The purpose of Nathan Hale High School is to ensure
that ALL students will become honorable, thinking, skillful citizens.
As
a learning community we:
~ value a personal caring relationship with each student
~ value in-depth study, critical thinking, creativity and
reflection, believing our students learn by doing
~ believe that all students-wherever they are as learners-will meet
high standards
~ expect that teaching is the essential act of all adults at school
~ expect all members to understand, model and promote social
justice
~ promote a climate of respect, trust, and decency
~ expect that all discipline be firm, fair, positive and consistent
~ empower students and their families in the learning process
~ commit ourselves to those students who historically have not been
successful
We are pleased and honored that you have chosen to join us for your secondary education. You are about to begin the important process of selecting your classes for next year. We encourage you to process your choices and weigh all the options carefully before making your final selections. The choices you make now may affect your future opportunities, as well as your overall satisfaction with your high school experience. This guide has been prepared as a resource for you.
The
Nathan Hale High School curriculum offers students a balanced educational
experience focusing upon developing critical thinking and communication skills
so that our students become members of a responsible, democratic citizenry. Our
school is nationally recognized as a leader in school reform efforts that
result in providing a rigorous and relevant education for our young adults that
is intentional, integrated, and collaborative in nature and that students will
graduate with the greatest number of opportunities open to them. Our curriculum is reviewed each year for
relevancy and revision. Honors,
Advanced Placement and modified transcript designations are awarded for work in
our full-inclusion classrooms and are available across the curriculum. We invite you to consult our website at www.hale.seattleschools.org to
learn more about our education “best practices” as outlined by our school
philosophy, the Coalition of Essential Schools, and Small Learning Communities.
Finally, the Nathan Hale staff is dedicated to
providing a supportive environment for student learning. Ultimately,
responsibility for that learning belongs to the student. In addition to
Responsible Scholarship (see p 11), all Hale students are expected to show
responsibility for their own learning by:
~ Asking for
help ~ Turning in work on time
~ Doing
their own work ~ Supporting all members of their learning
community, both students and adults
Please let us know when and how we can serve you as you process your course selections. We are committed to a rich and rewarding high school educational experience for you and your family.
Nathan Hale High School Administration: 206.252.3680
Principal: Marni Campbell Assistant
Principal: Ron Newton
Dean of Students: Michael Linett Ninth
Grade Coordinator: Tina Tudor
Nathan Hale High School
Counseling Staff: (For 07-08)
|
Head Counselor: Jeffrey Jones |
Counsels: 11th graders
and seniors with the last names beginning with H-N |
|||
|
Kate Reynolds |
Counsels: 10th graders and seniors with
the last names beginning with A-G |
|||
|
Julia Shin |
Counsels: 9th graders and seniors with
the last names beginning with O-Z |
|||
|
Career Counselor: |
Cathy Hagood 206.252.3767 |
|
||
|
Counseling Secretary: |
Patty Woodward |
206.252.3694 |
|
|
**email
accounts for all staff members are available on our website under “Staff email
and phone”
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES 3-10
Scheduling
priorities 3
Nathan
Hale Graduation Requirements 3-4
Four-year
college/university requirements 4
Transcripts 4-5
Class
Standing and necessary credits 5
Individual
Education Programs (IEPs) 5
Advanced
Placement (AP) 5
Running
Start 5-6
NCAA
Eligibility 6
School-directed
Athletics and PE Waivers 6
Options
for credit outside of Nathan Hale 6-7
Schedule
Changes 7-8
Grade
Changes 8
Course
Waivers by Administration 8
P/N
Grades 8
Teacher
Assistants (TAs) 8
Traffic
Education 8
School
Code 9
Extra
curricular Academic Eligibility 9
Counseling
and Career Services 1
and 9
Attendance
Policy 10
Responsible
Scholarship 11
Habits
of Mind (Critical thinking guide) 12
Academic
Honesty 12
COURSE OFFERINGS 13-34
Career and Technical Education (Occ Ed) 13-18
Visual, Performing and Fine Art 19-22
(Art, Drama, and Music)
Education Support Classes 23
Language Arts 24-26
Mathematics 27-28
Physical Education (PE) 29
Science 30-32
Social Studies 33-34
World Languages 35-36
Although this is a
catalog, not all courses in this guide are offered annually. Ultimately the number of students who select
that course, teacher availability, and budget constraints determines courses
offered during the year. It is for this
reason that students are asked to select alternatives to their choices to give
us the greatest possible options for receiving a full schedule.
