Nicollet News

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:

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

• Students may arrive starting at 7:30 AM. They will grab breakfast and head to their locker and their first class, Advisory.
• School ends at 2:30 PM.
• 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

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, they will then be waiting for you to pick them up.
• Any student leaving early must check out in the main office.
• When you arrive to pick up your child, please come into the building and sign your student out.
• 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.

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.

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.

Welcome Back to Nicollet Phoenix Athletics!

We hope you had a wonderful Summer! We are excited about the upcoming Fall Sports Season! This Fall, we welcome back Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Boys and Girls Cross Country and Girls Tennis. We are also excited to announce we will be including Girls Volleyball to our Fall lineup!

Who: Girls & Boys in Grades 6-8

When: Fall sports run from September 5th - October 18th

Time: 2:30 - 4:30

Activity Bus Information:

• If you live in the bussing zone you are eligible to use the activity buses home from practice.
• Bussing is not provided home after games
• The busses depart Nicollet at 4:45 and they drop kids at a stop near their normal bus stop but is usually not exactly the same. It is common for activity bus stops to be farther away than student's regular stops.

Parent Pick-up Information:

If you are picking up a child from an after school sport please pick them up by Door 15 (near the tennis courts) so that you are not in the way of the activity buses.

Students are issued uniforms to each student. Uniforms are for student's to use for the season, not theirs to keep. Failure to return borrowed uniforms/equipment may result in suspension from after school activities.

Upon the start of the season, each family will receive a welcome email from their student's coach. Until then if you have any questions, please reach out to Nicollet's Athletic Director:

Paul Nesseth - pnesseth@isd191.org

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

The Green Team - Thursdays 2:45 - 4:00 in Room 328, Ms. Philipsek & Ms. Challgren

Singers & Swingers - Thursdays 7:00AM in Choir Room, Ms. Bakken

Jazz Band - Tues. & Fri. 7:00AM through Advisory in Band Room, Ms. Bakken

Chess Club - Tuesdays & Thursdays 2:30 - 4:00 in the Media Center, Mr. Ribnik & Mr. Burtnett

Quiz Bowl - Wednesdays 2:45 - 4:00 in Room 308, Mr. Hartman

Student Council - E/O Wednesday 2:40 - 3:40 in Room 114, Mr. Iverson/Mr. Sorensen

More will be added as the year progresses!

Attention all basketball players! Traveling Boys Basketball clinics are underway, registration is open and tryouts are around the corner! Click the link for more details.

Burnsville Robotics will be having an open house meeting on September 11 from 6-8:30p at Burnsville High School room C-180, just inside the front main doors. Come hear about our robotics club and see our robotics room. We will be talking about First Tech Challenge (FTC grades 7th-12th graders) . Any questions, please email us at ftcburnsville@gmail.com

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 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.

BURNSVILLE SPIRIT STORE:

Welcome back to school! Stop in and get your Blaze gear for fall! We have sweatshirts, t-shirts, hats, mittens, blankets, and so much more!

Spirit Store hours are 10-3:30 Tuesdays and Thursdays when school is in session. Select merchandise will also be available at the home football games - weather permitting.

Next week is Homecoming, so shop now and show off your school spirit at all the Homecoming events!

Stop by to see what's new or order online (https://isd-191.square.site/) and pick up in the BHS main office. Follow us on Facebook for the latest news, arrivals and updates:
https://www.facebook.com/Burnsville-Spirit-Store-2090425817656016/

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.

Families should have received a postcard in the mail with bus stop and time information. This information is also available on ParentVue.

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

Phone: 952-707-2603

Hours: 7:20AM - 3:20PM

Nurse: Kelly Nelson-Cichosz

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.

No Shot No School

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

Phone calls and emails will begin next week with the expectation that all students will be vaccinated by the end of September or may choose to complete documentation as a conscientious objector. If you have any questions about your child immunizations, please contact the school nurse.

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 Responsibility, Integrity, Safety, 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