 Boys' team earns Central Texas Qualifier berth with perfect 5-0 record and Connect Award The Mechanical Mustangs robotics teams brought their A-game to this weekend's FIRST Tech Challenge league championship, with the boys' team punching their ticket to the Central Texas Regional Championship after an impressive tournament performance. Boys' Team: Perfect Record Leads to Regional Berth The boys' team put together a flawless 5-0 performance in qualification rounds, climbing from their initial ninth-place ranking to secure the fourth seed heading into elimination rounds. Their consistent excellence throughout the day—combining strong driving skills, a solid mechanical robot, and strategic alliance pairings—positioned them as the number four alliance captain. Though they faced a setback in their first double-elimination match against the fifth seed, the team's overall performance spoke volumes. Their success was capped off with the first-place Connect Award, which, combined with their competitive record, earned them a direct advancement to the Central Texas Regional Championship. Girls' Team: Strong Showing with Sustain Award The girls' team competed with determination throughout the day, including a notable match alongside the tournament's top-ranked team. Their efforts were recognized with a second-place Sustain Award, demonstrating their commitment to the program's values beyond just competitive performance. While they didn't accumulate enough points to advance beyond league play, team members Lexi and Naomi exemplified leadership, serving in mentor roles throughout the season and driving both the first and last matches of league competition. Kinetic Kids: Full FIRST Experience A highlight of the tournament was watching the Kinetic Kids team—the FIRST Access team our students mentor on Monday nights—compete alongside 34 other teams. Rather than participating in only the annual FIRST Access event, these young men experienced the full competition: judging sessions, pit interviews, and matches throughout the day. "What does full participation look like for our team of special needs?" reflected Coach Andrew Schuetze during the tournament. "Here they are with 34 other teams competing for advancement at the league tournament." The Kinetic Kids team earned two pit interviews from judges and competed with the support of their LHS student mentors, who Schuetze described as "young STEM leaders [who] fill my heart with a season-long mentorship." A Day of Competition The tournament day began at 8:30 AM with the boys' team heading to judging while preparing their robot for compliance inspection. Throughout the day, all three teams fielded multiple pit interviews from judges—often a positive indicator of award consideration. The boys' team methodically built their ranking through the qualification rounds, maintaining sixth place for much of the day before securing the fourth seed. As alliance captain, they selected their elimination round partner and battled through the bracket toward their regional qualification. The Mechanical Mustangs program continues to demonstrate that competitive excellence and inclusive mentorship can thrive side by side. Congratulations to all three teams on a successful league championship, and best of luck to the boys' team as they prepare for the Central Texas Regional Championship!
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 Friday, January 16, Lutheran High School students had the opportunity to step into the world of medicine at the UT Health Science Center's Brain and Eye Day—a unique program designed to give high school students hands-on experience with real medical education. LHS was selected as one of only a few schools invited to participate in this immersive program, hosted by medical students at the Long School of Medicine. Our students spent the morning at the UT Health Science Center campus on Floyd Curl, diving deep into neurology and ophthalmology through interactive learning experiences. The program featured five specialized stations where students rotated throughout the morning:
One of the highlights of the day was the chance to learn directly from current medical students who are on their own journey to becoming doctors. These medical students led the stations, sharing their knowledge and passion for medicine while giving our students a glimpse into what a career in healthcare might look like. Programs like Brain and Eye Day do more than teach anatomy—they inspire. They show students that science isn't just something in a textbook; it's tangible, fascinating, and full of possibilities. Whether our students pursue medicine or not, today's experience increased their understanding of how our bodies work and the importance of maintaining brain and eye health throughout our lives. We're grateful to UT Health Science Center and the Long School of Medicine for this incredible opportunity and for investing in the next generation of learners and leaders.  We are thrilled to announce that Lutheran High School of San Antonio has been recognized with Platinum recognition on the 2025 AP School Honor Roll – marking our third consecutive year earning this prestigious honor! This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to pursuing excellence and our dedication to providing a firm foundation for student success in college and beyond.
What Does Platinum Recognition Mean? The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools that demonstrate exceptional commitment to expanding college-level opportunities for students. To earn Platinum status, schools must meet rigorous criteria across three key areas: College Culture: At least 40% of graduating seniors must take at least one AP Exam during high school. College Credit: At least 25% of graduating seniors must score 3 or higher on at least one AP Exam. College Optimization: At least 2% of graduating seniors must take five or more AP Exams across their high school years, with at least one taken in 9th or 10th grade. LHSSA's Outstanding Performance Our Class of 2025 has exceeded expectations across all three categories:
Congratulations to the Class of 2025, and here's to continued success!  Last night, Lutheran High School of San Antonio's gymnasium transformed into a hub of scientific discovery as students presented their research projects at our annual internal Science Fair. In partnership with Shepherd of the Hills, we hosted an evening of innovation where freshmen and sophomores in honors biology and chemistry, alongside 8th graders, shared their scientific investigations with a distinguished panel of judges. The event served as a crucial stepping stone for students aiming to advance their projects to the ARASE Junior Academy of Science local fair or the ARASE regional fair. From the regional fair, outstanding projects have the opportunity to compete at the prestigious Texas State Science and Engineering Fair hosted by Texas A&M University. Science Fair exemplifies how our students live out LHS's mission to lead lives of impact in our community to the glory of Jesus Christ. Through their projects, students identified real-world problems, investigated potential solutions, designed rigorous experiments, and analyzed data to draw meaningful conclusions. This process develops critical thinking skills while encouraging students to use their God-given talents to serve others and advance human knowledge. A dedicated panel of judges—comprising LHS teachers, parents, and alumni—evaluated each project using comprehensive criteria that assessed three key areas: Foundation & Planning: examined whether students developed clear, testable research questions and appropriate methodologies with well-defined variables and controls. Execution & Innovation: focused on the quality of data collection, the reproducibility of results, proper application of statistical methods, and the originality demonstrated in the research question or approach. Presentation & Communication: evaluated both the visual clarity of posters and students' ability to articulate their scientific understanding, demonstrate independence in their work, recognize broader impacts, and envision future research directions. Students were available at their poster stations from 6:00 to 8:30 PM, with each project evaluated by at least three judges who provided scores and constructive feedback to help refine projects for the next competition level. The Science Fair represents months of dedication, curiosity, and hard work from our students. We are grateful to the judges who volunteered their time and expertise to mentor the next generation of scientists, and we look forward to seeing how our students' projects develop as they advance through regional and state competitions. Congratulations to all participants on their outstanding work, and a special thank you to Mrs. Rikard and Mr. Schuetze for all their work making this event possible!  Making an Impact Beyond Our Campus! We're incredibly proud to share that students from Lutheran High School were invited by LCMS Youth Ministry to participate in a significant milestone for Lutheran youth across the nation: helping to shape the theme for the 2028 National Youth Gathering in San Antonio! The LCMS Youth Gathering brings together tens of thousands of Lutheran youth from across the country every three years for worship, learning, and community. The theme selection process is a carefully considered, prayerful undertaking centered on God's Word and focused on communicating the Gospel of Jesus Christ and God's truth to the young people and adults who will attend. LCMS Youth Ministry has a rich tradition of including the voices of high school students and young adults in this discernment process. Each theme selection meeting has been blessed by the presence and participation of young people who share their insights, faith perspectives, and understanding of what Gospel messages resonate most deeply with their generation. On January 5-6, 2026, our LHS students joined youth ministry leaders, pastors, and other stakeholders for two intensive days of prayer, discussion, and collaborative planning. These students represented Lutheran High School with insight, wisdom, and grace as they contributed to finalizing the Gathering's theme. The meeting process was thoughtfully designed to draw on multiple sources of wisdom:
Our students helped answer crucial questions: What Gospel messages do today's high schoolers need to hear most? What challenges are youth facing that the Church needs to address? How can the 2028 Gathering speak truth and hope into the lives of Lutheran teenagers? These LHS students, graduates of Shepherd of the Hills and Concordia Lutheran, have done an outstanding job putting our mission into action: students making an impact in their community to the glory of Jesus Christ! Their participation in this process demonstrates that Lutheran High students are not just being prepared for future leadership—they are leading right now. They are contributing their voices to shape how the Gospel will be proclaimed to tens of thousands of their peers in 2028. We're deeply grateful for how all of our association churches—including Shepherd of the Hills and Concordia—are faithfully raising up the next generation of faith leaders. When our students are invited to participate at this level, it reflects the strong foundation of faith formation happening in our Lutheran schools and congregations. The investment our churches make in youth ministry, confirmation instruction, Bible study, and discipleship is bearing fruit. Our students are prepared not only to articulate their faith but to think critically and theologically about how to communicate timeless Gospel truths to their generation. The 2028 LCMS Youth Gathering will return to San Antonio, a city that has hosted several memorable Gatherings over the decades. As the theme is finalized and planning continues, we can be proud that Lutheran High students played a meaningful role in shaping this important event. We look forward to seeing how God will use the 2028 Gathering to strengthen the faith of Lutheran youth, equip them for lives of service, and send them out as witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you to our students for representing LHS so well, and thank you to LCMS Youth Ministry for recognizing the valuable perspectives our young people bring to the Church!  The Christmas season is a special time to gather together in worship and celebrate the birth of our Savior. Lutheran High School is proud to partner with our association congregations and would like to share their Christmas Eve services for anyone looking for a place to worship on Christmas Eve.
Here are the worship times for this year: Concordia Lutheran Church Location: 16801 Huebner Rd, San Antonio, TX 78258 Concordia is offering four Christmas Eve services on Wednesday, December 24:
For more information, call (210) 479-1477 or visit concordia.cc Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church Location: 6914 Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, TX 78240 Shepherd of the Hills is celebrating Christmas Eve with three services on Wednesday, December 24:
For more information, call (210) 614-3742 or visit shepherdlutheran.com Mount Calvary Lutheran Church Location: 308 Mt Calvary Dr, San Antonio, TX 78209 Mount Calvary will host three Christmas Eve services on Wednesday, December 24:
For more information, call (210) 824-8748 or visit mtcsa.org Crown of Life Lutheran Church Location: 19291 Stone Oak Pkwy, San Antonio, TX 78258 Crown of Life is offering two Christmas Eve services on Wednesday, December 24:
For more information, call (210) 490-6886 or visit crownoflifesa.org Messiah Lutheran Church Location: 9401 Dietz Elkhorn Rd, Boerne, TX 78015 Messiah will offer three Christmas Eve services on Wednesday, December 24:
For more information, call (830) 755-4300 or visit messiahboerne.org St. John's Lutheran Church Location: 315 Rosewood Ave, Boerne, TX 78006 St. John's will offer three Christmas Eve services on Wednesday, December 24:
For more information, call (830) 249-3651 or visit stjohnlutheran.com Whether you're looking for a traditional candlelight service with choir and brass, a family-friendly celebration designed for children, or a late evening service, these Lutheran churches in the San Antonio and Boerne areas welcome you to celebrate the birth of Christ. Many churches offer multiple service times to accommodate different schedules and preferences. We encourage you to arrive early, especially for the more popular service times, as parking and seating may fill up quickly on Christmas Eve. Most churches also offer nursery care and have accommodations for families with young children. Merry Christmas from the Lutheran High School community! May your celebration be filled with joy, peace, and the love of Christ.  As the fall semester draws to a close and final exams loom on the horizon, Lutheran High School of San Antonio paused to nurture both body and spirit with our annual pancake breakfast on Monday, December 15. The gymnasium buzzed with festive energy as students arrived in their favorite Christmas attire, filling the space with holiday cheer. Chapel families gathered together, creating a warm atmosphere of fellowship and encouragement right when students needed it most—just before diving into their final exam preparations. The aroma of fresh pancakes filled the air as our dedicated faculty took to the griddles, cooking up stacks of fluffy pancakes alongside other breakfast favorites. Students enjoyed their meals while Christmas music played in the background, sharing laughter and conversation with friends. It was a beautiful reminder that our school community is about more than just academics; it's about the relationships and support we build together. After everyone had their fill, the day continued with an amended schedule that allowed students to attend each of their eight classes for focused final exam review sessions. This intentional structure gave students the opportunity to clarify questions, review key concepts, and feel confident heading into their exams. The pancake breakfast embodies our school's mission to nurture faith and pursue excellence. By taking time to gather as a community, celebrate the season, and support one another, we reminded our students that they don't face their challenges alone. They're part of a caring community that invests in their success—not just academically, but as whole persons. As finals week unfolds, we're grateful for traditions like this that strengthen our bonds and lift our spirits. Here's to finishing the semester strong, together!  This Wednesday, LHS came alive with the warmth of gratitude and community as our Chapel Families hosted their annual Friendsgiving celebration—a school-wide feast that brings students together in their chapel family to share food, fellowship, and thanksgiving before the holiday break. The Friendsgiving tradition has heartwarming roots in our school community. What began as Mrs. Urban's Chapel Family gathering over lunch for a Thanksgiving meal has blossomed into a school-wide event. When other families saw the bonds being strengthened around that shared table, they knew it was too good not to share. Now, every Chapel Family at LHS participates in this special celebration of community and gratitude. Chapel Families are central to the LHS experience, providing every student with a home away from home throughout their high school years. Students are sorted into their Chapel Family when they enroll and remain connected to that group for their entire time at LHS. These families meet regularly on Mondays and Wednesdays for devotions, activities, and often food—building the kind of lasting relationships that make high school meaningful. Friendsgiving exemplifies what makes Chapel Families special. It's not just about the turkey and sides (though those are certainly appreciated!). It's about pausing in the midst of busy school schedules to recognize what we're thankful for: each other, our community, and the bonds we've formed through