The Principal's Perspective

I want to express my profound and heartfelt gratitude for your recent, selfless display of support and protection for our most precious gift: our students.

In the face of outside threats and challenges, you responded with a show of force and strength that was nothing short of extraordinary. Before we even had a chance to ask, parents, caregivers, and community members quickly galvanized to action, stepping up to ensure the Nichols community remained a safe and secure place for all children. This immediate, unified response allowed our staff to focus entirely on maintaining a calm, structured dismissal.

You are amazing. Your actions served as a powerful, real-world lesson for every student here, demonstrating the absolute importance of looking out for one another. You showed the true, transformative power of community, reminding us that when we unite around the well-being of our children, there is no challenge we cannot meet.

Thank you for being such vital partners in securing our school environment. Your commitment makes all the difference. I am BEYOND grateful!

10. You read my newsletters LOL!😉

9. You are expert coaches and sponsors

8. You get your forms in on time 📝

7. You go to PTA meetings or donate🧑🏾‍💻

6. You attend our shows, concerts & assemblies 🎭

5. You keep your children home when they are sick 😷

4. You are responsive to your teacher's classroom needs 📚

3. You are so quick to volunteer 🙋🏻‍♂️

2. You get your children to school on time & ready to learn 🙌

1. You support your children to be the best they can be 😍

Our required Erin’s Law lessons (child safety and abuse prevention education) will be taught in classrooms soon. Formal notification letters with opt-out instructions will be sent home directly by your child’s teacher in the coming days.

A quick note on communication: When the official notice email arrives, please do not use "Reply All" if you have questions or concerns. To ensure your questions are answered promptly and directly, please email your child's teacher individually.

With food insecurity at an all time high, our student services team is ready to fully support those in need. If you are facing a food crisis (or have an different supply need) please contact Ms. Lau at lauC@district65.net. Also, if you would like to donate to support Nichols families in need let Ms. Lau know.

Here are a list of things that may be donated:

• Canned tuna, chicken, or salmon (with pop-tops).

• Tuna or chicken pouches.

• Peanut butter or other nut butter (in plastic jars or individual packets).

• Dried or canned beans and lentils.

• Soft, chewy granola bars or protein bars (soft foods are often better due to dental issues).

• Crackers (especially with peanut butter or cheese packs).

• Dried fruit and nuts/trail mix (if no severe allergies are known).

• Instant oatmeal packets or individual cereal cups.

• Beef jerky or other dried meats.

• Individual cartons of shelf-stable milk or juicee oxes.

• Beauty and hygiene products including feminine care

This week's mental health focus for the Risers turned to stress and how we handle it. The Risers described their own individual sources of stress in pictures, and we practiced methods for managing that stress.

We talked about the toll that the ICE activity this week has taken on them and our community. The Risers were reminded of the resources and people across the city that are working hard to make them feel safe during this scary time.

Finally, Risers read about more giants of the field. Dr. Joseph White founded the Association of Black Psychologists and advocated for a culturally-informed understanding of Black psychology.

Dr Maxie Maultsby introduced a form of psychotherapy called rational behavior therapy. It was unique in its emphasis on self-counseling, where patients were given "homework" to help them develop healthier habits and ways of thinking.

Please remind your students to check the lost and found. We will be cleaning and clearing the lost and found on November 21st and donating any items left behind.

We know you're eager to plan for it, but we are still finalizing the 8th grade graduation date and venue.

ETHS, our traditional location, will be undergoing renovations during the usual ceremony timeframe, requiring us to secure an alternative location. We are working diligently to confirm a venue and will release the official date and location to you as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience!

Fine Arts News

6th Grade Newsletter

7th grade News

Math:

This week students finished their Ratios and Proportions with Percentages unit. They completed an end of unit project and many students also presented their projects. Next week we will begin our Expressions and Equations unit!

ELA:

This week, students brought The Twilight Zone episode “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street” to life through a Reader’s Theatre performance. We discussed what it means to be a follower and what truly makes someone a “monster.” To wrap up the week, we watched the original episode and compared how the story’s message came across in each format.

8th Grade Newsletter

Counselor's Newsletter

AVID Newsletter

I am a huge podcast fan- I listen to them daily. One of my favorites is Mel Robbins. I want to share one of the podcasts that I found most inspirational for my own journey so I would like to share it with you!