Dear 6th Grade Families,

We are excited for another great week at Nichols! Here are a few important updates and reminders:

Monthly Town Hall – Tomorrow, we will hold our monthly town hall, where our focus will be on an important initiative to support students in developing strong interpersonal skills. As 6th grade is a transition year from elementary to middle school, students are learning how to manage their emotions, express their feelings, and navigate relationships with their peers in a more mature way. Our goal is to help them not only be respectful of one another but also appreciate and celebrate their differences.

Student Recognition – We will also take time during the town hall to acknowledge our Students of the Month who have demonstrated outstanding character. This month, we are highlighting the trait of responsibility and recognizing students who exemplify this value in their daily actions.

Half-Day on Wednesday – Please note that Wednesday is a half-day. It is important that all students attend, as we have meaningful activities planned for them.

Daily Reminders – To ensure your child is prepared for success each day, please remind them to bring:

• A fully charged iPad
• Their binder
• Writing utensils

Thank you for your continued support and partnership in making your child's first year of middle school a positive and successful experience. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Warm regards,

Ms. Brunson

Congratulations to Greta Nieuwsma, the winner of the Nichols School Wide Bee. She will advance to the District 65 Spelling Bee on February 4th. James Schmidt was the runner up after an intense one on one multi-round battle.

Congratulations to all who participated in the 2025 spelling bees!

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Winners:

6th- James Schmidt

7th- Max Singer

8th- Greta Nieuwsma

On Thursday, Feb. 13th all 6th grade students will participate in an author visit with award winning author, Renee Watson. This amazing opportunity is courtesy of The Book Stall. Ms. Watson is the author of many fantastic middle grade and young adult novels including the Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Author Winner "Piecing Me Together". More information on Ms. Watson and her books can be found here.

If you'd like to order a copy of her newest book "All the Blues in the Sky", please do so by using this form. Books will be delivered to the school and signed by the author. Please place your order by Feb. 10th. More details are on the linked form.

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.

This week, we celebrate and appreciate our incredible 6th-grade counselor, Ms. DeMari, for her dedication and unwavering support of our students.

For the past four years at Nichols, she has been a consistent source of comfort and guidance, ensuring that every student feels safe, valued, and heard. She prioritizes their well-being by being highly responsive to their needs, advocating for them, and providing a safe space where they can openly share their thoughts and concerns.

Beyond her counseling sessions, she takes the time to connect with students in meaningful ways. Whether it’s joining them during lunch and recess or checking in with them individually, she makes an effort to build strong, trusting relationships. Her presence and genuine care help create a supportive and inclusive school environment.

As we honor her this week, we encourage you to remind your 6th grader to take a moment to express their gratitude for all she does. A simple “thank you” can go a long way in recognizing the difference she makes in their lives every day.

Thank you, Ms. DeMari, for your dedication, kindness, and commitment to our students!