Nicollet News

Welcome to the 2022-23 School Year! We can't wait to welcome you all into the building for the start of a new year. We have been busy getting ready for students to return! Our custodians have our classrooms and hallways sparkling. Our teachers, staff, and administration have been attending professional development opportunities and collaborating with one another to ensure we’re prepared to provide the best learning experience for your child. We're also working hard to make sure we have strong health and safety protocols in place to create a safe, welcoming environment for all staff and students.

We look forward to partnering with you to make this a great year for everyone in the Nicollet Community! Whether you’re new to Nicollet or are returning, we hope the information included here will help to ensure a smooth start to the school year and answers many of your questions. We can’t wait to see you all at our Open House on Wednesday, August 31st.

When? Wednesday, August 31st

In order to allow our 6th graders some time in the building alone, we are asking families to follow the below schedule:

5:00 - 6:00 - 6th Grade only please

6:00 - 8:00 - All Grades

Information sessions will happen at the following times in the Cafeteria:

5:00 - 5:15 (6th Grade only)

6:00 - 6:15

7:00 - 7:15

What? The staff at Nicollet Middle School is excited to meet you at our Open House. Students will be able to visit each of their teachers and learn where their classes are located. This is a great time to ask questions, calm some fears, and get to know some important people in the school. At the open house, you will get information about:

• Student Schedules- All students will pick up their class schedule from their Advisory teacher, there will be lists of students' advisories posted near the entrance of Nicollet.
• Lockers- All Nicollet students will receive their locker assignments and locker combinations. They will be printed on the schedules they recieve from their advisory teacher. School supplies may be placed in lockers to avoid carrying heavy loads of items to school on the first day.
• ParentVUE and Schoology- Parents are able to access attendance, grades, assignment information, etc. online by using ParentVUE and Schoology. Information regarding these tools will be available at Open House. If you are unable to use ParentVue and Schoology, we can help you. You will also be able to update your contact information at this time.

7th and 8th grade students will pick up their chromebooks at this time so that they are prepared for their virtual meeting on the first day of school!

6th grade students will receive their chromebooks the first week of school.

Tuesday, September 6th

• First day in person for 6th Graders and WEB Leaders ONLY
• Virtual Advisory Meeting for students in grades 7-8 at 8:00 AM. Students will log in to their advisory meeting through Schoology.

Wednesday, September 7th

• 7th and 8th graders first day in person (all students attend)

22-23 School Supply List in English

• We will have Nicollet t-shirts for Gym available for a donation at our open house.
• 6th Grade students will be given a planner, 7th & 8th grade students may purchase a planner for $5.
• We will have Binders available for a $15 donation.

Middle School Sports are back!

Who: Girls & Boys in Grades 6-8

When: Fall sports will begin September 8th

How much: $70

Time: After school until 4:30 or 4:45

Much more information can be found by clicking one of the links below.

English

Spanish Translation

Somali Translation

Fall Sports for Grades 7-12: Check out the Burnsville High School Athletics website for information.

Clubs and Activities for Grades 6-8: See our Nicollet Activities Website to learn about some of our clubs and activities. More information will come in future bulletins as activities kick off this fall.

Burnsville Youth Collaborative (BYC) for Grade 6-8: Our BYC afterschool program combines academic support and enrichment along with recreational activities. The program runs Monday - Thursday from 2:45 - 6:00PM each day. Transportation is provided for students within the bus zone. BYC will likely begin in October. More information will be released after school has started.

PARENTVUE

In order for us to effectively communicate with you throughout the school year, please make sure you update your address, phone numbers, email address and emergency contact/s on PARENTVUE. This information is very important as it is the only way to contact you in the event of an emergency.

We will send weekly bulletins for families through email. We will also regularly call home with voicemail message updates.

TEXT MESSAGING

Additionally, Parents/Guardians now have the option of receiving text notification from District 191 and its schools. Text messages are timely and relevant, including weather related school closure information, emergency announcements and others.

In order to participate, parents/guardians must opt-in by texting “subscribe” to the

number 68453.

Learn more about ParentVue at https://www.isd191.org/enroll/student-information

SCHOOLOGY

Schoology connects students to their teachers. Students get class assignments, link to readings and guides selected by their teacher, collaborate with classmates, and work on self-paced learning activities. Families can see upcoming assignments and announcements, view assignments, test schedules and daily grades for current classes, and more.

Check out our Nicollet Apparel Sale!

We have a great new Nicollet Clothing store this year! This Spirit Wear store will be open all year! Orders will be produced as they are placed. Orders usually arrive in 3-5 business days! Make sure to check it out, many great items!

