Nathan Hale Newsletter -- 3rd Quarter: Home

Main Office

(402) 557-4200

Administration

(402) 557-4202

Attendance

(402) 557-4202

Nurse

(402) 557-4215

Math --  Whew, the students in Ms. Violett's and Ms. VonCannon's Math 6 classes were very busy during third quarter.  They worked on coordinate planes, ordered pairs, 3D shapes (attributes and nets) and probability (both experimental and theoretical).  During fourth quarter, they will work on algebra, both expression and equations.  

Language Arts/Social Studies -- It's all Greek to Ms. Wolf and her students!  During third quarter, they learned about the four forms of government in Ancient Greece.  They looked at Athens and Sparta and the differences between the two civilizations.  Next, they investigated the Persian Wars by focusing on four main battles.  During fourth quarter, they will study the golden age of Athens.  Ms. Johnson and Ms. Moore had their students completing their Greek unit during third quarter.  They will move onto Ancient Rome during fourth quarter.  After NeSA testing, they will be doing a poetry unit in language arts. 

Science -- It's electric in Mrs. Swain's science classroom.  Her young scientists spent third quarter making electromagnets nd circuits. For fourth quarter, they will learning about life science, plants, and animals.  Mr. Novotny's and Mr. Clerc's science classrooms also worked on circuits, magnetism, electromagnetism, forms of energy, heat and temperature.

Reading -- Students in Ms. Hodge's reading classes read the "A Changing Planet" unit in their Storytown textbook with stories such as Life Under the Ice, Escaping the Giant Wave, and Brian's Winter.  Next, they moved on to the unit on "Unique Perspectives" and read popular stories such as Maniac Magee and The Kid Who Named Pluto.  Ms. Harvey's readers finished the novel Holes during third quarter.  They also continued to read selection from their Storytown textbook, focusing on the theme of unique perspectives.  Ms. King had her students reading the novel We Beat the Streets as a class during third quarter.  They will be performing a reader's theater presentation in the library in April.  The skit is based on the novel.  Mrs. Worthy's reading students read the novel Iqual during third quarter and learned about child labor and child slavery.  In addition they read Maniac Magee, and practiced making judgments.  They also worked in identifying main idea and details from non-fiction text, which included The Kid Who Named Pluto and Building in Disguise.  Students created their own mimetic structures.

Indian Hill Elementary

402-933-4968 

3121 U Street

Spring Lake Magnet Elementary

402-932-7014

4215 S. 20 Street

Liberty Elementary

402-505-8180

2021 St. Mary's Avenue

Kellom Elementary

402-505-5451

1311 N. 24 Street

King Science & Technology Magnet

402-502-5644

3720 Florence Blvd

Belvedere Elementary

402-932-1232

3775 Curtis Avenue

Northwest High School

402-916-5964

8204 Crown Point Avenue

Bryan High School

402-991-3904

4700 Giles Road

Charles Drew CHC

(402) 451-3553

Council Bluffs Dept. of Health

(712) 328-4666

Three Rivers Health Department

(402) 727-5396

Douglas County Health Department

(402) 444-6163

One World CHC

(402) 734-4110

Sarpy/Cass County Immunizations

(402) 593-3222

Pottawattamie County Health Department

(712) 328-3990

Renaissance Health Clinic

(402) 354-3198

Noah Clinic

(402) 933-0737

Student Council

Student elections went well.  Nathan Hale Middle School now has a sixth-grade, seventh-grade, and eighth-grade student body president.  Members of the Patriot Student Council will be going to UNO to discuss our Spring service-learning project helping City Sprouts.

Quiz Bowl

The Patriot Quiz Bowl team had a great time and did very well at the Grace University Quiz Bowl tournament.  Our team will compete again in the Omaha Public Schools competition in April.

Honors Special Projects

HSP students are studying the Harlem Renaissance and choosing an important artist, writer, or musician to research.

