Message to Families

Beloved Families,

Fall has definitely arrived with the changing leaves and rainy weather. Inside the building, it was great to observe the learning and engagement in classrooms. 

This week I want to highlight the learning in both elective courses, Ceramics and Drawing & Painting. In Ceramics, Ms. Shafkind supported student learning and engagement by offering students a choice in their learning focus of either building a pottery wheel, a pinch pot teacup, or building a cylinder with texture. “We Make Stuff Here” is the motto of the course, and the ultimate goal for this learning was to emphasize making things by hand, and for students to have an intentional way of designing our world by hand.

Similarly, “Drawing Is A Way Of Seeing” is the motto for Drawing & Painting. In the course this week, Mr. Swarts supported student learning by focusing on surreal landscapes, where students created 3-dimensional art forms with still life blocks or art mannequins to learn about surrealism, landscapes, and 3-dimensional painting, referencing the artists Rene Magritte, William Kentridge and Sandy Skoglund. The goal of the learning is to create more intentional ways of seeing the world.

As a reminder, students do not have school tomorrow, October 13th for a staff in-service day. We’ll see all our students again on Monday, October 16th!

Recognitions

Happy Filipino American History Month! We commemorate the first Filipinos to arrive in the United States at what is now Morrow Bay. We recognize celebrations for Hispanic Heritage Month through this coming Sunday, October 15th. Lastly, we also commemorate National Disability Awareness Month, which celebrates the contributions of those with disabilities past and present and focuses on supporting inclusive policies and practices that advance access and equity.

PSAT Test for Juniors

Grade 11 students will be taking the PSAT test on one of 3 dates: Thursday, 10/19 (students in Sarah Fraser’s English 101 classes), Tuesday, 10/24 (students in Joel Jacobson’s English 101 classes) and Wednesday, 10/25 (students in David Heald, Starr McKittrick and Chris Mulder’s English 101 classes). Running Start juniors should contact Lori Takahashi latakahashi@seattleschools.org to schedule either Thursday, 10/19 or Tuesday, 10/24 to take the test. Students should be in the library by 8:50am, our regular start time, with their charged district/SPS laptop. SAT study guides are available in the Counseling office. Online study resources are available on the Nathan Hale Assessments webpage. 

Registration for AP Exams

The deadline to register for AP exams is Wednesday, November 1st. Please register and submit AP Test fees by this date. Register for CollegeBoard.

Submit payment for registered tests. If your student qualifies for Free and Reduced Lunch, there is a substantial discount.

Free and Reduced Lunch Program

All eligible families are encouraged to apply for the Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) program. A new form MUST be submitted every year even if approved last year. Qualified students may receive benefits in addition to the school lunch program: assistance with event fees, field trips, advanced placement tests, Running Start books, Associated Student Body (ASB) fees, pre-college exams (PSAT/SAT/ACT), college application fees and yearbook fees. 

Online application available on the district website.

School Safety

School safety is a top priority to ensure all students, educators, and families feel safe and welcome to learn at their highest capability. Thank you to all students, families, and educators who have reported concerns surrounding school safety surrounding building safety with weapons and fighting. In addition, we appreciate reports of inappropriate behavior and conduct in our school and community regarding harassment, intimidation, bullying, transphobia, xenophobia, and racism. Please continue to report to administration, school security, and counseling department, and we will work to find resolution, support, and care. If you see something, say something.

Respect the Neighborhood

Please encourage your students to be responsible drivers as they travel in our community. There are many pedestrians around our neighborhood, including Nathan Hale and Jane Addams Middle School students (and when the remodel of John Rogers is completed, elementary students). Most of the streets around Nathan Hale do not have sidewalks which increases safety concerns. Also, it’s sad to say, but some students in our community do not throw their garbage in trash receptacles, and instead appear to be throwing their garbage out on the student parking lot or in the nearby playground and park. We encourage all our students to Respect the House, and our neighborhood.

Flu & COVID Vaccine Clinics

Clinics continue to be offered here at Nathan Hale on Sunday, 10/22 and Sunday, 11/5, and around the district at SPS schools. District vaccine clinic webpage for times, to schedule an appointment, and see other locations where clinics will be offered.

Have a great weekend!

Much love,

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