Family Weekend
September 22-23, 2023
Thank you for your interest in Family Weekend. Although registration is now closed you may still participate in all activities except the PA Welcome Luncheon, which is at capacity. When you arrive on campus, please stop by the Garden Room in Reid Hall to check in and get your student(s) mini-class schedule.
Questions? Contact rjosephsen@lfanet.org.
- Friday, Sept. 22
- Saturday, Sept. 23
- LFA Family Portraits (Sept. 22)
- FAQs
- Faculty & Staff Appreciation Event
Friday, Sept. 22
Friday Highlights
A Caxy Conversation with Head of School Chris Tennyson P’27
8 - 8:30 a.m.
Class Coffees/Teas (Adults Only)
10 - 11 a.m.
Dean of Students hosts Student Club/Activities Fair
1:15 - 2:15 p.m.
Friday Morning Virtual Offerings
(all families welcome; geared for engagement of international families)
- A Caxy Conversation/State of School Address with Head of School (Virtual Kick-Off - Special Invitation to International Parents)
Pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea at home or at the office! Then login to the virtual kick-off of Family Weekend with fellow parents and Head of School Chris Tennyson P’27. We'll be making a toast to all of our parents, but especially to our international parents whose distance may prevent them from attending in-person events. International parents, we invite you to join us!- 8 - 8:30 a.m.
- Watch the recording here.
- Embrace Your Campus Home (Virtual Event)
Hear from members of the Dean of Students Office about the comprehensive residential life program at Lake Forest Academy. Activities are open to day and boarding students so non-boarding families are also encouraged to sign on!- 8:45 - 9:30 a.m.
- Watch the recording here.
- Virtual Morning Meeting (livestream)
Tune into a morning meeting to see what our Caxys share and learn throughout the year. Seating will be available for onsite families in the JC Cowart Student Center Classrooms 17/19 (Lower Level).- 9:40 - 10 a.m.
Friday In-Person Offerings
- Registration
Pick up your registration materials and your student(s) mini-class schedules for Saturday. Grab a bite or cup of coffee/tea on your Friday activities. Stop by if you have questions about your schedule and/or events. We will have registration staffed throughout the day. Special thanks to our Lifetime Caxy parents (parents of alumni) who are serving as our registration hosts!- 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. – Garden Room, Reid Hall
- Class Coffees/Teas (Adults Only)
Grades 9, 10 and new transfer families
Join Head of School Chris Tennyson P’27, Dean of Students Jennifer Rundles and Dean of Admission Carolyn Gorowski for a casual morning coffee. **Adults only please.- 10 - 11 a.m. – Wood House, Lake Forest Academy
Join Dean of Faculty Tom Johnson, Assistant Head of School and Academic Dean Nancy Nassr P’24, ’25 and Dean of College Counseling Andrew Poska for a casual morning coffee. **Adults only please.- 10 - 11 a.m. – Patio, Formal Gardens
- Campus Store Hours
- 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.– Lower Level, JC Cowart Student Center
- Parents Association Welcome Luncheon
Join us for the LFA Parents Association ("PA") Opening Meeting for the 2023-24 school year. All LFA Parents and Guardians are members of the PA, and are invited to attend. Head of School Chris Tennyson P’27 will welcome guests and then you will hear from LFA administration along with members of the PA Executive Board on ways for you to get engaged with LFA and other families.Luncheon Speaker DetailsA complimentary lunch provided by LFA Family Philanthropy & Volunteer Engagement Office will be served. **Maximum capacity 90. Adults only please.
Registration Required.- 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. – Little Theater, Reid Hall
- Family Portraits in Formal Gardens
Stop by the beautiful Formal Gardens designed by famous landscape architect Jens Jensen in the heart of campus to pose for a keepsake photo with your family. Digital copies will be sent to families via email. This is perfect timing for your holiday greeting card photos!
No prior registration required.- 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. – Formal Gardens
- Dean of Students hosts Student Club/Activities Fair
Lake Forest Academy has a robust student club and activities program. Drop by to meet student club leaders and hear first hand about the offerings and leadership opportunities for FBLA, Harlow Society, Ski Club, Unidos, Science Olympiad, Badminton Club, and Project Impact.- 1:15 - 2:15 p.m. – Lower Level, JC Cowart Student Center
- Visit Stuart Center for Global Leadership
Lake Forest Academy strives to embody in its practices and to cultivate in its students' excellence of character, scholarship, citizenship, and responsibility. Through experiential education, students expand their classroom to local, regional, national, and international communities. LFA travel programs expose our globally minded students to people, cultures, ideas, problems, and opportunities that allow for investigation of the world and its many complexities. Visit the Stuart Center in the Lower Level of the JC Cowart Student Center to hear more about curricular and co-curricular travel opportunities at LFA.- 1:15 - 3 p.m. – Lower Level, JC Cowart Student Center
- Fine and Performing Arts Drop-In Rehearsals/Open Studio Time
Drop in the Cressey Center for the Arts to see the Fine and Performing Arts faculty and students in person.- 2 - 3 p.m. – The Cressey Center for the Arts
- Family of BIPOC students gathering
Parents, grandparents, and students of color are invited to this special gathering to deepen connections with one another and to discuss issues of intercultural importance in small-group settings. Hosted by Dean of Equity, Pluralism, Inclusion, and Community Lusanda Mayikana P’14 and the Parents Association Multicultural Liaisons. Light refreshments will be served.- 3 - 4 p.m. – Lower Level Classrooms 17/19, JC Cowart Student Center
- CAXY (Home) Friday Athletics Schedule
- 4:30 p.m. – JVB Boys Soccer vs. Glenbrook South HS (Home)
- Annual Faculty and Staff Appreciation Event
The LFA Parents Association invites you to join us as we show appreciation for our guests of honor – the faculty, staff, and administrators at LFA! Join us for a Nashville-themed event complete with bourbon, boots, and music! Adults only. Casual attire. For more information or to help underwrite or sponsor this event, visit the Faculty and Staff Appreciation event page.
Registration is required. All parents are invited to attend. This event is complimentary due to generous underwriting and sponsorship by the LFA parent community.- 6 - 9 p.m. – Reid Hall
Welcome Luncheon – Guest Speaker
Our guest speaker is fellow current parent and Chief Financial Officer Mike Reidy P’17, ’26. Mike will present an overview of the Fundamentals of LFA Finance and Operations and how tuition dollars and philanthropy sustain and enhance the LFA student experience.
Mike Reidy is the Chief Financial Officer at Lake Forest Academy. He is responsible for LFA’s finance, human resources, risk management, information technology, food service, and facility maintenance areas. Mike has been at LFA since 2014. He received his bachelor’s degree in Accountancy from the University of Illinois and is a registered CPA in the State of Illinois. Prior to LFA, Mike managed the finance and accounting areas at a number of public and private corporations.
Saturday, Sept. 23
Saturday Highlights
Classroom Connect – Mini Classes
9 a.m. - noon
Family Tailgate
12 - 2 p.m.
Open House Events – Dormitories & LFA Community Health Center
1 - 2 p.m.
Saturday Schedule
- Registration and Continental Breakfast
Stop by the registration table in the Garden Room if you have any questions or to pick up a copy of the Family Weekend Saturday Events Schedule and/or campus maps. Continental breakfast provided.- 8 a.m. - Noon – Garden Room, Reid Hall
- Classroom Connect – Mini Classes (A-day condensed schedule)
Follow your student’s A-day schedule, abbreviated to 15-minute classes with 5-minute passing periods. Classroom locations and times are listed in your registration packet or can be found on the Mini Classes schedule page.- 9 - 11:55 a.m.
- Activities for open periods
- JC Cowart Media Commons
- Open Library and Archives with LFA Librarian and Archivist Rita MacAyeal ’87
- Tailgate on the Silver Family Green for Parents, Students, Siblings, and Grandparents hosted by LFA Family Philanthropy & Volunteer Engagement Office
Join fellow parents, students, siblings, and grandparents for the Family Weekend favorite–the Caxy Family Picnic!- 12 - 2 p.m. – Silver Family Green (Rain Location: JC Cowart Student Center)
During this time, guests may also enjoy the following additional offerings:- Dormitory Open Houses (1 - 2 p.m.)
All Dorms will be open for parents of residents to drop in and meet dorm staff and see their student's room! - LFA Community Health Center Open House
Come take a glimpse of our brand-new, state-of-the-art comprehensive Health Center! We have revamped the old dining hall (Hutchinson Commons) located in the lower level of New Hall and transformed it into a space that seamlessly integrates physical and psychological health services. Feel free to drop by to learn more about our diverse range of programs and discover how we keep our Caxys in great health.
