Counselor's Corner
November 1, 2024 - Edition 3
Nichols Middle School
Greetings parents, guardians and caregivers!
An election year gives us a great opportunity to talk with our children about fairness and making decisions as a group.
Politics can be a difficult subject to discuss with children. But, as they grow and begin to understand the fundamentals of civics and how people choose their local and national leaders, the subject is also hard to avoid.
Voting allows people to come together as a community to make a collective decision. It fosters democracy and allows for a fair process in electing local and national leaders. It involves rules and making hard decisions independently.
Your vote may not directly elect the president, but if your vote joins enough others in your voting district or county, your vote undoubtedly matters when it comes to electoral results.
Highlights
SchooLinks
SchooLinks is D65's college and career readiness platform. Nichols students will begin to explore their interests, personalities, mindsets and skills to discover and learn about careers as well as colleges that can help them achieve those careers. Students continue to use SchooLinks in high school to navigate postsecondary plans and options for 4-year college, community college, trade school and careers.
6th, 7th and 8th graders will periodically receive SchooLinks lessons now through the end of the school year.
Check out the video below (2:27 minutes) that explains SchooLinks and how it is used.
MetroSquash
MetroSquash is a non-profit after-school program in Evanston. They are a "pathway program", meaning they begin supporting students in 6th grade and continue 4 years post high school (10 years total) if students choose to remain in the program! They have 4 pillars of support:
1. Academic & Enrichment
2. Squash and Fitness
3. Social work and Supportive Services
4. College and Careers
Students meet 3 days a week after school. In middle school, students focus on homework, academic enrichment activities, and learning the sport of squash. As students move into high school, they explore post high school options.
Please contact your grade level counselor for a flier and more information!
Kesem at Northwestern University
Kesem is a nationwide community that supports children through and beyond their parent’s cancer. Kesem at Northwestern University will offer its 22nd annual camp next Summer 2025, free of charge, open to any 6-18 year old who has, or has had, a parent or primary caregiver with cancer.
There will be two sessions of camp, one in June and one in August. Camper registration opens on December 10th for RETURNING campers, and on January 14th for NEW campers. Check it out!
Family Focus - Welcoming Center
A wealth of resources including their Welcoming Center. Hosting an upcoming event to learn about the US Immigration System, responsibilities and options under the law. If you miss the event, please reach out to their contact listed on the flier or your grade level counselor for more information to connect with Family Focus.
Monthly Awareness/Weekly Themes
Trans Awareness Month
November 13 - 19
This week serves as a celebration and recognition of transgender communities and people. Trans Awareness Month also includes Transgender Day of Remembrance (11/20), honoring the memory of the transgender people whose lives were taken in the acts of anti-trans violence. This also serves as a reminder that there are still many places where it is unsafe and even illegal to be trans.
National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week: November 17 - 23
Definition of Homelessness
A person is considered homeless if they lack a fixed and regular nighttime residence or if their main nighttime residence is:
- a supervised shelter that provides temporary accommodations; or
- a halfway house or similar facility that provides temporary residence for persons intended to be institutionalized; or
- a place not normally recognized as a place to sleep (a hallway, bus station, library, car, etc.); or
- a temporary stay in the residence of another person. Persons are considered homeless for no more than 90 days when they are residing temporarily in the home of another person.
Recommended books from Ms. Philippe, Nichols Librarian
Middle Grade Recommendation
Too Bright to See by Kyle Lukoff
Ms. Philippe says: A sensitive and touching story that examines friendship and grief, it's easy to see why this heartwarming novel won so many awards.
Young Adult Recommendation
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
Ms. Philippe says: Combine a ghost story, a romance, and family issues and you get this fun thoughtful story powered by relatable and interesting characters.
All Middle School
A Duet for Home by Karina Yan Glaser
Ms. Philippe says: Told in alternating voices, this is a wonderful story that highlights resilience, found family, and music.
Upcoming Events
ETHS Freshman Registration
Important dates are listed on the Incoming Freshman Deadlines & Events webpage. Information about transition events is available on the New Student Information pages.
October 28-November 1: Registration Days
November 9-17: World Language Placement Testing, if necessary
December 5: Special Education Transition Information Night for parents of incoming freshmen
December 13: Online registration and documents are due to ETHS.
Are you and your student interested in a tour of ETHS? The ETHS Virtual Tour can be viewed at any time from anywhere via laptop, desktop or mobile device. We also host Campus Tour Days on select Saturdays during the school year. Registration is required for these 60-minute guided tours, which offer an optional Q&A session.
Have Questions?
For questions about the freshman transition process, please contact me at harta@eths202.org or 847-424-7047.For registration questions, please contact Adriana Aviles, Student Enrollment Specialist, at 847-424-7915 or email avilesa@eths202.org. You may contact Adriana Aviles in English or Spanish.
For help in languages other than English or Spanish, contact Mercedes Fernández, ETHS Latino Liaison/Minority Languages Coordinator, at 847-424-7166.
Nichols Town Halls
6th graders will have their Town Hall 5th period
7th graders will have their Town Hall 8th period
8th graders will have their Town Hall 6th period
Teachers selected "Students of the Month" based on those who have exemplified the R.O.A.R. expectation "Owning Safety".
Monday, Nov 4, 2024, 11:00 AM
Nichols Auditorium
Tuesday, November 5 - No School
Wednesday, Nov. 13 - Early Dismissal, 11:00pm (School Improvement Day)
Nov. 25 - 29 - No School, FALL Break
Caregiver Event for all Middle School Families
District 65 School Counselors are hosting 3 events this school year for our middle school parents/guardians on various topics related to middle schoolers. Our first event, November 21, will cover the topic of "Teasing vs. Bullying". Join us for this 60 minute session!
Upcoming topics include "Mental Health vs. Mental Toughness" and "Social Media".
Thursday, Nov 21, 2024, 06:30 PM
Haven Middle School, Prairie Avenue, Evanston, IL, USA
Nichols Middle School Counselors
Angelica DeMari
6th Grade Counselor, uziellidemaria@district65.net
847-859-8650, Ext. 6581
Donna Dortzbach
7th Grade Counselor, dortzbachd@district65.net
847-859-8650, Ext. 6516
Terri Nelson
8th Grade Counselor, nelsont@district65.net
847-859-8650, Ext. 6515
