ParentNewsletter THE LA SALLE
FOR PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF LA SALLE HIGH SCHOOL • PASADENA • CALIFORNIA • MARCH 2015
Principal Ideas Welcome to the “long haul” month of March as I refer to it - the time between Presidents' Day weekend and our Easter Break. If Mother Nature was properly taking care of us, we would be emerging from our rainy season and welcoming the season of Spring. Well, spring is arriving regardless of our rain count which I believe has us all a bit anxious as to what our water supply will be in the coming months.
Learn•Serve•Lead
Let me begin my remarks by thanking you for your patience during the various construction projects around the School campus. The schools’ front lawn is returning, the City’s installation of fiber optic cable on East Sierra Madre Blvd went off without a hitch and both sides of Michillinda are again fully open to all traffic. Actually, the Michillinda project finished a week early! When was the last time something like that occurred? Leave it to the City of Sierra Madre to set a fine example!
Admission Season As you may recall from your own admission experiences, February and March are key months in the school’s admission season. The members of our Admission Committee have been scrutinizing test scores, transcripts, evaluation forms, interview worksheets and recommendation letters for approximately 420 applicants. On Friday, March 6 we will be mailing our decision letters to waiting eighth graders and parents. This is a daunting task each year for the Admission Committee because of the importance of selecting Mission appropriate students who will benefit from being part of our school community. As in the past years, we will be enrolling a new ninth grade class of approximately 155 students. I have no doubt that once again, we will be blessed with a wonderful group of new students and families who will Continued on page 2
The words of St. John Baptist de La Salle to the first Brothers "If you do your job well and work for the liberation of those students entrusted to you, you can expect to be persecuted. Take a stand! Do the best you can and leave the rest to God." Saint John Baptist de La Salle Meditations for Sundays c.1703 PAGE 1
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Principal Ideas Continued from page 1
thrive within our Lasallian Community. It is especially gratifying to see that many of the applications continue to come from families having either a past or current relationship with the school. The fact that year-in-and-year-out families are willing to maintain their connection with the school is a key factor in creating the family environment that we are so proud of at La Salle.
Measles Vaccination Records CHECK YOUR HEALTH RECORDS
A few weeks back, I communicated with all our families regarding the arrival of the viral disease Measles in the city of Pasadena. Additionally, I have sent letters to those parents whose son/daughter has not been vaccinated. La Salle continues to respect the right of parents to choose not to have their children vaccinated for medical, personal or religious belief reasons. Please know that I have also had all the employees at La Salle provide us with their records of inoculation. As for my history of vaccinations, they were recorded on stone tablets!
Graduation Preparation To the parents of our seniors, your sons/daughters' education is beginning to wind down at La Salle. While many of our seniors have already received their letters from various colleges and universities, some are still awaiting decisions. This is a most anxious time for them as many have to make a decision on which offer to accept. To have such choices is a tribute to their life as a student and their hard work. Later this month, I will be sending you a letter outlining the various activities and events that surround our graduation ceremony in May.
Lenten Season On Wednesday, February 18, the liturgical season of Lent began. This 40 day period (which culminates at Easter) is an opportune time for each of us to examine our lives by focusing on the many things that can prevent us from being the better, more caring and loving person we aspire to be. It is through the process of reflection and then corrective action that we grow and mature as individuals on our life journey. My hope and prayer is that each one of us will make a concerted effort to improve not only our own life, but also the life of another during this Lenten Season.
Brother Christopher Brady, FSC Principal
A Time to Remember...
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From the Parent Association
Heading for the Home Stretch March is a busy time at La Salle with Winter Sports finishing and Spring Sports just getting started. There are some great games to see as well as some wonderful events. We have a Parent Association General Meeting on Tuesday, March 10th starting at 6:30pm in the Library. Be sure to attend for one Service Hour and hear about some exciting topics that are scheduled to be presented. Parent Association We have the spring theatre production of "Disco Inferno" scheduled to begin on Friday, March 13th for three weekends. The spring musical always proves to be spectacular. Be sure to check the calendar for days and times.
Meeting Tuesday, March 10 6:30pm Blakeslee Library
It is important for each family to review and log their Family Hours on the Parent Website, so please check soon (and often) for opportunities if you are looking to get those hours completed. The Parent Association does not want to send out invoices for incomplete hours, but we WILL if these hours are not met. We have many events where family hours can be completed so please take a look at what events are coming up. Come out to support the Lancers as many spring sports teams are in action! Please note that Wednesday April 1st is Grandparents Day, as well as the last day of school before the Easter Break begins.
Tony Delgatto P’12, ’15 President Parent Association
From the Blakeslee Library
Volunteer Opportunities
The Blakeslee Library is in need of after-school monitor volunteers each school day afternoon from 3:00-5:00pm. This is a good way to fulfill your Parent Volunteer Hours obligation. Also, donations of snacks and drinks are appreciated for the Café Bibliothèque events in the Library. Café Bibliothèque will take place on March 26, and April 23. Please call Delia Swanner at 626.696.4313 or Janet Hagen at 626.696.4332 to volunteer or sign up.
