Principal's Message by Alex Ramsvig, HS Principal
February 4, 2021
Aloha All,
What a week here in the HS! I know I speak for all faculty and students when I offer my sincere thanks to our team that led us in our Restorative Practices Day on Wednesday; specifically, Christina Hoe, Vicki McNeill, and Sean Landau who came together to help strengthen our HS collectively and as individuals. Thank you!
I would just like to remind all families that if a student needs to stay home sick for a day or two they need to rest, please email their teachers and get well (sick policy). Please only have them join a class Zoom session with prior permission from their teachers. If they are going to be out longer than a couple of days, you will need to contact the HS Office to request the Distance Learning option. As we are down to very few DL students, in many cases a teacher will not be able to accommodate a day of request to join remotely and instead students should expect to rest or learn asynchronously. Thank you for your continued flexibility!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Alex Ramsvig HS Principal Working together to get the tarp off the tent during the wind and rain.
Pictures from Restorative Practices Day; cell phone free except Senior Cole Ewalt had a prearranged important call with College Coach. Game playing, talking and laughing with friends.
Christina Hoe Dean of Experiential Education CHANGE IN HIGH SCHOOL I-TERM DATES
We remain fleet footed in our extended pandemic year! Based on recent COVID-19 projections, I-Term in the High School will no longer be held in March. Instead, we are planning for a week in May; final dates will be released by February 19th.
Our goal is to offer a course catalog that allows for diverse experiences that are both immersive and impactful. We feel that pushing to May will give us the best shot at an authentic I-Term, as we expect fewer restrictions to be in place at that time. Please be assured that our seniors are our top priority in our planning. We are working hard to develop various culminating opportunities for the class of 2021 that we hope will leave them especially inspired for their next adventures in life. As always, thank you for your support and flexibility as we continue to build and cultivate our experiential education program. If you have ideas or feel inspired to help lead an I-Term course this year, please contact christina.hoe@lejardinacademy.org
HS Dean of Academics & DP Coordinator Lindsey Schiffler Aloha parents, guardians, students, and community members:
Thanks to parents, students, faculty, and staff for attending last week's DP Parent Night for 10th grade families. On Monday, Mr. Ramsvig, Mr. Liedtke, and I visited sophomore English classes to answer specific questions about DP course selection. In the next few days, students should solidify their selections so they can turn in the forms to Ms. Surina on Feb. 9. In the meantime, please refer to the following resources that were created for a parent informational series on the DP. Click here for a presentation about transitioning from MYP to DP. DP information regarding colleges can be found here.
If you missed Thursday night's event or want to review the presentation, click here. As always, please feel free to email me with any questions.
Mahalo!
Scott Liedtke
Aloha Great Families of LJA- A recent blog by Rick Clark from Georgia Tech does a nice job addressing "decision" time for seniors across the country. Our seniors have been hearing back from colleges for the past two months and will continue to hear back decisions over the next month. These times are filled with emotion for everyone. Enjoy! Scott
In the last few weeks, thousands and thousands of students have received letters, emails, or portal notifications with these words. Fireworks, falling confetti, gifs with mascots dancing (if you got one with fireworks dancing or mascots on fire, please contact the admission office immediately!). Being offered admission is a little bit easier to understand than being deferred or denied, but there is good reason the letter you received is more than one sentence. So, let's dive into what it does and does not mean, as well as what you should do and avoid doing after being admitted. (Note: This week I'm pushing my predictions about offers of admission during Covid-19 to the end, so stay tuned!).
What does being admitted mean?
It means "Yes! You are in! Congratulations! Welcome!" (Cue the music!) Being admitted means the college recognizes and celebrates your academic ability and preparation, as well as your potential to contribute outside the classroom on their campus. Additionally, it means your writing, interviews, recommendations, or other supporting materials were in line with their mission and goals as an institution. This is what is commonly referred to as match or fit.
It means you have an option, a choice, a possible place to continue your education and pursue your long-term goals. This is a big deal! Congratulations!
What should you do?
