entrance Exam with respect to college preparatory readiness. Yet, as we prepare for this new crop of budding Lancers, I worry about the world they will face in just four short years. The tragic situation in Orlando combined with the most fractured presidential contest since the Nixon campaign makes me fear for the future the Class of 2020 will encounter. I wonder how do we prepare them for a world which increasingly chooses name-calling and violence over reasoned – and reasonable – conversation? How do we nurture in them an inclination towards justice and peace when hatred and physical conflict appear to be the norm? How do we encourage them to prefer not only tolerance but the celebration of diversity – in all its forms – when the nightly news makes clear that intolerance is not just a function of the geo-politics of a fractured Middle East but also hits too close to home in Orlando as well as at presidential debates?

I suspect that the answers we seek are not readily available – it was, perhaps, ever thus – nevertheless our job is to equip the Class of 2020 – as we have done for the last 60 years – with the tools to find answers that make sense to them and, at the same time, advance the Gospel imperative to leave the world a better place than the one they were given. Admittedly, the world they will inherit appears to be increasingly fragmented and ever more dangerous – but Gospel values are timeless and, therefore, never irrelevant… which brings me to the purpose of why these young people will benefit from a La Salle education. It lies in the nearly 400 year story of the Christian Brothers who serve nearly a million children in over 83 countries and, here in the United States, operate the largest network of Catholic secondary schools of any religious congregation. That story can be summarized in what has come to be called The Five Core Principles of a Lasallian School, a document that all of the more than 50 Lasallian secondary schools in the United States acknowledge to be our distinctive contribution to Catholic education…what we at La Salle High School like to describe as The La Salle Difference:

4

· • · • · • · •

Faith in the Presence of God

· •

Concern for the Poor & Social Justice

Quality Education Inclusive Community Respect for All Persons

It’s easy to see, I think, that these five core principles stand up to – and against – the current poisoned climate of facile name-calling, bigotry, racial, gender and religious intolerance and, most troubling, wanton hate-filled violence. And given the fear-mongering being generated by home-grown terrorists and the finger-pointing which dominates this particular election cycle, these core principles are more necessary now than ever before. I don’t think it is extravagant to assert that, if La Salle is effective in communicating the Five Core Principles to the Class of 2020, they will be prepared to confront these local and international challenges in a coherent, Gospel-centered, fashion.

And the circumstances of the La Salle that they will encounter in August are uniquely poised to

ParentNewsletter

JUNE/JULY 2016

support this effort. As part of the recently concluded strategic planning process, we have developed a Value Proposition in order to better articulate what is distinctive about La Salle versus our peer schools in the Greater Pasadena area: What distinguishes La Salle from other college-preparatory high schools in the Greater Pasadena area is the opportunity for students to nurture their individual passion in academics, the arts, athletics and/or the spiritual life. Because it is the largest private high school in Pasadena, La Salle is uniquely positioned to offer a diversity of opportunities both in and out of the classroom that is unparalleled among its peers.

This value proposition is grounded in the following characteristics that are not replicated to the same degree by any other private school option in the Greater Pasadena Area:

•·

La Salle is the only and largest Catholic co-educational high school

•·

La Salle is the most ethnically, economically and demographically diverse private high school

•·

La Salle serves more middle-income families than any other private high school in the Greater Pasadena Area

•·

La Salle provides – per student - more and greater financial aid on a demonstrated-need basis than any other private high school in the Greater Pasadena Area

•· While firmly rooted in the Catholic tradition, La Salle recognizes and welcomes students of other – and no – faiths to experience the profound impact we think Catholic values and culture can have on the moral development of all peoples •·

La Salle serves the broadest range of collegepreparatory capable students

•·

La Salle produces equivalent student collegeacceptances as other benchmark private high schools in the Greater Pasadena Area

These characteristics not only distinguish La Salle as different from its peers, but also identify what makes the community of students we serve unique: at La Salle every student will find his/her niche here. Every student will find space to grow in his/her unique way, untroubled by the pernicious peer pressure that characterizes adolescent society. Given the vagaries of teenage social encounters, we recognize that this is a bold statement; but we also know, from the rich experience of

