Dear New Garden Community,

As I leave this friendly place, I am reminded of the ways in which community and care are demonstrated on a daily basis, which has altered the way in which I will continue to show up in my future endeavors. It has truly been nothing short of an incredible experience to work with students, families, faculty, and staff. I have enjoyed every facet of responsibilities on the lower campus during my four years here. From teaching Spanish, to offering assistance in the office, going on trips, and most recently as a support teacher, my confidence has grown as an educator and mentor. I am grateful for every memory, relationship, and piece of guidance. Thank you to everyone who made this foundational portion of my professional journey so positively rewarding! I will always carry the love that I have for this school near and dear to my heart.

I am eager to announce that I will be continuing my education in pursuit of a Masters of Science in Communication and Science Disorders at North Carolina Central University in Durham this fall. Language and communication have always been a special interest of mine and so I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge to become a pathologist who will continue to make effective communication, a human right, accessible and achievable for all.

In peace,

Khaira Bolden

Dear Horizon Families,

Please plan to attend the Horizon Spring Trip Information Meeting on Tuesday, April 14, 6-7 p.m. The meeting will take place in the Horizon Library room. Attendance is required by at least one parent/guardian of each Horizon student. We will go over the trip itinerary, packing list, health and medical information, and other details about the trip. Until then, we’d like to share some highlights with you.

We are so excited to reveal where we are going to Horizoners at the end of this week! Be sure to check the newsletter to see where we are going!

On Thursday, May 14, third graders will return to NGFS and will have no school on Friday, May 15. Fourth graders will spend one extra night and will return to NGFS on Friday, May 15.

Our trip planners and supervisors are Ana, Brad, Khaira, and Jeff Bills (Director of Auxiliary Programs). Space for parent volunteers is limited, and we are carefully evaluating our chaperone needs. Early next week, we will notify our parent chaperones, and a chaperone meeting will be scheduled before the trip.

We look forward to sharing more about these highlights and trip details and answering your questions next week at our Spring Trip Information Meeting (Tuesday, April 14)! Additionally, we will share reminders and trip tips in weekly Class News posts (from the Community Newsletter) each Monday. All information shared about the trip will be posted on the Horizon Class News page.

Overnight trips are the most common response when former students are asked about their favorite NGFS memories. We know that as fun and exciting as the trips are, your child may have some pre-trip anxious anticipation; please be relaxed and confident in response. Your child will take their cue from you . . . if you are excited about the trip, they will be too!

In Peace,

Ana, Brad, and Khaira

Dear Parents and Guardians of Current Students in Kindergarten, Grade 2, and Grade 4,

We are excited to share details with you about a very important event that is coming up on Thursday, February 19. This is an informational event for parents / guardians preparing for 2026 - 2027 grade level transitions for their students. Teachers at each level will have lots to share with you and will give you an opportunity to ask questions about the upcoming grade.

Each of these three meetings will take place on the same night on the GC Campus. The schedule is as follows:

• Rising 1st at 6 p.m. Location: Rainbow classroom (Parker Young Building). This meeting will provide parents/guardians of current Kindergarten students an opportunity to learn more about Rainbow (grades 1-2).
• Rising 3rd at 6:30 p.m. Location: Horizon classroom (upstairs of Newlin-Stewart Building). This meeting will provide parents/guardians of current 2nd graders an opportunity to learn more about Horizon (grades 3-4).
• Rising 5th at 7 p.m. Location: Galaxy classroom (upstairs of Newlin-Stewart Building. This meeting will provide parents/guardians of current 4th graders an opportunity to learn more about Galaxy (grades 5-6).

Childcare is provided for K, 2nd, and 4th graders and their siblings during this meeting at no charge. Advance sign-up is required to ensure appropriate staffing. Please sign up by sending an email to extendedcare@ngfs.org by Tuesday, February 17.

We look forward to an exciting evening as you begin to prepare for your child’s next year at NGFS!

Thank you,

Genny

All Aboard the Polar Express!

Each year in Horizon we celebrate winter holidays with our much-anticipated Polar Express Day, which will take place this year on Thursday, December 18th. This is a special day for Horizoners where we take an imaginary journey on the Polar Express. We like to go all out decorating, serving hot chocolate, and snacks, as well as dressing in pajamas!

