La Salle Academy’s March Recap
It was 12 March 2020 when we bid farewell to our students, assuring that they had their Microsoft Surface tablet and charger before they left the building. The madness of last March continued for months and the first anniversary of that departure day passed without ceremony. Since most of our students are continuing to learn remotely, there are some young men whom we have not seen in person for more than a year. March madness may have mellowed, but March sanity has yet to claim dominance!
As part of our ongoing efforts to provide professional development opportunities for La Salle’s faculty and staff, we launched into the first of three 1.5-hour presentations by Catapult Learning aimed at enhancing their understanding of structural racism and its impact on students. This opportunity has the potential to result in beneficial consequences for all of us.
We are back in action at La Salle Academy with a hybrid model of education. Students had the option to return back to school in person for the 3rd quarter, and about 25% chose to do so. Those students who decided to continue with remote education tune in to their classes via Google Meet or Microsoft Teams. Our Academic Awards Ceremony, recognizing the achievement of scholars in the first semester, occurred in the gym with some student attendees while the balance of the student body had the event live-streamed to them at home. Pictured here is Abraham R. ’21 approaching the podium to receive his award for achieving First Honors.
Education at La Salle was on the March calendar for our faculty and staff, too! Ms. Ismini Scouras and Ms. Daria Coney attended the DENA Communications Spring Workshop earlier this month where they conferred with colleagues in our Lasallian network. Ms. Kerry Conroy (pictured in the accompanying photo) served as a panelist in the Forefront 2021 virtual summit hosted by The Procedo Project. The entire faculty and staff benefited from a presentation by Brother Daniel Gardner, FSC regarding adapting traditional Lasallian pious practices for the 21st Century.
Thanks to a grant from the FSC Foundation and matching gift from alumnus and La Salle Academy Trustee, Dr. Howard McGee ’58, we purchased 28 new, state-of-the-art microscopes for our McGee Family Science Center. Pictured here is Joseph S. ’21, who helped Science Department Chair, Mr. John Neering, unpack and test the new equipment when it arrived.
As of today, our Class of 2021 has been accepted to 110 colleges and universities for the fall. Some of the schools they have been accepted to include Manhattan College, Syracuse University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. A complete list of these post-secondary institutions is available for you to view on our website. I applaud our seniors and their achievements. La Salle’s reputation as a college-preparatory high school is solid!
We are looking forward to hosting the Classes of 1971 and 1996 to celebrate their Gold and Silver high school graduation anniversaries! Those reunions will be held on April 20th and 22nd, respectively. If you are a member of the 25th or 50th reunion classes, please contact Ms. Daria Coney at [email protected] or 212-475-8940 ext. 301 to RSVP or for more information.
If you are a La Salle graduate, we want to hear from you for our Alumni News section on our website! This page focuses on professional and career accomplishments of our alumni. Contact Ms. Daria Coney at [email protected] if you have news to share. Our vast alumni network makes us proud!
To date, 51 donors have contributed $7,251 to our Resilience Campaign! The effects of COVID continue to persist and our students’ families require tuition assistance now more than ever. Your contribution to our goal of $11,000 by April 11th will help. Text MISSION to 91999 from your cell phone, click here, or mail a check to my attention at La Salle Academy. You will make a deserving family grateful.
Interscholastic sports and fundraising events are slowly reemerging as the daffodils spring up. Although our basketball team has yet to suit up and the time for that season is waning, we know our baseball players will take the field. Outdoor track is on the schedule, too.
Also on the calendar is our spring fundraiser, with a new name: Lasallian Scholarship Benefit. Since gathering indoors in May at The Pierre, our traditional venue, is neither prudent nor popular, we are hosting a hybrid venture. For our honorees and a limited number of in-person guests there will be a gathering at the Tribeca Rooftop on Thursday, 24 June 2021. From this outdoor setting, the awards presentation and request for scholarship funds will be live streamed. Our committee is planning a fun, informative, and engaging event. Details will follow. Plan to participate!
Easter blessings to you and may the hope inherent in these days fuel your future!
Brother Thomas P. Casey, FSC
President
