Bulldog Nation News » Student Life

Off The Earth

jshimanoff — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:06:55 +0000

On Jan. 18, the underground rap scene in Hawaii was privileged to hear the new “Off the Earth” album by Le Jardin’s very own Spencer “Marsden” Phillipson. The production of the album began shortly after Thanksgiving, when Spencer wanted to make a mix tape for his friends for the holidays. This was not the case, though, when people began hearing Spencer’s songs on Youtube and many others wanted to buy his CD. “I had made about six or seven songs at the time, and I just decided I wanted to make a mixtape for my friends and supporters,” said Phillipson. “Every few days I would make some new songs, I would buy my beats online, rap over them in my downstairs and put them on the track.”

“It was so sick!” said senior Luke Shimmon. “Me, Jackson and Nick heard the album a few days before he released it. It was honestly incredible, you would not guess that it was a 17 year old kid.” When the album was finally released to the public, fans were in awe at the sound quality and how catchy the songs were. “Brah, he straight made it in a month and half. And it’s really good too,” says senior Andrew Carmody.

Some controversy at Le Jardin sparked up due to some of the mature content on the album. “It’s not a rap album if there is no swearing and drug references I suppose…” says teacher Mr. Webb. When Spencer was selling his mixtapes in school, Vice Principal Mrs. Doe took the tapes due to a complaint by an unknown parent.

The album is now available for download on the internet free of charge. “I’m not going to turn mainstream, I’m going to keep my music free, and keep making songs as much as I can. I truly have a passion for song writing and rapping and I’m going to keep it like that,” said Phillipson. Who knows what is to come from our Marsden. Fans and friends alike will keep their ears open, and hopefully his next album will be “off the earth” as well.

Off The Earth

jshimanoff — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:57:47 +0000

On Jan. 18, the underground rap scene in Hawaii was privileged to hear the new “Off the Earth” album by Le Jardin’s very own Spencer “Marsden” Phillipson. The production of the album began shortly after Thanksgiving, when Spencer wanted to make a mix tape for his friends over the holidays. This was not the case, though, when people began hearing Spencer’s songs on Youtube and Spencer wished to give his mix tape to many people. “I had made about six or seven songs at the time, and I just decided I wanted to make a mixtape for my friends and supporters,” said Phillipson. “Every few days I would make some new songs, I would buy my beats online, rap over them in my downstairs and put them on the track.”

Are College Visits Worth Your While?

sphillipson — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:16:34 +0000

With a world full of choices, students struggle to find the college that individually fits them best. College visits may be the deciding factor in whether a school will fit your personal characteristics and leave you content in your final college decision. With a chance to meet the admissions staff and get to know the overall feel of the school, students may be more prepared to take on the college world in a more confident manner.

College is a big step into the real world for many students so comfortable in high school. Many seniors feel lost in the search for a school that will fit them best. If your family is able to afford college visits it may be well worth your while. By exploring the college campus environment students are able to learn more information about the school, town or city surrounding the school, and the type of learning styles that are used with the students there. Senior Sam Spengler said “I really didn’t have any idea what school would be right for me. I wasn’t sure if UCLA would be a good fit but after visiting the campus I found it to be perfect!” College campuses can reveal much more than students can find on the schools website and may have hidden information a student would not otherwise be able to find.

College tours and visits remain free for students searching for their college choice but for students out of state it may cost a lot of money to travel to the school they are interested in. Although the cost may be high for a round trip flight and a place to stay, many have to consider that college will be a much more expensive decision and the benefits of a campus visit will most likely outweigh the cost to travel to the campus itself. Senior Mahea Schuman said, “It costs a descent amount of money to take a trip to another state but I found the trip to be extremely helpful in finding my top school choices. If I didn’t visit any campuses I would be lost in finding the college that was truly right for me.” Schuman visited Pepperdine, California this November and found that the school would be a great fit for what she was looking for. Senior Christian Riggs said “I think it would help a lot to go on some campus tours so I can see what the school is really like. The internet only gives a limited amount of information.”

