Happy Monday 7th Grade Families!

The students will be visiting Jireh Family Farms on Tuesday, May 12th and Wednesday, May 13th  from 8:30-2:30 pm.  The rain date is scheduled for May 21, 2026.  

The address to Jireh Family Farm: 1310 N Mineral Springs Road, Durham, NC 27703

This is the 7th grade’s fourth year visiting the farm to build connections with Trimester 3 expedition topics on inheritance and generational wealth. This hands-on experience at a working farm provides students with a deeper understanding of how these concepts apply in real-world contexts.  

This year we are having two rotation visits to the farm.  The first rotation will be Tasha and Skylar's crews on Tuesday, May 12th and second rotation is Paradise and Lauren's crews on Wednesday, May 13th. The rotations will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Students not participating in the farm visit will follow their regular school schedule.  The core teachers are offering the same lesson on both days, giving every student a consistent opportunity to stay on track and feel ready for the end of the year test. 

The owners of the farm have provided a detailed itinerary for the students so we are very excited for the students to learn about their history and actually the day to day of being on a farm. 

Here is a checklist that you should review regarding the trip:

• All students need to be dropped off at the farm between 8:30-8:45 am and picked up between 2-2:30 pm on that day. 
• Drop-off Time: Between 8:30-8:45 am (Please stick to the drop-off time as teachers will be driving from school)
• Pick-up Time: Between 2:00-2:30 pm (students can go home once picked up)
• If your student goes to before and after school care, please notify your crew teacher so we can be able to accommodate them with transportation. 
• Students should bring a snack and lunch will be provided to students. 
• Pizza will be provided for the students. 
• If your students have dietary issues, please provide their lunch. 
• All school lunches ordered for the students can be picked up the next day from school
• Please make sure they wear closed toe shoes. We advise them to wear sneakers to the farm.
• Students should bring a drawstring bag with water bottle, sun screen, and money for ice cream. (Ice cream sold at the farm store).
• Please make sure students take their allergy medicine before they go to the farm. We will be outside most of the day.
• Students need to have a signed and filled out waiver before going to the farm. The waiver will be included in the email. Hard copies given to students.
• If you want to carpool with any parents, please make arrangements before the visit. Teachers have limited spaces to transport students to and from the farm. 

We are also in need of about 1-2 parent volunteers per crew. If you are interested, please let your crew teacher know. We need help from 9am- noon. 

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Happy Friday 7th Grade Families!

As we prepare for our upcoming trip to Washington, D.C., there are a few important things students should take care of ahead of time to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience.
First, transportation: students with phones should add the D.C. transit card to their digital wallet and load at least $20 onto it. This will be our primary mode of transportation throughout the trip (along with lots of walking!). Students who are unable to use a digital wallet or don't have a phone have already let us know and will be able to purchase a physical transit card at the station.


Next pack, pack, pack! Students have received a detailed packing list outlining what to bring and what to leave at home. Please make sure to review this carefully.
For departure on Tuesday, students should:

• Pack their clothes in a backpack or duffle bag
• Bring a disposable bag with a packed lunch
• Drop off at school, regular time.
• Eat breakfast at home
• Pack snacks!
• Have a refillable water bottle
• Have at least $100 spending money

To help students stay engaged academically, they will receive work packets to complete during the train ride. Time will be set aside both to and from D.C. for students to work on these materials.


Lastly, if you have not already completed the medication form, please do so as soon as possible. Any medication students bring including vitamins must be logged and turned in according to school policy.


We’re excited for this trip and appreciate your help in making sure students are prepared!

-Team 7

Happy Friday 7th Grade families!! 

This week, Groups 1 & 2 had the opportunity to explore a hidden world through the microscope! Students examined pond samples and discovered water bears, protists, and many other microscopic organisms. There was lots of excitement as students realized just how much life exists beyond what we can see with the naked eye.


As we continue studying cells from the perspective of systems, this experience gave students a chance to see how microscopic life whether unicellular or multicellular functions within an ecosystem. Students were able to make real-world connections between cell structure, survival, and the way living things interact as part of a larger system.


Next week, on Friday, Groups 3 & 4 will have their opportunity to participate. If you have not yet sent in payment, please do so as soon as possible. Thank you for helping make these hands-on learning experiences possible! Please enjoy some snap shots below.
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-Team 7

Happy Friday 7th Grade Families!!

As part of our current unit on cells, we’re excited to give students the chance to see cells in action! On February 12th and 20th, students will visit the Science Museum to observe pond samples under a microscope and explore real-life microscopic organisms. This hands-on experience will help students make meaningful connections to what we’ve been studying in class.

Due to the large number of students, the visit will be split across two days, with two groups each morning (10:15–11:00 and 11:15–12:00 on both days). The cost for this experience is $3. Please send in payment by February 10th.

​-Team 7

Happy Friday 7th Grade Families!
​
We’re excited to share important details about our upcoming 7th Grade trip to Washington, DC!

The total cost per student and chaperone is $450. This cost covers:

• Round-trip train transportation
• Hotel accommodations
• Lunch
• IMAX experience

Families may choose to pay the full amount at once or split the cost into three equal payments of $150.
If using the payment plan, payments will be collected on the following dates:

• February 6 – $150
• March 6 – $150
• April 10 – $150

Please note that students and chaperones follow the same payment structure.

We know this is a significant commitment, and we truly appreciate your support in making this meaningful learning experience possible for our students. If you have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

More trip details and reminders will be shared as we get closer to departure!

-Team 7

Happy New year 7th Grade families!!

​We are excited to share that we are planning an overnight field experience to Washington, DC from April 21st–24th. Students will travel by train, and once in DC we will primarily walk and use public transportation to explore the city and its many historical and cultural sites.

If you are interested in chaperoning, please be sure to check out the SignUpGenius. If you previously chaperoned the Charlotte trip, we truly appreciate your support and interest; however, for this experience we would like to prioritize families who did not have the opportunity to chaperone on that trip.

In order for us to accurately determine costs and finalize logistics, all families must complete the interest survey. This survey allows you to express both your interest and your intention for your child to participate in this field experience. Once the survey is submitted indicating participation, your child’s spot will be locked in, and families will be financially responsible for all costs associated with the trip.

More detailed information regarding the itinerary, costs, and payment timelines will be shared once interest is confirmed. We are looking forward to what we know will be a meaningful and memorable experience for our students!

-7th Grade

Happy Tuesday 7th Grade Families!

On Thursday, December 4, our 7th graders will participate in an exciting field experience at Marbles Kids Museum from 1:15–3:00 PM. This will be a wonderful opportunity for students to explore and learn something new as we begin our Body Systems unit in science. Students will experience the Super Human Body 3D IMAX film and take part in a hands-on Human Body Systems lab that connects directly to our upcoming learning.


We are looking for three chaperones to help support this experience. Chaperones will meet us at Moore Square at 1:00 PM and walk with us to Marbles. If you are interested in volunteering, please email your child’s Crew teacher.

​-7th Grade