La Salle Matters Continued on page 15

La Salle High School

3880 E. Sierra Madre Blvd.

Pasadena, California 91107-1996 • Telephone 626.351.8951 Facsimile 626.351.0275 www.lasallehs.org • The La Salle ParentNewsletter is published monthly except January and July

by La Salle High School of Pasadena, Incorporated

© 2016

• Editor, Designer John Blackstock ’67 Director of Communications Telephone: 626.696.4316 • email: jblackstock @ lasallehs . org

Transforming Lives Since 1680

5

ParentNewsletter

JUNE/JULY 2016

160 Lancers Graduate at La Salle’s 57th Commencement

6

La Salle High School graduated 160 seniors at its 57th Commencement on Friday evening, May 27, 2016. Commencement Exercises took place at the First Church of the Nazarene, next door to the School.

Madeleine Malicdem, summa cum laude, gave the Welcome Address and Lauren Rewers, summa cum laude, was chosen by the Faculty Commencement Committee for the honor of delivering the Commencement Address.

Robert W. Griffith, summa cum laude received the La Salle High School General Excellence Award for the highest cumulative grade point average in the class. This fall, Robert will attend the University of California, Los Angeles.

Robert also received the Scholar Award for Math and Science. Lauren Rewers received the Scholar Award for Liberal Arts, while Zachary Christopher summa cum laude, received the La Salle Scholar Award for Visual and Performing Arts.

Kyle Cueller, cum laude and Sarah Patrick, cum laude, received the Brother Celestine Excellence in Athletics and Sportsmanship Award. Lauren Rewers received the De La Salle Service Award for academics, leadership and service to others.

Ninety-nine percent of La Salle’s graduating class will attend colleges or universities in the fall and 92% of the class will matriculate to four-year institutions.

JUNE/JULY 2016

Lauren Rewers, summa cum laude, delivered the Commencement Address.

Robert W. Griffith, summa cum laude received the General Excellence Award for the highest cumulative GPA.

OUR LASALLIAN COMMUNITY CELEBRATES THE SENIORS

Joyful members of the graduating class are, from left, Lauren Rewers, Michael O'Reilly, Christian Joseph, Brandon Perez, Jordan Regalado, Sebastian Schiff (obscured) Anna Tse, Spencer Schoenbaum Anne Datingling, J.D. Ramirez, Mason Busbee, Jacqueline Tooley and Maddy Malicdem.

7

ParentNewsletter

8

JUNE/JULY 2016

Jordan Rupp and Jacqueline Tooley.

Isabella Mandigo, Rebecca Piesik, Cameron Jones and Isabel Espino.

Jennifer Rodriguez gave the Invocation.

Brother Christopher with Reilly Milton, who received the Arion Tavakoli '09 Dash Award prersented by Armon Tavakoli '05, and Dr Gray.

Noah Gohrick, Gabriel Rodriguez, Kayci Jatico and Sarah Patrick.

ParentNewsletter

JUNE/JULY 2016

The Right Fit Continued from page 3

did a wonderful job helping her focus and organize herself successfully; to Mrs. Doede and Mr. Miller who wrote her recommendations, and to teachers like Jude Lucas and Doug Rynerson, who inspired Emily to reach for her best self in challenging situations.

Shea Corwin.

Madeleine Malicdem delivered the Welcome Address.

With an only child, our family’s time at La Salle was short and sweet; but a very full four years.

My special joy, as a member of the Parent Association Executive Board, was to work with my fellow San Franciscan, Brother Christopher Brady, from Freshman orientation through Graduation Day. La Salle was just the right fit for both Emily and our family, and I wish as much and more for those incoming families with students starting in the fall.

One more special thanks to my husband Matt Wright, my at-home editor, who always takes the kernel of my thoughts and makes them profound, and to John Blackstock, La Salle’s terrific Director of Communications, who puts the final polish on these articles. It takes a village, and I have one!

St. John Baptist de La Salle, Pray for us.

Live Jesus in our hearts. Forever!

Marianne K. Wright P'16 Wyatt Lauman and Alberto Embry.

