Three-day gala planned for La Salle Academy’s 140th anniversary!
On October 21, 22 and 23, La Salle Academy will hold the largest celebration in the history of the school to honor La Salle’s 140 years (1871–2011) of providing continuous Catholic education in Providence and Rhode Island. The commencement of the Class of 2012 will be the culmination of the 140 years.
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The school was originally founded at what is now called La Salle Square. It was relocated to its current location of 612 Academy Avenue in 1925. Obviously, many, many incredible changes have been made since then.
La Salle Academy President Brother Michael Mc Kenery has charged the La Salle Academy Alumni Association with the challenge of bringing together 800 to 1,000 alums and wives, husbands and significant others for a weekend of activities during the three days of Friday, October 21 through Sunday, October 23, 2011 to make this the best La Salle event ever!
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Details of the weekend are as follows:
Friday, October 21
5 p.m.: Tours of La Salle
The weekend will begin with tours of the school by students of the Class of 2012. Beginning at 5 p.m., the tours will leave from the cafeteria every 15 minutes with the last tour departing at 6:15 p.m. Alums will have the opportunity to see the fabulously renovated auditorium (now called the mini-PPAC by the students) and try to guess where the orchestra pit is located as well as the athletic center, the theatre, the chapel, the science building with classrooms and labs and mini-lecture hall. Weather permitting, tours will include the new athletic fields complex that will be dedicated that night. Alums will also see our campus store to see what items are available to students now that never were before!
7 p.m.: Football Game at the New Field
Alums will see La Salle play South Kingstown on the newly renovated turf playing surface. At half time we will have the official dedication ceremony of the fields. Complimentary refreshments will be available and the Pep band and cheerleaders will entertain. Following the game a number of classes have already made plans to meet at various locations in and around Providence.
Saturday, October 22, 6 p.m.: Anniversary Dinner
The highlight of this great weekend will be the Anniversary Dinner on Saturday night at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence. We hope to see a minimum of 1,000 alumni and friends gathered to celebrate 140 years of Lasallian education.
The evening will begin with cocktails and hot and cold hors d’oeuvres served at 6 p.m. with entertainment by La Salle musicians followed by dinner at 7 p.m. After dinner there will be music and dancing. And, as the evening continues, guests are invited to head over to Shula’s restaurant, in the Hilton Hotel next to the Convention Center, for cocktails and more exchanges of fondly told “Tales of La Salle.” There will also be an after party and a “young/recent graduates” celebration also held at Shula’s Steakhouse.
This event promises to be one of the largest gatherings in the history of the school. The Class of 2012 will be the 140th graduating class of La Salle, making the entire weekend the perfect opportunity to bring the truly remarkable history of our great school to their attention. In doing so, we will help them understand exactly why La Salle Academy has such a strong sense of history, community, pride and tradition for which it is famous — and how important it is that they carry forth that sense of history, community, pride and tradition. There will be short speaking presentations by a few people as well as an essay being read by a student from the 140th graduating class. However, this is night is meant to be a celebration rather than a night of long speeches and presentations.
This will be a special night in the history of La Salle Academy and one no one will want to miss!
Sunday, October 23
11 a.m.: 140th Anniversary Mass
The anniversary weekend will conclude on Sunday beginning with a 140th Anniversary Mass at 11 a.m. celebrated in the Mc Kenery Arts Center Theatre. The mass will serve as a fitting tribute to the religious, spiritual and Catholic presence La Salle Academy has been to the Diocese of Providence for these past 140 years. The Mass is opened to all members of the La Salle community.
12 p.m.: 140th Anniversary Brunch
Following Mass, brunch will be hosted by the Alumni Association in the Shea Science and Student Center. Tickets for the brunch are inclusive in the weekend package, or can
be purchased at the door, depending on availability. Brunch will serve as an opportunity to gather in a relaxed setting and to enjoy the company of classmates and friends.
2 p.m.: Theatre Production of “La Salle Celebrates: 140 Years”
Concluding the festivities on Sunday will be a special performance by the La Salle Academy Players of “La Salle Celebrates: 140 Years.” This cabaret-style performance will be held in the Auditorium at 2 p.m. and will serve not only as an opportunity to enjoy the talent of our current students, but also will serve to highlight the newly renovated auditorium and its return to its past grandeur. Again, tickets to this performance are included in the weekend package, or can be purchased in advance through the Box Office by calling (401) 351-7750 ext 170.
