Lasallian Youth Ministry (LYM)
The office of Lasallian Youth Ministry (LYM) is the heart of school culture and community. All of LYM’s efforts fall under three important pillars: Faith, Service, and Community. Lasallian Youth Ministry nurtures the spiritual and communal life of the school community. Through a variety of programs and activities, LYM offers students opportunities to develop their faith, serve others, build community, and work for social justice. Lasallian Youth Ministry sponsors community-building activities, service projects, liturgies, various leadership opportunities, and retreats.
Alyssa Frangipani
Director of Lasallian Youth Ministry
afrangipani@dlsnc.org
Faith
Faith
All School Masses and Prayer Services
LYM offers nine All-School Masses and three Prayer Services each school year. All Masses and Prayer Services are held next door at St. Charles Parish, and students have the opportunity to be involved in many ways. Students may read, usher, be a cross or candle bearer, or share a written reflection during a service. During Masses and Prayer Services, each student has the opportunity to take time to pause, pray, and reflect.
Retreats
Each DLSNC Student has the opportunity to journey through a four-year retreat program with all of his or her classmates. Retreats give students the opportunity to step away from academic classes and to pause and reflect. It gives them time to learn about themselves and to grow together as a class. Ms. Frangipani attends all retreats along with faculty/staff chaperones. Students are able to learn in a different environment and get a different perspective on the people who work at their school during retreat time outside of the classroom. Along with staff chaperones, students have the opportunity to be Student Leaders on the retreats.
The overall purpose of the four-year retreat program is to infuse our students with Lasallian values so as to shape and impact their futures. Each year, the retreat program has a different focus theme:
- Freshman Year – Freshmen attend one all-day class retreat. They focus on the theme of Faith, Service, and Community and the Five Lasallian Core Principles.
- Sophomore Year – Sophomores attend one all-day class retreat. They focus on the theme of Service. Students go to different service sites in the morning and spend the afternoon reflecting on what service means to them.
- Junior Year – Juniors attend a two-night, three-day retreat held at a local camp. The junior retreat is called Akwantu, which means journey. Juniors focus on the pillars of faith and community, with talks being given based on the Five Lasallian Core Principles and many opportunities for meaningful connections.
- Senior Year – Seniors attend one all-day class retreat. In this closing retreat, students have the opportunity to reflect on their four-year journey through high school and reexamine the three pillars of Faith, Service, and Community as well as the five Lasallian Core Principles.
Service
Service
Service Hours Requirement
The core motto of De La Salle North Catholic is, “Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve.” We aim to cultivate an environment that encourages students to engage with Portland and the greater metro area community. One of the vital ways we do this is to require students to complete 30 hours of service prior to graduation. The parameters to accomplish this include:
- Freshmen are recommended 9 hours per year
- Sophomores are recommended 8 hours per year
- Juniors are recommended 7 hours per year
- Seniors are recommended 6 hours per year
In order to receive their diplomas, students must meet or exceed 30 hours of service by graduation. If a student has 50 hours or more of service, they receive a special distinction and service cord at senior presentation.
The school provides bi-weekly service opportunities throughout the academic year. These trips take place after school and last until 6:30-7:00 pm (depending on location) and count for 2 hours of service. We travel to sites only within the Portland Metro Area. Permission slips are always available at LYM, and emails about service trips are sent weekly. Updated service hours for each student will be communicated to parents/guardians throughout the academic year.
Students are also able to complete service hours outside of the school-organized opportunities.
Some examples that are allowed include:
- Helping your parish with a clothing drive
- If the student already volunteers with an organization
Some examples that are not allowed include:
- Providing child care for their own family
- Mowing their own lawn
- Doing a favor for a friend
- Managing a sport
- Being a student ambassador
If a student elects to do service hours outside of the school, they must complete a Personal Service Log. This form can be found in the LYM office or by clicking here Personal Service Hours Log.
For more detailed information regarding the service hours requirement, click here.
