Description
These are samples of Capstone projects from Cohort IV of the John Johnston Institute from participants who completed the program in March 2024. They illustrate the wide variety of topic areas and interests engaged by the participants.
Below is basic information about each project, along with a link to the relevant PDF file.
Project
“Parent Partnership”
Nicole Nastari
Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory
San Francisco, CA
Description
This project was designed to look at avenues for partnerships with parents in the educational community. Specifically looking at how to honor “wholeness” in disciplinary procedures and building a partnership with existing parents association.
Project
“An Invitation to Vocational Discovery: Developing a Lasallian Framework for Vocation and Academics”
Olivia Hart
La Salle High School
Union Gap, WA
Description
This project is a Lasallian career readiness program designed to cater to diverse learning styles, ensuring inclusivity and efficacy in skill development. The program is an implementation of interactive workshops, internships and hands-on activities, and collaborative projects within our community. Grounded in the Lasallian values of excellence and inclusivity, this program underscores the importance of recognizing and valuing individual differences, thereby equipping all students with the tools and resources necessary to thrive in their professional and vocational pursuits.
Project
“St. John’s College High School Parmenie Walk”
Michelle McIntosh-Peters
& Kevin Morse
St. John’s College High School
Washington, DC
Description
This project was designed for faculty and staff members to participate in a semesterly “Parmenie Walk” with a fellow colleague where they can build community and reflect with one another on successes and challenges while remaining focused on the Lasallian mission at St. John’s College High School.
Project
“Community Formation”
Khiely Jackson
& Stephanie Roybal
Justin-Siena High School
Napa, CA
Description
This project brings together faculty and staff professional development on Lasallian formation and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging into a collaborative approach. We will use formation opportunities to develop a vision of who we want to be as a school community while developing working relationships with each other in order to create more personal relationships with one another. These formation sessions will take time not only to reflect on our school community, but also ourselves as educators, both in and out of the classroom.
Project
“Le Passage: An International Lasallian Formation Retreat”
Rebecca Burgess Mackisey
& Veronica Tarrazo
La Salle Academy
Providence, RI
Description
This project was designed to create a student-centered Lasallian formation retreat to help students encounter De La Salle by following his footsteps. It is a year long process including frequent formation meetings leading up to a trip to France. Students will be invited to reflect on their own experiences in a Lasallian school and think about the different ways they have been invited to enter more fully into the mission.
Project
“Fusion: Transfer Student Orientation Group”
David Marshall
& Gretchen Pledger
Christian Brothers Academy
Syracuse, NY
Description
This project was designed to look at how transfer students become acclimated to the school culture and learn of our Lasallian values. We looked at how different grades adjusted to the school based on when they enrolled (new in 7th grade, during hybrid, transfer). This project shows what we as a community can do to make their first few weeks at Christian Brothers Academy successful and will assist in retention.
Project
“Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve: A Lasallian Vocational Journey”
Lydia Rosencrants
& Amy Ware
Christian Brothers University
Memphis, TN
Description
Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve: A Lasallian Vocational Journey is a program designed to promote student reflection on vocational choice and calling while introducing new students to (and further educating current students on ) the Lasallian mission. The program provides opportunities for each class year to engage in specific activities that will foster student commitment to our Lasallian values and allow students to reflect on God’s calling in their lives.
Project
“Catalyst Circle Rock: Mission Moments”
Erika Whitehead
Catalyst Circle Rock
Chicago, IL
Description
The Catalyst Circle Rock Legacy Team exists to align the rich history and legacy of De La Salle’s educational philosophy and pedagogy with the mission of Catalyst Schools, and to enhance its relevancy in the work we do with our scholars. One of the ways the Legacy Team helps the staff deepen its connection to our mission, vision, and legacy is through Mission Moments. A Mission Moment is a short 5-7min presentation based on one of the Virtues of a Good Teacher (found in our Legacy Booklet). We focus on one virtue per month, and the Mission Moment is our way of introducing/teaching the virtue to the staff, and sharing a few ways they can embody the virtue for the month. At the end of the month, we present the Lasallian Educator Award to the staff member who has best embodied the virtue for the month – so everything comes full circle.
Project
“Lasallian Formation for Freshman Students”
Angie Frigge
La Salle High School
Cincinnati, OH
Description
This project has been designed to introduce freshman students to Lasallian formation as part of their Religion classes. Over the course of the year, students will lead prayer based on the Lasallian movements, learn about the five core values, design a La Salle’s five pillars project and learn about Saint John Baptist de La Salle’s life and Lasallian history.