Lower Level, New Hall
- Dormitory Open Houses (1 - 2 p.m.)
- 12 - 2 p.m. – Silver Family Green (Rain Location: JC Cowart Student Center)
- CAXY (Home) Saturday Athletics Schedule
- 10 a.m. – JV Girls Field Hockey vs. LFHS (Home)
- 10 a.m. – Varsity Girls Field Hockey vs. Divine Savior Holy Angels (Home)
- 11:30 a.m. – Varsity Girls Tennis vs Stevenson (Home)
- 1 p.m. – JV Girls Volleyball vs. Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep (Home)
- 2 p.m. – Varsity Girls Volleyball vs. Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep (Home)
- 4 p.m. – Prep Hockey vs. York (Home)
- NOTE: Boys golf and both boys and girls cross country have away invitationals that begin in the morning. Girls swimming has the Lake County Championship beginning at 1 p.m.
LFA Family Portraits (Sept. 22)
LFA Family Portraits
Friday, Sept. 22 12:30-2 p.m.
- Family Portraits in Formal Gardens
Stop by the beautiful Formal Gardens designed by famous landscape architect Jens Jensen in the heart of campus to pose for a complimenatry keepsake photo with your family. Digital copies will be sent to families via email by the end of October. This is perfect timing for your holiday greeting card photos!
Portraits will be available on a first come, first served basis. They are drop in only. No registration required.- 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. – Formal Gardens
FAQs
What is Family Weekend 2023?
Family Weekend (previously Parents Weekend) is an informative, engaging and important yearly tradition! Over the course of the Weekend, LFA welcomes parents and families to visit campus and engage with the people and places that are so important to our students.
This year, we look forward to topical and interesting programs, both in-person and virtual, by LFA faculty, staff, and parents, along with interactions with members of the student community.
When is Family Weekend?
Family Weekend 2023 will be held September 22-23.
What if I can't attend Family Weekend?
The Office of Family Philanthropy & Volunteer Engagement has planned a virtual experience for families who cannot attend campus. Virtual offerings will be a mix of live and on-demand programming, with opportunities to connect on social media. On Friday, Sept. 22, we begin Family Weekend with a virtual kickoff—Coffee & Conversation with Head of School Chris Tennyson. For additional information on virtual offerings, please see the schedule.
Why should I attend Family Weekend?
In addition to the opportunity to experience programs, discussions, concerts, performances and more from members throughout the LFA community, attending Family Weekend also provides a wonderful chance for you to spend quality time with your student, future Caxy siblings, and grandparents.
What is the format of Family Weekend?
Family Weekend includes two days of programming (in-person and virtual) and opportunities for you to engage with your students. Family Weekend is designed in a conference format where you choose which sessions to attend. Each day has many activities—so you’ll pick what feels most relevant to you and exciting for your family.
Friday is the busiest. Programming starts in the morning and continues into the evening. Your student will have a G-day class schedule this day, so the in-person events are more intentionally geared towards parents and visiting family members beginning in the afternoon. More programming is offered on Saturday with more opportunities to attend events alongside your student. Caxy siblings and grandparents are encouraged to attend!
Are Grandparents invited to Family Weekend?
Yes, Caxy Grandparents are invited to be part of Family Weekend. Grandparents are welcome to attend mini-class and the Caxy Family Tailgate, as well as any of the drop-in events. If you would like the Caxy grandparents in your family to receive a Family Weekend invitation, please fill out this form.
Is there a Picnic this year for Family Weekend?
Yes, there is a Caxy Family Picnic on Saturday, September 23 following mini-classes, which siblings and grandparents are invited to attend.
What about hotel and travel accommodations?
Many LFA guests choose to stay at the Forester Hotel, a Hyatt Place hotel, located less than two miles from campus at 200 N. Field Dr., Lake Forest, Ill. 60045. Phone: 847-582-6400. Visit www.TheForesterHotel.com. You can also visit the Lake Forest County Visitors Bureau at www.visitlakecounty.org or the City of Lake Forest visitor information at www.cityoflakeforest.com.
What should I do if I have additional questions about Family Weekend?
Please do not hesitate to give fellow parent and Senior Director of Family Philanthropy and Volunteer Engagement Leigh Ann Jacobson P'13, '23 a call at 847-615-3238 or email her at leighann.jacobson@lfanet.org if you have questions regarding the weekend's activities. We look forward to your participation!
