De La Salle North Catholic HS Needs Funds to Build Gym on New School Campus

De La Salle North Catholic HS Needs Funds to Build Gym on New School Campus

by | Jul 25, 2020 | Events, Features, Fundraisers, News

Portland, OR. Students at De La Salle North Catholic High School (DLSNC) (pictured above before COVID-19) are excited about having a new facility. Since the launch of its Capital Campaign in March of 2019, DLSNC has raised $20.5 million to construct a new and more permanent school campus in the Cully Neighborhood of North Portland. However, the additional $3.65 million needed for a new gymnasium has not been raised. So far, DLSNC has raised $900,000 for the gymnasium, but time is of the essence because leaders will face a one million dollar price increase and the project will be delayed if the remaining $2.75 million for the gym is not raised by an August 3rd deadline.

Architectural rendering of De La Salle’s new school campus in North Portland.

“It’s not just about our students, it [the gym] will be apart of the Cully neighborhood, a place for after school sports and renting out the facility for youth sports on the weekend,” says Ashleigh de Villiers, VP for Advancement at De La Salle North Catholic High School.

Opened in 2001, De La Salle North Catholic High School serves a racially diverse population of students in the Portland area who typically do not have access to an affordable college preparatory education. De La Salle is the most diverse private high school in Oregon, with 93% of the student body being students of color. It also maintains an income cap that ensures students from low-income families can attend. Students cannot attend La Salle if their family makes more than 75% of the area’s median income. 

Each student works one day a week as a part of DLSNC’s Corporate Work Study, a program that partners with corporations, local businesses, and nonprofits to work with students one day a week. By working one day per week, each student earns half the cost of their tuition throughout the entire four years they attend. DLSNC maintains affordable tuition to ensure a quality education for underserved populations.

Currently, the school rents gym space for sports, but even without a proper on-campus gym, De La Salle’s men’s basketball team earned the 2018 and 2019 state championship title. The high school has made a total of six state appearances.

“The gym is special to us because our boys’ basketball team were the 2018 and 2019 state champions, and they did this without having a home gym,” says Ashleigh de Villiers.

After renting current elementary school building in Kenton from Portland Public Schools, DLSNC decided to pursue a more affordable and sustainable option. It has faced ever-increasing rent, with next year’s rental bill topping out at $480,000. After three years of searching, the school signed a new 50-year lease agreement co-locating with the Saint Charles Parish on 42nd and Killingsworth. The agreement includes two possible 25-year lease extensions which could result in a 100-year lease.

DLSNC hopes to have the new campus built by the Fall of 2021. It will include a visual arts center, science center, and welcoming campus, with the gymnasium being the final part of the facility. Construction is planned to begin at the end of July and will take 12 to 18 months. The new school campus will also allow the student population to increase from 280 to 350 students. Currently, 95% of graduating seniors are accepted to universities. 

Four graduating students, DLSNC Class of 2020

“To have a gym where we hang our banners and have our logo on the floor is something we really care about,” explains de Villiers,

From De La Salle North Catholic High School:

If you’re interested in donating to help build the new gym at De La Salle North Catholic High School, here’s a link: https://www.delasallenorth.org/apps/pages/donate

De La Salle North Catholic High School serves a racially diverse population of capable, motivated, and interested college-bound students from the Portland area who would not otherwise have access to a faith-based, rigorous college-preparatory education.

Here’s more information and some additional architectural renderings of De La Salle’s new school campus in North Portland:

NEW CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS

  • State-of-the-Art Science Labs & Maker Space
  • Visual Arts Center
  • Indoor/Outdoor Commons Area 
  • Small, medium and large classrooms
  • Commercial Kitchen
  • High School Competition Gym and Weight Room
  • Administration and Corporate Work Study Offices
  • Guidance and College Counseling Center
  • Academic Resource Center

PROJECT TEAM

  • Shiels Obletz Johnsen Inc
  • Bora Architects
  • P&C Construction
  • The Varga Group
  • Stoel Rives 

 

CAMPAIGN STEERING COMMITTEE

  • Mary and Tim Boyle (Honorary Co-Chairs),
  • Jackie Dunckley,
  • Mark Ganz,
  • Kelly Hale,
  • Gay Jacobsen
  • Cyndy Maletis,
  • Patti O’Mara,
  • Matt Powell,
De La Salle North Catholic High School Raises Record $501,395

De La Salle North Catholic High School Raises Record $501,395

by | Oct 29, 2016 | Features, News

Portland, OR. For sixteen years, De La Salle North Catholic High School has provided a rigorous academic curriculum coupled with a unique work study program for low-income students, right in the heart of their community. Every student in the school works one day each week at one of 80+ Portland Metro area corporations and organizations to offset more than 50% of the cost of their education. Educators prepare these young people not only for college but for life. On October 13th, De La Salle North Catholic High School raised a record $501,395 to provide financial assistance to students in need. At the event, Laurie Kelley, Kelly Hale, and Julie Mancini posed for a photo. (Photo Credit, Andrea Lonas.)

Here’s a video about the unique high school:

Brian Maag and Kevin Yandle

Brian Maag and Jeff Yandle

Nani Warren and Nelson Farris

Nani Warren and Nelson Farris

Mike Yonker

Mike Yonker

About De La Salle North Catholic High School:

De La Salle North Catholic High School provides a faith-based, college preparatory high school education to underserved students from the Portland area. Our goal is to develop tomorrow’s community leaders by making high-quality education accessible to motivated young people in a learning environment that values cultural, spiritual, and ethnic diversity. Our educational approach provides each student with the opportunity to succeed through small classes, high expectations, and active participation in our Corporate Work Study Program. We don’t turn away any capable, motivated or interested student because they cannot afford our tuition.

The De La Salle North Catholic Code

De La Salle North Catholic students are expected to follow a code of ethics:
As a student of De La Salle, I am focused on my future; therefore, I am responsible for what I say and what I do; I respect my teachers, my peers, and my school; I am on time; I am prepared; and I demand the most of my ability.

De La Salle North Asks: What If?

About the Cristo Rey Network

Founded in 2001, De La Salle North Catholic was the first school in the nation modeled after Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago. The Cristo Rey Network of schools was established for students in communities that have limited access to private education. Thirty Cristo Rey schools in 19 states and the District of Columbia provide a quality, Catholic, college preparatory education to 6,500 young people who live in urban communities with limited educational options. Member schools utilize a rigorous academic model, supported with effective instruction, to prepare students with a broad range of academic abilities for college success. Cristo Rey Network schools employ an innovative Corporate Work Study Program that provides students with real world work experiences. Every student works five full days a month to fund the majority of his or her education, gain job experience, grow in self-confidence, and realize the relevance of his or her education.

Learn more here:
www.cristoreynetwork.org

Read the Cristo Rey Network’s Annual Report

The De La Salle Christian Brothers

We are part of the International Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, commonly known as the De La Salle Christian Brothers; and since 1868 we have been dedicated to creating communities of learning in the western United States. Today the Brothers and Lasallian partners of our district serve more than 10,000 students in four western states: Arizona, California, Oregon, and Washington. Administrative offices are at the De La Salle Institute, located at Mont La Salle in Napa, California. The district also collaborates with the other districts of the USA/Toronto Region and the worldwide Institute.