What's recently happened?
While summer at La Lumiere School (La Lu) looks a little different than other schools, it is still busy as ever. With freshman experience, summer camps, and preparation for the upcoming school year, La Lu never slows down!
In mid-June every year, La Lu houses the incoming freshman on campus for the week-long orientation, entitled Freshman experience. This year, La Lu Alum Emma Heffron, ‘21, and Logan Funderburg helped put on an unforgettable time for the incoming Lakers. The students had the opportunity to participate in Head’s Cup competitions around campus, a movie night in the Fine Arts Building, and a trip to Zao Island. They also had the opportunity to experience athletic previews, along with English, math, history, biology, and biblical literacy seminars.
On Wednesday and Thursday, some prefects for the upcoming school year attended the Freshman Experience to talk to the freshman about forming character and cultivating leadership. Ilaria Von Eschenbach, the incoming Academic Prefect, spoke to the freshman about the different ways they can get involved in the school.
“My freshman year, I was involved in Film Club and Film Fest. The current head of Film Club was graduating at the time, so I was able to step into that leadership role my sophomore year. Also my sophomore year, I became the Editor in Chief of the school’s literary magazine, The Massasauga,” Eschenbach said.
In addition to the freshman orientation, La Lu also hosts a variety of summer camps. This year, La Lu hosted basketball camp, soccer camp, and tennis camp. Soccer camp, which was run by the Girls Varsity Head Coach Brett Balhoff was a great experience. Rising senior Anne Kuehn, rising sophomore Anna Balhoff, and rising junior Erin Morrison all helped to ensure the camp was a success.
La Lu also has recently gained another NBA player. Keion Brooks Jr., class of 2019, who signed a two-way deal with the New Orleans Pelicans.
What’s coming up?
This summer, La Lu has decided to sponsor a series of events happening in La Porte. By doing this, it allows for La Lu to connect with the La Porte County community in a different way.
This year, La Lu has decided to sponsor the Tour de La Porte 2024. La Lu will be sponsoring the 60 and 100 mile routes with SAG Stop Support. In this sponsorship, there will be snacks, water, Gatorade, a bike pump, first aid kits, and so much more for the riders. La Lu loves to engage with the community, and they are so excited to take part in such a historic event for La Porte.
In addition, La Lu is also sponsoring La Porte’s Arts in the Park. This is the second year that La Lu has sponsored Arts in the Park. This year, La Lu is sponsoring Free Byrd on July 25 at 7 p.m. In addition to Arts in the Park, this performance will also kick off the annual Lake Fest in La Porte. The Lake Fest is a three day event with art, food, and music.
“By sponsoring this event, we are given the opportunity to support an important endeavor of the La Porte community. We also invite members of the La Lu community to come out for this concert. "It is so important to continue to engage with our community over the summer months while school is out of session,” Assistant Director of Advancement Torie Jaques said.
It may be hard to believe, but preparation for next school year has already begun. Events such as orientation week, parents weekend, and the fall activities are already underway planning processes.
Orientation week this year is looking like it will be one of the best yet. The Lakers are looking forward to starting the new school year off right with activities such as sporting events, heads cup activities, and mini-classes with their new teachers.
Community member spotlight:
Torie Jaques has worked as the Assistant Director of Advancement at La Lu since 2021. Before she worked as the Assistant Director of Advancement, she was still a part of the La Lu community, as her husband, Pat Holmes, is the Head Coach of the Varsity White National Team.
In being the Assistant Director of Advancement, Jaques focuses on the annual fund and the Laker Fund. She also works on annual special events, such as Family Weekend, the golf outing, alumni reunions, and the Spring Gala, with the end goal of advancing the mission of La Lu.
One of the events she works closely on is family weekend, which happens every fall. Family weekend is a time where students get to show their prospective families the gorgeous campus they live on, along with introducing their friends to their family.
“My favorite La Lu tradition is family weekend, which takes place shortly after the school year has begun, because it gives us the opportunity to come together with all of our La Lu families and welcome new families into the community,” Jaques said.
She also works directly with the Hospitality Council, one of the prefect positions. In being the Hospitality Council mentor, she works closely with them to make sure events such as The Taste of La Lumiere go as smoothly as possible.
For The Taste of La Lumiere, the Hospitality Council makes sure that everyone feels welcomed, and works on the specificities of the event. Jaques, makes sure that students know how and why it is important to be involved in the event, along with building the excitement for the event.