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News flash: hcla fine arts earns high remarks at music festival
News flash: hcla fine arts earns high remarks at music festival
Our HCLA Jazz Crusaders received a Superior Rating for their perfomance at the FLGA Music Festival at St. Luke's
Our Middle School Chorus received a Superior Rating for their performance at the FLGA Music Festival at St. Luke's
Our Vox Cru received a Superior Distinction for their performance at the FLGA Music Festival at St. Luke's
2025-2026 QUICK VIEW SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR
March/February Snapshot:
February 27, 2026 - Tickets now on sale for the Daddy-Daughter Dance | Buy tickets here
February 28, 2026 - IF: One Night 2026 Women's Gathering hosted by HCLM and Resurrection Church (See flyer below for more information)
March 4, 2026 - Junior & Senior Prom tickets go on sale | See Ms. Stark for more information
March 5, 2026 - Kindergarten Open House | RSVP here
March 7, 2026 - Lower School Mother-Son Event
March 6-7, 2026 - HCLA Theatre presents Godspell
March 12, 2026 - N.U.T.S Day
March 13, 2026 - End of 3rd Quarter
March 13, 2026 - Lower School Field Day at Upper Campus | See details below
March 16-20, 2026 - Spring Break | No School
March 23, 2026 - Beginning of 4th Quarter
March 27, 2026 - La Dolce Vita Sip & Bid | Buy your tickets here
📣Click here to submit your Step Up Award ID to finance📣
JESSICA BINKLEY, LOWER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL | FEBRUARY UPDATE
Dear HCLA Parents and Families,
It was great to see so many of our families at the book fair Family Night. Thank you to all who attended and helped make the event a huge success. I have spent some time at the book fair this week and have enjoyed seeing the children’s excitement about finding a cool book. What a blessing that our children are being taught to LOVE LEARNING.
I am thankful to God everyday that He has brought us amazing teachers who not only love Him, but love teaching. Great teachers and supportive parents are what make Holy Cross so special. Thank you for all you do.
Looking ahead, we have Field Day coming up on Friday, March 13th. We would love to see you there. Come volunteer to help with games or be a spectator and cheer our kids on. It is a fun way to spend time with other HCLA families. Watch your email as information continues to be sent out.
In His Service,
Jessica Binkley
DR. LUNARDI, UPPER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL | FEBRUARY UPDATE
Dear HCLA Parents and Families,
At Upper Campus, it feels like we just returned from Christmas break and are already making plans for end-of-year celebrations, field trips, and graduation. Winter sports have wrapped up, we’re looking forward to our musicians performing at this week’s music festival and next week’s musical, Godspell, and we’re preparing for the start of spring sports and activities.
This is my 26th year as an educator, and somehow the years seem to pass more quickly each time. I have been especially proud of the way our students and staff have stayed unified and continued to work hard through the year’s longest stretch without a multi-day break. The maturity and growth across each grade level have been evident, and it’s exciting to begin the course selection process for 2026–27 and think about our students as future “next graders.”
For our seniors, we are walking through the bittersweet season of helping them make decisions about college and other next steps toward their careers.
Thank you for partnering with us, for trusting us with your children, and for supporting us in this shared journey. Wherever you and your students find yourselves during this long third-quarter stretch, remember the encouragement from James 4:8: “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” Above all, our most important growth is in our faith. One of our deepest goals is to “grow up into Him who is the head, into Christ” (Ephesians 4:15). I am grateful to pursue that growth alongside you and your children.
Thank you,
Chris Lunardi
Lower School Field Day is almost here!
Field Day will be Friday, March 13, 2026 at the HCLA Upper Campus.
Address: 100 Aero Ln., Sanford, FL 32771
Normal school hours.
This event is for Lower Campus, Kindergarten - 5th Grade.
VPK will remain on Lower Campus as usual.
Students will be dropped off at Upper Campus from 8:15 AM - 8:45 AM.
Before care will begin at 7:30 AM at Upper Campus.
Students must come to school in a bathing suit with HCLA PE t-shirt and shorts over top.
PLEASE, bring old athletic shoes or water shoes.
PLEASE, no Flip-Flops or Crocs!
Please, put sunscreen on students before arriving at Upper Campus.
Please, make sure to pack a towel and a change of clothes if you are returning to Lower Campus.
Please, pack your HCLA uniform and dry shoes.
PLEASE, pack a lunch and bring a snack!
Please, pack a water bottle for the day!
Water will be provided as well.
Students will be picked up at Lower Campus at regular times (3:05 PM - 3:40 PM).
Students can be checked out early after Field Day is over at 1:00 PM at Upper Campus.
Please, find your student’s home room teacher to sign them out for the remainder of the day.
