The De La Salle school was founded in Dundalk in 1899. It began in Castletown in the parish of St. Patrick. In 1979 the post-primary school moved to its present location on the Castleblayney Road. Work commenced on the new extension in 1997. The current enrolment is around 750 pupils.
School crest and motto
Crest
This consists of a star on a shield flanked by a green fern. On the scroll beneath are the Latin words "Signum Fidei" meaning "The Sign of Faith", referring to the star. This recalls the story of the Three Wise Men who followed the Star of Bethlehem, trusting that it would lead them to God.
School motto
The Latin "Recta Sapere" meaning "Right Judgement" or "Knowing what is Right" is the motto of De La Salle College, Dundalk.
The De La Salle Brothers are the Trustees of the College. The school is under the control of the Board of Management. The Board concerns itself with all matters pertaining to school policy, education policy, finance, school premises and equipment, the selection and appointment of staff and general school matters. The Board ensures that professional standards of education and management are continued in the school. The Board alsop facilitates the implementation of curricular innovation. Membership of the Board of Management includes De La Salle Order nominees, Parent nominees and Teacher nominees. The Principal of the College is the Secretary.
Parents association
The Parents Association has elected representatives from each region. Members are elected every year. The role of the Association is a supportive one - to the Principal, School Management, Staff and Students. It aims to foster good relations between the parents, teachers, students and the school authorities. It supports the school by making recommendations about current trends in education. It is sometimes involved in fund-raising to provide extra resource for the school.
Student council
A student council serves to represent the student views. They involve themselves in a whole range of activities within the school. Students are given Leadership Training at the beginning of the school year. The students attend lectures and learn the skills necessary for teamwork and leadership.
Subjects and courses
De La Salle College offers four courses where students are offered a wide range of subjects: Junior Certificate, Transition Year, Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied. In the Junior Certificate cycle, students study 14 subjects in a mixture of compulsory and voluntary subjects. Transition Year is an optional one-year school programme that can be taken in the year after the Junior Certificate and is intended to make the senior cycle a three-year programme encompassing both Transition Year and Leaving Certificate. Students can broaden their learning and studies and the school offers a range of subjects. In the Leaving Certificate, English, Irish and Maths are compulsory subjects for Leaving Certificate and students can choose 4 others. Students study 7 subjects to exam level.
Leaving Certificate Applied
In 2013, De La Salle College introduced the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme, a self-contained two-year programme aimed at preparing students for adult and working life. The programme consists of a range of courses each designed on a modular basis.
Extra-curricular activities
The school has had successes in various sports, including in basketball, football and Gaelic football. The Green Schools Committee has achieved 4 Green Flags since 2008. In previous years, 1st year students travel on a school tour to England where students visit Alton Towers Theme Park, and a Champions League football match. The talent show, Class Act, has been a feature of the schools calendar year since 2004. Each year, the show takes place in An Táin Theatre, Dundalk. Many students take part in the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition every January, where students present their Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Technology and Human Science projects. In 2014, the Senior Gaelic Team won the Lennon Cup. In 2016, De La Salle College's Junior Irish Debating Team won their first All-Ireland Gael-Linn Debating Competition. In 2017, the De La Salle Chess Team finished in 2nd place at the North East Chess League. In 2018, 40 students travelled to Barcelona, where they visited Sagrada Família, Monsterrat, Nou Camp, Portaventura and La Rambla.
Student award ceremony
Each year the college hosts a student awards night. These awards are aimed at acknowledging students work and achievements during the academic year and during the students time in the school.
School uniform
Like most schools in Ireland and the UK, the students of De La Salle College, Dundalk wear a distinct uniform making them instantly recognisable as pupils of the college. The uniform consists of:
