September 12th, 2013

IN MEDIA RES

Welcome to In Media Res, a newsletter about De La Salle High School's mission and vision for our students, our families, our alumni, and our community.

 

I will publish this newsletter twice a month during the school year. I plan to share some thoughts about the core values of a Lasallian school and our work in preparing young people for college, career, and life.

In Media Res
is Latin for "in the middle of things." I think that sums up high school pretty well. Secondary education in the United States is about readiness and transition. At De La Salle, we seem to be in the middle of a paradox - holding on to timeless values that should never change and adapting to an era of rapid change. Maneuvering this landscape is the heart of what we do.  
 

A newsletter is just a part of our ongoing conversation about De La Salle. And since it is only one-way, I also want to invite you to school for dialogue. For our current parents and guardians, we will be holding three "Cavalier Conversations" this month: Wednesday, September 18 at 8:00 am, Monday, September 23 at 3:00 pm, and Tuesday, September 24 at 6:00 pm. These are informal and optional - a chance to talk about our remarkable school and this moment in our history. All Cavalier Conversations will be in the library and we will offer tours and demonstrations of the new Creativity Studio afterwards.

  

For our alumni, we will gather for the Alumni Association's Annual meeting on Thursday, October 3 at 6:00pm in the school library. A tour and demonstration of the Creativity Studio will also be available after the meeting.

 
When a journey at De La Salle begins, we make each student a promise. Perhaps we don't say it out loud or very often, but a promise is made nonetheless. We promise that at the end of the DLS journey, a student will be ready for what is ahead - ready to leave De La Salle as a young adult ready to lead, ready to serve, and ready to make a difference.
 

Fulfilling that promise is a shared journey. Recently at our Ring Mass, I asked each senior to do three things: take care of yourself, take care of each other, take care of this place. I share this request with each of you now.


Take care of yourself - recognize the special and unique gift that is your life. Today, feel the ability you have to contribute to our De La Salle family. Take care of yourself throughout this school year, enjoying all that it will bring to you. It will be over in a flash - find a way to savor each moment. Please take care of yourself.

 

Take care of each other. There will surely be tough times for each of us this year - times of challenges and heartaches, times that will seem overwhelming and beyond hope. Let each of us promise, promise right now, that we will be there for each other, that no one will be alone, that we will not allow despair or cynicism to ever take hold among us. Please, let us promise to take care of each other.

Take care of this place. De La Salle is special in so many ways. It is a timeless reservoir of values and faith, it is a dynamic and innovative institution poised to be an important leader in the re-birth of our city. It is also fragile, dependent upon each of us to find and sustain a voice of vision, of hope, of courage. It is only working together as an extended family of students, faculty, families, alumni, and Brothers that will bring us success. It is our turn to lead De La Salle - please, take care of this place.

Take care of yourself, take care of each other, take care of this place. It is time to keep the promises we make. It is time to let the world know that we are ready to lead our school and our city to even greater days. We are ready to make a difference.


De La Salle - Lead On!

 

Michael Guillot, President 

 
In This Issue 


Cavalier Conversations

(Parents/Guardians)

Wed, 09/18, 8:00 am

Mon, 09/23, 3:00 pm

Tue, 09/24, 6:00 pm

 

Alumni Association Annual Meeting

Thu, 10/03, 6:00 pm

 

We start the school year with 458 students in grades 8-12. Our largest class on campus is our freshmen class numbering 126 (most freshmen since Katrina). Our annual operating budget is about $5 million. We have five new teachers joining our faculty, among them an NFL quarterback and a PhD microbiologist. Dr. Warren Caire starts his 52nd consecutive year as a member of our faculty. We open two new learning spaces in our Classrooms of the Future project this semester: the Fahs Creativity Studio and the Hebert Critical Thinking Room.

 

 

Next Issue

 

De La Salle 2020

A Strategic Action Plan

for Service and Leadership

 

 



De La Salle High School | 5300 Saint Charles Ave | New Orleans, LA 70115 | 504-895-5717

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