Congratulations to Jamiran James, De La Salle’s defensive tackle, for his recent commitment to Tulane University. You can read more about Jamiran in the articles below. The Times-Picayune features Jamiran’s highlight film from his Junior year at De La Salle.
The Times-Picayune: De La Salle defensive tackle Jamiran James commits to Tulane
The Advocate: De La Salle defensive tackle Jamiran James commits to Tulane
OIA News: De La Salle defensive tackle Jamiran James commits to Tulane
Melissa Grubbs, more often referred to as Coach Grubbs, started working at De La Salle in May of 2016. Coach Grubbs is the Cavaliers’ head volleyball coach and a dynamic P.E. teacher. Grubbs lead the 2016 volleyball team to the second round of the playoffs. Grubbs says, “The team has been putting in a lot of work both on the court for skill development and in the locker room for mental toughness. I am really excited about the upcoming 2017 season. The girls have been working really hard.”
Christina Towell founded the string orchestra program at De La Salle in the fall of 2013. The program started as an after-school program and grew to become an elective course for our students. Christina continues to grow the program each year, and it is a delight to see her skill in drawing out the musical talent of her students, both beginner and experienced students.
“Ms. Towell is the founder and leader of our string orchestra, a group which has become one of the finest representatives of who we are as a school community. She is detailed, exacting, and encouraging, and the presence and performance of our string orchestra on our campus and at our many events has had a major impact on the life of our school and on the vision of what we at De La Salle offer to our students.”–Paul Kelly ’83, Principal
Christina attended Indiana University earning her bachelor’s degree in music education. She also attended the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music where she earned her master’s degree in string pedagogy. Outside of class, she enjoys reading, hiking, watching her son play soccer, watching movies, art, going to concerts, finding new music, arranging and composing music for orchestra, going to museums, trying new food, and traveling.
Letter from the Principal
August, 2017
Dear Parents:
Congratulations and thank you for your help in making this such a smooth start to the school year!
As we begin our second week of school, I wanted to update you on some of the many things happening at De La Salle. Our students are so involved in the life of our school that the number of activities can be a bit overwhelming. Again, I encourage you to constantly check our website, www.delasallenola.com, and our calendar for updates on these activities.
SCHOOL CLOSED FRIDAY, AUGUST 11th
We apologize for any confusion regarding Thursday of last week. Please understand that we follow the Archdiocese of New Orleans regarding all school closures. The Archdiocese did not make clear to us its plan until the vast majority of our students were in our building, and we made the decision to hold school that day. Any student who was kept home on this day will be given the opportunity to make up any missed assignments.
Our Back to School Dance, scheduled for Friday, the 11th, has been postponed until further notice.
STUDENT HANDBOOK SIGNED FORMS
On Welcome to De La Salle Day, most students and parents signed our Student Handbook Form stating that you have read and understand the policies of De La Salle High School as listed in our Student Handbook (there was a “signing” station early in the line). If you have not yet done this, this form must be signed and turned in to the office of the Dean of Students immediately.
LEVEL ASSEMBLIES, MONDAY, AUGUST 14th, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16th
On Monday and Wednesday of this second week of school, we will hold grade level assemblies with our students. In these assemblies, we specifically inform students about our academic and disciplinary policies. Please follow up with your student after these school days to see what they have learned!
MINI-SCHEDULE NIGHT, THURSDAY, AUGUST 17th
Thursday, August 17th, is our Mini-Schedule Night for ALL parents. This night begins at 6:00 p.m. in the cafeteria with an address from our president, Mr. Michael Giambelluca.
This is a “Meet the Teacher” night in which you will follow your child’s schedule for ten-minute “classes.” This is NOT a Parent-Teacher conference, but an opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and hear a brief course overview.
The schedule for Mini-Schedule Night is posted at the conclusion of this letter.
Your child will bring home a copy of his or her schedule that day to help you find the appropriate classrooms.
