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International Day of Education: Investing in the Future of Students
By Dr. Dan Applegate, NCS Superintendent Ten years from now, our students will be in a completely different place in life. Our kindergarteners who began ...
Dan Applegate, Author at Leader Publications
columnist
The End of 2022: Looking Ahead to the New Year
With the calendar year coming to a close, we look back at Niles Community Schools’ 2022 accomplishments with pride, while also eagerly anticipating all to ...
by Dan Applegate, Saturday, December 24, 2022 7:07 am
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APPLEGATE: Extracurriculars can help students build new skills and gain experiences
It’s hard to believe that we are already at the start of the school year. While we have all taken the summer to enjoy our ...
by Dan Applegate, Wednesday, August 31, 2022 12:00 pm
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APPLEGATE: Changes in NHS leadership bring opportunities for reflection, excitement for the future
The past two years have proven how important our educators are when it comes to the academic, emotional and social wellbeing of our children. At ...
by Dan Applegate, Friday, January 7, 2022 2:29 pm
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APPLEGATE: Niles Community Schools gives thanks to school community, partners
As the weather cools and the days become shorter, we know that winter is nearly upon us. With it, comes the holiday season and an ...
by Dan Applegate, Wednesday, December 1, 2021 12:34 pm
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APPLEGATE: Niles Community Schools district welcomes back students and families
The first day of school is only a few days away, Tuesday, August 31, and the teachers and staff at Niles Community Schools cannot wait ...
by Dan Applegate, Monday, August 30, 2021 9:26 am
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APPLEGATE: One month until the first day of school for Niles students
The first day of school brings an unmatched level of excitement and anticipation every year. I always look forward to seeing students’ smiling faces as ...
by Dan Applegate, Friday, July 30, 2021 1:24 pm
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APPLEGATE: Summer programming for Niles children
Learning is a year-round and lifetime commitment, and while the summer months are often filled with relaxation, spending time with friends and enjoying the great ...
by Dan Applegate, Saturday, May 22, 2021 8:31 am
Columns
APPLEGATE: Reflecting on the past year and a bright future
One year ago, schools across the country scrambled to create new learning plans for what was, at the time, a completely new and unforeseen challenge. ...
by Dan Applegate, Saturday, March 27, 2021 7:17 am
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APPLEGATE: Building a family-school relationship
There has never been a more important time for school districts — including teachers, principals, counseling staff and administrators — to have strong relationships with ...
by Dan Applegate, Saturday, March 13, 2021 7:00 am
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APPLEGATE: Social emotional learning amid a pandemic
Working alongside families, educators help in building a foundation for their students so that they can grow academically, socially and emotionally. With growing concerns for ...
by Dan Applegate, Saturday, January 30, 2021 7:00 am
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APPLEGATE: Niles Community Schools thanks the community for its ongoing support
Around this time every year, we are all encouraged to reflect on what we are thankful for. While we always have an appreciation for our ...
by Dan Applegate, Wednesday, November 25, 2020 8:51 am
Columns
APPLEGATE: Protecting students’ mental health in trying times
Across the country, there have been many reports of a growing mental health crisis as children struggle with the added stresses of the coronavirus pandemic. ...
by Dan Applegate, Wednesday, October 28, 2020 9:09 am
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APPLEGATE: Niles schools return for the 2020-21 school year
With the 2020-21 school year underway, we are seeing the plans that the Niles Community Schools teachers, staff and administrators worked so hard on come ...
by Dan Applegate, Wednesday, September 23, 2020 12:00 pm
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APPLEGATE: Niles Community Schools readies for the school year
Throughout the summer, Niles Community Schools teachers, staff and administrators have been working tirelessly to prepare for a safe return to the 2020-21 school year, ...
by Dan Applegate, Wednesday, August 26, 2020 9:16 am
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APPLEGATE: Moving forward with the return to school plan
Schools around the country are hard at work creating return to school plans and roadmaps to ensure that they can safely provide for their students ...
by Dan Applegate, Wednesday, July 22, 2020 11:00 am
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APPLEGATE: Schools continue to plan for the 2020-21 school year
Despite ever-changing information, schools around the country are hard at work planning for the 2020-21 school year even with the uncertain impact of COVID-19 in ...
by Dan Applegate, Wednesday, May 27, 2020 11:00 am
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APPLEGATE: Distance learning moves forward at Niles Community Schools
These times are unlike any other, but they will not define us. As COVID-19 continues to have devastating effects in our community and around the ...
by Dan Applegate, Wednesday, April 22, 2020 9:02 am
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APPLEGATE: Isolated together: Communities stand strong amid coronavirus closure
Before the realities of the coronavirus and its effects on Michigan schools had fully taken shape, school superintendents throughout Berrien County began working together to ...
by Dan Applegate, Wednesday, April 8, 2020 8:21 am
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APPLEGATE: Community appreciation during the coronavirus shutdown
With the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) causing the governor to close schools and restrict gathering at restaurants and public facilities, we are in ...
by Dan Applegate, Saturday, March 21, 2020 8:55 am
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APPLEGATE: Berrien County advocates for pre-Labor Day school start
Berrien County has applied for a waiver that could allow local school districts to start before Labor Day next year. Due to the large number ...
by Dan Applegate, Monday, February 24, 2020 8:43 am
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APPLEGATE: Safe ways to share the road with school buses
Niles Community Schools is committed to student safety in every sense of the phrase. With winter weather causing hazardous driving conditions throughout Michigan, now is ...
by Dan Applegate, Monday, January 27, 2020 8:48 am
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APPLEGATE: Supporting the well-being of our students
The holiday season can be a joyful time for many, but that’s not the case for all students and families. The added stress of holiday ...
by Dan Applegate, Monday, December 23, 2019 8:43 am
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APPLEGATE: Niles Community Schools appreciates local charities
With the holidays on the horizon, I am humbled and grateful to many community organizations who have reached out to partner with Niles Community Schools. ...
by Dan Applegate, Monday, November 25, 2019 8:25 am
Columns
APPLEGATE: Vikings excited to join BCS League
Earlier this month, Niles Community Schools accepted an invitation to join the Berrien-Cass-St. Joseph League as our high school athletic conference. We are thrilled to ...