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La Salle Matters What makes Pope Francis different? It is not his refusal to wear ermine-lined red capes; nor his choice to ride in a Ford Focus rather than a bullet-proof limousine. His decision to live at the Vatican guest house (Santa Marta) rather than the Apostolic Palace is impressive, but not necessarily the defining measure against which his difference from previous Popes is to be understood. Nor should the laity be distracted by his preference for simplified liturgical ceremonies and a conscious choice to wash the feet of lay people (as opposed to priests) on Holy Thursday - oh, and by the way, we should include his decision to wear ordinary business shirts (as opposed to French cuffs and their required cuff links) under his white papal cassock. These are symbolic differences - clearly intended to broadcast a message to the faithful that downplays the Pope as supreme ruler of the Catholic Church and promotes an image of the Holy Father as a man of the people who stands with and beside them. One of my favorite symbolic images which reinforces this vision of his papacy occurred just about a year ago this month when, while presiding at a Lenten Vespers service in which the Pope and sixty other priests were about to enter confessionals to minister to the faithful gathered in Saint Peter’s Basilica, he stepped out of the recessional line and knelt before a priest already in a confessional and made his own act of contrition. I cannot think of a more dramatic example of how Francis understands his papacy than at that particular moment in which he is photographed kneeling before a priest, making his confession. Even as dramatic as that particular image was, it only reflects the symbolic differences which PAGE 4
this Pope has sought to articulate with respect to how he wants his papacy to be understood. So, what makes Pope Francis different? It is not the symbolic choices he has made in favor of simplicity and shared communion with the faithful - a direct result of his deliberate decision to adopt the name of Francis, the Apostle to the Poor. I believe it is his unrelenting focus on the Gospel imperative to minister to the needs of the poor and marginalized. And, the evidence in favor of this contention continues to pile up. Even before his formal installation, Pope Francis made clear his preference for the poor and marginalized when, in a press gaggle with Italian journalists, he had this to say about his vision for global Catholics: “How I would like a church that is poor and for the poor.” As reported in the press, the remark seemed offhanded, idealistic and, frankly, naïve; and yet, two years later, the Holy Father’s words and actions have reinforced this notion that the Gospel message demands that the faithful and their clerical mentors must stay focused on the needs of the least among us. His first encyclical, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), mentioned “the poor” 91 times - only the words “love” (154) and “joy” (109) eclipsed his references to the least among us. That emphasis on the needs of the poor explains the significance of what I consider to be one of the most powerful assertions in the entire encyclical, “An authentic faith – which is never comfortable or completely personal – always involves a deep desire to change the world, to transmit values, to leave this earth somehow better than we found it.” While Francis is not only the first Jesuit Pope, his assertion that, in ministering to the poor and marginalized, we should have a “deep desire to change the world, to transmit values, to leave this earth somehow better than we found it.” would also qualify him as the first Lasallian Pope. For over 300 years, the disciples of Saint John Baptist de La Salle have been faithfully implementing Pope Francis’ imperative to “change
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the world, to transmit values, to leave this earth somehow better than we found it.” De La Salle’s vision for his Institute and for the Brothers and Lay Partners who would minister to the needs of the young especially the poor1 insisted that a secular and religious education should equip the children of poor and working class families to advance economically and spiritually so that they could take their place in society and ensure that the next generation would be able to take advantage of opportunities not available to their parents and grandparents. He described these children as “far from salvation;” meaning that, without an education, they would not only be denied the
LA SALLE HIGH SCHOOL
opportunities readily available to children from more affluent families, but would also never receive the “the truths of religion” (De La Salle’s ministry was launched in France - a thoroughly Catholic country at the time) which would enable them to participate in the saving message of the Gospel. It is this Jesuit and Lasallian vision of a world in which Church institutions enable the marginalized to not only sit next to the sons and daughters of affluent families (one of De La Salle’s earliest classroom innovations) but to enter the world of commerce as equals that nurtures Pope Francis’ desire to experience a “church that is poor and for the poor.” He, like Ignatius and De La Salle, recognized that a Church burdened by the trappings of power and prestige is inclined to be “tone-deaf” when it attempts to meet the needs of the poor and marginalized. And yet, any Lasallian Partner visiting our ministries in Tijuana or De La Salle Blackfeet Reservation or any of the Miguel or Cristo Rey Schools will nod affirmatively in response to this assertion in Evangelii Gaudium:
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
© 2015
• EDITOR, DESIGNER JOHN BLACKSTOCK ’67 DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS TELEPHONE: 626.696.4316 • EMAIL: JBLACKSTOCK @ LASALLEHS . ORG
“I can say that the most beautiful and natural expressions of joy which I have seen in my life were in poor people who had little to hold on to.” La Salle Matters
Transforming Lives Since 1680
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La Salle Matters Continued from page 4
LEARN SERVE LEAD
This paradox of the Gospel imperative (that the poor have something to teach us) is not only the fundamental irony inherent in what the poor give to those of us who do not share in their c i rc u m s t a n c e s , but an existential p a r a d i g m governing what we must do to respond to Jesus’ call: “… whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25: 40) Saint John Baptist de La Salle clearly understood the “no-win” situation faced by poor children and their parents in 17th century France: they had no access to education and, faced with parents who constantly worked to make ends meet, were often left to their own devices. By telling the Brothers: “It can be said with real reason that a child who has acquired a habit of sin has more or less lost his freedom and has made himself miserable and captive.”
De la Salle recognized the transformative power of education in the lives of the least fortunate among us. As Pope Francis argues in Evangelii Gaudium: “While it is quite true that the essential vocation and mission of the lay faithful is to strive that earthly realities and all human activity may be transformed by the Gospel, none of us can think we are exempt from concern for the poor and for social justice…” so, too, have Christian Brothers in over 80 countries been articulating this Gospel imperative to the students entrusted to their care - regardless of economic status - for over 300 years. I would like to think that the then Cardinal Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires - a priest of and for the people - who daily took the subway to work, would have passed by one of the of 10 Lasallian ministries operating within the city limits of Buenos Aires, knowing that their service to poor and affluent children alike reinforced his vision of a “church that is poor and for the poor.” And if that was the case, then it is also the case that he would later become the first Jesuit and Lasallian pope…which is what makes him different.
