The Sixth Scoop

It’s hard to believe we are already in the final week of the 6th grade year! Time has flown by, and I’m filled with gratitude and pride as I reflect on all that our students have accomplished.

At last week’s Town Hall, I shared with our 6th graders just how much I have enjoyed being their administrator this year. They are truly incredible kids—full of energy, curiosity, and kindness. It’s been such a joy getting to know them as they’ve made the big transition from elementary school to middle school.

Over the course of this year, I’ve watched them grow into more confident, outgoing, and social young people. Many of them have truly found their place here at Nichols, and it’s been amazing to witness their transformation. I’m already excited to see how they will step up and shine even more as 7th graders next year.

I want to take a moment to celebrate some of the incredible things our 6th graders have done this year:

• Our Student Voice Committee students represented Nichols proudly by speaking at our May open house for incoming families and leading tours for visiting 5th graders.

• Several 6th graders participated in Debate for the first time—and brought home awards! What an amazing achievement in their very first year.

• Our students also advocated for and helped organize the Student vs. Staff Floor Hockey Game—a fun and memorable event made possible by their initiative.

• Many of our youngest students stepped up as leaders in clubs, sports teams, and student groups throughout the building.

• Our 6th grade AVID students have done an outstanding job learning how to participate in tutorials, identify their points of confusion, and collaborate in study groups. Their growth has been impressive.

It’s been a remarkable first year for these students as Nichols Lions, and I can confidently say: they are ready for 7th grade!

As we wrap up this school year, I also want to share a moment of joy from within our Nichols staff community. This month, we celebrated the retirement of five incredible educators who have been staples in our school for many years. If you’ve been part of the Nichols community before, there’s a good chance they’ve taught your child:

• Mrs. Stephanie Jones

• Ms. Elaine Purnell

• Mrs. Katie Foust

• Ms. Brigette Evans

• Mrs. Elisabeth Westphal

We held a special breakfast to honor their service and dedication, and we were joined by many former staff members who returned to show their appreciation. There was so much joy and gratitude in the room. It reminded me of something powerful: when teachers enjoy what they do and where they do it, they help build a welcoming, supportive environment where students thrive.

That’s the kind of community we’ve built here at Nichols—and your children have played a big role in shaping that spirit this year.

Thank you for your partnership, your support, and for sharing your amazing children with us. I am so proud of the Class of 2031 and all they’ve accomplished during their first year of middle school.

Have a wonderful summer—and we’ll see you in 7th grade!

Warmly,

Ms. Brunson

The following students have read 6 books and will receive $5 gift card for a local business:

Reagan J.

Lana A.

In April, our "Award of the Month" focused on the value of Owning Safety. In May, we shifted the spotlight to the character trait of Responsibility. Each teacher had the opportunity to select one student from their class for these monthly recognitions. This meant that students had a chance to be celebrated in various subject areas including ELA, Math, Social Studies, Science, PE, Fine Arts, SLA, and AVID.

In addition to our regular character awards, we also gave a special recognition this month to students who achieved perfect attendance for the entire school year—a truly impressive accomplishment. These students received a gift card as a token of appreciation for their consistent presence and dedication.

One of the highlights of our celebration was not just announcing the winners’ names, but taking the time to read aloud the thoughtful comments that each teacher wrote about their selected students. It was important to me that students heard exactly why they were chosen—what made them stand out and how their actions made a positive impact on our school community.

For those students who weren’t selected this year, I reminded them that our 7th grade team also offers Student of the Month awards, and this recognition continues at every grade level. There are always opportunities to be seen and celebrated.

This month’s Town Hall also featured something extra special—a student-led presentation by three of our 6th grade students who participated in a book club led by Ms. Fishman. A big shoutout goes to Annabelle Wine, Clara Ryan, and Lucy Gauen, who gave a powerful and creative presentation on the book they read.

Before presenting, the girls were full of excitement and energy as they prepped in the office—decorating pool noodles to use as props during their presentation. Their creativity and intention were so inspiring. They designed an activity to help their classmates experience what it feels like to be excluded based on something as arbitrary as color—in this case, the color of a pool noodle. It was a simple but powerful metaphor for racial exclusion.

To add to the fun and engagement, they incorporated a popular song that had their peers singing along—and even some of the teachers couldn’t resist joining in with singing and dancing! It was such a joyous moment filled with laughter, learning, and connection. Their energy, creativity, and leadership truly shined.

Kudos to all our student presenters and Student of the Month winners! It was a joy to see students celebrating each other and to witness the ways they show up for our school community each and every day. I am so proud of all of you!

Our students did an absolutely outstanding job in the Wizard of Oz—from the stage crew to the actors to everyone working behind the scenes. It was a joy to watch them shine in every role. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to them sing and act; their energy, talent, and confidence were truly impressive.

A special moment was seeing Ms. Westphal introduce what was her final production as our drama teacher at Nichols before her retirement. She has done a phenomenal job leading each production during her time here, and this one was no exception. What made this performance even more remarkable was that Ms. Westphal was able to sit in the back of the auditorium while the students ran the entire show. That speaks volumes about the leadership and independence she has helped them develop.

There were so many memorable scenes—the moment when the Wicked Witch was dragged off stage had the audience laughing, and Dorothy’s triumph over her was an exciting turning point. Hearing the students sing together was heartwarming, and watching them bring their characters to life on stage was a real treat.

What stood out just as much was the overwhelming support from families who came to cheer on their children. It was a beautiful reminder of how important community is in helping our students thrive.

Thank you to everyone who supports our students in becoming their best selves. It’s a true joy to watch them take ownership of the stage and bring stories to life with such heart and passion.

District 65 Middle School Librarians have put together a summer reading list with something for all readers. The Summer Reading list can be found here as well as on the D65 Summer Reading Website. All books are available at the Evanston Public Library. The Teen Loft at the Evanston Public Library has great FREE activities for all your students. Please see the attached flyers for details on the Film-It Challenge and June and July activities. I hope everyone has a great summer!

Ms. Philippe