Our next 6th-Grade Gives Back project is a trip to a local nursing home on December 12th.  Students will leave after electives and return to school in time for lunch. During this field trip, students will be singing Christmas carols and spreading holiday cheer to the residents and staff. They will hand out candy canes to the residents and share smiles and kind words to brighten their day.

Students who remain at school will be making holiday ornaments for our hard-working NDS Support Staff. 

NDS GIVES BACK WEEK

December 8: Bring in a new, unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots

December 9: Bring in canned goods for BUCM

December 10: Bring in baby items for a local pregnancy center

December 11: Bring in pet supplies for our local shelters

December 12: Bring in canned goods for the Glen Alpine Food Pantry

Students who participate may dress down.

On Tuesday, December 16th, we will have our second Teamwork Tuesday Showcase.  Students will collaborate throughout the school day to create "A Day In Time" projects that incorporate Social Studies, Math, and ELA. Student projects will be on display that evening in cooperation with the NDS Middle School Band and Chorus Concerts. Come and see what our students are learning! This project is in preparation for our Biltmore House Field trip on December 18th. 

As we prepare for our upcoming gingerbread house activity, we’re gathering supplies to make it a fun and memorable experience for our students. We would greatly appreciate your help in providing some of the items we’ll need. We are asking for donations of:

Boxes of graham crackers

Boxes of quart-size Ziploc baggies

Paper towels or Kleenex boxes

Paper or plastic cups

Candy sprinkles for decorating

Bags of powdered sugar

Your contributions will help ensure that every child has what they need to build and decorate their gingerbread house. Thank you so much for your generosity and support in making this holiday project special for our class!

How do humans and animals interact?

Dear Families,

In ELA, we are beginning Unit 2: Natural Allies, where students will explore the essential question: “How do humans and animals interact?” Throughout this unit, we will read a variety of engaging texts that show the many ways humans and animals connect, help, and understand one another.

Our readings will include:

• Excerpt from My Life with the Chimpanzees by Jane Goodall 

• “Horses as Healers Around the World” by Carolyn Cory Scoppettone

• “The Tale of the Hummingbird” by Pura Belpré

• “Black Cowboy, Wild Horses” by Julius Lester

• Poems: “Sonnet” by Margaret E. Bruner, “Nikita” by Alberto Ríos, and “The Visitor” by Ada Limón

• “The Girl Who Gets Gifts from Birds” by Katy Sewall

• “Speak Fido!” by Shay Maunz

• Newsela article: “Having Trouble Communicating? Go Talk to a Horse” (The Washington Post)

As part of our learning, we will also have a special interview via Zoom with Emily Cranford and her therapy dog, Pippin, from the organization Furry Friends. Students will prepare interview questions and learn about how therapy animals provide comfort and connection to people in need.

In addition to our readings, students will practice writing how-to essays, explanatory essays, and interview questions, helping them build both writing and real-world communication skills.

This is an exciting and heartwarming unit, and I look forward to the thoughtful discussions and projects that will come from it!

Jill Jarrell 

6th Grade ELA Teacher

New Dimensions Charter School