LHS’ Academy Induction Ceremony Celebrates and Welcomes Students
On October 7th in LHS’ Little Theater, students, parents, and staff gathered for the Dr. Edward A. Bertolini Academies at Leonia High School Induction Ceremony. This event occurred to recognize new students in the Academies. There, students’ names were announced, and they were given certificates and even gifts by their academy’s advocate.
STEM and Culinary student Elizabeth Ochkovskaya shares that her gifts were “a lab coat and an apron with my name on it.”
The majority of these students were freshmen, with a couple of upperclassmen involved as well. The academy advocate for the Humanities Academy, Ms. Bozik, shared that the ceremony had changed from previous years, as it is “one academy induction that includes all the academies. [It was] a great opportunity to see all the students in all the academies.”
The event also included a speech by Mr. Kalendar, where he shared the importance of academies for students with interests that expand beyond the typical curriculum. Elizabeth shares a similar appreciation for the Academies, saying that “being in an academy is a really good chance to focus on your interests and meet other people who share your interests.”
Each year, Leonia’s Academies gain more students who want to explore different subjects, making them a great way to understand what one would potentially like to do following graduation. The current ones offered by LHS are: Leonia Academy of STEM, Marketing & Business Leadership Academy, Leonia Academy of Hospitality and Culinary Arts, The Leonia Humanities Academy, Leonia Music Conservatory, Leonia Fine Arts Conservatory, and Academy of Vocation & Trades). While they do require a large amount of rigor, they train students to critically think and allow their talent to shine through. Ms. Bozik has seen the progress these students make, stating that she “truly [does] observe their growth over time.” Academies serve an important role in students’ academic careers and foster a sense of community at LHS.
