Welcome, New Families!

We are delighted your family has chose to join the LuHi community! We can’t wait to get to know you and we are here to answer all of your questions. While some families may know LuHi well, others may be new to our community. No matter where you are, rest assured that we are here to support you!

Class Schedule

Be on the lookout for correspondence from our School Counseling Office in the Spring as they will be reaching out regarding course schedules. Course selections are based on final grades and teacher recommendations. Please send copies of final report cards to the Admissions Office as soon as you receive them.

Check out our Course Catalog and Blog Post, “Selecting Courses” to help you choose courses for next year and beyond!

Please contact the School Counseling Office with any questions.

myLuHi Account

Create Account
This summer, we will create myLuHi accounts for all parents. This is where you’ll log in to view your students grade book and important resources for your LuHi journey! Look out for an email regarding your account.

Resources
When you have logged into myLuHi, you should locate the “Resources” tab where you will find links to important information such as Family ID (registration for athletic clearance), Smart Tuition, Land’s End, Cafeteria Hub, and the “Important Documents” Library. In the document library, there are links to the School Calendar, PE uniform guidelines, required summer reading assignments, supply lists per grade level along with many other documents that will help you prepare for the upcoming school year. 

Uniforms

LuHi students wear Land’s End Uniforms. Uniform components can be ordered online at www.landsend.com. Be sure to use LuHi’s ID Code (9000-6637-4) when ordering to ensure that your student has LuHi’s required uniform components.

Click here for a quick look at the available components as well as our dress code. *Be sure to order early, as Land’s End requires several weeks of lead time to deliver uniforms, and this process can take longer during the summer!

LuHi’s New Classroom Wing

LuHi is thrilled to announce that the complete renovation of our main classroom wing began in late summer 2023! The new Academic Wing at LuHi will provide students and teachers with state-of-the-art instructional spaces and a cutting-edge Innovation Center. The overall design will elevate the connection to nature found in our beautiful campus surroundings

Coming soon…

Keep an eye out in the Document Library for the following items:
– Summer Reading
– School Supplies
– 2024-25 Handbook

Important Dates

New Student Day: 
Friday, September 6
Times: TBA

First Day of School: 
Monday, September 9
Full Day: 8:20am – 2:30pm

Looking for more?

Welcome from the Head of School

Dear Families,

Welcome to LuHi! I am truly thankful that you have chosen to join our school community. Recent years have allowed us to reflect upon what is important in life, and I know that lots of time and energy went into your decision. As the school year begins, I am confident that your family will quickly see and feel why LuHi is so special. Our caring faculty, beautiful campus, and enriching programs all combine to create an experience unlike any other on Long Island.

My LuHi journey began in 1998 as an incoming freshman. The ensuing four years in Brookville were incredibly impactful, as I grew physically, mentally, and spiritually. Leadership opportunities in the classroom and on the athletic field prepared me for success at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. Here at LuHi, I have served as a mathematics teacher, dean of students, summer camp counselor, boys varsity basketball coach, and now as Head of School. I’m passionate about helping our students grow in body, mind, and spirit because of how LuHi changed my life for the better. The world needs more LuHi graduates!

Head of school

My wife, Kasey, and I have two young boys and a baby daughter. Although our children are not yet old enough to attend LuHi as students, they enjoy watching theatre productions and cheering at sporting events. Our students always welcome them with genuine kindness, and I feel fortunate that my children can grow up in such a positive environment. You are now part of this wonderful, engaging, and supportive community! I look forward to getting to know you all, and am honored to play a role in your child’s journey. 

God bless,

John Buck
Head of School

Meet the School Leadership Team

Mrs. Jessica Raba ’98 – Mrs. Raba (pronounced “Ray-ba”) serves LuHi as the Assistant Head of School/Principal. She has been a member of the LuHi staff since 2017, and is a proud LuHi alum! Mrs. Raba graduated from Valparaiso University in 2002 with a BSEd in Elementary Education with endorsements in Special Education and Reading. She earned a master’s in Literacy Education from Fordham University in 2005. Prior to working at LuHi, Mrs. Raba taught Middle School English, served as a consultant for Authentic Education, and served as the Executive Director for the Lutheran Schools Association. She shared, “LuHi’s focus on body, mind, and spirit demands that we think broadly about human growth. I love that we see our students as individual gifts from God and recognize that each experience and interaction shapes the individual. Couple this with our desire to be in community with one another and I find that we are uniquely poised to support students (as well as the faculty, staff, and families) in both growing personally and growing as a community.”

