Choose your own adventure: it's I-Term time! One of the hallmarks of LJA's Secondary Division is Impact Term, a week in which students embark on immersive learning experiences outside of the classroom. Inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and co-curated by our very own LJA students, this year's array of courses quenches every curiosity. Students are roving Buddhist shrines in Japan, carving waves in Fiji, journeying through New Zealand's South Island ecosystems, saddling up on an Arizona ranch, getting the groove of LA's music industry, and diving deep in Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Closer to home, students are hiking O'ahu's jagged peaks and rocky coasts, facing 14-foot waves on a tall ship inter-island crossing, sampling regional produce in a Farm to Table culinary adventure, crafting custom handbags, learning lifeguarding or sign language, and more. Follow the journey as it unfolds on instagram and facebook this week, and prepare for countless wild tales from our changed I-Termers when they return to campus in the coming week! |
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A NOTE FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL EARL KIM |
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Aloha LJA 'ohana, I hope you had a restful Winter Break and wish you a very Happy New Year! We are kicking off 2023 with our Impact Term (I-Term), which is a unique part of LJA's Secondary Division curriculum that offers our students an opportunity for immersive education experiences. This week our students are broadening their horizons by engaging in dynamic learning that takes place out of the classroom and in the world. Some have ventured very far from home, and others are exploring the place we call home. I had the privilege to join the "Roof of Oʻahu" course for two days of their five-day experience hiking in places on our island home. We hiked Kuaokalā, a restricted, 5-mile, out-and-back trail that starts in the uplands of the Waiʻanae range and tops off at about 2,000 feet. The area is home to a variety of pheasant and other bird life and, of course, puaʻa. The trail inspired a chant about Kuaokalā as a metaphor for the well cared-for path that shows the wanderer the pono way forward. Our second excursion was to Kaʻena, a 5-mile, out-and-back, coastal path that most travelers use to access the wildlife sanctuary at the end (kaʻena). Often forgotten are the caves along the pali, undoubted home to iwi and avian nesting sites, and the historic uses of Kaʻena as both a tourist fishing attraction and send-off place for the dead. My takeaways from these experiences: - Fresh air is indeed a "nectar so sweet" in which we should all partake
- The ʻike of others who have walked these paths is profound and worthy of deeper understanding
- In a system as complex as our geo-political globe, individual understanding and appreciation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals is our best bet to making the world a better place
- Our staff deserves huge appreciation for overseeing, planning, and coordinating logistics for I-term experiences on top of their regular assignments
- The "quiet" necessary to observe the fauna in their natural habitats is a concept that eludes most middle schoolers
As an International Baccalaureate World School, LJA strives to cultivate students who are globally minded and innately curious. We believe that exploring diverse perspectives and ways of knowing enriches, enlivens, and strengthens our community, and makes each of us better global citizens. As you round the bend to the high school on campus, a sign containing the ōlelo noʻeau, "'A'ohe pau ke 'ike ka hālau ho'okahi," which roughly translated means that all understanding is not attained through one school or way of knowing. I-Term is an opportunity for students to craft their own learning experience beyond the walls of our classrooms. Each student's I-Term journey provides a portal to a new view of the world; when our entire community has such an opportunity, and we come together to share all we have learned and discovered during this pause from conventional learning, our collective experience will be that much more complete. We all benefit from these transformative experiences as we are ready, and the impact resonates further and further outward. I am grateful for these opportunities--for our students, for our faculty, for myself, and for all of you. I encourage you to stay curious and to seek out adventures of your own, near and far, in 2023! E mālama pono, Earl Kim |
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| NO TRIVIAL GATHERING OF HEARTS AND MINDS LJA welcomed back our Bulldogs from years past at our spectacular Alumni Holiday Party! Hosted by Annual Giving Manager Alpin Hong, Director of Development Nicole Lunn, and Executive Director of Advancement Courtney Chow, our alumni were treated to the best party in town with signature drinks by Free Spirits Hawaiʻi, delicious food by Coach Kyle Nakayama, and a thrilling Trivia Night. Rounds of fierce competition tested the teams' brains and memories, but team Hammah D's was victorious. The unmatched camaraderie, laughter, and friendship that define our LJA community made for a truly memorable fête. Mahalo to all who attended! |
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TICKETS ON SALE NOW! MOBILE KITCHEN REVEAL FUNDRAISER JANUARY 21, 2023 | 4:00-7:00 P.M. KERR LAWN & LOOKOUT Join the party as we make LJA's mobile kitchen dream a reality at the upcoming Mobile Kitchen Reveal Fundraiser! Drinks, live entertainment, and mouth watering food crafted by Coach Kyle will all be on offer. This fun-filled evening will support completion of our student commons area, a magical space our students deserve. Bring the family and come help create this exciting new addition to campus! |
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SECONDARY DIVISION PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DAY FRIDAY, JANUARY 13, 2022 NO EXTENEDED CARE PROVIDED Friday, January 13 is a Professional Development Day for all Secondary Division Faculty, meaning there is no school for students in Grades 6-12 on that day. No extended care will be available for Middle School students on that day, so please plan accordingly. |
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| COVID PROTOCOLS FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL AND MAINLAND TRAVEL Testing is required upon return to Oʻahu after international and mainland travel, and masking onsite is required until obtaining a negative test result on Day 5. COVID tests are available at the nurse's office. Please note that these protocols do not apply to inter-island travel. |
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