Looking Forward

Kelly Jorgensen is wrapping up her 25th year working in College Counseling, her second as the Director of College Counseling at Nichols. She is beginning to see a change in how students and families utilize what her office has to offer. She is also seeing the effect Nichols strategic academic initiatives are playing out for Nichols students in the college landscape.

‘We are starting to see the buy-in from families. They are taking advantage of the SAT and ACT boot camps being offered. We have had to add extra sessions this summer to our College Application Workshop. We are one of the only schools in Western New York with an office where college counselors’ full attention is guiding students and their families through the college process.’

Jorgensen takes great pride in the makeup of the college counseling staff. They are intentionally studentfocused. When asked what that means to her, Jorgensen stated, “We want to meet students where they are. I ask each family to meet together in their junior year so we can discuss what the students’ needs are and what limitations they have.” Each counselor looks at all of the pieces of a student; courses they are taking, clubs and activities in and out of school, athletics, and the arts.

The academic rigor of Nichols and the direction of the curriculum, specifically the type of AP courses being offered, is pivotal in setting Nichols apart from other independent schools. Being a pilot school for the AP African Studies class, the additional Research Scholars opportunities, and an expanding Work of Life program are setting future Nichols students to be competitive in the evolving college landscape. While Nichols students have always had research and writing skills, what we are building academically formalizes the process.

Each senior class brings a new and different energy to the school and sets the tone for the school year. This year’s senior class is different because it has been their first true year of normalcy in school. They were freshmen when the pandemic hit, and their senior year has been the only year without COVID restrictions in place. This has shaped the story of their class. When asked how she would define this class, she said, “They have a big personality, are fun, funny, and committed. They have to handle certain disappointments that other classes have not had. This has been reflected in the college process as well.”

When asked what she hopes for in the next few years, Jorgensen said, “There is still a big focus on building data to help guide families. Using data to support and help guide families when considering where to apply, how many people are getting in, and what scholarships are available. We will also continue to be more involved with students in each grade level. Beginning the conversation early and in an age-appropriate manner can help set Nichols students up for success.” n

Upper School Spring Spirit: We had a blast at our Upper School’s spirit day to end the week! It was filled with exciting activities like face painting, kickball, and tons of fun and games! We loved seeing everyone showing off their school spirit and enjoying the afternoon together.

Nora Williams Platt ’07 visited Ms. Kelley’s advanced acting class. Williams Platt is a professor in the Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies at the University of Essex. Thank you, Nora, for coming back to campus to share your knowledge with our students.

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@NicholsSchool: Accepted Student Day: Congratulations to all of our accepted students! These students are ready to start their Nichols journey next fall!

A-LEG: This morning, our A-LEG group got together for their annual tower challenge. Our A-LEG group combines juniors and eighth graders and will meet regularly to help develop leadership skills. Check out some of the photos from this morning!

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Blood Drive: Today, we hosted ConnectLife on campus to help with our annual blood drive. We had over 35 faculty and students donate today. Thank you to all of the community members who donated blood!