Lake Loop
Tiarah Alexander
As the frosty winter season ends, spring blossoms with new activities and events at La Lumiere (La Lu). As the days get longer and the sun shines brighter, it is the perfect time to practice outdoor activities like tennis and baseball.
For the people who like to stay active and healthy indoors, there is an option to do pilates as well. It’s also a great time for academic competitions such as the Academic Super Bowl, where students get a chance to show off their vast knowledge in various subjects. The students participating in Academic Super Bowl had a competition on March 4, where they achieved second place in the subject science.
Overall, spring is a season of excitement, with several opportunities for both physical and intellectual growth. La Lumiere students have the opportunity to grow throughout the spring season both academically and physically before the school year draws to a close at the end of spring.
Arts
Evie DeRubbo
The La Lu Players put on four successful performances of Alice in Wonderland on February 18, 20, 25, 26. Three dates of the original performances had to be rescheduled due to conflicts with weather and sudden cancellations, but the Players valiantly pulled through with two new performances last week.
Despite the continuous and unpredictable Indiana weather, Alice in Wonderland was a production to be proud of.
Liv Owens, who played the Queen’s soldier, said that the play “went through a lot, was chaotic” but “everything worked out.” Two of her favorite elements were the set design and the costumes. Liv also said that the play was “a great experience” and “really fun”.
Eloise Verdun, who played the terrifying Queen of Hearts, was also enthusiastic about how the play turned out. “The play was a learning experience, and we overcame a lot of obstacles. The roles were well-suited and fun to play. It was interesting to make [The Player’s] own version of a childhood story.”
Verdun also told The Torch that the second night brought in the highest number of students ever seen at a Player’s production. Paraphrasing Mr. Benedict, the show’s director, Verdun said, “people from high school age to 80 years old all laughed.”
Other teachers commented that the play was “more entertaining than they had seen before”, and some thought it was the best production yet. Through hard work, dedication, and genuine excitement, the Players pulled off one of their most demanding performances to date.
Ramadan
Maiyah Lewis, Liv Owens
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and the holiest month for Muslims. It is observed as a month of fasting, praying, reflection, and community.
The month begins and ends with the sighting of the crescent moon; since the Islamic year is shorter than the Gregorian calendar, Ramadan starts 10 to 12 days earlier each year. During this month, Muslims fast from dawn until dusk, meaning they don’t eat or drink anything and avoid other physical needs to practice self-discipline.
This fast, called ṣawm, isn’t just about not eating but also avoiding bad behavior and negative thoughts. The goal is to purify the soul and grow closer to Allah.
Ramadan is also a time for extra prayers and for reading the Qurʾān, especially during the tawārīḥ prayers at night. Ramadan marks the time when the Qurʾān was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad on the Night of Power, which happens during the last ten nights of Ramadan.
At sunset, Muslims break their fast with a meal called ifṭār, often starting with dates, as was the tradition of Prophet Muhammad. Before dawn, they eat the suḥūr meal to get ready for the next day’s fast.
One of La Lumiere’s own students, Shokria Khairy is from Afghanistan and says her favorite part of Ramadan back home is when they go around singing and throwing water on peoples heads or giving them money. She also said, “my favorite food to eat during Ramadan is Ish Nakod, which is chickpeas with a mint sauce.”
Khairy stated that she usually breaks that fast with her family by drinking tea or any kind of juice along with some dates.
Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr, a joyful holiday where Muslims gather with family, exchange gifts, and give thanks to Allah for helping them complete the fast. It’s also a time for charity, where Muslims are encouraged to help the poor and do good deeds. Ramadan is a spiritually powerful time that unites the Muslim community through fasting, prayer, and kindness.