Beloved Families,

As you may have noticed, I have been in communication with you more than usual today. The recent incidents of Seattle Public School students being robbed while walking around their community and today’s shelter-in-place as a result of police activity outside our school campus have the potential to unsettle your student’s feelings of safety and security. I have included information again regarding measures students and families should be aware of when traveling to and from school. If your student needs to talk with someone, they may make an appointment to see their counselor. Our counselor contact information and links to schedule an appointment may be found on the Nathan Hale Counseling Office webpage.

School, Community, and District Safety

There have been several reports to the Seattle Police Department (SPD) about incidents involving Seattle Public Schools (SPS) students who have been accosted or mugged while walking in the community.

These incidents and those involving gun violence in our larger metro community have understandably raised concerns. While these incidents did not occur on SPS campuses, our school and district staff take the safety of our students and school staff very seriously.

We encourage you to talk with your family about personal safety. Here are some resources that may be useful for these conversations:

• If you see or experience a crime, call 911 immediately.
• Stay alert to your surroundings. Always plan your route. 
• Avoid uninhabited locations. Stick to well-lit areas.
• Avoid going into “automatic pilot” when walking or riding the bus. Consider putting away cell phones while walking. 
• Develop a plan before you see trouble.
  • Crossing a street or entering a store may get you out of a potentially bad situation. 
  • If a car follows you or beckons you while you are walking, do not approach it. Instead, turn and quickly walk in the opposite direction. 
• Consider wearing clothing and shoes that allow you to move freely and quickly, especially when walking or waiting for the bus. Make sure all electronic gear is out of sight, and jewelry is worn discreetly.

Community Resources

• SPD North Precinct
• SPS Safety and Security Personal Safety for Children and Families
• Talking with Children About Violence
• Car Prowl Prevention 

We all play a role in our community and school campus safety.

The SPD has requested anyone with information about the SPD cases related to student safety in the community to please call the Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000.

You can use the SPS Safe Schools Hotline at 206-252-0510 to report any threats to SPS campus. This phone number is managed year-round, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Halloween Décor

With Halloween coming up, there are a few things I would like you to keep in mind when celebrating and choosing costumes that will be worn at school. This is important to us so we can continue to de-normalize cultural appropriation, ensure our community feels respected, and raise awareness that every community – including the Hale community – can be more inclusive. During these times, it is important to shed light on the injustices and how cultural appropriation and stereotyping against many minoritized communities continue to be normalized. This Halloween we want to make sure that people recognize the difference between appropriation and appreciation: 

• Appropriation is taking something sacred to people, not doing research, and taking cultural elements for your benefit when you don’t have to deal with the drawbacks (oppression and discrimination) that people face within a culture.   
• Appreciation is knowing the history behind things, being educated, and appreciating it from afar. But if there is a sacred practice, steer away from participating in it, instead educate yourself from it. 

Here are some questions to ask yourself and consider when choosing a costume: 

• Does the costume make you feel uncomfortable?  
• What makes you want to wear it/Why are you dressing up as — ?  
• Are you appropriating or are you appreciating?  
• Is your costume based off a culture, and if it is do you know the background behind the culture?  
• Do you understand what costume you’re putting on or are you wearing a stereotype? 

AP Exam Registration Deadline – Wed, 11/1

The Nathan Hale deadline to register for Advanced Placement exams is Wednesday, November 1st. Please register and submit AP Test fees by this date. Register for the AP test..

Submit payment for registered tests. If your student qualifies for Free and Reduced Lunch, there is a substantial discount. Online and paper application form for Free and Reduced Lunch may be found on the district School Meals website.

Daily Bulletin

There are many events and items of interest that get posted in our Daily Bulletin. This is where students can read about upcoming world language testing, college visits, fundraisers, College Possible, student-coordinated blood drive, ski bus, etc. Highlights from the bulletin are read daily over our school intercom and the bulletin is posted in the Main Office each day. You can receive it in your email inbox daily. Sign up on the Hale Mail webpage.

The bulletin is also posted on the Daily Bulletin webpage on the Nathan Hale website.

Flu & COVID Vaccine Clinics

The last clinic offered here at Nathan Hale will be on Sunday, 11/5. Go to the district vaccine clinic webpage for times, to schedule an appointment, and see other locations where clinics will be offered.

I hope your weekend is restful as you enjoy the fall weather.

Much love,

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