From the Head of School

Dear Friends of Lake Forest Academy,

The Academy’s All-School Handshake is one of the greatest traditions at any boarding school. It shines a light on how special our community is and it is amazing to see every community member line our Formal Gardens and then proceed to shake hands, fist bump, hug, or wave to one another. This year, I was so excited for the handshake that I did not get a lot of sleep the night before. However, I can also admit that I was really nervous. I was nervous about my first day as the 31st Head of School at Lake Forest Academy and the responsibility that comes with that title. Those nerves quickly disappeared, though, when I witnessed the excitement and energy from our students and adults. They were so eager to begin a year that seemed to put the pandemic behind us. And, truth be told, we have not looked back as a community.

It has been a phenomenal start to the school year! We have so much to be proud of and we have accomplished so much together. We opened with record enrollment. We have won three ISL championships in boys soccer, girls swimming, and girls golf. We have seven National Merit Semifinalists in our senior class. Our students are true citizens of the world, celebrating and educating one another about all of the different cultures present on campus. We granted $5.8 million in financial aid, allowing LFA to produce the next generation of leaders from families around the world and across the economic spectrum. In the last school year, our fundraising success included $1.78 million in annual giving dollars. We celebrated parents, guardians, siblings, grandparents on Family Weekend and we celebrated our alumni and alumnae during Alumni Weekend & Reunion. During the Hall of Fame and Woman of Distinction program over Reunion Weekend, I was honored to share the stage with such deserving recipients. We will soon be opening the LFA Community Health Center, a $1.5 million project being constructed on the lower level of New Hall. And, as you know better than anyone, our faculty and staff continue to be outstanding.

You may also be aware that we were recently named the 18th-ranked boarding school in the country – No. 1 in the Midwest! These rankings are not things we take for granted, though. Instead, they motivate us to be better so that we continue to fulfill our mission and cultivate in our students excellence in character, scholarship, citizenship and responsibility. As alumni, you are incredible ambassadors of both Ferry Hall and Lake Forest Academy because you represent what is possible with an education from both institutions. I am so excited to partner with all of you in order to educate the next generation of Caxys. Your belief and loyalty to both Ferry Hall and Lake Forest Academy give me immense hope for what lies ahead. Thank you!

I also wanted to personally say thank you for all you have done to make my first few months as Lake Forest Academy’s Head of School memorable and successful. Your friendship and support have helped me and my wife, Maggie, as well as our three children. We are so honored to lead and serve this great school.

Finally, I wish you all a wonderful, healthy, and festive end to 2022 with the hope that your 2023 is even better.

With Gratitude, Chris Tennyson Head of School