Permission slips will be sent home for Field Day.
Please be sure to turn in permission slips.
Parents can spectate Field Day, and/or choose to volunteer the day of Field Day.
Please, locate Coach on Field Day to receive instructions on how you can help.
Please no siblings.
Become a sponsor and showcase your support for HCLA!
Sponsor the Sip & Bid
It is our joy to recognize your generosity with a prominently displayed thank you banner. View our sponsorship levels here: Sponsor Levels
Join us Friday, March 27th for an unforgettable evening by
purchasing tickets through Handbid, our event app!
Lower School Afterschool Clubs
Lower School Afterschool Clubs
We’ve got a lineup of exciting, creative, and hands-on clubs with registration beginning Monday, February 23, 2026 at 2:00pm. Each club runs for six sessions. A variety of exciting club options will be available!
For full club descriptions and to register, please visit hclaclubhub.org. Reach out to Ms. Hartley at lhartley@thehcla.org for any questions.
MESSAGE FROM BLAKE WRIGHT, DIRECTOR OF SPIRITUAL LIFE
As March quickly approaches, I wanted to share an exciting new opportunity for the moms in our HCLA community. Starting Monday, March 23 (the Monday after spring break), we’ll be launching a group called Moms in Prayer.
Moms in Prayer is a Christian prayer ministry that gathers mothers to pray for children and schools around the world. Brooke Austin, one of our HCLA moms, will be leading this group weekly to help ensure our schools are being covered in prayer. This is a wonderful chance for moms to grow in faith while also building community and fellowship with one another.
If you’d like to learn more about Moms in Prayer, you can visit their website here. Details are below:
Who: HCLA moms
What: Moms in Prayer
When: Mondays at 9 a.m., starting March 23
Where: Upper Campus Conference Room
For questions or more information, please reach out to Brooke Austin at brookeaustin87@yahoo.com.
Have a blessed weekend!
Conversational Spanish Field Trip
Mrs. Polanco's Conversational Spanish students had an opportunity to practice their language skills on a field trip to El Zocalo Mexican Restaurant. Students did a wonderful job ordering food, dessert, and even extra napkins in Spanish.
🦞 ANNUAL CRAWFISH BOIL 🦞
Purchase your tickets here. This is a fundraiser for high school youth to help offset the cost of their Summer Mission Trip to North Carolina. This is a fun night with all you can eat crawfish, shrimp, potatoes and corn.
March 7th at 5:00pm
960 Paul Hoyer Way
Lake Mary
Upper Mother-Son Event
Our Upper School PALS planned a fun Mother-Son Event at the Airport Bowling Lanes in Sanford this week. A big thank you to our PALS parents for taking the time to plan and coordinate events for our families.
HOW to view your TUITION/ BILLING breakdown on FACTS and to print off payment summary needed for your TAXES:
Login to your Family Portal account
Select Financial (on the left
Select Financial Home (on the right) - here you can view your current balance and past due balances on account
Select View Details (in the middle of the page) for a more in depth look.
Select View Payment Summary
Select the dropdown box with the year listed and change it to the year you need summarized.
If you need a specific time window of transactions you can select Date Range and input the Start and End date you need and then click View.
Select Print at the top right and Save as PDF.
Applications for the 2026–27 school year open Feb. 1, 2026, for the Private School Scholarship and Unique Abilities Scholarship. Mark your calendars so you don't forget to reapply for Step Up. Step Up will send you email reminders as well. For those of you new to Step Up, you must state your intent to use the scholarship on an annual basis. Your student will receive a new student award ID which will need to be provided to Finance by April 15th (finance@thehcla.org). If we do not have your numbers by then, we will set up your tuition in full until we have received your student's award ID.
ATHLETIC NEWS
MEtro All Star Game
MEtro All Star Game
Congratulations to HCLA students, Cameron Polk and Damien McCulloch, who were nominated to play in the Orlando Metro Basketball All Star Game. Congratulations to Coach K, as he was also nominated to participate in the event.
New Practice Day:
Off Season Spring Soccer Scrimmages
Day: Every Thursday afterschool for the rest of the spring semester
Time: Kickoff is at 3:30pm.
Parent Pick up time: 5pm.
Gear: cleats, soccer socks, shin guards, shorts and T-shirt (your favorite soccer team kit or just a sports shirt), and a water bottle.
Next scrimmage: Thursday, March 5th
Save the Date: 5th - 8th & JV/Varsity Sports Banquets
Spring SAT: Thursday, March 5, 2026
HCLA will offer an optional SAT test during the school day on Thursday, March 5, 2026, beginning at 8:00 a.m.
This optional SAT is for our 11th and 12th grade students. Our 9th and 10th graders will take the PSAT later this spring.
