I-TERM FAQ

 

WHEN ARE COURSE PROPOSALS DUE?

Course proposals for the following year’s I-Term will be due by May 15th. These will be accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year and we recommend that they be submitted earlier rather than later to receive full consideration and allow time for discussion, as needed.

You can find the most up to date course proposal form on the I-Term Homepage.

You can request a consultation for your idea with the Experiential Ed team at any time by email exed.secondary@lejardinacademy.org. 

WHEN WILL THE I-TERM CATALOG BE RELEASED?

The catalog will be released for the following year by July 1st.

WHEN ARE I-TERM APPLICATIONS DUE?

I-Term applications will open on August 18th and be due one week following the opening date (August 25th). You can review the application questions in advance here.

WHEN ARE PAYMENTS DUE?

I-Term courses that require payment will follow this payment schedule:

  • For courses under $500, full payment will be due upon acceptance to the course roster.

  • For courses over $500, a downpayment of $200 will be due upon acceptance of the course roster.

  • The remaining balance for an I-Term course that is over $500 will be due in equal parts on October 15th, November 15th and December 15th.

HOW SHOULD I MAKE PAYMENT?

I-Term payments can be made through our FACTS program, attached to tuition. Payments are split into 3 chunks every month on the 15th--October 15, November 15, December 15. Full payment is due by Dec. 15th.

HOW IS THE COURSE CATALOG CREATED?

The I-Term Course Catalog is carefully and intentionally curated every year by the LJA Experiential Education Office, along with input and collaboration with faculty, students, parents and administrators. Our goal is to provide a diverse array of courses to cater to student passion and interest. Key factors that are taken into consideration include:

  • Application – Students and faculty must submit an I-Term course proposal. Thoughtful, well researched and detailed proposals are given higher priority.

  • Impact – Ultimately, I-Term courses need to show “impact” on students’ growth and trajectory and/or on a local or global community. They also need to be clearly unique in that students wouldn’t regularly engage in this experience with their families or peers at other times. When measured against one another, often certain courses have clearer impact than others. Those that have an articulated impact that will clearly be amplified in this particular format (an immersive, shared experience during the school year) will be selected for the catalog. 

  • Leadership – Each course requires qualified guides willing to lead it. The capacity of our faculty, staff, parents, community partners and alumni acts as an initial constraint. One objective of I-Term is to continue to build and strengthen our community through immersive, shared experiences, so, as often as possible, we give preference to courses that are designed and led by our learning community members. Incredible opportunities with other companies and organizations exist and we encourage families to take advantage of these during summer months.

  • Risk – We require a certain level of training, expertise and prior experience commensurate to identified risk in order to lead I-Term courses. If we have concerns about a course team’s overall ability to mitigate certain risks, the course will not run.

  • Student interest – When students propose courses, utilizing the full application process, we work hard to facilitate their vision. However, if fewer than 5 students are interested in a course, it will be suggested as an independent option that a student can propose for themselves or a small group.

  • Cost – We are looking for a range of price points represented in the catalog. We set cost parameters based on market research of other similar programs and then utilize metrics provided by the LJA Business Office to stick within the financial capacity of our learning community. If a course is too expensive, it will not make the catalog. Or, if there are too many courses at a particular price point, we will table similar courses for the following year.

  • The Queue – Some courses may be “in the queue” from previous years due to the limited number of off-island trips we are able to run each year.

  • Course Logistics – Some travel locations and destinations may be unfeasible for I-Term due to the complicated, expensive or time-intensive nature of travel to that location. Similarly, some local options may not be available during the dates of I-Term, or they may require transportation that we are unable to secure.

WHY ISN’T MY COURSE IDEA IN THE CATALOG?

If you're curious why your trip didn't get approved, please consider the following:

  • Application – Was your application complete and submitted on time? Did your course relate to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals? Did you have a faculty, staff or other learning community member willing to lead your course?

  • Impact – Did your course proposal articulate the impact of this experience? Is this something that is unique, in that students couldn’t engage in this type of experience at other times?

  • Leadership – Did you identify someone that was willing and qualified to lead this course? It’s possible that the leadership team may not have the necessary qualifications to lead your course. If you would like more information, please email exed.secondary@lejardinacademy.org 

  • Risk – Is your course too risky given a variety of factors? Did you provide a case to show that the risks could be mitigated?

  • Cost – Did you provide a detailed anticipated budget? The more specific information we have, the better we can predict the expenses and costs associated with a certain I-Term, and the more likely we are to include it in the catalog. It is possible that your course was too expensive or was too similar in price point to other courses, in which case, we have to narrow it down based on other factors.