Richard Gray, Ph.D President
In 1680 De La Salle wrote this Mission Statement governing the work of the Christian Brothers for the next three centuries: “The purpose of this Institute is to provide a Human and Christian education to the young, especially the poor.”
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Grandparents Day
Save the Date•April 1, 2015 Lunch and Entertainment PAGE 6
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Lancers Win 15 Medals in Academic Decathlon It is with great pride and enthusiasm that we announce the results of the 2015 Southern California Private Schools Academic Decathlon. Under the guidance of Associate Principal, Mr. Edgar Salmingo, La Salle entered three academic teams and our first team ranked 15th out of 40 teams against very steep competition! This is an amazing feat considering this was the team’s first year. "We are definitely very excited to participate again next year," said Salmingo. At the end of the ceremony, our La Salle decathletes came home with 15 medals around their necks. These students could not have achieved this without the support of their parents and our faculty, who developed these students academically. Let us all celebrate and congratulate our students! MEDAL WINNERS: Dana Esparza: Bronze in Music Jodie Kaya: Bronze in Essay Steven Luyapan: Silver in Essay Madeleine Malicdem: Silver in Interview Ursula Marshall: Bronze in Music Reilly Milton: Silver in Speech Brandon Nguyen: Silver in Language/Literature Minsha Ouyou: Bronze in Speech Bhav Patel: Bronze in Interview Japhet Quitzon: Gold in Speech, Silver in Language/Literature, Bronze in Art Jordan Regalado: Gold in Speech, Silver in Interview, Bronze in Math The rest of the participants should be recognized for their hard work and dedication: Garien Agapito, Lance Alviso, Christian Billings, Michelle, Cervantes, Cristina De la Cruz, Max Dier, Kriztina Espinosa, Bettina Lee, Miho Ouyou, Brandon Perez, Tyler Rix, Noel Rozario, Sebastian Schiff, Kevin Tian, Danny Valdez and Emily Wasson.
DECATHLETES SCORE FIRST TIME OUT
College Scholarships iModules is the leading online Constituent Engagement Management provider for educational institutions, and is the basis for La Salle's website. Their interconnected suite of modules transforms how we create relevant community experiences and achieve fundraising success through web content management, marketing communications, online giving, event management, ecommerce, and social media integration. iModules is currently accepting applications for their scholarships. Please see attached eyer for more information. The application deadline is April 1, 2015. PAGE 7
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MARCH 2015
A WONDERFUL EVENING FOR ALL
On Sunday, February 8, 2015, La Salle hosted the annual Gifts from the Heart social at the beautiful home of Hope and Dino Calarizio Over 80 guests joined the fun at this wonderful event. Numerous donors who did not attend that evening also made donations to benefit the San Miguel Scholars. In the words of President, Dr. Gray: "Here, in this room, are some of the great people who make it possible for La Salle to have San Miguel Scholars. This is something that we, at La Salle, are very thankful for. Your continued support has helped us to thrive and grow, offering new and improved opportunities for students of all backgrounds." Dr. Gray continued, "We recognize and thank Dr. Dino Clarizio '75 and his wife Hope and their children for their wonderful hospitality. We thank Dr. Phillip Cabasso and Mrs. Cheryl Barnes for their fantastic entertainment during the evening. We also thank Mr. Tony Exposito '74 and Wines of Galicia for their contribution to this event. Lastly, we would like to thank everyone who was able to come to the 2015 Gifts from the Heart social. None of this could have been possible without you." We hope you save the date for the 2015 Crystal Ball - Disco Fever which takes place on Friday, May 8, 2015 from 6:30 - 11:00pm at the Langham Huntington in Pasadena.
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See more photos from the Gifts From the Heart event on the La Salle Website. PAGE 9
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From the Athletic Boosters
Spring Sports Report Time continues to march regardless of how we feel. Now winter sports are in the tail end of their season and spring sports are about to begin. So let's get out there and take in a Lancer sporting event. You won’t regret it. I have an update below on our winter teams, but before I do that, I have to go into the garage and get some wood, my hammer and nails, so I could build my soap box. Our boosters' budget operates off of the sports that we are allowed to charge for, as well as the snack bar we run during Lancer events. So, low attendance equals less funds for our sports programs. This year I have noticed a decline in attendance at most sporting events at La Salle. This decline, it seems, is regardless of a winning or losing record. Of course, I am dismayed by this trend. Our student athletes put so much time and effort into competing for La Salle and part of this fun and compensation is having your friends and family there to cheer them on and watch the game. I realize it's tough during the week we are busy with homework, jobs, test preparation, etc. Yes, I "get it!" But on a Friday night only a third of the gym is filled which means we are failing our athletes as a community. I don’t have the answers except that maybe on a Friday night you could ask your child to get off Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, stop texting and actually go see their friends at the game. Have them try it, they may like it. I hope to see you at a Lancer game soon!
CHECK WEBSITE FOR MORE STATS
Lancer Winter Teams Update • Boys basketball qualified for the CIF playoffs. They beat Duarte in the first round, but lost in the second round of the playoffs to St. Genevieve. • Following the 3-0 defeat of the previously unbeaten St. Genevieve soccer team, our boys soccer team qualified for the CIF playoffs, but lost in the first round to Garden Grove High School. • Girls basketball qualified for the CIF playoffs, but lost in the first round to #1 seeded Fairmont Prep. • Our Lancer Cheer program has qualified for the Nationals for the third year in a row. Congratulations! The Athletic Boosters is looking for people who want to become more involved in La Salle, so please do not hesitate to contact me for more information at jdcina@sbcglobal.net. The Athletic Boosters' meeting is held every month immediately following after the Parent Association meeting. We meet in the Band Room. God Bless,
John Cina P’13,14,18 President, Athletic Boosters
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ParentNewsletter
NLI Signing Day
Evan Rambo, far right, a 6’4” senior, signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of California, Berkeley, on an athletic scholarship. In addition to Cal, Evan, a defensive back and wide receiver for the Lancers, was also recruited by UCLA, San Diego State and Washington State. Evan plans on majoring in Bioengineering.
