Reminder: 6th Grade Group A Marsh Day Please come to school prepared with tennis shoes and dressed in clothes that you don't mind getting a little dirty.
Scholastic Art And Writing Awards
Congratulations to 8th-grade students, Micah C. and Peyton M. for receiving recognition in this year's "West Writing Region-at-Large, Scholastic Art & Writing Awards (Personal Essay & Memoir Category)"! Peyton received Honorable Mention for her personal narrative, "A Fair to Remember," and Micah C. received the Gold Key Award for his personal narrative, "The Day I Learned from the Ocean." Micah's work has been advanced to New York City for national adjudication, competing for awards also won by past recipients such as Joyce Carol Oates and Stephen King. We wish Micah the best of luck!
Ms. Ito would also like to recognize Jaycee F., Kalei S., Parker G., Hannah S., and Siena S. for their qualifying work and submissions. Their personal narratives were strong candidates for this award and also quite outstanding! Micah C. Gold Key Award Recipient Peyton M. Honorable Mention Recipient
Example Of 7th Grade Interdisciplinary Unit
7th Grade students are currently right in the middle of an interdisciplinary unit. This means that the work they're doing in Science is informing the work that they're doing in Language and Literature which is also informing the work they're doing in Design class. We hope that the students see that the skills and knowledge they're building in each class are interconnected and useful in other classes, too. Their missions:
* Gather tons of information through research, interviews, and field observations on an environmental issue of interest.
* Study what goes into the best pieces of journalism. Learn what a reading audience is looking for in an article.
* Combine the scientific facts they learn and the data that they gather with their newfound knowledge of journalism to write a brilliant article.
* Learn about web design to make all of their knowledge and work attractive and available to anyone on the planet with an Internet connection.
It's an ambitious 3-subject monthlong inquiry based project. Stay tuned to this newsletter for a link to the students' finished projects some time before Spring Break! (And if you get an interview or survey request from a 7th grader, please do help them out!)
--Mr. Krueger (Language and Literature), Ms. Tseu (Science), and Mr. Ward (Design)
Do Knows Challenge Winner
Winner of the Do Knows Challenge for Distance Learning Students: Connor M. Congrats! He was the first DL student to answer the challenge correctly "What team is Ms. Do rooting for now that her beloved Packers didn't make it to the Super Bowl? Hint: It was hidden in the MS Newsletter. He received a cheese pizza for his prize and was allowed to wear Ms. Do's coveted cheese head! Be on the lookout for more challenges hidden in the Bulldog Minute or the Weekly News.
Important Upcoming Events & Reminders Julie Do, MS Principal
Congratulations to our 8th graders for being the first grade level to have 100% self-screening completed on Wednesday this week! We'd also like to thank their parents for helping keep our community safe by making sure this important task is done every morning before arriving at school. They will receive their pizza party prize during club block tomorrow. Way to go c/o 2025!
As we race into "6 more weeks of winter" we are taking extra time to help reiterate and remind students of the important safety protocols here on campus. Earlier this week I met with 6th graders to encourage them to keep up with their awesome efforts to help each other with following the guidelines. Here are the quick reminders the 6th grade Student Government Reps re-shared with their classmates in their weekly SGA News yesterday:
Parents please remember that if your child is only out for a couple days, the expectation is to rest up and to get better! Students can email their teachers for work if they feel up to it. If your child will be out longer and you wish for them to be in Distance Learning (DL) you must contact the MS Office to let us know to add him/her to the DL rosters. Once again congratulations 8th graders and thank you for all the support at home and communication to the MS Office & the School Nurse - these efforts go a long way to keep our community safe!
Have a great Super Commercials & Tailgating Foods Weekend everyone!
Coffee With The Principals **Register Now**
Meet with Middle School Principal, Julie Do along with High School Principal Alex Ramsvig to learn about the exciting academic, athletic, and co-curricular programs in our LJA high school program. The discussion will also include college considerations and plans for the future. The Coffee will begin at 10:30 via Zoom. RSVP HERE.
MS I-Term Information Rachel Domenic, Dean of Academics
The Middle School is in the process of planning Impact Term which will convene the week before spring break. Due to Covid, our options are a bit more limited this year. If we remain in a level 1+, we will be able to have spatially distant guest speakers. Field trip possibilities are extremely limited. However if we move back to level 2, this will not be possible. With so many factors contributing to the planning of I-Term, we will be condensing the program, but we will still have unique and fun opportunities for students. More information will be coming in the next newsletter, so stay tuned!