SCHEDULING PRIORITIES
Each
student should register for six classes, keeping in mind the following
priorities:
1. Graduation
Requirements: The high school graduation requirements insure that each
student will attain a certain level of development and complete a well-rounded
program.
2. Future
Plans: Very few high school students know exactly what they intend to do
after graduation. In fact, interests and plans often change with experience and
education. It is important, therefore, to take courses that lay a foundation
for four-year or community college, vocational training, military or employment
options. (It is this idea that drove
much of the design of our 4-year academic program for students.)
3. Interests
and Abilities: Students should be realistic about their ability levels and
interests. Selected courses should be challenging, rewarding, and motivating.
Students are encouraged to talk with their mentors, teachers, families, and/or
counselors about their plans.
You
will notice on your option sheets that some decisions have already been made
for you depending upon your grade level (Academy enrollment, Integrated Studies
enrollment, 11th and 12th grade humanities, math level,
etc.) We schedule on a yearlong basis
to for successful completion of student preparation for their future, to
provide the best opportunity to complete Nathan Hale’s graduation requirements,
and to use our resources (time, staff, budget, etc.) the most wisely. Therefore, the choices you make are
CRITICAL not only to your learning but to the development of our master
schedule and course offerings. When
you choose a course you are signaling not only your interest but also
your commitment to complete that course to the best of your
ability.
In
addition to current Nathan Hale graduation requirements, the Washington State
Legislature established additional requirements with the passage of House Bill
2195 in 2004. This bill set in state law a requirement that high school
students obtain a “Certificate of Academic Achievement” or “Certificate of
Individual Achievement” to graduate beginning with the Class of 2008. To obtain
a Certificate of Achievement, students in the Class of 2008 and beyond must demonstrate
that they have met the state standards in reading, writing, and mathematics on
the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL). Students in the Class of
2010 and beyond must also meet the state standards in science. A Certificate of Individual Achievement was
created for special education students who meet specific criteria as specified
by the state and agreed to within the student’s IEP. These certificates are in addition to the following
current Nathan Hale High School graduation requirements necessary for a high
school diploma and participation in the graduation ceremony:
·
Meet
class credit requirements
·
Craft
a High School and Beyond plan
·
Complete
a Culminating Project
·
Meet
the Technology Proficiency requirement*
·
Complete
60 hours of service learning
·
Pass
a Washington State History course in middle school or see your counselor for
options
·
Possess
a 2.0 cumulative GPA in the core subjects of language arts, social studies,
math, and science
·
Successful
completion of all mentorships
***Class of 2008 and beyond:
|
Subject |
#
of credits |
|
Language Arts |
4.0 |
|
Social Studies |
3.5 |
|
Science |
3.0 |
|
Health |
0.5 |
|
Mathematics |
3.0 |
|
Physical Education (1.0 can be sports waivers—see school
directed athletics) |
1.5 |
|
Fine Arts |
1.0 |
|
Occupational Education (CTE) (0.5 technology
requirement) |
1.5 |
|
Course credits of sufficient number to complete
24.0 credits |
5.5 |
|
TOTAL |
23.5 |
** The High School and Beyond Plan, and the
Culminating Project are both Washington State Learning Goals requirements #3
& #4 (see www.k12.wa.us) .
* The Technology Proficiency Requirement
specifies that students must be able to demonstrate a minimum proficiency level
in technology prior to graduation. Successful completion of one semester of a
technology course at Nathan Hale will verify that a minimum proficiency level
has been met. This course will also meet a 0.5 credit of the 2.0 Occupational
Education (CTE) credit requirements for graduation.
FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS
Students
planning to attend a four-year university directly from high school should
include, as a minimum, the following academic core courses in their high school
educational plans:
LANGUAGE
ARTS (ENGLISH) – Four years
SOCIAL STUDIES – Three years (4 years
preferred for most selective colleges)
MATH – Three years – through
Integrated Math 3B (all 4 years for most selective colleges)
SCIENCE – Two or three years of lab
science (including chemistry and/or physics)
FINE ARTS – One year (UW and WWU require
a minimum .5 fine arts credit)
FOREIGN
LANGUAGE –
Two consecutive years of the same language required
Academic
review for college admissions will not only include an examination of a
student’s transcript, GPA, and college entrance examination scores (SAT/ACT),
but will also be based upon an evaluation of a student’s rigor of curricula and
achievement, including senior year course selections, and in some cases a
college essay. A significant grade improvement through the junior year may be
taken into account. Requirements at out-of-state colleges and universities, as
well as all selective college course requirements, may vary. Students and parents should consult the web
sites of schools they are considering.
All
public schools in the State of Washington will be using the Washington State
High School Transcript. As with previous transcripts, course codes,
descriptions by way of course titles, grades earned, credits earned, credits
attempted, and GPAs will all be recorded. In addition, new information has been
phased into the transcript.
State
Requirements: Beginning with the class of
2008, the State will add:
·
Certificate of Academic Achievement based upon successfully meeting WASL
standards; or the
·
Certificate of Individual Achievement, based upon specific criteria as specified
by the state and included within the student’s IEP.
·
High School & Beyond Plan – At NHHS, this will designate that our students
have successfully completed research and preparation for their plans after high
school.
·
Culminating Project – again, this will be the culminating piece of a
student’s academic efforts, including final presentation of student plans
beyond high school.
Until
the results for these bulleted items have been recorded, they will appear on
the transcript in the default mode, not met.
Students who are assessed as being eligible for specially designed
instruction (SDI), commonly known as Special Education, will be offered a
supportive and inclusive program, as appropriate, at Nathan Hale. With an
individual education plan (IEP), each qualified student will have help to
succeed academically. Our program offers modification of general education
curriculum with specifically designed instruction within general education
classrooms (full inclusion), help from trained special education consulting
teachers, and progress reports for each student. Qualified students are
enrolled in general education classrooms and then also enrolled in a Focus
class to support their skill-building and knowledge acquisition. As determined
by the IEP consulting teacher to be appropriate, students may be in a
self-contained classroom in order to see the greatest success.
The requirements for qualifying for an Individual Education Plan
are: 1) parent/guardian permission to be tested by a school psychologist, 2) a
diagnosed disability which affects the student’s learning, 3) a written
individual education plan (IEP) that has goals for the student in reading,
writing, and/or math, or behavior. The IEP for qualified individual education
students age 14 and older will include a transition plan helping students to
establish goals beyond high school.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT
The value and/or need of Advanced Placement courses continues to be a focus of national and local debate by families, by educators, and by the media. The message Nathan Hale receives regularly from colleges is that they want students who have experienced authentic, rigorous coursework that provides students with high levels of critical thinking, writing, research, and communication skills; obviously, these skills are not limited to AP material. Researching and speaking with college professors and admissions officers, national academies, and leading educational authorities lead us to conclude that we will continue our annual evaluation of AP curricula in light of our commitment to developing students who are academically college-ready with a strong and deep knowledge and skill base, who not only can make it into college but STAY enrolled beyond their freshmen year. As a result, the offering of AP curricula at Nathan Hale takes different forms:
“Stand-alone” courses that provide preparation for the AP Exams in Japanese
Language and Culture, Spanish Language, Calculus, Statistics, and Environmental
Science;
Coursework that may be done on-line or in an addendum meeting
with teachers outside of regularly scheduled class time providing for AP Exam preparation: Art, Calculus, English Language, English
Literature, and United States History.
In
order to receive AP designation on their transcript in conjunction with a
specific course, students must enroll to sit for an AP Exam in the spring of
the year in which they are doing coursework.
