LFA Viewbook

Welcome to the Caxy WelcomeLife to the Caxy Life WELCOME TO THE CAXY LIFE

Welcome to Lake Forest Academy

We’re excited about your interest

Mission Statement

Lake Forest Academy strives to embody in its practices and to cultivate in its students excellence of character, scholarship, citizenship, and responsibility.

getting

Leadership

LFA’s Head of School is Christopher O. Tennyson. The Academy is governed by a board of trustees and accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States, the National Association of Independent Schools, and the State of Illinois.

Highlights

LFA Caxys

Academics

College Counseling

Culture of Participation pg.

Health, Wellness, & Support pg.

Residential Life pg.

know

History

Lake Forest Academy was founded in 1857 as an independent boys’ college-preparatory school. In 1869, the Young Ladies’ Seminary at Ferry Hall opened as an independent girls’ school in Lake Forest. LFA merged with Ferry Hall in 1974 and has been co-educational ever since.

Traditions

The Academy upholds many of its traditions that were established throughout its history:

• Ringing the Bell – Sports teams returning after a victorious away game ring the Bowditch Bell to share their good news. At graduation, the bell is rung as each graduate’s name is announced.

• All-School Handshake – At the start of every school year, the entire LFA community gathers in the Formal Gardens in a large circle to shake hands with each other. Many students pick this event as one of their favorites because of the community spirit!

• Class Cup – Each class represents one of the four Houses at Lake Forest Academy: Bird, Lewis, Sargent or Welch. Each House is named after an esteemed former LFA Head of School or Ferry Hall Principal. Students compete for Class Cup points during mini competitions throughout the year.

• Move-Up Day – A tradition that originated at Ferry Hall, the event celebrates student accomplishments, the promotion of each class, and the winner of the House Cup.

Global Perspective

LFA students come from near and far – from Chicago’s suburbs and across the U.S. to many different countries around the globe – to pursue unique academic programs that go beyond the regular classroom.

14 States 39 Local Cities

Domestic Students of Color International Students38 Countries

Stuart Center for Global Leadership

Founded by Lifetime Trustee and Alumnus Jim Stuart ’59 in 2016, the Stuart Center for Global Leadership offers students impactful and reflective experiences to grow perspectives, hearts, and minds. Students are introduced to LFA’s core pillars during the Freshman Retreat and the Senior Retreat offers a point of reflection for the senior class to model and shape the character of the student body. The Stuart Center oversees all student travel at LFA, including curricular and co-curricular trips where students learn and grow contextual knowledge of global issues. Students also engage with the Stuart Center as the hub of service learning, gaining real-world experiences of social and systemic systems as practitioners of global leadership.

Academics

LFA’s academic program is individualized for our students’ development and prepares them for college-level courses. Creating a safe, challenging, and inspiring learning environment is crucial, and we work diligently to provide this through our core courses, AP courses, and a variety of fascinating electives. LFA’s classrooms extend off campus. Curricular trips include visits to the Field Museum, Art Institute of Chicago, the Contemporary Art Museum, and the DuSable Museum of African American History.

Graduation Requirements18.5

Independent Studies

Independent studies provide students opportunities to work with LFA faculty to pursue more advanced level course work, seek additional in-depth subject matter, or explore a subject not offered.

Recent independent studies courses include Musical Theater, Baroque Architecture, History of French Film, Mobile App Development, Kinesiology, Advanced Directing, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Advanced Musician Studies.

Average Class Size

Global Concentration Program

Students in the Global Concentration Program begin as a cohort as juniors and continue researching a topic of their choosing until the final capstone project at the end of senior year. Examples of past capstone projects have included Education in Response to Crises, Tech and Teenage Sleep Quality, The Plastic Problem, and Integration of Refugees Information about the Global Concentration can be found at www.lfanet.org/academics/global-education.

Student to Faculty Ratio

62% of Faculty Live on Campus 7:1

Academic Resources and Support

Students have an array of resources to help them with their assignments. Faculty and students can meet during free periods for extra help one-on-one during the day. Two Learning Resource Specialists also work with students to create individualized accommodation study plans. Boarders and day students can take advantage of Math Help, Science Help, the Writing Center, and impromptu meetings with teachers in dorm common rooms during study hours from 8 to 10 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday.

LFA’s Library Media Services offers an expansive collection of digital resources, and the one-to-one iPad program encourages interactive learning activities within the classroom. The JC Cowart Media Commons offers 3D printers, recording and production facilities, and desktop tools for multi-media design and production. At the same time, the Library Reading Room is reserved for quiet individual study and group work.

A Culture of Participation

Students can choose to participate in as many clubs as they want as well as create their own club to pursue their interests. Every year, new clubs are established while many others are long-standing traditions like Model UN, Future Business Leaders of America, and affinity groups such as the Black Student Union, the Asian Culture Union, and UNIDOS, LFA’s Latinx affinity group. Clubs like Model UN, participate in conferences that take place in Chicago.

Service Learning

The service-learning program at LFA challenges students to reflect on who they are and their role in the greater community. In the process of service-learning, they investigate the root of social issues and learn how to engage with community partners to best support causes they are passionate about. All students at LFA will be exposed to the service-learning process in their sophomore Health, Wellness and Community class where they are required to investigate, plan and complete a class service project.

In addition to the sophomore curriculum, students participate in Service Learning Day each year, wherein LFA goes out into the local community to lend their time and service as needed. Students who want to engage deeper with service can join Interact Club where they will have the opportunity to be involved in additional school-wide service events and other evening or weekend service opportunities.

