2025-2026 QUICK VIEW SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR

Our teachers spent some amazing time together this week.  We learned a lot to benefit your students; we laughed, prayed, worshipped and gathered with over 600 other Lutheran teachers and administrators from Florida and Georgia to be refueled and empowered!  We serve a great God and it is always valuable time when we can be reminded of the importance of Christian education.  We are not alone doing this Kingdom work! 

PARENT CHAT - SAVE THE DATE | SEPTEMBER 30 | 3:30 - 4:30PM | UPPER CAMPUS

This is a parent only session - no students please!

📹  Video Invite from Dr. Lunardi and Mr. Wright 📹 

HELPING STUDENTS REALIZE THEIR IDENTITY IN CHRIST

Parent quote from Help your student prevent social media mistakes session:  "I wasn't going to come, but I am so glad I did.  I also wish every parent came to this.  It was so helpful and useful!"  

Drawing from many decades collectively of working with teens in multiple settings (athletics, college preparation, discipline and church ministry) Dr. Chris Lunardi and Mr. Blake Wright will help parents consider the importance of tuning in to their student's identity markers, how they are forming identities now and what influences parents might encourage.  We look forward to this discussion as we continue together with the important responsibility we have raising this generation of disciples of Christ.  The content will be more suitable for parents of 4th - 12th graders, but any HCLA parent is welcome.

Please RSVP here if you intend to come.  If you don't rsvp, but find out you can make it - please join us anyway!

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

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

🏀⚽ WINTER SPORTS SIGN UPS 🏀⚽

DEADLINE TO SIGN UP IS OCTOBER 1!  YOU MUST SIGN UP TO START PRACTICING AND MUST COMPLETE THE ATHLETIC CLEARANCE IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST SPORT THIS SCHOOL YEAR.  It's hard to believe we are talking about Winter Sports already - we will be offering boys and girls basketball and varsity soccer.  Practices for those sports will begin in October so it is important to start planning ahead.  If your student is currently playing a Fall sport they must remain with that sport until the season ends. Coaches will work together so your student can manage the transition.  Please use this link to express your student's interest.  Athletic Fees: First sport $225.00, Second sport $200.00 and Third sport $175.00.  Accounts will not be charged  the final rosters are made. If you have questions, please email Mrs. Kelly, Athletic Director at bkelly@thehcla.org.

ENJOY SOME PICTURES OF ACTIVITIES AROUND CAMPUS AND EVENTS

STUDENT SAFETY - FINGER PRINTS FOR VOLUNTEERS   Please read the introduction letter and the instructions for starting the process.  Parents wanting to chaperone are now required to have finger prints on file.  We are encouraged by the number of parents who have already submitted their forms.

Some of you have asked if we can use finger prints through your employer.  In order for us to see if we may be able to retrieve your already submitted finger prints, please fill out the forms in the instructions.  If we can connect to them we will let you know.  We must have them tied to our system so that we would receive alerts should someone's status change.  Otherwise in order to chaperone or volunteer you will need to complete our process.  There is an approximately $80 fee that the volunteers incur when scheduling their fingerprint appointment.   This cost would only be incurred once every 5 years when fingerprints ned to be renewed.  Once we have received your cleared fingerprints your name will be added to our chaperone list.

STUDENT GOVERNMENT:  We are very proud of all of our student government candidates.  Public speaking alone can be very intimidating and our candidates were brave and convincing!  This group of students chose to be leaders and along with all of our students make us very proud.  We continually receive compliments about our students' manners, ability to look adults in the eye and welcome visitors on campus.  We are developing leaders here at HCLA!   Our student government members have been meeting and are actively planning for upcoming events and activities.

AND THE WINNING CANDIDATES ARE:

High School:  Isaiah Peterson, President; Lexi Gardner, Vice President; Nathan Dennard, Treasurer; Taylor Duran, Secretary

Middle School:  Kynnedi Kaltenbach, President; Kristen Kreusch, Vice President; Tenley Danley, Treasurer; Melody Gilchrist, Secretary

RSVP HERE

PARENT PRESENTATION - HELP YOUR STUDENT PREVENT ONLINE MISTAKES

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 1:30-2:30 in Upper Campus Gym

We are pleased to announce that we have invited Lori Smith, private education lawyer, to provide valuable information to guide you with helping your student avoid the dangers and mistakes of an online presence and how to keep your student's privacy protected.  This session is intented for parents of adolescents, but we encourage that at least one parent from each family (4th - 12th grade) attend this valuable session.  Please do not bring young children due to content.  We will also have sessions for our middle and high school students earlier in the day.  Please rsvp so we can plan for your attendance.  We value the partnership between home and school as we all share the same concern for your child's physical and spiritual wellbeing.

Anticipated Activation for light signal at Aero Lane and State Road 46- 

According to Seminole- Department of Transportation End of October or Early November is anticipated activation time- Here is explanation-  before they can activate new signals- they must have all signals installed and there are still some being erected in the area- 

✅DINNER IS PLANNED - SEPTEMBER 10TH - YOU'RE WELCOME!

Meet up with friends between 4:00 and 8:00PM- don't forget to mention Holy Cross to have a percentage of your meal cost donated back to HCLA.  Don't have time to stay, online orders work too!

PASTRIES AND PLANNING for High School Parents - with Dr. Lunardi

RSVP by Friday 9/5 | 8:15 | Upper Campus Gym

 🏈 CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR INAUGURAL MIDDLE SCHOOL TACKLE FOOTBALL TEAM! 🏈 

Our Crusaders kicked off the inaugural season with a 24 - 20 win against Geneva School in Casselberry.  Great work Crusaders!  Parental and community support was amazing - thank you!

BEFORE CARE AND AFTER CARE FORM - If you have not yet signed up for before or aftercare, please do so as soon as possible by using this online form.  Child Care Change Form If anything changes during the school year (adding or withdrawing),  you must use this form.  Changes must be made using the form no later than fifteen days before the first of the month in order to take effect.

FACTS HAS INCREASED the fee for credit card transactions to 3.05% effective September. This slight change reflects the rising costs imposed by credit card companies and ensures we can continue to offer convenient payment options while maintaining the quality of our their services. ACH drafts are available at no additional cost if you would prefer to set up your payment method.  

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.