New Dimensions Charter School
As soon as New Dimensions Charter School heard the words “schools closed” Administration and staff started searching for remote learning tools. Our technology department was busy checking on available technology for our students to use at home.
While initially, we thought we were looking at two weeks of remote learning, it has turned out to be for the indefinite future.
Our staff started sharing resources with each other and checking out suggestions from other teachers who had created FB pages to share remote learning resources.
NDS families were contacted, packets of work were created and plans were made for distribution. We held a drive thru pick up for work, chrome books, and food if anyone needed it. Surveys were distributed for when was the best time and manner for classes.
NDS started teaching classes remotely on day 1 of the initial two week school closure. A lot of fast learning took place on the part of our teachers, assistants as well as our parents. Since those initial trial and error two weeks, we settled in to a routine of Zoom class meetings that were typically held in the mornings, recorded and shared with the whole class for families who could not attend at that time or for families who attended but maybe needed to review the lesson again. Our K-2nd grade and EC teacher assistants offered a tutor time for students who needed a little help extra help on a subject or to just have time to do a little more guided work.
Our staff has requested permission from authors to record themselves reading the book and sharing it with students and families.
Other staff have planted a garden to share the process and growth with their students.
Our Specials teachers continued to do their lessons as well. They sent out work for students per grade level. Art recently did an Art in Nature contest and had some great submissions! Our PE teacher did a weekly, anxiously awaited, video for our students and families. Our Spanish teacher has read books in Spanish and continued to teach the Spanish language to our students. Music has also continued to learn about instruments, music elements and composers.
NDS has used Zoom, Flip grid, YouTube, Seesaw, google classroom, our own website, and various other technology platforms to continue learning during this pandemic. While it is not an ideal situation and we miss our students, we are very proud of the efforts put forth from the New Dimensions staff, students and supportive families. Our goal has been to remain in contact with our families through maintaining our weekly message from our Director, monthly newsletters, maintaining Facebook/Instagram/website updates and keeping our families informed.
It has been an odd, challenging, unprecedented time in education and our world. However, our NDS Warriors have stuck it out, worked hard and finished strong. We are so proud of the continued growth and accomplishments of all our students.
We have an awesome staff and supportive Administration from our Director to our Board. We would like to thank our families for partnering with us especially during this time for bridging the gap and continuing to help educate our students together. We wish you a happy, safe, healthy summer and we certainly hope to see you in the fall!!!
NDS Giving Back During COVID-19
New Dimensions Charter School continues to build community even in the COVID-19 crisis. While our teachers are not physically in our school building, they are teaching remotely and still finding time to assist others in our community. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Club sponsors; Aaron Mirtsching and Dana Ishuin, 2nd grade New Dimensions teachers, have been busy searching for ways to help our local healthcare community. Ms. Ishuin has been making adult and children's size masks. JoAnn Fabrics donated the fabric to the school and Ms. Ishuin has made over two dozen masks so far. The masks have been donated to Grace Hospital and to WalMart employees. She is continuing to make more masks to be donated to medical staff, ShurTape employees and additional WalMart employees.
Mr. Mirtsching has been using the clubs 3-D printers to make “ear guards” for the loops of the mask to help take pressure off the ears of health care/medical workers who are wearing masks all day to protect themselves and their patients. Over 100 guards have been made and donated to Grace Heights, Mountain Valley Healthcare, and Blue Ridge Healthcare. More ear guards are being made as Mr. Mirtsching has received a request from Carolina Rehab of Burke. New Dimensions is proud of the efforts of our staff in reaching out and helping our healthcare community. David Burleson stated, “Our school is made up of many caring, compassionate staff members and students. Giving back to our community has been a common theme at New Dimensions for years. We are thankful that we can contribute something to those true heroes on the front lines.”
For more information or to make a donation to this cause, please contact Mr. Aaron Mirtsching at amirtsching@ndschool.org. Donations can also be made through the following link: paypal.me/admirtsching.
Welcome to our school!
NDS Framework Performance
Good morning Dr. Burleson and Mrs. Rhodes,
It is with great pleasure that I inform you that in the 2018-2019 school year your school met every applicable measure of the Performance Framework, thereby exceeding expectations. This demonstrates to all that your charter school takes accountability seriously, and the Office of Charter Schools has decided to recognize this fact with an individualized badge, attached, for you to post on your website and use in your marketing efforts.
Thank you for your commitment to high quality public education of choice. Please don't ever hesitate to reach out to the Office of Charter Schools for guidance on any matter.
More information about the NC Charter School Performance Framework can be found on our website. https://www.dpi.nc.gov/students-families/innovative-school-options/charter-schools/performance/performance-framework
Joseph Letterio M.
Education Consultant
NC Office of Charter Schools
2019-2020 School Calendar
2020-2021 School Calendar (rev. 05212020)
