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Dear Roxanna,
On Thursday, November 30 and Friday, December 1, we welcomed our families for the 1st quarter Parent/Teacher/Student conferences. Communication between our families and us is necessary for the success of our students, and the more parents and teachers share relevant information with each other about our students, the better equipped both are to help them achieve academically. Our students are part of the conferences because our goal is to have the students be active participants in their education. By participating, our students improve their communication skills and learn to advocate for themselves. We are very proud of the number of students who achieved honors!
2023-2024 First Quarter Student Honor Roll - 64% of our students achieved the 1st Quarter Honor Roll
Principal List-Minimum 95 average, no grade lower than 90
· 12 students- 22% Overall
· 2 eighth grade -16%
· 4 seventh grade- 21%
· 4 sixth grade -30%
· 2 fifth grade-25%
High Honors-Minimum 90 average, no grade lower than 85
· 13 students-25% Overall
· 2 eighth grade 16%
· 11%seventh grade 14%
· 8 sixth grade 38%
· 3 fifth grade 38%
Honors-Minimum 85 average, no grade lower than 80
· 9 students 16% Overall
· 4 eighth grade 33%
· 3 seventh grade 16 %
· 1 sixth grade 7%
· 1 fifth grade 13%
Total Number of students per grade achieving Honor Roll
· Eighth grade- 9 students-75%
· Seventh Grade-9 students-47%
· Sixth Grade-10 students-77%
· Fifth Grade-6 students-75%
On Thursday, December 14, we had a visit from Mr. Tim O’Connor from The Rosalie J. and C. Daniel Maldari Family Charitable Foundation. Mr. O’Connor brought with him, Father Kirk Reynolds, S.J. and Mrs. Androu from Saint Anthony’s parish to learn more about our mission. The Maldari Foundation supports organizations with educational programs that support the educational process for individuals who demonstrate promise but whose limited means hamper their ability to pursue constructive programs. The foundation considers our programs to meet the needs of communities impacted by global crises, and so we have been awarded a Maldari grant. May God continue to bless the Maldari Foundation so that they may continue being a blessing to others.
On November 30, 2023, we were joined by 215 friends in celebrating our annual Christmas luncheon fund raiser and friend raiser. The fellowship, the laughter and the company made this a very special event for The De La Salle School family. One of the most important lessons we can learn during the Christmas season is generosity. This lesson was evident in the many generous donors who attended the luncheon, and truly understand that Christmas is about giving, not receiving. Our guest speaker, Monsignor Jim Vlaun, reminded us that we, God’s people, are the difference in this world. He shared a personal story of an experience he had. While in the seminary, He came across a sign that read, “GOD IS NOWHERE,” and he was perplexed by the sign, that was until he realized that the sign actually read, “GOD IS NOW HERE,”…well it was evident that GOD IS NOW HERE at The De La Salle School. We are thankful to those who attended and saw God in the faces of our young men entrusted to our care. This celebration was a great way to begin the season of Advent.
As a community celebrating the season of Advent, we have been taking this time to help our students understand the reason for the season. We are teaching them that Advent is a time to reflect on hope, peace, love, and joy. It is a time to prepare our hearts and minds for Our Lord’s birth. This year, our students created an Advent wreath which was made of green hands traced and cut out by our students. They learned that the circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God, the immortality of our souls and God’s promise of everlasting life to us through Christ. During the lighting of the candles, we discussed their special meanings. They learned that the four colored candles represent the four weeks of the season and they symbolize hope, peace, love, and joy. We also discussed that when we see the flames of the candles, we remember that the Christmas light is approaching, bringing hope and peace in the struggle against darkness.
A tradition at The De La Salle School, during the season of Advent, is to have a fundraiser to help our twin school, Mwangza College in Kenya, Africa. One of the Lasallian pillars that we look to develop in our young men is “Service to Others.” The twinning program pairs schools in the Lasallian Region of North America (RELAN) with ministries in the Lwanga District of Africa. Although, our students’ resources are limited, their dedication and enthusiasm for helping those who may be even less fortunate than they are, is awe-inspiring and allows our young men to learn a valuable lesson of helping care for God’s people. Our young men give from their need, not from their surplus. They learn that giving to the poor is one of The Corporal Works of Mercy that Jesus teaches us and models for us on how we should treat all others, as if they were Christ.
As Christmas approaches, may God bless you this Christmas and always. May you be comforted by His presence in your life, and always follow. May His light shine brightly and guide you during this Christmas season and always. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas from your family at The De La Salle School!
Please join us at our Advent Prayer Service on Tuesday, December 19 at 7:00 at Our Holy Redeemer church. Let us remember the words of St. Augustine, “He who sings, prays twice.” Our voices are gifts from God and singing adds to our praise and worship of him. Please come and hear us sing in exultation!
SAINT JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE…PRAY FOR US
LIVE JESUS IN OUR HEARTS…FOREVER!
Mrs. Roxanna De Peña-Elder
Executive Director
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