President, Parent Association

9

ParentNewsletter

JUNE/JULY 2016

A Groovin' Groovy Night The 17th Annual Crystal Ball, “Groovy ’60s” was held on May 6 at The Noor in Pasadena. The exciting evening was co-chaired by Ellen Radle P’17 and Suzy Rettig P’19.

Guests, many dressed as 1960s flower children, hippies and cast members right out of the TV show Mad Men, enjoyed an evening of dining and dancing proceeded by silent and live auctions. Guests felt the rush of excitement as they followed their bids on their smartphones using the custom Crystal Ball Bid Pal app that cataloged and showcased hundreds of items during the Silent Auction.

Live Auction items included a 10-day vacation to Hawai’i, Staples Center luxury suite watching your favorite team, VIP seats at a taping of the Big Bang Theory, a six-night stay in Catalina, and a gourmet dinner with President, Dr. Richard Gray and La Salle’s new Principal, Mrs. Courtney Kassakhian.

Over 300 guests came to enjoy the Crystal Ball and to congratulate the 2016 Lasallian of the Year honoree, Brother Christopher Brady, FSC who is retiring as Principal.

Following dinner and the auction, music from the ’60s began and the guests were surprised by a “flash mob” dance to the tune of “Gimme Some Lovin’” performed by the Crystal Ball Committee.

The Crystal Ball is La Salle’s largest fundraiser of the year allowing everyone an opportunity to come together and support the programs and activities that La Salle provides to its students.

A GROOVY PARTY, MAN

10

La Salle's President, Dr. Richard Gray presents the 2016 Lasallian of the Year Award to: Brother Christopher Brady, FSC who is retiring as Principal.

ParentNewsletter

JUNE/JULY 2016 JUNE/JULY 2016

To view MORE photos go to la salle home page Parent NewS downloads LINK FLICKR Dr. Richard Gray presents thank you gifts to the 2016 Crystal Ball co-chairs, Ellen Radle P'17 and Suzy Rettig P'19.

A group of '60s protesters join the frivolity at the 17th Annual Crystal Ball

11

JUNE/JULY 2016

ParentNewsletter

JUNE/JULY 2016

La Salle High School Student Calendar 2016 – 2017 2016

2017

August 17 (Wednesday) Student Information and Planning Day (All Students)

January 16 (Monday) Martin Luther King, Jr. – Holiday

August 16 (Tuesday) New Student Welcome

NOTE IMPORTANT DATES FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR

August 18 (Thursday) First Day of Classes (All classes meet / Dismissal 12:20) September 5 (Monday) Labor Day – Holiday October 7 (Friday) Faculty In-service October 10 (Monday) Columbus Day – Holiday October 19 Tentative (Wednesday) Faith Formation Day (To be determined by Archdiocese) November 11(Friday) Veteran’s Day Observed – Holiday

12

November 23 – 27 (Wed – Sun) Thanksgiving Break

December 13 – 16 (Tues – Fri) Fall Semester Examinations

December 17 – January 8, 2017 Christmas Break

January 9 (Monday) Second Semester Begins

February 6 (Monday) Faculty In-service February 20 (Monday) Presidents’ Day – Holiday March 6 (Monday) Faculty In-Service March 20 (Monday) School Holiday April 13 – 23 Easter Break May 24 (Wednesday) Baccalaureate May 26 (Friday) School Holiday - Graduation May 29 (Monday) Memorial Day – Holiday June 2 – 7 (Fri – Wed) Spring Semester Examinations

ParentNewsletter

JUNE/JULY 2016

Principal Ideas Continued from page 2

kids, to notice new haircuts, that sort of thing, so definitely out and about during those times.

MD: What do you think your first semester looks like? It sounds like you plan on jumping right into things, and being interactive with students, or do you want to be more observant.

CK: Well, definitely observant, especially with the faculty, so I want get to know the faculty well, find what their motivations and needs are, what they think are the strengths of La Salle, what they think are the areas of growth. With students, just to get to know you, to be familiar with who’s in the band, who’s on the football team, who does theater and get to know the personalities of the students.

MD: How does it feel to be the first female principal at La Salle?

CK: Exciting, nerve-wracking. Whenever you’re a new person in a school, especially when you’re in such a public role of leadership, there’s a lot of expectations that people hold for you and you hold for yourself. I think there’s an added layer probably in you know, being the first female principal, that is, something new for this community, a community that originally started as an all boys school.