MORE PHOTOS ON THE WEBSITE
Isiah Spencer-Lopez, far left, a Lancer wide receiver signed a National Letter of Intent and earned an athletic scholarship from Sacramento State. The 6’ 6” 200 pounder was recruited by Arizona State, Louisville, Washington and Washington State. At Sacramento State, Isiah plans to major in Computer Science. Marcus Tappen (not pictured) a 2013 La Salle graduate, did not sign with a university after graduation, but he did red-shirt at the University of Cincinnati last season. Marcus recently returned to California where he signed a letter of Intent to play at Montana State University this fall. Of particular note, senior Nate Chandler, second from right with Athletic Director Anthony Harris, committed to play football for the University of Chicago, a Division III School. The 6’, 210 pound linebacker and team captain, takes his 4.6 GPA to Illinois this fall. Nate not only earned second team All League honors in the rigorous Angelus League, but also received the prestigious National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Award. As a recipient of this award, his, name will be inscribed on the wall at the College Football Hall of Fame in Canton Ohio. NLI Signing Day in the Duffy Lewis Gymnasium. PAGE 11
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Spring Academic Awards and Honor Society Inductions LANCERS SHARE SUCCESS
During the Spring Academic Awards, the 2015 Bob Alcorn and Bob Thomas Scholars were named. In addition, the members of the National Honor Society, (NHS), the Science National Honor Society (SNHS) and the Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica (SHH), were introduced and inducted.
Samantha Hardy
The Bob Alcorn Memorial Scholarship for Excellence in Humanities was established by the class of 1962 in honor of teacher and mentor, Bob Alcorn. The School’s administration elected to honor a current student in the junior class who excelled in the three subject areas that Mr. Alcorn taught: English, Modern Language, and Social Studies. The faculty of the English, Social Studies, and Language Arts Departments nominate students from each of their disciplines to be considered for this award. The Bob Alcorn Memorial Scholarship is a $1,000 scholarship to be applied to the student’s senior year tuition. This year’s recipient, Samantha Hardy ’15, has a long list of accomplishments that are not just limited to the fields of English, Social Studies, and Language Arts. She has earned an “A” in all her classes over the last five semesters with a GPA of 4.10 or better. She is also the Assistant Commissioner of Service, Student Ambassador, and a member of CSF and NHS. To honor the contributions of her late husband Bob Thomas, Jayne Thomas established a Math and Science scholarship. The student, who is chosen by the Math and Science Departments, will receive a $1,000 scholarship that will be applied to their senior year tuition at La Salle. This year’s recipient of the Bob Thomas Award for Academic Excellence is Grant Way ’15. Grant earns straight A’s in AP Calculus and AP Physics and has never earned a GPA lower than 4.10. He earned a perfect score in Math on the EXPLORE standardized test, a perfect score in Science on the PLAN battery tests, and his selection index on the PSAT was well above the California threshold, which is the second highest in the Nation. Grant Way
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Mark R. Krouse ’70 Receives Brother Mel Anderson Alumni Award This year’s 2015 recipient of the Brother T. Mel Anderson, FSC Alumni Award for Excellence was given to Mark R. Krouse ’70 who has more than 35 years of experience in Human Resource Management. For 30 years, Mr. Krouse worked in Human Resource Management with the Fluor Corporation, a global engineering and construction management firm and a Fortune 500 company. Mr. Krouse was responsible for directing and managing the development and implementation of strategic Human Resource solutions on a global basis impacting a worldwide workforce of more than 50,000 people. He has also worked as the Vice President of Human Resources for Samsung C&T Engineering and Construction, Americas. In 2013, Mr. Krouse joined Kaiser Aluminum Corporation as the Vice President of Human Resources. While a student at La Salle, Mr. Krouse was a member of the basketball and baseball teams, Pep Squad, Varsity Club and Honor Society. Upon graduation from La Salle, Mr. Krouse attended the University of Southern California where he earned his Bachelor of International Relations degree. He would then return to USC to earn his Master of Science degree in International Administration. Since graduating from USC, Mr. Krouse has frequently returned to his alma mater as a guest lecturer, and for the past three years, he has served as Adjunct Professor for the School of Business at California State University, Fullerton where he teaches the Fundamentals of HR Management.
SEE MORE PHOTOS ON THE LA SALLE WEBSITE
Above, Student Life President, Riley Worley, lights one of the National Honor Society (NHS) candles representing the attributes of the Society. Above right, Brother De Sales Benning, FSC is honored by the Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica for his dedication to the SHH. Seniors Victor Saavedra, Yoltic Sandoval and Kimberly Mejia presented the award. Right, Senior Tyler Artis lights the last NHS candle.
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DRAWING TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE
The Crystal Ball
Opportunity Drawing Opportunity Drawing tickets are on sale now! The prizes are: A Pleasant Holidays Vacation for 2 to Maui* 8 days, 7 nights at the Royal Lahaina Resort including round-trip airfare from LAX $300 food and beverage credit to restaurants, room service and more. Plus two tickets to Myths of Maui Luau. • Apple iPad • Disneyland Family 4-pack Opportunity Drawing takes place on May 8, 2015 during the Crystal Ball For tickets, contact Robyn Tapert at 626.357.3588 or thetaperts@gmail.com or go online at bidpal.net/cb2015 *Maui Vacation is made possible by a grant from the William H. Hannon Foundation
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ASH WEDNESDAY THE START OF LENT
Father, Leo Alberg, form Incarnation Parish, far left Mr. Patrick Bonacci, AFSC, center, and Ms. Elizabeth Mullen, right, mark the cross on the foreheads of students with ashes, an outward sign of penance, as Lent begins.