Nicollet Spirit Wear

School hours for students are 7:50 AM - 2:30 PM.

• Students may arrive starting at 7:30 AM. They will grab a bagged breakfast (if they choose, meals are no longer free for all) and head to their locker and their first class, Advisory.
• School ends at 2:30 PM, this is a change from last year.
• Buses leave NMS by 2:45 each day.
• There is a shuttle bus to the high school for students participating in sports/activities at BHS, this bus is only for students who are signed up for a BHS athletic/activity.
• For students participating in NMS activities, there is an activity bus that leaves at 4:45 M-F.

Office Hours: 7:15 AM - 3:15 PM

Just a reminder that our parent drop-off location is on the east side of Nicollet near the tennis courts (the same location as parent pick-up). Please circle around the lot rather than pulling into parking spaces to avoid having your child cross through traffic to enter the school. Students should be picked up by 2:45pm.

If you are dropping your child off at school after 7:45 AM, please drop them off at the front of the school, door 1, because they will need to check into the office for a tardy pass to class.

Please do not enter the driveway between Sky Oaks and Nicollet. This is where buses are entering and exiting and dropping students off here is a safety concern.

THE MAP IS BELOW:

Families will receive yellow postcards in the mail the week before school starts with bus stop and time information.

For more information about bussing, please go to: https://www.isd191.org/discover/departments/transportation

Visitors

• Nicollet now has a buzzer system at the front door. Please go to the marked door and push the button on the camera monitor mounted near the door. Please let the office know the purpose of your visit.
• Nicollet Middle School wants to maintain a safe and secure learning environment for students. We require ALL visitors to sign in at the main office and wear a visitor pass sticker while in the building.
• Visitors beyond the main office will be limited in accordance with health and safety guidelines.

Appointments

• We value communication with parents/guardians and we are not always available when parents/guardians stop by without an appointment. If you would like to meet with or talk with the principal, associate principal, the dean of students, your child’s teachers, or other staff members, please call or send an email in advance to schedule an appointment.

Student Pick Up

• If you know your child will be leaving during the day, please have them drop a note off in the office before the start of the school day indicating the time they will be picked up.
• Any student leaving early must check out in the main office.
• When you arrive to pick up your child, please remain in your car and call the main office. We will send your child to your vehicle.
• If your child is ill, they need to visit the nurse before being excused for the day. If the nurse has not sent them home, we cannot count the absence as excused.

Messages/Phone Calls for Students

• Cellphones are away in lockers for the day. Therefore students should not be receiving calls or texts. If you are trying to get a hold of your child, please call the main office at 952-707-2600. We try not to interrupt class to get messages to students, unless it is an emergency. If there is an emergency, please ask for an administrator and they will handle the situation.

Items Dropped Off for Students

• There are many items dropped off in the main office each day. The office will not call a student out of class for an item that has been delivered. Students are able to stop by the office during passing time or their lunch to retrieve items. If possible, they will be delivered to the classroom for the student.

Our District Policy 503 on Student attendance reads: Regular school attendance is directly related to success in academic work, benefits students socially, provides opportunities for important communications between teachers and students, and establishes regular habits of dependability important to the future of the student.

In alignment with this policy, the following are some guidelines regarding attendance:

• If your child cannot attend school for any reason, please call our attendance line within 24 hours at 952-707-2604 to excuse them.

• If your child is experiencing any of the symptoms in the graphic to the right or has received a positive COVID test, please call our attendance line at 952-707-2604.

• When leaving a message please include:

• Your name

• Your child’s name(including the spelling of first & last name)

• Grade

• Callback phone number

• Brief Description. If your child is sick, please leave any symptoms they have.

• If a student is absent and no telephone call has been received from the parent/guardian, the school may contact the parent/guardian. It is important to provide the school with current home, cellphone, and work telephone numbers via ParentVUE.
• All absences not excused within 24 hours, by telephone or a signed note, will be considered unexcused.
• Occasionally, students arrive late to school. Parents should call in to the attendance line to excuse the tardy.
• Students who accumulate seven full days of unexcused absences are considered truant and referred to the county.

Please discuss the use of electronics at school with your child.

• All students are issued a Chromebook from ISD191 to be used for instructional and educational purposes. No other electronic devices should be used in place of chromebooks during the school day.
• All Chromebooks are to be used in alignment with the district electronics policy.

• Headphone use is only allowed when requested by a teacher (no airpods).

• Electronic devices are never allowed to be used in bathrooms or locker rooms.
• Nicollet is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Cellphones

• Cellphones are away for the day. If brought to school devices should be put away in lockers by the first bell (7:50am) and should not be taken out until the last bell of the day (2:30pm).

