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Life at the Lakes: April 2025

April 2025 Life at the Lakes

Here is a glimpse at Life at the Lakes in April:

Weightlifting 

THE CHAMP IS HERE!

Big congrats to CJ ’25 for an incredible showing at the State Championship!

  • 2x State Champion
  • 1st Place – Olympic Discipline
  • 2nd Place – Traditional Discipline
  • Named Best Overall Lifter in Olympic for the entire 1A Class!

CJ, your hard work and determination continue to inspire—what a way to represent! 

April 2025: Weightlifting Championship

 

District Track 

April 2025: Track & FieldOff and Running!

Our Wildcat track athletes showed OUT at the District Championships, and we’ve got several heading to Regionals! Let’s give a big shoutout to these standout competitors who are keeping the momentum going:

Boys

  • Luke M. – Javelin
  • Bradley C. – High Jump
  • 4×100 Relay – Gavin W., Frank X., Owen B., Dalton E.
  • 4×400 Relay – Luke S., Max S., Dalton E., Max A.

Girls

  • Ycenia G. – Shot Put
  • Lydia P. – 400m
  • 4×100 Relay – Emma W., Sienna S., Ella S., Olivia B.
  • 4×400 Relay – Emma W., Sienna S., Ella S., Olivia B.
  • Let’s go, Wildcats!  Bring that same energy to Regionals.

 

CARDBOARD REGATTA

Whatever floats your boat!

Our Upper Division Physics students just wrapped up their unit on fluids with style—and cardboard! Teams put Archimedes’ Principle to the test by designing and building their own cardboard boats.

Armed with physics know-how and duct tape determination, they headed to the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex for our Cardboard Boat Regatta. Each boat had to float, carry a teammate, and survive the race—easier said than done!

After the race? Full analysis mode: What worked, what sank, and why.

Huge congratulations to all of our creative and courageous sailors—especially those who stayed mostly dry

April 2025: Cardboard Regatta

 

CIGAR FACTORY TRIP

Cigar City!

Students from Señora Blount’s AP Spanish and Spanish 3 & 4 classes took a step back in time to discover how Ybor City became the Cigar Capital of the World 🏙️💨

From the cultural impact of Cuban, Spanish, and Italian immigrants to the economic legacy they left behind, this trip brought history to life.

A special stop at the J.C. Newman Cigar Factory, founded in 1895, connected students to deep cigar-making traditions rooted in Cuba and Spain. 🇨🇺🇪🇸

¡Una experiencia inolvidable!

April 2025: Cigar City

 

ODYSSEY OF THE MIND

April 2025: Odyssey of the Mind

Taking on the World! 

We’re incredibly proud to announce that ALL THREE of our Division 3 teams that competed at the State Competition this past weekend are advancing to the World Finals in Michigan this May!

  • Vehicle Team (Problem 1) – 2nd Place in their problem & division!
  • Classics Team (Problem 3) – 3rd Place and honored with the Ranatra Fusca Award, the highest recognition for creativity and innovation!
  • Performance Team (Problem 5) – 4th Place in their problem & division!

These teams have shown incredible talent, teamwork, and creativity. Next stop: World Finals! Let’s go!

Congratulations to our students and coaches!

 

EARTH DAY

“The Earth is what we all have in common.” – Wendell Berry, American Novelist

We celebrated Earth Day in full bloom here at Academy on Tuesday!

On McCormick Campus, our 7th graders teamed up with their SK buddies for a fun-filled rotation of eco-friendly stations: Nature Crowns, Toad Abodes, Scavenger Hunts, Worm Dirt Cups, Recycling Games, and Pinecone Bird Feeders.

Meanwhile, the Lower Division hosted an inspiring Earth Day Expo to spark environmental awareness in our youngest learners.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who helped make this day a success—we’re so proud to be growing a greener future together!

April 2025: Earth Day

 

PROM

April 2025: Prom

Born to Shine!

Before we put a bow on this year’s unforgettable prom, we’re sharing the full gallery of incredible moments—captured perfectly by Celebrate Everything –  Photography by Valerie 

What a night. What a school. What’s next?