Preparing For NeSA

Your child will be taking the NeSA tests the next several weeks.  The students and teachers have been preparing for these tests since the start of the year.  We understand parents want their children to succeed, and below are some suggestions that can be done at home in preparation for the tests.

Tips to help your student perform their best on state testing:

* Keep a positive attitude about the tests and encourage your child to do their best.

* Let your child know you care about their performance on the tests, but don't dwell on it.

* Try to answer any questions your child may have about the tests to help relieve their stress.

* Make sure your child goes to bed early the night before each test, ideally before 9:00 p.m. to allow for a full night's sleep.

* Try to resolve any disagreements the night before each test.

* Keep the routine at home as normal as possible.

* Make sure your child eats a healthy breakfast the morning of each test.  Don't forget breakfast is served at school starting at 7:00 a.m.

* Make sure your child is at school on time the day of each test.

* Make sure your child is in school on test days.  Avoid scheduling any appointments on these days.  Notify the school first thing in the morning if your child must miss school for an emergency situation or due to sickness.

* If your child wears glasses, please remind them to wear their glasses the day of the tests.

* Please make sure medications are taken the morning of the tests, if your child takes medication before arriving at school.

Ms. Redinbaugh

(Sixth-Grade Counselor)

(402) 557-2410

Mrs. Janzen

(Seventh-Grade & Eighth-Grade Counselor)

(402) 557-2411

Dear Patriot Community, 

We continue to improve our culture and climate here at Nathan Hale to make it an excellent school.  We have many great things going on at Hale from the Science Fair night to our Parent Night meetings.  We now have a Facebook account to help keep our community informed about what is going on at Nathan Hale with our students.  If you want to follow us, you can like us @NathanHaleMS.

We will be administering state, NeSA testing from the middle of March to the end of April this year.  We are working hard to increase our scores from last year.  We are striving to have our students become proficient, independent learners.  Finally, and most importantly, we are collaboratively working with parents to increase our students' motivation to do their best on the test.  Trying their best will have a significant impact on student achievement.  Please continue to encourage your child to do their best in everything they do.

Our eighth-grade students have been working with the high school counselors on which classes they will take in high school.  Seventh-grade and sixth-grade students have been registering for classes for the 2017-2018 school year.  Our counselors will be visiting elementary schools for registration of our sixth-grade students who will join us next year.  We are excited as we prepare the school for the 2017-2018 academic school year. 

As always, we are here to assist families with the academic and social needs of their children.  Feel free to contact us at (402) 557-4200.  

I want to thank you for allowing us to educate and assist your young adults!

Sincerely,

Darin K. Williams

Principal 

Reading -- The students in Ms. Vaiskunas' Reading Skills classes spent third quarter working on different reading strategies with Achieve 3000 stations.  The students in her 21st Century Literacy classes focused on the concept of justice through short stories and poems.  Both classes finished book reports and moved on to their curriculum for fourth quarter.  Students in Reading Skills will be completing a unit on reading non-fiction.  Students in 21st Century Literacy will be completing a unit entitled A Hero's Journey. Mr. Samson's seventh-grade readers worked on improving their reading comprehension skills and prepared an independent novel project. 

Social Studies --  During third quarter, Mr. Garcia and his students created a "Great Wall of Education" with amazing and interesting facts about China.  They will travel to Russia during fourth quarter and complete an end-of-the-year, final project.

Math --  Mr. Stark and his "mathletes" learned how to solve two-step equations during third quarter.  In fourth-quarter, they will be preparing for the NeSA test.  Mr. Jensen and his Math 7 students worked on algebra equations and his Pre-Algebra students worked with triangles.  During fourth quarter, his Math 7 students will work on inequalities, and his Pre-Algebra students will work on congruence and similarity.

Science -- In Science 7, Mr. Schaben and his students worked on their space jump projects for third quarter.  Units on astronomy and energy are up next for fourth quarter.

