Holiday Monday, No School.
A New Updated MS Important Dates Calendar Is Available. Please Click HERE To Download
Reminder: 6th Grade Group B Marsh Day Tomorrow Please come to school prepared with tennis shoes and dressed in clothes that you don't mind possibly getting dirty
LJA Merit Scholarship
Dear Grade 6 and 8 Families,
Please note the deadline for LJA Merit Scholarship application is fast approaching. The due date for incoming 7th and 9th graders interested in applying for the award is Monday, February 15. 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
Life In The MIddle Congratulations Mrs. Tseu's advisory for organizing a fundraiser selling small items for 25-50 cents raising over $100 to donate to Partners in Care!
Book Drive
A Book drive, organized by 8th grader Davis O. with assistance from several other students, is taking place from February 11 to February 19. They have partnered with Ohana100 founded by the Daniel Kahikina Akaka Foundation. He strongly believed in fostering the love of reading in young Children to further their education. Ohana100 gives away thousands of books each year to kids across the state. We are looking for "fun to read" new, nearly new, gently used books for children in elementary up to middle school years. Books can be dropped off in the LS Loop or the MS Lane during drop off and pick up times.
Message From The Principal
I'd like to thank all the generous parents who have donated amazing treats and gifts to our Middle School ohana as part of the PFA's faculty "snack attack" appreciation efforts. It means so much to us that we have such great support and considerate partners in our parent community. As February is a short month, it is not short on many different, important reminders of the rich history, culture, and events in our country and around the world. It is also an important time of the school year in which we spend time explicitly expanding on many concepts and skills so necessary for students' present and future collaboration and contributions. So it is fitting that this month we also started our small group TRIBES teaming activities along with approaches to learning (ATL) mini-workshop rotations. TRIBES takes place during the last block on Tuesdays; we encourage you to ask your son/daughter about the activity they were involved in and what role they played during the exercise. It is our goal to give students an opportunity to learn about important cooperative skills, team building and leadership tasks through unique critical thinking challenges.
We end many of our meetings, learning engagements, camps, classes, etc with the last agreement listed, so I would like to wrap up this week's message with an appreciation...As we are fast approaching next school year's re-enrollment period, I would like to extend my gratitude once again to the MS parents for the opportunity to work with your children every day. It is during each spring semester's admissions testing season (which has already begun) I get the opportunity to share with prospective new parents how amazing our middle schoolers are and overall, how kind, caring, compassionate, inquisitive, and critical thinking our student community is. This is what is at the forefront of our admissions testing process, getting to know prospective new students and how they will add to our student body's positive growth and potential. Along with speaking about our students, I also spend time boasting about our amazing faculty, a team of dedicated teachers who have chosen to work with this ever exciting, albeit sometimes challenging, but rewarding age group. I take great pride in being a part of the team of students, teachers, and parents who mutually support and commit to our TRIBES agreements. We are on the right path to helping shape amazing young people with tremendous potential.
Again, on behalf of the teachers and staff in MS please know how greatly appreciated this week's "snack attack" and every day teaming are here in The Middle.
Chúc Mừng Năm Mới
MS I-Term Information Rachel Domenic, Dean of Academics
I-Term this year for middle school will be March 11-12. Students completed a survey on their top five choices earlier this week, and we will try to place students in their preferred choices once final selections are made. Students will receive a notice of their placement(s) later this month. Some options are two day courses. If a student has a one day course, they will have a second course the next day. We will also offer mini sessions for students to participate in a variety of grade-level activities. Stay tuned for more details to come!
Tech Corner Teen Tech Talk: Pressure For Pics In The Pandemic
No matter if your child is 9 or 19, talking about topics such as sexting can feel uncomfortable as a parent. Even if you are comfortable leaning into such topics, sometimes your leaning in makes them run in the other direction. Sound familiar?
In this article, physician, mother, and filmmaker Delaney Ruston, founder of Screenagers, offers insight about talking with our girls and boys about the ways girls (but also boys), get asked for sexually provocative photos and/or videos of themselves. The real-life stories shared by young people in this Tech Talk Tuesday can foster substantive discussions in your home. Read Pressure For Pics In The Pandemic here.
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
MS Intermediate Swimmers Participate In The Blue & White Intersquad Meet Last Friday
After School Activities
Changed Time: 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.
Wednesdays 3:05pm-3:50pm
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.
You can apply HERE now.
Wild Kids Montana Trip Applications Wild Kids Montana Trip Applications are now open for High School and Middle School students. Middle School trips will take place July 4th-18th. High School trips will run from July 21st to August 1st. Applications close February 28th. You can learn more on our website: Wild Kids Montana Trips.
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
Reminder to please call or email attendance if you will be picking up your child early.
Find all of these items and more in the MS Parent Portal
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 MS Office to request the Distance Learning option.
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 15 - Presidents' Day Holiday No School March 11-12 MS I-Term March 15 - 19 Spring Break March 26 - Prince Kuhio Day Holiday No School April 2 - 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 |