Hello 8th Grade Families,
Happy Lunar New Year 2025: Year of the Snake
This Lunar New Year ("Chinese New Year"/Spring Festival) begins Wednesday, January 29, marking the start of a new year. It is a public holiday observed and celebrated all over the world by Asian and diaspora communities (Chinese, Taiwanese, Vietnamese, Korean, Tibetan, Malaysian, Filipino, Indonesian, Singaporean, Brunein, Mongolian, Malaysian, Myanmar/Burmese, Thai, Laosian, Cambodian, Bhutanese, Hmong,...other communities in Asia have similar celebrations later in the year based on their location). Lunar new year begins on the 1st new moon of the lunisolar calendar (2nd new moon after the winter solstice) and celebrations continue until the full moon, for about 15 days, ending with a Lantern Festival/Shangyuan Festival.
Happy Black History Month!!
At Nichols Middle School, we honor Black history year-round as a vital part of American history. Our students learn about the remarkable achievements and perseverance of Black Americans who have helped build our nation.
This month features special lessons about Black leaders, artists, and innovators who have made lasting impacts on our society. These stories help our students understand how the past shapes our present and inspires them to build a better future.
We believe that when students learn about diverse perspectives and experiences, they grow into more understanding and engaged citizens. Black history belongs to all of us – it's America's story, and we're proud to share it with our school community.
Best,
Ms. Ernvall
The Nichols Lions Debate Team achieved remarkable success in the largest D65 hosted debate tournament to date! Every team member advancing to the championship round and our students demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication, bringing home multiple awards. Their outstanding performance reflects countless hours of preparation and commitment. Here are our team's achievements:
Varsity 1st Place Winners
Aaron Athens
Jarrett Thackett
Speaker Award
Maya Brush
Novice 9th Place Winners
Lukas Weber
Leo Withrow
Novice 14tth Place Winners
Maya Brush
Audrey Johnson
These scholars dominated the Illinois Middle School Debate League tournament!
This week, we are excited to celebrate Counselors Week and recognize the incredible work of our Nichols Middle School counselors! Each day, they provide essential support, guidance, and care to our students, helping them navigate academic challenges, social-emotional growth, and personal development.
Our counselors play a vital role in ensuring that every student feels seen, heard, and supported at Nichols. Whether they are helping students manage stress, develop healthy relationships, set academic goals, or simply lending a listening ear, their work makes a lasting impact on our school community.
We encourage students and families to take a moment this week to say thank you to our counselors for their dedication and compassion. A kind note, email, or simple “thank you” can go a long way in showing appreciation for all they do!
Please join us in appreciating our dedicated counseling team:
✨ 6th Grade – Ms. DeMari
✨ 7th Grade – Ms. Dortzbach
✨ 8th Grade – Ms. Nelson
Thank you, Ms. DeMari, Ms. Dortzbach, and Ms. Nelson, for being such an integral part of Nichols Middle School!