Language Arts -- Stay Gold, Seventh Grade!  Mr. Samson and his language arts students worked on honing their writing skills in preparation for the NeSA test.  During fourth-quarter, they will begin reading the novel The Outsiders. During third quarter, Mrs. Foley's and Mrs. Bridgeford's students practiced analyzing various texts using the RACE strategy.  Students also took a NeSA practice test, with a focus on text-dependent analysis.  Lastly, the students read poetry by Alicia Keys and the short story Hey, Come on Out.

Math -- During third quarter, Mr. Matthews, Mrs. Patton and their students in Pre-Algebra worked with parallel lines and triangles.  During fourth quarter, they will be getting ready for the NeSA math test.  The students in Mr. Jensen's geometry class worked with triangles during third quarter.  They will study quadrilaterals during fourth quarter.

Social Studies -- Mr. Bedore and his students finished their unit on the Civil War and began to focus on the reconstruction of the Union.  Following Reconstruction they will begin to learn about industrialization, immigration, and urbanization.

Reading -- Mr. Irvin and his classes finished stories based off families and togetherness.  Mr. Samson's students worked on their reading skills to improve comprehension, and they prepared an independent novel project. 

Science -- Mr. Elder and his students were "objects" in motion as they learned about physics during third quarter.  All of the topics they discussed can be directly applied to home, so Mr. Elder encourages parents to question their student on their understanding of these topics. Mr. Schaben's students in physical science worked on their high altitude balloon projects.    

Language Arts --  Ms. Carlson and Ms. Lee had their students completing a novel project as they build their background knowledge about events within World War II.  During fourth quarter, students will be completing the district inquiry research project about World War II risk takers.

How To Prepare Your Child for Middle School

Please inform Nurse Cunningham of any health issues your child may have.  If you have any questions or concerns, or need to update the nurse regarding health issues with your child, please contact Nurse Cunningham at (402) 557-4215.  If she is not available when you call, please leave a mesage and she will return your call as soon as possible.

1. Immunization Policy -- Students entering seventh grade must receive one dose of Tdap (Tetanus, Diptheria, and Pertussis) booster after the age of 10 years.  (The change is that the vaccine must include Pertussis.)  Please speak with your doctor about which immunizations your child may need.  If your child received shots over the summer or had a school physical, those records need to be turned in the first day of school.  Students who are not up-to-date with shots will be excluded according to the Nebraska State Law.  Please make every effort to comply with the State regulations to prevent unnecessary exclusions.

2. Medical Physicals -- All seventh-grade students and students transferring in from out-of-state are required to have a current school physical completed by a doctor.  The physicals will also provide eligibility to participate in sports, if dated after March 1st of the current year.  Fall sports tryouts start within a few days after the new school year begins.  Students are not allowed to try out for any sports activity without a physical on file with the school nurse.  Please submit a copy to the nurse at the beginning of the school year and keep a copy for your own records.

3. Sports Physicals --  Any eighth-grade student who wants to participate in sports also is required to have a current physical, dated after May 1st of the current year.  Please make sure your child gets a physical as soon as possible if they are interested in participating in sports activities.  It is best to get a physical prior to the start of the school year.  Fall sports tryouts start within a few days after the new school year begins.  Please do not wait until sports activities are under way.  Students are not allowed to try out without a physical on file with the school nurse.  Please submit a copy to the nurse at the beginning of the school yer and keep a copy for your own records.

 4. Medication Policy -- Any medication, even cough drops, requires a note from the doctor and a signed parent permission slip.  If your child requires medications at school, please make sure your child turns in all medications and the proper paper work to the school nurse.

5. Safety Precautions --  Please review with your child the importance to avoid contact with any type of body fluids from another person. If another person has a nosebleed, scrape or cut, has vomited, etc.  please instruct your child to notify a teacher or staff member.  It is important that an adult handle the situation and clean up.  School staff are trained and equipped on proper handling of body fluids.

6. Illnesses or Emergencies --  It is very important that the school nurse know how to reach you in case your child becomes ill or some type of emergency occurs.  Please provide the school with current phone numbers for home, work, and/or cell phone.  Also, please provide names of family/friends who can be contacted in case you are not available.