That shows big transitions that have been made. I think it’s exciting. In the state of California, we see a lot of women taking on leadership roles, so I’m excited to be that model for the girls and the boys. So that anyone, male or female, should pursue their dream and do what they can to make that dream possible.

MD: I know a lot of students are skeptical or nervous about the new block schedule. What new challenges do you think that will bring to the school, and how do you think we can face them together?

CK: I think you are going to love it! I spent 12 years in a high school that used a block schedule like you will be using next year, except their classes were actually 90 minutes each instead of 75. During our modified days when we would have 75 minute classes, it seemed like the 75 minute classes were the perfect amount of class time. You are going to fall into the rhythm for the AB Schedule way more easily than you think you might. I think you are going to find that you will really like it!

MD: Thank you for spending the time with me Mrs. Kassakhian, and for letting La Salle know a little more about you, is there anything else you would like to say?

CK: No, I’m just really excited to be here, and thank you for taking the time to meet with me.

MD: Of course! Thank you for your time.

Faith, Service, Community The Purpose of Lasallian Education: to provide a human and Christian education to the young, especially the poor, according to the ministry which the Church has entrusted to it.

The Rule of the Brothers of the Christian School, 1694 Saint John Baptist de La Salle Patron of All Teachers Founder, Brothers of the Christian Schools

13

ParentNewsletter

JUNE/JULY 2016

From Institutional Advancement

Looking Ahead and Welcoming the Class of 2020 As the end of the academic year passes and we congratulate the class of 2016, there is still a bevy of activity on and off campus that will last throughout the summer months. Extensive opportunities are available with our Summer Programs. New, veteran and potential future students will partake in the various programs. Campus facilities will receive the attention needed to be ready to go when students return on a full time basis in August. Members of the Class of 2020 will begin their freshman year soon and become fully immersed as part of the Lasallian family. But let’s enjoy summertime first!

PLANNED GIFTS FOR LA SALLE

Though each academic year requires its own planning and strategizing, our School has an ongoing and consistent plan to address its annual funding needs. In any given year, tuition and annual giving programs are keys to providing the financing necessary for that year. The results of sound financial strategies through the years provide additional security and support in these efforts.

In looking ahead to the mid and long term financial needs of the School, we rely on Planned Gifts to support these needs and to enhance our endowment. Planned Gifts are often considered to be large in nature, and oftentimes this is the case. But even a modest Planned Gift is a strategic part of this program.

Certain characteristics of a Planned Gift include (but are not limited to): • Leaving a Legacy without giving up assets • Enhancing the rate of return on one’s portfolio • Reduction of income tax liability with the potential to eliminate capital gains taxes • Portfolio diversification •Providing additional sources of retirement income As we take time to congratulate the members of the Class of 2016 and their families and look forward to welcoming the Class of 2020, let us consider the possibilities of supporting the long term needs of our School through a Planned Gift that is beneficial to both the donor and La Salle High School.

Please review the Planned Giving articles in future publications of both the Parent Newsletter and Lancer Magazine for ongoing updates in the Planned Giving Program.

In Summary

14

La Salle High School can provide more information, both generically and specifically, regarding the benefits available through Planned Giving. For more information, please contact Jon Keates, the Director of Institutional Advancement at 626.696.4344.

ParentNewsletter

JUNE/JULY 2016

CKW Uniform Sale New Uniform Sales

July 14, 2016, Thursday 11:00am to 3:00pm

CKW UNIFORM SALE JULY 14

Dining Hall

CKW carries the entire La Salle uniform line of pants, skirts, knee high socks, shorts, polos, blouses, men's dress shirts and outerwear.

For more information call CKW at: 626.287.1994

La Salle Matters Continued from page 5

the last 50 years that it is true. We intend to make sure that this unique characteristic of the La Salle Difference will continue to influence the way we deliver an excellent college-preparatory program for the next 50 years.

