December 2025 - David Holquin, President

Dear De La Salle Community:

In my first Sunday of Advent reflection to our staff, I shared that the word “taken” from this week’s Gospel can carry many meanings; some unsettling at first glance, yet ultimately pointing us toward hope. That hope is made real every day through the young men entrusted to our care.

A walk down Winton Drive makes it clear that the pillars of Advent (hope, peace, joy, and love) are already alive among us. Our Theatre Company completed a moving run of The Crucible. Over Thanksgiving break, our basketball program hosted the third annual Christian Brothers Classic, welcoming eight Lasallian schools, including two from Southern California, for a weekend of competition, prayer, and service. Campus Ministry is leading us through this season with Advent prayer services around the cross, MMM Thursday in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and next week’s celebration of the Immaculate Conception.

Our physics seniors are preparing for the annual boat race that promises its usual cold plunge, regardless of how warm the pool feels. Student Activities is ushering in the holidays with the 12 Days of Christmas; House Grove captured the freshman flag football title; and soon, the hallways will come alive with the holiday door-decorating contest and an abundance of blue tape. And, of course, final exams await us in just a few weeks when mastery is exemplified, and so is the possibility of all-nighters, no matter how many times we encourage our young men to chunk out their studies. None of which includes the plethora of holiday parties in our own families.

As full as this list may seem, it also reminds us why Advent arrives precisely when it does: to calm our hearts, to steady our minds, and to draw us back to what matters most. The saying, How you do one thing is how you do everything, is a good reminder that our liturgical calendar invites us to slow down and pay attention. Whether in our studies or in our faith, the way we prepare shapes the way we respond. This is especially true for our students as they approach final exams. The habits they are forming now, from the organization, discipline, and intentional effort, will strengthen their confidence and performance in the weeks ahead and ultimately in later life. Our mission statement calls us to “prepare young people for life and college” and no form of artificial intelligence can replicate what De La Salle provides: reflection, discernment, compassion, integrity, and the desire to orient one’s life toward God and others. These are the foundations upon which we continue to form young men of Faith, Integrity, and Scholarship, and it is such a privilege to continue this work that began by our founder in Rheims, France, in 1680. 

As we continue celebrating the school’s Diamond Jubilee, may each of us find moments to pause amid the busyness of the season to be present to one another, to welcome the quiet that stirs our hearts, and to remind the young people in our lives that they matter deeply.

Advent blessings to you and your families.

David J. Holquin
President