BIG BROTHER / BIG SISTER DAY, SATURDAY, AUGUST 19th
Saturday, the 19th, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., is Big Brother / Big Sister Day on our campus. We strongly encourage all students to attend. This event links our older students to our younger students, and these connections truly strengthen the bonds between students that we so strongly hope to develop.
SENIOR RING MASS, FRIDAY, AUGUST 25th
Friday, August 25th, is our Senior Ring Mass and Ceremony at Holy Name of Jesus Church. The Mass begins at 10:30 a.m., and the school day will end at approximately 12:30 p.m. Boys are required to wear their ties to this Mass. All students (except seniors) will report to school at the normal time. We will dismiss at approximately 12:30 p.m. from De La Salle, and the buses will run after dismissal.
I look forward to continually partnering with you and your child as the school year progresses.
Sincerely,
Paul Kelly, ‘83
Principal
Dear Parents and Seniors of the Class of 2018:
There are many exciting and memorable moments of one’s high school career, and August 25th marks one of these important events. Friday, August 25th, is the De La Salle Senior Ring Mass at Holy Name of Jesus Church. On this day the Class of 2018 will be installed as the Senior Class of De La Salle High School.
The Mass will be celebrated at Holy Name of Jesus Church on the campus of Loyola University. Seniors do not report to school on this day, and they must arrive outside the church by 9:45 a.m., as the ceremony will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m. Parents and guests of seniors will be seated in appointed rows and ushered in by student council members. Please be reminded that the entire student body will be present for this ceremony, and seating will be at a premium. There are no tickets for this event, and we expect the church to be completely filled. We recommend no more than four guests per senior, and please understand that we cannot guarantee seating.
Additional instructions will be given to the Seniors on Thursday, August 24th, when they rehearse during their “B” period class. Mr. Tony Behan, Mr. Justin Martineau, Mr. Chris Perrone, Mr. Paul Kelly and Mr. Michael Giambelluca will all be assisting in the organization of this special ceremony. Particular emphasis will be made to the Seniors at their rehearsal regarding the importance of their behavior at the Ring Mass.
On the day of the Senior Ring Mass, the Seniors’ attire must be appropriate for a church event. The boys should wear a shirt with a tie; a sport coat is optional. The girls must wear dresses or pant suits that are also appropriate for church. The dresses must be appropriate in length and sundresses must be worn with a jacket or some type of wrap. If you have any questions regarding appropriate dress, do not hesitate to call the school and ask for Mr. Perrone.
We would also like to remind you that this ceremony takes place within the context of the Holy Mass, so all family members must be instructed that their demeanor during the liturgy and ceremony must be reflective of this serious occasion.
This ceremony is mandatory for each Senior, as each student is an important member of De La Salle’s Class of 2018. Even if your son/daughter is not receiving a Senior ring, he/she will still be called forward, and it will appear as if each Senior is receiving a Senior ring. At this time, Barberito Photographers will take an individual photo of each senior, which will be made available for purchase. If the student has a De La Salle legacy ring, please make sure the student brings that ring to Mr. Kelly or Mrs. D’Antoni no later than Wednesday, the 23rd.
This ceremony is the official beginning of your son/daughter’s Senior year at De La Salle, and we certainly hope that you and your family will be able to join us for this celebration. The Mass should last until approximately 11:45 a.m., at which time Seniors will be allowed to leave with their families.
Thank you and God bless.
Paul Kelly, ‘83
Principal
Rowland Skinner joined De La Salle’s faculty as the physical education lead teacher and coaching staff as the head baseball coach in the fall of 2013.
“A product of a Lasallian education himself, Coach Skinner has expertly led our baseball program to a championship level in four short years. Coach Skinner has high expectations for his players, yet he never sacrifices his standards for the sake of winning. He works diligently in his role as associate athletic director to ensure that all of our sporting events flow smoothly.”–Paul Kelly ’83, Principal
Rowland attended the University of New Orleans where he played baseball and earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration. He earned his teaching certificate from the University of West Florida. Outside of teaching and coaching, he enjoys playing and watching sports and brushing up on his history.
