Dr. Kabara’s vision for Nicolet is of a school system where each student has equitable access to the highest quality public education. He believes that collaborative relationships between students, parents, staff, and the community will contribute to excellence for all students. Dr. Kabara is proud of the success Nicolet has achieved in these areas and strives to continue to promote educational equity and foster a school environment of teamwork and acceptance every day.
Dr. Kabara was the Principal of Nicolet High School for six years before being named Superintendent. Prior to joining Nicolet, Dr. Kabara held administrative leadership roles in North Shore schools at the high school and middle school levels. He earned his doctoral degree in Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service from Cardinal Stritch University and holds Master Degrees from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, University of Wisconsin La Crosse as well as a Superintendency Certificate from Cardinal Stritch University.
Dr. Kabara would love to hear from you! He can be reached at (414) 351-7525 and greg.kabara@nicolet.us
Reflecting on past months, I am continually in awe of the Nicolet community’s support and encouragement of one another. Our students, staff and families found unique ways to unite, encourage and inspire through the many challenges brought on by the global coronavirus pandemic. While coronavirus continues to affect our typical way of life, one issue has been affecting our culture for much longer than COVID-19.
Desiring a better world for people of color is not a political issue, just as empathy is not unique to a political party, religion or ideology. It is a human imperative. As a school, and leaders in our own circles of influence, we must denounce racism in all its direct and indirect forms and be relentless in our pursuit of equality to create a better future for our students.
Earlier this month, I shared school resources available in our remote school environment for those struggling with the murder of George Floyd and other wrongful deaths of black and brown people in our nation. As our nation, state and local communities continue working towards positive change, please remember that our strength as a community rests in our ability to have compassion for and support each other. We urge the community to actively listen and reflect, taking steps to understand our own privilege and biases while educating ourselves on racial injustices in our own community.
One of Nicolet’s greatest attributes is its richly diverse student body. It’s our desire to honor each culture’s uniqueness and celebrate the beauty that is created when we are all brought together. Finding immense value in our diversity is an important part of our mission and the goals of our school. I know that Nicolet is not immune to racism, but it will not be tolerated in any form. As a District, we commit to continuing to:
Provide opportunities for students and families to learn from informed perspectives and engage in meaningful conversations about race and equality;
Review and address all policies and practices to improve equity and access in our school system;
Provide dynamic and flexible support systems for all aspects of our students' wellbeing; and
Engage students in the study of literature, history, cultures and perspectives of marginalized communities.
I speak for the entire administration at Nicolet when I say we value the opinion and perspective of each member of our community. Please do not hesitate to reach out to share your thoughts, concerns and ideas for our school. If you seek additional support, The Nicolet Student Services Staff are available as a resource for students and families throughout the summer.
Continue to encourage, support and stand by your fellow Knights. We will succeed as a school, community and world when we intentionally reject racism and inequality.
Happy Public Schools Week!
We are only two months into 2020, but already Nicolet has certainly set a strong pace to end the school year with great memories, excitement, and growth. I love witnessing the Nicolet community’s enthusiastic spirit through student activities, athletic victories, community projects, academic progress, and so much more.
February 24 marks the beginning of National Public Schools Week, a chance to celebrate the great things happening in our nation’s 13,000 plus public schools.
Nicolet is proud to serve the bright, young minds of Glendale, Fox Point, Bayside, and River Hills. This week is an excellent opportunity to show appreciation to those that inspire, fuel, and support our public school district.
I know I’m proud to be the Superintendent of our diverse, hardworking and supportive school community. I’m grateful for Nicolet’s network of educators, faculty and community members that instill countless life lessons and skills and provide thoughtful support for Nicolet students.
This week I invite the Nicolet community to share why you are Nicolet Proud and Public School Proud by:
Sharing a story, friendship, or memory of why you’re #PublicSchoolProud and #NicoletProud on social media. Be sure to tag Nicolet!
Sharing a simple “thank you” to a Nicolet educator, faculty, student, or community member that is making a difference every day in our school system.
Supporting your fellow Knights by attending performances or sporting events, supporting student organizations, joining a committee, or giving back to the community through fundraisers and volunteer opportunities.
I look forward to hearing stories from our community sharing why they’re #PublicSchoolProud and #NicoletProud. As always, if you would like to reach me directly with your thoughts or concerns, please email me at greg.kabara@nicolet.us
Importance of Taking Breaks
As we start the second week of the year at Nicolet and get back into the exciting, fast-paced school year routine, I find myself reflecting on the holiday season with family and friends, a time to be thankful, celebrate and recharge.
Whether it’s winter break, a day off at the end of the quarter, or even a small window between lunch and the next class, these breaks provide a much-needed moment to pause and refresh.
