NGFS continues to go global

NGFS Rainbow students, teachers and families have completed their 2nd round with Rock Our World. ROW provides an opportunity for students, teachers and their families to work with students teachers and families in other schools from all over the world to compose music, create videos and have conversations with one another. This round was focused on tolerance and each group of students had to create a project to become more tolerant of the world around them. Rainbow students tasted foods from around the world and then had an opportunity to come in one evening and meet with Japanese students to talk about foods from around the world and other topics. We hope NGFS will be invited to participate in future ROW rounds.

In January NGFS Upper Division students will have the opportunity to expand their class choices by over 200 classes because of a collaborative effort between NGFS and Virtual High School (VHS). Students are currently signing up for classes. Following is the press release that went out on Tuesday of this week. It's exciting to see the many ways that NGFS is preparing our students for their world, while remaining true to our core values of simplicity, harmony, integrity, community, equality and stewardship.

New Garden Friends School Expands Curriculum with 200 New Online Classes12-10-2009 GREENSBORO, N.C. – High school students at New Garden Friends School will start the New Year with the option to choose from more than 200 new classes on topics as diverse as American popular music and constitutional law. The expanded curriculum is made possible through a partnership with the Virtual High School, a pioneer in online learning. More than 6,000 students are enrolled in Virtual High School courses at 324 member schools in 27 states and 24 countries. New Garden Friends School is the only Triad educational institution offering Virtual High School courses and one of only five schools statewide. “Our affiliation with Virtual High School gives our students a way to explore new interests and to develop collaborative, online learning skills that are increasingly critical to success in college and in the workplace,” says David Tomlin, head of New Garden Friends School. “They will have new opportunities to build character, promote creativity and entrepreneurial aspirations, learn new problem solving techniques, practice communication skills, and test their teamwork and leadership capabilities.” Students will be able to select from Virtual High School courses in the arts, business, foreign languages, language arts, life skills, health, mathematics, science, social studies and technology. Each class will be delivered over the Internet as a complement to the rigorous curriculum taught by New Garden Friends School teachers. Students will have the opportunity to collaborate with peers from around the globe who are enrolled in the same online classes. About New Garden Friends School Founded in 1971, New Garden Friends School is part of a centuries-old tradition of Quaker education and is committed to the Quaker testimonies of peace, equality, truth, integrity, simplicity, community and stewardship. An interdisciplinary, hands-on approach to learning is designed to help students uncover their strengths, express themselves fully and become active community leaders. New Garden Friends School serves pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The organization is accredited by the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) and by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). It also is a member of the Friends Council on Education, an association of more than 80 Friends schools across the nation committed to excellence in education. For more information on New Garden Friends School, visit http://www.ngfs.org/.

Have a wonderful weekend, remember to purchase your BEAR WEAR before the holidays. Next Friday is a half-day for students, extended care is offered until 6PM as always.