The Principal's Perspective

Now, more than ever, it is important to note that at Nichols we are committed to fostering an environment where every student feels valued, respected, and included. We believe that a strong sense of belonging is essential for academic success, emotional well-being, and personal growth.

To ensure that all students thrive in our community, we have been diligent to implement the following measures to support their sense of belonging:

1. Inclusive Practices

   • It is the expectation that our teachers create inclusive classrooms that honor the diverse identities and experiences of our students.
   • We encourage open discussions that promote understanding, empathy, and respect for everyone’s perspectives.
   • We have on-going professional development on identity in an effort to dismantle systems of bias that might impede our ability to reach students.

2. Student Support

   • Counselors and staff are available to provide emotional support and to address any concerns students may have. Students can use the QR codes throughout the building to reach a counselor or social worker if they need to talk or of they would like to report something.
   • We maintain a restorative practice consideration when it comes to consequences related to bullying or discrimination, ensuring a safe space for every child. This means that our goal is to educate children on the harm that it causes while also seeking to restore the relationship.
   • We review our Student Saebrs data to identify students in need so that we are able to intervene with research based interventions and progress monitoring.

3. Celebrating Diversity

   • We host events and activities that celebrate the rich diversity of our school community, fostering connections among students.
   • We highlight the accomplishments of communities during our morning and afternoon announcements.
   • We welcome clubs and groups that provide opportunities for peer support and empowerment.

4. Communication and Collaboration

   • We are always here to listen to your concerns and suggestions to better meet the needs of your child. We use your survey data to inform our upcoming decisions.
   • If your child is experiencing challenges or needs additional support, please do not hesitate to reach out to their teacher or our administrative team.
   • We use Town Halls to communicate to students that we celebrate them.
   • We use Town Halls to address grade level concerns in an effort to build a positive school culture.

Our goal is to ensure every student feels seen, supported, and capable of reaching their full potential. We value your partnership in helping us create a school culture where every child belongs and succeeds.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child’s education and well-being.

Attendance

Attendance is crucial in students’ academic success. We would like to celebrate the high rate of on-time attendance that we experienced on our last E-learning day. Kudos to all of our families, caregivers, and students for making that happen!

Boule Mentoring is inviting boys to participate in the Boule Mentoring Program. This is a program that is designed to set expectations of academic excellence and provide tools, models, and rewards to increase academic performance. It is a once a week, on Wednesdays, one hour after-school program that will assist your student in preparing for a successful high school experience. If this is something that you are interested in, please contact the main office. Here is the link to learn more.

If you are attending an early morning club or class, punctuality is essential. A 10-minute grace period will be provided, but after that, the doors will be closed. This policy is in place to ensure the safety and security of our students and staff. For this reason, we cannot leave doors propped open to accommodate late arrivals. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

We have recently discovered a very troubling situation that we want to bring to your attention. It has come to our attention that students are able to access open Zoom meetings by simply searching for "open Zoom meetings" online. Unfortunately, this has led to instances where students have entered meetings that are highly inappropriate, including Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings, Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings, and other adult-oriented spaces that are not suitable for children.

This is a significant concern, as these environments can expose students to sensitive content and discussions that they are not equipped to navigate. In some cases, the nature of the meetings can be highly inappropriate for young audiences.

We have alerted our technology department about this issue, and they are actively working on solutions to prevent access to such content. In the meantime, we are urging you to be vigilant about your child’s internet activity. Regularly check their browsing history and monitor their use of technology to ensure their safety online.

Please also remind your children that searching for and participating in these types of meetings violates our school’s technology use policy. Violations of this policy may result in disciplinary actions, which could include the loss of iPad privileges up to suspension, depending on the severity of the incident.

Our primary goal is to ensure the safety and well-being of all students. By working together, we can help keep our children safe and teach them responsible online behavior.

If you have any questions or need assistance with monitoring your child’s online activity, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for your cooperation and support.