Jess Raba, Assistant head of school
Laura Callahan Assistant Principal of Academics

Mrs. Laura Callahan – Mrs. Callahan is our Assistant Principal for Academics. She earned a bachelor’s degrees in Education and Communication Arts from Molloy College, and hold a master’s degree in Middle School Education, also from Molloy. Mrs. Callahan is a long-time LuHi teacher! She taught 6th grade Math and Science for 22 years, and MS English for 3 years. Mrs. Callahan shared, “Taking my career from classroom teacher to administration has been a rewarding experience. Working with families, students, and teachers to make the most out of the LuHi experience for all and supporting everyone in the process is my ultimate professional goal each day.”

Mr. Chris Reno – Mr. Reno serves as the Assistant Principal for Student Life. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Social Science Education from Concordia Nebraska, and has a master’s in History from LIU Post, as well as a graduate certificate in School Leadership from Liberty University. He started his LuHi career in 1999 as a HS US History teacher. In 2011 he transitioned to the school administration, serving as Middle School Principal for 6 years, and then settling into his current of Assistant Principal. Mr. Reno also coaches our varsity football team, and one of his favorite memories at LuHi is winning the league championship in 2019. Mr. Reno shared, “My favorite part of my current job is the opportunity to be supportive of our students and families when they are faced with challenges or difficult circumstances.”

Chris Reno Assistant Principal of Student Life

Meet our School Counselors

Mrs. Kim Kuck ’98 – Mrs. Kuck, a LuHi alum, is LuHi’s Director of School Counseling. She graduated from SUNY New Paltz in 2002 with BA in Psychology, and received a master’s in School Counseling from LIU Post in 2007. She has been a member of LuHi’s school counseling staff since 2007, and moved into the role of director in 2019. Mrs. Kuck shared, “I love being able to have the opportunity to develop a genuine relationship with my students. Having a smaller caseload than most public and private schools allows me to get to know my students as more than just the grades they earn. Supporting students through the ups and downs of their high school years is important to me!”

Kim Kuck, School Counseling
Kelly Walters, School Counselor

Mrs. Kelly Walters – Mrs. Walters has been the heart and soul of our middle school counseling program for the past 16 years! She has a BA in Sociology from SUNY New Paltz, and a master’s in School Counseling from LIU Post. Mrs. Walters has received several awards that recognize her excellence as an educator and school counselor, including the Nassau Counselors’ Association – Exemplary Practice Award in 2017. She shared, “LuHi is a very special place, we are a family! I love working in an environment that is compassionate and focuses on nurturing the whole child.”

Mrs. Janet Mullen – Mrs. Mullen is the third member of this incredible school counseling staff. She has a BA in Behavioral Science from Green Mountain College, and a master’s in School Counseling from LIU Post. She has been a member of the LuHi staff since 2014. Mrs. Mullen shared, “I love counseling students. The best part is watching them grow throughout their high school career. Every single student matures during this pivotal period in their lives. My goal is to help guide each student by supporting them through their struggles and lifting them up to help reach their goals.”

Janet Mullen, LuHi School Counselor

LuHi Lingo

The terms and phrases below are frequently used throughout our building, and we hope this glossary will help you as you begin your LuHi journey!

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  • NUT days – NUT stands for “No Uniform Today.” When a NUT day is announced, that means a student can dress down (in school appropriate clothing!). Sometimes, NUT days are available for purchase to support a fundraiser. Students, be sure to listen to announcements and check your email so that you don’t miss a NUT day.
  • Spirit Week – Spirit Week is definitely a favorite tradition here at LuHi! It is held in the week leading up to Homecoming, and includes themed dress days like Superhero Day, PJ Day, and School Colors Day. This is a great opportunity to participate, have fun, and show your LuHi spirit!
  • Meal Packing – Meal Packing is our biggest service event of the year! Each year, we pack approximately 300,000 meals for our Long Island neighbors with food insecurity. All students get the opportunity to pack meals with their classmates and contribute to the event. We have packed over 3,000,000 meals since we started the event in 2011!
  • Reindeer Games – This serves as the culmination of our Christmas Spirit Week! It is a mini-“Battle of the Classes”, where grades compete against each other in contests like Gingerbread House Building, Christmas Name That Tune, and Reindeer Relay. Reindeer Games and our Christmas Chapel service serve as the perfect send-off to Christmas Break!
  • Beyond Boundaries – Our project week! During Beyond Boundaries, students take a break from their regular classes, and take mini-courses where they have the chance to learn something new, or pursue a passion! Some past courses include Adulting 101, Living the Lego Life, Flea Market Flip, World Drumming, and Video Journalism. 
  • Ammerman Center – This is home to our second gym, and also houses our athletic offices, dance studio, orchestra room, and band room. It’s at the opposite end of the school from the Visscher Gym, and you need to take a quick walk outside to access the Ammerman Center.
  • CPAC – This stands for Chapel and Performing Arts Center. The official name of this space is the Hahn Center for the Performing Arts. It is the home of LuHi chapel services, as well as theater performances, performing arts concerts, and large group meetings. It also houses our choir classes, and the lower level is home to our STEM and Visual Arts classrooms.
  • Visscher Gym – This is our big gym! The Visscher Gym is named after the Rev. Ed Visscher, former Head of School and Boys Varsity Basketball coach at LuHi. The Visscher Gym is home to LuHi PE classes during the school day, and Crusader athletics after school. Volleyball, badminton, cheer, wrestling, and basketball teams all utilize the Visscher Gym for competitions. 

