The Principal's Perspective

I am SOMEBODY

Who are you? Have you ever paused to truly think about it? At this busy phase of life, have you taken the time to reflect on the things you’ve said and done that have made this world a better place?

Perhaps it was a poem you wrote out of grief that encouraged someone else not to give up. Maybe it was a song you composed to celebrate the "butterflies" of a new love. It could be as simple as the sandwich you passed to the person standing at the traffic light, or the quiet donation you made to the local food pantry.

Maybe it was the hug you gave your spouse—the one you didn't really want to give because they forgot to take the chicken out of the freezer—but you saw the weight of a long day on their shoulders, so a hug and Chinese takeout became the plan for the evening.

You Are Not Here by Accident

If you look back, there is a litany of moments that define who you are. You can see how much you have mattered to others and to yourself. You are somebody. You have a distinct role and a specific purpose.

As parents, we must remember to let our own light shine. Our children are growing up in a world that can feel incredibly dark, and while some may ask if the light was ever truly "on" to begin with, the truth remains: You have managed to shine anyway. The "Somebody" our children see even when you don't realize it, you are the "somebody" who matters most.

You are the somebody who gets up day in and day out, even when you’re exhausted, to provide for your family.
You are the somebody who made your parents proud and now guides the next generation.
You are the somebody people turn to for advice when they’ve lost their way.
You are the somebody who signs the checks, packs the lunches, and creates the safety net that allows others to dream.

As parents, we are the architects of our children's reality. When we recognize our own worth—when we stand tall and say, "I am somebody"—we give our children permission to do the same. We aren't just "Mom" or "Dad" as a title; we are individuals with histories, talents, and a capacity to change the world through small, daily acts of grace.

Keep shining. The world needs your light, and so do your children.

So, say to yourself today:

I AM SOMEBODY! I AM SOMEBODY!

6th Grade News

7th Grade:

ELA:
This week, we concluded our conversation around the Triangle Factory Fire by analyzing the causes and effects, while also reviewing informational text structures to prepare for our upcoming research unit. Next, we are going to be focusing on Mother Jones and her efforts against child labor.

Math:

This week we took our quiz on angle relationships and continued our geometry unit. We are exploring finding the volumes of cylinders, cones and spheres.

8th Grade:

As we look toward the finish line of this school year, we want our scholars to reflect a sense of purpose and responsibility. Please remind your scholar that our end-of-year activities are privileges that are earned. To ensure every student can participate in these celebrations, we ask for your help in finishing strong. Students with excessive tardies, absences, and/or behavioral events run the risk of missing out on these special events. Please partner with us in holding scholars accountable!
Graduation pics are March 27
Families will receive 4 tickets (not including the scholar.) to graduation.

Fine Arts News

New Progress Report: "Good Standing" Criteria

To ensure fairness and consistency across all grade levels, Nichols Middle School is implementing a unified Good Standing policy. This determines eligibility for incentives that are rewards for students in good standing.

1. How is "Good Standing" Measured?

See picture below.

2. The Path to "YES" (Eligibility)

YES: Student meets all "Good Standing" criteria.
PENDING: Student has 1–2 areas in "Growing" category. To earn their ticket, they must complete Restorative Acts (see below).
NO: Student does not meet requirements and cannot attain the incentive ticket.

3. What are Restorative Acts?

We believe in accountability, not just punishment. If a student loses their "Good Standing," they can earn it back through a Restorative Conversation and a meaningful project, such as:

The Advice Letter: Writing to a younger student or to their younger selves on how to handle a tough situation better.
The Impact Map: Drawing out how their actions affected others (teachers, parents, peers).
The Gratitude Campaign: Creating 10 "Shout-Out" cards to bring positivity back to the classroom.
Community Projects: Helping beautify the school or creating a PSA for the school news.

Note: Restorative Acts must be completed within 48 hours. If not completed, the student will face loss of recess and/or extended loss of incentives depending on their actions and attendance/tardies.

Our first incentive celebration will be held at the end of March, just prior to Spring Break.

AWESOME job to the students and staff that made up the Black History Program. The students were WONDERFUL! Special shout out to Ms. Carla Stone who put together our Black History Performances linked below. She also put together a special video about Black Excellence. Also, thank you to Ms. Light, who caught many of these wonderful moments on camera! Again, great job to all who put together this performance

Join Us: D65 Sustainability Community Meeting
All are welcome to attend. Together we're focused on building a brighter, healthier, more equitable future for our children.
February 17, 2026
4:30-5:30pm
Google Meet: Click here for Feb 17 meeting details
Agenda:
- Local Artist: Bird Collisions in the Anthropocene
- Intro: Co-Design of Outdoor Learning Spaces
- School Sharing: Sustainability & Gardens

Message About Safe Routes

Safe Routes to Schools - March 15th on City Plan Update - Please Pass It On!!!

Does your school even have a bike lane? From any direction? One easy thing to make Evanston desirable to new families is to care about the safety of children as a community. Sidewalk side-lanes for bikes to schools on cardinal corridors can be visible proof that we prioritize children here.

The city is revising its 14yr Bike Plan. No Schools are in the City Bike Plan. We need the interactive map flooded with 'pins' and comments by March 15th, emphasizing the need for improvements focused around schools. Please also attend the bike plan update meetings (March 3rd, 6PM, 3200 Grant), to call out routes to schools as urgent safety issues in need of fast-tracked improvements such as side-lane paths (shown below).

And lastly, please sign a petition for your Alderperson here.

The proposed signage for children learning to read on zig-zagging street routes is age inappropriate, ineffective, and further endangers our kids. More resources can be found at Evanston Transit Alliance < evanstontransitalliance.org >.

Evanston, Do Your Best!

Sincerely,

Jason J. Orloff

We are preparing for a significant opportunity for our scholars to show what they know as Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) testing will begin next week.

Why is this important?

The IAR isn’t just another test. It is a vital tool that helps us understand where our students are excelling and where they may need more support. It tells us what our next goals will be and it also gives us the opportunity to celebrate all of the wonderful things that our scholars can do!

For your scholar: It allows them to demonstrate their growth in Math and English Language Arts, building the stamina and confidence they will need for high school and beyond. 8th graders will also test for science (ISA) the week of April 13th through April 17th.
For our school: High participation and strong effort help Nichols Middle School receive the recognition our community deserves. We need at least 95% participation to ensure our school’s rating accurately reflects the amazing work happening in our classrooms.

How you can help: Please help your child shine by ensuring they: