Freshman Jackson Sprando went to middle school at St. John the Baptist Catholic School, and while acknowledging that it is considered a “feeder school,” Sprando said he was drawn to La Salle for other reasons. “I really like the community here,” he said. “So I think that was a big part, the academics too.” 

Sprando’s favorite parts of freshman year have been making friends, joining La Salle’s theater program, and Spanish Teacher Ms. Amy Gantt’s fourth period Spanish I class.

“I just love Ms Gantt, she’s so awesome,” he said. “I feel like I’m really good at learning Spanish, so I’m interested in it, and I think it’s a very valuable skill.” 

For the first time ever, Sprando gave theater a shot, and earned roles that have included Jonathan in the fall production of “Steel Magnolias,” Tate in “Confessions,” Kevin in “Council of Villains” in La Salle’s “Misled: A Series of One-Acts,” and Cratos in the high school world premiere of “Prometheus.” 

Sprando loved the chance to be onstage. “Auditioning for the first musical or my first play like that, I remember being really nervous,” Sprando said. “But it was really exciting.” 

Despite the nerves Sprando felt during his first auditions, he noted that he “just found it fun” after a full season in the theater. 

“Everyone [involved] is so loving and it’s just such a fun time being onstage,” Sprando said. “I just really love doing it.”  

By the time senior year comes around for the class of 2027, Sprando hopes to perform as the principal role in a La Salle production, grow as a Spanish student, and learn about La Salle’s most well-kept secret: Journey. 

“Everyone says Journey is so awesome, so I’m excited to go,” Sprando said. 

Sprando felt as though he’s overcome two things this year: finals week and daunting social situations. Having never been through something like finals week, Sprando noted that while it felt “nerve-wracking” going into it, afterwards, he felt great. 

Sprando said that he’s learned how to not be like other people, and to have his own thoughts and feelings about things by navigating different group environments and learning from them. 

“Just over time, you find yourself,” Sprando said.

Coming into high school, Sprando was worried about the common stereotype and cliché of scary upperclassmen. However, after he joined La Salle’s theater department just a month into school, he found out that wasn’t the case at all. He has become close to and started looking up to many upperclassmen, such as juniors Madeleine Wisler and Bailey Fronk. 

“Bailey Fronk, I literally love her, she’s so awesome,” Sprando said. “All of the juniors in theater are really nice.” 

Looking back on this year Sprando noted he would “give [this year] a nine,” he said. “I wouldn’t give it a 10 because there’s parts of high school where it’s like, ‘oh, I don’t want to do this,’ or just hardships [in general] ” 

If Sprando could say one thing to his past self on the first day of school, it would be: “Don’t try to be others, just be yourself,” Sprando said.  

In three months, the class of 2028 will be arriving on campus for their orientation and first day of school, and Sprando’s advice for them is to “find what you’re passionate about, find your inner voice, and just be who you want to be,” he said.

Holy Family Catholic School alumni and freshman Keira Olson came to La Salle following in the footsteps of her two older brothers, Rogan and Colin Olson. She had already been participating in La Salle’s theater program for many years, so she had an easy transition to high school socially. 

“I was in the theater when I was younger, so I already knew people here,” Olson said. “I have friends that [are] also going here.”

Olson’s favorite parts of the year included theater and “making a lot of new friends because at the beginning of the year, I kind of only hung out with people that went to my old school,” Olson said. “But then I met people through the theater and through my other classes, and I have a lot more friends.”

Olson’s classes introduced a workload to her that she wasn’t used to at Holy Family. However, Morning choir with Performing & Fine Arts Department Chair, Choir & Guitar teacher, and religion teacher Mr. Wild and his first period Intro to Christianity and Sacred Scripture class have helped alleviate some of the hardships of high school. “He’s just really fun and funny,” Olson said. “He’s just really nice and just a happy person, and he’s fun to be around.” 

Olson had a successful year in theater, playing characters such as Lena in “Confessions,” Belle in “Royal Therapy,” and The Evil Queen in “Council of Villains,” in “Mislead: A Series of One-Acts”, as well as Zerin and Demeter in La Salle’s spring musical “Prometheus.” In addition to this, Olson was on the costume crew for “Steel Magnolias.” 

Joining Mr. Wild’s choir proved to be the right choice for Olson, as she had needed to overcome the anxiety of singing in front of people. “Mr. Wild helped me get more comfortable,” Olson said. “It was really fun.” 

