The Principal's Perspective
February 9-12
Live, Learn, Love... Lift
We live, we learn, we love, therefore we lift! Life is a collection of experiences, and as the song says, "experience is a good teacher!" Whether an experience feels monumental or small- it leaves a mark. Unlike the age old question about a tree falling in a silent forest, our life experiences always make a sound. Every move we make causes a ripple in our memory. We learn from it; sometimes the lesson sticks and sometimes it has to keep repeating itself till we finally do learn the lesson. Outcomes are what they are, but it the lesson learned depends on our openness to receive it.
At times we are more open to the lessons of life; openness requires a level of maturity that often comes with time, and well, with other experiences. Through this cycle of learning, we begin to appreciate the whole picture: the mountain peaks and the dark valleys alike because we know they make us who we are. We develop a deeper love for ourselves because we see what we've overcome, and we also develop a more profound empathy for others, as we understand what it is like to be in their shoes; here lies the true essence of love. Empathy and understanding for others!
This journey eventually leads us to the ultimate expression of love: lifting others! True love is the act of putting someone else’s needs before our own. It is the realization that life isn't actually "all about us." Instead, it is about the experiences that build us and break us. It is about the experiences that connect us to others. We cannot truly lift another person until we have learned, and often through our own trials, that we are all interconnected. It is the awareness that the hand you refuse to shake might be the hand you need to grab to pull you out of a most certain tragic end. I need you, you need me, we are all a part of the Nichols family!
While this week we walk into Valentine’s Day, a Saturday in February that is accompanied by glittery hearts and dinner reservations, or for others another day to relax or accomplish Saturday errands and tasks, I ask that you remember the hand, remember to live with intention, learn with a willingness to grow, love without condition, and—most importantly—love with the desire to lift others...
Remember to take the hand...
To ensure a smooth and safe start to our day, please note the following updates to our morning and afternoon routines:
Morning Arrival & Breakfast
Doors Open: Students may enter the building starting at 7:40 AM. For your child's safety, please do not drop them off before this time, as adult supervision is not available.
Breakfast Times: Breakfast service begins at 7:40 AM.
Students should finish eating by 8:00 AM.
Breakfast service will officially close at 8:05 AM.
Early Entry: Only students participating in a pre-arranged school activity with a teacher may enter before 7:40 AM.
Afternoon Dismissal
Pick-Up Time: Please ensure your scholar is picked up by 3:15 PM.
Supervision: Unless enrolled in a supervised after-school activity, students cannot remain on school property after 3:15 PM.
Safety First in the Zone During arrival and dismissal, please stay extra vigilant. Our walkers, bike riders, and students exiting cars are often focused on their friends or their electronic devices rather than the road. As the adults in the community, let’s lead by example—driving slowly and staying fully aware of our surroundings to keep every child safe.
