Friday 2/2 Message to Families

Beloved Families,

Happy February! This month we recognize Black History Month, which is an annual celebration of accomplishments by Black leaders, as well as recognizing the central role that African-American people have had in U.S. history. We are excited to honor Black History through our teaching and learning this month! Next week, from February 5th – 9th we celebrate Black Lives Matter at Schools Week. which focuses on liberation and racial justice in education for Black students, educators, and all students of color. The Black Lives Matter movement is a non-violent peace movement that examines injustices that exist at the intersections of race, class, and gender. I encourage you to have conversations with your students about what they will be learning in their classes during Black Lives Matter at Schools Week, and during Black History Month.

I also want to share my support and appreciation for our African-American educators who serve at Nathan Hale High School, and Seattle Public Schools. The influence they bring to our school community and beyond has a positive impact on all of our students’ sense of belonging and identity, which ultimately has led to higher academic outcomes for all of our students.

As we start the new semester, I intend to move us back to our focus we started the school year with: our device free policy. We started the school year strong with your partnership, and we are focusing our second semester on finishing strong. This past Tuesday, the Seattle Times Education Lab hosted a webinar on device use. If you did not have a chance to attend the webinar, “Hanging Up: How to talk with kids about managing screen time”, please click the link for the article and for access to a recording of the webinar. We focused on how there has been a large impact on student grades and social interactions as a result of spending more and more time on screens.

Class Registration

The window for online registration closed this past Wednesday, January 31st. Students should have turned in their paper Course Option form to their Mentorship teacher or to the office.

Peer Tutoring Launches Next Week

This coming Thursday, February 8th, we will launch Peer Tutoring here at Nathan Hale. All students are welcome to come to tutoring from 3:45 to 5:15pm in room 1118 and receive academic support. However, the peer-to-peer tutoring will be focused on Algebra 1 support for students. Thank you to Ms. Yaz and Ms. West for their hard work in ensuring that students are trained and supported for this opportunity!

Mark Your Calendars – Future Upcoming Events!

Bite of Hale is our all-school, all community evening celebration of food and cultures. It is scheduled for Wednesday, March 13th from 6:00 to 8:00pm. The Hale Yes! Auction will be held on Saturday, April 27th at Shoreline Community College. More details to come regarding both of these events.

Upcoming Immunization Exclusion Date

To attend Seattle Public Schools your student is required by Washington State law to show proof of vaccination to certain illness or have an exemption on file signed by a healthcare provider. Those that are missing vaccinations are subject to exclusion from school on March 4, 2024. This exemption includes students who are full-time Running Start. Excluded students are to remain away from school until we receive proof of immunization or exemption. These students and families will receive official notice of this exclusion by mail and by phone.

Please provide any updated immunizations records that you may have to Nurse Amy Dong asdong@seattleschools.org. Please contact our Teen Health Center if you would like to register your student to receive these school required immunizations at our school-based health center at no cost. For more info, please review the district Immunizations webpage. 

AP Test Reminder

If you think your student qualifies for Advanced Placement testing accommodations, please go to the College Board Accommodations page and follow the instructions to submit an accommodation request to the College Board directly. Accommodations are not guaranteed, and they are approved independently by the college board, not SPS. Nathan Hale’s College Board code is 481128.

Enjoy the weekend!

Much love,

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