We strongly recommend that all 11th graders take the SAT, though it is not required. Seniors (12th grade) should consider taking this SAT based on their post-graduation plans and the status of their college and scholarship applications.
Because this is an optional test, there is a $60 testing fee. This fee will be charged through FACTS prior to the test date and is non-refundable.
SAT Registration is now closed
February Fun
Order your Yearbook before the April 3 Deadline - $25 for Lower | $35 for Upper
Website: https://shop.memorybook.com/login
Lower Campus Code: 221079M
Upper Campus Code: 221495M
This is the only way to guarantee your child gets a yearbook. Please note the different codes for each campus.
IF: One Night 2026: Discipling a Generation - Women, mark your calendars! The ladies of Holy Cross Lake Mary and Resurrection Church are excited to invite you to IF:One Night 2026, a local simulcast event of the global IF:Gathering conference.
This powerful gathering is the eleventh year of the IF:Gathering, a movement founded by Bible teacher Jennie Allen and her team. Their singular goal is to disciple a generation through intentional study of the Word, passionate worship, and genuine fellowship.
Join us for an evening designed to connect your heart with God's and encourage you in your faith journey alongside other women in our community. On Saturday, February 28th, from 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., in the Holy Cross Lake Mary Community Center. The cost is $10 per person; and your ticket includes registration for the simulcast event, dinner, and a special gift basket. Individuals registered by February 1st will be guaranteed a participant gift basket while supplies last. Registrants after February 1st will be welcome to participate but may not receive the participant gift basket. Participants must be at least 16 years of age.
You can register using the link below or let the office know; we can complete your registration. For any questions regarding the event, please reach out to two of our event organizers: Tiffany Danley, tiffany@hclm.org, or Sarah Bell, SarahBell@sanfordchurch.org.
We look forward to seeing you there as we gather to grow in faith and disciple a generation!
AP Human Geography
The AP Human Geography students recently wrapped up an engaging and delicious International Food Fair as part of Unit 5: Agriculture. Students selected countries, researched culturally significant foods, and investigated key crop ingredients connected to the agricultural concepts and vocabulary explored in class.
Through creative posters and tri-fold displays, students demonstrated their understanding of agricultural production, distribution, and global food systems. The activity was a wonderful blend of academic learning and cultural exploration — with food samples making the experience even more memorable!
High School Mission Trip, Registration Now Open - Our high school students are heading to Camp Linn Haven in Linville, North Carolina, for an unforgettable week of service, worship, and community — June 21–27, 2026!
This trip is open to rising 9th graders through students graduating in Spring 2026. The cost is $425 per participant, with a $125 deposit due at registration. The remaining balance will be covered through group fundraising events, including our annual Crawfish Boil.
Registration opens Sunday, November 16th at 12:00 p.m., and space is limited to 35 student spots, so don’t wait to sign up!
Please note: Some additional paperwork will be required. Forms will be emailed after registration is received. Click the red button below for the registration link. Contact Josh@hclm.org with questions.
PALS sponsored, N.U.T.S. Days (No Uniform To School). Students are welcome to come to school out of uniform on the following days. Students must pay $3 per month. You can pay it all at once or on a monthly basis. Please keep dress code in mind regarding modesty, graphics, shoes, etc.
FINE ARTS SPOTLIGHT
Have you popped into our Fine Arts building recently? There is amazing art and woodcrafts on display made by our very own talented HCLA students. In the theater room, you will run into busy students working hard to bring productions to life with their stage craft skills. On rare occasion, you may be surprised by an encore performance from our Jazz Band or be serenaded by our MS Choir.
HCLA Grandparents Day Celebrations
LS Grandparents Day
LS Grandparents Day
US Grandparents Day
US Grandparents Day
We are excited to invite our grandparents on campus.
Upper Campus 11:45am February 10th - RSVP HERE by February 4th for Upper Campus so we can accommodate for space limitations
Lower Campus February 11th (VPK- 2nd) Teachers will send rsvp info
9:00 - 10:00am KDG
10:30 - 11:30am VPK
12:00 - 1:00pm 1st
1:30 - 2:30pm 2nd
Lower Campus February 12th (3 - 5th) Teachers will send rsvp info
9:00 - 10:00am 3rd
11:30 - 12:30pm 4th
1:30 - 2:30pm 5th
Our students love this special time with their grandparents!
Congratulations to our Junior Thespian students!
Today we had students compete at the Junior Thespian State Competition, the world’s largest middle school youth theatre festival.
Madigan Howley earned an Excellent rating for her monologue, and Kaleb Parshall received a Superior rating for his monologue!
Congratulations to both of our Junior Thespians—we are incredibly proud of your accomplishments!
