We are thrilled to welcome your child to the new school year! The first two days have been a fantastic start, filled with energy and excitement. It has been a pleasure getting to know each student and seeing their enthusiasm for the year ahead.

On Friday, we held our first student town hall where we discussed the expectations and strategies for success here at Nichols Middle School. First, we played would you rather game that our students were very excited to play. We learned that a lot of our students would rather be an only child than to have 10 siblings. On a more serious note, we covered important topics such as arrival and dismissal procedures (Door 7), tardy policy, hallway procedures, and lunch and recess transitions. The students participated actively and asked their own questions, and we are confident that they are well-prepared for a successful year.

KEY REMINDERS:

- Bell to bell, No Cell! (Cell phones should not be seen from 8:00am-3:05pm

- Students should be traveling with their binders and Ipads everywhere they go!

- As this week is supposed to be hot, please remind students to bring water!

We are looking forward to an amazing first week of learning and growth. If you have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to reach out. Here’s to a fantastic year ahead!

The District has adopted procedures for student gender support related to Board Policy 7:10 - Equal Educational Opportunities. In furthering our commitment to fostering a learning environment open to all students, free of any sort of discrimination or harassment, District 65 has adopted a set of procedures to promote inclusive learning environments for its transgender and gender expansive students.

Gender Support Administrative Procedures (updated February 2020)

Procedures include the development of an individualized Gender Support Plan for students upon request. The Gender Support Plan will address the student's needs concerning:

Access to restrooms and other gender-segregated spaces

1. Transgender and gender expansive students shall have access to gendered facilities and programs that are consistent with their gender identity.

Names, pronouns, and gender markers

1. Students shall be referred to by a name and pronouns that correspond to their gender identity by all school staff and students.
2. Court-ordered or medical/psychological documentation is not required to change a student’s name or gender marker with the District.

Confidentiality

1. Student’s transgender identity will only be disclosed to those authorized by the student or their parent(s)/guardian(s).
2. In some cases, transgender students may feel more supported if other students are aware that they are transgender. The District will work closely with the student and their family to plan how to educate peers.

Other aspects that may arise, such as school trips, health education, etc.

If you and your child requires additional support, our 7th grade social worker, Ms. Clarissa Lau (lauc@district65.net) is our gender support coordinator. She will be in an additional resource in addition to me, Ms. De Mari, our 8th grade counselor, and our 8th grade social worker.

Purpose:

This policy helps students stay organized and succeed in school by using AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) strategies. An organized binder will help your child manage school materials, track assignments, and be prepared for classes.

Policy:

1. Binder Requirements

• Size and Type: Your child should use a three-ring binder. Each student should have received this during the first 2 days of school.

• Folders: The binder should have folders for different subjects or categories (like Math, Science, English, Fine Arts, Foreign Language/SSLA or Advisory).

• Supplies: Ensure your child has lined paper, graph paper, plastic sheet protectors, and a pencil pouch with pens, pencils, erasers, highlighters, and sticky notes.

2. AVID Organizational Tools

• Focused Note-Taking: Your child will take notes, which helps with learning and remembering information.

• Learning Logs: Your child will maintain a learning log in each section of their binder to reflect on their learning and set goals.This will be strategically rolled out later in the year.

3. Organization by Subject

• Sections: Each subject should have its own section in the binder, clearly labeled with a tab.

• Content Order: Materials should be organized by date or topic, as instructed by the teacher.

4. Daily Maintenance

• Class Materials: Encourage your child to put all handouts, notes, homework, and returned assignments in the right section of the binder immediately.

• Date and Label: Make sure all papers are dated and labeled with the subject.

• Focused Note Taking Review: Remind your child to regularly review their notes, highlighting key points, and summarizing information to help remember it.

5. Weekly Maintenance
   

• Clean-Up: At the end of each week, your child should remove unnecessary papers and file them appropriately at home.

• Review: Help your child review each section to ensure materials are in order and complete.

6. Binder Checks

1. Periodic Checks (Every 2 weeks): Teachers will conduct binder checks every 2 weeks to ensure students are maintaining an organized binder.
2. Grading: Binder organization might be part of your child’s learning habits grade, and teachers will look for AVID strategies like focused notes and learning logs.

7. Lost Materials

• Replacement: If any materials are lost, help your child replace them as soon as possible.

• Communication: Encourage your child to inform the teacher if they cannot replace materials promptly.

8. Responsibility and Accountability

• Student Responsibility: It’s your child’s job to keep their binder organized and bring it to class every day.

• Teacher Support: Teachers will guide what materials to include in the binder and offer tips on staying organized.

• Parental Support: Periodically check your child's binder and provide support in maintaining organization.

Implementation:

This policy will start at the beginning of the school year and be reinforced through classroom instruction and regular binder checks. Teachers will help set up the binder and provide ongoing support to ensure students develop strong organizational habits using AVID strategies.

By following this AVID binder policy, your child will learn important skills to manage their schoolwork effectively and prepare for future success.

📌 Grade level administrators serve as the first point of contact and support for each grade's students, teachers and families.

📌 8th grade students attend most of their classes on the 1st floor of the building, which is also the location of many of their lockers (located near their homerooms).

📌 Student of the month is back and we are excited to kickoff the first month shortly!

📌 8th grade teams will begin discussing graduation activities within the next week.

iPad:

Your child will begin their curricular instruction this week. Please make sure to charge their iPad every evening. Without a fully charged iPad, access to these platforms will be impacted.

Your child is responsible for taking care of their iPad and to remember to bring it with them daily.

Cell Phones:

Bell to bell, no cell. Please remind your child to leave their cell phone locked in their lockers and/or out of view.

Proof of your child receiving the following is needed prior to the first day of school on August 22:

🍎 Physical exam performed on or after August 22, 2024

🍎 Tdap shot

🍎 Meningitis shot

🍎 Hepatitis B shots (series of three shots)

🍎 Dental Exam performed on or after November 15, 2024

The School Based Health Center at ETHS offers physical exams and shots free of charge for students who have state insurance. For students who receive free/reduced lunch, exams are $12.00 and shots are $3.00 (per shot). Students who have private insurance are only eligible for a physical exam at full price ($33.00). Please call 847-424-7265 to set up an appointment.

Health documents should be mailed to Health Services, 1500 McDaniel Ave 60201 or they can be uploaded (PDF format preferred) during the registration process.

Our students will be having their first Character Strong lesson this week in their Language Arts class. Each week, you can expect them to be having a social emotional lesson. They will alternate having their lesson in their Language Arts and Math classes.

Huge shout-out to our PTA volunteers who served our scholars ice cream after town hall on Friday! Thank you for your time and generosity! Parents, please consider joining our incredible PTA!