Administration

We have just completed the first quarter and have recently begun
the second one. Where has all of the time gone? As we’ve already
pointed out to our students, this new quarter provides a fresh start for
everyone. NPI students are always encouraged to do their very best.
I’m certain that there will be many successes for which we may all
celebrate during the remainder of this semester. Keep up the great
job, sensational scholars!
As we approach the winter months, we encourage our students to
dress for school each day in clothing and jackets/coats with the
predicted forecast in mind. Our students will have outdoor recess on
as many days as the weather conditions and temperatures will allow.
Because of this, we need them to be prepared to enjoy their recess
time in attire conducive to the conditions at hand.
Federal Impact Aid Survey forms have been distributed and one
must be completed please for EACH student. If you haven’t already
done so, please take a few moments to complete this important
paperwork as soon as possible. These forms are essential because our
district receives a substantial amount of federal funding based on the
results of these surveys. Thank you, in advance, for your assistance
with this extremely important matter!
Just as a reminder, all parents/guardians throughout the district
have full access to Parent Portal. This program allows
parents/guardians to access their students’ attendance data, email
teachers directly from the program, and review assignment details
including scores, comments, and current grades available. Paper
copies of report cards are not issued, but instead, this information is
being posted within Parent Portal. This program is an excellent means
for parents/guardians to access important information related to the
educational process and related progress of our students. Usernames
and passwords are required in order to log on to Parent Portal. If your
form containing this information has been misplaced, please request
another copy from one of the NPI Site Secretaries. Parent Portal
serves as a powerful tool in enhancing our home-to-school
connection and communication efforts. We are so thrilled to have this
technological component available to our school and district!
With this season, sheer thankfulness often comes to mind. We, as
Americans and citizens of this wonderful community, have so very
much for which we can truly be thankful. In a few weeks, our nation
will recognize veterans for their service to our country. I would like
to take this special opportunity to extend a heartfelt thank you to our
active-duty military personnel and veterans. There really aren’t
enough words to express my true appreciation for all that you do to
ensure the freedom and safety of all Americans. It is with great pride
that I congratulate all of you for a job well done each and every day
of your service to our awesome country. On Tuesday, November 11,
2025, NPI will honor our family members and friends who are
currently serving in the military or are veterans. We will be hosting
our Veterans Day program at 2:15 p.m. All NPI students and staff are
encouraged to wear red, white, and blue on November 11th to
commemorate the event. I would like to extend a personal invitation
for you to join us for this special recognition event and reception that
will follow.
The week of November 10th – 14th has been designated Celebrate
Freedom Week. Our classes are planning some awesome activities in
which our students will be engaged so that they may better
understand how our nation was founded, what sacrifices have been
made for our freedom, and the meaning behind some of the original
documents in our nation’s history. These studies will greatly enhance
our students’ understanding of our past and who we are today as
Americans.
We have several other special things noted on our November
calendar. Please refer to the NPI November 2025 Calendar you’ve
received or log on to our school website to stay informed about NPI
happenings and events. Make special note that Choctaw-Nicoma Park
Schools will NOT be in session the entire week of November 24-28,
2025.
On a closing note, I want to take this special opportunity to express
to the Nicoma Park Intermediate families my thankfulness for your
support, assistance with the education and development of your
children, and for entrusting them to us. We have an amazing group of
young people with which we have the privilege of working each day.
Please celebrate this month of thankfulness with joy!

"Nothing Gold Can Stay"
Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So, Eden sank to grief,
So, dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
~Robert Frost
Each Fall I am reminded of the poem, Nothing Gold Can
Stay by Robert Frost. There are many interpretations of the
poem, but for me it is the connection to the innocence of
life, the fleeting goodness of this world. Not only because
of the immense imagery of changing seasons, but the
connection to children. Children are green, they are the
assurance of life and gold is the innocence of our children,
hard to hold. It is our job as caretakers of our children to
instill the “Gold” within their hearts, so when the outer
shell grows old, their character stays gold. Teaching our
children reading, writing and arithmetic is important, but is
not most important. Teaching our children to have
compassion for one another, being kind, respecting one
another, and considerate, these are “gold” and hard to hold.
As you watch the leaves fall, remember that with each
passing minute, you have the opportunity to impart
compassion, to love without expectation, be kind when
someone is not, and respect the undeserving.
Stay Gold!