Ryan Manale, known on campus as Coach Manale, started at De La Salle in May of 2011 as De La Salle’s head football coach and physical education teacher. Since starting, Ryan has helped develop a top-tier football program. In the 2016-17 season, the team won 10 straight games, ended their regular season schedule undefeated for the first time in school history, and advanced to the semi-final round of the state playoffs. Everyone is looking forward to the upcoming season. You can view the schedule here.
“Coach Manale is a one-of-a-kind head football coach in that he does everything within his power to support and promote every area of our school, from demanding academic excellence from his players, to attracting quality students, to working with all of our other head coaches, to supporting our mission. He is a tremendous leader who seems to spend every waking moment trying to better our school.”–Paul Kelly ’83, Principal
Ryan earned his bachelor of science degree at Southern University of New Orleans. When Ryan is not coaching, teaching, or attending another De La Salle event, he enjoys eating out, especially at places with good iced tea, and spending time with his family.
Chris Perrone started his career at De La Salle as the Dean of Students in the fall of 2011. Chris was a great fit for the Dean of Students’ position at De La Salle, in part, because he attended fellow Lasallian school, St. Paul’s in Covington. In addition, Chris is the assistant boys’ basketball coach. Though students do not ever want to be sent or called to his office, Mr. Perrone has an excellent rapport with students. Chris leads through example, and students recognize his dedication and genuine care for them.
“Coach Perrone is our beloved “heavy,” our Dean of Students. While his job is nearly always a thankless one, Coach Perrone’s fairness and transparency allow our students to grow and mature through his method of discipline and correction. Our campus and school environment are safe, calm, and orderly due to his vigilance, work ethic, and supervision.”–Paul Kelly ’83, Principal
Chris attended the University of Louisiana, Lafayette, where he played football and earned his bachelor’s degree in finance. He has also earned his master’s degree in educational leadership from Xavier University. Outside of class, Chris enjoys fishing.
Letter from the Principal
September, 2017
Dear Parents:
Happy September to all! I sincerely hope that you and your child are quickly settling into the routine of the new school year. We are nearly one month into school at this point, and our calendar is filling up with events and happenings.
DONATION OF SUPPLIES FOR THOSE IN NEED
Our Service Club, moderated by Ms. St. John and Ms. Garcia, is leading a collection of non-perishable food items and/or monetary donations to help provide aid to those in need in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Please give what you can! We will be donating all we collect to Second Harvest in the coming weeks. Thank you for your generosity.
SCHOOL IS CLOSED, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1ST AND MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH
Reminder that school is closed on Friday, the 1st, due to a mandatory, off-campus faculty in-service, and Monday, the 4th, for Labor Day. Enjoy the holiday weekend!
PRINCIPAL’S ASSEMBLY, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH
On Tuesday, we will hold our first Principal’s Assembly of the year, wherein we recognize truly outstanding achievements by our students both at and outside De La Salle. If you would like your child recognized for any outstanding achievement that occurred outside of De La Salle (any special accolade that we would not necessarily be aware of), please email me with the details of the achievement, and I will work to include this recognition in our assembly. (Because we are limited by time at these assemblies, I cannot guarantee all students will be recognized; however, any student who is not recognized at the assembly will be recognized on the next day’s morning announcements).
SENIOR RETREAT, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH
Seniors and Senior Parents are reminded that the senior retreat takes place next Friday, September 8th. This is an incredibly powerful day that very much sets the tone for the year for our senior class and our school, and as our handbook states, all seniors must attend. Seniors will report to school at the normal time, and we will be leaving for the retreat center shortly after our school day starts. Any senior who misses this day will make up the time on a date to be determined by me. Permission forms can be found on Edline.
