STUDENT RESOURCES
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Weekly News
3/2-3/6/26
UPCOMING ACT NEWS FOR JUNIORS:
This is a reminder that the ACT + Science (without the writing portion) is scheduled for Friday, March 20th. The test will be administered digitally during the regular school day. The ACT has been selected by NGFS to fulfill the grade 11 testing requirements mandated by the North Carolina Department of Administration. We have already registered all juniors and have submitted any necessary requests for testing accommodations.
DUAL ENROLLMENT STUDENTS: If you are a student or have a student participating in the Dual Enrollment program, we advise them to email their professors now if their schedule will be affected, to let their professors know they will miss class due to the ACT, a test mandated by the state of NC, and to make arrangements for missed work. If you or your student have any concerns regarding Dual Enrollment conflicts, please reach out to Lauren (ldean@ngfs.org).
TECH CHECK: On Tuesday, March 17th, during English 10/11 classes, Juniors will complete an ACT Tech Check. They will practice signing in to the testing platform TestNav, update their testing profile, answer practice test questions, and run an internet speed test. Testing administrators and Technology staff will be available to help and ensure that all technology is ready for the upcoming test day. Any students absent on Tuesday can check in with Lauren later in the week to complete the Tech Check before test day.
2/23-2/27/26
In Algebra I, we have been working hard on solving linear equation word problems. Students are learning how to translate real world situations into equations and then solve them step by step. We have focused on identifying key information, defining variables clearly, and checking solutions to make sure they make sense in context. It has been great to see students growing more confident in breaking down multi step problems and explaining their reasoning.
In Intro to College Algebra, we wrapped up our unit on conic sections. Students explored circles, parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas and practiced identifying key features from equations and graphs. We have now transitioned into working with matrices. Students are learning how to add, subtract, and apply scalars to matrices and how these operations connect to solving systems of equations. This unit builds strong foundations for future math courses and introduces some powerful new tools for organizing and analyzing information.
2/16-2/20/26
On Wednesday, February 18, Upper School students participated in their monthly Service Learning activities. Service activities and sites included Backpack Beginnings, Jefferson Elementary, Peacehaven Farm, Book and Plush Project, Timberlake Farms, Odd Campus Jobs, and more. Students reported enjoying the warmer weather, having fun, and feeling really productive as they contributed to the community.
After Service Learning, Upper School 9th graders hosted a community-building Cultural Tasting Buffet in the US Commons. The event was led and directed by the Restorative Practices Circle student group and advised by English Teacher Chris Shipman. It invited 9th graders to share a family recipe that was special to them or culturally representative of their family. The 9th graders did not disappoint, spoiling the Upper School community with more than 20 dishes, including appetizers, entrees, and even desserts. The food contributions spanned the globe, with dishes representing our diversity from Portugal, Cuba, Palestine, Chicago, the Appalachian Mountains, Washington, D.C., and elsewhere. The next Cultural Tasting Event will feature our 10th-grade class on March 18th.
From Lahav, student spokesperson for New Garden Hype: “To celebrate and reward the students who attended last Thursday's conference semi-final victory, the student-led New Garden Hype group organized a special celebration. All students who attended the game were entered into a raffle for the chance to pie a teacher and in the end, the entire campus gathered together to celebrate our varsity basketball teams' achievements, and students earned the chance to pie Tanisha, Dwon, Chris, Carter, Danielle, Clarissa, and Beth. Teachers in attendance also were entered for the chance to pie Tyler, a fellow student. The pieing is one of several activities organized by New Garden Hype to grow school spirit and support fellow students. Other basketball season highlights include the hype awards, poster-making parties, and the famed ESPN table. Stay tuned for more plans for spring events!”
In Polaris Learning Lab classes, students had an academically heavy week as we wind down to the end of the second trimester. Students in Guided Study Hall applied their time-management, planning, and prioritization skills to make the most of their time to complete school assignments and study for upcoming assessments. As the term ends, there were assessments or projects due in US History, English 12, English 10/11, Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, College Algebra, Biology, Spanish 1, Spanish 2, Chemistry, and Government. Student advocacy skills have stood out this week, as students have asked for additional assistance, requested meetings with specific teachers during consultation, and even proactively emailed teachers for clarification and feedback before due dates. As usual, students received their weekly grade reports on Thursday and had the opportunity to conference one-on-one with Lauren about upcoming deadlines, makeup work, or any other academic responsibilities.