However, in order to sit for an AP exam, students need not be enrolled
in an AP course. AP tests may also be
offered in other subject areas not available at Nathan Hale (one could check
the College Board website at www.collegeboard.com). At some colleges, students who take Advanced
Placement (AP) courses and pass the AP tests with a score of 3 or better (top
score is 5) are granted credit, although for more and more colleges, credit is
only granted for scores of 5. Some colleges waive prerequisite courses,
although these are becoming fewer and fewer (for example, the UW may not waive
a particular course, i.e. Literature 101, but provides for awarding general
education credits, possibly reducing the overall number of credits for which
the student must pay). There is a fee for each AP test, and the College Board
usually offers the exam in May. Students should check with prospective colleges
as to how AP is credited, since college rules vary.
Junior
and senior students who qualify for this program may take approved courses for
which they receive both high school and college credit and grades. Tuition is
free at Seattle community colleges; however, students are responsible for
purchasing their own books, paying lab costs and providing their own
transportation to the campus. To
qualify, students must meet with their school counselor and arrange with the
community college of choice to take the Compass assessment test, which is
offered on a regular basis free of charge after showing a school identification
(otherwise, it is a $12.00 fee per exam).
This
test measures a student’s basic skills needed to succeed in community/technical
college. After testing, take your
results and the application to you counselor who will assist you in determining
course selection to meet your needs and Nathan Hale’s graduation requirements.
Students
have the option of attending a pre-set combination of high school and
community/technical college classes or attending the community/technical
college full time (you can select RS 1-6 on your option sheet). Once an option has been selected, however, the
student is committed to that option for the year unless he/she wishes to return
to the NHHS campus to attend high school full time as approved by the high
school counselor. For registration purposes, students must see their high
school counselor at least once per quarter (or three times per year) while
attending Running Start. To insure that the NHHS counselor has sufficient time
when meeting with students to review academic progress as well as course
selections for the following quarter, students need to arrange an
appointment at least one week prior to the registration time at the community/technical
college. Without those arrangements, your high school counselor may not be
able to process your paperwork for registration at the community/technical
college until after the appointed time for registration. On rare occasions,
students may find themselves in a position where they are considering dropping
one or more courses, or changing a grade status from a letter grade to “no
credit”. Before a course is dropped or a grade status is changed, students
MUST contact their high school counselor for prior approval. The expectation is
that all classes that qualify for a letter grade are taken for a letter grade. Failure
to do so may jeopardize graduation status and/or opportunity to continue in the
Running Start program.
Deadlines
for Running Start applications: Fall: May 1; Winter: November 1; Spring:
February 1. If you are planning
to take Running Start Courses in the Fall, you must complete the registration
process by mid-June of the preceding spring.
High school students who wish to participate in collegiate
athletics at Division I or Division II colleges must meet academic eligibility
requirements set forth by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
As requirements vary by year, we advise you to check the NCAA website for
specific eligibility requirements: www.ncaa.org/eligibility. In addition,
Division I bound students must have a minimum core cumulative grade point
average and minimum combined SAT scores (check the website for specifics). During
their senior year, students should register with NCAA Clearinghouse. They
register by going on-line at ww.ncaaclearinghouse.net. The cost is $50, and students must use
a credit card. They must download a Transcript Release Authorization Forms,
Copy 1 and Copy 2, sign them and bring them into Ms. Woodward in the Counseling
Office. Ms. Woodward will send the transcripts, which is an essential part of
the application process. Furthermore, Division I and Division II bound juniors
and seniors should send any ACT or SAT test scores to the NCAA
Clearinghouse to maintain eligibility.
Additional score report request forms for the ACT and SAT tests are available
in the Counseling Center. For further information, write for a free copy of
“The NCAA Guide for the College-Bound
Student Athlete,” NCAA, 6201 College Blvd., Overland Park, KS
66211-2422. Phone: 913-339-1906. Website: http://www.ncaa.org/eligibility/cbsa/
Students
engaged in school-directed athletics have the opportunity to waive up to 1.0
credit (2 sports seasons) toward the Physical Education graduation
requirements. Forms are available in the Counseling Office. After completing the form students obtain
the signature of their school athletic coach and Mr. Case. The semester credit
upon successful completion of each full season will be waived. This will enable
the student to select additional courses in areas of high interest or courses
that are part of a planned program. Students who choose this option are
still expected to earn 0.5 Physical Education credit through the regularly
scheduled high school course offerings.
