DRESS CODE RETURNS

By Evelyn Walcott Staff Writer

A dress code has returned after spring break, according to Greg Plumb, Assistant Head of School for Student Life.

In addition, the punishment for violating the dress code has increased in severity. First and second infractions will result in detentions, while third infractions will also result in a phone call home. Fourth infractions will require families to come to campus for a meeting.

“In the past, three dress codes got you detention, but I don’t think that was much of a deterrent,” Plumb said.

He cited students’ education as the reasoning behind the decision.

“We try to push folks in healthy ways to be the best they can be, and obviously that’s not just grades,” Plumb said. “That’s social emotional learning, how we present ourselves, how we communicate, and how we build community.”

By Lucy Coburn Staff Writer

Movie magic was created on campus earlier this year as Nichols School became the set for short film “The Mirror of Matsuyama” written by alumnus James Grachos.

The production included three Nichols grads: writer and director James Grachos, producer Lizzie Cappuccino, and director of photography Michael Thompson.

Additionally, seven Nichols students took part in the production in roles both on screen and off.

See ALUMNUS, page 2

However, some students have different ideas about what is best for their learning.

“All I like to wear are hoodies and sweatpants,” sophomore Olivia Minstreta said.

While some students were skeptical that dress code enforcement would really return, many students have already been dress coded for articles of clothing that they thought were compliant.

“I’ve heard about a lot of people getting dress coded for zip-up hoodies and tank tops,” sophomore Honora Corso said.

Some students are conflicted about what the dress code should restrict.

“If it doesn’t have any holes and it doesn’t say anything offensive, I think it

Revisions to dress code following spring break

• No sweatpants, athletic pants, or athletic shorts

• Tops of bottoms need to touch bottoms of tops

• Only Nichols branded hooded sweatshirts are allowed

• No hats worn indoors, unless for a religious reason

• No rips, tears, or holes in any clothing should be fine,” freshman Maya Takabe said.

Faculty members also had varying reactions to the return of dress code.

“Fashion is a means of communication, and what we wear is our way of sharing signifiers of who we are,” art teacher Amanda Besl said.

Plumb acknowledges that the COVID-19 pandemic shifted the role of dress code at school.

“The definition of professional has changed and is changing, but I guarantee that hoodies and sweatpants are not professional unless you are a professional athlete,” Plumb said.

Plumb is aware that dress code enforcement has been inconsistent in the past.

“Teachers had too much on their plates, and with everything they do to support students, they didn’t really have time to enforce it,” Plumb said.

Black History Month celebrations take new form in middle school

By Addison Basile Staff Writer

Middle school students at Nichols School had a month-long celebration for this year’s Black History Month, organized in part by Holly Cercone, Assistant Director of the Chispa Program.

The celebration was structured around passports given to each middle school student at the start of the month, in which they would receive stamps as they participated in various activities.

“We were able to put our creative minds together to find things the students would love to do, and we developed the month of activities,” Cercone said.

One priority for Cercone was that, by the end of the month, teachers would continue infusing Black history into their preexisting curriculum.

Cercone says many teachers currently do a fantastic job at this, and she believes that Nichols School has the right faculty to make this goal happen.

“Black history is American history, and it should be taught 365 days a year,” Cercone said. “It shouldn’t just be big events spread out randomly.”

Cercone’s goal to make Black history visible was echoed in a door decorating contest, one of the activities involved in the Black History Month celebration. Students were tasked with designing doors that educate the community about different aspects of Black history.

“If you walk around and see the doors, you learn Black history,” Cercone said.

To begin their observance of Black History Month, the middle school had guest visitor Zeneta Everhart, the mother of a survivor of the Tops grocery store shooting in 2022.

Other activities included a project in which English teacher Patrick Kruse had students examine the roots of music in the Harlem Renaissance, as well as a presentation highlighting famous Black inventors.

Achatz piloting new studio art, ceramics class over summer

By Nikki Suchak Staff Writer

Summer courses are being offered at Nichols School again this year, including a new “Studio in Ceramics and Three Dimension Space” course taught by middle school arts teacher Kari Achatz.

The class will include an outdoor installation at Silo City for its final project.

This project means that the class will be creating artwork for the real world in a public art opening, which Achatz says is an authentic art experience.

This program runs in the month of June, Monday through Thursday, and it is five hours each day.

The course will fulfill the arts requirement for Nichols students, which means students would not need to take any future arts classes for graduation.

According to Achatz, the new summer program is recommended for someone who likes to work with their hands, and is open to all upper school students.

Achatz plans for the first two weeks of this class to be all about clay. This will include hand building and learning to throw on the wheel.

“After these two weeks, the class will shift gears into learning about objects and shapes, such as premade objects or making objects,” Achatz said.

The class is set to provide students with an opportunity to not only create professional art, but also work with a professional artist - Achatz herself.

In addition to her role as art teacher at Nichols, Achatz is a celebrated visual artist. With two pieces of art both acquired by the Albright Knox, she has also exhibited at The Burchfield Penney Art Center, CEPA Gallery, Czurles-Nelson Gallery, The Tower Gallery and The Lipsey Architecture Center.