What’s happening
As spring arrives on campus, La Lumiere School is gearing up for many of its traditional activities and events. Seniors have begun giving their annual speeches to the school, students have formed teams to participate in the three-on-three Bookstore Basketball tournament, and juniors have submitted their applications to attempt to become the next group of prefects who will lead next year.
Every year each senior prepares a five minute chapel speech in which they reflect on their time at La Lumiere and offer advice to the underclassmen just beginning their journey at La Lumiere. For many it is an extremely important moment after having watched many other seniors give their chapel speech. Senior Sara Fidesova who just recently gave her chapel described it as a way to connect the community even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was a way for me to introduce myself and tell my story to the community to those who both do and do not know me. I was super proud to share my story,” said Fidesova.
Chapel speeches are not the only important event coming up, with the start of Bookstore Basketball also on the horizon. It is a traditional three-on-three basketball tournament where students and teachers form teams and make up funny names, in competition for the Bookstore crown. The tournament has been a longtime tradition at La Lumiere, and was started in 1992, inspired by a similar tournament at the University of Notre Dame.
Spring is also the time where the next round of leaders of the school are selected. Annually at La Lumiere, a group of 10 juniors are selected to act as leaders in certain areas of student life. This process is in full swing, with candidates being interviewed, and the selection board set to convene this weekend to make final decisions, which will be announced on April 14.
What’s coming up
As the school year starts to come to a close, the seniors are preparing for a time of traditions. With the end of the year brings academic convocation, the senior retreat, the senior candle lighting ceremony, and finally graduation.
These events are a way for the seniors to have some final time together as a class before they go their separate ways. While it is a very emotional time for everyone, it is the time that seniors remember most about their time at La Lumiere.
Kasey Leake, Director of Student Life, is in charge of many of these end of year events and has had the opportunity to be able to see the importance of them.
“It allows for the seniors to be able to share their experiences and pass on their light before they move on to the next part of their lives,” said Leake.
Student spotlight
Sara Fidesova is a current senior at La Lumiere and has had a pretty remarkable year, even during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fidesova is from a small town in Slovakia, and left her home to study abroad during her senior year.
Upon arriving she was very surprised by the community and natural beauty of the campus. Taking walks and enjoying the sunsets quickly became part of her daily routine. For Fidesova, while the pandemic has made her experience different than she expected, she is still learning so much.
“Studying abroad has led me to grow up in a few weeks which was crazy, and has taught me responsibilities and lessons that will be super important to my future opportunities,” said Fidesova.
Among these opportunities was a chance to pick her subjects and classes here as well as a chance to broaden her abilities to speak English. She also learned to have a much more positive outlook on life, which she attributed to the welcoming community on campus.
Most importantly, she mentioned how La Lumiere has broadened her perspective of the world around her. She reflected on how much of a lasting impact coming to school here has had on her.
“It’s really hit me that the year is coming to an end, and while I am super excited for the end of year events for teachers, it is also a way of saying goodbye. That being said, it's going to be much harder to leave here than it was to leave home because this time me leaving will be saying goodbye for good,” said Fidesova.
Teacher spotlight
Kasey Leake has been teaching at La Lumiere School for 20 years, and even attended school here during some of her time as a high schooler. Now, as the Director of Student Life, this experience has allowed her to be able to help students as she knows what it's like to be in their shoes.
“La Lumiere saved my life in many ways and so the most important thing with my job is to be able to pay it forward to the students here, and show them the kindness my teachers showed me,” said Leake.
Throughout her time here she has learned many valuable lessons, but the most important has been the learning of consistency.
“The most important lesson I’ve learned from La Lumiere is consistency and how important it is to have schedules, but to also be flexible with that schedule. However, while this is the most important thing I’ve learned, the most important thing this school has given me is my best friends, which I am so grateful for,” said Leake.