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De La Salle High
School is a Roman Catholic educational community where students are loved, instructed, and guided according to the traditions
of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and the charism of Saint John Baptist
de La Salle, Founder of the Brothers and Patron of Teachers.
De La Salle High
School provides a Catholic, Lasallian education rooted in a liberal arts tradition which prepares
young people for life and college. The School seeks to educate students
spiritually, academically, physically and socially through the promotion of a
vital faith life, sponsorship of strong academic programs, a wide range of
student activities, and the witness of a concerned and dedicated faculty,
administration and staff.
De La Salle High
School recognizes and promotes the dignity of each student by providing an environment that is moral, caring and
joyful. Within such a setting, the School seeks to challenge its students to
serve others, especially the poor, and to deepen a sense of responsibility for
humanity's future.
De La Salle High
School seeks to serve and embrace students with varied academic needs and diverse social, cultural, and economic
backgrounds and does so in partnership with families and all those who are
committed to living the Lasallian heritage.
Philosophy of De La Salle High School
The mission of De La
Salle High School is supported by the following beliefs which form the School's
philosophy:
We believe that an
effective Lasallian educational program promotes excellence, faith, and genuine
learning in mind, body, and spirit.
Effective education in our tradition must be characterized by commitment to
high, positive expectations, deep caring, and attentiveness to the needs, goals
and abilities of all students.
We believe that a
De La Salle education should be student-centered and challenge our young people
to become active, inquiring, critical, and open-minded thinkers who are also
life-long learners. A Lasallian
education seeks to develop a commitment to Christian values, active
citizenship, understanding of the role of self-discipline in the growth of the
human person, recognition of diversity, and a desire to serve others,
especially the poor and marginalized.
We believe that
religious education promotes the full development of the human person. De La Salle High School shares in and is directed by
the teaching mission of the Roman Catholic Church. The School provides many
opportunities for religious instruction, Christian service-learning, liturgical
celebrations, cultivation of a prayerful relationship with God, a reflective
spiritual life, and the building of a grace-filled community.
We believe that
teaching is a ministry of grace and a professional activity that requires
thorough preparation and ongoing renewal. De La Salle teachers are called to play a special part in God's
providential plan for young people. They are called to grow in holiness, to
exercise their teaching ministry with faith and zeal, and to model a vision of
life that makes Jesus alive and present. Lasallian educators reflect a belief
that teaching is an art and a skill which calls for competence, understanding,
creativity, and passion. Lasallian teachers value professional development and
continually look for ways to make learning more effective for the young people
entrusted to their care.
We believe that a
De La Salle education is most effective when teachers, staff, families, and
friends share their gifts generously as members of the school community. This community works together in mutual charity so
that a spirit of generosity, patience, humor, and humility may grow among them.
They work in an interdependent manner so that the Lasallian convictions and
values they share may be used in the most effective manner for the good of the
young. This partnership becomes a source and model for sharing with the Diocese
of Oakland, Brothers of the Christian Schools, lay partners in other Lasallian
works, and the wider community.
We believe that an
educational experience which is true to the Lasallian tradition will assist
students in discovering their dignity, uniqueness, and common identity as sons
and daughters of God and brothers and sisters to one another. This education will also help them realize the
importance of community based on the development of relationships with others.
The programs at De La Salle, therefore, help students appreciate their absolute
value as persons, their distinctive individuality, and their call to manifest
God's presence in the world.