Damien High School

It is with sadness that we report that Rose Yaros, our Drama instructor for 13 years until her retirement in 2009, lost her long battle with cancer on Friday, August 30. Rose was a positive, energetic, "force of nature" who had the ability to inspire students to put aside their natural reticence and explore their creative side. In addition to teaching Drama classes, Rose also directed over two dozen school plays, turning the Damien Activity Center into any number of locations from ancient to modern times, for productions both dramatic and humorous. Many of her actors have gone on to continue performing in college and beyond. We ask that your thoughts and prayers are with Rose's family in this time of grief.

Please Click Here to view the September Parent Newsletter

LA VERNE, CA, (AUGUST 28, 2012) Damien High School senior, Arunraj Balaji, won the chance to study abroad in Germany by virtue of his performance on the American Association of Teachers of German (AATG) national examination. Administered annually, the test aims to identify the nation’s most accomplished students of the German language. High school students who score exceptionally on the exam are eligible to earn an all-expenses paid, three-week study-abroad experience.  Having scored in the 99^th percentile, Balaji won the trip to Germany after completing the subsequent evaluation process which included personal interviews with college professors and representatives of the AATG national office.

Our dear colleague and friend, Ken Kowalewski, passed away on August 19. Services were held on August 24. Ken was a member of the Damien faculty from 1987 to 2011, serving as a classroom teacher, coach, department chair, Dean of Discipline, Campus Minister, and Director of the Kairos Senior Retreat program. But a mere recitation of his various positions cannot come close to expressing the profound effect he had on thousands of young men during his time at Damien, and throughout a teaching career that spanned 5 schools and almost 50 years. The prayers of the entire Damien community go out to Ken’s beloved wife, Dolores, his entire family, and all of the people he mentored and gave guidance to over the course of his life and career. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made out to Tijuana Mission Foundation, Holy Innocents Church, (13230 El Evado Road, Victoriville, CA 92392) or Damien High School Scholarship Fund, 2280 Damien Ave, La Verne, CA 91750.

Please click here to view the August Parent Newsletter

Welcome to the 2012-13 school year! It is with excitement that we start the academic year as many exciting physical changes happened to the campus during the summer months. The Counseling Dept. moved down to the 600 building and we remodeled the old Guidance offices at the north end of the 300 building on the Bonita side of the school and transformed the space to be our new Administration area. We painted and retiled the inside of the 200 building and remodeled Rm. 201 to be our new campus chapel. We also painted and retiled the 400 building, remodeled the two bathrooms in that building, and constructed a Communications Center upstairs. We removed the old portable classroom buildings on the south end of the 200 building and replanted grass in that area. We turned an old art storage area in the 200 building and remodeled it back into a classroom – Rm. 204. The old varsity football locker room on the first floor of Spartan Hall has been recarpeted, painted, and air conditioning has been installed. This room will be the film and meeting room for sports teams. And last but certainly not least, the Class of 2012 donated a statue of St. Damien that has been placed in front of the Athletic Center. Special thanks also should go to the Escoboza family who also helped obtain the statue, and to Rob Clark Construction for making the cement base. In fact, we are indebted to Rob for most of the remodeling that took place on campus this summer. It would not have been possible without his vision and generousity.

We have also made many faculty and staff changes for the new school year. Here is a list, in no particular order: