The Principal's Perspective
August 31- September 4, 2026
Shifting Mindsets: Turning Challenges into "Lift Off"
Lift off into the 2026–2027 school year was a success! Our first week at Nichols was filled with incredible energy. Walking the halls, I saw students arriving on time, smiling, laughing, and literally squealing with excitement as they hugged their friends and met new classmates. That joyful buzz set the tone for what is going to be an extraordinary year, of this I am certain!
During our Town Hall assemblies, our scholars identified our school theme for the year: "Lift Off." Together, we unpacked our core pillars: the 3 C's (Clarity, Challenge, and Connection) and the 3 R's (Rooted, Responsible, and Restored):
6th Graders showed amazing creativity exploring what it means to be rooted and responsible, even participating in a class wave to highlight their individual interests.
7th Graders demonstrated outstanding teamwork by winning our non-verbal challenge—finding a way to set a unified pace as an entire class without speaking a single word.
8th Graders embraced their vital role as leaders, taking ownership of what it means to be role models for the entire Nichols community of scholars.
We also had the joy of welcoming 83 newly registered students throughout the week—many of whom are entirely new to Nichols and District 65 (even in the 7th and 8th grade). Our community is growing, and we are so glad you are here! I am so happy that we can be a home to many new faces and bright minds!
Reframing Challenges Into Opportunities
As many of you know, we encountered an unexpected vendor delay with our locker locks, which prompted us to hold off on passing out student supplies and iPads until locker space was secured. Where some might see a "problem," we saw a powerful opportunity to focus on what matters most.
Connection (one of our 3 C’s)
With or without lockers, the first three days of school were intentionally designed around community building—the foundation of any great school year. Expecting students to dive straight into Chapter 1 without first learning about their classmates, co-creating classroom norms, engaging in team-building activities, and understanding the vision for the year would set them up for failure. Our classrooms were fully equipped with all necessary basic supplies to keep students engaged, but by setting aside the distraction of devices and extra materials for a few days, our scholars focused entirely on connecting with one another and their teachers.
Our teaching staff took the bull by the horns and moved forward without missing a beat. The delay did not stop learning; it gave us the opportunity for more human connection- one of life's greatest lessons. Sitting in a problem doesn't change it—working through it and finding solutions does. We are problem solvers, not problem sulkers! As parents you made sure your scholars were present and accounted for and many of you were kind enough to also donate paper towels, tissues, clorox wipes etc. for our classrooms.
Why We Do What We Do
One of the highlights of my week came during dismissal when I asked a scholar how his week was going. With a huge smile, he said, "This is the best school ever! I’m so excited to be here, and my teachers are really cool—I love it!"
Assistant Principal Woodie and I were so touched by this scholar's excitement. It was a wonderful reminder of why we do what we do. No minor hiccup can stop the greatness within our staff or our students. Thank you for your partnership, your trust, and your continued support as we embark on this journey together.
Here’s to an incredible year of Lift Off!
