Winter 2013 Issue - De La Salle Institute

PARENT PLACEParent Association HIGHLIGHTSThe Parent Association has been in full swing since the beginningof the school year. In accordance with the mission of developingan informed, interested and engaged body of current parents andguardians of De La Salle students, the association held severalevents in 2012 that embodied the group’s four focuses of education,recruitment, fundraising and community and the events were fun, too!This school year started off with the Parent Association sponsoring aFaculty/Staff Appreciation Day on August 19. The administration,faculty and support staff were treated to a continental breakfast ofmuffins, danishes, juice, fruit and coffee to thank them for theirhard work and dedication to the students and their families.Just as the students started off with homework at the beginning ofthe school year, the parents went to work with their first meetingof the year. This year’s meetings have been devoted to bringingtogether the parent community and educating and informing theparents on useful tips for their student(s), improvements in thecommunity and enhancements around the school.The first meeting of the year was held at SevenTen Lanes inAugust to start engaging and interacting with both new and veteranparents. The September meeting hosted Fr. Paul Novak, OSM,De La Salle’s president, and Tom White, De La Salle’s athleticdirector, who talked about campus improvements and the impactthat athletics, clubs and activities have on each student.At the October meeting, Geoff Johnson, De La Salle’s College andCareer Readiness Counselor, discussed how each student at everygrade level can prepare for their upcoming college experiences.The end-of-the-year meeting was celebrated at Ricobene’s to geteveryone in the Christmas spirit and usher in the New Year!The Parent Association also hosted two fundraising events andseveral hospitality events during the fall and winter. First wasthe annual fall Ricobene’s Night that was a huge success andraised money to purchase new microwaves for students on boththe Institute and Lourdes Hall Campuses. The Holiday Festival,held on December 8, was a collaborative effort with the AlumniAssociation and hosted more than 200 attendees. Guestsenjoyed a pancake breakfast, pictures with Santa, craftsfor kids, prizes, a split-the-pot raffle and shoppingwith over thirty vendors while listening to Christmasmusic. Proceeds from this event support the greatestneeds of the school, including the financialassistance program.Service is a large part of the cultureat De La Salle and it trickles down toour parents. This year, the parents haveextended their hospitality as volunteers forconcessions at football games, including the Blue/Gold game in August, Parent-Teacher Night and the major gradeschool recruiting event, Olympic Night. The Parent Associationalso sponsored the flowers for the Junior Ring Mass as well asthe flowers for the Senior Nights for the fall and winter sports.Pastries also were generously donated for the sweet tables at allfour open houses and the entrance exam while Parent Associationmembers volunteered their time to speak with prospective familiesabout the De La Salle experience. Kudos to all the parents for theirdonations and assistance this year!Events for the first part of 2013 include the Father-Daughter Danceon February 16, the Mother-Son Dance on February 17, and thespring Ricobene’s Night on April 24.Though the first semester has come to a close, there’s still time toget involved with your son or daughter’s high school experiencethrough the Parent Association during the second semester. TheParent Association is always looking for new ideas, creativeways of thinking and dedicated individuals to help us foster ourmission. There is no signup necessary, as all parents are welcomeas members of the Parent Association. Please join us at one of ourupcoming meetings held every 3rd Thursday of each month. Formore information about meetings or upcoming events, please visitthe Parents section of the De La Sallewebsite at www.dls.org/parents/events.jsp.If you would like more informationabout the Parent Association or want todiscuss how you can become involved,please contactLee Ann Eiland,DevelopmentCoordinator, at312.842.7355ext. 154 oreilandl@dls.org.Guests enjoying the crafts and camaraderie at the annual Holiday FestParent Place 17