Happy Friday,

Today as the dismissal bell rang and students started walking out the door, the fire alarm was accidently hit sounding the fire alarm. Students and staff evacuated the building per the fire alarm protocol. Sorry for any inconvenience or worry it may have caused students and families at the end of the school day before a much-needed break. I appreciated everyone taking the alarm seriously and exiting the building in a timely manner until cleared to reenter the building by the fire department. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact school administration.

Now it is time to jump into the joy of our SPS Winter Break: December 22 – January 2, 2026. Students should return to school on Monday, January 5, 2026. School will start at 8:50am. We look forward to seeing students ready to finish the first semester strong. We have only 16 days until semester one ends on January 27th. I encourage all families to take a moment during break to talk with your student about their grades and academic standing to ensure they finish the semester strong. If they have missing work or incomplete projects, I highly encourage students to get their assignments finished before we return from the break. Semester 1 finals schedule will run from Friday, January 23rd through Tuesday, January 27th. Our finals schedule is posted on our website calendar.

This week we had so many awesome things to celebrate. Our BSU (Black Student Union) Club collected and delivered over 200 pairs of socks to Maple Leaf Village afterschool one day. Our Thrift Club held a clothing swap in the Commons and it sure was a hit! I love seeing our students care about the community, environment and climate change.

The Staff v. Student Floor Hockey game during our Winter Spirit week was intense. The students sure tried to muscle the staff, but we were not having it. They scored more points, but we made the goals when it counted. I believe I made the first 3 goals for staff, and students went wild. We are so fortunate at Hale to have great staff who help make things happen with and for students. We are Hale.

The NH Holiday Extravaganza was heartfelt. The Hale school community stepped up for students of families in need before the holidays. We had a little under 200 students receive a gift of gratitude for either themselves or family member of their choice. We could not do it without each other. I appreciate our community and parent volunteers who helped make the Extravaganza happen at Hale. Students truly enjoyed the variety of gift options as they cherished the sentiment and spirit of the holiday season.

Senior parents – I hope you have been receiving messages from the school regarding Senior Business. Caps and gowns should be ordered. Make sure your student’s cap and gown are ordered. SPS released the graduation dates last week. Nathan Hale Class of 2026 will graduate on June 10, 2026, at 7:30pm on Raider Field. Please look for the Senior Spree information on the website to ensure your student does not miss the after-graduation festivities (this is a parent coordinated event and not school sponsored).  

During the break the NHHS building, main office and campus will be closed. It will open on January 5th around 7:00am. There may be some athletic team practices happening in the gym or weight room over the break. Students who participate in a Winter Sport should follow their schedule shared on the Metro League website.

When we return from the break I will begin the master scheduling process for Nathan Hale for the next school year. I look forward to our continued work around our master schedule to ensure students have a comprehensive high school experience that meets their daily needs at each grade level.

Have a great Winter Break! Be safe out there and see you in January!

In Partnership,

Ms. Jolene Grimes
Proud Principal