The Principal's Perspective

Oct 6, 7 – Parent Teacher Conferences. October 6th will be virtual, Oct 7th will be in person. Parents will be able to sign up here .

Oct 12- No School Indigenous People Day

Oct 19- Boys BBall try outs

Oct 26-30- Fall Festival Week (incentive days and school spirit)

If you're anything like me, you absolutely love the "ber" months! September, October, November, and December hold a special kind of magic. Even as a child it was my favorite time of the year. There is something breathtaking about watching Mother Nature do her thing as we transition into cooler days and longer nights. We get to see life transform right before our eyes—leaves embracing golden orange and rich brown hues, crunching and crackling underfoot as we (and our scholars) jump into freshly raked piles.

We hear the laughter of children playing in the crisp evening air, gather around tables for hearty soups and warm pies, and yes—embrace everything pumpkin spice! (If you haven't tried pumpkin spice cream cheese yet, it’s a must-try!) Soon enough, a fresh blanket of white snow will arrive, bringing snow angels, snowmen with carrot noses, and warm scarves wrapped around Frosty's neck hoping he survives through the night! These months bring cherished cultural celebrations, family traditions, and a natural pause to reflect before starting fresh in January.

What makes this season so powerful is how visibly it demonstrates a simple truth: change brings joy, laughter and connection. As the world cools down, it invites us to turn inward and gather closer together. As educators and parents, we have a wonderful opportunity right now to model what it looks like to embrace transition. When the days grow shorter, darker, and colder, children naturally look to us to see how we respond. We can help them navigate life’s shifts by intentionally modeling a few simple mindsets.

Talk aloud about the beauty in quiet moments, fresh starts, and new routines. When we show enthusiasm for a change in schedule or season, children learn that transition isn't something to fear—it’s an invitation to experience something new. Show them how to create comfort and connection when things get tough. Whether it’s sharing a warm meal, starting a family reading habit, or simply pausing to check in with one another, we teach them that we carry our light with us. Finally, remind scholars that letting go of the old—just like the trees shedding their leaves—is a necessary, healthy part of growth. It isn't a loss; it’s a moment to reset, recharge, and prepare for what’s ahead. It's a time to think about the friend groups they are in, the choices they've made in class, and how they spend their time after school and ask themselves is there something they want to change about any of these things.

Change is how we grow. As we move into this cozy season of hibernation and preparation, let’s show our scholars that even when life seems a bit darker or colder, it is simply setting the stage for a bright new beginning. Here's to Pumpkin Spice and everything nice for the next couple of weeks- let's embrace change and grow together!

At present we do not have a Boys Basketball coach. If there are any parents who are interested, please let me know so that I can direct you to the right place to apply.

Here is the link to the registration form if you are interested in having your scholar to join the debate team.

Morning Mentors tutoring will begin Oct 13. Please see the following for more information.

Presentation Slides

Permission slip

Please note that students will be taking the anonymous Panorama Survey later this month. Information about this survey was sent in last week's Midweek Notification.

Caregivers- please remind your scholars that it is important that they attend their Give Back Time when it is assigned. Missing give back time means that scholars will have to do two sessions. If those sessions are not complete the scholar becomes ineligible for the upcoming incentive days. Please partner with us as we encourage our students to follow school wide expectations, to hold themselves accountable for the Nichols Way, and being a role model to others!

Caregivers- as ANOTHER reminder, please do not block the staff lot in the morning dropping off your scholar. Additionally, the staff lot is NOT designed to be a drop off. The in and out traffic is far too dangerous for people walking through the lot to get into the building. Please set the example of following safety expectations.

The days are going to get colder and wetter. Please keep this in mind as your are dropping your scholar off. There is no supervision outside until 7:40 a.m. Students are not allowed to enter the building until 7:50 a.m. unless they are eating breakfast or unless they are with an adult for a structured, supervised activity. Students eating breakfast must remain in the cafeteria until 7:50 a.m.

Please ensure that your scholars are appropriately dressed for the weather. Scholars will go outside for recess as long as it is 20 degrees outside. Scholars should be wearing winter coats, hats, gloves etc. and not just hoodies. Hoodies and sweatshirts are not coats nor do they protect scholars from the cold weather elements. If your scholar is in need of a winter jacket, please contact the main office so that we can support you.

Scholars are not allowed to stay inside during recess unless the temp falls below 20, it is raining, or there is impending dangerous weather or community concerns that requires us to remain inside.

Congratulations to all of our scholars who have maintained on time daily attendance to school AND to class! 6th graders are leading the way at 96% daily attendance! 7th grade is at 93.5 and 8th grade is at 94.9. We are just shy of our goal of 95% building wide! We commend all those students who are here and on time. We are approaching attendance incentive days and we are excited about celebrating you soon!

Lit Year helps families build a home library full of books where kids see themselves. Each student gets 15 new books across the school year, shipped straight to their home in three deliveries. Every book is hand-picked to celebrate Black characters, stories and experiences.

Middle school is when many kids start to drift away from reading for fun. The right book at the right time can change that. By adding 6th–8th graders, we can keep more young readers engaged and bring in older siblings, so the whole family can read together.

Applications for 2026–27 are open now. Apply at the link below or through District 65’s ELeap platform and help us spread the word to families, teachers and youth programs in your circle!

D65 encourages Safe Routes to School. Please check out the safe route maps found here.