2025-2026 QUICK VIEW SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR

Dear Crusader Families,

As we approach the close of an amazing first quarter, I want to take a moment to reflect on the journey we’ve already shared this school year. It has been a season marked by growth, joy, and the unmistakable hand of God at work in our classrooms, chapel gatherings, and community life. We are so grateful for the partnership we share with you in nurturing not just minds, but hearts rooted in Christ.

With the changing seasons, we are reminded that life brings both new beginnings and meaningful transitions. It is with a mixture of gratitude and bittersweet emotion that I share the news that Sue Stark, who has faithfully served our school for over 18 years, will be moving to South Carolina at the end of October.  Her work at our school, our church congregation and within the FL/GA district as a Lutheran school leader has been a clear reflection of God’s grace and truth.

As our Director of Admissions and Marketing, Sue has been a steady and joyful presence in our school community —   encouraging faculty, students and families and helping shape the Christ-centered culture we cherish today. While we will deeply miss her daily presence, we celebrate the incredible legacy she leaves behind and trust that God’s next season for her will be filled with peace, rest, and new purpose. In both quiet moments and public leadership, she lives out Matthew 5:16: "Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

We will honor Mrs. Stark with our students during our October 29th Upper School Chapel - parents are invited! In the meantime, please join us in lifting up Sue in prayer as this new chapter begins.

Our new Admissions, Marketing and Communications Team!

We are thrilled to have Sue work with us remotely in an advisement and support capacity to help with the transition!  

Tasha Elijah will be our Director of Admissions and Outreach - assuming the role of admissions at both campuses and continuing her dynamic school and community outreach.

Crystal Gutierrez  will be our Administrative and Communications Coordinator - assuming all schoolwide communications, newsletters, schoolwide announcements, etc. She will continue her main roles at lower school.

Nathan Hatton will assume the role of social media marketing and visual storytelling videography.

Thank you for your continued trust, support, and prayers. Let us finish this quarter strong, with thankful hearts for all God is doing in and through our school community.

With gratitude and grace,
Cindy Moon- Executive Director- Holy Cross Lutheran Academy

MRS. BINKLEY AND DR. LUNARDI RECAP FROM THE CONFERENCE

We had a great time of fellowship and learning together at the Florida/Georgia LCMS Educators' Conference in Daytona last week.  The theme for this year's Conference was "Fueled for Today, Empowered for Tomorrow". There were a variety of local and national presenters from the K-12 and higher education worlds, along with some time slots dedicated to team building and fellowship for our own team as well as our larger body of Lutheran educators from FL/GA.  Our teachers love to learn and it is these experiences that help them grow into the amazing educators they are. When they are refueled and empowered, great things happen in our classrooms and our students benefit from their renewed enthusiasm for learning.  We came back recharged for the home stretch of the 1st quarter and the rest of Semester 1. 

Some of our students partnered with Holy Cross Lake Mary for their landscaping day!  Service and partnership are important as we work together to develop the next generation of Christian leaders.  Great work!

STAY TUNED FOR ADDITIONAL HOMECOMING ACTIVITIES TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON!

HOME COMING DANCE DETAILS AND Q&A

The Homecoming Dance is for 9th - 12th graders only, but don't worry Middle School will be having a bonfire (details coming next week!)

We will be opening applications November 1st for new siblings and new families for the 26-27 School Year. 
Share with your friends!  

Kindergarten Open House October 14 | 9:00 - 11:00am or 6th Grade Open House October 15 | 9:30 - 11:00 (welcome to stay for chapel).  Kindergarten RSVP or 6th grade RSVP

FOR NEW FAMILIES ONLY: Applications for VPK - 12th Grade siblings not currently enrolled with us will open November 1.  After re-enrollment of our current students occurs in January, we will know what openings we have available for next year and will be able to begin accepting new students at that time.  Siblings will take priority in the application process, however they must still meet our admissions requirements which includes taking an assessment.

FOR NEW SIBLINGS ONLY:  to locate the new student application for 2026-2027 school year beginning November 1, please login to your FACTS Family portal and go to APPLY/ENROLL drop down and choose the 2026-2027 application.  Then click on the blue “click here to open application.” If you have difficulty logging in to FACTS, reach out to us for assistance.   Complete the questions, upload documents and submit $100 application fee.

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CURRENT STUDENTS ONLY (no action needed at this time).

Re-enrollment for students who are currently enrolled here with us, will take place January 12 - January 23, 2026.  In order to secure your spot and to receive the reduced registration fee for re-enrolling families, please be sure to re-enroll by January 23, 2026.  After that date your spot is not guaranteed and the registration fee will be the same as new family registration.  Be on the lookout for next year’s tuition and instructions for re-enrollment by mid December/early January.  Be sure to plan/save for enrollment fees to be paid at that time.

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.

📣Calling all Lower Campus dads/father figures 📣

Once a month, on the 2nd Thursday (Lower PALS meeting day), 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. You are more than welcome afterwards to join us for the monthly PALS meeting if you are able. Ready to sign up please sign up here. Dads/Father Figures Helping in Carline.  Please email lowerpals@thehcla.org with any questions or concerns.

FUNDRAISING UNDERWAY!  Get your cards by October 3 to be eligible for prizes! 

The PALS fundraiser is underway.  Your support is appreciated and we love offering this discount card to benefit you as you are our enjoying our local restaurants.  If you have questions, please refer to this Fundraiser Q&A. or contact our PALS team at upperpals@thehcla.org

OCTOBER IS FOR......

WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING ENROLLMENTS FOR LOWER CAMPUS CLUBS BEGINNING IN NOVEMBER.  

⬇️ VISIT THE CLUB HUB TO REGISTER ⬇️

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:

• 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.

Join Josh Blankenship, HCLM's Director of Youth and Family Ministries,  on Sunday, November 2nd for a Youth Ministry Parents Meeting. Come learn about upcoming events, meet other parents and learn about opportunities to serve in youth ministry. We'll meet at the HCLA Upper Campus Gym at 5pm. Light refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP here.

2025-2026 THEATRE SEASON LINE UP!

Parents’ Night Out – Fall Edition! 

Take the night off while the kids enjoy an evening full of autumn fun—all while supporting the HCLA Cheerleaders!  We’ll keep them busy with fall crafts, cozy games, snacks, and a seasonal movie so you can enjoy a well-deserved break.

Kids will have a blast while you relax kid-free, and every registration helps our cheer program grow! 

Spots are limited—register today!

SAT / PSAT TESTS IN OCTOBER

• ✅Thursday, October 2 – The SAT will be administered to seniors and juniors who registered. Testing will take place in the gym beginning at 8:00 a.m.

• Thursday, October 16 – The PSAT/NMSQT will be administered to all juniors in the gym beginning at 8:00 a.m. 

DON'T MISS OUT ON THE MEMORIES - ORDER YOUR YEARBOOK TODAY!

Please note the specific QR code per campus

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.