Stay in the Know with the NGFS App!

The NGFS app is a valuable resource for our community. Frequently accessed sites and information are available ... right at your fingertips! Please be sure to install the App on your phone and subscribe to the groups that affect your family so you receive app notifications. Check your phone's settings to ensure notifications are enabled. 

To install the free app:

Search for “New Garden Friends School” through the App Store or Google Play. When you install and open the App, you will be greeted by a welcome screen; from there, click “Get Started” and follow the prompts.

If you already have the App installed from last year:

The next time you access the app, you may be prompted to re-onboard (through the welcome screen). Follow the prompts to select the correct Divisions and Groups for this year.

Recommended Groups to select:

• "Schoolwide" - as an NGFS App user, you are automatically in the Schoolwide group and will receive all whole-school related notifications (for example: reminder of early dismissal)
• Under “Schoolwide” - select groups that apply to your student(s)
• Under "Grades" - select all that are applicable to your family (for example: if you have a kindergarten and third grade student, select "Sunrise (K)" and "Horizon 3rd/4th").

If you have questions about the app, please contact Katelyn Cohen-Kivett, Director of Marketing & Brand Management (kcohenkivett@ngfs.org).

2026-2027 Major Dates Calendar

2026-2027 Academic Calendar - includes major dates and more!

These calendars are always accessible on the:

• NGFS App: On the App home screen; calendar icon (located at the bottom of the home screen) displays a weekly list of the school calendar items
• NGFS website: School calendar and link to downloadable calendars located under “Resources” on the Calendar page.

You may update student or family information at any time during the school year in the Family Portal. This may include a change in contact information, emergency contacts, authorized pick-up persons, or health care provider changes. 

Click here for Family Portal instructions.

All classroom materials will be provided. Whole-class ownership of supplies decreases conflicts and increases cooperation and classroom harmony; therefore, we ask that you don’t send in “special” items for your own child’s use (special pencils, crayons, etc.). The desire for individualized items can best be addressed by letting your child choose a special lunch box or book bag.

Other Individual Items:
- Please bring 3 individual pictures of your student along with 1 family picture on Classroom Welcome Night.
- Each day, students should bring a snack, lunch, and reusable water bottle (no glass) with a spill-proof cap, labeled with student’s name. 
- For rest time, please send a personal blanket (preferably no larger than an adult bath towel) and/or stuffed animal (no taller than 12 inches). Cots will be provided. A great choice to consider is a rolled nap mat, which provides a base sheet and blanket together.
- Each child will need an extra set of clothing (top, bottom, underwear, and socks) in a labeled ziplock bag to be stored in the classroom.

Optional Items: 
If you are interested in donating a few items for classroom use, we are regularly in need of…
- Baby wipes
- Various sizes of ziplock bags
- Tissues

All classroom materials will be provided. Whole-class ownership of supplies decreases conflicts and increases cooperation and classroom harmony; therefore, we ask that you don’t send in “special” items for your own child’s use (special pencils, crayons, etc.). The desire for individualized items can best be addressed by letting your child choose a special lunch box or book bag.

Individual Items:
- Labeled reusable water bottle with your choice of spill-proof cap (no glass) 
- Rest mat, please send foldable pads only (no sleeping bag mats please)
- Rest towel/blanket - roughly the same size as the mat
- An extra set of clothing (top, bottom, underwear, and socks) in a labeled ziplock bag to be stored in the classroom. You can send a warm weather and cold weather change if you would like.

Optional Items:
In addition to the items on the required supply list, if you have any of these items on hand that you can spare for the Sunrise classroom, we would greatly appreciate them. Thank you!
- Baby wipes (water-based for sensitive skin)
- Sandwich size ziploc type bags
- Refillable hand sanitizer (we would love to be able to refill the one we have and cut down on plastic) 
- Bird seed (feeding and watching the birds will be a weekly activity)
- Healthy snack to share in case of emergency

All classroom materials will be provided. Whole-class ownership of supplies decreases conflicts and increases cooperation and classroom harmony; therefore, we ask that you don’t send in “special” items for your own child’s use (special pencils, markers, etc.). The desire for individualized items can best be addressed by letting your child choose a special lunch box or book bag.

Backpack:
Students will need to bring a backpack to school each day to transport books and folders. Large backpacks with wheels do not fit in the cubbies and can present a storage issue in the classroom. Please help your child stay organized by providing a backpack that can fit in their cubby and will hold several pocket folders for assignments going to and from home.

Optional Items: 
If families wish, they may contribute the following items…
- Ziplock bags (gallon, quart, sandwich, or snack sized)
- Hand sanitizer
- Bandaids
- Tissues

Please bring these to Classroom Welcome Night or on the first day of school.

- One 3-ring 1 ½ or 2 inch wide binder (we will provide tab dividers)
- A labeled reusable water bottle with spill-proof cap (no glass); bring the bottle daily
- Lunch box
- Pens
- Pencils
- Pencil box
- Small non-electric pencil sharpener
- Highlighters (at least 3 colors)
- Markers or colored pencils (at least 5 colors)
- For Art class: 9x12 spiral-bound sketchbook 
- For Strings Music class: a violin 
- For Violin students only: 1.5 inch binder

Please bring these to Classroom Welcome Night or on the first day of school.

• 4 - 1 inch binders (4 different colors or patterns)
• 1 - half inch binder
• Notebook dividers (12)
• Pens
• Pencils
• Pencil box
• Small non-electric pencil sharpener
• Highlighters (at least 3 colors)
• Markers or colored pencils (at least 5 colors)
• For Art class: 9x12 spiral-bound sketchbook 
• For general music class*: a soprano ukulele 
• For strings music class: a violin 
• For Violin students only - 1.5 inch binder
• Labeled reusable water bottle (at least 16 oz) with spill-proof cap (no glass)
• Lunch box
  
  *In General Music class, students will learn to play the ukulele. A ukulele can be purchased from many vendors, including Moore Music for a 10% in-store discounted price (336-274-4636, ask for Dave; if you order online, it will not give you the discount for NGFS).

Optional School Supplies:
If you are interested in donating a few items for classroom use, we are regularly in need of: 
- Tissues 
- Hand sanitizer
- Clorox wipes
- Pencils