October 7, 2021 High School Principal Message Aloha All,
Fall Break is here! Thank you to all faculty, staff, families, and students for making our first quarter so successful. I am so proud of the High School and know that our students had rich and authentic learning experiences *in person* because of great collective effort. I am positive the rest of the year we will continue to improve.
While students (especially our seniors) do have work to do over the Fall Break, I would highly advise everyone to also spend time enjoying our beautiful island to rest and relax. An afternoon nap, reading a book for pleasure, or playing an old fashion board game is highly recommended!
See you all in a week!
Optional Parent-Teacher Conference Sign-Up Here is the link to schedule a 20-minute conference with a specific teacher. Teachers will have marked their availability for conferences during prep periods as well as before and after school. Once you have scheduled your time, teachers will receive an email with the requested date and time. As the conference date approaches, please follow-up with the teacher to receive their Zoom information. Please let me know if you have additional questions or concerns. Progress Reports Coming!
Mark your calendars for October 22! We will release progress reports on this date. As teachers finalize grades, it is essential for students to remember to double check any work they turn in against the rubrics. See if you can accurately match your score to that of the teacher. Once your work is returned, encourage your son or daughter to read the feedback carefully and reflect on how the score can be improved. If there are any discrepancies, confusion, or questions with your grades, check with your teacher or email Rachel Domenic, rachel.domenic@lejardinacademy.org..
Attention 10th grade families: We will be moving into Criterion B of the Personal Project after the break. Please prepare by checking out Criterion B in your guide and this slide deck from the IB. Criterion B is Applying skills. Students will select the Approaches to Learning Skills needed for their Learning Goal and their Product Goal to be successful. As a parent, the best support you can provide right now is supporting self management skills. Check if your son or daughter has met with their supervisor. Ask if they have scheduled in time on their calendar (maybe a half or to an hour a week) to work on a small chunk of the project. IB has shared some tools to work with for the Approaches to Learning skills in regard to the project and students can select which ones they would like to use. Please email Rachel Domenic or your son or daughter's supervisor (can be found in Managebac) if you have any questions.
On the Road Again...
The last time I was able to go on a college trip was February, 2020 so it was refreshing to be on the road again. It was a short trip loaded with amazing schools. I often wonder why more Le Jardin students don't consider NESCAC institutions. NESCAC refers to the athletic conference and stands for New England Small College Athletic Conference. My trip included 3 of the 11 NESCAC schools but all the schools I saw had a lot to offer students.
After completing the redeye flight, I landed in Burlington, Vermont. I was excited to pick up my blue Toyota Corolla rental car. Little did this hotrod know it was about to travel a thousand miles. While in Vermont, I was able to visit the University of Vermont and Middlebury College (NESCAC). I am a huge fan of University of Vermont and while I was there I met up with alumni Aidan Anderson ('20) and Addy Davis ('18). It was good to get perspectives from our own students and both of them had glowing remarks. Keep in mind, utilizing alumni is another benefit our students have as they research college options. Addy shared a funny story about Aidan during his first winter. There was an absolute blizzard one day and she had to make her way across campus. No one is really outside and suddenly she notices a silhouette off in the distance gliding along, cutting across the quad. As the silhouette gets close enough, she recognizes it's Aidan and he is riding his bike, not a care in the world. Addy graduates in the spring while Aidan is looking for snow tires for his bike.
I was happy to see Brin Jaffe ('21) at Dartmouth College. She was so helpful during my visit as she took time from her day to tour me around campus. She was only a few weeks into her adventure in Hanover, New Hampshire but seems to be adjusting quite well. She is already out in the forest for one of her classes collecting data as they research sapling growth.
Anyone interested in space plasma physics? Well, the University of New Hampshire is the place for you. UNH is also nationally known for its work in population and demography research at the Carsey School of Public Policy. Mr. Webb would be happy to know that their political science professors are routinely interviewed for their election insights, thanks to New Hampshire's status in presidential contests as an early primary state.