We enjoy a reading of the original book by Chris Van Allsburg, followed by watching the Polar Express movie. Then, we will engage in discussions and activities comparing and contrasting the book and movie. For this special event, we transform the Extended Care space the day before by taping down train tracks, hanging up snowflakes, and more, as a surprise for the students when they arrive in the morning.

On Polar Express Day, we encourage all children to wear their pajamas, and they may also bring a small blanket and a small stuffed animal. Students may also bring a change of clothes if they would like to change for resource classes or for after school activities.

We are looking forward to another wonderful Polar Express Day and we very much appreciate your help this week and throughout the year!

Warm winter wishes,

Ana, Brad, and Khaira

Hello Horizon Families!

The following is a list of spelling words containing concepts we are learning during our literacy time.Included in this week’s list are words containing the Change the v to f  and add -es rule. This rule is used when a base word ends with a single f or fe and a speller wants to make that word plural, or more than one.

Here is a fun rap that might help your student solidify their understanding of this concept.

This week Horizoners will spell the words below independently during class time. There will be chances to practice words containing these concepts during our school day, but we wanted to provide families with a list for optional at-home practice.  

If you would like to, please take a few minutes each night to practice several words together. Helpful activities for your student to do include: dictating the words to your student for them to spell on a dry erase board or with paper and pencil, encouraging your student to say the word aloud before spelling it, helping your student to break the word into individual syllables, or if needed, individual sounds to spell the word. It is also a beneficial activity to discuss the meaning or meanings of the word and to use the word orally in a sentence. The following chart provides the spelling clues you can reinforce with your student through this practice.

spelling word

think about

self

selves

Spell self

Self ends with a single f

drop the f and add ves to make it plural

thief

thieves

Spell thief.

ie is a low powerbar spelling of the sound /ee/

thief ends with a single f

drop the f and and add ves to make it plural

loaf

loaves

Spell loaf.

oa spells /oe/ in the middle

loaf ends with a single f

drop the f and and add ves to make it plural

wife

wives

Spell wife

wife is a v_e word

It ends with fe.

Drop the fe and add ves to make it plural

knife

knives

Spell knife

kn is a low powerbar spelling of /n/

The k is silent

knife is a v_e word

It ends with fe.

Drop the fe and add ves to make it plural

life

lives

Spell life

life is a v_e word

It ends with fe.

Drop the fe and add ves to make it plural

elf

elves

Spell elf.

elf ends with a single f

drop the f and and add ves to make it plural

shelf

Spell shelf

shelf ends with a single f

drop the f and and add ves to make it plural

leaf

leaves

Spell leaf.

ea  is a high powerbar spelling for  /ee/ in the middle

leaf ends with a single f

drop the f and and add ves to make it plural

wolf

wolves

Spell wolf.

There is a tricky spelling in the base word. It sounds like /oo/ as in book, but it is spelled with an o.

wolf ends with a single f

drop the f and add ves to make it plural

half

halves

Spell half

There is a tricky spelling in the base word.

The l in is silent

Half ends with a single f

Drop the f and add ves to make it plural

Challenge word: please

ea is a high powerbar spelling of /ee/

s says /z/ between two vowels

add silent e to make s say /z/

Challenge word: before

Spell the first syllable: be

Spell the second syllable: fore

ore spells /or/ at the end

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns!

In Peace,

Brad

Click HERE to read the email with details and due dates for our Simple Gifts exchange.

Happy Friday Horizon Families!

Please use the link below to sign up for supplies needed for the Halloween party next Friday.

Thanks so much!

Morgan Bullock and Kristy Plaster (Horizon room parents)

Horizon Halloween Party

The Horizon Fall Trip is almost here! We are looking forward to our overnight trip at Camp Carefree tomorrow and wanted to share these reminders:

Trip Prep

• Follow the Trip Packing List and involve your child in the packing process so they are aware of what they are bringing and how to find items quickly and easily.

