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January 2026

Let me get this out of the way first. I am the parent of De La Salle North Catholic High School’s very first valedictorian. No matter how old I get, I never get tired of saying that.

When I dropped my son off at the first Corporate Internship Program (now CWS) training in August 2001, I had no idea that not only was he starting high school, but I was starting on a 25-year relationship with DLSNC. It started with being the parent of a student, then a parent volunteer, and finally an employee who eventually worked in three different departments. I’ve retired from DLSNC twice, but I seem to keep finding my way back. It’s home.

DLSNC and I have been through a lot together. We’ve seen four school presidents, all of whom were the right people at the right time. We’ve been in three homes—Delaware, Kenton, and now our magnificent permanent residence in the Cully neighborhood. We’ve worked with the best people and developed some deep, abiding relationships. We’ve weathered storms of all kinds and celebrated major milestones.

And the beautiful, beautiful students! Our very reason for being. We’ve now seen 1,150 students graduate and have an astounding cumulative college acceptance rate of 98%. We’ve seen new course offerings added (like AP classes) and new clubs created (like Anime) in response to students’ changing needs and interests.

DLSNC and I are committed to moving forward, together, undergirded by the Lasallian charism—the charism that considers us all teachers and believes that the best, most effective method of education is through relationship and community building, the charism that knows “to touch the hearts of your students is the greatest miracle you can perform.”

I believe DLSNC is doing important work, God’s work. I always want to be a part of it.

Leslie Porter
Former Registrar and Former President's Assistant/HR Coordinator

Basketball Bonding in Las Vegas!

Because of the longevity and continuity in coaching for our Men’s Varsity Basketball team, the tradition of a winter break trip to Las Vegas took place again in 2025. DLSNC’s team was one of over 100 teams invited to the prestigious Tarkanian Classic tournament held in 20 high school gyms around Las Vegas. In addition to playing four games against teams from all over the country, our 12 players had lots of bonding time—visiting the Stratosphere, driving up and down the Strip, eating out, and staying four to a room in a hotel.

This was the fourth year that Head Coach James Broadous II has taken a varsity team to Las Vegas. He shared, “As a coach, I feel you owe it to your team to create special memories beyond the court.” According to Jacory Jackson ‘28, “What I liked about Vegas was creating a bond with my teammates outside of Portland. Not knowing anybody else but them. Not having anyone from my family there, so they were the only people I could trust.” Dontae Stidum ‘27 saw it in a different light, “If we go to Coos Bay (for the State Championship Tournament), we’re not going to be familiar with the other teams. So Las Vegas was a good opportunity to get used to being uncomfortable and not knowing our opponents well.”

The winter break trips are funded through raffle ticket sales as well as a few generous individual donors. It is a true highlight of the basketball season and much appreciated by all involved!

Considering cheering on our basketball student-athletes? Below you'll find the current home game schedule. An added bonus of home games is the presence of our tip-top Cheerleading Club. Come check it out!

"Welcoming Back Alums Makes Me Smile a Smile That Hurts My Cheeks!”
That’s what Ms. Brunning had to say after our annual alumni fellowship breakfast in December. It was an exceptionally well-attended event, with representation from the majority of our 21 graduating classes. Some alums even stayed on through the morning to present to students about their college and adult life experiences post-DLSNC or to join in the high-energy holiday assembly.

Here are a couple of responses from alum attendees to the prompt, “Is there a person, class, or event from your DLSNC years that you are especially grateful for?”

“Mr. Reis. He made me like math. I hated math; I was never good at it, but by senior year, I had an A+ and was his TA. He made a very lasting impression on me, and we still talk to this day.” Brittany Roberts ‘06

“Winning the basketball state championship and piling onto the court was the perfect way to solidify our journey together as a team and family. Coach Broadous really instilled in us a lot of core values that I still live by today.” Jurell Scott ‘18

“Being in Ms. Waibel’s “universe.” I remember she brought a former Swiss Guard who had been at the Vatican. He was in his guard get-up and had a thick accent. I don’t know how she convinced him to visit the school. It’s the Waibel universe–enough said.” Corey Evans ‘08

“Akwantu was that moment for our whole class to come together before going into senior year. We all held onto the relationships that we built during Akwantu. We also got a lot closer to our teachers and realized that they were humans too, not just authority figures.” Gloria Joseph ‘18

The author, moments before his Biology final, consulting with Mr. Gordon

The Knight's Blog by Arturo Isais Perez '27

As finals week approaches, DLSNC students are preparing for their exams by utilizing various study strategies. These include attending study sessions, making and completing their own study guides, finishing teacher-provided materials, and attending individual tutoring sessions at the Academic Resource Center (ARC).

The ARC room is open for all students in all grade levels, offering the support they need to navigate through our challenging college preparatory curriculum. The ARC room has dedicated tutors to help students strengthen their math and literacy skills with individual tutoring. Since its opening in 2015, ARC has significantly helped improve the rate of academic retention at DLSNC.

