| Last spring on a characteristically rainy Portland day, I had the privilege of walking through the hallways of De La Salle North Catholic High School for the first time. I could immediately feel the spirit and warmth of the community—a feeling that has stayed with me ever since. Now, having officially joined the team, I am overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement to be a part of this special family.
Since starting on July 1, my primary focus has been on planning for the upcoming school year with the administrative team and ensuring we continue the legacy of excellence our institution has built over the last 25 years. Even in this limited time, I can honestly say this community is truly remarkable, and I feel so lucky to "dig in" and serve alongside all of you. As we prepare to begin a new school year, I am filled with optimism for the journey ahead.
Our Lasallian identity is the steady foundation that guides us, and it’s a core part of what makes our mission so special. On the academic and programming side, we are eager to continue our work of providing a college preparatory curriculum that challenges and inspires every student we serve. This work isn’t just about preparing students for college; it’s about helping them discover their full potential and a path to a life of purpose. I look forward to partnering with each of you to make this our most impactful year yet.
Michael Bartha
Principal
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Busy, Busy Summers!
Below is a round-up of some of the amazing ways DLSNC students spent their summers. These summer opportunities not only help our students build their resumes but also home in on their college and career planning.
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Lasallian Youth Assembly
Nine superstar Knights, accompanied by Ms. Frangipani and Ms. Weingarten, spent a formative week at Santa Clara University in California, along with 200 other student representatives from 14 high schools in our Lasallian District. The Young Lasallian Assembly featured idea swaps, focused committee work in mixed cohorts, prayer services, service work, as well as time to connect in community and have quite a lot of fun. A special highlight was a visit to In-N-Out after a very early flight and really getting to know fellow Lasallians from around the nation. Our LYA students this year were Adam Alviderez ‘26, Mekhi Gardner ‘26, Dagem Gitaw ‘26, Nyla Harden ‘27, Josh Hickcox ‘26, Nevaeh Moffett ‘26, Fallon Presley ‘27, Brandon Troncoso ‘26, and Noham Yared ‘27.
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Health Career Explorations
This summer, five DLSNC students prepared for potential careers in the healthcare field by participating in a stipended week-long shadowing experience facilitated by Kaiser Permanente Interstate. The participating students were rising seniors Mekhi Gardner, Josh Hardiman, Josh Hickcox, Saul Poot Cabrera, and Amore Thomas, all of whom are pursuing DLSNC’s Health Sciences Pathway Certificate. Students shadowed physicians in the areas of Ophthalmology, Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Anesthesiology, and Primary Care. Some, like Amore, even had the opportunity to observe a surgery. "I really loved seeing the surgery! It inspired me to become a surgeon. Seeing how they dig through their arm, seeing all the fat and all the blood," Amore enthused.
In addition, Achaia Garland ‘26 completed a nursing camp offered by the University of Portland. Here’s her description of the experience: “We got certified in stop-the-bleed, and CPR for adults and children. These two experiences were very fun and a little nerve-racking because I was stuck with the thought, 'What if I had to actually perform this on someone?' We got to do some simulation lab activities where we addressed hospital and home-care patient scenarios with a mannequin and real-life actors. Lastly, we got a tour of what our classes would look like all four years at UP and a financial aid presentation. Oh, and we met with the Black Association of Nurses, so that was really cool.”
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Oregon Business Academy
Six Knights ( Cassandra Enriquez Isais ‘27, Dagem Gitaw ‘26, Angeli Lopez Hernandez ‘27, Ken’Niyah McDonald ‘26, Lex Pon ‘27, and Arush Sharma ‘27) got some serious pre-professional training at Oregon Business Academy’s Business Week. Held at OSU, the event served over 250 students from across the state. All our students made great networking connections—both with industry professional leaders as well as motivated business-minded peers—and got in-depth experiential learning in teamwork, entrepreneurial thinking, interviewing skills, and public speaking. Angeli recently shared, “My experience at OBA helped me improve my leadership skills as I communicated with my team clearly and concisely. I was also able to gain confidence and trust my gut.”
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Did He Ever Relax?
Mekhi Gardner ‘26 did A LOT this summer. Here’s his summary: “Firstly, I spearheaded a study at the Knight Cancer Institute on cancer access and then presented about it at the annual OHSU poster symposium. Secondly, I analyzed Portland voter turnout and civic morale in my continuing work at the North Star Civic Foundation. Thirdly, I participated in Next Up’s Youth Philanthropy Academy, which taught me about non-profit work as a career path. Fourth, I attended the YLA conference (see above) and am currently in the process of coming up with a specific plan of action to implement a number of changes that our group brainstormed. Fifth, I've been gearing up for my senior year of football with summer training at Roosevelt.”
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College Horizons
A group of rising seniors (Billy Huitzil-Interian, Ivan Quintanilla, Luis Rojas, Abril Saray, Sesene Yohannes, and Domingo Zacarias Martin) got a jump on the college selection process with a personal tour of the University of Portland campus, led by our admissions representative, Kaylan Tate, who also treated the group to lunch. The students also spent some time at UP’s Shepard Academic Resource Center and acquainted themselves with its services as well as its head, former DLSNC staff member, Andy Poundstone.
