May 2026 - David Holquin, President

Dear De La Salle Community:

How did it become May already? Schools squish into nine months what should be in 12, but even this year seems like it sped by in the blink of an eye. It is an important reminder for all of us to slow down when we can and embrace the ordinary moments, especially those with our children. 

As a school community, there is an incredible amount of activities happening this month that remind us we are a Lasallian Catholic school called to form men of faith, integrity, and scholarship. Each of them are moments to pray our experiences, and to be grateful that we have encountered such amazing young men. Our incredible Parents Association and community have helped make this Teacher Appreciation Week a reminder about the important role educators play in the formation of our young men. (Shout out to Noel Hughes, Jenny Barger, and Michelle Anderson.) New Student Welcome Night reminded us that the journey begins long before a diploma is conferred. Our Diamond Jubilee Auction smashed another record, and I am deeply grateful to the sponsors and bidders who put their proverbial money where our mission is. (Well done to the Advancement Team!)

We’ve been having lots of conversations about AI and its impact on education and the teenage brain. And some of you may have heard that there was a recent study that found not having phones in schools had mixed results in terms of academic outcomes. Perhaps that’s because the focus on the tools misses the deeper point. St. John Baptist de La Salle turned 375 years old on April 30, and as I shared with our staff community, his principles remain as timely and timeless as ever. He reminded the early Brothers as he reminds us now, that education is not primarily about information, but rather about formation. When we place the human person at the center, not the product, we have something far more lasting and ultimately eternal.

And that leads us to May.

In just a week, we will celebrate the class of 2026. They are not simply the product of four years of coursework, activities, or college acceptances. They are the result of thousands of quiet, unseen moments that some of us never knew about. From early morning practicalities, difficult conversations, transformative prayer experiences, failures, perseverance, and success. They are a testament to what can happen when we commit to the process of formation over time.

At our recent Student Recognition Assembly, I was struck by how much our students do. Excellence inside and outside of the classroom was celebrated, as was the fact that we had two military service academy appointments, three ROTC scholarships at major universities, and dozens of Spartans extolled for their commitment to service. While these are extraordinary outcomes, we value most the discipline, character, and commitment required to achieve them.

This is both an invitation and a challenge for all of us as parents and educators: resist the temptation to measure success solely by the outcome, and instead invest deeply in the daily habits, relationships, and values that shape who our young men are becoming. The world will always push toward results, and we do need to be aware of those. Yet our mission calls us to something much deeper. It calls us to form young men who know who they are, who they are called to be, and how they are called to serve.

As we move through this final month of the school year, may we slow down enough to notice and celebrate the growth that is happening in real time. Perhaps a simple question for all of us to hold onto in these final weeks is: Are we focused on who our sons are becoming or on what they have achieved?

May we be just as intentional about celebrating effort, growth, character, and faith as we are about outcomes. Have a productive and prayerful May.

Warmly Yours,
David J. Holquin