Deadlines for filing a PE Waiver are the following: for Fall Sports: November 15; for Winter Sports:
March 15; and for Spring Sports:
June 15. The exception is
graduating seniors who need a spring sports PE Waiver; their deadline is the
first Friday in June.
With
pre-approval from the counselors and administration, students may take a total
of 2 credits (4 semesters) of courses towards meeting graduation requirements
through outside-accredited institutions. Some of these options include college
enrichment, Internet courses, correspondence courses and courses at private
accredited institutions. In order to qualify for meeting graduation
requirements, a student must receive prior approval, in writing, from
his/her counselor and the principal. A course syllabus may be required to
ensure that the course meets district requirements for that subject. Approval
cannot be given retroactively. Once approval has been granted, the student
must complete the program within the time designated by the counselor, usually
within a semester timeframe. Official verification of course completion must be
submitted to the counseling office no later than two weeks after the completion
of the course.
§
CITY CAMPUS is a year-long, afternoon,
off-campus class. This is open to 11th and 12th graders
(Students must be at least 16) and can earn 1.5 units (three periods) of
occupational education (CTE) credit.
Some programs have college credit.
Information is in the Career Center and arranged through the
counselors. Included are:
o
Automotive Technology 1 and 2: Garfield Automotive Shop 2 semesters, 1-3pm. Students learn about automotive and gas engine theory,
operation, repair and maintenance. Various automotive systems are covered along
with basic repairs, and day-to-day problems that can occur. Can be tailored to
students and time allotted for class.
o
Collision Repair: South Seattle Community College 2 semesters, 1-3pm. Instruction in safety, hazardous materials,
welding, tools, unibody construction, metal straightening and principles of
refinishing.
o
Health Occupations: Wilson Center 2 semesters,
9:15 – 12:15 am or 12:30 to 3:30 pm.
Basic nursing skills, fundamentals of anatomy and physiology, basic
nutrition and psychic/physical development to prepare students for careers in pharmacy, veterinary and medical
fields working in hospitals, nursing homes and clinics.
o
C-West (Skilled Trades Program): Rainier
Beach High School, Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays. Skilled trades include
carpenter, electrician, plumber, painter, brick mason, sign maker, etc. one
semester.
§
COLLEGE ENRICHMENT COURSES DURING SUMMER AND ACADEMIC YEAR Students may, if eligible and with prior
counselor/administrative approval, take college courses (not Internet) and
transfer credit to their high school transcript. These are typically summer
academic enrichment courses. Enrichment courses are not intended to
replace courses regularly available at high school, but should expand a
students learning, experience, and abilities.
§
CORRESPONDENCE/INTERNET COURSES As our goal is to support student learning, under
some circumstances, courses in accredited correspondence programs may be taken
for credit with prior counselor approval. Typically, correspondence/Internet courses represent required
courses in our curriculum. If courses are to count toward a senior’s
graduation, a student must submit all work, including any final assessment, no
later than the first Friday in June of the senior year. The most common reasons
for correspondence/Internet coursework include credit retrieval, foreign study,
and health reasons.
§
PRIVATE ACCREDITED INSTITUTIONS
With
prior approval from the student’s counselor and principal, a student may earn
credit (not grade) from a private accredited institution toward fulfilling
graduation requirements. Students must receive prior written approval from the
counselor and administrator if s/he wishes to receive credit toward fulfilling
graduation requirements. Approval cannot be retroactive.
§ SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SUMMER or EVENING SCHOOL PROGRAM The Seattle Public Schools Summer School is intended for credit retrieval in a core academic course. When a student repeats a course successfully in Seattle’s Summer School Program, the original grade of “N” will remain on the transcript; however, the new course and grade will be added to the transcript and used in calculating the GPA. The student’s counselor will assist with access to these programs.
SCHEDULE CHANGES can only be considered if
there is a technical error on your schedule.
These include the following: the
student has taken a course out of
sequence, the student earns less than the minimum grade requirement in
prerequisite or sequential class, or the student does not have enough classes
and thus has a hole in their schedule.
Because of the complexity of a master schedule and our limited resources
we are unable to
accommodate requests for schedule changes for the following reasons: because of teacher preference, for a time of day
consideration, you “changed your mind”, or you want to have class with your
friends. We build our schedule to meet
the greatest number of requests and graduation requirements and to use our
resources wisely. Changes impact class
size and availability across the entire master schedule.
