Ask any LuHi grad what their favorite high school memories are, and chances are they mention one of our beloved traditions. From our retreats to Senior Sunrise to the most obvious one - Homecoming - our events are designed to build culture and connection.
Pep rallies and spirit-wear days happen at every high school. At LuHi, though, these moments are about more than school pride—they’re about building Christian community. Our traditions not only bring students together but also create memories that make high school special.
Here are a few of our favorite LuHi traditions and how they continue to strengthen our community culture year after year.
Freshman Retreat
The Freshman Retreat is one of the first opportunities new students have to experience the heart of the LuHi community. The mission statement for the Freshmen Retreat is “Gather, Connect, Experience Jesus.” More than just a day away in the mountains, it’s a chance for freshmen to build friendships, grow in faith, and feel truly welcomed into the LuHi family. Through worship, team-building activities, and intentional time with peers and senior leaders, students begin to see what it means to be part of LuHi.
Senior Retreat
Bookending the Freshman Retreat is the Senior Retreat. Held early in the school year, it marks the start of students’ final chapter as Lions. Seniors head to the mountains for a day of hiking, Bible study, worship, and group activities. Senior year comes with big decisions and plenty of stress, which makes it all the more meaningful to watch 100+ almost-adults throw themselves into group games like capture the flag or knock out. The retreat sets the tone for the year with student-led worship and staff-led devotions that point students toward what it means to walk in faith after LuHi.
Senior Sunrise
Before seniors start their “last first day” of high school, they gather early in the morning to watch the sunrise together. Senior Sunrise marks the beginning of a new chapter—one filled with anticipation, excitement, and the start of many “lasts.”
Bundled in blankets with coffee in hand, students listen as our campus pastor shares a devotion. They snap photos and selfies to capture the moment—but the real purpose goes deeper. Senior Sunrise gives students space to look ahead, consider the legacy they’ll leave, and think about how they want to lead during their final year at LuHi.
Senior Sunset
Senior Sunset mirrors the joy of Senior Sunrise but carries a more reflective tone. The class gathers one last time to watch the sun set together, sharing laughs, tears, and gratitude. It’s a reminder of both the ending of their time at LuHi and the beginning of what comes next, grounded in the friendships and faith that will carry them forward.
Homecoming Week
Homecoming week is one of the favorites (if not the favorite). It’s a week full of energy, spirit, and celebration. From themed dress-up days to the class volleyball tournament to the lip sync competition and then finally, the big game, the week showcases Lion pride in every corner of campus. The week culminates with the homecoming dance, where students come together for an evening of fun and memories.
What makes homecoming so special at LuHi, though, is the way it blends excitement with community—bringing together students, faculty, families, and alumni in a shared celebration of all that makes LuHi unique.
Christmas Spirit Week
The end of a semester brings stress, but Christmas Spirit Week helps balance it with joy and fun. It highlights the joy of Christ’s birth while adding a bit of lighthearted fun before finals.
Christmas Spirit Week brings a renewed joy to campus. Students and staff participate in themed days (have you seen our Flannel Family Picture?), holiday activities, and plenty of Christmas cheer. Parents join in by transforming the campus—decorating a huge tree in the cafeteria, hanging a wreath over the entrance, and adding twinkle lights throughout the hallways. This tradition helps students pause, celebrate, and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas together.
Sadie’s Week
Sadie’s Week is all about creativity and fun. Students participate in a friendly competition against the opposite gender in themed dress-up days. A highlight is the school-wide game of Family Feud, and it all leads up to the Sadie Hawkins dance—yes, the same tradition you remember from high school, where the girls invite the guys.
Prom Spirit Week
This tradition might be unique to LuHi: a spirit week leading up to prom. While prom is reserved for upperclassmen, spirit week gives underclassmen a chance to join the excitement. Prom is a night of elegance and celebration, but spirit week adds another layer of fun with themed dress-up days tied to the prom theme. This week is another chance to build community across grade levels.
Yearbook Party
The Yearbook Party is a favorite end-of-year tradition that gives students the chance to sign each other’s yearbooks and relive the year’s best memories. The gym is packed as friends flip through photos and share stories that defined the year. More than just a book of pictures, the yearbook becomes a treasured keepsake, and the party is the perfect way to close out another year at LuHi.
Traditions at Lutheran High School are the heartbeat of the LuHi experience. From the Freshmen Retreat to the Senior Sunset, each tradition provides students with opportunities to grow in faith, build lifelong friendships, and create memories that will last long after graduation. These moments of worship, laughter, and celebration weave together to form a shared story. A Christ-centered community is the heartbeat of LuHi, and each tradition points students back to the One who never changes.
