Dear De La Salle Community:

Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote, "Earth's crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God; but only he who sees, takes off his shoes, the rest sit round it and pluck blackberries." Winton Drive is sacred ground, and some weeks are crammed with heaven in the most compelling of ways.

When you receive this, it will be Back-to-School Night, and you will feel the palpable energy of a school rooted in its mission and driven by its call to form Men of Faith, Integrity, and Scholarship. But the beginning of the school year has offered a glimpse of what makes this community so extraordinary.

Two weeks ago, Company’s performance of Rhinoceros was a powerful, thought-provoking production that showcased our students’ remarkable talent, creativity, and courage as artists. Then, last Monday kicked off our Welcome Week. From Bingo to tie-tying contests, DJs, and an obstacle course, our young men found themselves in a community brimming with excitement and joy. Tuesday, I attended a presentation on AI and Nonprofits at the Commonwealth Club. It was invigorating and thought-provoking, raising important questions about how artificial intelligence can help us be more effective without diminishing the critical thinking and humanity that define us at our best. Isn’t that what you expect of us? Wednesday brought two meaningful gatherings: we welcomed Bishop Barber, our Brother Visitor Nick Gonzalez, FSC, and our Auxiliary Visitor Brother David Caretti, FSC, for our Holy Spirit Mass. Bishop Barber's homily was among the finest I have ever heard. He wove a reflection on Dolly Parton's passing and her beloved song "I Will Always Love You" into a tender reminder that God and the Holy Spirit will always love you, no matter what.

De La Salle uses a communication system called BrightArrow to ensure we can quickly reach you and your son during emergencies or unexpected events, such as a fire or power outage. BrightArrow allows us to send automated phone calls, emails, and text messages within minutes, keeping you informed with real-time updates when they matter most.

Parents/Guardians must OPT-IN to this SMS service to receive text messages from the school. To opt in to receive text messages from the school, text "YES" to 79041.

A limited quantity of Super Tickets are still available! For $350, secure your seat at all three of De La Salle's most popular community events: A Taste of De La Salle, the Crab Feed, and the Spring Auction for the 2026-27 school year. Don't miss your chance to be part of the fun; grab your Super Ticket before they're gone! 

It's application time for California Scholarship Federation (CSF) membership. Students must apply every semester. The application form is online only and must be submitted no later than Tuesday, September 15, at 3 pm.

Late submissions will not be accepted.

This fall, we invite the next generation of Spartans and their families to see what makes De La Salle different. Registration for our slate of fall admissions events is now available via the De La Salle Admissions web page.

Spartan for a Day begins Tuesday, September 22, offering 8th graders and transfer applicants a firsthand look at student life throughout the semester. One Night Only returns Wednesday, October 7 with an interactive, behind-the-scenes workshop highlighting our celebrated visual and performing arts programs. Open House welcomes all on Sunday, November 1 (9:30 am–noon) for campus tours, conversations with students and faculty, and a chance to and a chance to see Spartan leadership in action. For questions, please contact admissions@dlshs.org.

Did you know that more than 30% of our current parents have already participated with a gift to the Annual Fund? Thank you so very much to our parents who have already participated with a pledge or gift during the registration process this past spring or over the summer.

You are invited to join this thoughtful group of parents who have invested in our students!

Click here to learn how your meaningful gift to the De La Salle Annual Fund will support our effort this year to help fund co-curricular student programs, faculty development opportunities, and financial aid for families in need.

Have a question about the Annual Fund or your giving to De La Salle? Give Director of
Development, Karla Wiese, a call at 925.288.8195 or email wiesek@dlshs.org.

Winter and Spring Sports: Coaches will be meeting with programs and teams. Communication will happen on Schoology and school announcements. 

Athletics and Parents Partnership Meetings: We held our first athletics and parent partnership meeting in mid-August, and we invite all parents who did not attend that meeting to attend our next meeting on October 28 at 6:30 pm. RSVP by filling out the Athletics and Parents Partnership Registration Form.

Physicals: Please use the link below to create an account and upload your son's physical before he participates in any tryouts, practices, or offseason workouts: Home Campus. Instructions for creating a Home Campus account and navigating the website can be found on our website at the following link: Home Campus Setup

Sophomore Father-Son Liturgy & Brunch: We will host the Sophomore Father-Son Liturgy & Brunch on September 20. The cost is $20 per family. RSVP Here to let us know you will be attending this event.

Father-Son Retreat: Join us for our Father-Son Retreat on October 10 & 11 at the Vallombrosa Retreat Center in Menlo Park. This retreat focuses on strengthening the relationship between fathers and their sons. The cost is $300 per family, and financial assistance is available. Use this Father-Son Retreat link to sign up today!

In addition, click on the Spotlight on Campus Ministry button below to learn about our Father/Son Retreat, Kairos, Morning Mass, Confessions, and more. 

De La Salle's Senior Parent College Application Info Night is Tuesday, Sept. 15, from 6:30–8 pm on Zoom. The College Counseling Team will cover the fall application process and how to support your son. The Zoom link will be emailed closer to the date.

De La Salle will offer the SAT for seniors only on Monday, October 5, during the school day. This in-school option aims to reduce stress around registration and logistics. Registration for seniors only began on August 31 and closes on September 18. Contact Mr. Drain at drains@dlshs.org with questions. 

This month's Spotlight on College Counseling is packed with additional information for all students. Be sure to click on the link below for all College Counseling updates.

Volunteers Needed: Don’t play golf? That’s ok! You can be a great help facilitating our event with one of our many volunteer roles: Hole-in-One spotters, on-course game assistants, blind tee spotters, and registration. Volunteer for half the day or stay all day and enjoy the fresh air and beautiful greens at Roundhill Country Club!

Every Spartan has a moment where he steps up, pushes through, and makes it count. During De La Salle Giving Week, October 19-23, we're asking our community to own theirs by rallying behind the students, programs, and opportunities that define the De La Salle experience.

Own the Moment. One Week. One Community.

Support our students and programming, tuition assistance, and school initiatives that make the De La Salle experience so special for our young men. Visit www.dlshs.org/givingweek to support our efforts.

Join us at our next Parent Association meeting on Monday, September 14, at 6:30 pm in the De La Salle Library.

The social starts at 6:30 pm, and the meeting begins at 7 pm. 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!

Senior Yearbook Ads are now available! Families interested in celebrating their senior with a special message in this year’s yearbook can click the link for more information, including details on how to create and submit an ad. Don’t miss out, the final deadline to submit is December 14. No submissions can be accepted past that deadline. 

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