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!
District Track
Off 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
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!
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!
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?