Embedded Files
2025-2026 QUICK VIEW SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR
Please note: We are asking families to send photos to create a Grandparents Day slideshow at both campuses. If you have a photo you would like to share with us of your student and their grandparent(s) please send to the following:
Lower families please submit your photo(s) to Mrs. Gutierrez (cgutierrez@thehcla.org) and Upper families please submit your photo(s) to Mrs. Evrley (hevrley@thehcla.org). Please send no more than (2) photos. Thank you!
Dates to Remember:
February 1, 2026 - Step Up applications open | Please email your Award ID to finance by April 15th
February 2, 2026 - 8:30am Sip & Bid Meeting, Lower Campus
February 3, 2026 - Lower School only: Class Picture Day! Students please wear red polos and khaki bottoms.
February 4, 2026 - Early Release Day: 1:00pm Lower | 12:55 Upper
February 6-8, 2026 - Holy Cross Lake Mary HS Youth Retreat in Leesburg, FL. Registration now open
February 12, 2026 - Carline Dads/Father Figures at the Lower Campus
February 16, 2026 - Presidents Day | No School
February 17, 2026 - 8:30am Sip & Bid Meeting, Lower Campus
February 19, 2026 - N.U.T.S Day
February 20, 2026 - Family Night at the Book Fair | Location: Lower Camus | Details Coming Soon!
February 25, 2026 - Upper Campus Mother-Son Bowling Event | See Flyer Below for More Details
February 28, 2026 - IF: One Night 2026 Women's Gathering hosted by HCLM and Resurrection Church (See flyer below for more information)
March 3, 2026 - 8:30am Sip & Bid Meeting, Lower Campus
March 5, 2026 - Spring SAT | Register by February 6th (see details below)
March 6-7, 2026 - US Spring Musical: Godspell
March 7, 2026 - Lower Campus Mother-Son Event | Details Coming Soon!
March 11, 2026 - 8:30am Sip & Bid Meeting, Lower Campus
March 13, 2026 - LS Field Day
March 16 - 20, 2026 - Spring Break
March 23, 2026 - 8:30am Sip & Bid Meeting, Lower Campus
March 27, 2026 - La Dolce Vita Sip and Bid | Purchase Tickets Here
Make a Joyful Noise! NLSW Week of Service & Fun!
JESSICA BINKLEY, LOWER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL | JANUARY UPDATE
Dear HCLA Parents and Families,
Make a Joyful Noise – This has been the theme this week for the National Lutheran Schools Week. It comes from Psalm 98. It also says in Psalm 98:1 “Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things!”. I feel this way every day about what God is doing at Holy Cross Lutheran Academy. We are blessed to have the most amazing faculty and staff that I have ever had the privilege of working with. They are spiritually grounded men and women who LIVE their faith daily and are sharing their faith along with their educational expertise with each of their students. We are also blessed with incredible families who have partnered with us to raise these young people in a Godly and academically rich environment.
It is reaffirming to see all the re-enrollments that came in. We had 88% re-enroll during early re-enrollment and more are still being processed. We value the great trust you have in us, and we do not take it for granted. Holy Cross is a special place, and it is because of the community that God has created here. Our students, parents, teachers, and staff are FAMILY, and I see it every day in the way we care for one another. Thank you for choosing to be here.
Looking ahead…Map scores will be coming home in the next week or so, Grandparents Day is Feb. 11 & 12, Lower School Book Fair and Family Night Feb. 20th, Field Day is March 13th and clubs and sports continue and much more. Volunteering and staying involved are the best ways to enjoy the HCLA community.
In His Service,
Jessica Binkley
DR. LUNARDI, UPPER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL | JANUARY UPDATE
Dear HCLA Parents and Families,
As we near the midway point of the 2nd semester, and conclude National Lutheran Schools Week, I’m struck by how quickly this school year is moving. James 4:14 reminds us that our time “appears for a little while and then vanishes,” and that truth deeply shapes how we approach each day at Upper Campus.
Because our time with your children is precious, our faculty and staff are committed to making every moment count. Above all, we feel the urgency and joy of sharing the Gospel with every student entrusted to us. As Paul writes in Romans 10:14, faith begins when someone takes the time to speak and live out the truth of Christ. That calling reaches far beyond Bible class, Advisory, and Chapel—it influences how we teach, encourage, discipline, and build relationships every single day.
This school year our theme is “Identity: Different Because of Christ,” grounded in Galatians 2:20. This powerful verse reminds us that our lives are no longer our own; Christ lives in us, and we walk by faith in Him. My prayer is that our entire school community—students, families, and staff—would grow together in understanding what it truly means to live out this verse.
