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Weekly News
12/1/25-12/5/25
Laura Mae’s World History- In World History, students just wrapped up our unit on Networks of Exchange, where they explored how goods, ideas, religions, and technologies moved across the Silk Roads, Indian Ocean, and Trans-Saharan trade routes. To bring these concepts to life, students took on the roles of merchants in a hands-on simulation that showed how monsoon winds shaped trade patterns, opportunities, and challenges across the Indian Ocean world. We have now launched our next unit on Land-Based Empires, where students will study the rise and governance of the Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal, Ming, Qing, Russian, and Tokugawa empires. At the end of the unit, students will apply what they’ve learned by designing their own empire, drawing on political systems, cultural achievements, military innovations, and economic structures from these major early modern states.
Ben’s World History- In World History we have just finished our focus on China and the dissemination of eastern civilization. We engaged with a variety of subjects ranging from China’s major dynasties, the spread of buddhism across asia, the four great inventions and of particular interest, Zheng He the most famous seafaring explorer who is largely unknown outside of China. Students in World History documented their experiences as time travels visiting a dynasty of their choice. Whereas the Honors students created report cards for a dynasty. We have just begun our exploration of Medieval England and the formation of British Society and have already discussed the Anglo Saxon cultural foundation and the Norman invasion. Our exploration continues this week by looking at the advent of common law and the magna carta.
Honors US History- Our class is just wrapping up our unit on the American Revolution and the Early Nation. Students have examined the founding ideals of the US but also the contradictions, debates, and conflicts that shaped the nation’s earliest years. We drafted new versions of the Declaration of Independence to represent missing voices as we explored colonial resistance. After learning about the American Revolution, students researched and presented on individuals based on LaGarret King’s research on Black Founders. Our unit ends with a study on the first three presidencies and the precedents and challenges they experienced during the early republic. As we’ve progressed through the year, we have been reading from Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States to consider how everyday people experienced US History.
US History- At the beginning of Trimester 2, our class started a new unit on the expansion, division, and rebuilding of America during the 19th century. Students examined Manifest Destiny, the impact of westward movement on Indigenous peoples and national politics, and the rising sectional conflicts over slavery. We are now transitioning into the next phase of the unit, where we will study the outbreak of the Civil War, the secession of the Southern states, and Abraham Lincoln’s evolving motivations for preserving the Union. Afterward, we will move into an in-depth look at the three phases of Reconstruction, analyzing the challenges of rebuilding the nation, extending rights to formerly enslaved people, and confronting the resistance that followed.
Honors Government and Political Advocacy- Our Government class has begun a new unit on the mechanisms of government, starting with an in-depth look at the legislative branch. Students have been applying their knowledge directly to their ongoing Advocacy Project by drafting original bills and examining the many challenges (and committees) of the legislative process. As we continue studying the executive and judicial branches in the weeks leading up to winter break, students will gain a better understanding of how power is structured, shared, and checked in our federal system. We are also kicking off a fan-favorite tradition, the Lobbying Project. This is an Upper School-wide simulation, where the Government class will take on the roles of lobbyists representing either the Sugar or Protein Lobby in a high-stakes debate over the Bear Cafe menu.
Upcoming Events
Student-led conferences will be held on Thursday, March 5 and Friday, March 6. To participate in these required in-person conferences, please use the sign-up link in the email from your student's advisor that was sent this week. You must sign up by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, February 25.
Thursday, March 5 ½ day
Science Symposium and
Student-led Conferences in afternoon
Friday, March 6, No School
Student-led Conferences
Friday, March 20
Juniors take ACT, Contact Lauren Dean, ldean@ngfs.org with questions.
Friday, April 10
SAT for Juniors, Contact Lauren Dean, ldean@ngfs.org with questions.