ALBANY, NEW YORK - September 12, 2011 - "I think it was a
combination of parent interest and staff persistence that resulted in the capacity
crowd at LaSalle School's second annual Back to School Night," said
Associate Director Anne Moscinski. "It is rare LaSalle has an event with more
family attendance than we anticipated."

Nearly 140 students and families from LaSalle's Evening Reporting Center,
Day Servioes Program, and Family Empowerment Services joined presenters
and LaSalle staff for the August 24th event. The purpose was to bring families
together from all of the agency's community-based programs for an evening of
fun and education in preparation for a successful start to the new school year.

"It starts with the family," said Padraic Ellis, LaSalle's After School Program
Supervisor. "If they are involved, engaged and on board with the services
we can offer their sons, they will most likely be confident in our efforts to
help make sure their boys start off the school year right."

Staff designed an obstacke course for teams of parents and students. Parents
packed a balanced and nutritious lunch, and students filled backpacks
donated by Citizen's Bank with school supplies. The brown bag lunches
contained a sandwich, chips, fruit, juice box, and a cookie. Students practiced
a morning routine of good hygiene and organization. Their assignment was
to fill backpacks with a toothbrush and school supplies including pens, pencils,
a ruler, notebooks, a calculator, and pocket folders.

Useful tips came from community resource professionals. They gave
presentations, set up displays, and manned information tables to answer
questions and provide back to school advice for parents and students.

Organizations represented were Albany's Department of Youth and Workforce
Services Truancy Abatement Program, the Albany Fire Explorers Program,
the Albany Aquaducks and Fidelis Health Care. Staff from the Journey
Mentoring Program brought program applications and encouraged youth to
become involved. The evening was also made possible, in part, through the
generosity of LaSalle board members and The LaSalle School Foundation.

"Staff really pitched in," said Ellis. "They helped to give rides to families who
wouldn't have been able to come because they no way of getting here."
Staff also welcomed guests, babysat the younger children and made sure
the night ran seamlessly. They were ready and willing to do whatever
it took to make the event a success.

The night was capped off with a concert. Music Teacher Mike Falzano and
his LaSalle student band played five songs for their parents and families.
It was a very appropriate way to end the evening, and kick off the 2011-2012
school year.