Nathan Hale High School

Nathan Hale
High School
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Nathan Hale High School/About/Incoming Families and Students

Incoming Families and Students

Welcome to Nathan Hale High School!

Ensuring ALL students become honorable, skillful, thinking, global citizens

School Info Night Presentation

Registration, Assignment, Open Enrollment, and Transition

Open Enrollment and Assignment

All families will find school assignment information on the SPS Enrollment website in late April.

Families who submit a choice application during Open Enrollment will either be assigned to the school of their choice or will be placed on waitlist for their requested school.

After Students are Enrolled at Nathan Hale

Information from Nathan Hale High School will be emailed and mailed to homes in April:

  • Welcome letter
  • Invitation to June New Family Evening
  • Raider Day information
  • Course Option Request Sheet listing courses
  • Directions and the link for submitting Course Requests online

Incoming students will submit their course requests online in April. Schedules will be available to view on The Source before school starts.

Nathan Hale is a place to do what you love and try something new!

Urban Farm

  • Horticulture
  • Plant Science
  • Farm to Table with Culinary Arts

Robotics Team – Robo Raiders

Robo Raiders sign
Student working at ta computer
Female student working on a robot
Robo Raiders at a Robot competition

Theatre

Theatre Courses Offered:

  • Beginning Theatre: Play games, study characters, & learn how to perform!
  • Advanced Theatre: Expand on Beginning Theatre skills plus learn new ones like comedic scene work and stage combat!
  • Technical Theatre: Use sketching, painting, crafting, and digital media to learn how to design for theatre – this class is all design – no performing necessary!

Other ways to get involved in Theatre at Hale:

  • Drama Club: build community through games, performances, and student organized events!
  • After School Productions:
  • Fall Play: Performs in November
  • Spring Musical: Performs in May

Music Ensembles

  • Concert Choir
  • Concert Orchestra
  • Symphonic Band
  • Percussion Ensemble

Auditioned Ensembles (zero period):

  • Jazz Band
  • Vocal Jazz

Vocal Jazz – grab that mic and sing!

  • Jazz musician Herbie Hancock said, “The spirit of Jazz is the spirit of openness.” Through improvisation you discover who you are, through swing you discover how to work with others while being yourself.
  • Vocal Jazz is an ensemble of singers and instrumentalists who perform not only Jazz but Funk, R and B, Blues and Soul music.
  • If you want to start you days rock ‘in, then grab your mic and make some fabulous noise with us in Vocal Jazz.
  • Vocal Jazz has many opportunities to perform at various Jazz Festivals, Gigs  and Concerts throughout the year.
  • We are also called the Breakfast Club because we rehearse before school and on many occasions have pancakes together.

Concert Choir – Everyone is Welcome

Ella Fitzgerald said, “The only thing better than singing is more singing.” This is 100% true as singing in a group is scientifically proven to relieve stress, create community and inspire joy. So, why not do this every day?

  • The Nathan Hale Concert Choir is a community of singers who rehearse daily and perform a wide range of musical styles.
  • Concert Choir performs at Music Festivals, Concerts, Local Gigs and School Events.
  • Develop your voice, unleash your inner creativity, spread some joy and find your people in Concert Choir.

More Music Electives

  • Guitar Lab – Learn to play guitar
  • Music Survey – Learn the history of hip hop
  • Piano Lab – Learn to play piano

Music Survey Black Lives in Music

Music Survey –  In Black Lives in Music students experience the heartbeat of Seattle’s music scene while diving deep into the roots of hip-hop culture.

  • In this one semester class students partner with Seattle artists, art organizations and musicians as they take a deep dive into the long lineage which gave birth to hip-hop.
  • Our collaborative work  is created through fieldtrips, workshops and clinics.
  • Some of our partnerships include:
    • Yanvalou Drum School – Haitian/ West African Drum Clinic
    • Seattle Opera Building Community – Spirituals Workshops
    • KEXP- Where The Music Matters – 90.3
      Douglas Martin-Hip Hop DJ Podcast workshop with Martin Douglas – Creator of Black Constellation-Black Seattle Artist Collective
    • Rhapsody Project – Blues Singing and Guitar Workshop

Digital Media Studies at the Radio Station

Open to 9-12th grade students!

  • Digital Media 1 (CTE , no-prereqs) Podcasting, Music Industry, Social Media
  • Digital Media 2 (CTE; Prereq: Dig Media 1) Audio Production, Content Creation
  • Digital Media 3 (CTE; Prereq: Dig Media 2)Talent Development, Show Production
  • Digital Media 4 (CTE; Prereq: Dig Media 3)  Music Selection, Promotions & Marketing

World Language 

How many credits do I need to attend a four-year college?
2-4 years required! UW wants 3 years or more!

How many credits do I need in the same language?
Your WL credits should be consecutive years in the same language

What do I sign up for?

  • Spanish 1 > Spanish 2 > Spanish 3 > Spanish 4 or AP
  • Japanese 1 or 121 > Japanese 2 or 122 > Japanese 123 (Earn 5 college credits for each Japanese class with these College in the High School courses!)
  • French 3 > French 4 > French 5 Independent Study

How does the WL Proficiency test help me?
You can receive up to 4 HS credits in the language from testing and will be qualified to receive state or global Seals of Biliteracy. You are required to be able to speak, read, listen and write in another language. HS credits earned will give you credentials for college applications.

