Kids pose with fall leaves

Student Life

A Strong Community Through Faith and Family

We foster respect among our students and encourage behavior that builds confident students with strong character. At Holy Cross, our strong school spirit is rooted in our faith, nurtured in our classrooms, and reinforced through all-school events and activities that unite our student body under a common purpose.

For example, our students attend a weekly chapel worship service, during which our upper-grade students serve as “chapel buddies,” or mentors, for some of our youngest learners, who treasure these special friendships. Students in grades kindergarten through eight work in mixed-grade teams—our Crusader Groups—to solve a challenge or engage in service work. During sporting events, school performances and at many other times, our school is filled with the voices and laughter of parents, grandparents, siblings, friends and extended family members who come not only to support our students, but to contribute their time and talents in many ways.

Our students’ families can get involved in many ways—for example, serve as room parents, provide baked goods for school or church functions, chaperone class trips, volunteer in our library, and more.

Extracurricular Activities as Opportunities

One aspect of Holy Cross that sets our school apart is that our students have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities they otherwise might not have been able to try. These experiences not only help our students discover their individual talents and abilities, but also develop empathy and collaborative skills as members of a team.

We offer several competitive sports teams for boys and girls, and our no-cut approach ensures that all students who want to participate can do so. These sports include volleyball, cross country, basketball, dance, softball, and track and field. Generally, students can participate on these teams beginning in fourth grade.

Activities that Extend In-Class Education

We also offer a variety of beyond-the-classroom activities—many of which complement our curriculum. Some of these enable our students to participate in academic challenges, while others allow our students to pursue interests in areas such as music or drama.

Academic Extras

Students in our upper grades can take part in the Lakeside Lutheran High School math meet, an event that fosters camaraderie and team spirit and also recognizes the accomplishments of individual scholars. They also can participate in Lakeside’s spelling bee, a friendly competition that brings together top student spellers from area Lutheran schools.

Music

At all levels, our students have a number of options to enhance and present their musical abilities and develop confidence as soloists, accompanists and members of groups or choirs. In addition to our in-class focus on musical education, we offer private piano and band lessons during the school day, as well as recitals and group band concerts. Band students can participate in the Lakeside Lutheran High School cadet band, which combines students from area grade schools for marching, show and concert performances. Our upper-grade choir, band and piano students also participate in Lakeside’s Fine Arts Fair, which allows them to perform individually, in small groups, and en masse with all participants. Our upper-grade choir is the only grade school invited to sing during the official Wisconsin Veterans’ Day at the State Capitol, and our students regularly contribute their musical talents during school chapel, athletic events, and church worship services.

Art … and the Art of Public Speaking

We offer art classes during the school day; however, additional events allow students to explore new art forms and showcase their talents. Our students regularly enter their works in the Lakeside Lutheran High School Visual Arts Fair with other area Lutheran schools. At Holy Cross, students also can contribute artwork and design skills to the annual yearbook.

Students in seventh and eighth grade build confidence in performance and public speaking through forensics. Their experiences in forensics begin in the classroom, where they choose a category and topic. Ultimately, they participate in a judged competition that includes students from area Lutheran schools. These experiences have prepared several of our students to excel on top forensics teams in high school.

Trips Far Afield

Our seventh and eighth grade students also study our country’s government, conduct a research project and public presentation about their topic, then travel to Washington, D.C. their eighth grade year, for an experience that brings their education to life.

Student jumping Basketball team pose with ribbons Kids on hay bails Kids singing accelerated reader awards