Nichols News

Dear 8th Grade Families,

February brings us a month rich in both reflection and celebration. As we honor Black History Month, our students are exploring the profound contributions and achievements of Black Americans who have shaped our nation's story. From scientists and artists to civil rights leaders and innovators, we're engaging with inspiring stories that highlight the vital role of Black excellence in American history. Here are 5 lesser-known but significant facts within Black History:

Love is also in the air as Valentine's Day approaches! While our eighth graders might playfully roll their eyes at the mention of hearts and cupids, this holiday gives us a wonderful opportunity to focus on kindness and appreciation within our school community. Love is often a word shared in a romantic setting and yet, a deeper kind of love builds the foundation of strong communities. It's what allows us to see value in every person, regardless of their background or circumstances. It drives us to lift each other up, to show grace when mistakes are made, and to celebrate each other's successes as if they were our own.

When we teach young people about this broader understanding of love, we help them develop empathy, social responsibility, and a deeper appreciation for human connection. It's about creating a culture where every person feels valued, heard, and supported – not because of romantic attachment, but because of our shared humanity and inherent worth. This perspective transforms love from a sentiment reserved for special occasions into a daily practice that strengthens the fabric of our community.

Thank you for your continued partnership in making this year meaningful and successful for our eighth graders.

Warmly,

Ms. Ernvall

We want to take a moment to celebrate the following students who were nominated for student of the month! These students were honored at Town Hall on Feb. 3rd!

Elena Skeaff

Arianna Alcala

Angel McCoy

Ian Notestein

Ivy Zirui Zhao

Lakshmi Hoff-Sharma

Leo Mckenzie

Joshua Ryan

Dalston Wooller

Graham Niewsma

Jordan Jackson

Gianna Maldonado

Congrats 8th Grade Scholars! Thank you for representing well!

Parents there will be a change in date due to weather - we are all about safety first, and in watching the weather, the temps on Wednesday night are expected to be quite frigid, at 3 degrees, with real feel below zero. Because of this we will reschedule our Nichols State of the Union Town Hall event. I will release the reschedule date this upcoming week to give parents enough time to plan ahead. I apologize for the change, however, I do not want families coming out in such cold and frigid weather.

Nichols Middle School is offering a free morning tutoring program for all interested students called Morning Mentors. Nichols staff and Northwestern students will provide tutoring in all subject areas. This is a great opportunity for students to be provided with homework help, re-teaching of lessons and general study skills. Acceptance into the program is a two fold - first come, first served basis along with a continuous attendance expectation.

Sessions will be held at Nichols Middle School, in the library, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. They began on Tuesday, January 7th, 2025. Sessions will run from 7:15-7:50 am. Light breakfast snacks will be provided free of charge. Students may also get breakfast from the cafeteria and bring it to the program. We are currently accepting seven students per day and due to the limited space, we are also limiting each student to one day per week. We ask that parents speak to their child(ren) and classroom teachers to determine exactly how much support is required. Please keep in mind, our goal is to serve as many students as possible.

Thank you parents and PTA for supporting our teachers during Parent-Teacher Conferences last week! The teachers loved their Chipotle and so thankful for your continued support!

P.S. We are looking for new parents to join the PTA for next year... start spreading the word! 😀

Check it out by clicking on the photo above!

The Junior Explorer Program is an 8-week program designed for middle school students (Grades 6-8) to explore their academic interests in fields such as economics, history, and computer science. In the past, we have had students create research papers, case studies, and analytical presentations.