DE LA SALLE VS. ST AUG AT TULANE’S STADIUM, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH
Please make plans to come out and support our school and our football team, band, cheerleaders, and Cavalettes, as we participate in the first high school football game ever held at Tulane University’s Yulman Stadium. We will host a tailgate party at Holy Name of Jesus School, located on Calhoun Street, from 4:15 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., featuring music, food and drink. The band will lead us on a march to the stadium at the conclusion of this celebration. Please plan on joining us on this special evening!
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 14TH, 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
We will have our first semester Parent-Teacher Conference on the 14th. We encourage all parents to come to campus on this night for individual conferences with teachers. Conferences begin at 4:00 pm and end promptly at 7:00 pm. We ask that you limit your individual time with teachers to a maximum of eight (8) minutes, and please be conscious of time if a line has formed outside a teacher’s door. Of course, if you feel like you need more time with a teacher, you are always welcome to set up a conference by appointment with that teacher for another day.
FIRST JUNIOR RETREAT, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND
Junior retreat letters will be handed to all of our juniors and mailed home to all junior parents next week. The junior class has been divided into three separate groups, and each group will attend an after-school retreat on a Friday afternoon. The first group will go on retreat on Friday, September 22nd. Permission forms can be found on edline and must be completed before this date. Please email our campus minister, Mr. Tony Behan, at tbehan@delasallenola.com, if you have questions.
FRIENDLY REMINDER: PLEASE SCHEDULE ALL APPOINTMENTS
As a friendly reminder, and as a means of saving you time and energy, all requests for appointments with teachers and administrators must be scheduled in advance. Our handbook clearly states this policy, and it allows us to provide you with the necessary time to properly discuss the important issue at hand.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Our football, volleyball, cross-country, and swim teams are in full swing! Please come out and support our students as they represent De La Salle on the field, on the floor, and in the water!
Also, please don’t forget we host the best post-game tailgating and celebration in town after every football game right here on campus. All are welcome to join in these festivities!
As always, we thank you for entrusting your children to us, and we look forward to a productive and exciting September.
Take care, and may God bless you and yours.
Sincerely,
Paul Kelly, ‘83
Principal
De La Salle vs. St. Augustine: Game Details (Friday, September 8th)
4:15-6:15 pm: De La Salle tailgate at Holy Name of Jesus parking lot on Calhoun Street
(Free food, drink, and music)
5:50 pm: Follow the band and walk from Holy Name parking lot to the stadium as we march through the campus of Tulane University
7:00 pm: Kick-off
Post-game: Tailgating at De La Salle
Game Information:
The cost is $12.00 per ticket. We are selling tickets here at school and strongly encourage you to buy them here to avoid lines at the stadium.
We are the visiting team, and, as our team will be wearing white jerseys, we are asking all De La Salle supporters to WEAR WHITE to support the team.
Parking:
Free parking is available in the Loyola University garage located on Freret Street, within walking distance of Holy Name and the stadium.
Claiborne Avenue Parking Lot and Diboll Garage on Ben Weiner Drive are available for first come-first serve parking. Cost is $5.00 and must be cash. (Ben Weiner Drive, off Claiborne Ave will be closed to traffic when the garage is full).
Pick up for parents:
S. Claiborne Ave (river side of Claiborne)
(We will have faculty chaperones outside at the pick-up point on S. Claiborne for 30 minutes following the conclusion of the game).
There are no fan buses for this game. Only the team, the band, cheerleaders and Cavalettes will be bused to the game. Students must get to the tailgate, the game, and to home or back to school, on their own.
