Beloved Families, 

I hope you had a great month of April and are excited for what is ahead in May.

My heartfelt thank you to all the families who participated in the annual HaleYes! Auction this past Saturday, and for all the wonderful work of our Nathan Hale Foundation who organized and coordinated the event! We are grateful for your support of our efforts to create more opportunities, engagement for students, and equity and access for all learning opportunities. We celebrated 60 years of Raider excellence, and ultimately were able to raise over $87,000 which will go directly to support this learning and engagement. If you could not attend and would like to support our efforts to re-envision and grow our learning opportunities for students, please go to the Nathan Hale Foundation to make your donation.

Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May is Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Join us in celebrating the rich heritage of Asians, Pacific Islanders, and API Americans. Please read more about API Heritage month. 

Students from CAPS club, the Coalition of Asian and Pacific Students, have been meeting with departments to develop lessons that center the numerous identities of Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific Islands. In Math, students will be investigating an API country’s culture, statistics, contributions, and a significant math-er. World Language classes are exploring pathways to world language education for languages not offered in Seattle Public Schools. Additionally, students are designing a Korean language intro that will be shared in all world language courses. Marine Biology/Oceanography is navigating the intersections of engineering, marine biology, and climate change – especially as it impacts the peoples of the Pacific Islands, Hawaii, and the coastal regions of Asia. Music is showcasing API musicians from across Asia and the Pacific Islands – with a focus on exploring musicians of Central Asia. English Language Arts is analyzing API representation across multiple novels, and exploring two essential questions: How can authentic representation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders create empathy and combat hate? Does art, and literature in particular, have a responsibility to combat stereotypes?

This weekend and next – Cinderella!

The clock has chimed 12 times and that means it’s time for Hale’s spring production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella! This iconic musical puts a new twist on the classic story of pumpkin carriages and glass slippers. Come see Cinderella in Hale’s Performing Arts Center at 7:00PM tonight, and on May 4th, 10th, and 11th. There will also be a sensory friendly matinee Saturday May 11th. For more information check out the Nathan Hale Theatre website or follow them on Instagram @nathan_hale_theatre. Purchase tickets on the Nathan Hale BookTix webpage or at the door.

Smarter Balanced Assessment for Math

The Smarter Balanced Assessment for Math will be administered next week over three days based on your 10th grade student’s last name. Your 10th grade student will take it either in the morning or afternoon of either Monday, May 6th, Thursday, May 9th or Friday, May 10th. These state assessments measure students’ progress toward college and career readiness as well as the progress of our educational system as a whole. The SBA-Math is a computer adaptive test. It presents an individually tailored set of questions to each student and is designed to accommodate all students including students with IEPs and English language learners. The Smarter Balanced tests can be used to meet a student’s graduation pathway. Most state universities and colleges will use the SBA scores for course-level placement.  

Senior Class Updates

Prom Donations – From the Class of 2024: Calling all Nathan Hale community members! Let’s make the Class of 2024 Prom a “Royall Ball”! Your contribution will help us create an enchanting evening for our seniors! Please donate using the SchoolPay link for Senior Class Prom donations.

Senior Meeting – On Wednesday, May 15th, all seniors should attend the Senior Meeting in the PAC during Mentorship to get updates and more info as we get closer to graduation.

Buy SPREE Tickets Now! – From the SPREE Parent Committee: Parent donations raised enough money so tickets this year are just $145! Use this link rb.gy/i3gib2 to register. Seniors should contact their counselor for information about scholarships. More information on the SPREE Website.

Spring/Summer Clothing Drive

Counselor Lex is hosting a spring/summer clothing drive next week. Donations can be dropped off before or after school in the Main Office. All gender styles and sizes will be accepted! Only dry, clean clothes, please! A list of specific items is included in the Daily Bulletin under the Parents/Families section.

Nathan Hale Greenhouse Plant Sale, 5/10 & 11

The annual Nathan Hale HS Edible and Ornamental Plant Sale will be next Saturday, May 11th from 10:00AM to 1:00PM at the Greenhouse located north of Jane Addams Middle School. Members’ Night is Friday, May 10th from 4:30 to 7:00PM. Become a member for 2024 with a $25 donation online on the Nathan Hale Urban Farm website. Please park in the Jane Addams Middle School parking lot (entrance off of 31st at 113th Street) and walk up the stairs. There is accessible parking in the small upper lot.

Narramore Art Show until 5/12

The Narramore Art Show showcases artistic work created by SPS middle and high school students. This show is free at the Seattle Art Museum, Community Gallery. For more information go to the SAM Narramore Art Show 2024 webpage.

Mock Trial Volunteers Needed

In June, our 10th grade World Literature & World History students will participate in a Mock Trial as a final exhibition.  This year our Mock Trial is about South Africa and their Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).  Specifically, students are addressing whether the TRC in design and function was “an effective remedy” (UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights) for the human rights violations committed during the Apartheid era of South Africa (1960-1993).  We are looking for community member volunteers with experience or interest in the following areas: law; social and restorative justice; legal reform; mediation; history; philosophy and ethics.  Volunteers would serve on panel of 2-3 judges per trial.  For more information or to volunteer as a judge, please click here.

Have a restful weekend.

Much love,

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