The great search awaits as students rush to find schools that they will likely spend the next two to four years of their life in. There are many factors to consider when looking for a school that fits a particular type of student, but college visits will surely help. The benefits of college visits will likely outweigh the cost and make it a lot easier for a student to find the college that fits them best.

Horray For Homecoming

lshimmon — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:13:22 +0000

The week of Nov. 6-10 was an exciting one for students at Le Jardin as it was the school’s “Homecoming Week.” Students got to dress up every day of the week with Monday being “wacky tacky day”. People were dressed in outfits that were not supposed to match, or be fashionable. On Tuesday it was “Western Day”, where kids were dressed as cowboys, and there were also Native American costumes. Wednesday was “school spirit day,” where students dressed in their favorite college schools attire and Le Jardin Bulldog attire as well. The last day, Thursday, was “gangstah day”, where people sported baggy pants and doo rags.
Senior Rachel Larsen had the most original outfit for “western day”, as she was a horse. “I just wanted to wear something different because I knew everyone would just be a cowboy. I love horses, and always see them in western type movies so I thought it could work”, said Larsen.
Along with dressing up all week for Homecoming, there was also an annual Homecoming flag football game between the juniors and seniors. This year, the seniors completely outmatched the juniors, winning with a score of 47-12. It was never close, as the seniors got out to a 22-0 lead within the first 15 minutes. The senior victory follows the norm as the seniors have won four out of the last five matchups.
“I was rooting for the juniors of course, and even painted my stomach. Even though we lost, we did amazing and we will no doubt win next year” said junior Tara Rae, who opted not to play for her class. Many students came to support their favorite class. Signs were made, as well as body painted numbers of the students’ favorite players.
On the final night of Homecoming Week, the dance was held. The dance was the night of Nov. 10, at Senor Frogs. Students were delighted with a buffet style food service, as well as dancing, and two mini games. For one of the games three students took part in bobbing for apples, in which junior Nick Whitcomb was victorious. The second was a twinkie eating contest. Only three girls participated. Foreign exchange student Lucia Ongay, a senior, was the quickest to finish all ten twinkies.
Like most high schools around the nation, Le Jardin has an annual Homecoming queen and king. This year seniors Nick Blondeau and Natasha Gourley were awarded king and queen. Both Gourley and Blondeau were excited about winning queen and king and both said it was “the best Homecoming by far.”
“I was actually surprised my name was called because I told everyone to vote for the other candidate Luke Shimmon. It was fun though and I’m glad I got to win with a cool girl like Natasha” said Blondeau.
The Homecoming dance was the first of three dances Le Jardin will hold this year, as the school’s Winter Ball is scheduled for January.

Water Polo Bulldogs Victorious!

jshimanoff — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 21:15:24 +0000

Le Jardin boys water polo came out victorious! On Oct 27^th at Iolani School, the Le Jardin varsity waterpolo team played in the tie breaker, state championship game. “It was so awesome!” said senior Luke Shimmon. “Kamehameha beat them four days before in the first game of the playoffs, and then we crushed them in the champs.”

The game was very hyped up and the outcome was not what many believed would happen. Le Jardin went through most of the season tied with Punahou and Iolani for first place. That is, until the final games where they defeated Iolani 4-2 and Punahou 9-8. Victory for first place looked easy for the bulldogs coming in to the playoffs.

The boy’s first game was against fourth place Kamehameha. The game was an unfortunate upset as the boys lost to Kamehameha 7-6. “We went in cocky,” said senior Sam Spengler. “We had just taken out Puanhou and Iolani and we thought we didn’t have to try. Kamehameha went harder than us and they earned it.”

Since the LJA boys finished the season in first place, a tie breaker for championship was to happen Oct. 27 against the underdogs Kamehameha. Junior Jake Blaskowski said “It was payback, all or nothing. We need to come out strong and play our game.” The boys came out with intensity starting in the first quarter. Within the first minute, senior Jackson Shimanoff scored the first goal, followed by two more goals by Jake Blaskowski and Ian White.