Le Jardin Academy's Robotics Impact Academy is extending our series of free STEM workshops for K-6 students on Windward Oahu thanks to generous funding from Hawai'i Friends of Robotics. Due to COVID, we'll be offering this STEM fun virtually, and led by our middle and high school students. Choose from 4 live sessions on February 27 and March 6 or a a variety or pre-recorded sessions from the fall. We will provide every student with a materials kit for each activity that they sign up for, and these free supply kits will be available for pick-up at Le Jardin*. Please invite your friends from area schools by providing the link below. *Other schools, such as Kailua Elementary, have agreed to allow free kits to be picked up at their campus as well. More information will be shared via email to registrants.
Learn more and sign up here: www.lejardinacademy.org/robotics
LJA Wellness Message 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 www.hscounseling.org.
Take care and be well, Jessica Osborne and Sean Landau
After School Activities
Ukulele Pop is looking for MS students interested in learning how to play the ukulele or for experienced students who would like to improve their skills. If interested, have your parents email Kyle de Leon at Kyle.deleon@lejardinacademy.org.
MIDDLE SCHOOLERS (Grades 6th - 8th) Join us in the forest for hiking, exploring, games and adventure! What: Wild Kids When: Every Friday from 3:15-5:30pm, February 19th- May 14th Where: Meet by the High School building, adventure in the forest.
Register on our website @ www.thewildkidscommunity.org Registration opens Tuesday, January 26th @ 4pm
Robotics FIRST Technology Challenge (Grades 6-12)
FIRST robotics programs have a proven, verifiable impact. More than 85% of students who participated in FIRST are more interested in doing well in school, and over 75% of FIRST students find themselves in a STEM field as a student or professional after graduation. For more information about joining Robotics please contact Melissa Handy at melissa.handy@lejardinacademy.org.
Check out the After School Activities Catalog tomorrow for availability and more information.
LJA Merit Scholarship
Dear Grade 6 and 8 Families,
Applications are now being accepted for the Merit Scholarship for incoming 7th and 9th graders and are due February 15, 2021. Merit scholarship awards are no less than 25% of annual tuition, awarded for the remainder of your student's enrollment at Le Jardin Academy and additional need-based financial aid is available, up to 100%, for students who qualify based on the financial situation of the parents.
To qualify for this scholarship, rising 7th and 9th graders must:
If you would like to apply for the merit scholarship, please complete and submit an application by February 15, 2021. Essays can be emailed to jennifer.souza@lejardinacademy.org. Applicants will also need to take the At-Home SSAT which is administered by a proctor online this year. You can register for the SSAT at www.ssat.org. Our school code is 4576 and the results will be sent directly to LJA.
For other scholarship opportunities such as the Shapiro Family Scholarship for military families, or any tuition assistance inquiries, please visit the Financial Aid and Scholarships page of our website by clicking here.
Please call the admissions office at (808) 261-0707 x1310 with any questions.
Merit Scholarship Committee
You can apply HERE now.
Important Notice
8th Grade Students win the prize! All were screened before school on 2.3.21!
In order to continue to help us screen all students as quickly as possible in the mornings please switch to the SchoolPass app if you haven't done so already (see directions below).
Switch Your Health Screening For A Faster Process In The Morning!
The new app will enable easier self-screening each morning and we are asking that all middle school families use this for daily screening. Please email Melissa Handy at melissa.handy@lejardinacademy.org with any questions.
Travel Policy
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.
Attendance
Please notify Lizbeth Smith at lizbeth.smith@lejardinacademy.org and Kim McDonald at kim.mcdonald@lejardinacademy.org if you know your child will be absent, arriving late, or leaving school early.
School Links
Tech Support
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
Important Dates
February 11 - Coffee with the Principal Virtual Meeting February 15 - Presidents' Day Holiday No School March TBD MS I-Term March 15 - 19 Spring Break March 26 - Prince Kuhio Day Holiday No School
Middle School Contacts Attendance Hotline 261-0707 x7004
Lizbeth Smith MS/HS Registrar 261-0707 x3070 lizbeth.smith@lejardinacademy.org
Kim McDonald MS Admin Assistant 261-0707 x1160 kim.mcdonald@lejardinacademy.org
Juniper Richardson Learning Support Coordinator juniper.richardson@lejardinacademy.org
Jessica Osborne MS/HS Counselor jessica.osborne@lejardinacademy.org
Sean Landau
Rachel Domenic MS Dean of Academics, MYP Coordinator Rachel.Domenic@lejardinacademy.org
Vicki McNeill Dean of Students 6-12 vicki.mcneill@lejardinacademy.org
Julie Do Middle School Principal julie.do@lejardinacademy.org
Middle School Information
Please visit the Middle School Portal frequently to view additional information, important events, changes, and forms at https://www.lejardinacademy.org/parent-portal/middle-school-portal or Click HERE |