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Welcome New Families!
Spring Welcome Events
- Welcome to Middle School for students and parents/guardians: April 24
- Welcome to Upper School for students and parents/guardians: April 30
- Rising Grade 5 Parent Coffee: May 31
- Rising Grade 6 Parent Coffee: June 3
- Rising Grade 4 Parent Reception: June 3
Important Resources
Dear new NCS students and families,
Welcome! We are thrilled that you are joining the NCS community and want to make sure that your transition is as smooth and seamless as possible.
To that end, please make note of our Major Dates Calendar for 2024-2025 and upcoming events, listed in the box at left. The spring welcome events, coffees, and receptions are wonderful opportunities to hear more about our programs, learn practical details about life at NCS, and get to know other grade-level families.
In addition, please be sure to complete health forms by the July 15 deadline and complete your course request forms and/or make arrangements for placement testing (detailed below), if applicable.
Stay tuned for updates later this spring about summer events, starting with Prep for Success, an orientation program for incoming students in Grades 7-12, on Aug. 15-16. During the third full week of August, we will hold orientation events for new Lower School students and families, as well as our New Parent/Guardian Dinner with Head of School Elinor Scully.
In the meantime, please reach out with any questions. We can’t wait to see you on the Close!
In the meantime, please reach out with any questions. We can’t wait to see you on the Close!
Warmly,
Director of Enrollment and Financial Aid
Lower School
We will hold an orientation session for students and parents/guardians in each Lower School grade during the third full week of August. More details about these sessions and other important information, including uniform details, will be provided in mid-to-late May.
There is no action that incoming Lower School families need to take regarding student class schedules at this time.
There is no action that incoming Lower School families need to take regarding student class schedules at this time.
Middle School
Student Class Schedule & Course Requests
In Grade 7 and 8, most classes are required core classes. Students do not need to do anything to get signed up for these core classes. Students will be able make choices in their Language, Performing Arts/Ensembles, and Athletics classes. Families will receive an email with a link to a course request form in the second week of April. It is due May 1.
Additionally, there are placement steps to take for Language and Math classes in Grade 8 only – see below for more details.
Language Placement (Grade 8 only)
Please email Tiernan Settles by Monday, April 15, to inform us that either your incoming Grade 8 student will continue the study of Spanish, French, Latin, or Mandarin Chinese in the 2024-2025 school year or your student does not yet have Language experience. Tiernan will help with placement into a Language class in either case, including potential placement testing.
Math Placement (Grade 8 only)
If your student is entering Grade 8, we will reach out to you in the coming weeks with information about Math placement testing, which will take place on Saturday, May 11.
Prep for Success
Please save the dates of Aug. 15-16 for our orientation program for new students entering Grades 7-12. Prep for Success helps new students learn more about the NCS community and school culture and is run by student volunteers and faculty. You will receive an email early in the summer with more details and the chance to RSVP.
Upper School
Student Class Schedule & Course Requests
In Grade 9, most classes are required core classes. Students do not need to do anything to get signed up for these core classes. Students will be able make choices in their Language, Arts, and Athletics classes. Families will receive an email with a link to a course request form in the second week of April. It is due May 1.
Additionally, there are placement steps to take for Language and Math classes in Grade 9 – see below for more details.
In Grades 10-12, there are increasingly more choices of classes that must also be balanced with meeting graduation requirements. To best support these decisions, families of students entering Grades 10-12 will be contacted directly by the grade-level dean to select courses. This includes discussing Language and Math placements.
Language Placement (Grade 9 only)
If your student is entering Grade 9 and will continue the study of Spanish, French, Latin, or Mandarin Chinese in the 2024-2025 school year, please email Admissions Assistant Tiernan Settles by Monday, April 15. In the email, please include the name of the language, the number of years the student has studied it, and the title of the student’s current Language textbook. If the student does not use a textbook, please say so, and if possible, provide examples of the types of content used in class. Tiernan will then be in touch about placement testing.
If your student is entering Grade 9 and will begin the study of a new language (Spanish, French, Latin, or Mandarin) in the 2024-2025 school year, you do not need to contact us. Your child will be placed in the level one class of their new Language.
Math Placement (Grade 9 only)
If your student is entering Grade 9, we will reach out to you in the coming weeks with information about Math placement testing, which will take place on Saturday, May 11.
Prep for Success
Please save the dates of Aug. 15-16 for our orientation program for new students entering Grades 7-12. Prep for Success helps new students learn more about the NCS community and school culture and is run by student volunteers and faculty. You will receive an email early in the summer with more details and the chance to RSVP.
August Sports Tryouts
Tryouts for field hockey, tennis, and soccer will be held in the mornings, and for volleyball in the afternoons, from Monday, Aug. 19, to Friday, Aug. 23.
Cross country will hold optional running sessions during the summer and will take an optional trip from Sunday, Aug. 18, to Saturday, Aug. 24. For more information, please email Head Coach Jim Ehrenhaft.
