Principal's Message by Alex Ramsvig, HS Principal Aloha All, For this year's final LJA newsletter, I want to discuss the idea of impact, specifically in terms of how we measure our year's success. Beyond our college admissions, DP results, Personal Project exhibition, report cards, athletic triumphs, I am most proud of the ways in which our students and faculty have made intentional choices to make a positive impact on our local and global communities. This, I believe, is the heart of who we are. The two most apt examples are the events surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as the current mass protests challenging systemic racism. During the Coronavirus quarantine, our students impacted our local community by supporting their own families, making masks for health care workers, assembling care baskets for victims of domestic violence, and volunteering as tutors and "buddies" for our students in lower divisions. As a whole, we impacted our island and our world by participating in one of the most difficult tasks -- staying at home. I was continually impressed as students stepped up, offered to help, and worked to protect the most vulnerable amongst our population. At this moment, there is unprecedented civil unrest in our country, and, as our nation grapples with current and historic struggles, our students and 'Ohana are again asking: How can I impact this situation? How can I make a difference? Along with our HS faculty and staff, I have encouraged students to spend time learning about the complex forces and diverse ideologies contributing to the discord we are experiencing as a nation. I also encourage all of us to look within ourselves and commit to the work of becoming not simply non-racist, but anti-racist and not just supportive of positive change, but as intentional change-makers. We are lucky to be part of a thoughtful, safe and caring learning community, and with that privilege, we have a responsibility to contribute to a more peaceful and sustainable world for everyone. When we look back collectively on this school year, I know we can recall great moments for which we can be incredibly proud. I invite you to spend your summer with a similar ethic: when you look back, I hope you feel both relaxed and accomplished. Do something meaningful with your time--explore your passions, feed your curiosity, and find little and big ways to positively impact your community. Finally, I would like to thank all of our faculty, staff, and families for rallying behind our high school and our students. As principal, it has meant the world to me to know that so many people believe in our mission and want to see our students succeed. Over the summer, we will continue to work hard to ensure that we can return to campus in person this fall in a safe and sustainable way. Look for more information in early July about our planning for next year. Please feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or concerns. Alex Ramsvig P.S. Congratulations again to the class of 2020! It was a joy to be together with you for your graduation alex.ramsvig@lejardinacademy.org or at 808.261.0707 ext 2325 LJA Wellness Message by LJA MS/HS Counseling Team 6/5/2020 Sean Landau, Jessica Osborne, and Amy Yaeger Aloha, Many of us have struggled these past few months, managing feelings of frustration, disappointment, and grief. The pandemic has taken its toll, but the horrific deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd have left the nation reeling from trauma, despair, and anger. Discussions of racism and violence dominate the national conversation — and the conversations we're having at home. Our kids are listening, and they are trying to make sense of the anguish and violence they're witnessing, while parents (many of whom are struggling to manage our own emotions) are wondering how to help. For our final message of the school year we are sharing timely guidance and advice for helping your child process their feelings as well as ideas to help parents dig in to challenging questions without turning away. If you feel compelled to action, here are some things you can do: - Donate to causes that need funding
- Show up to a protest (safety tips)
- Sign a petition
- Show solidarity on social media
- Get informed about the anti-racist struggle
- Support black creators and business owners
- Keep listening and learning
Take care and be well. For general information about counseling services at LJA, please visit www.hscounseling.org. LJA Counseling Team Sean Landau, Jessica Osborne, and Amy Yaeger FROM THE OFFICE OF EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION, Christina Hoe John Dewey, a leading philosopher in progressive education reform, once urged, "Give the pupils something to do, not something to learn; and the doing is of such a nature as to demand thinking; learning naturally results." When the world is flipped upside down, as it has been with the COVID-19 pandemic, the "doing" is inherent. We all had to learn how to live in brand new conditions, employing skills and mindsets that may have previously felt a bit "theoretical." For instance, at Le Jardin we often talk