shared faith and experiences. While Chapel Families know how to compete—the Chapel Family Olympics each quarter keeps things lively as groups vie for points by winning competitions and exhibiting our school pillars—events like Friendsgiving remind us that we're all part of one larger LHS family. Whether your Chapel Family is currently leading in the Olympics standings or cheering from behind, everyone comes together as equals around the Friendsgiving table. As we celebrated the annual Friendsgiving this Wednesday, we're reminded that the best traditions often start small—with one family deciding to share a meal and open their hearts to gratitude. Thanks to Mrs. Urban's Chapel Family for inspiring this beautiful tradition, and to all our Chapel Families for making LHS a place where faith, community, and relationships thrive. Happy Friendsgiving, Mustangs! We're thankful for each and every one of you.  Lutheran High School of San Antonio's commitment to pursuing excellence was on full display this month as faculty members participated in specialized professional development designed to enhance student learning and support. On Friday, November 7, the entire LHSSA faculty gathered for a professional development session led by UnboundED, focusing on a powerful approach to teaching: leveraging students' "funds of knowledge" to strengthen academic learning. The core message was clear—when teachers intentionally get to know their students on a deeper level and connect learning to their lived experiences, engagement and understanding flourish. The session challenged faculty to move beyond surface-level relationships and discover the rich assets, experiences, and community knowledge that each student brings to the classroom. Teachers worked through a structured planning process that asked them to consider:
Faculty left the session with a clear mission:
In addition to the whole-faculty training, LHSSA sent two key staff members to deepen their expertise in special education support. Liesel Urban, Dean of Student Success, and Amelia Hessong, a second-year mathematics teacher, attended the Herzog Foundation's Special Education training. The Herzog Foundation Institute provides specialized training through three series—Leadership Development, Organizational Development, and Teacher Development—all designed to sustain growth in Christian education. The special education training equips educators with strategies and resources to better serve students with diverse learning needs within a Christ-centered educational framework. This investment in specialized training reflects LHSSA's commitment to ensuring all students receive the support they need to thrive academically, socially, and spiritually. These professional development opportunities represent more than just required training hours—they demonstrate LHSSA's dedication to nurturing faith and pursuing excellence with our students. By investing in faculty growth, the school ensures that teachers have the tools, knowledge, and inspiration to create classrooms where every student is known, valued, and challenged to lead lives of impact to the glory of Jesus Christ. As LHSSA faculty implement these new strategies and insights, the entire Mustang community benefits from educators who are committed to both excellence and equity in the classroom.  At Lutheran High School of San Antonio, service isn’t just something we do—it’s who we are. On our annual Service Day, the Mustang community stepped out of the classroom and into action, living out our mission to lead lives of impact to the glory of Jesus Christ by serving others. Students, teachers, and staff spread across San Antonio and the Hill Country, lending their hands and hearts to make a tangible difference in the lives of others. Several of our chapel families headed to Sleep in Heavenly Peace, a local organization dedicated to building and delivering beds for children who don’t have one. Mustangs measured, sanded, drilled, and assembled dozens of bed frames, learning that even small acts of craftsmanship can carry deep meaning. Each bed represented more than wood and screws—it was a gift of rest, dignity, and love. Other chapel families traveled to Hill Country Daily Bread, where students sorted, packed, and distributed food for families in need. Working alongside volunteers and staff, Mustangs helped organize the food pantry, assemble care packages, and prepare donations for delivery. Through this hands-on experience, students saw how their time and teamwork could bring hope to those facing food insecurity. Still other chapel families rolled up their sleeves to take care of the home they all share. Crews spread fresh mulch in flower beds, repainted parking lot lines, and helped with maintenance on the soccer and football fields. Their efforts not only beautified the grounds but also strengthened the sense of pride and stewardship that defines the Mustang community. Service Day is a reminder that the classroom extends far beyond four walls. By serving both the wider community and their own campus, our students learned that faith becomes most powerful when it moves from words to deeds. Lutheran High School of San Antonio is proud of our students for their hard work, joyful spirit, and servant hearts. Together, they lived out the truth of 1 Peter 4:10: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” |
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