These
impressive accomplishments – as well as those of earlier eras – remind me of how
relevant La Salle’s value proposition (developed as part of our recently
adopted Strategic Plan) is in explaining how different students – and alums –
can be successful at so many different opportunities:
What distinguishes La Salle from other college preparatory high schools
in the Greater Pasadena Area is its ability to nurture students’ individual
passions in academics, arts, athletics and the spiritual life. Because La Salle
is the largest private high school in Pasadena, it is uniquely positioned to
provide a diversity of opportunities both in and out of the classroom that is
unparalleled among its peers.
The Summer issue of Lancer Magazine is
chock-full of examples of students – and alums (check out the three Drs. Nuccio ) - who were
able to nurture their individual talents while at La Salle enabling them to
graduate with Honors, find their passion, compete in Prague, earn a playwriting fellowship, receive a Golden Diploma
and record athletic achievements. It is because we make it possible for students to pursue their individual
passions at La Salle that our alumni are able to accomplish their dreams. And,
we’re not done yet.
I’ve
often said that excellent programs require excellent facilities. Our current
campus footprint is cramped and insufficient to support the dramatic growth in our
academic, arts and athletic programs. We need new and larger spaces to continue
to nurture their effectiveness in providing a diversity of opportunities both
in and out of the classroom. After ten long years of pursuing Pasadena approval
of our Master Plan application, the City Council unanimously approved the
project on September 19th. That approval was a product of lengthy
negotiations between La Salle, our neighbors and the City with respect to
mutually agreeable uses of the campus. There were many compromises – by all
parties – which, I believe, produced a Master Plan which will ensure the
School’s ability to effectively support our growing programs of excellence
while, at the same time, enable us to continue our commitment to be a good
neighbor and a contributing citizen of Pasadena. What’s in the Plan?
·
Phase I:
o
Practice
Gymnasium
o
Aquatics
Center
o
Fitness
Center
·
Phase II:
o
Visual
& Performing Arts Center
·
Phase III:
o
Field
House
Clearly, this is an ambitious plan,
and one that lays out our priority to support growing programs of excellence
with facilities that can ensure their continued impact on the lives of the
students entrusted to our care. And, we hope to begin to implement this
priority sooner rather than later. We want to identify the resources necessary
to launch Phase I within the next eighteen months and to pursue philanthropic
support for the project as soon as is practicable, thereafter. Look to this
space in future issues of Lancer Magazine
for updates on our progress.
A
consultant – and dear friend of mine – used to describe Presidents of
successful schools like La Salle as being tempted by an “Edifice Complex” – a
lighthearted pun referring to the Freudian perspective of the Greek play Oedipus Rex. The pun suggests that it is
much easier to focus on putting up new buildings (“Edifice”) than to remain
true to the programmatic needs of those buildings. As I reviewed this issue of Lancer Magazine, I know that our Master
Plan is anything but an “Edifice Complex.” It is a well-honed, thoughtful
response to the needs of the students entrusted to our care. I am confident,
that the successful implementation of our Master Plan will lead to success for
our current and future graduates as they pursue their individual passions.
I just
wish more alums would let us know what exciting things are happening in their
lives!