about "failing well," learning from mistakes, embracing a low score as an opportunity to grow. Well, how many people learned to "fail well" in the kitchen during quarantine? I certainly did--there were at least three dishes that my family pretended to like and then secretly gave to the neighbor's dog. Or, perhaps you learned to "fail well" in distance learning, figuring out how to manage the workload over time, as you slowly dialed in the system that served you best. In another example, innovative thinking, open-mindedness, and active reflection are central learner profile traits. How many people had to create brand new systems at home? Did you run out of certain things (toilet paper or butter or eggs) and have to come up with a substitute? Did you find yourself reflecting on what you missed about "normal life"? Perhaps you realized there were some habits or priorities you could let go? All of this innovation, open-minded thinking and reflection came about not because of an assignment or lesson. The pandemic experience has required us to do things differently, and, as a result, we continue to learn and grow. Learning is like breathing--it's something we can do consciously or subconsciously, but, either way, we are wired for it. Rich experiences, even the hardest ones, can be gifts when we approach them mindfully, through the lens of learning. As the nation descends into violence, fear and anger over police brutality and systemic racism, we are faced with another learning opportunity. Unlike the pandemic, many of us can choose whether or not to fully engage with this moment in history. We can turn off the news, change the subject, and avoid asking the really hard questions. In Hawaii, we are lucky. We do not have a nightly curfew, police in riot gear, or fires raging in the streets. In fact, the Honolulu Police Chief, Susan Ballard, has publicly declared that, "the death of George Floyd was avoidable and criminal" (Civil Beat, 6/4/20). Perhaps there is a transferable lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic. The reality of a deadly virus felt "far away" until it wasn't. Were there lessons we could have learned sooner had we only paid attention? Many people in our community have never experienced systemic racism firsthand. Some feel confused, conflicted or even confronted over the call for reform and claims of inequity. Others have felt the reality of racism and worry for their own safety and the safety of their children at the hands of the police. These are conversations we haven't fully and openly engaged in as a community, but we can now. We are at the threshold of a learning experience--we can all lean into it. Together, we can embrace the turmoil through the lens of learning and with the goal of changing--changing ourselves, changing our community, and changing the systems that fail to serve all people. So, how to begin? A parent recently shared this YouTube video with me, Systemic Racism Explained. It might be a useful place to start. On Saturday, June 6th, from noon to 4pm there is a peaceful march in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement. It was organized by O'ahu teenagers. The march will start at Ala Moana Beach Park and continue to the state capital. Many of our students, faculty and families are attending. For those who cannot attend or are not ready to engage at this level, consider forming a summer book club to read How To Be An Anti-Racist. Whether at the dinner table, on social media, in the classroom, or on the beach, we must engage in open dialogue to explore this collective learning experience. It is an honor to be part of a learning community rooted in respect and compassion. I am certain that the learning experiences we have shared in 2020 will yield not only positive growth for each of us as individuals, but for all of humanity. Shout-Outs: HS Community Engagement Brin Jaffe, Kenly Jones and Grace Charles-Jones donned their protective gear on Memorial Day to deliver meals to the elderly through their Meals on Wheels Impact Hui. [SEE PHOTOS BELOW] Members of the Wild Kids Stewardship Council, Lily McDermott, Andre Delay, Chloe Kaminskas, Aidan Anderson, Aiden Spagnoli attended a peaceful rally at the state capitol for Black Lives Matter on Wednesday, June 3rd. [SEE PHOTO BELOW] by Scott Liedtke, Director of College Counseling Aloha LJA Families, As summer nears, the work never stops in the college counseling office. The discovery of college options is really what drives this process. Bard, The Culinary Institute of America, Marist, RPI, Vassar, and West Point are excited to announce their first-ever virtual Hudson River College Cruise! This collaborative and informative event about the college search process will take place on Tuesday, June 9th and Wednesday, June 10th. The "cruise" will allow students to hear from college admission experts at each institution through a series of presentations and live Q&As, all designed to help make the college search, discovery and application process less stressful and more productive. All sessions are open to all high school students and their families. I encourage you to take a look