President Luke Fiskness offered three principles that act like anchors to steady the classroom in Monday’s inservice. The first is to make room for rest; the pace of modern schooling can feel like a factory conveyor belt, but scholé insists on space to savor ideas. The second is to aim every lesson at what is truly worthwhile: the goodness of creation, the beauty of art, the truth of Scripture, and the wisdom of history. The third is to remember that people are not machines; we are created to worship and to wonder, not merely to produce. Those principles are simple enough to write on a sticky note and profound enough to change a culture.

The Comets’ offense rolled up 388 yards, spreading the ball effectively with 137 yards on the ground and 251 through the air. Swedberg completed 16 of 26 passes for 206 yards and a touchdown while also rushing 18 times for 108 yards and four scores.

In the House System at Hillcrest, students are learning to name and celebrate the design of each other, their character, habits, strengths, and stories. Today, they discovered that God’s creation is full of clues pointing to His order, His strength, and His beauty, and how they can reflect that by recognizing, celebrating, and promoting his work in their hearts and in the community of Hillcrest.

“I was pleased with the opportunities the Comets created offensivel,” Coach Rod Jensen noted. “We must continue to work on finding the back of the net with the opportunities created!  We have some areas of defensive improvements we can work on.  We did have excellent efforts from midfielder Ben Hordnes and defenders Caleb Holm, Charlie Eggiman, and Silas Haugstvedt.

From the start, the Comets fought for midfield control with the poise of a team that trusts each other. Captain Alexa Ewan directed the flow of the game, guiding midfielders Lauren Markovetz and Danna Rodriguez to create chances for forwards Kaia Fiskness and Isla Frobish. Midway through the first half, defensive captain Paisley Garvin launched a perfectly timed through ball from the back line to find Fiskness, decisive in her run, breaking through the Vikings’ defense and coolly slotting the ball past the keeper to put Hillcrest up 1–0.

The Comets jumped ahead quickly Friday night, piling up 16 first-quarter points behind quarterback Ethan Swedberg, who accounted for three touchdowns in the opening frame. He connected with Drew Fischer on a 39-yard strike, powered in a 3-yard rush, and found Maverick Peterson from 16 yards out to put Hillcrest up 16–6. By the end of the half, Swedberg had added another highlight, an electrifying 62-yard bomb to Griffen Haus, stretching the lead to 22–6.

Coming off last year’s unforgettable run to the Section Final, Hillcrest entered this season carrying high expectations. But with a roster that looks different and plays different, the Comets are already showing that their strength will come from forging a fresh identity marked by trust, energy, and unity.

The clubs meet for a 45 minute block once a week. They have the opportunity to change clubs at specific breaks in the year to explore more restful learning opportunities. Faculty and staff lead the clubs, connecting with students in a mentor relationship that moves discipleship beyond textbooks and home work assignments into a love of exploration and learning around interests the student holds.

Comet Football lit up the field in their season opener, defeating the Northern Freeze in a decisive 44–8 victory. But it wasn’t only the scoreboard that made the night unforgettable, after the final huddle, Coach Korey Fry proposed to Hillcrest alumna Laura Tungseth in front of the team, families, and fans.

The Comets’ identity is already clear: organized in the back field, tireless in midfield, and ruthless up front when chances come. They communicate, they cover for each other, and they play with an edge. When they get punched, they punch back. When momentum tilts, they grind to tilt it back. This is a squad that’s learning how to suffer together and surge together.

In a few short weeks, the Comets have learned each other’s strengths and weaknesses, how to celebrate a goal, and how to pick each other up when mistakes come. English mixes with Portuguese, Spanish, and Norwegian on the practice field, yet the message is clear: encouragement, resilience, and joy bind them together.

Hillcrest’s design in this new program is clear: create a community where every student belongs, every student participates, and every student learns what it means to serve others in the name of Christ. Practically, this is carried out in Hillcrest’s new house system in chants, friendly rivalries, and shared memories that remind students that faith and joy are not separate streams but instead unite in beauty under the banner of Christ at Hillcrest.

A little while ago, I sat across the table from a Hillcrest alum who served on the mission field. “It was at Hillcrest that I first sensed God calling me to something greater. That’s where the Lord grabbed my heart.”

“We see the College Credit Track as an on‑ramp to calling,” says President Luke Fiskness. “Students launch their college journey early, yet remain rooted in biblical truth and surrounded by mentors who know and love them. Because the courses are delivered in a non‑sectarian format, they equip teens for a wide range of majors and worldviews; while our community keeps Christ at the center.”

At Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, the sound of pages turning in a Great Books seminar blends naturally with the scrape of skate blades on fresh ice and the rhythmic swish of skis on winter trails.

This was truly a record-setting year for Hillcrest. In the 46-year history of Track & Field at Hillcrest, only 15 individual athletes had ever competed at the State Meet. This year alone, six athletes represented Hillcrest! Even more inspiring, while only four female athletes had previously competed at State in school history, five girls qualified this year alone.

Hillcrest’s Senior Honors Dinner blessings work because the homework happens months in advance. Faculty jot down hallway moments, dorm staff collect late-night conversations, coaches file away bus-ride pep talks. The president and principal sift the pile, pray, and craft the blessings.

Anika’s essay stood out for its clear prose, vivid storytelling, and heartfelt vision. Parents, teachers, and community members celebrated the culmination of weeks of brainstorming, drafting, revising, and dreaming at the reception.

These preschool students didn’t just learn about their local business people. As they learned about the ice cream machines and poured their own ice cream cone they were building connection with local business owners that links them to a community that celebrates kids and celebrates connectedness.

Today, third-grade students at Hillcrest Academy brought their notebooks and pencils outside to reflect on Charlotte’s Web—one of the most enduring children’s novels in American literature. With the sun overhead and the grass beneath them, students quietly wrote their reflections in cursive, combining literature, handwriting, and outdoor learning in one meaningful experience.