I know this is not really a 2020 thing to do, but you should CELEBRATE! You. Got. In! So regardless of whether you are convinced you are going to that college or not– celebrate. Order out from your favorite restaurant or treat yourself to something you've been wanting (we should all buy ourselves at least one thing around the holidays anyway, right?). You do you.
The bottom line is we are all too quick to move on to the next thing in life. You should sit with your success for just a moment. Consider the hard work you have put in to have this choice. Then thank the people in your life who have made this possible. Family members, coaches, teachers, and so on. Send them a text, write them a note, or bring them a gift. Celebrating is always better in community- thank yours!
Attend admitted student sessions. In the weeks and months ahead, that college is going to host a number of online or in-person sessions, tours, or virtual programs specifically for admitted students. Register for these. This is a great opportunity to hear from current students, faculty, or alumni about their experience in that community. Invaluable information.
Meet financial aid deadlines. If you were admitted through an ED plan, this will look a bit different. Likely you have a deposit deadline to meet soon and they will be sending you plenty… plenty of information and reminders here. If you were admitted through a non-binding plan, make sure to submit your FAFSA and any other required financial aid documents as soon as possible. Financial aid is all about deadlines.
What does being admitted NOT mean?
It does not mean you are smarter, cooler, or a better person than someone in your class, team, or neighborhood who did not get in. I'm not saying you're not awesome, and the college who offered you admission clearly communicated that in words and graphics. Soon they will be reiterating that message in every medium known to man (phone calls, emails, letters, texts, and potentially owls, too).
But let's be honest: it could have gone the other way for you, too. Holistic admission is unpredictable. Again, some crazy qualified and talented students did not get in. They are disappointed and hurting. So, act like you've been there before.
It's okay to post your excitement on social media, but a little humility goes a long way. There is a big difference between: "Got into UVA! Hoo didn't think I'd get in." vs. "Accepted to Colorado College. Excited and humbled." Whether it be online or in person, keep it classy, my friend.
What should you AVOID doing?
Do not blow off any offer of admission as being a little thing. Too often we hear students say, "Yeah, I got it, but it's just the University of X." C'mon, man. What kind of logic is that? You are the one who applied there! Be thankful that you have an option! In my opinion, that is the entire goal of the college admission experience.
Avoid slacking off in classes or making drastic changes to your spring schedule now that you have been admitted. Go back and read the second or third section of that letter. Inevitably, it discusses how they will be reviewing your final fall and spring grades. They likely discuss their right to revoke admission if you do not continue the academic pattern you set over the last few years, and on which they based their decision to admit you.
If you are going to make changes to your spring schedule, especially if those move away from and not toward additional or equivalent rigor, you should contact the college before spring semester begins.
Prediction: In general, there will be more offers of admission going out in the fall, spring, and summer this year for a few reasons. First, I expect many colleges stay flat or lose applications compared to last year. We are already seeing this in Common App data, and some schools who were up in EA/ED are seeing their gap close as the RD deadline approaches. More EA and ED admits means more closed apps earlier in the cycle, and thus more spots freed up (in other words, look for an increase in admit rate).
Recent National Clearinghouse data supports what many feared: fewer students both started (-4.4%) and returned to college this year (-13%). As a result, many colleges will be looking for ways to build back enrollment. Some will turn the transfer lever harder, but many will seek to grow their first-year class size. Again, more admits. So, whether you have recently been admitted or you are still waiting on decisions, the good news is colleges need students! Whether you are currently sitting on an admit or waiting to hear back, I have full confidence one is coming your way. Covid has been rough on the class of 2020 and 2021. This is a bright spot. Get fired up!
Don Dymond Scholarship
Welcoming and casual, the Kalapawai Market and its sister Cafe, located in the heart of Kailua town, embody the values and ethos of its founder, Mr. Don Dymond. In his memory, the Dymond family and many generous donors have established the Don Dymond Scholarship Fund at Le Jardin Academy. In honor of Don, his work ethic, and his commitment to mentor young people in the workplace, this $1,000 award is to acknowledge a LJA student's actual good work, both in school and in the workplace.