UP is one of 70+ Cristo Rey Network (CRN) University Partners. These schools offer substantial financial support to Cristo Rey students, averaging a minimum of 85% of a student’s demonstrated need, along with many other forms of support. Thanks to Mr. Alex and Ms. Argento for making this tour happen!
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CWS Launches Soon for 2025-2026!
The CWS team has been hard at work all summer getting the myriad details of our signature CWS program in place prior to the start of school.
In addition to all the committed returning CWS partners, we’re so pleased to welcome an amazing group of new companies for the 2025-26 school year: Cascadia Health, Evergreen Energy Partners, Fora Health, Mortenson, Nike Global Treasury, R&H Construction, Scouting America, St. Matthew Catholic School, and TEC Equipment. It’s also wonderful to welcome back Bodecker Foundation and KPMG after a hiatus. Many of these new partners came to us through the hard work of our Jobs Committee. The Jobs Committee, comprised of 11 donors, Board and Ambassador Board members, as well as dedicated friends of Knight Nation, assists the school in identifying and soliciting potential leads for new partners and provides invaluable support to Noah Wagemann, Director of Business Development.
Summer is CWS training time. In June, all incoming freshmen and transfer students were on campus for our Summer Employment Foundations Academy to prepare themselves for their fall job placements. A host of dedicated volunteers made that possible, teaching everything from Professional Etiquette to Time Management to specific softwares and offering valuable interviewing practice. Then in August, we hosted 80+ partners for our CWS Supervisor Training. In addition to the nuts and bolts of time cards, transportation, and Labor Department requirements, the sessions covered best practices, setting expectations, tips for developing a mentoring relationship with young people, as well as testimonials from several current supervisors. We are so appreciative of all the generous professionals who offered their time for these trainings so as to ensure a stellar CWS year for students and adults alike.
Here’s what a few supervisors shared at their training:
“I think the benefit of showing these young individuals what we do every day is that they might think, ‘I could see myself doing this someday in the future.’ It relieves some of the pressure of trying to figure out your career path when you have these stepping stones.” Gillian George, International Wood Products
“Our industry is not set up to reach the new decision makers of Gen Z and below, so the students’ presence is really important for our marketing team. It’s beneficial for us to bring this younger demographic onto our team, plus I think letting high schoolers have their voices heard is important.” Lauren Bollinger, Cascade Energy
“Some students may not be aware of what they are capable of, and, with this opportunity, they are able to grow both personally as well as professionally. My takeaway is to consider diversity when we share our knowledge, our skills, and prepare these young adults for their next steps.” Hilda Cardoza, Multnomah County District Attorney
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All Over Town Promoting Knight Nation!
Our admissions team—Jasmine Taylor and Monica Vargas—has been all over town these past few months at many public events. Our bright blue banner, SWAG, and printed materials, along with Ms. Jasmine’s and Mrs. Vargas’s welcoming smiles, have attracted potential new families in lots of different Portland neighborhoods.
The team received vital help in representing our inclusive school community from a board member (Karis Stoudamire-Phillips), faculty and staff (Mr. Broadous, Ms. Cabrera, Ms. Frangipani, Mr. Gordon, Mr. Wagemann, and Ms. Warrington), as well as alumni (Kadren Addy ‘18, Deanna Blackwell ‘10, Monica Lopez Hernandez ‘24, Cincere Paschal-Webb ‘18, Rashida Saunders ‘05, Jurell Scott ‘18, Felix Songolo ‘18, and Janelle Waltz ‘07). Thanks to the support of these “admissions ambassadors”, DLSNC was represented at Sunday Parkways, Good in the Hood, and a Summer Free For All Concert, as well as public events hosted by the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber, the Multnomah County Health Fernhill Clinica, Cully Strength, and Cesar Chavez K-8. Many thanks to everyone who took action to promote our school this summer!
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 | front: Mr. Ruiz, Mr. Bartha, Mr. Stowell;
rear: Ms. Valverde, Ms. Love, Mr. Mac
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Meet Our New Faculty & Staff
Every new school year brings a few new faces to our classrooms and hallways. An enthusiastic and dedicated group of new Lasallians is in their first few weeks as Knights.
And what a group! Eager to learn, collaborate, and share in community spirit, they are fitting right in. Click here to read short bios of our new principal, counselor, teachers, and HR coordinator.
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Knight Nation SWAG!
For a limited time only, lots of Knight Nation SWAG is available for purchase. Check out our back-to-school pop-up shop with branded tees, hoodies, polos, accessories, and more! The shop is only available for a limited time, so place your orders ASAP. This current edition of the Knight Nation pop-up shop will close on September 11.
Note to current families: The tees, sweatshirts, and hat available in the pop-up shop are not dress code compliant.
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| Ways to support
Fred Meyer Reward Cards + De La Salle North Catholic
By linking your Fred Meyer Community Rewards points to De La Salle North Catholic, we will receive a quarterly donation from Fred Meyer. It only takes a moment to sign up:
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