GRADE CHANGES are allowed only in the
following circumstances:
·
a
student received an “I” AND the coursework was completed at an acceptable
standard within 5 weeks. After 5 weeks
the “I” mark will automatically convert to an “N” grade.
·
there
was a teacher error in recording the grade
·
a
course and/or grade were not recorded at all
·
if
honors (H) or AP designation were earned but not recorded.
All grade changes need to be submitted within 5
school weeks after the completion of that grading period, thus if there is an error
made in the spring, the student has until 5 weeks into the following fall
semester to correct the error. Upon discovering the error, the student picks up a grade change
form in the counseling office and provides the paperwork to the appropriate
teacher. The teacher will submit the
grade change to the appropriate counselor who forwards the paperwork to the
principal, and then to the registrar.
After approval, the registrar updates the student’s transcript with the
grade change. Grade changes are only
necessary for semester grades for the course as quarter or progress reported
grades are not entered onto the transcript.
“P” AND “N” GRADES: Due to circumstances within a student’s life, there may an
occasion where a P grade is appropriate for their learning. A “P” grade indicates that a student is
passing a course while an “N” grade indicates failure in a course. “P” and “N” grades are, on those rare
occasions, available by application to students taking a course at Nathan
Hale. Neither grade is calculated into
the students cumulative GPA. Prior to
applying for such a grade, a student must consult with his/her counselor as
future plans may be impacted.
Application for such a grade must be requested in writing during the
first 5 weeks of the semester. Only one
“P” grade is allowed per semester and are limited over the course of a student’s
academic career; however, this limit may not apply to students who are
classified as an English Language Learner (ELL) or who are operating with an
IEP.
WAIVERS: The principal may infrequently waive course requirements.
Exceptions are Washington State History (usually taken in middle school) and
U.S. History, which are required by law. Washington State
History may be waived for
incoming seniors from out of state if they have taken their state’s history
course. A waiver of credits may be granted in accordance with RCW 28A.208.030
or its replacement. A maximum of 50% of a requirement may be waived (exception
is PE). If a student and their family
believe that a waiver is appropriate, application is made to the principal in
writing citing the credit/course to be waived and detailing the reasons
why. This letter comes via the
counselors and must have their support and advocacy.
TEACHER ASSISTANT: Limit of 2 general elective credits total. There are numerous opportunities for
students to use a period to be an assistant to a teacher or in the office or
library. Duties vary. A typical semester’s work earns .25 general
elective credit graded P/N.
TRAFFIC EDUCATION: After-school
traffic education is offered throughout the year. Information and registration
packets are available in the Counseling Office. The Traffic Ed Office number is
(206) 366-7891.
Recorded
message line - (206) 366-7890. Students
need to arrange to take the class and pay fees through the instructor and
Seattle Public Schools, not Nathan Hale High School.
CEEB/SCHOOL CODE NUMBER The school code/CEEB number
for Nathan Hale High School students in relation to any testing (PSAT, SAT,
ACT), college applications scholarships, post secondary information is
481-128.
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACADEMIC ELIGIBILITY
In
order to participate in an athletic activity, a student must maintain a minimum
2.0 cumulative GPA (certain teams also have other requirements. Checking with the Athletic Director and
coach is encouraged.) Student GPA is
measured on the grades earned the semester previous to the sports season (i.e.
fall sports = spring grades). To be eligible for a position as an ASB officer,
cheer staff, and dance team or student council member, a student must be
passing all courses and maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA. A student must be
enrolled in a minimum of five classes.
The
counseling staff is organized with three full-time counselors, a secretary, a
registrar, a part-time school psychologist, and a part-time career specialist.
Currently, counselors follow their students from 9-11 grade and then the trio
splits the 12th grade class for academic monitoring and support;
however, students may confer with any staff available concerning personal or
other issues. The Counseling Office is
open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily. Arrangements to see a counselor may be
made by signing up in the counseling office before or after school or during
lunch to see specific individual counselors or by calling 252.3694 for an
appointment.
Counseling Center services
include: