Aloha Parents and Student Athletes, Welcome back from what I hope was a restful summer. We are trying to get back into routines of normalcy again by returning to 3 seasons of Interscholastic League of Honolulu (ILH) athletic offerings. Sports that were moved out of their traditional season last year due to COVID, will return to their original season. However, we are keeping a close eye on rising case numbers within the state and may need to make various sport specific and school wide accommodations. This is in contrast to the Department of Education who has recently pushed back the start date of their fall sports season to allow time for all of their athletes to be vaccinated. The ILH is not changing the start dates of their seasons. Right now, LJA is asking that everyone remained masked at all times while on campus except when actively eating, drinking or swimming. The daily self screening is still necessary by everyone who gets out of their cars.
On August 4th, the ILH released additional Return to Play Guidelines for the upcoming fall season. These changes are effective immediately. They are as follows: -Athletes in high contact sports such as cheer, football and water polo are required to be vaccinated OR receive a negative PCR-NT COVID test before each contest. Obtaining this test, the associated including associated costs, will be the responsibility of the student-athlete. Results of this test should be sent directly to our school nurse, school.nurse@lejardinacademy.org. If the results are not received for any reason before 3pm on game day, that student will not be allowed to participate in the contest. -Spectators will only be allowed on campus for all athletic games (not practices) only, but will be required to self screen, mask and distance at all times. Each athlete will be allowed 2 spectators of their choice, per game. Because of this, live streaming will not be offered.
We are looking forward to seeing everyone's smiling faces (at least their eyes above their masks) next week. Please note that water polo and girls volleyball have already started practicing. Kayaking, and cross country will meet the first day of school on the blue benches in front of the gym at 345pm.
Girls Intermediate Soccer Interest? The Athletic Department is trying to bring back our girls intermediate soccer team as one of our stand alone sports. If you are interested in joining the team this winter, please let the Athletic Director Jana Fraser, jana.fraser@lejardinacademy.org know by August 20th.
Weight Room Capacity The weight room capacity in the gym will be capped again as it was last year. The limit is 10 student-athletes plus the Strength and Conditioning Coach Dave Cosier, david.cosierjr@lejardinacademy.org. Diligent equipment cleaning after every use, masking and distance protocols will be in effect. Sign ups will be created by Coach Dave and will be prioritized for sports teams in season.
Kayaking Looking for Coach Our Head Coach Nick Whitcomb was fortunate to qualify for the World Championships kayaking tournaments overseas and is currently out of the country until September 22nd. We are needing a coach to fill in for the month that he is gone as races begin on September 11th. If you know anyone who may be interested, please contact the Athletic Director Jana Fraser, jana.fraser@lejardinacademy.org.
Participation Form New Due Date The Athletic participation form is an annual form that needs to be completed by a physician in order to practice or compete in ILH sports. The LJA Athletic Department is moving away from accepting these forms all year long, to a summer due date similar to when other school health forms are uploaded into the Magnus Health system. This is partially due to a mandate by the ILH office of a 4 day waiting period for athletes whose forms expire or are turned in late during the season. Observing this policy has been problematic in the past, and resulted in some athletes having to miss competitions. Please have your completed Sports Participation form (which can be downloaded at Sports Participation Form '21-'22) completed by the first day of school, or for fall athletes prior to the first day of practice. If you find yourself in the position where a second sports physical is needed, here are a few options with associated charges that may be less costly than going through your Primary Care Physician.
CVS Minute Clinic $69 (Longs Drugs stores) Urgent Care Hawaii $50 (660 Kailua Rd.) Windward Urgent Care/Premier Medical Group Hawaii $50 (Castle Adventist Health – Kaneohe Office building) Braun Urgent Care $85 (130 Kailua Rd., Kailua Beach Center)
Sports Trivia About The Olympics -Gold medals are mostly made of silver- they haven't been pure gold since the 1912 Olympics. -The Olympic torch Relay is not an ancient tradition- it started in 1936. -At least one of the Olympic Rings' colors appears in every national flag.
"Passion first and everything will fall into place." -Holly Holm |