Ms. Cabrera, Vice Principal for Academics and ARC coordinator, said, “The purpose of ARC is for the kids to be supported with their diverse learning needs. During the semester, there is a constant group of students assigned to ARC, usually 15 students or fewer per period. When finals approach, attendance spikes up five to ten extra students in ARC per day. Overall, there is always about 20% of the school being helped with individual or small group tutoring from ARC tutors daily.”

When asked what advice she gives students when preparing for academic challenges, Ms. Cabrera stated, “I tell students that asking for help is the right thing to do, as that is what makes a good student. I find that those who reach out for support and actively advocate for their academic needs are better prepared to meet any challenge. So ask for help and take advantage of it when it is offered!”

As final exams approach, students can experience excess stress, given the significant impact the assessments have on their GPAs. I asked some of my classmates about their approach to finals and what useful suggestions they have gotten from teachers about managing stress. Here’s what they shared:

“To manage my stress around finals week, I make sure to check in with my teachers to talk about my progress in the class and ask any questions I have regarding the exam. A useful suggestion I received from Ms. Bodzin to manage my stress is to study in segments in an effort to not overload myself. Also, to make sure I'm as rested and ready as I can be.” Millie Sosa-Santiago ‘27

“I take advantage of tutoring sessions, whether through my teachers or the ARC room for one-on-one support. I also create personalized studying guides and complete teacher-given materials together with my peers to stay motivated. Mr. Evans has shared that by taking time and having patience, I can successfully understand the work.” Kaden Vu ’27

Selfie with a Supervisor!

Get a peek into the Corporate Work Study (CWS), the unique program that sets DLSNC apart from other schools in Oregon by hearing the perspectives of individual supervisors and their student associates.

This month’s supervisor/student team is from Nike’s Global Treasury Department (NGT). Although other departments at Nike have partnered with us for years, this is NGT’s first time. On Tuesdays (plus one Monday per month), Cash and Banking Analyst Jenn Murray supervises Sophomore Jacory Jackson.

How have you grown by supervising DLSNC Student Associates like Jacory?

Jacory has been a great addition. We love his attitude, we love his eagerness. It’s been a really good fit for all of us.

Having young people here brings a different energy. You want to make sure you’re guiding them the right way. It makes you explain things differently because he doesn’t know our acronyms. Making sure you’re giving him the information in language that he understands. Helping someone while they’re still in high school is going to be invaluable for them later on. It can really help in their careers, but also show them, oh, maybe that’s not really what I want to do, let me try something different. (Jenn Murray)

How are you growing this year, working as a Student Associate at Nike Global Treasury?

Working at Nike is a terrific experience. I’d like to see myself in that type of business environment in the future, so I like it a lot. My work is in Excel, and then I’m doing some trade projects, and, in my free time, they give me names of people they think I should meet. So, like they had me meet with a top person in finance, and from there I met with her boss and then her boss’s boss. I’m improving my communication skills. And also being able to work with all different kinds of people. There are a lot of animated people at Nike, a lot of people who love to work there and express it.

Talking to people who are successful has made me have a different outlook about my future—I want to major in finance and then hopefully come back to Nike. Once I make enough money, I definitely want to do entrepreneurship. I’m thinking about my future right now, when I’m 15, so by the time I’m 18, I’m going to be prepared and ready. (Jacory Jackson)

What’s been the coolest thing about working with Jacory?

Jacory has just embraced Nike since the day he came. So excited to be here and open to the experience. That excitement makes you excited, like I really work at a wonderful place. Kind of star-struck. I feel like that’s a good way to be. (Jenn Murray)

What’s the coolest part of your job at Nike Global Treasury?

A cool perk is the food, and the campus is so beautiful. The first month I got there, my supervisors gave me free shoes, a shirt, and a hoodie. I get employee store passes too, which is cool, and I’ve seen a few famous athletes. My favorite perk is getting to network—I know I’m repeating that a lot. Getting to know people with six-figure salaries and why they are successful, why they are at Nike, what they think about their futures. I’m just very thankful for the opportunity to work at NGT. It’s made me get perspective about what I want for my future and who I want to become. (Jacory Jackson)

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:

1. Log into: https://www.fredmeyer.com/topic/community-rewards-4
2. Click “Re-enroll or link your Rewards Card now”
3. Create an account
4. Select De La Salle North (Organization #86026)

Ebay
We are listed on eBay as a charity—you can either sell for us or donate directly through the Paypal giving fund. https://charity.ebay.com/charity/De-La-Salle-North-Catholic-High-School/2159065

Donate for Charity
Donate your car to Donate for Charity and DLSNC will receive a percentage of your gift.
http://www.donateforcharity.com/donate-car-to/de-la-salle-north-catholic-high-school/

Make a Donation

4300 NE Killingsworth St.
Portland, Oregon 97218
503-285-9385

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