  • Past I-Term Catalogs – It’s possible that there were other courses in the “queue” from past years. Feel free to email the Experiential Ed Office to inquire further: exed.secondary@lejardinacademy.org 

HOW ARE STUDENTS SELECTED FOR COURSES?

Students must apply for their desired course by completing the I-Term Participation Application. There are a limited number of spots on each course, determined based on logistical and risk management considerations. Applications are reviewed by the Experiential Education Office and Course Leaders, and rosters are determined based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to:

  • Quality of application

  • Previous I-Term experiences

  • Relevant coursework, extended essay or personal project

  • Impact Academy commitment and engagement

  • Relevant club or athletic participation

  • Relevant work/internship experience

  • Relevant leadership experience

  • Overall group dynamic and diversity, dependent on course aims

  • Any students flagged for behavior, academic concerns and/or business office issues may be put on probation for I-Term.

  • Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.

Some I-Term experiences are only available to certain students based on grade level, age, or required certifications or experience. Please read the description of each course carefully to ensure that you are aware of the necessary requirements.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON'T GET MY FIRST SELECTION?

Selection for some courses is very competitive due to the high number of applications and limited spots. Students will be asked to choose a second, third and fourth selection on their I-Term application. In the event that you are not selected for your first option, the Experiential Education office will work to get you into your other selections. If necessary, we will contact you to discuss additional options you may have not considered.

CAN STUDENTS APPLY FOR AN INDEPENDENT I-TERM?

Students may apply for independent I-Term courses led by community experts or family members. These must be approved by the Dean of Experiential Education, Collective Impact Programs Manager, and Experiential Education Coordinator. Please use the same application form if you are interested in pursuing an independent I-Term; in this case, your second, third, and fourth choices must still be courses from our LJA catalog. Please note that you must demonstrate that your independent experience connects directly to our Global Citizenship Program, as well as relate to specific targets of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Additionally, your proposed experience should be “impactful” in the sense that it significantly impacts your own trajectory in life, deepens your understanding of yourself, others, and the world, and, if appropriate, has a positive impact on a community.

ARE CELL PHONES ALLOWED DURING I-TERM?

Le Jardin Academies policy is that students are not to use cell phones during I-Term. Course Leaders may collect all cell phones at the beginning of a day, trip or course.

For Interisland, Continental or International I-Term Trips, the following cell phone policy is enforced:

  • Students may use phones on plane until arrival at destination

  • Cell phones will be collected upon arrival (after call/text home)

  • Students will receive their phones back at one or multiple predetermined times mid-trip for call home. These times will be communicated with parents in advance.

  • Cell phones will be recollected after calling home.

  • Phones will be returned for the flight home.

If a student gets homesick or needs to call home, they will be allowed to contact their parents.

This policy was created in order to prioritize and emphasize the value of mindful engagement in order to nurture relationships.

WHO LEADS I-TERM COURSES?

I-Term courses are led by LJA faculty and staff, community partners, alumni, and parents. Because a primary goal of I-Term is to nurture and strengthen relationships, we prioritize leaders from within our learning community rather than outsourcing to external vendors.

Guides are required to be Wilderness First Aid trained and complete a series of risk mitigation workshops for any course that is off-island or deemed high risk due to its location and/or the nature of its activities.

HOW ARE COURSE LEADERS SELECTED?

When creating I-Term Leadership Teams, the Ex. Ed. Office is factoring in a wide range of different metrics that have a balanced and diverse array of experience and perspectives.

The following are the primary metrics factored into leadership team creation:

  • Significant Understanding of Best Practices in Experiential Education 

  • Experience in Remote / Low Resource Areas

  • Relevant Risk Mitigation / First Aid Experience + Certifications

  • Content Knowledge

  • Personal Experience/Expertise

  • Alumni Engagement (programmatic goal)

What if I play a sport in the Spring Season?

It is required that all athletes committed to a spring sport speak with their coach prior to applying to an I-Term course that will travel off-island, thereby impacting training and/or games. Coaches cannot prohibit a player from traveling. However, it is important that athletes engage in candid and open conversations with their coach and their parents about commitment, impact on their team, alternative options, and prioritization. We recognize that this conversation will likely be different for a senior than for a freshmen. It is highly encouraged that athletes committed to a spring sport plan their I-Term travel for odd years (2025, 2027, etc.), when the timing of I-Term will not conflict with athletics.

Please email the Experiential Education Team with any I-Term-related questions: exed.secondary@lejardinacademy.org 

  • Dean of Experiential Education: christina.hoe@lejardinacademy.org

  • Collective Impact Programs Manager: avery.filer@lejardinacademy.org

  • Experiential Education Coordinator: joel.saito@lejardinacademy.org