Friday 12/8 Message to Families

Beloved Families,

I hope you had a great week and are excited for our final school week of 2023! This past Friday, our Nathan Hale Instrumental Music Ensemble performed an eclectic program featuring the Concert Orchestra, Jazz Band and Symphonic Band in front of a full house. Thank you Ms. Katrina Sibicky for your hard work in leading our Vocal Jazz and Concert Choir!

We are proud to announce that our student, Abel, has won a scholarship award from the 2023 Payback Challenge from Next Generation Personal Finance! The original lesson was completed in Mr. Jed Zutz’s Business 130 Financial Algebra course, where students had an opportunity to apply for this scholarship after they completed a college cost simulation challenge, Payback, featured in the New York Times. Abel’s entry was selected from over 850 Payback Challenge submissions this year, which includes scholarship funds that can be used for any educational or career pursuit after graduation. Congratulations, Abel!

To all of our Jewish families celebrating Hanukkah, Happy Hanukkah! We hope your celebration from yesterday through next Friday, December 15th is filled with family, loved ones, and joy.

As a reminder, we have a one hour early release at 2:40pm next Friday, December 15th, followed by Winter Break, December 18th — January 1st. Our bell schedule for next Friday is included below.

Winter Spirit Week, 12/11 – 15

Next week our student leadership group is kicking off the first ever, Winter Spirit Week. There are different dress-up day themes. Students are encouraged to dress-up, if possible, though it should not require spending money for new outfits or costumes in order to participate.

Monday, 12/11: PJ/Comfy Day
Tuesday, 12/12: Winter White-Out (wear all white)
Wednesday, 12/13: Winter Sports Day
Thursday, 12/14: Holiday Character Day
Friday, 12/15: Ugly Sweater Day

Holiday Food Pantry, Wednesday, 12/13

FamilyWorks is hosting a pop-up Food Pantry this coming Wednesday, December 13th from 2:30-3:30pm outside of Portable 6. Get there early, as this is a first-come, first-served event. Grocery bags will be provided. FamilyWorks strives to provide culturally appropriate food goods to our diverse students and families. We have requested goods that are reflective of our Eritrean, Ethiopian, Latin American, and Indigenous families. Feedback is welcome. If this event is successful, FamilyWorks will consider future pop-up pantry events on Hale’s campus. Interested in seeing more whole foods available on campus? Show your support by checking out this pre-Winter Break event. All families are welcome.

Vocal Music Concert, Wednesday, 12/13, 7:00pm

Nathan Hale’s vocal music groups will be performing their winter concert this coming Wednesday, December 13th at 7:00pm in the Performance Arts Center. Come check out what the Concert Choir and the Vocal Jazz groups have been working on! There is likely to be some familiar tunes to warm you up on a winter evening!

Quarter 1 Grades

Quarter 1 grades were posted and viewable on The Source starting this past Monday, December 4th. In an effort to reduce waste, Nathan Hale no longer mass-mails hard copies of report cards. To see your student’s report card, log into your Source account and click on “Performance and Progress Reports” on the left-hand side of the screen. If you’re having trouble logging onto The Source, please contact: sourcesupport@seattleschools.org. If you would like a hard copy mailed to you, please contact our registrar at lamiller@seattleschools.org.

Yearbook Sales Open Until 12/16

Yearbooks may be purchased for $70 until December 16th. Purchase yearbooks online via Schoolpay (accessed from the parent’s Source account) or in-person during lunch and afterschool at the Fiscal window. Yearbooks will not be available for purchase again until March 16th when the price will be $75.  

For Seniors – Cap and Gown Orders Due 12/15!

Cap and gown orders are due a week from today! Orders may be made on the National Achievers website. Paper forms are available in the Main Office or Counseling Office. One of the reasons orders are due now is to help ensure the vendor has sufficient sizes of gowns. If cost is an issue, students can see their counselor or arrange a payment plan with National Achievers. Order now and have one less thing to think about before graduation. It’s possible to order just the cap, gown, stole and tassel for $56 plus handling and tax. For other Senior info, please check the NH Senior webpage regularly for any updates.

Special Bell Schedule for Friday, 12/15

Period	Start	End
1	8:50 AM	9:35 AM
2	9:40 AM	10:25 AM
3	10:30 AM	11:35 AM
Lunch	11:40 AM	12:10 PM
4	12:15 PM	1:00 PM
5	1:05 PM	1:50 PM
6	1:55 PM	2:40 PM

Enjoy the weekend!

Much love,

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