As I think about how to ensure a successful high school experience for the Class of 2020, I am comforted knowing that the Five Core Principles of a Lasallian School provide a context within which we can shape their worldview in favor of Gospel imperatives. I am equally comforted in recognizing

that our Value Proposition creates the right opportunity for our young people to flourish and grow in their ability to stand up to hatred, violence and self-serving rhetoric. Welcome, Class of 2020; may your Lancer journey enable you to become the person God intended.

Richard Gray, Ph.D. President

15

ParentNewsletter

JUNE/JULY 2016

JUNE/JULY 2016

From the College Counseling Center

College Center News

By Owen Hou ’90, Tina Bonacci '94 and Marcia Yu, College Counselors

Class of 2016

Congratulations to the Class of 2016!

We wish all members of this class good luck as they begin their college years. We have really enjoyed helping each and every graduate find their college “match”. We look forward to staying in touch and would like you to serve as a resource for La Salle students to contact to learn more about your college and your freshman year experience.

Class of 2017 CAMP COLLEGE SESSION 2 STARTS AUGUST 8

In May, we completed our meetings with all juniors who have submitted their College Planning Survey for Juniors. Our students received a list of prospective colleges on Naviance to investigate. Summer is a good time to research and visit colleges and work on a personal statement. Ms. Bonacci, Mrs. Yu and Mr. Hou highly recommend that all students narrow their college list down to 6-8 schools by the Fall.

Camp College

16

The College Center will be offering a three-day seminar for rising seniors. The purpose of this course is to provide handson interaction with students who need additional help with their college planning and application process. At the completion of this course, students will have created an organizational system, completed two college essays and learned in depth about college visitations, interviews, recommendations, financial aid, and developed a much better understanding of the colleges’ selection process. The cost of Camp College is $225, which includes the Summer Institute registration fee. The complete summary of the course can be found online at www.lasallehs. org, ‘Summer Programs’.

Camp College begins on August 8 and runs through August 10. Classes are from 8:00am to 12:00pm.

Please contact Mr. Hou should you need more information on Camp College.

Fall Events

The College Planning Survey for Seniors and a parent questionnaire will be available on Naviance mid-July. Both student survey and parent questionnaire are due

by September 8. Your student’s College Counselor will meet with each member of the class of 2017 to review their college list in the Fall before the college application period.

To minimize the number of meetings for our parents, the Senior College Information Night will be held on the same evening as our Backto-School-Night on Thursday, September 1.

Seniors and their parents should mark their calendars to attend the mandatory College Information night. During this meeting, we will be discussing the application protocol/ paperwork, letters of recommendation, essay writing tips and lots of other pertinent information.

Plan to Visit Colleges

Visiting colleges during the school year is one of the most valuable experiences in the college planning process. Not only does it help your student determine whether a college is a good fit, it also sends a strong message to the college admission office that your student is seriously considering their college. Looking at next year’s calendar, the best time to plan an out-of-town visit is during mid-October, as there will be no school on Friday, October 7 (Faculty In-Service), Monday,

ParentNewsletter October 10 (Columbus Day), Monday, October 17 (Archdiocese In-service Day), and Wednesday, October 19 (Standardized testing for all nonseniors).

Standardized Testing

All members of the class of 2017 should have taken the ACT and/or the SAT by this time. Students who plan to apply to certain east coast colleges should also take two SAT Subject exams in the Fall. A list of colleges that require/ recommend SAT Subject Tests can be found at http://www.compassprep.com/admissions_ req_subjects.aspx. Although the UCs no longer require two SAT Subject Tests, they are still recommended and strongly recommended for engineering and science majors.

Fall exam dates are as follows: SAT Reasoning AND Subject Tests October 1 November 5 December 3 ACT September 10 October 22 December 10 Register early! Registration deadlines are usually about five weeks before the test dates.

Class of 2018

The class of 2018 will be taking the PSAT on Wednesday, October 19. PSAT/ NMSQT stands for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. It is a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT Reasoning Test. It also gives you a chance to enter National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) scholarship programs.

All Junior students will be taking the ACT at La Salle on February 4, 2017 for no charge. The Juniors will register for the ACT during Mentor Period in September so there is nothing to do on your part. In addition, most juniors will be taking the SAT for the

JUNE/JULY 2016

first time in the Spring of 2017. If the family is considering a test-prep course for the SAT, we suggest you choose a program that finishes close to the test date. Those students who are involved in a winter sport, theatre or have a full schedule during the months of January, February and March, might consider taking a test prep course over the summer or during the Fall and take the SAT in October.