“Coach CJ, as our students call him, is asked to serve in many different capacities here at De La Salle, and his willing nature and professionalism allow him to succeed in these varied areas. Coach CJ is a part-time attendance officer when needed, and he is a football and track coach. He loves De La Salle, and he truly believes in the mission of our school.”–Paul Kelly ’83, Principal
De La Salle is blessed to have Chris starting his sixth year as the running backs coach and track coach. Chris earned his associate’s degree in pharmacy, and he is currently finishing his degree in physical education. Outside of coaching and teaching, Chris enjoys fishing, weightlifting, spending time with his family, listening to music, watching movies, and, of course, watching football.
Letter from the Principal
October, 2017
Dear Parents:
October is here, and today we kick off our Homecoming Week, which includes our Homecoming game against Haynes Academy on Friday night at Pan-American Stadium, and our Homecoming Dance on Saturday night at the Cannery. Our first quarter exams are also rapidly approaching. Below are many of our events of which I would encourage you to take note.
HOMECOMING WEEK, MONDAY, OCTOBER 2nd – SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7th
This first week of October is our Homecoming Week. Our student council sponsors many creative “dress down days” during this week, and we encourage all students to participate in all of our Homecoming activities. Thursday evening, October 5th, we host our Hall of Fame Banquet on campus; Friday, October 6th, we play our Homecoming Football Game against Haynes Academy at Pan-American Stadium, and Friday, October 7th, is our Homecoming Dance (tickets are $45.00 per person) at the Cannery in Mid-City.
Tickets for these events will be sold throughout the week at school.
For questions about student activities and the dance, please contact our Director of Student Activities, Mr. Justin Martineau, at jmartineau@delasallenola.com; for questions about the Hall of Fame Banquet or the football game, please contact our athletic director, Mr. Tony Bonura, at tbonura@delasallenola.com.
Please see our website for further details about all of these events.
FIRST QUARTER EXAMS, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12th AND 13th
Our first quarter exams take place on Thursday (A and B Period exams) and Friday (C and D Period exams) of next week, October 12th and 13th. Exams are weighted as either 20% or 25% of the student’s final grade, based on the tracking of the course. Dismissal on exam days is at 11:00 am. Buses will be running shortly after the second exam concludes. Please encourage your child to spend time preparing well in advance of his or her exam days.
SCHOOL CLOSED: NO CLASSES FOR STUDENTS, MONDAY, OCTOBER 16th
Friendly reminder that students do not have school on Monday, October 16th. This is a grading day for teachers. While certain teachers may post final grades to Edline at any time during this week, final and official grades will be available for viewing on Edline by Monday, October 23rd, at 11:00 am. Again, we do not send home hard copies of report cards.
8th GRADE RETREAT, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21st
8th Graders and 8th Grade Parents are reminded that the 8th Grade retreat takes place on Saturday, October 21st. Please have your 8th grader at school by 7:45 am on this date. The retreat will take place on our campus; it will begin promptly at 8:00 am and will end at 12:00 pm. Students may bring a snack, as no meals will be served. This is a mandatory event for all 8th grade students. Students are asked to follow “Maroon and White” dress down day policy on this day (jeans, De La Salle t-shirt, tennis shoes). Please be sure your child is picked up promptly at 12:00 pm.
OPEN HOUSE, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 7th
The single most important admissions event of the year, our Open House, takes place on our campus on Tuesday, November 7th, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Please encourage all family and friends with prospective high school students to attend this amazing event. Much more information will be sent out to students and parents concerning this date as we move into the month of November.
SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING
All of our faculty and staff members must remain current in a Safe Environment training course provided by the Archdiocese. Parents interested in the content of this course should visit this link: https://www.arch-no.org/safe_environment.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Please continue to support our extracurricular activities. Football, volleyball, swimming, and cross country are in full swing. Please come out and support the Cavaliers on the field or on the floor or in the pool!
As always, we thank you for entrusting your children to us, and we look forward to a productive and exciting month. Take care, and may God bless you and yours.
Sincerely,
Paul Kelly, ‘83
Principal
As the official registrar of De La Salle, Marilyn D’Antoni has kept meticulous student records. In addition, she moderates the Pro-Life Club.