Outside of the theater program, Olson tried her hand at volleyball for the first time since participating in the CYO program. “Volleyball was a lot more of a time commitment then CYO,” she said. “We had practice almost every day.” 

“I feel like getting out of my comfort zone and meeting new people, doing new things,” Olson said in regards to what she feels as though she’s overcome this year. Her friends help keep her motivated to face whatever may come her way, and she looks up to the upperclassmen as well. Olson considers sophomore Madeline Schnyder, junior Madeleine Wisler, and seniors Angelina Lopez, Isabella Sulloway-Ferraras, Flora Peruzzo, and Riley Herington all to be “like big sisters,” she said.

“I’d say [this year] was an eight, because I made lots of new friends and had so much fun this year,” Olson said. “But there’s been some obstacles.” 

As Olson looks forward to the rest of high school, she’s ready for nearly anything. 

“I’m just excited to see what happens next,” she said. “You know, like just go with it and see what I want to do.”

While the clock keeps ticking to La Salle’s final bell, Olson has words of wisdom for herself and next year’s freshman class. “Just go for it,” Olson said. “Just make friends, talk to people. Just do whatever you want. Just try something new, you’ll probably have fun and if you don’t then there’s no consequences.” 

Freshman Matthew Martin has enjoyed playing sports, attending football games, and forming friendships throughout his first year in high school. As he finished eighth grade at Hood River Middle School, Martin started the search for his high school and after applying to Jesuit and Central Catholic High School, Martin’s father brought up the idea of La Salle.

“He went to De La Salle in Detroit, Michigan, and he thought it would be a good fit for me to go to a Catholic College Prep,” Martin said.

After shadowing La Salle alum Will Koch, Martin fell in love with the community, and that continued through this year. “I would say going to football games was quite fun,” Martin said.

In previous years, Martin noted that he wouldn’t ask as many questions and would be on the quiet side in class, but thanks to all his teachers this year, he asked more questions and felt more comfortable engaging in discussion. Two classes that stick out in particular are Religious Studies Department Chair and Religious Studies teacher Ms. Jane Nitschke’s religion class and Spanish teacher Ms. Karen Kessler’s Spanish I class. 

“Both of them [are] excellent teachers,” Martin said. “I learned a lot of Spanish, and I learned a lot more about God and my religion that I practice.”

This year, Martin played on La Salle’s varsity golf team and JV soccer team. While the sports themselves were nothing new, he made the leap from recreational soccer to playing competitively and was on a golf team for the first time rather than competing individually. 

“It felt much more competitive and I wasn’t used to having older kids on my team,” Martin said. 

Competing on these two teams taught Martin the value of hard work and the importance of not cutting corners, both in athletics and life. “Always make sure everything gets done and make sure it gets done right, 100% complete,” Martin said, “quality over quantity.” The seniors on the golf team — Roman Jensen, Dawson Stroud, and Lucas Hungerford — all helped Martin acclimate to the team and La Salle, and were great role models for how to improve his “A” game. 

Off the course and in the classroom, Martin could be found as one of two freshmen in math teacher’s Mr. Linus Oey’s Honors Algebra II/Trig class. Martin stated that although it was his hardest class, once he “started asking questions and started to really engage and try my hardest, I felt much more comfortable with the class,” he said. “I feel like I’ve been doing much better recently.” 

Outside of La Salle, Martin was confirmed just a few months ago. 

“It wasn’t scary, but it was really something out of my comfort zone,” he said “I’m Catholic, but I don’t go to church very often. So when I do it, I just sort of feel like I’m out of my comfort zone. So when I was standing up and doing all that stuff in front of people it felt uncomfortable to me.” 

Martin said he had a fulfilling year, describing it as “enticing” and  “electrifying.” “Definitely an A, because I’m not sure if A+’s are a thing in high school, but A is definitely a solid grade for this year,” Martin said.

Martin has many pieces of advice he wishes he could tell himself on the first day of school this year. and to the incoming freshman class of 2028.

 “Just relax, have fun. Just make sure you’re making good decisions for the year and try your hardest no matter what,” Martin said. “Definitely join clubs, or sports. That’s seriously how you can meet somebody, like I’ve met so many best friends like that, who I met through soccer and through the soccer camp. Just join all those clubs, and make sure you’re staying in activities.”