Letter from the Principal - June 2020

By Mona Passman, Principal
June 11, 2020

Families, Students, Staff, and friends,

Let’s remember the  2019-2020 school year as something other than the “Year of COVID-19.” Join me as we beam with Raider Pride over our many accomplishments. I’d like to give a shout out to the many teachers, advisors, coaches, mentors, parents and students who have accomplished so much this year. 

Thank you to our staff for your continued commitment to our students.  

To our parents and guardians, thank you for placing your trust in us.  

And to our students, thank you for your spirit and hard work.  

Take a few moments to look at just a few of the many milestones listed below. We have so much to be proud of.  Enjoy your summer. 

• Students attended the Lasallian Youth Assembly in Chicago last June

• We adopted a new schedule with longer lunches, not split by class

• Created a new schedule for the 2020-21 School Year

• New Parent Tours replaced the Open House, for a more personalized experience

• Construction of Lentsch Family Forum added a "living room" for our students

• Brother Ghebreyesus Habte visited from Ethiopia

• Students formed new clubs: Creative Writing, Asian Culture, and DECA

• Girls Soccer won the section champions and advanced to State

• Strategic Planning Goals and Plan set

• Counseling Department created small groups for anxiety, academics, healthy relationships, and first-generation students

• Brother James Miller was beatified, and a bust was installed in our courtyard

• Our community gathered to mourn the loss of Paige Bullis ‘20 and remember her vitality, spirit and commitment to justice

• Dr. Anton Treuer visited for Native American Heritage Month

• First-ever CDH Wellness Day

• Lou Anne Tighe was named Distinguished Lasallian Educator

• Refreshed the CASA program to build more community

• Math Team finished 2nd at the St. Paul City Division of MN State High School Math League. 

• Hosted the Upper Midwest JROTC Challenge

• Robotics placed 6th at Great Northern Regional in North Dakota

• Matt Gleason ‘20 named Player of the Year by Star Tribune & Pioneer Press

• Boys Basketball Team was Section Champions and Section Academic Team Champions

• Boys Swim Team Advances to State including individuals Luke Leonidas '22 and Alex Heer '20 along with the 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams. The team was recognized as a Silver Academic Team

• Eli Brotman '20 advanced to State in Cross Country

• Emma Coty '22 and Chloe Anderson '22 advanced to the State History Day competition

• Wrestler Carey Vanier, Jr. '21 advanced to state 

• Members of the Girls Swim Team advanced to State: Chloe Schmidt '20, Anneke van Oosterom '20, and the 200-400 Freestyle relay teams. The team was recognized as a Gold Academic Team

• Sydney Jackson '20 named Athena Award Winner

• David Flood visited campus to speak on “showing up for one another” during Justice Week

• Concert Band attended the SEC Music Festival at Woodbury High School 

• CDH was featured in the Pioneer Press for our transition to Online School

• Yard signs were delivered to senior class' homes

• Held our first-ever Virtual Awards Celebration 

• Senior Last Supper was held virtually, with food deliveries from Tinucci's and a virtual talent show

• Students were honored in the Top 100 Art Show

• The 18th annual Empty Bowls raised money for Heifer International

• First-ever online talent shows and Improv Shows

• Raiders took both 1st and 2nd place in the ZOOMS Competition

• The Theater department put on great productions of The Hobbit, Miss Nelson is Missing, and 1984