We may take these small windows of time for granted throughout the day, but the successful application of these “breaks” is essential to your well-being as learning, growing and developing high school students. These small breaks are just as important as longer winter or summer vacations.
Research shows us that during breaks, small or large, our brains are not actually resting, but working to process, remember, reflect and plan. Taking a break allows us to stay alert, engaged and excited so that we are recharged from the busy schedules in the classroom and extracurricular activities.
Every break counts. Whether it’s opting for the longer route to your locker, giving the activity in wellness class your all, or walking with friends during the lunch hour, exercise is a great option when you need a break and in addition to the obvious fitness benefits, exercise also boosts your brain health!
My favorite way to take a break is to run. I try to start each day with a run to clear my head. Running helps me to come into each school day energized, focused and ready to take on the day. I encourage you to try a few different things to see what works for you when you need a mental break: meditative breathing, reading a book, drawing or another form of art, listening to music, crossword puzzles, exercise – the possibilities are endless.
This year, remember to take time for yourself. Let’s finish the school year off strong and stay recharged throughout 2020.
So far it has been a great start to the 2019-2020 school year! Our committed teachers work every day to foster a community where students can succeed and that often begins with developing strong student-teacher relationships. Below are four ways Nicolet teachers use to successfully cultivate impactful relationships with their students.
1. Getting to know students
Like fingerprints, no two students are alike. Successful teachers know this and work hard to learn their students as individuals who together make up the class dynamic. Getting to know students doesn’t stop after the first week of school either. Teachers meet with students on a daily basis during resource period to connect with students and advance their learning and create an environment where all students feel supported.
A comprehensive transition program allows teachers to foster core character traits and ensure that all incoming students have the academic, social, and emotional support and skills necessary to be successful at Nicolet.
2. Recognizing students’ efforts
If a student receives a poor grade on a math test then he or she is quick to assume that Math is not a part of his/her skillset. As educators, our job is to support students and remind them that a poor grade is not a fail, but rather a not yet mastered. Every student has the ability to achieve and as teachers we have the power to remind them of that.
3. Encourage positive behavior
Of course, disruptive behavior needs to be communicated, but what about positive behavior? Extraordinary teachers know that in order to foster student-teacher relationships good behavior needs to be complimented just as much, if not more, than negative.
Simple statements such as “It’s great to see everyone here on time today” or “I’m happy to be your teacher” have the power to positively impact students and let them know that their presence in the classroom is appreciated.
4. Seeking out memorable classroom lessons and activities
Many parents have had a teacher or college professor where often class consisted of writing down notes from a PowerPoint presentation with little engagement. When we look back, not only do we remember such classes as not being very entertaining, but it can also be challenging to recall content from the course.
Great teachers know how to make learning fun! Nicolet teachers Megan Lund and Andi Winkle designed an Outdoor Pursuits and Environmental Science (OPES) course for our students. This course blends team building activities, wellness outcomes and science standards in a fun and engaging course. The course maintains rigorous academic standards and allows students to build friendships and meaningful relationships through fun activities such as kayaking and rock climbing.
As always, I would love to talk to any member of the Nicolet community should if there are questions, thoughts, or concerns this year. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at greg.kabara@nicolet.us.
Welcome Back, Students!
The 2019-2020 school year is officially underway! Although the weather the first day was a bit gloomy, the energy inside our doors felt completely the opposite. It has been a great week and a half with students and staff. Their overwhelmingly positive attitudes created a welcoming environment and reinforced what a privilege it is to continue my service to the Nicolet Union High School District and our communities as superintendent.
The Nicolet Union High School learning community is built on a tradition of excellence both in and out of the classroom. Ensuring that we accelerate the achievement of every student in every classroom, every day remains our primary mission. To expand on our successes and continue to grow as a learning community during this school year, we have implemented a number of enhancements and additions to our transition program and our academic supports.
This year, all students will benefit from our student support system Knights Helping Knights, a program that offers every student access to multiple levels of on-demand academic, social-emotional, and organizational support. For our freshman and new students, the transition team has organized and planned an ongoing series of supports, including a restructured freshman advisory group, freshman guided study hall, and a new freshman support team.
As we enter a new school year with new leadership, I look forward to building on and expanding our relationships and partnerships with the communities that support Nicolet High School. Our community leaders have been welcoming and eager to engage in partnerships with Nicolet. Building these partnerships with our communities will encourage civic engagement as well as support and strengthen the learning opportunities for our students.
I look forward to an exceptional 2019-2020 school year!
As always, I would love to talk to you should you have any questions, thoughts, or concerns this year. I can be reached at greg.kabara@nicolet.us