At the end of the first half the score was 5-0, Bulldogs. “This was the first game they’ve ever had where the parents could sit easy and not panic till the last minute of the game,” said Amy Blondeau, mother of athlete Chris Blondeau on the team. By the end of the third quarter the bulldogs were up 8-0. Coach Krislin decided to put some of the subs in for the final quarter and the bulldogs took the win 8-2.

“It was the best season we’ve ever had, from the beginning. We’ve worked so hard, practicing over 20 hours a week, waking up at 5:30 and swimming before school, and it paid off,” said Spengler. The bulldog water polo team established a new tradition at the school, being the first team to ever win a state championship. Hopefully, the team will remain strong in the years to come, and continue the tradition.

Bulldog Bash Becomes a Hit!

U'ilani — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:33:07 +0000

With all the stress of homework and extracurricular activities students have to deal with, a nice and fun little break was well earned. Le Jardin Academy hosted the very first Bulldog Bash on Oct. 7, which was open to the entire high school from 6pm-9pm. Students could come to school and enjoy multiple activities with friends. There were games for both land sports and water sports, such as basketball and volleyball in the gymnasium, and water polo in the pool. Students could watch Fast 5 in the MPR while eating popcorn or play flashlight tag on the soccer field.

With such short notice, it was shocking at how many students attended the bash. Students enjoyed walking around and participating in different activities spread out over the campus. Senior Andrew Carmody thinks that more students will come next time, seeing as how this bash such a success. Aside from the multiple games students could play, there was also free food for everyone to enjoy. Games and free food? Who wouldn’t love that? “There was a lot of food, so I ate!”, said Carmody. Other students, such as Senior Lauren Barina, said, “I spent my night watching my classmates sing karaoke in the gym. It was fun!” Barina said that more students would show up if they were given more notice. “They should also get more activities for the students. What they had was fun, but we should have more also,” added Barina. All of the on-land sports were on the upper-campus by the gym and field, but down by the MPR students were having their own little party. What started out as a small dance party in the MPR, later turned into a movie theater, where Fast 5 played for students. Junior Kai Simmons, spent most of his night in the water however. “I went swimming and played water polo in the pool. It was fun! This is a fun night,” said Simmons.

All in all, the first annual Bulldog Bash was a success. It was a nice way for students of all ages to come together. “I think it’s best that it’s the whole high school since there’s not many people in our school anyway,” said Carmody. Next year is sure to be even more of a success with the reaction students gave this year. The school plans to have this event every quarter, so be sure to stop on by! If you have any suggestions as to what activities you would like to see at the next bash, be sure to contact Ms. Do.

Le Jardin Welcomes New High School Teachers.

