If your child is in the process of applying to colleges, the financial aspect of higher education can feel confusing. There are many types of financial assistance for college, including need-based aid, merit scholarships, and grants. The school counseling department at Laurel Springs is dedicated to helping families navigate the process of applying for financial aid.

The first step many families take is to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) worksheet, which can be submitted online. This worksheet is an excellent starting point for parents and students to better understand the information required by federal and state governments who determine financial aid. Because students may not have received all of their responses from colleges to which they have applied, families should include the codes for all of their child’s selected colleges on the worksheet. Also, families who have not yet filed their tax forms for 2011 should use the term “will file” in the form; this can be revised once a family has filed its taxes and can include the necessary information.

While January 1st was the earliest that the FAFSA worksheet could be submitted, it is important to be aware of state application deadlines. The worksheet also includes this critical information, which can be found on the right side of the first page. Many states have specific deadlines, and other states offer aid on a first-come, first-served basis, which means that applying early gives your child a better chance of receiving state financial aid. Students typically receive responses (award letters) about 1-2 months after they have applied and decisions have been made, but the process can take longer in some cases. 

Students and their families can also investigate what financial aid programs specific colleges offer. Private and state institutions have a variety of scholarship options, so it is important to understand what financial aid plans may be available. One key component of many programs is the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) which is what a university determines that an individual family should contribute toward the cost of college, based on their particular financial circumstances. 

Our school counseling team is here to help Laurel Springs parents and their children understand the many details involved in applying for financial aid. Laurel Springs families are encouraged to contact their school counselors directly with questions they work through the application process. While the applications can feel complicated, our school’s expert counselors are ready to answer individual questions and guide our families through each step of the process.

With a 94% college acceptance rate, our school is proud of its commitment to helping students reach their academic goals.

President Laura Clark said that the main goals of this year’s Student Council are to “improve student unity and school spirit through various projects, while learning about democracy and leadership.”

The group is focused on several agendas: developing a welcome package for new students, creating the yearbook, fundraising, and helping to plan the events for prom and graduation weekend. Faculty sponsor Mary Jane Gilbertson said, “The students are well organized, intelligent and respectful of each others’ ideas and opinions.”

Vice President Graham Bentz said, “The Welcoming Committee will make new LSS students feel like a part of our school community.” Ms. Gilbertson said that new students will learn about clubs and other activities, with the intent that they “feel a sense of belonging and know they have classmates and friends.”

As Parliamentarian, Stephanie Maher ensures that all the proper bylaws and procedures are followed during meetings.  She is excited to “encourage students to interact with each other in a variety of ways.”  Student Council projects “will help Laurel Springs students get a wonderful education, and also the wonderful experience of meeting their fellow classmates while making the world a better place.

Prom and graduation weekend, which takes place in Southern California in June, is one focus for our members.  Graham Bentz said, “We have lots of interest in this, and it’s a great way for our students to be involved and get to know each other.”

In addition to giving back to the Laurel Springs School community, our members gain invaluable experience by participating in this dynamic governing body.  Stephanie Maher said, “Being part of Student Council has taught me so much about leadership, and also given me more self-confidence. Every minute I spend with this team has helped me become a better person, because I’ve learned more about myself, as well as my fellow classmates, and the world around me.” Graham Bentz said, “I’m excited about the year ahead and all the things that Student Council hopes to accomplish. We have a great group of leaders and students that want to make a difference.” And their leader, President Laura Clark said, “I really enjoy participating, and am very excited to achieve our goals this year!”

At Laurel Springs, Megan’s teachers have nothing but rave reviews for her work as a student. Her Chemistry teacher, Jayne Selwa, said that “Megan has been a delight to work with. She displays great enthusiasm for learning, and life in general. And Karen Lewers, Megan’s Math teacher, said that “Megan is very determined and focused. She takes the time to fully understand each topic.” 

Megan appreciates both creative writing and the types of writing she does in her courses. “I love being able to analyze a concept, and really enjoy the structured, logical progression of academic writing. Being able to break things down and then synthesize ideas is something I enjoy about the writing I do for school. Creative writing is more fragmented and raw. I love the mysterious aspect of creative writing, when I have to present a concept that is otherwise difficult to express.”