Academic Coaching Seminar students have been working on their Winter Benchmarks. The Benchmarks are taken three times a year and measure student growth in math, reading, and vocabulary. ACS students also took a mid-year executive functioning assessment to determine how well their application of skills is going in the areas of planning, time management, task initiation, organization, problem-solving, flexibility, working memory, emotional and impulse control, attention, and meta-cognition. The next few weeks will include skills review based on the assessment data and needed areas. Students in ACS earned a little celebration this week because they all submitted their most recent history projects on time and fully completed them! They have all shown tremendous growth and are actively applying their academic knowledge!
The Bears Men’s Basketball team won their Conference Championship last week and will be playing in the State Quarterfinals on Saturday, February 21st, at home! The game will start at 1:30 pm! Let’s fill the stands and support our team in their run for the State Championship! GO BEARS!
2/9-2/13/26
Laura Mae’s World History: In World History, we are beginning a new unit on the Age of Exploration. We will study voyages into West Africa, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and parts of South and Southeast Asia, tracing how expanding trade networks connected the Atlantic and Indian Ocean worlds. Students will explore the motivations and methods of European explorers and conquistadors, while also examining this period through the perspectives of the peoples who encountered Europeans during this era of rapid globalization. In honor of Valentine’s Day, students are creating “dating profiles” for famous explorers, analyzing how these figures might present their own achievements and ambitions.
Ben’s World History: World History students have just wrapped up our focus on the Mongol empire and cultural diffusion. In our exploration both classes have spent time debating both the positive and negative impacts of the Mongolian empire under Genghis Khan. In the honors course we have been delving into the impacts of those impacts across Eurasia and how they impacted societies worldwide. Both classes spent time developing plans to take a city and incorporate it into the Mongol empire. Students' strategies were based on historical tactics used by the Mongols as well as students' own unique strategic decisions. All and all the Great Khan was pleased by everyone's plans.
Honors US History: Our class is finishing up our unit on Reconstruction. We have examined the goals of Reconstruction and how the federal government attempted to achieve them during the wartime, presidential, and congressional phases. As we wrap up the unit and the trimester, students will complete a DBQ assessing the successes and failures of Reconstruction. We are also analyzing the long-term consequences of this era, including the loophole within the 13th Amendment and its impact on the American judicial system. We are concluding our study by watching and discussing the documentary 13th, directed by Ava DuVernay. Ask your student what they thought!
US History: In our class, we have begun our unit on the Gilded Age and the Industrial Revolution. Students are currently studying the two major immigration stations, Angel Island and Ellis Island, and comparing the experiences of immigrants who passed through each location. Through case studies and primary sources, students are analyzing how geography, policy, and prejudice shaped the immigration process and what these differences reveal about American society during this period. Students are about to embark on a new project on selected muckrakers as we examine the role of investigative journalism in exposing social, politica, and economic problems of the era.
Honors Government and Political Advocacy: In our government class, we are wrapping up our unit on the mechanisms of the federal government. Most recently, we have focused on the judicial branch, with students presenting on the constitutional philosophies and interpretive approaches used by current members of the Supreme Court. Using strong primary source analysis skills, students have read and evaluated majority, concurring, and dissenting opinions from landmark Supreme Court cases. For their advocacy projects, students are also interviewing experts in their chosen fields. This process not only deepens their understanding of their topic but also helps them practice professional communication and real-world life skills as many are approaching life after New Garden.
2/2-2/6/26
This week in all Spanish classes, we have been preparing for upcoming assessments through review games and fun activities! Spanish I has been reviewing classroom objects and activities through charades, Spanish II has learned the past tense by incorporating shopping vocabulary and experiences, and Spanish 3 and 4 now know all the intricate parts of a car in the target language by describing and drawing their dream car.
As we will be starting our food unit next week in Spanish I, I want to give y’all a recommendation for a local Dominican restaurant that you should check out! If you want some delicious chicarrón, tostones, jugo de tamarindo, and more, check out “La Palma” at 4623 W Gate City Blvd G, in Greensboro. ¡Buen provecho!
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.