I hope this newsletter finds you well. As we strive to ensure your child's academic success and personal growth, we believe that open communication between home and school is crucial. With that in mind, we are excited to invite you to our upcoming Parent-Teacher Conference.

Date: Tuesday, February 13th (in-person) and Wednesday, February 14th (virtual)

All parents and caregivers will be able to sign-up for a 5 minute conference(s) beginning on Monday, January 29th at 8:00AM through Monday, February 9th at 11:59PM. Please refer to the attached document for instructions on how to sign-up.

Please contact the Nichols main office if you have any questions, or need assistance at 847-859-8660.

The Parent-Teacher Conference provides a valuable opportunity for us to discuss your child's progress, strengths, and areas for improvement. This collaborative effort between educators and parents is essential in creating a supportive learning environment.

During the conference, we will cover various aspects, including:

1. Academic Progress: A review of your child's performance in each subject, highlighting achievements and discussing strategies for improvement.

2. Social and Emotional Development: Insight into your child's behavior, interactions with peers, and emotional well-being.

3. Individualized Learning: If applicable, we'll discuss any specific educational plans or accommodations tailored to your child's needs.

4. Goals and Strategies: Establishing goals for the upcoming academic period and identifying strategies for both the school and home to support your child's development.

To make the conference as effective as possible, please consider the following:

1. Prepare Questions: Think about any questions or concerns you may have in advance, so we can address them during our meeting.

2. Student Input: Since you have a middle schooler, involving them in the discussion can provide valuable insights into their learning experience.

3. Arrive on Time: To ensure that we have sufficient time for a comprehensive discussion, please arrive promptly for your scheduled conference.

Click on the link below to access the Google Form to nominate a dedicated educator and/or educational support staff member who goes the extra mile each and every day to support your child and family.

Ms. Purnell, our 8th grade Social Studies' teacher, would love to have your 6th grader join the debate team.

Debate Practice is in Room 118 on the following days and times:

Monday 3:05 - 4:10 pm

Thursday 3:05 - 4:40 pm

BOYS/NON-BINARY Basketball

GIRLS/NON-BINARY Basketball

Location: The Field Museum

Date of Trip: Mr. Lawrence/Mr. Engelman’s students: Wednesday, Feb. 21st

Mr. Sommer/Mr. Cohen’s students: Thursday, Feb. 22nd.

Depart: 9:15 AM

Return: 1:40 PM

Cost: $5.00 - cash or check(payable to Nichols Middle School)

Additional donations would be greatly appreciated to ensure all students can attend!

Please sign this form and return it to Mr. Sommer or Mr. Lawrence. It can be sent electronically to sommerb@district65.net or lawrencet@district65.net

This month's ROAR focus is Responsibility. Each teacher selected a student to win the Student of the Month award for this character trait. We also focused on learning more about how to respect ourselves and others. Within the 6th grade, there have been numerous students reporting mean comments that are being said to them by their classmates. Our 6th grade team has been focused on changing that narrative. Compliment Day was an opportunity that our students to share positivity to each other. In our townhall, we also shared this video with our students because we want them to intentionally choose friends who uplift them. We want them to focus on appreciating themselves and how uniquely special they all are. I challenged the students to focus this month on finding their peers who they can be themselves with. I told them that they have someone who cares about them here at Nichols including Mrs. Dortzbach, our counselor, Ms. Lau, our social worker and me. Please talk to your child and find out the names of their peers at school who they consider a friend.