Office of the Principal M i chael A . O ’ T oole ‘ 6 8 PRINCIPAL
Dear Parents and Guardians, We are off and running! And that doesn’t just refer to our cross-country team. We have seen prime evidence of the Lasallian sense of community in our student and parent orientations (aka back-toschool night!), the warmth of the welcomes hosted by the Men of La Salle, the Mothers Club, and our Multicultural Families Group, topped off by an outstanding Homecoming weekend. Following Saint La Salle, our faculty take to heart that “this work of teaching is one of the most important in the Church.” In a similar way, we truly believe that our students “have received talents and graces from God.” These Meditations from the Time of Retreat help us place into context our commitment to academic excellence. We are pleased to recognize these La Salle Seniors who have been designated National Merit Semi-Finalists, placing them among the top one-percent nationally of the Class of 2013 on the PSAT/ NMSQT test last October:
• Michael E. Bowen, son of Michelle and Michael of Doylestown • Eric W. Bridgeford, son of Barbara and Richard of Willow Grove • Robert J. Gormisky, son of Mary and Keith of Blue Bell • Frederick J. Ilsemann, son of Barbara and Frederick of Warrington • Conor E. Lavelle, son of Diana Long of Yardley and Thomas of Marvin, NC • Johnathan M. Neufeld, son of Barbara and Douglas of Doylestown • James M. O’Connor, son of Annette Lee and James of Lansdale • Ryan E. O’Donnell, son of Suzanne and Ward of Plymouth Meeting • Luke L. Persichetti, son of Susan and Mark of Blue Bell • Evan D. Quain, son of Daniel and Kathryn of Lansdale
We salute these La Salle Explorers who have developed their “talents and graces” and the “work of teaching” from parents and teachers who helped them along the way. Congratulations to all! On Thursday evening, October 11, 2012 at 7:15 pm, we will recognize these students and their classmates for a range of academic accomplishments at our Annual Honors Convocation. Mary Kay Meeks-Hank, Executive Director of Face to Face Germantown, will be our Convocation speaker. Ms. Meeks-Hank directs this local community service organization well known to the Men of La Salle and their sons. A graduate of Chestnut Hill College and Fordham University, she has also taught in the Sociology program at La Salle University. We welcome her insights on excellence, scholarship and service. At the same convocation, we will also recognize Ms. Martina Shustack of our math department for her quartercentury of dedicated service to La Salle. It should be a fine evening. Congratulations as well to the students who were recognized for achievements in academics, the arts, athletics and service at our in-school Awards Assembly in September. Thanks to Tim McAuliffe and Christian Endrigian for their reflective remarks during the presentations. October means that our top-ranked football team enters the heart of its league schedule. Soccer, golf, and water polo continue their quests for glory. And, La Salle theater will present not one – but two, count ‘em – productions. The Alumni Production of Company returns on Sunday, October 7, 2012 and our current students present Barefoot in the Park at the end of the month. Break a leg to Micky Dominick and his troupe. The month ahead also features the remarkable breadth of a La Salle education. Our latest Explorers, the Class of 2016, will join with their fathers in performing service to the greater Philadelphia community on Thursday, October 18, 2012 while the sophomores and juniors will get a chance to learn about careers first-hand from La Salle alums. Wednesday, October 24, 2012 presents a special opportunity for La Salle students to explore their interests and investigate the more than five dozen clubs and activities, from fencing to the Wisterian to the Human Rights Forum to the Art Club. Please encourage your sons to stretch themselves and sample an activity, large or small, that may be new to them. Thank you for joining us in the exciting educational adventure that is La Salle!
Michael A. O’Toole ‘68 Principal
La Salle College High School – The Belcroft October 2012 3