After UNH, I drove the blue Toyota Corolla up to Maine to see both Bates College and Bowdoin College (both NESCAC). Though Lewiston (Bates) and Brunswick (Bowdoin) are very different communities, both colleges boast a top notch liberal arts education. Fun fact about Bowdoin, they were the first college to go test optional, over 50 years ago. Lead with courage, thank you Bowdoin. Actually, all the schools I visited are test optional for 2022 which is awesome for students like ours, IB students.
I understand, these schools are a long way from Hawaii and it does require an adventurous spirit and an academically proven student. But, if the situation is right, why not take the risk, your rewards could be endless as it shapes the rest of your life
Scott Liedtke Director of College Counseling
College Visits are Back!
There will also be periodic virtual college presentations specific for our students at Le Jardin Academy. At the moment, on campus college presentations will be available only for juniors and seniors. Students can preview and register for college visits using their Scoir account.
UC San Diego- October 8 at 11:00 (Virtual) University of San Francisco- October 20 at 10:00 Saint Louis University- October 20 at 11:45 Baylor University- October 21 at 10:30 Boston University- October 22 at 2:30 Chapman University- October 28 at 9:45 Washington State University- November 3 at 1:30
LJA Wellness Message
The World Health Organisation recognises World Mental Health Day on 10 October every year. This year's theme set by the World Federation for Mental Health is 'Mental Health in an Unequal World'. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on people's mental health. Some groups, including health and other frontline workers, teachers, students, people living alone, and those with pre-existing mental health conditions, have been particularly affected. Yet there is cause for optimism. During the World Health Assembly in May 2021, governments from around the world recognized the need to scale up quality mental health services at all levels. And some countries have found new ways of providing mental health care to their populations.
During this year's World Mental Health Day campaign, the World Health Organisation will showcase the efforts made in some of these countries and encourage you to highlight positive stories as part of your own activities, as an inspiration to others.
For general information about counseling services at LJA, please visit www.hscounseling.org. Take care and be well, LJA Counseling Team
LJA Class of 2022 Project Graduation LJA has once again partnered with Habilitat to provide fresh, beautiful Christmas trees this year. There are six different pick up spots all around the island and a wide variety of trees, wreaths and door charms. It's never too early to start thinking about Christmas and all proceeds will support the Class of '22 Project Graduation. Visit www.hawaiichristmastrees.com or scan the QR code in the flyer. Travel Policy We are asking LJA students/'ohana that are planning to travel out of state to inform the school nurse via this form. (This form is for out of state travel only, regardless of vaccination status.) Lunch Orders & Spirit Store Lunch orders are accessible from the spirit store. All questions regarding the lunch program and Spirit Store should be directed to kyle.nakayama@lejardinacademy.org
Siena S- Grade 12 Global politics engagement activity. Within the high school, Siena collected single-use plastics from one day at lunch, then took those plastics to create a political art piece to display in the community to advocate for a reduction of our single-use plastic usage. IMPORTANT DATES October 11: Discovers Day Holiday October 12-15: Fall Break October 26- PSAT (10/11 grade) October 27: Junior Parent College Night- Zoom November 1- PPD No School November 11- Veterans Day November 24-26- Thanksgiving break December 13-17- Winter Exams December 20-31 Winter Break Isoif S- Grade 10 It's the cover art for my vignette, and it's style is a representative of renaissance style architectural art, as well as representing the artistic style of surrealism, like that of Picasso and Dali. My vignettes cover a main topic of time, and how quickly it changes and in the vignettes I specifically use Greco-Roman examples to signify how these civilisations were once great and now rest in ruin. CONTACT US: Stacey Surina High School Administrative Assistant stacey.surina@lejardinacademy.org Alex Ramsvig HS Principal alex.ramsvig@lejardinacademy.org
Attendance hs.attendance@lejardinacademy.org
|