Ash Wednesday Liturgy Ash Wednesday marks the beginning Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption. Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church, and they help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice. Following the example of the first Christians who did penance in sackcloth and ashes, our foreheads are marked with ashes to humble our hearts and remind us that life passes away on Earth. We think of this when we are told, "Remember, Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return." The distribution of ashes comes from a ceremony of ages past. Christians who had committed grave faults performed public penance. On Ash Wednesday, the Bishop blessed the hair shirts which they were to wear during the 40 days of penance and sprinkled over them ashes made from the palms from the previous year. Then the penitents were turned out of the church because of their sins -- just as Adam, the first man, was turned out of Paradise because of his disobedience. The penitents did not enter the church again until Maundy Thursday after having won reconciliation by the toil of 40 days penance and sacramental absolution. Today, many Catholics receive ashes out of devotion.
Matching Gifts If you are an employee of a matching gift company, we would love to work with you. This is an easy way to raise funds for La Salle. If you are not sure if your company participates you can ask your employer or contact Tara Milton at: tmilton@lasallehs.org or call 626.696.4381.
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16TH ANNUAL CRYSTAL BALL MAY 8
Disco Fever is Coming! Join the fun on May 8, 2015 at the Langham Huntington, Pasadena when the Disco Ball spins at the 16th Annual Crystal Ball
Enjoy a fabulous evening with family, friends, fine food, wine and entertainment while bidding on spectacular auction items at the new fast and easy “paperless” auction. This is La Salle’s biggest fundraising event. We urge everyone to attend and support our school. New this year, ticket prices are reduced from $175.00 per person to $125.00 per person if purchased by March 31, 2015. Current families will also receive 10 parent service hours per family with the purchase of one ticket. So please put your groove on, dust off your old platform shoes, watch “Saturday Night Fever” and plan on joining us at the Crystal Ball to re-live and experience this iconic time in our culture. Invitations will be mailed in March, but tickets are available online now at bidpal.net/cb2015. For more information, contact Irene Santucci at 626.696.4312 or san2c@lasallehs.org.
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Brother Timothy's Limited 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon Now Available A very limited supply of Brother Timothy Mont La Salle Vineyard 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon is available exclusively for the La Salle community. Only 10 barrels of Brother Timothy’s wine are produced each year and sold to benefit the education of students in Lasallian schools who are living below the poverty line. This wine was created under the highest quality standards and is available exclusively for this sole purpose. Ten cases of this specially vinted and rare wine Brother Timothy Diener, FSC have been made available to the La Salle community to fund the San Miguel scholarships. This Cabernet Sauvignon is available at a price of $75 a bottle or $800 a case. Brother Timothy Mont La Salle Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon is a complex and harmonious blend of reserve-quality wine in a unique special edition collector's bottle. This highly desired wine is crafted by The Hess Collection Winery from a tiny, single vineyard on the Mont La Salle Vineyard estate. The grapes are grown at the site of the original Christian Brothers winery where the late Brother Timothy worked as cellar master for more than 50 years. This Cabernet Sauvignon, created in honor of Brother Timothy, is truly "a message in a bottle" - a message of hope for Lasallian disadvantaged youth. Such efforts are part of the Christian Brothers' 300 year tradition of offering education that is both loving and practical. Please keep in mind that the wine has been donated by the vineyard, so 100% of the proceeds go directly into the La Salle High School San Miguel Student Scholarship Fund. Contact Tara Milton in the Institutional Advancement Office at 626.696.4381 or tmilton@ lasallehs.org to make your much appreciated and important purchase.
LIMITED TIME FOR A GREAT WINE
The Crystal Ball Still Needs Baskets! Are you not sure what to do with that empty gift basket you received this holiday season? The Crystal Ball Committee would like to help you put those empty baskets to good use. We need medium to large baskets for our auction. You can drop them off to Irene Santucci in the Institutional Advancement Office or contact Jane Marks at 626.298.2818 to arrange for a pick up. We hope to see you at the 16th Annual Crystal Ball, “Disco Fever,” to be held Friday, May 8, 2015. Be sure to save the date!
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From the College Counseling Center
College Center News By M. Teresa Baldonado and Owen Hou ’90 College Counselors
Senior News College acceptances are continuing to be received. Seniors have been offered admission to many colleges throughout California and the United States. Remember to add your admissions decisions on Naviance. We need to know all the news, both good and not so good, in order to get a complete picture.
SAT MARCH 14
Junior News Ms. Baldonado and Mr. Hou are now meeting with juniors and talking to them about college options. Some Junior College Planning Surveys are still outstanding. If your student has not submitted his/her survey, please remind them to do so as soon as possible. We promise to meet with every junior who submits the survey by the end of May. We are also glad to meet with parents after your student has met with his/her College Counselor. Please feel free to call and schedule an appointment.
Sophomore News
Career Days will take place on March 10 and March 12 during Mentor Period. Alumni of La Salle will talk about their career with your student. Ask your student what careers they learned about.
