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Jachi, an eighth-grader from Schenectady (last name withheld), struggled with science and got into fights when he attended public school. But since he's been a day services student at the all-boys LaSalle School in the Pine Hills neighborhood of Albany, things have been different.

"His attitude changed a whole lot," said Sally, his mother. "He's more respectful. He doesn't fight as much. I hope he stays here until he graduates."

More than 60 staff serve LaSalle's accredited junior and senior high school for what executive director William Wolff described as "educationally damaged" teenagers. The boys might have experienced trauma or trouble at home and often fail to trust adults. Their lives are often interrupted.

"Our job is to try to help stabilize that and give them some sense of a norm," said Mr. Wolff.

When Jachi couldn't grasp the workings of atoms and matter at his old school, he couldn't find appropriate one-on-one attention. Not so at LaSalle.

"I like how I improved on my behavior," he told The Evan-gelist. "I like how I work with the teachers more often."

Faith-based
LaSalle School was founded by the French Christian Brothers in 1854 as a residential treatment center for orphans, poor children and those struggling with mental illness, substance abuse or dangerous domestic situations.

Today, the purpose remains the same, with emphasis on reunifying families into safer environments with the help of crisis intervention classes.

LaSalle is a part of the LaSallian Association for Youth and Family Services, a network of childcare agencies in the northeast. The association's motto is "Serve the least, the last and the lost."

A handful of brothers live on the school's campus; LaSalle was primarily staffed by brothers until the 1960s. The school offers courses in religious education from an ecumenical perspective. Each day starts with prayer.

Safe students
The school's motto is, "Safe, responsible and respectful." Positive behavior, such as holding the door for someone, is rewarded with coupons redeemed in the school's catalogue.

The day school enrolls about 125 children and places no more than 10 students in classrooms. Safety counselors stand guard on every floor. The school prides itself in finding alternatives to restraining a student.

Academics are complemented by unique elective activities like woodworking, cooking and a music program that uses a recording studio with electric keyboards, guitars and the like. The gym is equipped with a rock climbing wall and ropes courses; students go on hiking, camping and caving trips.

Staff members study at the national LaSallian Leadership Institute.

Between the day, residential and counseling programs, a total of about 175 children and families are served daily by LaSalle's teachers, clinicians, childcare workers, family caseworkers, supervisors and support staff.

About 75 of those students live on the Albany campus. One counseling program, licensed and funded by the Office of Children and Family Services, treats teens who have acted out sexually or who have been sexually abused.

Sixty to 70 percent of residents are treated by LaSalle's chemical dependency outpatient clinic, which is licensed by the state Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.

Jonathan (last name withheld), a 15-year-old from Utica, moved into LaSalle and started participating in its chemical dependency clinic in August. He lived at other residential schools, but fought with other children.

At the other schools, his father said, Jonathan needed to be restrained by the staff and ran away. He was also charged with destruction of property as a juvenile delinquent.

When Jonathan claimed to have tried marijuana, cocaine and alcohol, he was sent to LaSalle. Jonathan's father, John, said the LaSalle staff has better control of the students - without needing to restrain them - and better people skills.

Jonathan said he enjoys playing chess, football and Ultimate Frisbee at LaSalle.

"They keep you occupied," he explained, adding that he's taken a liking to one staff member in particular: "We're always talking about Batman and stuff like that."

John added that LaSalle helped Jonathan grow in his faith, pointing to the cross his son recently started wearing: "He wouldn't have worn a cross at the other place."

Jonathan said the program is teaching him the downfalls of the drug scene.

Evening help
When the sun sets, the school offers programs for Albany County youth who live at home and attend other schools. Structured activities keep children off the streets.

The Evening Reporting Center, funded by the county Department for Children, Youth and Family and Albany County Probation, serves boys on probation as an alternative to juvenile detention.

In addition to homework help and recreational activities, the teenagers take field trips and hear from speakers on topics of importance to them. Last week, they learned about Miranda rights and racial profiling.

(11/25/10) [[In-content Ad]]

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