2025 Long Island Lutheran MIddle & High School Partner Report
John Buck, Head of School
We are grateful that the Synod engages meaningfully in our largest fundraising efforts at LuHi, events that support academic, financial aid, and spiritual life programs. We are thankful, specifically, for support of our LuHi Open Golf Outing and Bid-for-Kids Auction Gala. In addition to offering support, Metro Synod leadership is focused on engaging area pastors in our ministry through invitations to these events. A number of Metro Synod congregations are members of our Association, as well. We were grateful to have Bishop Egensteiner and staff join us at exciting ribbon-cutting ceremonies in September, celebrating LuHi's visionary movement forward for the present and future.
In answer to our 5-year strategic plan Shine and the master planning process that followed, LuHi underwent a transformational renovation of our classroom wing last year. Ribbon-cutting ceremonies celebrated an on-time, one-year finish of the construction, offering our 450 students an elevated learning experience now and for the future. Over 30,000 square feet of space has been reimagined for collaborative, flexible, and state of the art education with teachers and academics that help students to grow in body, mind, and spirit. LuHi continues to work on the 4 goals of the Shine Strategic Plan–Engaging Education, Inspired Spaces, Authentic Storytelling, and Sustainable Stewardship.
During this school year, LuHi was granted full reaccreditation through the New York State Association of Independent Schools affirming our commitment to our Christian mission to God's young people. In addition to our ongoing efforts in education this year, we were blessed to engage in several impactful service initiatives:
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Guatemala - 32 volunteers, 2 houses built, a VBS program run and professional development for the teachers at a local Christian school (Kairos Christian School, Ciudad Vieja)
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Daytona Beach - 20 volunteers, hurricane cleanup, gleaning at a farm and running a food pantry
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Beyond Boundaries - 320 volunteers across 2 days at 7 unique locations (churches, nursing homes, etc.)
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Meal Packing - 450 students, plus faculty, staff, and outside church and community volunteers packed 140,000+ shelf-stable meals for Long Island families with food insecurity.
Members of the Class of 2025 are finalizing their college choices as of this writing–consisting of a healthy mix of private, state and Ivy League college and universities. A number of student athletes have signed to play a variety of sports in D1 and D2 programs, as well. We praise God for LuHi experiences in and out of the classroom that develop compassionate leaders for the future.
We invite all churches and members of the Metro Synod to become engaged in our ministry. We are always looking for outlets for our students to be involved in service. If you want to enjoy a fun time supporting Christian education for God's young people, consider becoming engaged in the LuHi Open (June 12, 2025) or the Bid-for-Kids Auction Gala (Nov. 14, 2025). Pray for our ministry, and visit us online at
www.luhi.org or in person.