Your Recipe Advantage
...focus on that special ingredient
A message from Steve Lauber, Admissions Director
What makes for the best chili?
Winter is a great time of the year to make a pot of chili. It is one of my favorite things to do. So many ingredients, varieties, styles, recipes. Many people claim to have “that secret ingredient” that they believe sends their chili over the top.
Throughout the years I have learned that an absolute must when I make chili is to taste it along the way. If something doesn’t taste right, I try to figure out “What’s missing?” Maybe a smidge more salt or a few extra chili peppers or maybe a couple more dashes of paprika will make it great.
How about when it comes to a "recipe" for the best life? What do people need to have for a great life? I guess it depends on who you ask. Some say money, quality relationships, job security, a new vehicle, or a great retirement plan.
Although many of those material things can make anyone happy for a while, it's well known that “things” don’t usually bring lasting contentment. King Solomon, a man who basically had everything the world would think brings happiness, reminds us in Ecclesiastes 1:14
“I have seen all the things that are
done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind."
Solomon had it all, and he had tried everything, but when he realized without the essential ingredient of God in his life, nothing was good for long.
Lakeside is different from most other high schools. Yes, we offer our students great academics, extracurriculars, and resources to help them plan for their careers. But we add another special ingredient that most do not … Christ is in everything we do.
Faith in Jesus our Savior is the essential ingredient that people need in the recipe of life. Teens hearing, learning and living this truth at Lakeside during some of their most formative years is an advantage for this life and for eternity.
mission
Motivated by the love of Jesus, Lakeside Lutheran High School partners with families to educate, encourage, and equip students for life and for eternity.
about our federation
The Lakeside Federation includes 33 congregations in southcentral Wisconsin extending north to south from Beaver Dam to Janesville and east to west from Okauchee to Middleton. The Lakeside Lutheran Advantage is published 3x year, distributed free of charge to students, families, future families and friends.
Direct correspondence to: 231 Woodland Beach Rd. Lake Mills WI 53551 info@llhs.org • 920.648.2321
Principal: Don Schultz | Exec. Director: Kirk DeNoyer | Asst. Principal: John Dorn | AD: Todd Jahns | Regents, Chair: Gordy Schmidt
A K-12 Advantage
...focus
on our elementary partnerships
Christ in Everything— serving those who serve us
The story on this page —about how students of St. John's in Watertown worked together in SERVANT groups to show love to others—was featured in the "Federation Fly By" segment of our December 11 edition of Lakeside Loop, a video news update produced by Warrior students—for other students and people of every age. It's posted on our Lakeside YouTube channel. Subscribe to the @llhstechclub channel so you don't miss any editions!
Students at St. John Lutheran School in Watertown made and donated 26 tie blankets so that first-responders in Watertown and Ixonia can share them with the people they serve in crisis.
“We thank God for first responders and keep them in our prayers as they carry out their work in helping those in emergency situations,” says St. John’s.
SERVANT activities are organized at St. John's to get students of all ages working together to build communication skills, multi-age relationships, cooperation, leadership, and to have fun.
Interested in seeing your school on the Lakeside Loop? We are too! Federation Fly By is a regular feature where we share the good about what’s going on with our elementary school partners—whether that’s a veterans day event, a visit from the National Guard, writing a book together, a student’s unique talent, or or any other great news to share. Reach out to thackbar@llhs.org. We’d love to highlight your school in an upcoming Loop.
When you record for the Loop, aim for several short clips (think 7 seconds long, 13-15 of them), shot in landscape (phone sideways). Mr. Hackbarth & Loop staff can also work with photos if you didn’t catch video of your event. Did you see the first Lakeside Loop of 2025?
See which federation elementary school is featured in the January 29 edition!
Scan with phone camera to watch
was to guess how many of Mr. Lauber's 3,000 scratch-off tickets are winners
That's a 40% chance of having a winning ticket!
Congratulations to St. Paul, Lake Mills 8th grader, Alina Taylor, who guessed 750, the closest guess without being over. She wins $200 toward her first semster tuition at Lakeside next fall, along with some great Warrior gear!
You can still win Warrior prizes when you come to campus for basketball games. There are plenty more winning tickets—just find the table of Warrior students in the atrium before the varsity game! You could win Lakeside swag—Under Armour backpacks, teddy bears, t-shirts, car decals, or a candy bar from concessions.
Contest: Christ in everything!
�� ��
enter online at llhs.org/advantagecontest text to 920-332-3187 or email your photo to contest@llhs.org
When you text or email, don't forget to include:
1. your own full name
2. grade in 24/25 (K-8)
3. school/city
4. parent's email or cell
As we feature Lakeside’s first and foremost foundational core value in this edition of the Advantage magazine—Christ in Everything we'd love to see you share that message too.
Take a selfie—or have someone take a pic of you— that highlights Christ in Everything. Maybe you’re standing by something on a wall that shows your Savior. Maybe you're wearing something that highlights your faith! Maybe it’s a picture of you with some artwork you created.
Your photo can be at home, at your grade school, or at Lakeside. We can't wait to see what you find around you at school or home that shows our Savior.
in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.” —Saint Patrick
What else you need to know:
Contest open to K-8 students in 24/25. One entry per person. Last day to enter is April 21, 2025. Prizes include cool Lakeside swag or other gifts, plus a $200 tuition credit, applicable to first semester at LLHS. Acceptability of entries will be at the sole discretion of judges. Prizes not transferable. Lakeside is not responsible for misdirected or lost entries. Winners’ parents will first be notified by email or phone call. Children of LLHS employees are not eligible for prizes. Find rules, an online form and other info at: llhs.org/advantagecontest
“Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ
Our Sports Advantage focus on our first core value
A View from the Front Row
by Tiffany Rahn, mother of varsity basketball player Wes Rahn
When we first became parents, our first priority going forward was to provide a Christian home, where our children would be taught about their Savior and his love. How? Intentionally through Bible stories, prayers, and family church attendance, but also by example, knowing they would have a front row seat to how Mom and Dad choose to reflect our faith in our day-to-day lives.
