Midweek Parent Notification

A big thank you to all the parents and caregivers who joined us for conferences on Tuesday and Wednesday!

As we look ahead to our February conferences, please keep in mind that each family should sign up for only one time slot per teacher. Booking multiple slots to extend time limits access for other families trying to schedule their appointments. If you feel your child requires additional discussion beyond the standard conference slot, please reach out to the teacher directly to schedule a separate follow-up.

If you were unable to secure a conference slot this week, feel free to email the specific teacher you would like to connect with. Our teachers are off tomorrow and Monday, so please allow up to three business days for a response as they catch up on full inboxes. Supporting a healthy work-life balance for our staff ensures they can bring their best selves to our students every day, and we truly appreciate your patience and understanding!

PowerSchool

MyPowerHub, the new PowerSchool portal for parents and students, will be turned on starting October 9th! The transition should be seamless - when families go to login to PowerSchool, it should take you straight to MyPowerHub instead of the old portal. The app should transition automatically as well.

• Family resources will be available on the website here: https://www.district65.net/families/powerschool

The D65 IESA/Sports Conference Boys Soccer matches originally scheduled for September 30, 2026, which were canceled due to Parent-Teacher Conferences, have now been rescheduled for Tuesday, October 13, 2026.

Student-athlete participating in our Fall Sports Series must have a completed D65 IESA/Sports Conference Registration Google Form on file.

This includes student-athletes participating in:

• Boys Cross Country

• Girls Cross Country

• Boys Soccer

• Girls Basketball

Families who have not yet completed the registration form must do so as soon as possible:

Complete the D65 IESA/Sports Conference Registration Form

Please see the flyer below.

See flyer below regarding free books!

Please see the flyers below regarding Sexual Health Education. Here is the link with more information regarding Sexual Health Instruction in D65.

Please read this important notice about our upcoming Panorama survey. Students will be taking the survey the week of October 26.

Congratulations to the following students from Nichols who have been selected to sit in on a student focus group with the Supt. Search Firm on October 22nd during school:

Cory Orloff

Alex Kahan

London Levy

Nolan Fraken

Kaison Godfrey

Vivian Cavazos

Axel Alcala

Addy Bennet

Daleya Burgess

Mauricio Owen

Jhanvi Jakkamsetty

Fatma Fadel

Bereket Daniel

Vanessa Villegas

Colette Cheng

Malcolm Cloud

Andrea Duarte

Zinna Lyons Smith

Kingston Wilcox

Rose Reaves

Prince Walker

As a reminder, as part of the D65 Superintendent search, Alma Advisory Group and the Board of Education will host three community gatherings in October to hear from members of the D65 community about the qualities, values, and vision they hope to see in the district’s next Superintendent. Please read this notice for more information.

• Tuesday, October 20: Chute Middle School, 6:00–8:00 p.m.
  
  

• Wednesday, October 21: Foster Elementary School, 6:00–8:00 p.m.
  
  

• Thursday, October 22: Nichols Middle School, 6:00–8:00 p.m.

As a reminder, we have set the course for intentional use of technology in D65 (for district info visit here). According to the National Institutes of Health the research is clear; "heavy usage is linked to delayed language skills, poor sleep quality, attention difficulties, and behavioral challenges." Please see the graphic below that captures tech use at Nichols. Also, feel free to check out these resources related to tech use:

AAP Family Media Plan: An interactive tool that helps families set custom screen time limits, establish tech-free zones (like bedrooms and dinner tables), and choose media rules together.

Parenting, Media, and Everything in Between: Articles addressing real-world topics like screen addiction, managing gaming time, handling social media pressure, and establishing healthy digital habits.

Social Media and Teens: Addressing how social media affects teen self-esteem

Research & Parent Resources: Articles outlining the brain-development research behind delaying smartphones, along with practical tips for using basic phones or smartwatches for safety without internet/app distractions.

We are in desperate need for parents to participate in PTA. Please support us by joining a great team to support the Nichols Community. The sign up link is here.