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.

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The Toy Drive has started! All new, unwrapped toys are to be dropped off at the front of the Hofmann Center before school, now through December 12th! All toys will benefit Running With Love, Bay Area Crisis Nursery, and Oakland Catholic Worker. Remember to bring boys' and girls' toys, and no violent toys (including Nerf guns) will be accepted. All donations enter your student in for a chance to win a $50 gift card!

Please note that your son should shop for age-based toys by House assignments: 
Odyssey -- 0 to 3, Reedley -- 4 to 7, Grove -- 8 to 10, and Cook -- 11 to 13

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Maile Shelley at shelleym@dlshs.org. 

Christmas Concert
(December 4)

The annual De La Salle/Carondelet Christmas Concert is happening TONIGHT in the Hofmann Center. The concert will feature the Concert and Jazz Bands and the Combined, Chamber, and A Capella Choirs. The show starts at 7 pm, and as always, admission is free.   

Applications for the De La Salle Class of 2030 and transfer students are available online at www.dlshs.org/admissions/apply. The application deadline to join the Class of 2030 is Friday, December 12. Please ensure your son's initial application form and parent/student forms are submitted by the 12th at 11:59 pm PST to be eligible for admission.

Financial assistance applications for the 2026-27 school year are also now available and are due on February 6, 2026.  For more information about the admissions process, visit De La Salle Admissions. 

Following a 24-17 victory over Pittsburg in the NCS Open Division Championship, our De La Salle football team will compete in the CIF State Open Division Championship game against Santa Margarita on Saturday, December 13, at 8 pm at Saddleback College. Follow this link to purchase tickets. 

Please visit our Athletics website at www.DLSSpartans.org  to stay up-to-date about everything related to our sports programs, including information about the start of the winter sports season. 

As we approach the end of the calendar year, now is a great time to make a financial gift to De La Salle in order to receive tax benefits for 2025.  You may also receive significant tax benefits through your donation of stock, securities, or other real property based on the fair market value at the time of the gift. Click here for more information.

Contact your financial advisor to learn more about the benefits of making a stock or a financial contribution to De La Salle. For personal assistance in facilitating your gift, contact Karla Wiese (925) 288-8195 or email wiesek@dlshs.org.

Financial Assistance Applications for the 2026-27 School Year Available

Financial Assistance applications for the 2026-27 school year are now available through FACTS and are due on February 6, 2026. Visit our Financial Assistance webpage for complete details, or click here for a direct link to the FACTS application. Please remember that you must reapply for financial aid each year.

Completed applications must include all of the following necessary documentation (if applicable) in order to be considered for financial aid: 2025 W2s, 2024 Federal Tax Return, 1099s for self-employment, and non-taxable income statements such as Social Security, child/spousal support, welfare/meal subsidy payments, cash gifts/support from family or others, etc.

Visit the Business Office webpage for contact information and tuition payments. 

In the current Spotlight on Campus Ministry, there is information about next week's all-school Feast of the Immaculate Conception Mass on Monday, December 8. All students should come to school in liturgy attire. Additionally, you can find information about the Parent/Son Retreat, VENAVER, Kairos, and our Senior Mother/Son Brunch. 

Click on the Spotlight on Campus Ministry button below to learn about our Campus Ministry offerings, which also include opportunities to register for these events. 

This month's Spotlight on College Counseling is packed with updates about the College Money Method Webinar on December 9, as well as college applications, letters of recommendations, and college scholarships. There is also information about college rep visits and test preparation, and several items for all students. 

Click on the Spotlight on College Counseling button below to read more about these important tidbits about the college admissions process. 

Visit the Spotlight on Student Life webpage for updates about Student Life happenings on campus.

Parents of seniors should note that Friday, December 5, is the deadline to take senior portraits. We are currently celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas with daily activities on campus. There is also information available about House System Executive Board Member opportunities, NHS Scholarship Applications, and Healing Spaces.

Click on the link below for additional updates from Student Life.  

The next Parent Association meeting is  January 12, from 6:30 to 8 pm in the De La Salle Library. All parents are welcome to attend. This is a great opportunity to meet other De La Salle parents and find ways to get involved with De La Salle!

The 2025 Fall Union Magazine is set to arrive in mailboxes early next week, but you can preview the digital edition now at www.DLSHS.org/Union.

This issue celebrates the 60th anniversary of the school, featuring stories on Father LaSalle, “An Original Spartan,” and our 60 for 60 Story Campaign. You’ll also find feature articles on Company, Young Lasallian Youth leadership, our 2025 Lasallian Educator of the Year, and our 2025 Alumnus of the Year. Additional coverage includes Alumni–Senior Career Day, our Legacy Lunch, and highlights from the Class of 2025 graduation. The magazine also spotlights new and retiring staff, recaps Giving Week, honors inductees to the Athletics Hall of Fame, reviews the 2024–25 sports season, and includes our In Memoriam section.