CTE Pathways at Nathan Hale

  • Culinary Arts
  • Radio/Digital Media
  • Career Connect
  • Medical Careers
  • Media Arts
  • C89.5 Radio
  • Psychology/Health
  • Computer Science
  • Medical Careers
  • Horticulture

Pathway Example: CTE Health Science

9th and 10th Grades

  • Intro to Medical Careers: 0.5 credit
  • Anatomy and Physiology 1.0 credit

11th and 12th Grades

  • Anatomy and Physiology 1.0 credit
  • Systems Medicine 1.0 credits

Food Truck Project in Culinary Arts

Students design their concept, fabricate their food truck, design the menu and prepare their menu items.

Athletics

Over half of our students participate!

  • Fall Sports – Girls Soccer, Cross Country, Golf, Football, Girls Volleyball, Girls Swim & Dive, Girls Slowpitch Softball, Boys Ultimate Frisbee (Club)
  • Winter Sports – Gymnastics, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Boys Swim & Dive, Wrestling, Bowling, Flag Football, Competitive Cheerleading
  • Spring Sports – Baseball, Boys Soccer, Girls Fastpitch Softball, Tennis, Track & Field, Lacrosse (Club), Girls Ultimate Frisbee (Club) 

Learn more about Nathan Hale Athletics

Graphic of fall sports includes a person running cross country, a golf course, a slowpitch softball, a swimmer, a football, a soccer ball, and a volleyball
Graphic of winter sports includes a swimmer, a gymnast, wrestlers, a bowling ball and pin, and a basketball hoop
Graphic of spring sports includes a baseball and bat, a soccer ball, a fastpitch softball, a person running in track and field, and a tennis racket

Features of Ninth Grade at NHHS

  • Ninth Grade Mentorships
  • Wednesday All-Ninth Grade Orientation Meetings led by student leaders
  • Cohort of peers to get to know well

Classes at Nathan Hale

9th Grade Classes

  • Language Arts 9 A & B *
  • World History I & II *
  • Physics A & Chemistry A *
  • Math *   
  • Family Health/Personal Fitness
  • Electives

* Honors designation available

10th-12th Grade Classes

All 10th graders take Humanities

  • World Literature
  • Word History

All 11th graders take College in the High School (CIHS) courses:

  • ENG101  (English)
  • USHIST 147 & USHIST 148 (US History)

All 12th graders take

  • Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature
  • POL 101- American Government

Math Classes

Ninth graders take the next math class following their (eighth grade) math class in this sequence:

  • Eighth Grade Math > Algebra I
  • Algebra I > Geometry
  • Geometry > Algebra II
  • Algebra II > Pre-Calculus
  • Pre-Calculus > AP Calculus or AP Statistics

IEP & ELL Services – Students in Grades 9-12

Support is provided by:

  • Grade Level and Program IEP Specialists
  • ELL Specialists
  • Bilingual and IEP Instructional Assistants

IEP and ELL goals are met in:

  • General Education Classes- through inclusion support models such as co-teaching and collaborative planning
  • Study Skills and ELD Classes- provide specially designed instruction through the general education curriculum in addition to support with coursework choices and curriculum in preparation for graduation and a successful transition to life beyond high school.

College in High School (CIHS) Courses Offered at Nathan Hale

  • MATH 151 – Calculus
  • USHIST 147* & 148* – US History
  • ENGL 101* – English Composition
  • POL 101* – American Government
  • ECON 120 – Economics
  • BUS 130 – Financial Algebra
  • JAPN 121,122 & 123 – Japanese

The college course titles appear on the high school transcript. For a college transcript, students register with the college.   The tuition is paid for by Washington State.

* All NHHS Juniors and Seniors are enrolled in these CIHS courses.

Advanced Placement (AP) at Nathan Hale

  • AP Statistics
  • AP Environmental Science
  • AP Computer Science
  • AP Computer Science Principles
  • AP Japanese Language
  • AP Spanish Language
  • AP English Literature  (all 12th grade students)

Running Start

Juniors and seniors may take college courses at one of the Seattle Colleges either part – time or full – time.

Interested students attend Running Start information sessions both at Nathan Hale and at North Seattle College in the spring of sophomore year.

SPS Skills Center

Skills Center Classes 10th-12th grade

  • Teaching Academy: Careers in Education (Franklin High School)   
  • Medical Assisting (Lincoln High School)  
  • Advanced Manufacturing: Aerospace and Maritime (Rainier Beach High School)  
  • Automotive Technology (West Seattle High School or Washington Middle School Skills Center Building) 
  • Construction Trades (Rainier Beach High School) 
  • Fire Fighting and Emergency Medical Services (Washington Middle School Skills Center Building) 
  • Maritime Vessel Operations (Center for Wooden Boats and Seattle Maritime Academy, Seattle Colleges) 
  • Media Arts: Creating for Social Media (NOVA High School)  
  • Nursing Assisting (Franklin High School) 
  • Video Game Design (NOVA High School)

Summer Skills Center Incoming 9th graders – 12

  • Great opportunity for incoming 9th graders to earn high school credit
  • Check SPS Skills Center website in the spring to see details

Upcoming All School Events

For more information about upcoming events:

How does Nathan Hale communicate with students and families?

How Students and Parents/Guardians Connect

How Students Connect

At Hale, We Encourage Connections for Students. Students connect with school & each other through:

  • Ninth Grade Cohorts
  • Activities
  • Clubs
  • Athletics
  • Community involvement
  • Strong, positive relationships with peers and staff

How Parents/Guardians Connect

At Hale, We Encourage Connections for Parents & Guardians. Parents & Guardians connect with school & each other through:

  • NHHS-CO (formerly PTSA)
  • Nathan Hale Foundation events
  • Sports Boosters
  • Music Boosters
  • Theatre Boosters
  • Friends of NHHS Urban Farm
  • Volunteer opportunities
  • Representation on Senate, our building leadership team

Questions?

Ambyr Burrell, Lower House Administrator, alburrell@seattleschols.org