ATHLETIC NEWS
Congratulations to our Basketball Teams on a successful Winter Season!
Recap: Our Varsity Boys and Girls Basketball Teams went to FL HS Districts this week! Middle School Boys Basketball played in the playoffs and made it into the top 4 teams for the Metro League. Two of our very own athletes, Damien McCulloch and Cameron Polk, were nominated to play with the FL All Star Game this Saturday in Orlando.
📣Calling all Lower Campus dads/father figures 📣
Once a month, on the 2nd Thursday dads/father figures will take over the morning carline. If interested you would open car doors, greet our students and remind them that they are special! Join other dads/father figures for high fives and cheers as our students arrive to school. Carline begins at 7:45am and concludes at 8:15am. Ready to sign up please sign up here: Dads/Father Figures Helping in Carline. Please email lowerpals@thehcla.org with any questions or concerns.
Dear HCLA Families,
As we reflect on the month of January, our hearts are filled with gratitude. God has richly blessed our school community, and it has been a joy to witness His faithfulness. We give thanks for historic re-enrollment numbers—a meaningful affirmation of your trust, partnership, and belief in the mission of Christian education.
National Lutheran Schools Week was a true highlight as we joyfully celebrated our identity as a Lutheran school—rooted in Christ, centered on grace, and called to serve. Through worship, fellowship, and outreach, our students lived out their faith while making a positive impact in our community.
As we look ahead to February, we are excited for the special moments that await us: welcoming grandparents for cherished celebrations, cheering on the conclusion of our highly successful basketball and soccer seasons, and sharing joy and kindness as we celebrate Valentine’s Day. These moments of connection and celebration are a beautiful reflection of the love that defines our school family.
Thank you for being an essential part of this thriving community. We praise God for His continued blessings and look forward with joyful anticipation to all that lies ahead.
With grateful hearts and God’s peace,
Cindy Moon,
Executive Director
Holy Cross Lutheran Academy
Lower School Book Fair Information
Lower Campus PALS is excited to host Family Night at the Book Fair Friday, February 20th from 5:30pm-7:30pm. You and your family can shop the book fair, grab a bite to eat and play on the playground. Food will be available for purchase. There will be a $5 meal deal that includes a slice of pizza (cheese or pepperoni) or a hot dog. All meals come with a bag of chips, a cookie and a drink. Forms of payment accepted will be cash (small bills) and cards. In order to have enough food for everyone please let us know how many people will be attending and your meal preference. Please rsvp via this link for Family Night by Thursday 2/19. If you have any questions please email lowerPALS@thehcla.org. To pull off this great night we will need some help either with the book fair itself or food. Please click on the Family Night Helpers link to sign-up. Thank you so much for all of your support!
Information below sent prior to Jan. 1st
UPPER SCHOOL DROP OFF - Dear parents, if you arrive prior to our gate being opened in the morning, please park away from the key pad and pull over as close to the curb as possible so teachers / staff can gain access to the key pad. Thank you for your cooperation.
Join The Story Network Study - Begins October 19th
Join The Story Network Study - Begins October 19th
We're inviting all academy families to join our network-wide alignment study using "The Story: The Bible as One Continuous Story of God and His People" by Randy Frazee.
This is an opportunity for all ages to share a common experience of faith across our school, your home, and our network churches.
Network-Wide: Everyone reads the same content at the same time for a unified focus.
For All Ages: Attend worship and choose from multiple developmentally appropriate study opportunities surrounding the service times. Bibles for every age will be available.
School Connection: Your student will reinforce the content in their chapel messages at the academy.
Join any of our network congregations to participate:
Join any of our network congregations to participate:
Holy Cross Lake Mary: 8 am & 10 am
Resurrection Church: 11 am
The Cross Orlando: 10 am
...and more!
We encourage you to choose a network church and join us!
Questions? Contact: Tiffany@hclm.org.
DON'T MISS OUT ON THE MEMORIES - ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK TODAY!
Please note the specific QR code per campus
Thank you PALS and to many of you for submitting your business information. This HCLA Family Business Directory is a platform that showcases businesses owned, operated or employing members of our school family. This will be periodically updated, so please feel free to provide your business information if you've started a new business or are new to the HCLA family.
Looking for a Church Home? We have two local churches in our network ready to welcome you. Resurrection Church gathers at our Upper Campus Gym on Sundays and our founding church Holy Cross Lake Mary is located off of Lake Mary Blvd.
sundays at 8:00 & 10:00am
sundays at 8:00 & 10:00am
960 Paul Hoyer Way, Lake Mary
SUNDAYS AT 11:00
100 Aero Lane Sanford (Upper Campus Gym)
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