10/31/07

"To educate in mind, and not in morals, is to educate a menace to society."  -Theodore Roosevelt

Welcome to “Character Corner!”  This site will provide information regarding the Character Education Program at The Nichols’ Middle School.  In “Upcoming Events” you find important dates regarding the Middle School Parent Chats, the Parent/Child Book Club and any other related community or school events.  In “Community Service” you will find projects that the Middle School is participating in as well as suggestions of things that your families could get involved with.  “Character Lessons” is the place to go when you want to know what lessons are being covered during Advisory time.  It would be great to keep up to date with this as you could talk to your child about what they discussed in school as well as reinforce these lessons at home.  The “Advice” column is meant to be interactive.  I encourage you to e-mail questions to me and I will respond, keeping all information anonymous.  I will also post book reviews and other information that might be of interest to you.  Please feel free to submit tidbits of advice or book reviews to me so that I can pass them along to others.  Under “Links,” I will post other websites that I think would be of help to parents.  Feedback on these is always welcome as well as suggested additions.

Newsletter

The month of October has been very busy!  The students (and teachers) are enjoying the new House system instituted by John Munro.  The entire Middle School, including faculty and staff, has been divided into four houses-Erie, Niagara, Ontario, and St. Lawrence.  Each house elected a male and female prefect.  The election process was so great it may me "warm and fuzzy" all over.  Only eighth graders were eligible.  In each case all students were supportive of each other, agreed that they would support who ever won, and that they were "all in it together." (Is this a Disney movie?) Ask your child(ren) about some of the fun activities we have been doing.

Thank you for your support of Denim Day! The Nichols community as a whole raised a little over $2000! It was great to see so many people in pink too!  A portion of the money raised is going to be used to dedicate a tree on our campus with the inscription "To those who have been touched by cancer."

During the last week of October the Middle School students could be seen planting red tulip bulbs around the front of the Middle School.  The red tulips represent Red Ribbon Day; and they will serve as another reminder in the spring.  As explained to the students, Red Ribbon Day is a yearly event where the students are encouraged to think about their unhealthy habits-whether it be too much sugar, junk food, or caffeine; and to think before they experiment with illegal drugs such as alcohol, drugs, or smoking.  I always use the analogy of going to the dentist.  You may only go twice a year, but you brush your teeth every day.  Thus, you may be reminded once a year about healthy choices, but it is something you need to do everyday.

The first Parent Chat is coming up on November 14th.  The book The Biggest Job We'll Ever Have, by Laura and Malcolm Gauld will be discussed.  Please R.S.V.P. to Wendy Castiglia Amato.  Also, see the more detailed description in the "upcoming events" link on this website.

The first Parent/Child Book Club will be held on November 7.  We will discuss Tamora Pierce's book Alanna: The First Adventure. Please let Wendy Castiglia Amato know if you can attend.  Details can be found on the "upcoming events" link.