La Salle Academy’s July Recap
John, a participant in our Cardinal Readiness Program, gave his summer experience a glowing review. He was appreciative of the friendliness of his fellow participants and the welcome he received from the teachers and staff who orchestrated the summer program for incoming 9th graders. What he may not realize, but something I noticed, was his growth throughout the duration of the four weeks. In the first days of the program, he was uncertain and reluctant to seek help when his Microsoft tablet was causing him problems. During the last week, he told me he was going to ask Mr. Stark (La Salle’s Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs) if his Algebra I Regents score from 8th grade was good enough to merit him placement in a 10th grade geometry class as a La Salle freshman. I have good evidence that John is indeed ready to be a Cardinal this September!
The Cardinal Readiness Program (CRP), a voluntary summer program for incoming freshmen, prepared 40 rising 9th graders to start their La Salle experience from a position of strength. Pictured here is Mr. Joshua Bashore (the College Contact in the Brothers’ formation program, who served as a teacher assistant for CRP) assisting an incoming student with setting up his Microsoft Surface tablet during the first week of the program. Thanks to Ms. Ana-Maria Ritziu, Ms. Susie Romanosky and Mr. William Hackshaw, who instructed and guided the young men this summer.
Congratulations to religion department chair Mr. Vincent Estevez and math teacher Ms. Stephanie Carlsen who graduated from the Buttimer Institute of Lasallian Studies on 8 July at Manhattan College. I am grateful to Vinny and Stephanie for the time and effort they invested in this three-year program which stretched to five years due to the pandemic. They have deepened their knowledge of the story, pedagogy, and spirituality of Saint John Baptist de La Salle and we will all benefit. (I am pictured in the lower left of this photo alongside Director of Campus Ministry Br. Richard Galvin.)
For the second year in row, our varsity baseball team received the Team Academic Excellence Award from the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). Congratulations to the players and to Coach Chris Washington! Only seven high schools in New York State were recognized with this honor. Go Cardinals! (The photo above shows six of the players, all also members of the National Honor Society.)
La Salle Academy is offering two unique Basketball Camp experiences this August. The La Salle Basketball Camp is open to students in grades 6 through 10 and the Rising Cardinals Clinic is available for rising La Salle Academy 9th and 10th graders. Click here to learn more and to register. Contact Mr. Jerome Pannell at 212-475-8940 ext. 306 or [email protected] with any questions.
Athletic Director and Varsity Basketball Coach Jerome Pannell met up with some La Salle men and former members of his varsity team when he attended the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas in early July. In the photo on the left, from left to right, are former LSA Basketball stars Bryce Council ’17, Branden Pannell ’21 and James Bouknight. Bryce and James were members of the 2017 New York State Federation Class B Championship Team. James currently plays in the NBA for the Charlotte Hornets. The photo on the right is James with Coach Pannell.
Coach Pannell also had the chance to meet up with Shammgod Wells ’12 (photo at left), who was at Summer League as an Assistant Coach for the Philadelphia 76ers Summer League Team, and God Shammgod ’95 (photo at right), who is a Player Development Coach for the Dallas Mavericks.
Our 27th Cardinal Classic Golf Outing is Thursday, September 22nd at Plandome Country Club. Visit our website to register and learn more or contact Ms. Daria Coney at 212-475-8940 ext. 301 or [email protected]. I hope you will join us for a beautiful fall day on the course!
La Salle Alumni from the classes of 2012-2018 are invited to join us for happy hour on Tuesday, August 23rd at 5:30 pm at The Gray Mare, located at 61 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003. Contact Mr. Justin Talavera at 212-475-8940 ext. 204 or [email protected] for more information.
Historically, the summer months are a time when schools undergo a transformation marked by new paint, refurnished rooms, and upgraded equipment. The pandemic slowed some of that activity at La Salle, but now, I am happy to report that we are busy refreshing classroom walls, finalizing work on our new fitness room and our new music room, and installing some state-of-the-art SMARTBoards.
Thanks to our benefactors whose generosity is making all this summer work possible. If you intended to contribute to one of these projects but have not yet done so, it’s not too late! A secure credit card donation can be made online by clicking here or a check can be sent to my attention at 215 E 6th Street, New York, NY 10003.
I assure you of my gratitude and prayers. Please remember to pray for all of us at La Salle.
Brother Thomas P. Casey, FSC
President
