we held our ten year gala la salle academy · as we plan for our ten year gala, ... sister jeanne...
TRANSCRIPT
In the news...
La Salle AcademyPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania
Dear Friends,
Ten years ago, La Salle Academy opened as an independent, Catholic school owned totally by ourBoard of Trustees and operating in the traditions of the Christian Brothers and Sisters of Saint Joseph.Our mission is the same in 2013 as it was in 2003 – to educate children whose parents/guardiansdesire but cannot afford a Catholic education. We are serving the poorest of the poor.
We have so much to celebrate. La Salle Academy is more than a mission. La Salle Academy is a miracle every day.
With a reliance on faith and a strong belief that a quality education can make a difference, La Salle Academystudents gain confidence, learn, and achieve. Almost 90% of our students go on to graduate high school. Ourgraduates move forward to begin their careers, whether it be in college or serving our country. Despite the oddsbeing stacked against them, our students are contributing to society in deep and meaningful ways.
We are who we are because of the goodness and generosity of so many people. As we plan for our Ten Year Gala,it is exciting to step back and acknowledge all the good that has been done by our Board, our Teachers, our Ad-ministration, and our Benefactors. La Salle Academy is touching hearts each and every day.
Yes, on September 14, 2013 at Chestnut Hill College, La Salle Academy will celebrate a decade of success, believingand trusting as the prophet Jeremiah says, “in a future full of hope.”
Gratefully yours,
Sister Jeanne McGowan, SSJPresident
March 18, 2013 Volume 7, Issue 11
By the numbers...
� We held our Ten Year GalaKickoff Party on February10th at 5 Tower Bridge inConshohocken.
� The Friends of LSA will hosttheir annual Beef and Beeron Saturday, March 23rd, atFinnegan’s Wake from 6:30 –10:30 pm.
� Our students will have proj-ects on display at City Hallin ArtWell’s “AwakenedDreams: A Student Art Ex-hibit” from March 4th toMay 10th.
� LSA students are enjoyingtheir new Junior GreatBooks Program funded bythe Hamilton Foundation.
24 - LSA currently has graduates
in 24 high schools
5 - Five students received Second
Honors for their first semester report
cards
33 - of LSA graduates currently
attend Catholic high school
17 - Up to 17 volunteers attended
Sumeria/LSA Mentoring Event; even
more young adults participated in the
new Mentoring program
Save the Date...
March 22nd LSA Advocates Benefit Night at
Overbrook Country Club
March 23rdAnnual Beef and Beer at Finnegan’s
Wake
April 5thSchool band from La Salle Academy
in Providence, RI visits Philadelphia
June 13thLSA’s Graduation Day
From the President... Sister Jeanne McGowan, SSJ
More Than a Mission. A Miracle Every Day.
Page 2 La Salle Academy Newsletter – March 18, 2013�
Dear Friends,
La Salle Academy paraphrases the ancient African proverb, “It takes a whole village to raise a child” to “It takes awhole community to educate a LSA student.” We are blessed to have members of our community which includethe dedicated Board members and benefactors, gifted teachers, supportive parent/guardians and energetic volunteers.While our students grow in knowledge each year, our mission statement charges us with providing a holistic edu-
cation to all students. La Salle Academy students have enjoyed many enriching experiences throughout its 10 year history. Weare grateful to all community organizations that have provided our students with opportunities to participate in activities whichhelp them discover and develop talents and interests beyond the classroom walls.
Highlighted are the following community organizations which are presently working with our students this school year: ArtWell,SEI, Academic Explorers, Healthy News, USLI Mentoring Program, Urban Blazers, The Butterfly Project. I hope you enjoythe pictures and explanations of these enriching and life changing programs shared by our students.
Sincerely,
Teresa Diamond
From the Principal... Ms. Teresa Diamond
“It takes awhole village
to raise achild.”
-African Proverb
It takes awhole
community toeducate a La
Salle AcademyStudent
Explorers of the Month
Page 3 La Salle Academy Newsletter – March 18, 2013�
The third grade is participating in ArtWell’s most established program called “We the Poets,” whichuses poetry education to help students strengthen their creative voices and improve their literacyand communication skills. The poems will be displayed in City Hall from March 4 – May 10.
Miss Grady with her third grade poets, Hannah and Khalil
Page 4 La Salle Academy Newsletter – March 18, 2013�
In February, the third grade visitedSEI in Oaks, PA for a fun-filled dayplanned by members of their staff.Volunteers spent time helpingstudents with their curriculum,including reading Charlotte's Web.The students were then given a tourof SEI's modern art collection.Everyone's part of the day was thefascinating art - and the pizza forlunch of course!
