Wednesday 11/22 Message to Families

Beloved Families,

The fall theater production Almost, Maine was a success! It was a story of a small town and its residents, and about love: people falling in love and out of it, rekindling old loves or leaving them behind, discovering new loves and learning what they mean. Huge congratulations to the student performers, production team, and Ms. Delaney-Hanna, who stepped in and immediately got to work on her first performance as an educator at Nathan Hale. We look forward to the spring musical next year: Cinderella!

As a reminder, Thursday, November 23rd, and Friday, November 24th we do not have school in observance of Thanksgiving and Native American Heritage Day. 

We are grateful for the Nathan Hale Community Organization (NHCO) and the parents who donated money for gift cards we have distributed to our families in need. It is heartening to know the Hale community is there to support our families who are facing challenging times. Another note of gratitude to families who have donated gently-used clothes for our student clothing closet. The generosity of our Hale community is appreciated – thank you!

We hope this upcoming long holiday weekend will provide you, your family and loved ones an opportunity to reflect on what you are grateful for and deepen connections with the important people in your life. When we return from the weekend, we will have just three weeks of school before winter break. This time of year often moves at break-neck speed as personal calendars get filled with events and commitments but I hope we will find rest and renewal in the midst of it all.

Attendance Reminders

If your student needs to leave school early, you are not required to come into the building to sign them out. Please call or email the Attendance Office (206-252-3684, halehs.attendance@seattleschools.org) as soon as you know your student needs to leave, and a pass will be delivered to them so they can leave class at the scheduled time. Make sure to pre-arrange with your student where you will meet them outside. It is very difficult to accommodate immediate requests for early dismissal so notifying the office in the morning at least two hours in advance of dismissal time will help ensure your student meets you at the desired time.

Safety Update: School ID & Food Deliveries

Due to an increase in school safety concerns, we are implementing a new school ID policy. We are asking both students and teachers to wear their School IDs on a lanyard, around their necks beginning Monday November 27th. The school will provide a lanyard to students within the next two weeks. We will continue this “soft” rollout until we leave for winter break. After Winter Break, IDs will be mandatory daily. All students who do not have an ID card should stop by the Main Office to either pick up their card (from previous photo days) or sign up for Security to take their photo.

Reminder: Nathan Hale is a locked door campus with a doorbell for access. Visitors, including parents, need to come to the main entry (by the visitor parking lot) and stop at the main office when dropping off items for students or going to attendance. Due to safety concerns, we want to remind families that we cannot accept food deliveries from DoorDash, Uber eats, etc. at the main office. We will not allow delivery providers in the building; they need to wait outside the building for student/staff to meet them and pick-up the item.

A message from NHCO, your Nathan Hale Community Organization (formerly PTSA)

NHCO hosted a coffee in the building for parents on Wednesday, 11/8. Thank you to parent, Marina Gray, for sharing ways we can get involved to address some of the recent safety concerns. A note of gratitude to the parents and guardians that are stepping up to oversee the December 12th Staff Appreciation Breakfast. The goal of NHCO is to foster a supportive, friendly and welcoming atmosphere for our community. NHCO helps the school by providing hospitality for events and stepping in to help when immediate needs arise. NHCO welcomes input and needs more volunteers, especially in leadership roles. Please email Katie Fleming nhcoconnections@gmail.com to learn more.

Careers in Healthcare

Do you have a student considering healthcare professions? Do you have a student curious about careers in the medical field? These students should come to the library during mentorship on Wednesday, November 29th to meet some doctors and medical students for a panel discussion and Q&A session. Students can get a pass to attend from Mr. Babinec in room 1203.

Volunteering at Nathan Hale

If you would like to volunteer at Nathan Hale and have not completed the district volunteer application form (including background check), please complete the forms/process on the district Volunteer – Apply or Renew webpage. 

For returning volunteers (you previously filled out an online volunteer application, and have already created a file), follow the steps on the Renew or Update Your Volunteer Application webpage. 

If you are cleared at another school but didn’t choose Nathan Hale as one of your schools, please go back into your application and select Nathan Hale so we can view your “Approved” status.

Finally, if you have any questions, please contact Rae Keyes at rkkeyes@seattleschools.org or in the office at 206-252-3680.

Much love,

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