Several newsletters ago I shared with caregivers a concern centered around inappropriate and divisive language. Unfortunately we have seen an increase in the use of racially charged phrases, words, and suggestions among some of our students. This type of language is not only inappropriate and deeply hurtful, but it also creates an environment that goes against our core values of respect, inclusivity, and kindness.

Using racially insensitive or offensive language related to a group of people perpetuates stereotypes and reinforces division among students. It can cause lasting emotional harm to those targeted and negatively affect our school community as a whole. It is essential that we cultivate a learning environment where every child feels valued and safe. Please note, racially offensive or discriminatory language or actions are offensive no matter who it is spoken by and no matter to whom it is spoken to. Terms such as "black monkey," "n*gga or n*gger," "sp*c," Beaner" k*ke, or phrases such as "go back to Africa" "I'm calling ICE" are just a few of these horrible things. Or by making animal sounds when someone walks by, or making fun of someone's LGBTQIA+ status.

To address this issue, we are taking the following steps:

1. Education and Awareness: We are exploring how to further incorporate lessons on empathy, cultural awareness, and the impact of language into our lessons. These lessons will help students understand why this behavior is unacceptable and the harm it causes. Additionally, we are targeting certain classrooms where the behavior is pervasive and speaking to students about this matter in order to restore the classroom into a community where all feel as though they belong. Students who do participate in negative behaviors also get specific and targeted lessons during in-school suspension where applicable.
2. Clear Expectations: We are reinforcing our school’s code of conduct and making it explicitly clear that the use of racially charged language will not be tolerated. Violations will result in appropriate restorative action.
3. Staff Training: Our staff is undergoing additional training on how to address and de-escalate situations involving harmful language, as well as how to provide support to impacted students.We are also engaging in conversations centered around identity and systems of bias and how it can impact our teaching and relationships.
4. Open Conversations: We are currently building spaces for students to openly discuss topics related to race, inclusion, and equity in a safe and respectful manner. This will include guided discussions developed by trained researchers through NEERA, our Northwestern Partner Group.

We encourage you to speak with your children about the importance of treating everyone with dignity and respect, regardless of race, ethnicity, LGBTQIA+ status, or background. Help them understand the power of their words and the responsibility they have to contribute positively to their school and community. They also have a responsibility to themselves to not engage in such language that speaks about them or their socially aligned community. Please teach your children about the history of such things and why these phrases can only result in horrible outcomes. Here is an article that has some conversation starters.

Together, we can ensure our school remains a welcoming and inclusive space for all students. Also, please emphasize safety. Students may think that the words/phrases they use as jokes can also be used in the "outside world" and this is VERY DANGEROUS. They simply cannot use racially charged or discriminatory language. Thank you for your partnership in addressing this critical matter. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Here are some vey good articles related to speaking to your child about "words that hurt and divide."

https://www.embracerace.org/resources/teaching-and-talking-to-kids

https://answers.childrenshospital.org/talking-about-slurs/#:~:text=For%20preteens%20and%20older%20kids,others%20to%20use%20hurtful%20words.

Caregivers, here is a link to an article that describes some words or text lingo that children use nowadays.

What is the Purpose of the AVID Binder?

Caregivers, please check in with your student about their AVID Binder. Being organized is a key skill for success in school, careers, and everyday life. The AVID binder serves as a valuable organizational tool to help students keep their notes and schoolwork in one central location. Each student has been provided with a binder and all the necessary supplies to set it up. They are expected to use the AVID organizational techniques they have learned to keep it neat and functional.

Students will be assessed on their binder's organization and whether it includes all required materials for each class. Weekly binder checks are often conducted, and we hope that students are bringing them to class daily. To stay on top of this, students should dedicate no more than 20 minutes each day to organizing and completing their notes if they were not done in class. Here is a link to some examples of note formats, however, notes can take on any form as long as it has the necessary information.

January 31- MY65 Fundraiser

January 31- Window closes for Saebrs Screener

Here is a link to fun activities for the month of February for families in the Chicagoland area.