In her free time, Megan enjoys theatre, and attends a Shakespeare camp in the summer. In fact, these experiences are part of what inspired her published poem. “During the camp, we focus on learning how to use our bodies to convey emotion. I thought about how hands have the ability to tell a stronger story than words and facial expressions. The poem came from my thoughts about how such a small body part can tell such a meaningful story.” 

Megan’s talents are not limited to writing and acting. In fact, she thinks she may want to major in economics and policy analysis when she attends college. Her history teacher, Mary Jane Gilbertson, said, “Frankly, she is teaching me so much about debate. Her history assignments could be used for textbooks. She loves politics, history and debate.”

Congratulations to Megan on her first national publication. We know that she will continue to bring her focus, creativity and intelligence to her academic and extra-curricular passions.

David Brown, Executive Director of WASC, and Marilyn Mosley Gordanier, founder and Executive Director of Laurel Springs School

Our school marked its 20th anniversary with a celebration in Ojai, California on Wednesday, January 11. Founded in 1991 to offer personalized distance learning programs, Laurel Springs was one of the very first schools to harness the power of the internet for interactive education when it began offering web-based programs in 1994.  Laurel Springs has now grown to include students from throughout the U.S. and more than 70 countries.

Laurel Springs has been a pioneer in developing quality distance learning options for students seeking alternatives to the traditional classroom setting. Today, our school is one of the most respected providers of online education for students in grades K-12, with outstanding  academics.

“I founded Laurel Springs with the intent of providing a challenging, respected and nurturing online community where students can grow academically while becoming responsible global citizens,” said Marilyn Mosely Gordanier, Founder and Executive Director. “We’ve come a long way since the early days of the internet, and while advances in technology have supported our journey, it’s truly the teachers, students and members of the Laurel Springs family that make this an outstanding institution. We thank them for their support and look forward to the future.”

The school’s focus on academic excellence has resulted in major milestones. In 1998, Laurel Springs courses earned a-g approval from the University of California governing body and in 2000, the school became the first distance learning institution to receive accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). That same year, many Laurel Springs high school courses received Division I and II approval from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). In 2005, our school gained membership in the prestigious National Honor Society.

“Laurel Springs is to be congratulated for staying the course for what has now become not only an acceptable alternative to traditional education, but has grown in terms of acceptance and results as a more effective way to learn,” said David E. Brown, Executive Director of WASC. “The personalized approach developed by the school successfully serves and supports each student individually and clearly enhances opportunities for students to achieve and to ultimately meet expectations for learning.”

One of our school’s major strengths is its ability to deliver a challenging college preparatory education that is tailored to the learning styles and needs of individual students. Many students benefit from having flexible schedules and a broad array of course options, including athletes and those in the performing arts. Laurel Springs has an excellent track record of helping graduates to enter the college of their choice, including the most selective institutions. Notable Laurel Springs alumni include actresses Kristen Stewart and Miranda Cosgrove, and Olympic ice dancer Tanith Belbin.

“We congratulate Laurel Springs on providing 20 years of world-class, innovative and personalized online instruction, said Susan Patrick, President and CEO of the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL). “As the first K-12 online learning program in the United States, Laurel Springs is a true pioneer in a field that is growing faster than any other innovation in K-12 education, with more than 2 million K-12 enrollments currently in online education programs across the nation.”

The school has earned numerous awards, including the United States Distance Learning Association Leadership Award, and the United Nations Global 500 Award. Gordanier serves on the Education Committee for the Board of Directors for the Captain Planet Foundation, as well as the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Working Group for the Clinton Global Initiative.

Maurice has traveled the world as an ardent spokesperson of the character-building effects of chess. Coming from the rough and tough streets of Kingston, Jamaica and Brooklyn, New York, Maurice has tirelessly shared his compelling story with young people in places such as Detroit, Cape Town, South Africa and Belize.

His book, Chess for Success, crystallizes his vision of the many benefits of chess, particularly for at-risk youth, and he continuously spreads his message of living one’s dream to universities, businesses, chess clubs and non-profit organizations around the globe. His app, Learn Chess! with Maurice Ashley, has been sold in over 26 countries, and he has received multiple community service awards from city governments, universities, and community groups for his work.

Maurice’s symposium topic is “The Illusions of Chess.” Most people watching chess would say that it is a game played on a board consisting of 64 light and dark squares and 32 black and white pieces. This simple statement is based on several fallacies, which are hard to see at first blush. Our symposia will explore some of the deeper truths of the game, and demonstrate how chess truths can be used to inspect and challenge our most basic assumptions about ourselves and the world around us.

We encourage all Laurel Springs students and their families to register for this inspiring event.

Mary Jane majored in history during college, earned her teaching certificate, and completed her student teaching requirement. However, teaching jobs were hard to find at the time, so Mary Jane spent years working in the telecommunications and finance industries. During this time, Mary Jane earned her Masters of Business Administration degree to further her skills, but knew that “I never wanted to be anything but a teacher.” While she was working in business during the day, Mary Jane was teaching high school for adults at night.  “One of my most memorable students was an eighty-year-old woman who was determined to get her high school diploma.” Mary Jane also began teaching online courses in her free time.

After many years of working in corporate business environments, Mary Jane decided to pursue her true love, and began teaching full-time for Laurel Springs. One of her students said that, “Mary Jane Gilbertson is brilliant. She definitely cares about her students and their work. She makes the time to carefully read everything everyone submits. She greets each student individually when they come to her online classes, and takes time to listen to what everyone says.” 

For her online classes, Mary Jane said, “we focus almost exclusively on current events.  We use a map with a list of countries in turmoil, discuss news items and revolutions, and review political speeches.” Her students are especially interested in how politics and economics intersect. “I pull all that in so that they know it’s all related. I love to open their eyes to connections between human economics and what is happening in the world.”

Mary Jane seeks ways to create meaningful student-teacher relationships and integrate student interests with the subject matter. She gave the example of a student who was extremely interested in photography. Mary Jane suggested that the student think about history during photography excursions, and ask questions such as, “what would ancient man think of this landscape, or in the case of fashion photography, how does history impact fashion?” Mary Jane said that she was able to “take what the student loved, and apply it to history. Everything is affected by history. My students can explore their interests, and at the same time, we make sure that the necessary academic content is covered.”

Mary Jane feels that students are most successful when parents are involved and interested in what their children are doing in class.  She encourages regular communication with both students and parents.

When she is not teaching, Mary Jane enjoys gardening, and she also loves to experiment with new recipes in the kitchen. She also likes to read, especially historical fiction, and enjoys learning about the interactions between history and economics. She is the advisor for the Laurel Springs Student Council, and anticipates a very active year for student government.

Ms. Hailes will discuss what sparked her interest in green issues, and what made her book, The Green Consumer Guide, such a success. She will also speak about how her efforts to create positive environmental change within large corporations and the tourism industry, as well as strategies for addressing the problem of electrical and electronic waste.

Ms. Hailes is a campaigning consultant, a writer, a speaker, a green entrepreneur and an opinion former. She is author or co-author of nine books, including The Green Consumer Guide, which has more than a million copies worldwide. In 1987 she co-founded SustainAbility Ltd, a leading edge consultancy and think-tank, but since 1995 has been working independently from her home in the UK. Ms. Hailes advises Procter & Gamble on baby care and cleaning products, and is a member of the expert advisory panel on packaging for British retailer Marks & Spencer. Ms. Hailes’ new company, E For Good, aims to clean up electrical and electronic waste – anything with a battery or a plug. In 1989, Julia was elected to the UN Global 500 Roll of Honor for her outstanding environmental achievements, and received the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1999.

Ms Haile’s efforts are aligned with our school’s mission of global and environmental awareness and education, and we are proud to welcome Ms. Hailes to our school community for the first symposium of 2012.

As a member of the Captain Planet Board of Directors, I was invited to attend the Foundation’s Gala, which was held in the breathtaking Georgia Aquarium. With the Foundation’s focus on environmental preservation and education, the aquarium was the perfect venue for the gala. Special musical guest, Alison Krauss, the 26-time Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter, entertained us with her amazing music.

