high school

Baccalaureate Vespers 2019

After sitting through dozens of graduation speeches that were a terrible waste of time, the brilliant educator and critic Neil Postman wrote the sort of commencement address he wished would be given but never is. In it he talks about two groups of ancient people, the Athenians and the Visigoths. This is because, Postman said, you soon must align yourself with the spirit of one or the spirit of the other. You must choose between the Athenians or the Visigoths.

The Athenians developed a political democracy, invented philosophy, and one of their scientists conceived of the atomic theory of matter 2,300 years before it ever occurred to a modern scientist. They sang beautiful poems and wrote plays that are still performed today. They loved beauty and strove for excellence.

The Visigoths, by contrast, were good at one thing: killing. Their language was barbaric, their art grotesque. They loved to burn books and destroy buildings. Nothing of this people remains.

Class of 2019 Meet Us Monday: Lucas S.

We hope you are enjoying our Class of 2019 “Meet Us Mondays” series as we hear from our 8th graders in their own words their favorite ILS memories and traditions, words of wisdom they remember from their teachers, highlights from their 8th grade year, and where they’ll be heading to high school in the fall. It is hard to believe that we’re just a month out from the end of the school year, and it is even harder to believe these students will soon be graduating. We truly appreciate our Class of 2019 taking the time to reflect on their time at ILS and share some great memories with us all here on the blog!

Class of 2019 Meet Us Monday: Tyreke F.

Our “Meet Us Monday” series continues this week as we profile the members of our Class of 2019 in the weeks counting down to graduation. As we approach this milestone, we have been asking each of our wonderful 8th grade students to reflect on their time at ILS, as well as share some of their future plans, which we will be sharing these final weeks of the school year in this special series. We hope you enjoy getting to better know our wonderful students in the ILS Class of 2019 as they reminisce about their favorite memories and ILS traditions, and we thank them for taking the time to respond to our interview questions!

Class of 2019 Meet Us Monday: Abigail A.

With the start of the 4th Quarter of the 2018-2019 school year, we begin our countdown to graduation for our Class of 2019! To celebrate and recognize our soon-to-be graduates, we will once again be running a "Meet Us Monday" series introducing you to each of the members of our ILS Class of 2019.

In this series, our wonderful 8th grade students have been invited to reflect on their time at ILS and share both favorite memories as well as some of their future plans. Please enjoy getting to better know our delightful ILS Class of 2019!

Congratulations, Graduates!

On Wednesday, June 7th, ILS celebrated our 2017 Graduation Vespers. It was a wonderful evening of fellowship and rejoicing with our 8th grade students as they completed their time and course of study at ILS and prepare to embark on the next part of their educational journey as they move on to different high schools next fall. Along with their families, we are so proud of this ILS Class of 2017, and we keep you in our prayers and hope you will return often to visit.

Pastor Esget gave the graduation sermon, advising our graduates to be thoughtful and discerning when it comes to the advisors that will guide them in the years ahead. The sermon can be read in its entirety online.

“Each one of you has received great gifts. Huit, you have a quick wit; Gabriel, you are bold and confident; Josie, you are bright and thorough; Kris, every day you work harder and smile more, the Lord Himself has adopted you and made you His own; Preston, you quietly, honorably, and respectfully do exceptional work; and Justus, you fill every day with joy and encouragement.

And all the gifts you have received can be turned against you by counselors who don’t have your best interests at heart. Tonight’s Psalm tells us there are two different kinds of counselors. They are represented by the counselors who guide earthly rulers, and the counsel that God Himself gives to you.

The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever; the plans of his heart to all generations. (Ps. 33.10f).

The counsel of the nations—all the counsel the world will give you—is going to come to nothing. God’s counsel is what lasts, even if it means being different or weird or out of step with everyone else.”
— Pastor Esget, Graduation Sermon

Celebrating our ILS Class of 2017

As they enjoy their final days as ILS 8th graders, our Class of 2017, along with their parents, teachers, and Upper School classmates gathered on Saturday, June 3rd, to celebrate their time at Immanuel, their upcoming graduation, and the beginning of the next phase of their education journeys.

It has truly been a joy watching this class learn, grow, and lead. We celebrate their many accomplishments in their time at ILS, and we look forward to watching them as they embark on their high school years in the fall. Our door is always open, and we hope to this class, and the classes before them, back at ILS frequently in the future!

Alumnus Profile: Emmanuel Tamrat

Many of our current ILS families will remember 2014 graduate, Emmanuel Tamrat, who is our featured profile this week. Emmanuel has just finished up a wonderful freshman year at St. Anselm's Abbey School in Washington, D.C. Just a year out of ILS, Emmanuel shares his memories of ILS and how his time here helped to ready him for his high school experience. Enjoy other recent Alumni Profiles here and here.