All Students Standardized Testing News We would like to thank all juniors who took the ACT at La Salle in February. We expect their results to arrive via mail around early to midMarch. We hope that all juniors have already registered for a spring SAT and/or another ACT. If not, they should register in the very near future. Please visit www.collegeboard.org to register for the SAT and www.actstudent.org to register for the ACT. (All La Salle Juniors should already have their own ACT student account). The next SAT test PAGE 18
dates are May 2 and June 6; the ACT test dates are April 18 and June 13. If your student wants to apply to a University of California campus, he/she is encouraged to take two SAT Subject Tests from different disciplines. The best time to take SAT Subject Tests is in June after your student has completed the course. There is time to re-test for SAT, SAT Subject Tests, and ACT during the senior year, and all colleges will take the highest scores. In addition to the UCs, some colleges* require or highly recommend applicants to submit two or three SAT Subject Tests. The College Center advises Freshmen to consider taking the Biology test and Sophomores, the Chemistry and/or World History test on June 6 if they are receiving a B+ or higher in the course. Students should talk with their teacher about the material covered in the test or consider taking a practice Subject Test exam (see details at the end of this article). Please contact Ms. Baldonado or Mr. Hou if you have any questions. *A list of colleges that require/recommend Subject Tests can be found at: www.compassprep.com/admissions_req_subjects.aspx.
Mock SAT Subject Tests The La Salle parent boosters will be offering practice SAT Subject Tests on March 21. This is a good opportunity for students to become more familiar with these standardized tests and to see whether they are ready for the real thing in June. Mock SAT Subject Test(s) – Saturday, March 21 at 9:00am, Room 205 The price for the mock SAT Subject Tests is $10 per test or $25 for three subject tests. The fee includes a follow-up workshop offered to both parents and students to review the test and answer any test-related questions on Thursday, March 26 at 7:00pm. It will be held in Blakeslee Library.
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MARCH 2015
To register, please submit a check to the College Center, made payable to La Salle High School.
Plan to Visit Colleges Over Easter Vacation Plan a college tour locally or out-of-state with your son or daughter over the Easter break (April 2 - April 12). Touring a college this time of year will allow your student to experience a true college setting with college students attending classes and club activity in the campus center. Seeing a college campus first hand will help your son or daughter find the right college campus for them.
College Forum –Thursday, March 26 Our largest college-planning event of the year will take place on Thursday, March 26 at 6:00 pm. We are planning the following presentations for 9, 10 and 11 grade students and parents: • Dollars and Sense • Getting In: Tips for Admission to Highly Selective Colleges • Parent Forum • S t u d y i n g t h e P hy s i c a l S c i e n c e s a n d Engineering • The “Redesigned” SAT • Considering College Out-of-State, Creating Options in Your College Search • WUE and Other Scholarships • Making the Moment Count: College Visits! • The “Undecided” Major • Enrollment Management 101 • SAT Subject Tests • Understanding UC Admission • College Quickstart for Freshman and Sophomore Families • Preparing for Health Related Careers • The Arts: Application Process, Auditions and Portfolios • ROTC and Service Academies We are finalizing the speaker list and should have all of them confirmed by the beginning of March. Once that is done, we will send parents a copy via email and distribute programs to students in their Mentor period. Please contact either Ms. Baldonado or Mr. Hou if you have any questions.
Advanced Placement (AP) exams (May 4 and May 15) All students currently scheduled in AP courses are required to take the AP exam. Each exam is $91 and the total will be billed to the student’s La Salle High School account and reflected on the April Statement. The fee(s) will be processed according to your current payment plan selected (ACH, Credit Card or Check).
COLLEGE FORUM MARCH 26
The AP exams will be administered on the following dates (all dates are also printed in the school calendar): Monday, May 4 - Chemistry Tuesday, May 5 – Calculus AB and BC Wednesday, May 6 - English Literature Thursday, May 7 - Spanish Language, Studio Art Friday, May 8 - U.S. History, European History Monday, May 11 - Biology, Physics C Tuesday, May 12 - U.S. Government and Politics, Spanish Literature Wednesday, May 13- English Language and Composition Thursday, May14 - Macroeconomics Friday, May 15 – Microeconomics Students who are not currently scheduled in an AP course but who are interested in taking an AP exam should pick up a registration form from Ms. Baldonado. The fee for each AP exam is $91. Forms must be returned to Ms. Baldonado by Monday, March 9. For additional information, please contact Ms. Baldonado, AP Coordinator, at 626.696.4311.
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ParentNewsletter
MARCH 2015
Ryan Adams Awarded Rank of Eagle Scout
THE HIGHEST AWARD
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Senior Christopher “Ryan” Adams was recently awarded the Boy Scouts of America’s highest honor of Eagle Scout. Only four out of every 100 scouts achieve the distinguished rank of Eagle. Ryan is a member of Troop 21 based at the First Church of the Nazarene in Pasadena. Ryan’s personal journey towards obtaining the rank has continued for over 11 years, starting when he became a cub scout with Pack 110 at Saint Rita in Sierra Madre where he earned Cub Scouting’s highest honor – the Arrow of Light Award. He then joined Troop 21 in March 2008. Since then, he has acquired unique skills from the opportunities presented before him as he earned over 33 merit badges. To obtain any merit badge, a scout must demonstrate what he learned as well as complete a set of requirements. He gained distinctive skills through the various merit badges earned and activities, such as learning Morse code, building his own kayak, and enduring a 50 mile hike over five days to the top of Mount Whitney. His kayak won second prize for best design. As a scout, Ryan was selected from his troop to participate in the National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT), a program focused on teaching older scouts how to train and lead younger scouts. All of the skills he acquired at NYLT were later put into practice as he prepared for his Eagle Scout project. Ryan’s project was to restore worn teak benches at the Los Angeles Arboretum. The project required significant coordination with the Arboretum, his Troop, and over 30 volunteers, taking a total of 200 man-hours to complete. The project made a significant difference for the appearance of the arboretum and the families who dedicated the benches. It was a huge success. Overall, the scouting experience has helped to shape him into the person that he is today, as well as teaching him how to be a leader and an independent individual. Within Troop 21 he held several positions including Patrol Leader, Chaplain Aid, and most recently Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. In 2013, Ryan was a Patrol Leader for a national troop on a 20 day trip. They spent 10 days touring historical sites from Massachusetts to West Virginia. A few of the cities they visited included: Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. The last 10 days of the trip were spent on a campout at the Summit Bechtel Reserve located in Mount Hope, West Virginia. At La Salle, Ryan is active in Robotics and enjoys teaching junior high children robotics after school.
