Message to Families

Beloved families,

It has been a difficult week with the recent tragic incident at Ingraham High School. Many of our students have friends and neighbors attending Ingraham, and some may have known the students involved. This event may be very upsetting for your student so I have included resources below that may aid you in discussions with your student, and your student may come down to the Counseling office to talk with their counselor. I want to make note of my appreciation to all of our educators in response to our Shelter-In-Place measures this week for school safety. Your trust through these last few days has been much appreciated.

Today our leadership students attended the IMPACT Safe Schools Conference where they learned about issues in schools for students, with an emphasis on students from different cultures, and strategies to keep their peers safe and healthy. Specifically, our student leaders heard from professionals who work with young people and mental health issues.

Tomorrow, November 11th we do not have school in honor of Veterans Day where we honor our military veterans of our armed forces. When we return from Veterans Day break, we continue our celebration of Native American Heritage Month, where we celebrate the rich histories, diverse cultures and important contributions of our nation’s first people this month in our school and classrooms. Lastly, congratulations to our girls soccer team for becoming academic state champions. This is a very exciting accomplishment, and representative of being an honorable, skillful, thinking, global citizen and student-athlete. Congratulations!

Blood Drive

C895, the radio station at Nathan Hale, and Nathan Hale student leadership are hosting the first blood drive of this school year on Tuesday, November 15th from 8:30am to 3:30pm in the PAC Atrium. All students 16 and older are invited to sign up and reserve a donation time. Students under 18 will need a parent or guardian’s permission. Forms are in the Main Office. Family members are welcome. C895 is partnering with Bloodworks Northwest to pump up the beats and amplify life through the “Music’s In Our Blood” campaign. The goal is to reach 20,000 new and re-engaged blood donors before December 31st. If you can’t give on campus next week, schedule your appointment any time before the end of the year by going to the C89 give blood website. When you get to your appointment, be sure to use the code c895.

Your NHCO at Work in the Community:  Raiders Supporting Raiders!

Monday, November 14th is the last day of our Fall Funds Collection. We are excited to share that a generous NHHS community member has stepped forward to match 40 $25 dollar gift card donations. A donation of $25 becomes a donation of $50! Dollars donated during the Fall Fund Collection will be used to purchase Kroger (QFC/Fred Meyer) gift cards. At the Nathan Hale school counselors’ discretion, these cards will be distributed throughout the school year for food, school supplies, and other immediate needs. Needs have risen this year, and with the generosity of our families and our matching donor, we will be able to provide the immediate support that will make a difference.

Go to the Alliance for Education donation webpage to make a donation to NHCO through the Alliance for Education. For “group”  choose Nathan Hale HS – Community Organization – 02227.  

The NHCO is so grateful for your participation in the effort to provide assistance to our families. For questions, please contact NHCO representative Karen Selboe at NHCOgifts@gmail.com.

Tickets On Sale Now for Fall Play

Nathan Hale Theatre’s fall play, “The Imaginary Invalid” is on its way and you DO NOT want to miss out! Gather friends and family to enjoy an evening of live theatre in Hale’s Performing Arts Center. Online ticket sales are open!! Show performs November 17th -19th. Only 4 performances!!

When you purchase tickets online you also have an opportunity to buy a $10 concession voucher (items cost $1-3/ea). There is also a space to add in a donation to our program in any amount you like. Please support your classmates and the arts here at Hale by attending one – or more! – of our live performances.

The Imaginary Invalid, a comedy in three acts, follows a hypochondriac and his circle of friends, family and doctors in a wonderful whirlwind of fast paced and larger-than-life antics. Performed in the commedia dell’arte style, this play is sure to entertain.

Tickets and info on our Nathan Hale Theatre website

FAFSA Night at Nathan Hale

Thursday, November 17th, 5:00pm – 7:00pm, NHHS Library

The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and all seniors should fill it out to have more opportunities after high school. The FAFSA evening will be held at NHHS to give students and families information about the FAFSA and the process of submitting the application.

Hale Horticulture Winter Open House is coming soon!

Sunday, November 20th, 12:00pm – 2:00pm at the Hale Greenhouse.

Come celebrate the changing seasons & our students’ hard work. We’ll have cookies, cider, house plants, fresh herbs/greens, fruit & dried peppers from the garden and more!!

Red and white student grown poinsettias & handmade wreaths are available online now!! 

Come pick up your reserved plants at our Winter Open House at the Nathan Hale Urban Farm Greenhouse, above Jane Addams parking lot, 113th and 31st NE. See you there!

Seniors: Cap & Gown and Yearbook Photo

Orders are open now for your cap and gown for graduation. Order now and receive the lowest price. Prices go up after Friday, December 9th. To order, go to the Josten’s website. Graduation is scheduled for Tuesday, June 27th on Raider Field

Senior portrait submissions for the yearbook are now being accepted! The deadline to submit senior portraits is January 16, 2023. There will not be a deadline extension so please plan accordingly. Reach out to Mr. Babinec, Yearbook Advisor, at bebabinec@seattleschools.org if you have any questions.

Shelter-in-Place v. Lockdown

Generally, a shelter-in-place is called when we need to keep students and staff safe from dangers within the community such as a hazardous material incident, vague threats or violence in the community that is not directed at the school. Academics are ongoing so students continue with instruction in their classrooms as normal. All external doors are locked. We have also called for a shelter-in-place when a student or staff member has a medical emergency to facilitate emergency personnel getting into and out of the building.

A lockdown is used when there is an immediate threat of violence in or immediately around the school. In a lockdown, all students, staff and visitors go to the nearest room, lock the door, close the windows and provide maximum concealment by closing blinds, curtains, etc. There is no instruction happening during a lockdown.

Should we ever go into a lockdown or shelter-in-place, families may hear from their students that we are taking these measures. After hearing this kind of news, parents may want to call the school to confirm or to check-in, but please, if at all possible, refrain from doing so. Our staff will be directing their focus and energy to securing the building and addressing the situation. Allowing us to have free access to our phone lines ensures we can connect with district staff, emergency personnel, etc. Once we have secured the school and/or have addressed the situation, we will communicate out to our families via SchoolMessenger as we did this week during our shelter-in-place measures.

Attendance Reminders

A reminder to families that students who are 10 minutes late (or more) to class will be marked absent. Also, students who leave class and are gone for 10 minutes or more without an excuse will also be marked absent. Parents/guardians will need to contact the attendance office to excuse those absences.

When you need to dismiss your student early from school, please call the attendance line 206-252-3684 or email halehs.attendance@seattleschools.org as soon as you know.

It is challenging to pull students from their class when informed as you arrive or as you are leaving your home to come to pick up your student. We understand emergency situations happen however most appointments are scheduled in advance so having early notice helps ensure your student will be ready when you come to pick them up. You may also consider requesting them 5 minutes prior to when you hope to depart with your student to allow time for them to leave class and get to your pre-arranged meeting spot outside.

Have a restful long weekend.

With love,

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

Resources for families to aid discussions about the events of this week:

• Talking to children and teens about Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers
• Seattle Police Department Personal Safety Tips
• SPS Coordinated School Health Mental Health Resources

Additionally, Crisis Connections provides a 24-hour crisis line 866-427-4747 or Teen Link 866-833-6546.