Policy 524: Internet Acceptable use and Safety Policy

• We understand the importance of students being able to access resources on the internet, both for current educational work and to help ensure students have the skills they need for future study and work.
• We provide students access to our computer system, including the internet, expressly for educational purposes, including classroom activities, research and college/career readiness activities.
• Students are expected to use our system in a safe manner and for these appropriate purposes.

Nicollet follows our District 191 Policy 504 on Student dress and appearance. The purpose of the policy is to enhance the learning environment of students by establishing expectations of dress and grooming that are related to educational goals and community standards.

The policy of the school district is to encourage students to be dressed appropriately for school activities and in keeping with community standards. This is a joint responsibility of the student and the student’s parent(s) or guardian(s).

Appropriate clothing includes, but is not limited to,

• Clothing appropriate for the weather.
• Clothing that does not create a health or safety hazard.
• Clothing appropriate for the activity (i.e., physical education or the classroom).

Inappropriate clothing includes, but is not limited to,

• Tops that expose the midriff, cleavage, and other clothing such as shorts/pants that expose undergarments.
• Clothing bearing a message that is lewd, vulgar, or obscene.
• Apparel promoting products or activities that are illegal for use by minors.
• Objectionable emblems, badges, symbols, signs, words, objects or pictures on clothing or jewelry (including sports apparel) communicating a message that is racist, sexist, or otherwise derogatory to a protected minority group, evidences gang membership or affiliation, or approves, advances, or provokes any form of religious, racial, or sexual harassment and/or violence against other individuals as defined in Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District Policy 413.
• Any apparel or footwear that would damage school property.

Hats and hoods are allowed, but may be asked to be removed if they interfere with a class activity such as a science lab, cooking, or physical education activity.

Additionally, as we work to maintain a safe environment and avoid tripping hazards, students may wear/carry outerwear coats or vests, backpacks, or sling bags to and from school but these items must remain in lockers during the school day. Small purses are allowed to be carried. Students need only bring their binder and chromebook to class.

When, in the judgment of the administration, a student’s appearance or mode of dress interferes with or disrupts the educational process or school activities, or poses a threat to the health or safety of others, the student will be asked privately to make modifications. Parents/guardians will be notified and may be requested to bring alternate clothing.

School Nurse: Ms. Mjelleli "Nurse M"

Email: emjelleli@isd191.org

Phone: 952-707-2603

Hours: 7:20AM - 3:20PM

Services:

• Monitor immunization status of students
• Manage health plans for students with health conditions
• Provide first aid and emergency care to students and staff
• Administer medication as ordered by a physician
• Maintain health service records
• Implement screening programs
• Surveillance of Communicable disease

Reminder: Immunizations- all incoming 6th graders needs to get the T-dap booster and Meningitis vaccine before starting 7th grade.

For information about health services, please go to: https://www.isd191.org/discover/departments/health-services

We will have more information regarding the fall as we get closer to school starting.

Application for Educational Benefits

Every year, ALL families with children enrolled in Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191 should complete an Application for Educational Benefits. Many families are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals, as well as waived or reduced fees for transportation, athletics, activities and more!

By completing an application, you are helping to ensure every school in District 191 gets the much-needed state and federal funding it deserves.

• Complete the application at: https://www.isd191.org/enroll/application-for-educational-benefits

School Meals

School breakfasts/lunches are no longer free for all students. Families must qualify by filling out an educational benefits form. Families will receive a letter in the mail indicating whether they qualify or not.

• School menus can be found at: https://schools.mealviewer.com/school/NicolletMiddleSchool

If you have any questions about the information within this back to school newsletter, please don't hesitate to reach out to our Main Office via phone or email.

Fadlan la xiriir Axmad Kaahiye, is ku xirahanaga iskuulka Nicollet Middle School, wixii su'aala ah oo aad ka qabtid macluumaadkaa.

Phone: 952-707-2600

Email: nicollet@isd191.org

Our vision here at Nicollet is that we will realize our individual strengths and RISE together to become future ready and community strong. RISE stands for Resourceful, Inclusive, Safe, and Excellence. We know that when we strive to achieve these characteristics as individuals and as a community, we will learn together and grow stronger together.

School Hours: 7:50AM - 2:30PM

Email: nicollet@isd191.org
Website: nicollet.isd191.org/
Location: Nicollet Middle School, East 134th Street, Burnsville, MN, USA
Phone: (952)707-2600
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nicolletmiddle
Twitter: @NicolletMS191