at the offerings. It may not be these exact schools a student is considering but the conversations and sessions will help them tremendously as they consider all options. I wish a happy, healthy and productive summer for all of our families at Le Jardin Academy. See you in the fall. Scott Liedtke From the library, Summer reading..... Check out the book suggestions for leisure summer reading for high school students here. The books were selected based on the titles most checked out this year in our school library, award winners, best sellers and a few of Mrs. Keogh's favorites. The MS & HS Library website also has links to sites offering free eBooks during school closures. If you are in search of a book for your child or recommendations, Mrs. Keogh is always happy to help. ENROLLMENT CONTRACTS FOR 2020-21 A reminder that enrollment contracts for the 2020-21 school year go into effect on June 1 and the first payment will be due on July 15 for annual and semi-annual payment plans and August 15 for monthly payment plans. If you have not re-enrolled yet it's not too late, please access MySchoolApp to sign your child's contract. If you would like to apply for financial aid for the 2020-21 school year, please submit applications and all required documentation to www.sssbynais.com. If you have any extenuating circumstances keeping you from making an enrollment decision by June 1, please don't hesitate to reach out to the Admissions Office at admissions@lejardinacademy.org. Financial Aid Tuition Discounts and Distance Learning for 2020-2021 We are reviewing contingency plans for financial support and distance learning for next school year and will continue to make every effort to support families should school closure become necessary. The Board of Trustees has approved additional financial aid funding, and families are advised to apply for financial aid at any point in the year should financial hardship become a concern. We are also looking at safeguards that will allow us to sustain face to face learning longer, and other models should we have to go into distance learning for periods of time that will allow flexibility for students who may need to learn from home while others learn at school. We will provide further information at the back to school meetings prior to the start of school. Here's the course information, dates/times, and registration information: SAT& ACT Prep @LJA NOW HIRING (Alumni or HS students) Summer School TAs LJA is seeking Summer School Teacher Aides for the Summer Session from June 15 until July 17, 2020. Mandatory Orientation will be on Friday, June 12. Hours: 8:00am-3:00pm, Monday - Friday. Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States. Candidates must also be at least 16 years of age. Please send resume' and cover letter to summer.school@lejardinacademy.org Summer Tech Aide Le Jardin is seeking a Summer Tech Aide for Summer 2020 (June through August ). Work hours are 7:30am-4:00pm M-F. The Summer Tech Aide will assist the Technology department in summer preparations. Please see the attached job description for more information. Please send a resume and cover letter to ryan.rimsinth@lejardinacademy.org Summer Tech Aide job description No phone calls please. Summer Business Office Aide- Part time Le Jardin is seeking a Summer Business Office Aide for (June through August ). Work hours are 9:00am-12:00pm M-F. The Summer Business Office Aide will provide support to the Business Office and will support the team with various projects. Please see the attached job description for more information. Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Please send resume and cover letter to stacy.kilty@lejardinacademy.org Summer Business Office Aide job description No phone calls please. Announcements & Reminders CALENDARS: All School Calendar 2019-2020 HS IMPORTANT DATES (Subject to change) Please mind physical distancing guidelines and wear a mask when on campus. June 12 Report cards available on ManageBac Summer School- Monday, June 15th-Friday, July 17th August 12 First day of school 2020-21 SECURITY HOTLINE If you need help while on campus, please contact Security at 808-491-7909. A LJA security guard answers this line from 6:30 a.m. to 8:45 p.m. seven days a week. Ducks as we head out on summer break. Alex Ramsvig HS Principal 261-0707 x2325 Office #1 on the second floor of the HS Building Lizbeth Smith MS/HS Registrar 261-0707 x3070 Office #5/6 on the second floor of the Gym Lindsey Schiffler HS Dean of Academics & DP Coordinator 261-0707 x2150 Room 407A on the second floor of the HS Building Krista Quint MS Dean of Academics & MYP Coordinator 261-0707 x2050 Room 310 in the MS Building Leah Magana Director of Learning 261-0707 x1070 Office in the Main Admin Building Christina Hoe Associate Director of Experiential Learning & Global Citizen Diploma Coordinator 261.0707 x 2110 Vicki McNeill Dean of Students 261-0707 x1020 Room 322 (in the MS area) Scott Liedtke Director of College Counseling 261-0707 x2220 Room 407A on the second floor of the HS Building Stacey Surina HS Admin Assistant 261-0707 x1120 Office 2 on the second floor of the HS Building |