60+ 7 40+

Learn more about LFA’s culture of participation at lfanet.org/clubs.

Clubs Service-Oriented Initiatives Student Leadership Positions

Athletics

Our athletic program offers many athletic opportunities, ranging from preparing for collegiate athletics to physical fitness and individual development. The essence of our program is the promotion of sportsmanship. Whether it be varsity athletics, intramurals, physical education, or general recreation, we honor participation, achievement, and effort.

27

Varsity Sports

10 50+

PE Options Class of 2019-2022

Alumni Athletes in College

• All students play at least one interscholastic team sport per year.

• Freshmen and sophomores participate in an interscholastic sport or a PE option during all three seasons (fall, winter, and spring).

• Juniors and seniors are required to participate in two seasons. A third season is optional.

• Many LFA teams maintain a no-cut policy, ensuring all students the opportunity to enjoy the challenge of interscholastic play.

• LFA is a member of the Independent School League (ISL) and the Midwest Prep Hockey League.

Learn more about LFA’s athletics program and offerings at lfacaxys.org.

Arts

While arts classes meet during the regular school day, students often use evenings and weekends to perfect their vocal techniques, finish ceramics projects, or practice their instruments in preparation for concerts. Students are required to take a minimum of three arts courses to fulfill their arts requirement for graduation.

Include

Arts Concentration

The Arts Concentration Program offers the opportunity to further develop one’s talents in a particular area. Students will create a portfolio, perform in senior recitals, or display their work in exhibitions. This program prepares student-artists for entry into prestigious arts colleges and university programs.

Health, Wellness, and Support

Advisory

An advisory is a student’s “family” within the larger LFA community. With just five to eight students in an advisory, it’s easy to bond with the group. Advisories usually meet on Monday and Thursday mornings, and sit together during All-School Meetings. Advisories share group and individual experiences, develop their own unique traditions, and create memories. Advisors are in constant communication with parents and guardians regarding students’ academic performances and act as key supporters of their advisees during their time at LFA.

Student Health and Counseling

LFA’s infirmary is staffed seven days a week by the Director of Health Services and one of four rotating nurses. They treat sick students, supply over-the-counter medications, and dispense prescription medication. They will also take students to any medical appointments as needed, such as the dentist or doctor.

At times, a student may need the help of a professional counselor to explore and resolve personal difficulties. The two counselors at LFA are available to provide clinical assessments, short-term therapy, educational resources, and referrals to outside agencies or therapists. Counseling is available to all LFA students and can be initiated by parents, faculty, or students themselves.

Residential Life

Boarding students live in one of five singlesex dormitories; each dorm is supervised by LFA faculty. Every night, at least one “dorm parent” is on duty in each dorm to supervise evening study hours and organize weeknight and weekend activities. No two LFA dorms are exactly alike; they range in size from 10 to 72 students and each has its own personality and traditions.

72 60

Boarders in Atlass Hall 36 10 37

Boarders in McIntosh Cottage

Boarders in Ferry Hall

Boarders in Marshall Field House

Boarders in Warner House

Proximity to Chicago

LFA’s location provides our students the opportunity to explore the great city of Chicago and its surrounding suburbs and neighboring areas in the Midwest. On weekends, both day and boarding students can hop on van runs to Michigan Avenue for shopping in downtown Chicago, watch Cubs games, or practice their photography at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. The options to explore are truly endless!

Examples of Weekend Activities

• Museum Visits

• Movie Nights

• Food Trucks

• Apple Orchard Trips

• Dorm Family Dinners

• Spa Nights

• Professional Sporting Events

• Exploring Neighboring Towns and the Chicagoland Area

See a sample of our weekend activities at lfanet.org/weekend.

Day Students on Campus

The primary difference between day and boarding students? Day students sleep at home. They spend a long day here, coming for breakfast, playing sports after school, and staying for dinner and study hours. All students can enjoy weekend activities, meals, and access to teachers in the evenings. Day and boarding students quickly make friends with one another.

Alumni Network

LFA students have frequent opportunities to network with alumni from all professions and backgrounds. The LFA alumni network includes more than 6,000 people around the world and across the United States. LFA alumni often return to campus as speakers in the classroom and as lecturers at community events. Students in the Entrepreneurship class, for example, can learn from alumni guests who have started their own companies and organizations. At the annual Josh Rothstein Young Alumni-Student Networking Night each spring, students in all grades are invited to chat with alumni about college, internships, and careers.

In addition, once students graduate from LFA and join the alumni community, they are invited to stay connected with the Academy by serving on alumni panels and in affinity groups; by being a member of the Alumni Advisory Board (AAB); and by attending College Dinner Series events, Alumni Weekend and other on-campus gatherings, and regional receptions.

Visit Us

Lake Forest Academy is located 30 miles north of Chicago, Illinois. It is also conveniently located just 21 miles from O’Hare International airport, one of the biggest airports in the United States, and is less than a mile from the I-294 tri-state tollway. Additionally, LFA provides shuttles to and from both Lake Forest Metra stations.

Lake Forest Academy provides many opportunities to visit campus. The Admission Office hosts two Open Houses per year, one in October and one in April. Shadow Days, information sessions, and campus tours are available throughout the admission process. Registration for these events can be found on www.lfanet.org/visit. Prospective families are able to connect with an admission counselor by emailing admissions@lfanet.org.