Criteria & Requirements:
How to Apply:
Submit the following items to the High School Administrative Assistant at stacey.surina@lejardinacademy.org by February 15.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact stacey.surina@lejardinacademy.org.
LJA Wellness Message Date: 02/02/2021 By Sean Landau and Jessica Osborne
In the counseling field, it is known that low motivation can be a hallmark of depression. When counselors screen for depression, it generally starts with two questions. Do you know what those two questions are? Do your kids?
This article titled "My Kid Is Not Motivated, Now What?" looks at those questions and offers some strategies to help when you are challenged by your kid's lack of motivation. And even if you have a highly motivated child, this article covers ways to help that can relate to all young people.
For general information about counseling services at LJA, please visit
Take care and be well, Jessica Osborne and Sean Landau
Technology All tech questions should be directed to helpdesk@lejardinacademy.org or to the chat forum at https://www.lejardinacademy.org/parent-portal. Please do not email teachers regarding tech related questions.
Having trouble with your device? Please contact helpdesk@lejardinacademy.org
Jana Fraser Athletics Director
Spirit Store & Lunch
Hello LJA Community! Today we are announcing the launch of Student ID Debit Cards!
This means that parents will be able to load money under their child's name to be used at the Middle/High School Concession Stand.
We hope that this will make lunch purchases easier for you and your child.
This is brought to you by the LJA High School Student Government.
HERE is the link to LJA's spirit store where you can make an account
Required PE shirts/shorts for school and other Spirit items are available to order. Orders placed when the Spirit Store opens will have time to arrive before needed in PE.
You can use this link to order lunch for 2nd quarter.
Kyle Nakayama can be contacted for further questions,
Information & reminders
Reminder to please call or email attendance if you will be picking up your child early.
HS Parent Portal is a great place for all things high school related. Check it out if you havent.
Sick policy If a student needs to stay home sick for a day or two they need to rest, email their teachers and get well. Please only have them join a class Zoom session with prior permission from their teachers. If they are going to be out longer than a couple of days, you will need to contact the HS Office to request the Distance Learning option.
Student travel procedure--approved by the Medical Hui--is in effect as long as the State allows a pre-travel COVID test for Mainland or International* travelers:
This procedure is intended to shorten the amount of time that students must learn remotely following travel relative to the 14-day quarantine alternative. If you have any questions, please email school.nurse@lejardinacademy.org.
*Neighbor island travelers will be expected to comply with current County and State regulations for travel and testing, and procedures may vary by island. Visit https://hidot.hawaii.gov/coronavirus/ for details.
If you are new to parking on campus, please complete this Student parking application. ALL students who wish to park on campus must pay for parking and display a parking pass. Please let me know if you have any questions. Stacey.Surina@lejardinacademy.org
Important Dates
February 15 - Presidents' Day Holiday No School
March 15 -19 Spring Break March 26 - Prince Kuhio Day Holiday No School
April 2- Good Friday No school
High School Contacts Attendance Hotline 808-261-0707 x7004
Lizbeth Smith MS/HS Registrar lizbeth.smith@lejardinacademy.org
Stacey Surina High School Administrative Assistant stacey.surina@lejardinacademy.org
Jana Fraser Director of Athletics jana.fraser@lejardinacademy.org
Jessica Osborne MS/HS Counselor jessica.osborne@lejardinacademy.org
Sean Landau Lindsey Schiffler HS Dean of Academics & DP Coordinator lindsey.schiffler@lejardinacademy.org
Christina Hoe Dean of Experiential Education christina.hoe@lejardinacademy.org Contact for I-Term, SA and CAS, and Internships
Rachel Domenic MS Dean of Academics, MYP rachel.domenic@lejardinacademy.org
Vicki McNeill Dean of Students 6-12 vicki.mcneill@lejardinacademy.org
Scott Liedtke
Alex Ramsvig HS Principal alex.ramsvig@lejardinacademy.org
SECURITY HOTLINE If you need help while on campus, contact Security at 808-491-7909.
High School Information
Please visit the High School Portal frequently to view additional information, important events, changes, and forms at https://www.lejardinacademy.org/parent-portal/high-school or Click HERE |