mmlynarska — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 21:12:51 +0000

Le Jardin Academy has always consisted of a strong teaching body, with class sizes often remaining below 20; the students have always had an ample supply of wonderful teachers and faculty. Teachers have been known to stay after hours assisting students in all aspects of their studies they feel needs improvement. Teachers in the Le Jardin community are taken full advantage of and are greatly appreciated by many of the students. Senior Jessica Juselis said “The teachers are always willing to take time out of their breaks to help other kids.”
Le Jardin’s High school gained new members to their faculty this year. New to the math squad, Mr. Ronald Graham was a teacher at Kalaheo and now has become part of the math department. He was born in Boise, Idaho, and spent much of his child hood hunting and fishing. As a student Mr. Graham had aspired to play football and become a Marine. He went on to play football at Southern Oregon University and joined the Marine Corp Reserve. After completing his goals, Graham said “I was either going to be a police man or a teacher. After serving my country as a Marine, I wanted to serve my community as a teacher, and after 18 years I don’t see myself doing anything else.”
There is a new learning support coordinator at Lejardin Academy. She is there to help students in any way they need. If a student is struggling Mrs. Morrison is there to help them improve on their studies and ensure that each student remains on the right track. Mrs. Morrison attended University of North Carolina Willmington playing for their soccer team for four years, then moved to Oahu with Mr. Morrison. She taught at Kalaheo for five years before coming to LJA. Mrs. Morrison said one of her favorite quotes is“it is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” – Jk Rowling. An interesting fact that may not be well known is that she has a twin sister. Mrs. Morrison is here to help students, so feel free to pay her a visit if you seem to be falling behind.
Mrs. Julie Do is Le Jardin Academy’s new vice principle, one may have seen Mrs. Do prowling around the high school enforcing dress code, fixing parking issues, and over all working hard to ensure that LJA is running smoothly. Mrs. Do was previously at Campbell High school for 10 years as an A.P. English teacher and then became the IB coordinator. Some of Mrs. Do’s hobbies include being a foodie and an ice hockey player. Mrs. Lani Piche said “She knows all the best places to eat on the island.” Mrs. Do has many interesting hobbies and has great skill enforcing school rules.
Mrs. Thais Ocando-Bravo, the new Spanish teacher, is a great addition to our Spanish program. She has spent time in South American. Her experiences give a her a strong foundation for teaching the language, culture and customs. She was previously a bank executive in Charlotte North Carolina. Mrs. Barvo is well known for being a world traveler. All of Mrs. Bravo’s world experiences give her great lessons to incorporate into her class room

John Penington, LJA’s technology teacher, has claimed the P1 classroom. Students walking by may notice large furry creatures and odd objects around his classroom. Mr. Pennington is originally from New Jersey, and has spent a lot of time in South and Central America. This past summer he visited Argentina and is promoting an international exchange program. Penington also participates in Brazilian Jujitsu which is why he had a black eye the first week of school. Mr. Penington may be seen to assist to help with all technological needs.
Mrs. Andrea Tam is the lower school’s new art teacher, and she also teaches some of the freshmen class in art. Mrs. Tam is now in Mrs. Manso’s old classroom. She came from an IB school, and has taught D.P art for many years. This past summer Mrs. Tam got married.
Mrs. Grace Bell is the new dance and performing art teacher at Le Jardin Academy. Mrs. McNeil said “She can sing, dance, act, she can do it all.” Mrs. Bell was previously teaching at Iolani, and worked at the Hawaii theater. She mainly focuses on teaching dance and some drama classes. Mrs. Bell said “There are two necessities in this world, chocolate and shoes.” Mrs. Bell currently participates in choreographing plays and at the moment she is working on “Jive Bomber’s Christmas” at the Kumu Kahua Theater.
The Le Jardin Community gained an abundance of new teachers in the high school this year. They all have interesting hobbies and histories so feel free to pay them a visit and welcome them into the LJA ohana.

A Not So Scary History of Halloween

rmorgan — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:02:38 +0000

Free candy, crazy costumes, black and orange, we all know what that means: Halloween! But behind all of the trick or treating, festive decorations, crazy scares, and costumes is the history of a holiday transformed into one of the most memorable and most anticipated nights in the world. Halloween is an annual celebration that goes back more than 2000 years, being celebrated earliest by the Celtic people who lived in Great Britain and Northern France. Although it is now known as Halloween, this holiday first came from All Saints Day, which is a solemnity (a principal holy day in the Roman Catholic Church) that was celebrated on Nov. 1^st, mainly by parts of Western Christianity. An old Irish peasant practice was to go door to door to collect money, bread cake, cheese, eggs, butter, apples, among others, in preparation for the festival. Some customs for All Saints Day was to take flowers to the graves of dead relatives and say prayers for lost ones. This day also coincided with the celebration of “Dia de los Muertos” (the day of the dead) in Mexico. The name “Halloween” was first started in the 16^th century and is a version of the Scottish word “All-Hallows-Even.”

