GreatNews.Life Student Voices: La Lu conquers fall athletics

What’s recently happened?

La Lumiere School’s (La Lu) volleyball and soccer teams have been busy preparing for the upcoming fall season. Summer practices and open gyms were influential for the success of all sports teams, and La Lu has wasted no time. Even though classes have yet to begin on campus, the athletes have been working hard to start their seasons off strong. 

Around mid-summer, the fall sports teams started their practices. Everyone available attended the weekly sessions.

Every Wednesday, La Lu’s volleyball team gets together in the Marsch Gymnasium to work on crucial skills. The girls, led by Stephanie Hill, work on volleyball fundamentals like serving, passing, and hitting. From 6-8 p.m., the volleyball team hones their craft, ready to take on whatever comes at them this 2025 season.

La Lu’s soccer teams have gotten together to practice every Tuesday and Thursday on Sullivan Field from 6:30-8 p.m. Both the boys and girls teams, led by Coach Brett Balhoff, work together in numerous drills. The students work on footwork, ball control, and scrimmage to prepare for the games ahead. 

With this added time and dedication during the summer months, La Lu’s volleyball and soccer teams are sure to succeed this fall athletic season. Spectators, parents, and students alike are in for exciting and competitive games ahead. 

What’s coming up? 

La Lumiere’s student body is returning for classes with an exciting opening day on Sunday, August 17. It has been La Lu’s tradition to start every academic year on a Sunday. Parents and students alike gather for opening remarks by Interim Head Andy Webster to commence the start of the 2025-26 academic year.

Boarding families can plan to arrive by 10:30 a.m. to move into the dorms, and day student families can plan to arrive by 12:15 p.m. Families can explore the campus, meet other parents and students, and ask any final questions that they may have.

This year, a new addition has been made – parents are now able to walk through their student’s schedule. They will be able to meet their child’s teachers, advisors, as well as members of the parent association.

While students are actively engaged on campus during opening day, there are no official classes scheduled for the first three days of school. These days are designed to build school spirit, meet new people, and become acquainted with the campus. Students will also be starting their first official athletic or co-curricular practice of the year during the first few days of orientation.

Orientation is also the start of the Head’s Cup competition, a long standing tradition at La Lu, and one that garners fierce competition amongst the student body. Head’s Cup serves as a series of contests designed to invoke school spirit. Each student is assigned to one of four teams when they first join the school: Moore, Sullivan, Webster, and Bunting. Students remain on these teams throughout their time at La Lu. These teams then compete for the entirety of the school year in order to win the Head’s Cup trophy. 

A number of competitions take place in the first few days of school, including the infamous scavenger hunt, soccer shootout, and rock paper scissors contest. These events are some major highlights of the school year and are sure to bring about long lasting memories. 

In addition to Head’s Cup competitions, there are also grade level competitions. Each class adorns their own unique color and competes fiercely against each other in a number of other games. In years past there has been tug-of-war, giant soccer, and relay races to truly complete orientation week. During orientation students have very long days that often begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude around 8:30 p.m. in the evening. 

Community member spotlight:

Lucy Horn is an incoming junior at La Lumiere from Chicago. She is deeply involved in the school community and participates on campus both inside and outside the classroom.

She plays on both the Varsity Girls Soccer team as well as the tennis team. This past winter, Horn participated in Model United Nations where she and her team competed in the Notre Dame conference. 

In addition to co-curricular activities, Horn also likes to take part in smaller activities like Head’s Cup, where she competes for team Moore, the reigning champions at the school. 

Horn is also involved in a lot of school traditions from the Taste of La Lu to field day.

“La Lu has so many amazing traditions it’s hard to pick a favorite, but if I had to only pick one, it would be the Taste,” Horn said.

She also has a unique experience at La Lu because she is a boarding student. She is able to be completely immersed in the community throughout the school year.

“La Lu means so much to me. It’s more than just a place. It’s where I feel happy, accepted, and like I truly belong. I’ve made special memories and strong connections there. It’s a one of a kind place, and I’m really thankful to be part of it,” Horn said.

Horn is not the first in her family to attend La Lu either. Her mother, Laura Horn, was a graduate of the 1996 class.

Horn is looking forward to the upcoming school year and remaining involved in the tight-knit community.