New Beginnings
The sun filtered through the clouds as maintenance crews scurried from place to place, taping signs on doors and setting up tents. It was Friday, Aug. 12: the first day of orientation week for La Lumiere School students. At 10:30 a.m., juniors and seniors belonging to LakeredIn—a group of students who help with orientation—began to trickle in. Each were given their respective positions as freshmen and their families began to arrive for registration. The school year had begun.
A new theme is voted on by faculty and student leaders for the new academic year, and this year’s theme, “Embrace La Lu,” is meant to provide the La Lumiere community with a common goal. Introduced by Adam Kronk, La Lumiere’s new head of school, “Embrace La Lu” encourages the community to be involved and share their love for the school.
The students used the theme as encouragement while they participated in two-a-day athletic practices and Headmaster’s Cup competitions. Much like Hogwarts, La Lumiere has four Headmaster’s Cup teams, named after the school’s first four headmasters: James Moore, Richard Webster, Barry Bunting, and Lawrence Sullivan.
Each team participates in several different competitions throughout the school year to earn points. During orientation week, students competed in games such as tug-of-war and sponge races. “Minute to Win It” is the grand finale of the Headmaster’s Cup competition for orientation week, where members from each team compete in different challenges that they must complete in one minute or less. Moore won this year, with Webster and Bunting tying for second. Sullivan came in third.
Orientation week drew to a close with a block party on Wednesday night. A dance was held in the Fine Arts Building while a Spikeball tournament took place outside. A snow cone truck was available to cool students off while they took a break from the flurry of activity. Students went home tired yet confident, ready for the first day of classes.
September, Sports, and Spirit Week
Leaping into September also means leaping into athletic events. Currently, the football team is 3-0, boys soccer is 5-2, girls soccer is 7-2, and boys tennis is undefeated. Volleyball and girls golf are also playing impressive seasons. The crew team has yet to compete; their first regatta is scheduled for September 17 and 18 in Ohio.
La Lumiere Spirit Week begins on Sept. 19 and runs through Sept. 23. Students will be seizing the opportunity to embrace La Lu with theme days in which they must dress up. The themes for Spirit Week this year are: La Luau, Comic-Con Day, Pirate Day, Olympic Day, and Laker Day. Laker Day is always on Friday and marks the start of Parents Weekend.
Parents Weekend is an opportunity for parents to have conferences with their child’s teachers and get a taste of what life is like at La Lumiere. It is also a great opportunity for international parents to visit the school and experience the La Lumiere community that their boarding student has become a part of since orientation week. Parents of boarding students travel as far as Australia, China, Germany, and Japan (to name a few) to visit campus and enjoy traditional school activities.
Spirit Week draws to a close on Friday night with the annual Senior Bonfire held at Sullivan Football Field near Lake La Lumiere. The entire community stands around a woodpile while the senior class walks from the school, through the woods, to the lake, carrying torches. They make their way to the woodpile before all throwing their torches in at once. This longstanding tradition is meant to represent the seniors combining the ‘light’ they have grown together at La Lumiere to create one giant light to shine down on the underclassmen and help guide their way through the rest of their La Lumiere careers.
Teacher Spotlight: Adam Kronk
When Michael Kennedy, former headmaster of La Lumiere, announced that he would be leaving after 11 years, many questions arose. One of the most common and pressing ones was, “Who would take his place?” Mr. Adam Kronk would be the answer to that question.
A native of Detroit, Kronk graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor’s degree in English literature and a master’s degree in nonprofit administration. He was a high school English teacher in Detroit, a volunteer at a homeless shelter, and a resident of Cambodia aiding disadvantaged schools. All of these things make up Adam Kronk. So why add La Lumiere Head of School to this impressive list?
“Being in the position to run a school kept coming up,” Kronk said when asked why he chose La Lumiere.
“I had only been out to Marsch Gym a couple of times for basketball games because my brother-in-law is Coach Shane Heirman. When I came out here to interview and Danny and Karalyn took me around campus, and I looked around, it felt right.”
Kronk has wasted no time fully embracing the flurry of activity that is La Lumiere. He proudly declared that he would be joining the Headmaster’s Cup team of Bunting because they have yet to win the title of Headmaster’s Cup champions. As Kronk explained it, “I like underdogs.”
He did not disappoint. Donning a purple shirt, Bunting's team color, he was there for each competition.
“My goal for La Lumiere is the same goal I have for myself: to be the best version you can be. I don’t have my own master plan. It’s meeting a lot of people and hearing what they have to say. Figuring out what is unique about this place.”
Student Spotlight: Jenna Rifai
At La Lumiere, a graduating class means a new panel of students ready to fill the leadership positions left empty. Through the Prefect Leadership System, incoming juniors and seniors apply for a Prefect position that they feel would best fit them and benefit the school most. Students go through a rigorous application process, including interviews with faculty and students. There are 10 Prefect positions such as Head Prefect and Academic Prefect. This year’s Academic Prefect is Jenna Rifai.
Rifai is a senior, looking to give back to the school that she says has already given her so much. As Academic Prefect, Rifai organizes tutoring sessions for students and makes sure no one feels like they are getting left behind academically.
Rifai said, “I decided to run for Academic Prefect because I felt like I had so much to give back to the La Lumiere community. The most rewarding part of my Prefect position is that I get to work with so many students and teachers that are so passionate about the school.”
Jenna is also a strong leader of the Community Council. This council helps shine light on the diverse culture found at La Lumiere. For Jenna, the group is used as an outlet for her to openly express her pride in her religion. She hopes the council will serve as an outlet for other students, too.
“Community Council is something I am very passionate about. My role is to work with several other prefects and students at La Lumiere to welcome people to share the love of their culture, religion, or background. We want to represent the richness of our community in every way we can.”
La Lumiere did just that by celebrating the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha on Wednesday, September, 14. Students learned about the holiday during morning assembly and enjoyed a Middle Eastern lunch of chicken shawarma on pita with hummus and traditional cookies and sweets.