The Principal's Perspective
It's beginning to look a lot like cold weather!! Dec. 9-13
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Combating Hate Speech at Nichols
As mentioned in my previous newsletter, we are addressing concerns regarding a small group of students using hate speech at Nichols. These actions are unacceptable and do not reflect our school’s values of respect and inclusion. To tackle this issue, we are implementing the following action steps:
Education and Awareness:
- Hosting professional development for teachers on how to navigate this very sensitive issue. This also includes looking at our own biases and how it may impact us as professionals. We are also going to be discussing the issue at our upcoming town hall.
- Integrating lessons on the impact of hate speech into our curriculum. Additionally, we will be taking time in our professional learning communities every week to discuss how we might integrate liberating lessons.
- Students will have an educational and solution centered presentation on December 16th that will also be inclusive of their voice as well regarding this matter. This will include: Conversation around concerns of bias, the origin of words/phrases, a common language that will be used by teachers to address hate speech, discussion of active bystander language, and a development of hierarchy on restoration (according to continuum- built with students)
Clear Consequences and Clear Communication:
- Enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech with consistent consequences focusing on education and restoration.
- Communicating policies to students and families to ensure transparency. Keeping parents in the loop when issues arise.
- Every teacher will utilize common language in addressing hate speech. This will be introduced to students on the 16th of December. This language reads as such: "At Nichols, everyone deserves to feel a sense of belonging. We are a community built on mutual respect and inclusion. We stand firmly against the use of any words, phrases, or actions that demean or disrespect others. Together, we will continue to foster an environment where every individual is valued and supported."
Restorative Practices:
- Facilitating restorative conversations between students involved in incidents and those impacted.
- Encouraging accountability and meaningful dialogue to foster understanding.
Community Engagement:
- Partnering with families to reinforce values of respect and inclusivity at home.
- Providing resources for parents to support discussions about discrimination.
Student Leadership:
- Developing ways to empower students to take an active role in creating a positive school culture through leadership programs and peer-led initiatives.
These steps are the beginning of our ongoing commitment to fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for all students. We appreciate your support as we work together to uphold these values.
Thank you for your continued partnership.
Brrrr it's cold outside!
Winter: Before/After School & Recess Updates
As we navigate the winter season, here are some important reminders regarding before and after school procedures and recess:
Before/After School
- Entry and Exit Point: All students must enter and exit through their grade level doors.
- Entry Time: Doors open at 7:40 AM. for breakfast. Students enter through the back cafeteria door on the blacktop. Students will not be allowed in the building until 7:40 so please plan accordingly. Students who arrive late (after 8:00 a.m.) must enter through the main office. Exit time is 3:05. Unless a student has an approved activity and is supervised by an adult, all students must exit by 3:15 p.m.
- Morning Routine: Students may eat breakfast at 7:40 a.m. At 7:50 AM, grade level doors will open for general access to all students; they will transition to their lockers and head to class.
- School Day Times: First period begins promptly at 8:00 AM. and last period ends at 3:05.
Recess Procedures
During the day an announcement will inform students whether recess is indoor or outdoor for the day. Decisions are based on the Child Care Weather Watch guidelines.
Indoor Recess:
All students will remain in the lunchroom and may bring their iPads.Outdoor Recess:
All students will go outside for recess. Winter clothing is required unless parents have opted out.During Snowy Weather: There may be times, where, even if the temperature permits outdoor recess, we may choose to remain inside if there are slippy/slick conditions, wet, or snowy conditions that we deem dangerous. Students are not permitted to throw snowballs before or after school, nor during recess,
Thank you for your attention to these updates. Please ensure your students are prepared for the season!
Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee
Join us at BPAC! Discussion with Superintendent Dr. Angel Turner
Over the next weeks, Superintendent Dr. Angel Turner and her team will be meeting with various stakeholder groups to engage the community about the district’s budget and financial outlook and to gather input to creatively address financial challenges. Dr. Turner and her team were invited to present at the December BPAC meeting, which will be presented in both Spanish and English.
Meeting details:
Time and date: 6-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 11
Location: Washington Elementary School, 914 Ashland Ave., Evanston. The meeting will take place in the library.
Childcare will be provided.
The Bilingual Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) represents the interests of English learner (EL) students, parents of EL students, and community members of a school district. The BPAC at D65 focused on native Spanish speaking families.
If you haven’t attended a BPAC meeting before, you are still welcome to come! It’s important that we come together as a community so that we may work together to find solutions to the challenges the district is facing. I encourage you to attend (and tell your friends!) and look forward to welcoming you to this space.
Caregiver Presentation
Here are the slides to the Caregiver Bullying Presentation if you were unable to attend.
Fun things in town!
Saturday, December 21 10:30am-12:00pm Holiday Tea for Families
Experience holiday magic and make new family holiday traditions at our first festive holiday tea. Guests of all ages will enjoy classic teas and a menu of sweet treats in a historic setting, while making vintage-style Victorian cone ornaments. Includes live piano music, vintage games, a short tour of the Dawes House.
Recommended for ages 5 and up. $20 adults/$5 children, RSVP required www.evanstonhistorycenter.org
All holiday events include admission to the "It's All Fun and Games" exhibition and photo opportunities in the decorated Dawes House.
Saturday, January 4, 3:00pm-5:00pm Family Day Open House
Come out of the cold and into the Dawes House for a free family winter fun day! Includes admission to the "It's All Fun and Games" exhibition, classic games, live piano music, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer storytime, crafts, and refreshments.
FREE. Info: www.evanstonhistorycenter.org
Attendance Notice
Attendance notices will begin going out to all families in the district who meet a certain threshold of absences. This is a practice we had pre-covid and have worked to move back to. Notices will be sent at the following thresholds; 10, 15, 18 total absences, 9 unexcused absences, and 20 late arrivals. When a student has 18 or more total absences they are considered chronically absent by the state. If a student has 9 or more unexcused absences, that student is reported back to the state as chronically truant. The purpose of the notice is to increase communication around student attendance with families and/or to to identify students needing additional support at the building level to address attendance needs.