Departure Day, Thursday, Oct. 23

• On Thursday morning, a small white bus will be parked behind the Student Activity Center (SAC/gym). Please have your child bring their duffel bag/backpack and bedding to the van to be loaded before going upstairs to our classrooms.
• Please arrive at school no later than 7:45 so the luggage bus can be loaded and ready before Morning Meeting begins.
• Please pack a disposable snack and lunch for Thursday. Their lunch will go into a cooler and their snack and water bottle will need to come inside with them.
• Please say your goodbyes to your child before they enter our building. You are welcome to wait outside by the end of the gym to wave goodbye as we leave on the buses around 9:00.

Return Day, Friday, Oct. 24

• We will return in time for regular dismissal.
• When you pick up your child, please pick up their luggage from the luggage bus and medications (if applicable) from a teacher.

Communication

• We will send an email on Thursday evening about our day.
• We will share about our trip adventures on our Class News page next week.

In Peace,

Ana and Brad

This message was sent separately to third grade families and to fourth grade families. Here are the links to referenced attachments.

3rd grade Review Packet | 4th Grade Review Packet

Tomorrow we will take our first math assessment of the year. We spent the day reviewing both with games, and a review packet. The packet should be inside of their green take home folders in their backpacks, but is attached to this email as well. They should also have their Module One math book, which can stay at home.

If there are any pre-test jitters, the language that we use at school is that assessments are for us to see what they are already rockstars at, and where they might need a little bit more practice, and help to inform our teaching.

As always, please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions or concerns!

Love and Light, 
Ana

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday evening for the Lower School Parent Night meeting. If you were not able to attend or would like to review the information we shared, the presentation links are provided below. The first is the "Introduction" presentation with the information that was shared during the all-campus portion of the evening. This is followed by links to the presentations that were shared in classrooms by the teachers.

Lower School Parent Night Introduction presentation

A Child's Garden Parent Night presentation (preschool and pre-K)

Sunrise Parent Night presentation (TK and K)

Rainbow Parent Night presentation (grades 1-2)

Horizon Parent Night presentation (grades 3-4)

Galaxy Parent Night presentation (grades 5-6)

Hi Fourth Grade Families!

Today our fourth grade friends received their first weekly math homework assignment. They will have two different pieces of paper in their yellow homework folder. One is the practice partner which is a recap of what they will be doing to help remind them of the process in case they need help completing their homework. The other page is their homework, which will need to be completed and returned tomorrow.

I will not typically email to let you know that there is homework, as we are hoping to begin to create the sense of responsibility that will continue in future grades, but wanted to loop you all in as it is the first time! As always, please let me know if you have any questions or concerns!

Love and Light, 
Ana

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Speech Pathologist, Martha Eanes, M.Ed., CCC-SLP, offers speech and hearing screenings to the children at New Garden Friends School. These screenings include:

• Hearing screening using an audiometer - This assessment takes about 5 minutes. If the child does not pass the initial screening, parents/guardians are notified, and the child is seen again in 2 weeks (at no additional charge). If the child does not pass a second time, families are referred to an audiologist or ENT specialist for further audiological assessment.
• Screening of articulation, language concepts, sentence grammar, auditory memory, voice and fluency - Teachers are asked to fill out a questionnaire that will assist in identifying any speech, language, listening or early literacy problems. This screening takes about 10 minutes.

These screenings will result in either 1) no further evaluation necessary, 2) a recommendation for a short assessment in specific problem areas identified, or 3) a recommendation for a more comprehensive assessment. A letter will be provided to parents/guardians and teachers indicating the child has either passed all of the developmental screening or is recommended for further assessment. A list of services available in the Greensboro area will also be provided.

This service is offered at a cost of $50 per child. *The fee for 4 and 5-year-olds (ACG-Iris and Sunrise students) is paid through tuition and no payment is required.

Screenings will take place during September. If you would like for your child to participate in the screening, please complete the permission form here (or a paper copy) and return it as soon as possible.

If you have any questions, please email Marci Richardson, Lower School Learning Specialist  at mrichardson@ngfs.org.

Thank you,

Genny

Dear Parents and Guardians,

I am Kathryn, the school nurse. My job is to ensure our students are learning in a healthy and safe environment, this includes asking for your assistance in being mindful of food allergies.

In Horizon we have children allergic to: Gluten, all nuts, and eggs.

Please be mindful of these allergies but the classroom does NOT have to be free of these foods.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Kathryn

School Nurse 

health@ngfs.org 

Click here for the Horizon welcome letter.