Reminder: check school email and countdown calendar

Current and Upcoming Items

FAFSA Night – Thursday, 11/14/2024

In the Nathan Hale Library from 6-7:30pm hosted by Seattle Promise Outreach Specialist from Seattle Colleges, Aurelio Valdez-Barajas.

Seniors, please check your school mail regularly. This is how we will communicate with you. You don’t want to miss important graduation information, dates and deadlines, and details of senior events. Also, check out the Senior Countdown Calendar for upcoming dates. This will be updated with dates and times as it gets confirmed.

Senior Meeting – Wednesday, 11/20

All seniors should plan on attending the Senior Meeting planned for Wednesday, 11/20 during the second half of Mentorship. At this meeting, seniors will hear a presentation from our cap and gown vendor, National Achievers, about how to order their cap and gown, the due date, cost, etc.

Cap and Gown Ordering – Due mid-December

To order caps and gowns for graduation, go to the Nathan Hale Raiders website. (website link to be updated after Senior Meeting on 11/13). Cap and gown orders will be distributed to seniors in the spring, closer to graduation. Orders need to be placed before December deadline to ensure your student’s size gown/cap is available.

• Deadline to order cap and gowns is mid-December (date to be announced)
• You may purchase cap, gown, stole and tassel only
• You may a cap and gown from a sibling or friend from previous years. You WILL need to order the stole and tassel.
• Is it stressful and expensive when you are trying to order your cap and gown in the spring to have it by graduation? YES!! Please plan to order by the deadline.

FAFSA / WASFA Update

The 2025-26 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) will not be available until December 2024. The WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) will also be delayed until the FAFSA opens. Applications usually open October 1 of a student’s senior year, but this major shift in the college planning process occurred last school year as well.

FAFSA/WASFA Drop-In Help – Sometime in January 2025?

The Lake City Branch Library typically provides an evening in January when high school seniors and their parents/guardians can work on completing college financial aid forms online, receive assistance, and ask questions.

Last year, students were told to bring:

• If under age 24, their parent/guardian, if available
• Laptop (or they will have several laptops available for use)
• Social Security number or card, or alien registration card (if not a US citizen)
• Driver’s license or state identification card
• Any income information, a W-2 or pay stub, and a copy of last filed student tax return or bank statements
• FSA ID (if you have one)

Last year, parents/guardians were told to bring:

• Social Security number or card, or alien registration (if not a US citizen)
• Driver’s license or state identification card
• Financial information, W-2 forms, a copy of last filed tax return, and other records of any money earned in 2022
• Any additional financial information, such as child support statements, TANF or benefits information, or family business information

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Past Items

School Day SAT – Tuesday, 10/29/2024

Date: October 29th
Time: 8:50am to 12:05pm
Location: Mentorship Class (for most seniors). Those without a Mentorship Class or in an affinity group Mentorship will be assigned to a class to take the test.
Who: Seniors 

Materials Required (Before Test):  

• Digital Readiness-tested SPS/district laptop that is fully charged.
• Recommended: Snacks and Water 

The SAT will be given to seniors at Nathan Hale, free of charge, on Tuesday, October 29th. No registration is required. Students are encouraged to arrive by 8:30am. The SAT covers reading, writing and math. SAT scores demonstrate students are prepared for college with necessary skills and knowledge. Additionally, the SAT can be used as a substitute graduation requirement if a student doesn’t meet passing scores on Smarter Balanced assessments in ELA or math. 

Students will need to bring their digital readiness-tested district laptop. They may not use their phone as a calculator. It’s important that everyone be on time because no one will be admitted after the test begins. These exams are three hours long. Students should bring their own full water bottle. As always, when taking an important test, students should be sure to get a good night’s sleep and have a healthy breakfast.  

Links to practice test is available on the Nathan Hale Assessments webpage. Exam scores can be used for college admission.