ParentNewsletter
MARCH 2015
Our Lasallian Twinning Program School By Ed O'Connor, Director of Student Life
Each year during the season of Lent, La Salle High School along with all the other Christian Brothers Schools in the United States and Canada, raise money for our brother and sister schools in Africa through what is called the Twinning Program. La Salle High School along with four other high schools throughout the country are paired with Mount La Salle College in Naka, Nigeria. Though its name is Mount La Salle College, it is really a junior high and high school serving both boys and girls. Some of the realities of the students at Mount La Salle are described by their Principal Brother Wole Olabango, FSC, “Mount La Salle’s school fees equal about 20-50% of the tuition charged in some Catholic schools of equal status. Even so, most parents are unable to pay the fees. At least six in ten students are children of peasant farmers, two in ten are from petty trading families, and two in ten are children of civil servants or other wage earners. About 65% of the students are from families living on less than one dollar per day per individual. About 33% live on two dollars or less, while 2% are from families in more comfortable financial situations.” Our students are asked to contribute to the Twinning Program through their mentor period in a contest called Mentor Mania. Our hope is that each person at La Salle (students, faculty and staff) is able to donate $1-2 a week. If we all did that, we would raise close to $10,000 for Mount La Salle. On February 19, La Salle had the opportunity to listen to Mr. Abel Gutierrez of Cathedral High School share his experience of going to visit some of our schools in Africa. He told of the great work taking place as well as the incredible need for help. I believe our students heard his message loud and clear and will respond to the best of their ability. Brother Wole went on to say that, "Mount La Salle has used twinning donations to renovate infrastructures and provide scholarships for students who cannot afford the school fees. Its most urgent need is to build a chapel. Currently, weekly Mass and daily devotion are held in the multipurpose auditorium.” If you would like to contribute to this great cause, you may do so through your child’s mentor group. I know the students of Mount La Salle will appreciate your generosity.
ALWAYS GENEROUS LANCERS
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MARCH 2015
Disco Inferno Lights up the Stage on March 13 The classic tale of the soul-selling Faust is set to theOPENING greatest disco hits of the 1970s OPENING NIGHT MARCH 13
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NIGHT
If you love the 1970s, then you will love this riotous trip back to the decade that brought FEBRUARY us flared trousers, platform shoes and glitter. In Disco Inferno the classic German legend of Faust is brought 13 to life in an explosion of hit songs, high energy dance routines and glitter-ball spinning action. Disco Inferno is inspired by the classic German legend of Faust. In the legend, Faust sells his soul to the devil in exchange for knowledge and power. In Disco Inferno, Jack Green sells his soul in exchange for becoming a famous singer. The music draws from the canon of disco music, popular in the 1970s. Three words to describe this stylized musical would be “Faust with Flare.” Grabbing that jive old story and injecting it with groove, Disco Inferno is chock-full of the songs that defined a generation. Disco Inferno features a number of hit songs, such as: “Celebration,” “All Out of Love,” “Crocodile Rock,” “Hot Stuff,” “Instant Replay,” “Ballroom Blitz,” “I Love The Nightlife,” “Spirit in the Sky,” and “Play That Funky Music, White Boy." With its retro setting, Disco Inferno oozes nostalgia and inspires smiles to hustle its way onto audience members’ faces. This sublime, more-than-just-a-jukebox musical boasts over 40 La Salle students in the cast and crew. Seniors in the production include: Nate Chandler, Sinclair Daniel, Max Behrens, Tommy Moreno, Adrian Sanchez, Kennedy Gordon, Kayla Rix. Katie Sparks, Natalie Sirois, Melody Munson, Alyssa Villavicenzio, Lani Nugent, Jack Freiberger and Tom Usle. Disco Inferno was first performed in 1999 by Stage One Theatre Company in England and has been performed by hundreds of theatre companies and schools in the United States. Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, China, Norway, Zimbabwe, Jamaica, Germany, Hong Kong and Singapore. Disco Inferno is slated to open on Friday, March 13th, at Porticos Art Space, 2033 East Washington Boulevard in Pasadena. A fitting date for a devilish good time. Call 626.696.4415 for further information and reservations.
