Dear 6th Grade Families,

Happy 2025! We are excited to welcome your children back to school on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.

As a staff, we will be meeting tomorrow to reflect on our first trimester, evaluate our successes, and identify areas for growth. Our goal is to ensure we are providing the best academic, emotional, and social support for every student.

This year, our district theme is "Turning Up the Joy Factor." As part of this initiative, I’ve been reading Unearthing Joy: A Guide to Culturally and Historically Responsive Teaching and Learning by Gholdy Muhammad. In her book, Muhammad highlights 10 lessons of joy from historical examples. Three of these lessons resonate deeply with our 6th-grade team and reflect what we aim to foster this year:

1. Joy is present and experienced when learning is collective and collaborative.
2. Joy is enacted when young people's voices and truths are centered and shared.
3. Joy results from cultivating the mind and heart together.

This sense of joy is what we want your child to experience daily at Nichols and what we strive to embody as educators.

Important Reminders for Tuesday:

1. iPads: Please ensure your child brings their iPad to school, fully charged.
2. Outerwear: With colder weather upon us, it’s essential your child is dressed appropriately for outdoor recess. This includes hats, gloves, and coats.
   • If your family needs assistance obtaining weather-appropriate outerwear, please reach out to our counselor, social worker, or me directly. We are here to support you.
3. Attendance:
   • If your child is sick or will be absent for any reason, please email ni-attendance@district65.net. Be sure to include your child’s legal first and last name, along with the reason for their absence.
   • You may also call the front office to report an absence at 847-859-8650.

Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to support your child’s growth and success. We look forward to seeing your child on Tuesday!

Warm regards,

Ms. Brunson

Dear Families:

We are excited to announce details about this year’s Spelling Bee for 4th-8th grade students! This district-wide opportunity advances our goal to provide more interscholastic academic offerings for our students.

Through this experience, students will develop self-confidence, communication and public speaking skills, and hone their ability to thrive under pressure.

Who participates in the Spelling Bees?

This is an optional opportunity open to all District 65 4th-8th grade students.

What is the timeline for the English Spelling Bee?

Interested students will first compete in a classroom spelling bee, which will be held District-wide during the week of January 13, 2024.

The winners of the classroom competitions will participate in an English school-wide Spelling Bee during the week of January 20th. The winners from each school will then participate in a District 65 Spelling Bee, scheduled for Tuesday, February 4th from 4:30-6:30pm at Chute Elementary.

The District English Spelling champion will have the opportunity to compete in the North Cook ISC Regional Qualifier which will take place at Lincoln Hall School in Lincolnwood on Tuesday, February 25th.

How should students prepare for this?

• Please study the word lists that is provided in this newsletter. A paper copy will also be provided to your student if they are interested in participating.

• Families can access information, resources and book titles that boost vocabulary on Scripps National Spelling Bee website’s “Parents” tab

• Find quiz and study tools for different word lists on the free Word Club app

We can’t wait to cheer on our students as they compete in D65’s 2025 Spelling Bees! Thank you for your continued support!

Sign up here to contribute snacks for the Nichols student Dance Party. All items should be dropped off in the main office the week we return to school after winter break - no later than end of school on 1/9/2025. Thanks!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C084EAAAA29A0FBCE9-54044785-dance#/

Regístrese aquí para contribuir con bocadillos para la fiesta de baile estudiantil de Nichols. Todos los artículos deben dejarse en la oficina principal la semana que regresemos a la escuela después de las vacaciones de invierno, a más tardar al final de la escuela el 1/9/2025. ¡Gracias!