Utilize Naviance! Remind your student to add their school and non-school activities and awards they received during freshman and sophomore years in “My Resume”. This is a great place to gather information and keep it organized for the college application process.

Also, complete the ‘career interest profiler’ assessment. Successful completion of the ‘career interest profiler’ assessment will generate a report that will provide your student with important information about ‘matching occupation list’.

Your student will learn about careers that match their characteristics, their personal strengths and blind spots, how they negotiate in their daily life, and a host of other useful information.

NOTE SAT REASONING AND SUBJECT TEST DATES

Class of 2019

This year, the Class of 2019 registered on Naviance during Mentor period. Naviance is a college planning website where students can research colleges, their interests and careers.

Your student can start keeping track of their school and non-school activities and awards they received during freshman year in “My Resume”.

Naviance is a great place for students to organize and keep track of their information for college applications. Parents also have a personal login. Please contact Ms. Bonacci if you have not received your unique registration code for Naviance.

Both the classes of 2019 and 2020 will take the PreACT (previously known as the PLAN) on Wednesday, October 19. Like the ACT Aspire (given the past two falls), the Pre ACT/PLAN is also a precursor to the ACT (and significantly easier to administer and to evaluate College Continued on page 18

17

ParentNewsletter

JUNE/JULY 2016

College Continued from page 17

than the ACT Aspire). Please note that the ACT is as widely accepted among the colleges as the SAT. In addition to providing practice for the ACT, PreACT has a unique section that tests science skills, which provides valuable feedback to our science department.

College Tours NOTE COLLEGE TOUR DATES

La Salle will, again, be offering College Tours for the 2016-2017 Academic Year. A Los Angeles Area College Tour will be offered on October 7, 2016. A Bay Area College Tour will be offered February 6-7, 2017 and an Orange County Tour will be on offered March 6, 2017.

interested in learning more about these liberal arts colleges and universities and interested in hearing more about the CTCL philosophy – namely that there are great college options for every student (not just for the strongest students) and that the college search should focus on finding the best match for each student – are invited to attend. There is no cost to attend and pre-registration is not required. Please read Loren Pope’s book or go to www.ctcl.com for additional information on the colleges in the CTCL group.

More details to come.

General Information

Students should use their summer time wisely. It is a great time to read (helps build vocabulary and critical thinking skills), find a job (helps with time-management and communication skills) participate in an activity that they are passionate about (athletics, music, theatre, academics, etc.) or give their time to an organization that can use an extra pair of hands.

A list of volunteer opportunities is published by the City of Arcadia and can be found at https://www.arcadiaca.gov/home/ showdocument?id=558

The colleges featured in Loren Pope’s book Colleges That Change Lives (aka CTCL) will have an information session and a college fair on Sunday, July 31, 2016:

18

Sunday, July 31, 2016, 11:00am and 3:00pm (choose one to attend).

Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City 555 Universal Hollywood Drive Universal City, CA 91608

All students and parents who are

Candles represent the four principals of the National Honor Society; Scholarship, Service, Leadership and Character.

NHS and CSF Applications

If your student is eligible for membership in the National Honor Society (NHS) and/or the California Scholarship Federation (CSF), please remind him or her to apply. The deadline to apply for both NHS and CSF is September 2. CSF and NHS applications will be available in late August.

Ms. Bonacci, Mrs. Yu and Mr. Hou wish all La Salle families a restful and safe summer.

We will be checking our emails and voice mails on a periodic basis, so please do not hesitate to contact us with any question you may have regarding college counseling.

ParentNewsletter

JUNE/JULY 2016

From the Athletic Department

Coaches and Players Star

We are pleased to share with the La Salle community the latest athletic accomplishments for the spring season.

Varsity baseball coach, Mike Parisi was named the Pasadena Star-News Baseball "Coach of the Year."

Please note that both of our new head coaches Mike Parisi and Basketball's Michael Lynch received "Coach of the Year" honors in their ďŹ rst year with the Lancers.