The third graders were daringenough to walk into this ‘sharktank,’ where two large sharksmade from recycled tires weresuspended from the ceiling.
Some of our 4th grade studentswere chosen to participate in aweekly book club called AcademicExplorers, initiated and moderatedby Mrs. Rosalee DiIulio. Thischallenging program consists ofstudents who simply LOVE to read.Mrs. DiIulio chooses books thatmatch the students’ interests andstretches their reading ability to ahigher level. The students feel areal sense of accomplishmentwhen they finish an entire book,and enjoy the stimulation of thelateral thinking puzzles they geteach week.
Page 5 La Salle Academy Newsletter – March 18, 2013�
On Tuesday afternoons, the fifth gradeclassroom turns into the fifth gradenewsroom. Under the direction of Mrs.Marian Uhlman of Healthy News Works,and faculty advisor, Ms. Maureen Davis,fifth grade students are learning the manyroles of a journalist. Students interviewfaculty members, fellow students andfamily members to obtain newsworthyinformation about health, wellness,nutrition, physical activity and safety. Aswritten in the first edition of La SalleAcademy Healthy News, the fifth gradersare, “excited about their new jobs asjournalists and illustrators.” They lookforward to being sent more assignments!
Xavier created agingerbreadcookie illustrationto remind everyoneto cut back on thesweets!
The sixth grade participates in a USLImentoring program (United States LiabilityInsurance), which meets every threeweeks. The program encourages studentsto talk with their mentors whileparticipating in physical activity. Thementors work one-on-one with students,creating an environment where studentsfeel comfortable opening up about theissues they face outside of school, allwhile getting in some exercise.
Page 6 La Salle Academy Newsletter – March 18, 2013�
Urban Blazers is a mentoring programthat promotes teamwork andencourages seventh grade students towork together to achieve a commongoal. Each year, the students decideon a word that will best represent theirultimate goal. This year’s word is“courageous.” The Blazers meet onTuesdays in the Assembly Room,where they complete journalassignments and participate in variousteam building exercises. At the end ofthe year, the students will keep theirjournals as a reminder of theirexperiences and how much they havelearned. The students really enjoyedhiking in Fairmount Park, where theywere able to roast hot dogs and
s’mores over a bonfire!Some of the UrbanBlazers get a hands-on lesson aboutbuilding a safe fire.
The Butterfly Project tells the storyof more than 15,000 children whopassed through TerezinConcentration Camp during theHolocaust, of which less than 100survived. The eighth grade traveledto La Salle University to see theplay I Never Saw Another Butterfly,and heard the story of a Holocaustsurvivor. A collection of artwork andpoetry has been compiled to give aglimpse of life at Terezin, andstudents recognized that thisproject is an attempt to ensure thathistory doesn’t repeat itself.
Page 7 La Salle Academy Newsletter – March 18, 2013�
Thank you to the brothers of Sigma Phi Lambda at La Salle University for their generous donation of $6,000 to LSA!
Mr. Timothy J. AbellMrs. Susan AltringerMrs. Donna J. BartynskiBrother Carl Clayton, FSCMr. Bruce J. CumbyMr. James D. DanellaMs. Teresa DiamondMr. Dan DiehlMrs. Maura DiehlM. Catherine Driscoll Ragg, Esq.Mr. Dennis M. DurkinMr. John Fenningham, Esq.Mr. James HassonDr. Eugene P. Hughes, Jr., MDMs. Meg KaneMr. Dale Lintner, Jr.
Mr. James J. LynchMrs. Kathleen G. LynchMrs. Eileen M. MaginnisSister Jeanne McGowan, SSJMr. Frank PalopoliDr. Carol Melvin PateMr. Brian RileyMr. John D. RillingSister Catherine Robinson, SSJMr. Arthur SchielMr. John SchmittDr. Angela M. StoutMrs. Alicia M. Van KirkMr. Benjamin J. Ventresca, Jr.Mrs. Kristina Wahl GlanzmannJ. Michael Whitaker, MD
La Salle AcademyPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania1434 North Second StreetPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania 19122215.739.5804
Board of Trustees
FIRST CLASSPRSRT
US POSTAGEPAID
Permit 146Southeastern, PA
Our United Way number is 15142
For school news and events, visit us on the web:www.lasalleacademy.net
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10th Anniversary GalaSeptember 14, 2013Chestnut Hill College
Rotunda and Sorgenti Arena