STUDENT RESOURCES
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Weekly News
1/5- 1/9/26
We have been busy in upper school math this week after coming back from the break!
In Honors Precalculus we have been reviewing our skills with exponential and logarithmic functions and using these to answer real world problems. We are using regression techniques to determine equations of best fit to model data, then using the models to make predictions. After an assessment this week we will be moving into trigonometry.
In Honors Calculus students are honing their skills for finding the derivatives of trigonometric functions. Coming up next will be finding derivatives of logarithmic and natural exponential growth functions and then implicit differentiation. After that, students will get to put all of their differentiation skills to use in application problems in the fields of physics, economics and optimization.
In Introduction to College Algebra students are mastering finding solutions (aka roots, zeros, x-intercepts) to quadratic equations through 5 different means. However, if they choose to, they can always rely on the quadratic formula, which they are repeating several times a day over the course of several days, so it stays with them for a long, long time. Forever, perhaps!
This week in Algebra I, students focused on reviewing key concepts in preparation for their test on Thursday. We revisited how to identify domain and range, determining whether a relation is a function, and analyzing and modeling real-world graphs. Students also practiced graphing functions using tables, evaluating functions for given inputs, and finding zeros of a function both graphically and algebraically. To round out the review, we spent time working with arithmetic sequences and recognizing patterns in growth and change. The week was all about strengthening foundational skills and building confidence as students demonstrate what they’ve learned so far.
In Carter’s section of Intro to College Algebra, students sharpened their algebraic toolkit by reviewing how to simplify monomials using the product, power, and quotient rules, along with zero and negative exponent rules. From there, we moved into operations with polynomials, practicing how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide expressions. This led naturally into our exploration of polynomial functions, where students learned how to graph polynomials by identifying key features such as relative maximums and minimums, as well as intervals of increase and decrease. These skills are helping students better understand how algebraic expressions connect to the behavior of graphs and real-world models.
12/8/25- 12/11/25
Throughout the Upper School, all science students are continuing to develop their Science Symposium projects, with topic proposal submissions due Friday, December 12th. We’re excited to see these projects take shape as students deepen their inquiry and scientific thinking. All final projects are due February 20th, and the Symposium will open on March 5th.
This week, Upper School students also participated in Service Learning. They spent Wednesday supporting community partners such as Timberlake Farms, Peacehaven Farms, Growing High Point, and Jefferson Elementary School. Service Days are always a highlight, giving students the opportunity to connect with and contribute to our broader community.
In a cheerful turn of events, our Polaris Literary Magazine students conducted surprise performances in classrooms across campus on Thursday, December 11th, to spread good cheer and encourage other students to submit pieces to the magazine in time for the 2026 edition to be published!
Our Theatre students had an exciting week as well, with auditions for the Spring musical, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, taking place earlier this week. Auditions will wrap up on Monday, December 15th, and we look forward to announcing the cast soon. The Spring production will take place April 17th-19th, 2026.
In Polaris Learning Lab classes such as Academic Coaching Seminar (ACS) and Guided Study Hall (GSH), students are completing any remaining incomplete Fall Benchmarks in Reading and Math, staying on top of their studies as Winter Break approaches, and continuing to practice planning and prioritizing academic expectations. Each week, students in both ACS and GSH review their grade reports and any missing assignments with Lauren or Lindsey to ensure they remain organized and on track.
Learning Specialist tips for Winter Break:
- Keep Reading! Pick a book to read together or find an audiobook to listen to during your holiday travels.
- Maintain a schedule! Executive functioning skills are built through practice. Create a flexible schedule for break that includes time for fun and relaxation, while also sticking to regular routines—like getting up, making your bed, eating at consistent times, and getting enough sleep.
- Frontload information! Use this time to get ahead. Read an extra chapter in your book, take notes, research an upcoming topic, and getting ahead over break will help you feel more prepared and less stressed when we return!
- Practice your Communication Skills! Take the opportunity to talk with friends and family members you don’t usually connect with. Focus on active listening—try not to interrupt and respond to questions with more than just “yes” or “no, and “6-7.”
- Set a SMART goal for the New Year! Make sure your goal is specific, measurable, achievable, relevant to you, and has a clear timeline.
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.
11/17/25-11/19/25
Due to the short week for students, there is no class news this week. We will resume our weekly Class News post with the next newsletter on Monday, Dec. 8.
Calendar Reminders
Friday, Dec. 12 - Trimester 1 Parent/Teacher Conferences, No school for students*. Conference sign-up links were sent via email; review the message above in the “Class Emails” section.
Friday, Dec. 19 - ½ day early dismissal at 12 p.m.
We are grateful for our students and families and hope you all have a safe and joyful break!
11/10/25-11/14/25
This week's class news focus is on Service and Spanish.
This week, the Upper School had our service day on Wednesday. We had groups go to Peacehaven Farms to make soap with the residents, to Guilford Campus to help set up for our movie night on Friday, November 14th, to Camp Carefree to rake leaves, to help out at the Friendship Friends Meeting House, and more! It was a day to reflect on how we can help our community and why it is important to us here at New Garden Friends.
In Spanish classes this week, students have continued to learn more about Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) even after it has passed. Each student made their own ofrenda, commemorating a family member or pet who has passed on, a celebrity that they admire, or a fictional character that passed in a book or movie they love. It was a chance for each student to honor their chosen person and understand how grief can be beautiful. If you want to stop by and see the ofrendas, they are displayed in Jacob’s classroom!
For students enrolled in Dual Enrollment classes
This email was first shared via email from Lisa on Nov. 11; it is also posted above in the Class Emails section.
It's time for Spring 2026 dual enrollment course requests! The colleges are enrolling now, so please don’t wait because some classes fill up quickly.
How to Request class(es)
- Meet with College Counselor (Allie) or Registrar (Lisa) to discuss course options and ensure the courses align with your academic goals.
- Submit this Form: Complete the attached dual enrollment application and return it to Lisa.
If you have any questions or need assistance with the application process, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.
We look forward to helping you achieve your academic goals and to seeing you take the next step in your educational journey!