Haylee will join the Warrior family next year.
This “front row seat” was also a determining factor when it came time to choose a high school. Just as we were, our children have been highly involved in sports from a young age. We know firsthand what kind of impact a coach or adult mentor can have on a child. Who will they be watching from the front row in the gym, the hallways, the classrooms, or on the field? While nobody is perfect (thank you, Jesus, for taking that one for the team), we trust that by choosing Lakeside, we are surrounding our children with adults whose first priority aligns with our first priority at home—to reflect the love of Jesus and tell the next generation.
Now that Wes is a junior, we consider it a great blessing to know that the individuals who have been most impactful on our son are people who can support and encourage his athletic goals, and care deeply about his future as a Christian man going out into a broken world. The view Wes has from the front row shows compassion for others, encouragement for the weary, humility in victory, perseverance in defeat, and trust in a God that never fails. In our household, that’s a seat worth taking every time.
Join us at Warrior summer camps! Warrior basketball camps are fun, challenging experiences for campers who enjoy the game. High school coaches and players teach and help campers in fundamentals necessary to play and understand offensive and defensive team concepts in small groups. A variety of contests and games for all levels will add to the experience and excitement of being at camp. Girls camps run June 16–19 and Boys camps are June 23–26. See more details at See llhs.org/apps/pages/summerK8
Students from CLCA, where Wes’ sister
is a student, cheered on the Warriors as they competed at the WIAA state tournament in March 2024.
Wes is currently ranked #17 in the class of 2026 players in Wisconsin. At Lakeside, he has played in fewer than 50 varsity games, yet has almost 40 double doubles (points and rebounds in double digits). He plays AAU for Wisconsin Academy, where his coach, Chris Hibner, is also a Christian.
“It’s a huge blessing again to have Christian role-models who know there is more to life than basketball and live this example,” says Tiffany.
Rahn family: Mom Tiffany was Wes' first basketball coach for a Fort Atkinson travel team from 2-5 grades. Dad Pete coached Wes' baseball team from 5-8 grade and Crown of Life Christian Academy basketball. Sister
Haylee
Christ in Everything it's why Lakeside is worth it
By Jenny (Nommensen ‘98) Krauklis
25 years ago, I was blessed to participate in sports at Lakeside. It’s not the awards or team records I remember, it’s the hands folded with teammates before competition, the devotions that stayed with me after the match concluded, and the multiple times God-fearing coaches said they were praying for me.
Today I continue making those memories as a volleyball and softball coach—watching students pray before and after every match or game, give Christian encouragement through victory and defeat, and remind each other that they play first for their Savior.
As a parent, I love seeing all the believers who have guided and helped my kids along the way—teachers, coaches, relatives, friends, teammates. Lakeside helps our family surround our kids with God's people, a lifelong blessing.
At LLHS, our purpose in athletics far exceeds a win-loss record. We know that each one of us—alum, coach, athlete, manager, or fan—is commissioned to “go and make disciples of all nations.” We have the opportunity to not only minister to each other through the platform of athletics, but to also be that witness to every opponent, ref and school we come into contact with.
volleyball. What was even better than that gold ball was the team telling the reporters afterwards that, while this victory sure was great, we have an even greater victory that has already been won for us!" —Coach K
llhs.org/apps/pages/summerK8
Treat your elementary girls to a week of Christian volleyball coaching at Lakeside this summer.
Girls in grades 1–3 will enjoy a week of developing coordination and ball handling skills. Age-appropriate activities by trained coaches.
For older girls, we aim to improve each camper’s skills through drills, instruction, contests and games every day. Each session varies in its level of instruction and drills. Players in all sessions will be taught individual fundamentals and team concepts needed to become better players (& get a ball!).
July 21–24
Girls entering gr 1–3 | 9–10 AM (50 girl limit)
Girls entering gr 4–6 | 10:30–12:30 PM (70 limit)
Girls entering gr 7–9 | 1–3 PM (70 limit)
"It was an exciting year [2017] to win a State Championship in
Coach K(back row at right) with the 2024 Warrior conference champion volleyball team.
Jenny and her husband, Brandon (2nd from left) have four children, from left: Abel (LL '20), Selah (future Warrior), Luke '24 and Ben '25.
llhs.org
Summer 2025: Warrior Marching Band heads to east coast!
Summer band season begins for incoming freshmen–seniors Sunday, May 4 at the 6 pm mandatory parent & teen meeting. Registration needed by March 1!
Summer includes overnight Band Camp at LLHS from June 10-13, 7 local parades in June and June 30-July 14 Eastern Trip. Marchers can do local-only or both local and trip. (PASSPORT NEEDED!)
Highlights for the trip: Niagara Falls, Boston, New York City (Wicked on Broadway, Yankees game at Yankee Stadium, sightseeing in NYC), Rhode Island, White Mountains, Whale Watching in Bar Harbor, Maine, and more.
Start at llhs.org/apps/pages/ summerband for info & registration
Contact Mr. Pufahl with questions at gpufahl@llhs.org