Lancers Named Pasadena Star-News MVPs

Boys Basketball All Star MVP - Christian Oyie-Little Girls Basketball All Star MVP - Rebecca Islas Softball All Star MVP - Paula Damas Softball All Star Game Home Run Derby Champion - Vanessa Dwyer Baseball Underclassmen All Star Game MVP - Ethan Patrick '18 Boys Golf All Area First Team - Tyler Anastasia

25th Annual Lancer Golf Classic Save the Date October 10, 2016 San Gabriel Country Club 11:00am Shotgun Start

19

JUNE/JULY 2016

ParentNewsletter

JUNE/JULY 2016

A Parent's Perspective

LEARN SERVE LEAD

In May, our daughter Samantha graduated from La Salle High School. She has had four successful years at La Salle, having taken advantage of many opportunities from AP/honors classes and LTV, to leadership, clubs and service.

As parents, we have been thrilled with her experiences and opportunities afforded her at La Salle, with the ultimate finale of going to the college of her choice.

Leadership and Service have been defining activities and there has been no lack of challenges in the classroom. Regular, honors and AP classes have been a good mix to allow Samantha to choose a more difficult path or not, for her given talents.

As a non-denominational family, we have particularly appreciated the religion classes and the teacher’s abilities to be open to various all-class discussions and debates.

This has allowed Samantha to get a glimpse at different viewpoints and a deeper understanding of religious cultures, ethics and morality.

One of the unique qualities of La Salle is its community. As parents of two La Salle students (our son, Blake, is a freshman), we feel our children are safe, have wonderful friends, and experience an overall kindness and camaraderie. The four-year performing arts program, languages, student life and mixture of regular, AP and honors classes, allow for freshmen through seniors to learn together. As such, they get to know students in other grades, fostering a global community whereby they watch out for, bond with and respect one another.

This La Salle “community” continues with the parents who volunteer their time at many events and programs throughout the year. We have enjoyed getting to know our fellow volunteers, faculty and administration through groups such as the Board of Regents, Parent Association meetings, attending sporting events and, of course, all of the enjoyable Crystal Ball events leading up to the Crystal Ball itself…and what fun it has been!

Recently, we peeked in on the Showdown - the year-end, annual games each grade plays against each other. Not only do they have a great time, but it was amazing to see how the kids supported each other and demonstrated unwavering class pride; it was truly heart-warming.

We can honestly say how pleased we are that Samantha chose La Salle four years ago. Not only has she enjoyed her time as a student, but our entire family has experienced the La Salle community and all that it has to offer!

Congratulations to the class of 2016!

20

Bret and Michele Hardy Samantha Hardy '16 Blake Hardy '19

ParentNewsletter

JUNE/JULY 2016

Lancer Summer Physicals The Athletic Department is looking for parent volunteers to help with the 2016 summer physicals which take place on campus on July 9.

We are in need of the following parent volunteers: nurses, optometrists, doctors and general volunteers. Without the volunteers’ help this event would not be possible. Join us and help support Lancer Athletics and earn parent volunteer hours. Please contact the athletic trainer, Tim Rasmussen if interested in volunteering. Email: trasmussen@lasallehs.org

YOUR ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED

21

ParentNewsletter 222222

JUNE/JULY 2016

Check your School calendar for event times and dates

June/July Highlights ATHLETIC PHYSICALS JULY 9

NEW UNIFORM SALES JULY 14

SUMMER PROGRAM FINAL GRADES JULY 23

June 13 Limited Summer Programs Begin June 22 Summer Program Begins Office Hours: 7:30am to 3:00pm July 4 Independence Day Independence Day School Holiday July 9 Athletic Physicals PE Room 9:00am -1:00pm July 14 CKW New Uniform Sale Dining Hall 11:30 - 3:00pm July 22 Summer Program Concludes

for May, the City Vibe / Summer Issue, will be online at www.lasallehs.org /Student Life on June 17, 2016

Remember, when you see this icon, it means there is are more photographs connected to the article. Go to the La Salle home page and hit the Flickr icon. It will take you directly to our photo gallery.

"I leave with a full heart and a huge thank you!"

Principal, Brother Christopher Brady, FSC

22

eléonore Student Fashion Magazine