Nathan Hale Friday 6/14 Message to Families

Beloved Families,

Before our final week of school, I want to share my appreciation to all of you, our community. I want you to know that Nathan Hale is really the most amazing job in the world. Serving as principal and assistant principal for Nathan Hale has been amazing. I have had a chance over my time to have a mentorship of all Black male students focusing on identity and empowerment; I have held staff enrichment overnights to focus on healing, care, and justice; I have had meetings at staff members homes to party after a tough school year; I have had family and community members turn into educational leaders in our school; and most important, I have been part of the many changes that have turned my once partnerships with educators into lifelong friendships. I am forever grateful.

As I close this appreciation, I do want to share also that I have had an opportunity to work closely with interim principal, Ms. Jolene Grimes-Edwards, for years in the past. When I was an emerging as a leader at Nathan Hale, she was there to support me and welcome me into our beloved community. I am confident that she will hold our community with care, joy and love, and through this transition, I ask that you wrap your arms and heart around her as you wrapped your arms and heart around me. Please consider me part of our forever beloved community. With love, and deep appreciation.

Bio of Mrs. Edwards, Interim Principal, & Brief Greeting

Mrs. Jolene Grimes Edwards is a proud member of the Makah Tribe and the Tom and Hazel Parker family of Neah Bay, WA. Mrs. Edwards has two beautiful children, Zia-Daye (15) and Delvon Anderson (12). Her husband, Antonio Edwards, retired after playing 8 years in the NFL and currently loves being a train conductor at Amtrak. They have one dog: King. When Mrs. Edwards does not run her children all over the city, she enjoys camping, fishing, beading, spending time near the water and being around her family and friends. 

Mrs. Edwards is currently a principal in the Northshore School District. Prior to her roles in NSD, She was a principal at Neah Bay Jr./Sr. High and Markishtum Middle School in the Cape Flattery School District, after leaving Nathan Hale and the Seattle Public Schools before the pandemic. Mrs. Edwards has dedicated much of her professional career to serving in SPS at Madrona K-8, Wing Luke Elementary, Pathfinder K-8, Madison Middle School and Nathan Hale High School.

From Mrs. Edwards: There is not a better place to be than in Seattle – serving a community you love and care about to ensure all students become honorable, skillful, thinking global citizens who positively contribute to their school and local community. It is an honor to come back home to Hale as the interim principal. I look forward to being in community with students, staff, families and all NHHS stakeholders to develop a strong partnership and community so all students and staff feel welcomed, safe and valued. I plan to start transitioning to Nathan Hale after June 21st. I can be contacted at jmgrimes@seattleschools.org. Have a great summer.

End of Year Laptop Returns

All student laptops must be returned at the end of the school year. Students in grades 9-11 will return their laptops in their Mentorship class during finals week. The last day to return laptops is Friday, June 21st. Over the summer, all SPS laptops will be updated to the Windows 11 operating system. Laptops that are kept over the summer will not be updated and will not work in the Fall. Students should return both their laptop and their charger. Please direct questions about laptop return to our librarian, Dana West. Students can stop by the library and speak to Ms. West or email her at dgwest1@seattleschools.org.

Juneteenth Celebration, Tuesday, June 18th

As the school year comes to an end and we get ready for finals week, we’re excited to celebrate Juneteenth! Juneteenth commemorates the day on June 19, 1865, when enslaved African Americans in Texas finally learned of their freedom, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued. This day symbolizes the end of slavery in the United States and highlights the enduring struggle for freedom and equality. We’re excited to have a fun and relaxed event during lunch on Tuesday, June 18th for students at Hale! A popsicle and music celebration! Students are encouraged to come to Benson Forum and have a popsicle and listen to music and have fun! It’s a perfect way for students to unwind and enjoy some downtime amidst the busy final schedule. It’s a chance to come together, honor the resilience of our ancestors, and enjoy some well-deserved fun. 

Bell Schedule for the Last Week of School

Next week, grades 9-11 will be observing a different bell schedule due to finals for semester 2 on Monday, June 17th, Tuesday, June 18th and Thursday, June 20th. Also, on Friday, June 21st, we will observe a special schedule as the last day of school. These schedules are on our Nathan Hale calendar. There is no school on Wednesday, June 19th in honor of Juneteenth.

Seniors’ Last Day – Friday, June 14th

Today was the last day for our seniors and they were able to celebrate with an Ice Cream Social (hosted by NHCO) in the Commons along with a countdown for their last few seconds of school. All seniors should plan on attending graduation rehearsal on Tuesday, June 18th at 10:00AM on our field. This is required as there are important aspects to the ceremony that will be covered at this time. The graduation ceremony will be later in the evening at 8:00PM. Entry for guests by ticket only.

Save the Date – For Returning Families and Incoming Families

Raider Day is scheduled for Tuesday, September 3rd, the day before the first day of school in the fall. This will be one of two dates next school year when Yuen Lui photographers will be on site to take portraits for the yearbook and student ID cards (and for families to purchase, if they choose). All students should plan on taking a photo on Raider Day to ensure they get their ID cards about a week after photos are taken. Raider Day is also when students get their final schedule, pick-up their district laptop, 9th grade students get their locker, pay their fees including purchasing a yearbook and ASB card (among other things). Arrival times for Raider Day are staggered over the course of the morning. More information will be posted on the Nathan Hale website and will be emailed out to families in late August once details are confirmed.

Volunteer Opportunity

This is a future date – collating of start of school packets on the first day of school, Wednesday, September 4th in the morning, time to be announced.

For those interested in volunteering in any Seattle Public School, including Nathan Hale, or for school-sponsored events, the district has an application process which includes a background check. For new volunteers (who have never volunteered with a Seattle Public school previously) or returning volunteers, please follow instructions on the district Volunteer Application webpage. Once cleared to volunteer, please sign-in at the Main Office before heading to your volunteer location in the building. You will be asked to provide your photo ID the first time you sign in to volunteer. If you have questions about the volunteer process or would like to confirm your volunteer status, please email Rae Keyes at rkkeyes@seattleschools.org in the Main Office.

One more week of school in the 2023-2024 school year! Please look for any Hale materials that need to be returned so that your student doesn’t accrue fines that may show up next year. Have a great weekend!

Much love,

William Jackson, Ed.D. (he,him)
Principal
Nathan Hale High School