A Day in the Life of a LuHi Student

As we approach the start of school, you might start to wonder, “What does an average day look like at LuHi?” Read on to learn more about our block schedule, chapel services, important policies, and more:

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  • Block Schedule – Our class schedule runs on a block schedule, with alternating A and B days. Blocks 1-4 meet on an A day, and Blocks 5-8 meet on a B day. Check out the block schedule linked here. Individual student schedules will be available in myLuHi in the final weeks of summer. 
  • Breakfast – If your child arrives to campus with time to spare in the morning, they are able to purchase breakfast in the cafeteria. 
  • Lunch – Lunch is also available for purchase in the cafeteria daily. The menu rotates, so lunch options change on a daily basis. For both breakfast and lunch, parents can load money onto the student’s lunch account for cashless purchases. More information about lunch accounts will be shared soon!
Students learning, classroom, laptops
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  • Study Hall – Our older students (usually juniors and seniors) may have room in their schedule for a study hall. This is an opportunity to work quietly on schoolwork during the school day, in a supervised environment.
  • Chapel – Chapel meets weekly, and is an important part of the LuHi student experience. Worship, prayer, student performances, relevant messages, and more are all part of a LuHi chapel. More details on chapel logistics in the current COVID environment, with a focus on providing a relevant experience in a safe way, will be shared by our school administrators at a later date.
  • Cell Phones– As per our student guidelines, cell phones are not allowed to be used during the school day (students may keep them in their book bag). If students need to contact a parent, they can come to the main office to use a school phone.
  • Dress Code – Students are required to wear our Land’s End uniform to school daily. Uniform options are listed on our Land’s End site, linked here. In addition, approved LuHi Team and Club gear (tops) are permitted but no hooded sweatshirts are allowed in school 8:20-9:30, even on NUT days. Check the student guidelines for more details on the dress code.
  • Catching a Bus Home – If a student is taking the bus home, they will head down to the “bus courts” (the large parking lot near the turf field) to find their bus. If they have trouble locating their bus, faculty and administrators will be able to assist.
  • After School – Students have many opportunities for extra help, co-curricular activities, and athletics after school. They should check the schedules and communications shared often via email for dates, start times, and dismissal times. Students not participating in an organized activity should plan to be picked up at school dismissal time, or take their bus home.

HART / Middle School Buddies

HART stands for Helping And Reaching Teens and is a co-curricular group dedicated to peer mentoring and supporting students grades 6-12. HART is an organization of selected 11th and 12th grade students who are trained to listen, and to help students who are new to LuHi. As HART members, students make themselves available all year long to listen to their fellow students’ concerns regarding relationships with parents, friends, teachers or any other pressures or stress a new student might feel. 

HART Members

An important part of the job of a HART member is to welcome new students coming to LuHi! All incoming students are paired with a HART member. Over the summer, HART members reach out with a letter to start, and follow up with a phone call or an email. New students will meet their HART member at orientation on September 6!

Middle School Buddies

Our Middle School Buddies serve as ambassadors to our new middle school students. They have all been identified as leaders among their peers. The buddies are rising 8th graders, and their main goal is to help new middle school students transition to our school. Every new middle school student is assigned a buddy. Whether you have questions about your schedule, need help finding your way in the building, want to know more about co-curricular activities, or anything else, they are here to help!  

The buddies will reach out by phone to the new students to introduce themselves over the summer, and also will meet their buddy at new student orientation on September 6!