Creating an Environment for Students to Thrive in Vibrant Christian Community.

Secondary

At LCA we want our students to work hard AND have fun. In fact, it is a high priority for us to provide plenty of enriching, life-giving experiences for our students to balance our rigorous academics. We take time to celebrate special occasions, to engage in dynamic worship and to enjoy the gift of life. Before school starts, our secondary students celebrate the new school year with our annual LCA Games, an exciting, Olympic-style competition between the classes. All of our classes have parties over the summer to foster relationships between the students, and to provide opportunity for parents to connect as well. One of the big events that we celebrate in the fall is homecoming—a week of fun and excitement filled with traditions like special dress days, a chili cook-off, a powder puff game, football games, a pep rally and an exciting “Warrior Bash” secondary party. Overall, our goal in Student Life is to create an environment for students to thrive in vibrant Christian community. In other words, we are committed to providing an atmosphere for our students that enables them to grow and to be fully alive in mind, body, soul and spirit.

Servant Leaders

In addition to social events and celebrations, at LCA we believe it is vital that we take time to serve and give to others. As a school, we have Serve Month in the fall; every class plans an outreach to minister to and bless our local community. In the spring, we have a global outreach to help the lost, poor, and broken in the world. During our last global outreach, we raised over $35,000 to help provide clean water for people in Zambia, Africa. Students are also given multiple opportunities to serve within our community through mentoring, helping in student council, and leading in our chapel program.

Spiritual Development/Chapel Program

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 11 a.m., we have a dynamic chapel program called Higher Ground. In many ways, Higher Ground is the heartbeat of our secondary school intentionally scheduled at a prime time of the day. On Mondays in Higher Ground, we focus on leadership, life skills and cultural issues from a Biblical perspective. Wednesdays, our students participate in small groups in an effort to build relationships and develop their passions in specific areas of personal interest. Fridays are the most exciting day in Higher Ground: our talented student bands lead our community in dynamic, engaging worship, gifted speakers share and students create videos, games and skits to encourage our community. The goal of our secondary spiritual development program is for students to encounter God, to experience Christian community, to encourage spiritual growth and to develop servant leaders. During special times of the year, we have unique events in Higher Ground like our Homecoming Pep Rally, Celebration of Gratitude for Thanksgiving, Christmas Extravaganza, and Hoe Down at the end of the year. All of these events are intended to foster rich, life-giving community. In January, our high school students look forward to our annual Guys Retreat and Girls Retreat. Students travel to a camp and enjoy a refreshing experience of spiritual growth, fellowship and bonding with their peers—a highlight for our high school students each year.

Student Council

Our student council leaders are an integral part of what we do at LCA in Student Life. Their purpose statement captures the heart of our student leaders: “Positive Role Models Honoring God, Building Relationships and Serving others.” With both Grade Level and Executive Student Council, secondary students have multiple opportunities to serve and lead both inside and outside of our community. Some of the events that they organize and facilitate are: the LCA Games, homecoming events, Guys in Ties Girls in Pearls Party, Spring Social, Junior/Senior Banquet, class parties, class service projects, class luncheons off-campus and Friday Night Live. Friday Night Live (FNL), organized by our Student Council Chaplains, is a highly-attended event that our students look forward to and thoroughly enjoy. Meeting off-campus in homes, students play games, eat pizza and snacks, fellowship and encourage one another spiritually. High School FNL meets once a month; Junior High FNL meets twice a semester.
As much as possible, we try to include parents in our student council program. In addition to traditional involvement like chaperoning, we have found that parents are often exemplary Student Council Advisors for our classes. These parent leaders help our students successfully plan, organize and facilitate events for their classes.