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MARCH 2015
2015-2016 School Calendar TENTATIVE: SUBJECT TO CHANGE
2015
2016
August 18 (Tuesday) New Student Welcome
January 6 (Wednesday) Second Semester Begins
August 19 (Wednesday) Student Information and Planning Day (All Students)
January 18 (Monday) Martin Luther King, Jr. – Holiday
August 20 (Thursday) First Day of Classes (All Classes Meet / Dismissal 12:20) September 7 (Monday) Labor Day – Holiday September 28 (Monday) Tentative Faculty In-Service October 9 (Friday) Faculty In-service October 12 (Monday) Columbus Day – Holiday November 9 (Monday) Veteran’s Day Observed – Holiday November 25 – 29 Thanksgiving Break (Wednesday to Sunday) December 15 – 18 Fall Semester Examinations (Tuesday to Friday) December 19 – January 5 Christmas Break
February 12 (Friday) Faculty In-service February 15 (Monday) Presidents’ Day – Holiday March 4 (Friday) School Holiday – WCEA/WASC
PLAN FOR NEXT YEAR
March 24 – April 3 Easter Break April 25 (Monday) School Holiday May 27 (Friday) Graduation School Holiday May 30 (Monday) Memorial Day – Holiday May 31 – June 3 Spring Semester Examinations (Tuesday to Friday) Note: For the 2015-2016 school year, uniform polos bearing the older block "LS", as well as the wearing of boat shoes (top-siders) on DressUp Days will no longer be permitted. PAGE 23
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MARCH 2015
The Obsequious Observer By John Blackstock, The Editor
St. Baldrick's Day will be celebrated at La Salle on March 18 at 6:00pm in the Dining Hall. It is a fun event that has raised tens-of-thousands of dollars to fight childhood cancers over the past few years. Students and faculty participate in the hilarious hair-cutting. The first annual President’s weekend “ALL IN” baseball tournament hosted by Lancer Baseball was a huge success benefiting Children's Hospital Los Angeles. This, being a working tournament which had no championship game, meant most teams were able to workout their teams to make final cuts, finalize rosters, and get those last scrimmages in before the start of baseball season. The real champions are the kids at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. A total of 24 high school baseball teams used four locations to complete the 36 games over the three day weekend. Every coach agreed that the tournament was a “win win” for everyone involved and all schools have committed to sign up again next year with hopes to add more schools and sites. A tentative date of March 16, 2015 is set for a representative from each school to visit CHLA and deliver their share of the weekend’s proceeds and sign baseballs for the children. Mr. Roy Chang, Lancer Robotics guru, tells us that these students in the Robotics Class were testing and debugging their programs on the day of this photo. In short, the robots have been programmed to "know" the difference between white areas and black areas of an 8' x 6' grid world. By storing one numeric value when over a black area and another numeric value when over a white area the robot can determine the grid number it currently occupies. Based on this grid number, the robot takes further navigational actions. The entire program is a decision making tree and is constructed as a simple algorithm. Many students in the Robotics class also take part in La Salle's Robotics Left to right, Senior, Christopher (Ryan) Adams, junior, Brandon Team and La Salle's Robotics Outreach Nguyen, senior, Adrian Ramirez, senior, Max Behrens, senior, Katelyn program. This is an elective class that is Stone, senior, Mackenzie Kutruff, junior, Mark Werden. Not pictured: currently offered to Juniors and Seniors. Juniors Ryan Monninger and Liam Anderson and senior, John Marsh.
EXCELLENCE IN ALL WE DO I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence I can reach for; perfection is God's business. Michael J. Fox PAGE 24
MARCH 2015
Alexi Zate Our Sierra Madre Rose Princess Congratulations to La Salle Senior and City of Sierra Madre Rose Parade Princess Alexi Zate. The 2015 Tournament of Roses theme was “Inspiring Stories.” The City of Sierra Madre participated in the Rose Parade with their inspiring float “I Think I Can” based on the illustrated children’s book The Little Engine that Could. The “I Think I Can” float was the smallest float in the parade from the smallest participating city in the parade, winning the big Mayor’s Trophy award. Alexi was also awarded the Sierra Madre Youth Service Award and the Girl Scout Gold Award for her work at the Sierra Madre Senior Center. “Earning the Gold Award is the highest honor in Girl Scouts. It was also another one of my “I Think I Can” moments. At La Salle, Alexi is an active member in the National Honors Society, the California Scholarship Federation, Habitat for Humanity and Support Our Troops. She won the Best Defensive Player award for the La Salle softball team. Alexi has yet to decide on what university she will be attending in the fall, but she does know that she wants to major in communications or psychology.
NEAT STUFF TO KNOW
Wright Rides for the Lancers Pictured at right is Emily Wright, '16, who is competing for La Salle in the Interscholastic Equestrian League of Los Angeles. She competes at the Novice level and won two ribbons out of the 4 classes that she participated in during the last show on February 7, 2015. She is one of two girls this year competing for La Salle at IEL. Raquel Ruiz '17, has a new horse and expects to compete in the next show. She rode at the JV level last year. PAGE 25
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Check your School calendar for event times and dates
March Highlights
CLASS OF 2018 REGISTERS MARCH 14 SPRING PLAY OPENS MARCH 13 SCHOOL HOLIDAY MARCH 16 GRAND PARENTS DAY APRIL 1
March 5 Sophomore Writing Assessment 10:00am Campus
March 18 Saint Baldrick's Day 6:00pm Dining Hall
March 6 Financial Aid Notifications Admissions Notifications Spring Dance 7:30-11:00pm Dining Hall
March 19 Café Bibliothèque 2:30pm Blakeslee Library
March 8 Sunday Daylight-Saving Time Begins March 10 Career Day - Alumni Presentations During Mentor Period Parent Association Meeting 6:30pm Blakeslee Library Parent Boosters Meetings 7:30pm Campus Locations March 12 Career Day - Alumni Presentations During Mentor Period March 13 Disco Inferno Opens 7:00pm Porticos Theatre, Pasadena March 14 Saturday Registration for the Class of 2019 9:00am -12:30pm Campus March 16 School Holiday March 17 Saint Patrick's Day
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March 23 Minimum Day Noon Dismissal March 30 Liturgy Schedule Dress up Day Holy Week Prayer Service 9:20am Dining Hall April 1 Friday Schedule - No Late Start Grandparents Day 8:00am -1:00pm Dining Hall and Gymnasium April 2-10 Easter Break
Summer Physicals The Athletic Department is looking for parent volunteers to help with the 2015 summer physicals. 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