A rainbow of leaves scattered across the grounds, 4:30 pm sunsets, pumpkin-spiced drinks and early Christmas decorations put up can mean one thing— Thanksgiving is around the corner occurring on November 27.
As the Lake Forest Academy community enters the month of thanks and gratitude, the Caxys have a multitude of events planned with their families and with each other.
The History Department for the past 7 years, has put together their very own Thanksgiving celebration, where each history teacher’s advisory brings a dish that creates a feast for the History wing to enjoy shortly before the break. Whether it be pie, charcuterie or full fledged turkey dinners, the tradition has become well loved over the years.
The residential community celebrated Thanksgiving in early November with the dining staff creating a very well received Thanksgiving-themed menu. At the end of the dinner, every student had the opportunity to write a card and say thank you to at least one other member of the residential community. Boarders could give thanks in their own language and through various representations of gratitude (hugs, letters, etc.), making the event a true representation of what gratitude can mean in such a diverse school. Mr. Atas and Ms. Rundles want to put a larger emphasis on gratitude as a united community this year, planning more themed weekend schedules centered around fall activities, community bonding and staying on campus to appreciate the community within.
With students and teachers from 40 countries and territories and 19 states, each Caxy celebrates the holiday uniquely.
Defne Kocak ‘26, while from Turkey, has developed her own celebrations for the holiday as an international student. In her freshman year, she spent the holiday break at a friend’s house, but for the last three years, her dad has come into town and Kocak spends the day of thanks with him.
Cole Ramirez, in true American Thanksgiving fashion, spends the day with his family watching football and preparing for a massive feast where his family entertains friends and loved ones. Ramirez loves the time of reunion and appreciates the opportunity to hear all the fun stories his family has to tell him.
Ms. Cucco is continuing her beloved tradition of going to her parents’ house, waking up at 6 a.m. and spending the entire day going full-out to cook a Thanksgiving dinner with her dad.
Evan Hunter ‘29 will be enjoying a Louisiana-style Thanksgiving dinner, enjoying the Louisiana classics of red beans and rice alongside his family’s turkey dinner.
Emma Feltzin ‘27 experienced a memorable and different Thanksgiving last year during her semester abroad in Switzerland, with that Thanksgiving being her favorite memory. The students in her school played a scavenger hunt around Zermatt, got in a snowball fight with local kids and then enjoyed a special dinner with students giving speeches and ending the day by calling home to their families. Feltzin this year will be running the Turkey Trot with her dad, as they usually do.
Emily Korkus 27’ looks on Thanksgiving as a time to truly appreciate family. Korkus said her favorite Thanksgiving memory is breaking the crackers with a gift inside. “I always used to do that with my brothers.” Along with family time, Korkus is attending a friend’s “Friendsgiving” where the 10 or so people there will each bring their very own homemade dish to put together a collective feast.
Korkus, Feltzin, Cucco and many other students and teachers at LFA look forward to celebrating Black Friday on the day after Thanksgiving.