Next week, our faculty and staff will start to plan end-of-year celebrations for our seniors, a bittersweet reminder of how short our time together really is. In roughly 15 weeks, our seniors will take their last classes at HCLA and begin their lives after high school. For our younger students, graduation may feel far away, but we know how quickly those years pass. With that in mind, Ephesians 5:16 encourages us to make the most of every opportunity that we have, especially with the students that have been entrusted to us. Thank you for partnering with us in this important work—supporting your children, nurturing their faith, and making the most of the time God has given us together.
Thank you,
Chris Lunardi
Middle School Spelling Bee & Poetry Out Loud News
Dear Families,
We’re delighted to share a quick follow‑up on last week’s Poetry Out Loud and Spelling Bee events. Both were very well attended, and our students shined with confidence, poise, and school spirit.
In the Middle School Spelling Bee, we celebrated a strong 1–2–3 finish, with our first‑place winner, Emma McHenry, moving on to represent Holy Cross at the League of Christian Schools (LCS) competition. Our finalists demonstrated impressive preparation and sportsmanship throughout the event. Warm congratulations to Hally Arsite (2nd place) and Harper Cassidy (3rd place) who also had an impressive showing!
In High School, our Poetry Out Loud competitors delivered powerful and thoughtful recitations. We recognized a 1–2 finish, and our first‑place student, Joel Hughes, will proudly represent us in Tallahassee at the State Poetry Out Loud Competition. 1st place Lucas Fong will serve as an alternate.
Thank you to all who attended, encouraged, and supported our students. Their hard work and courage were evident, and we are so proud of each participant.
Warmly,
Heather Evrley
Reenrollment Excitement!
HCLA continues to make history! Our “early” reenrollment ended last Friday and we are already at 86% retention rate! That means 86% of our students schoolwide have enrolled for next school year and it’s not even February yet! Another exciting new statistic is our HS numbers - our freshman class next year already has 55 students! HUGE Congratulations and praise to Tasha Elijah for her outstanding admissions work! We also so appreciate Sue Stark for her expert “remote” advice and wisdom throughout!
Making history at HCLA:
The class of 2030 is poised to have 60 students! Our freshman class
has the largest number of 8th graders moving up to 9th Grade!
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.
Join us February 6-8, 2026 for our annual High School Youth Retreat at Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center in Leesburg, FL. Here, high school students will have an opportunity to unwind from the stresses of school, spend time in nature, build community with each other and lean in to God's love for us. This year's theme, ABIDE, will tackle the latter topic: how do we truly and effectively lean into God in all aspects of our life?
Registration this year is $180 per student and covers housing and food for the weekend. As with previous years, we ask that students get dropped off at camp on Friday afternoon and picked up from camp on Sunday. More details to come as we get nearer to the event.
If you have any questions, please email me at Josh@hclm.org.
ATHLETIC NEWS
Exciting news for our Basketball teams!
Monday, February 2, 2026 our Boys Middle School team will be in the playoffs at The Geneva school. They will tip off at 5 pm against Faith Christian. If they win a Championship game will follow at 6 pm.
The Girls Varsity team will head to Districts and play at Central Florida Christian Academy in Ocoee at 6pm.
The Boys Varsity team will host Central Florida Leadership Academy at The Geneva school location in Casselberry. Doors open at 5:45 pm and games begin at 6:30 pm. With that win the boys would head to CFCA on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. Time to be announced. Admissions for all games at The Geneva School: $8.00.
We hope you can come and support the teams Monday evening at Geneva and CFCA.
GO CRUSADERS!!
Thank you library & steam volunteers
Thank you library & steam volunteers
We are so grateful to our parents and members of our church community who humbly give of their time on a weekly basis and volunteer at the Lower School. You model being Christ-like for our children in such a loving way. Thank you!
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!
The Book Fair is Coming!
HOLY CROSS ATHLETICS PRESENTS:
HCLA SENIOR NIGHT 2026
SPRING CHEER REGISTRATION
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.
Students must register by Friday, February 6. Please fill out the following form to register for the exam.
New Year, New Activities
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@sandfordchurch.org.
We look forward to seeing you there as we gather to grow in faith and disciple a generation!
Congratulations BOYS Varsity Soccer for your eFFORTS THis inaugural season!
Congratulations BOYS Varsity Soccer for your eFFORTS THis inaugural season!
Our Boys Varsity Soccer team ended their season with a fundraiser car wash and scrimmage against parents and Middle School Soccer this week.
Varsity Soccer players stay tuned for updates from your coaches during the off season.