Any questions or concerns about service can be directed to Ms. Alyssa Frangipani, Director of Lasallian Youth Ministry, at afrangipani@dlsnc.org.
Founder’s Day
The school organizes a Founder’s Day Celebration every year in the beginning of May. We use this day as an opportunity to pay tribute to our founder, St. John Baptist De La Salle, by participating in a school-wide day of service. All students, faculty, and staff go out into the Portland community to volunteer with local organizations in the morning. When everyone returns to campus, there is a school-wide barbeque to celebrate our community. Students get 3 service hours for their participation in Founder’s Day.
November Food Drive
Every November we hold a food drive to support the St. Vincent De Paul food pantry located at St. Charles Parish. To have a little fun, we often make this a grade-versus-grade competition. For the past four years, we have brought in more than 1,500 pounds of food as a community!
Community
Community
Community is a huge part of life as a Knight! LYM offers a variety of different options for students to be involved in fun community-building.
Dances
LYM offers three school dances annually:
- School-Wide Dances – LYM hosts two school-wide dances each year, Homecoming and Spring Fling. These dances are for all four grade levels to attend and celebrate together. Both dances are hosted at the school from 7:00 to 10:00 pm. Homecoming takes place in the fall; Spring Fling takes place in the (surprise!) spring. Themes and attire suggestions vary, but most importantly, students are invited to have fun and dance the night away to music from our DJ.
- Juniors & Seniors Only Dance – Prom is open to Juniors and Seniors only. Prom is hosted off ccampus at a special events venue. It is the springtime occasion for DLSNC upperclassmen to dress up and attend a beautiful night out.
Guest passes are made available in the LYM office if students wish to bring a guest from a different school.
Spirit Weeks
LYM plans four school-wide spirit weeks each school year: Homecoming week, pre-Christmas break week, Spring Fling week, and Founder’s Day week. During the spirit weeks, there are numerous fun activities. The two most anticipated aspects of Spirit Weeks are free dress themes and pep rallies. Students are allowed free dress for the week and are encouraged to dress in the day’s theme. Some past themes have been twin day, pajama day, movie character day, and more. At the pep rallies, students and staff participate in fun games and activities!
Knight Times
LYM, along with our Vice Principal for Student Life, hosts monthly Knight Times assemblies. Staff and students can submit shoutouts to each other to recognize them publicly at Knight Times. The personalized shoutouts are always categorized under one of the Five Lasallian Core Principles:
- Faith in the Presence of God
- Concern for the Poor and Social Justice
- Quality Education
- Respect for All Persons
- Inclusive Community
The Knight Games
The Knight Games is a weekly competition show open to all students and staff for participation. Selected participants compete in “Minute To Win It” style games that are videotaped. New episodes are released weekly and shown in the Commons during the lunch break. There are always some twists and turns to the Knight Games, and a winner is crowned at the end of each semester.
Clubs
Students at De La Salle North Catholic are offered the opportunity to participate in any available school clubs. Clubs are monitored by a faculty and/or staff member but are often run by students. Students are free to create their own clubs by filling out the club form located in the LYM Office. Clubs provide the opportunity to meet other students, faculty, and staff, and to grow as a community. Here is a list of clubs that have been offered recently:
- Anime Club
- Art Club
- Asian Pacific Islander Student Union
- Badminton Club
- Black Student Union
- Boxing Club
- Chess Club
- Dance Team
- Earth Club
- Latinx Student Union
- Magic Club
- Math Club
- Model United Nations
- Poetry Club
- Sci-Fi Club
- Spectrum Club
Student Council
Student Council
Students in any grade who are interested in the leadership opportunities of Student Council should register for the Student Council Leadership elective. Class members are liaisons among faculty, staff, administration, and students. They plan and provide opportunities to serve those in need in our larger community, enhance the spirituality of our Lasallian community, and promote school spirit throughout the building, especially during Spirit Weeks.
For more information about LYM, please contact Alyssa Frangipani at 503-285-9385 ext. 143 or afrangipani@dlsnc.org