Currently Halloween is celebrated all across the world in over 20 countries. Many traditions of Halloween currently involves carving pumpkins, setting out candy, making or buying interesting costumes, and spending time with family and friends. And of course, Trick or Treating; when families and friends go door to door collecting candy in reward for their unique costumes.

The students at Le Jardin are doing many different things for Halloween, like senior U’ilani Lishman who said, “My friend and I are going to dress up as mermaid man and barnacle boy and we are probably just going to go walk around Aikahi and go hide in bushes and scare little kids.” Although there are some others who are not as festive. Senior Nick Blondeau said, “I’m just going to throw on my Misfits t-shirt. It has a skull on it. I might go to Waikiki too, just walk around and look at all the costumes.” There are many options for things to do for Halloween, some people like to just look at the costumes, and some like to scare children, but others have thought of very creative costumes, like Senior Rodolfo Lissia said “I was thinking about being a stereotypic Italian…like a Guido.” And Senior Hannah Sherrill said “Me and Natalie want to pair up…maybe be Adam and Eve…or the outlet with the plug….or maybe a tissue that says ‘blow me’.” There are so many creative things to be doing for Halloween here at Le Jardin… What are you going to be on the 31^st?

Stress in the College Application Process

mkahalewale — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 22:13:21 +0000

Senior Year! The last year of high school comes with expectations of the “cruise” quality, but when college counselor, Mr. Liedtke, reminded the senior class of college applications, these expectations were not met. As if the seniors don’t already have enough on their plate, the college application process tops off the stress overload. “[I feel] overwhelmed and stressed because on top of school work we already have, there’s tons of applications, essays, and paper work we need to get done,” senior U’ilani Lishman said.

To relive all this weight on our shoulders, deadlines need to be met. Applications, recommendation letters, essays, and transcripts need to be signed, sealed and mailed off to the colleges of choice. Naviance (connection.naviance.com/lejardin) helps seniors to search and compare colleges. It helps to narrow down decisions and set goals with the timeline shown on the home page. Because seniors are applying to multiple colleges that all have different applications and requirements, the Common App was created to shorten this process. The Common App is one application that over 400 colleges accept at one time. This application has questions about future plans, demographics, family, education and extracurricular activities, ect. This Common App makes the college application more bearable for seniors.

With so many separate forms colleges require from seniors, things can get confusing. Liedtke said, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” Focus on the application as a whole, making sure just to turn in everything on time, giving the colleges what they want.

In the end, all seniors want to be able to say what senior Mahealani Schuman can, “I’m not stressed about deadlines anymore, it’s more anticipation, waiting for their responses.”

Book em Dano

jshimanoff — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 22:14:19 +0000

The sound of the drums signals the new season of Hawaii Five-O. On September 19, CBS brought us the return of television cop/drama show Hawaii Five-O. The original Hawaii five 0 was a TV show produced in the late 60’s that ended in the early 80’s. Years back, producers spoke of possibly remaking the show. Networks heard this call, when in the month of September of 2010, CBS shot the series premiere of the remake Hawaii Five-O.

The show since its beginning has always appealed to local Hawaii fans. “I only started watching the show because it’s in Hawaii,” said senior Matt Kuryama. “Now I haven’t missed an episode.” The show’s season finale last year was a nail biter the whole way. In that episode, the series lead character Steve McGarret (Alex O’Loughlin) was framed for the murder of the crooked governor. The closing scene was of McGarret being scanned in prison, with a “to be continued” closer.

The second season jumps right back into action with McGarret in prison. McGarret’s partner Detective Daniel Williams (Scott Caan) persuades the new governor to review the case and find proper evidence against McGarret. “The show gets right back into where it started. McGarret shows off his abs and gets out of trouble, and his little friend helps how he can” said senior Sam Spengler.

“The new season is going to be a good one. Hawaii Five-O is good with building up a plot and continues to have rising action to the end of the season,” says water polo coach at Le Jardin Academy, Krislin Young. Many locals are featured as extras in the show. Five-O Fans are in for a good season. Continue watching the action every Monday night at 9 pm local time.