If you were not on the team, but interested in scrimmages and training during the off season contact Coach Nathan or Coach Armando.
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.
Information below sent prior to Jan. 1st
Priority Re-enrollment Deadline: January 23, 2026
Spring Sport Sign up Deadline: January 23, 2026
January 26 - 30 National Lutheran Schools Week
Wednesday, February 4 | Early Release
Holiday Uniform Sale: Please use coupon code HOLIDAY26 for an additional 25% off items in the sale section of the website. This will be valid until January 31st. No returns or exchanges on these items. Visit: holycross-skoolstyle.com
Dear HCLA Parents and Families,
Happy New Year and welcome to 2026! As we begin a new calendar year and step into another academic semester, we do so with gratitude, anticipation, and trust in God’s continued guidance.
This is also the season of reenrollment, and we want you to know how deeply we cherish the relationships we have with you and your families. Partnering with you in the academic growth and spiritual formation of your children is a blessing we do not take lightly.
As the semester unfolds, we look forward to many exciting opportunities and experiences ahead for our students and school community. Thank you for your ongoing support, prayers, and commitment to our mission.
As we live our mission and teach your child to love God first, love others and love learning there is a sense of peace and security throughout the day. Our students know that they are loved deeply by God, their teachers and each other. In a world that can be scary and uncertain, we are blessed to be able to provide such a safe, loving and caring environment in which to learn and grow and thrive.
May the new year bring God’s peace, joy, and abundant blessings to you and your family
With gratitude and prayers,
Cindy Moon,
Executive Director
Holy Cross Lutheran Academy
HCLA Receives College Board Gold-Level Honor Roll award
HCLA Receives College Board Gold-Level Honor Roll award
Dear HCLA Families,
I'm so very proud to announce some amazing news related to the academic work that ALL of our teachers are doing every day! Congratulations on our school for being recognized as a Gold-level Honor Roll school by the College Board for our work to prepare students for college. It's based on our '24-25 results & scores. There are 4 levels of the Honor Roll (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze).
Gold level honor roll school is an achievement that reflects excellence, dedication, and God’s faithfulness. While this distinction highlights our high school program, it truly belongs to all of our teachers.
From the foundational work of our elementary teachers, to the steady guidance of our middle school faculty, to the academic rigor and mentorship provided in high school, each of our teachers play a vital role in preparing students to think deeply, learn diligently, and pursue excellence for God’s glory.
Thank you to our teachers for pouring your hearts, time, and faith into our students each day. Your commitment to Christ-centered education and academic excellence has planted seeds that are now bearing visible fruit. We are deeply grateful for your calling, your collaboration, and your unwavering dedication.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” (Colossians 3:23)
With sincere gratitude and pride,
Cindy Moon,
Executive Director
HCLA ATHLETICS
VARSITY sOCCER
VARSITY sOCCER
Won 3rd Place at the Sunshine State Athletic Association Astroturf Cup
Varsity girls basketball
Varsity girls basketball
Congratulations are in order for our Varsity Girls Basketball Team. They will be advancing into the post season this February.
VARSITY boys BASKETBALL
VARSITY boys BASKETBALL
Boys Varsity Basketball won 3rd place at the Athletic Association's 1A State Championship Tournament
Congratulations HCLA cheer squads!
Congratulations HCLA cheer squads!
Our Varsity Cheer Squad competed and won 1st Place All Out Champions at Jingle Jam.
Our Lower Campus Showcase Squad won 1st Place in Exhibition Elementary at the Lakeland Senior Showcase in December 2025.
Our Upper Campus Competition Squad placed 3rd this past weekend at FCC Nationals.
Please keep our cheer squads in your prayers as they will be competing at FHSAA Regionals in 2 weeks, so exciting!
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.
NaTIONAL lUTHERAN SCHOOLS WEEK
NaTIONAL lUTHERAN SCHOOLS WEEK
JANUARY 26TH - 30TH
National Lutheran Schools Week provides more than 1,800 preschools, elementary schools and high schools with the public opportunity to proclaim and celebrate God’s work among us in schools of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
We thank God for the opportunity to provide excellent academic preparation for the children we serve. We are most grateful for the opportunity to share Jesus’ amazing love with children and their families.
National Lutheran Schools Week gives us an opportunity to proclaim these great blessings within the communities we serve.
Our schools are amazing incubators for faithful witness of God’s love for us through Christ by teachers and students alike.
Lower School Afterschool Clubs
Lower School Afterschool Clubs
Club registration now open! We’ve got a lineup of exciting, creative, and hands-on clubs kicking off the week of January 12, 2026. 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.
📣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.
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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