The Gala’s guests were joined by Ted Turner, who later said of the event, “Thank you to everyone who came and gave to the cause of inspiring and empowering our children to take care of their home.”  The Captain Planet Foundation (CPF) was created in 1991 as an offshoot of the award-winning Captain Planet cartoon series, which was conceptualized by Ted Turner. Building on the inspiration garnered from the show, the Foundation became a means by which young viewers could become Planeteers and raise environmental awareness in their own schools and communities.  The inspiration behind the Foundation and this special evening is Laura Turner Seydel. Her dedication inspires the Captain Planet Foundation to fund school garden projects, beach cleanups, the cultivation of beehives and support of hands-on, environmental education projects for children.

Exemplar Award Winner Sylvia Earle and Marilyn Mosley Gordanier

The Georgia Aquarium was also the perfect place to announce the recipient of the Captain Planet Exemplar Award, Dr. Sylvia Earle, the world’s foremost oceanographer and Explorer-in Residence at National Geographic. I was privileged to talk with Dr. Earle about our precious oceans, and about her recent BBC interview.  I was intrigued by her statement that we have only explored five percent of the planet’s oceans, and that we know more about outer space than our own oceans. Her passion was contagious.  Our stirring conversation took place while viewing a breathtaking fish tank filled with more than six million tons of water!  While we spoke, a backdrop of sea life colored our conversation: sawfish, whale sharks, manta rays, beluga whales, sea lions, groupers and more.

Laurel Springs School alumna Rivkeh Sahlin and Marilyn Mosley Gordanier

Another highlight of the evening was reuniting with Rivkeh Sahlin, an alumna of Laurel Springs School.  She was one of our first students, and participated in the filming of our early environmental videos for which we were awarded the United Nations Global 500 award. Rivkeh attended Amherst College and graduated Magna Cum Laude. She is a beautiful, brilliant, kind and capable woman, mother and wife. I am proud to know that Laurel Springs played such an important part in her life.  

As the gala came to a close, I felt privileged to support the Captain Planet Foundation that has helped over 20,000 children realize their dreams of caring for our planet. All proceeds from this spectacular evening go directly toward fulfilling the mission of inspiring, creating and empowering young people around the world become eco-stewards. Just as we encourage our Laurel Springs students to give back to their community, it was my pleasure to give back to our global community!

Alek Talevich, Film Club Faculty Sponsor

The Film Club at Laurel Springs is a lively activity that attracts a mix of students from grades 7-12 who are interested in learning about the variety of aspects of film-making and appreciation. Rather than immediately jumping into watching and discussing movies, the faculty advisor, Alek Talevich (Academic Department Chair, Electives), helps club members to understand how to responsibly critique a film. “We start by picking a movie the kids dislike,” Talevich said. “The club members need to be able to articulate the reasons why they didn’t like the movie, which could be related to the script, acting, casting, directing, or any number of factors.” The club discusses how many different aspects can contribute to the critical success or failure of a movie.

With Talevich’s guidance, the club collaboratively creates a list of movies that they will watch and discuss throughout the year. Each year, the list is different, but contains a variety of films (with MPAA ratings that can range from G to PG-13) so that students can explore the vast differences in cinematic approaches. This year, some of the movies the club will review include: The Nightmare Before Christmas, Lars and the Real Girl, True Grit, Inception, and The Illusionist. Talevich reserves the right to sneak in a few surprise films to keep students on their toes.

Evi Smith, a 6th grade Laurel Springs student, is the youngest member of her local Delta Society chapter (in Albany, GA). She completed an eight-hour training course, passed a test, and also worked with her dog, Jamie, to pass an exam that certifed them as a Pet Partners Team. Evi and Jamie are registered as a team with the Delta Society, and they visit nursing homes and Alzheimer care centers. Evi talks with the patients and lets them pet Jamie. She says that she enjoys making the patients smile and being around the Delta Society dogs.

We are proud of our students’ motivation to volunteer in their local communities, and celebrate Evi’s work with the Delta Society.