Nurse Cunningham looks forward to working with your child and wants to provide whatever support she can to help your child succeed in middle school.  If you have any questions regarding the above information, please contact her at 402-557-4215.  It is Nurse Cunningham's desire that together we can provide a healthy environment in which your child can learn.

Girls Basketball -- The Lady Patriots had a season of ups and downs.  The Patriots held each other to high standards as they moved through the season.  The squad consisted of six eighth-grade athletes and twelve seventh-grade athletes.  With each game the athletes showed improvement on teamwork and individual skills.  Coach Kowal and Coach Hodge believe that the team's record does not represent the strides this group made over the season.

Boys Swimming -- Nathan Hale boys swim season got off to a bit of a rocky start.  Coach Clarke only had two boys come out for the swim team, and we were concerned that we might not be able to have a swim program. However, our Athletic Director, Mrs. Dunklau, was able to save the day.  Since Davis Middle School was using our pool for practice time, she was able to work out that we have the same swim meet schedule as Davis. Our swimmers practiced together, and it helped our boys gain the feeling of being part of an athletic team.  When our Patriot swimmers started the season, it was a challenge for them to make it the length of the pool.  However, with their hard work and dedication, they were soon swimming several yards a day in practice.  The boys' times improved with each meet that they swam in.  At City Finals, both boys had their fastest time ever in the 50 freestyle.  These young men were outstanding, not only with their athletic endeavors, but also academically.  Congratulations on a successful season. 

Wrestling --  The wrestling team had a very productive year in terms of growth.  Every single wrestler grew tremendously from the beginning of the season to the end.  Only one wrestler had previous experience coming in to the season.  Coach Elder and Coach Matthews look to expand on this success next year as many of the wrestlers were seventh-grade students this year.

The Nathan Hale Music Department would like to invite you to the Spring Concert!

Patriot Chorus, Band, and Orchestra students have been working hard all semester to prepare this program, and we are all excited to present this to you! 

Students in Chorus, Band, and Orchestra are required to perform in the concert unless they have a valid reason for missing which has been verified with their guardians. Since music is performance-based, this concert is equivalent to their final assessment. Students who do not perform in the concert will be asked to complete an alternative assignment in order to make up that summative assessment grade.

Students in Music Survey or General Music classes are not required to attend the concert, but if they would like to attend they need to be escorted by a parent or guardian.

Recommended Concert Attire:  

* Plain black pants (no shorts or capris) 

* School appropriate black or white shirt (no tank tops or crop tops) 

*  If dresses/skirts are chosen to be worn, leggings or tights must be worn under skirts that are from the knee or shorter. Dresses/skirts must be black and/or white. 

*  Shoes are up to best discretion, but no high heels should be worn (for the safety of the students and the sound during transitions).

The day of the concert: 

Students are welcome to stay after school Tuesday before the concert and must report to the music wing by 3:25 p.m., where there will be multiple options for students to occupy their time. Pizza and water will be available to students who have paid their teacher before the day of the concert.

Prices for pizza and a bottle of water are:

* 1 slice $3.00

* 2 slices $5.00

* 3 slices $7.00

Money (for the pizza and water) must be paid to the student's music teacher by 3:25 p.m. on May 15.   

Students who are staying after school may not leave the school building for any purpose unless escorted by their guardian. 

ALL STUDENTS SHOULD REPORT TO THEIR RESPECTIVE MUSIC CLASSROOM BY 5:30 PM. 

Please note that students are expected to stay for the duration of the concert as respectful audience members, and will only be dismissed to guardians from their classroom. 

Please contact Miss Boesch at jolene.boesch@ops.org, Ms. Haas at courtney.haas@ops.org, or Mr. Karpf at william.karpf@ops.org if you have any questions, clarifications, or concerns. 

Thank you for your cooperation, and we are so excited to perform for you!

Omaha Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, age, genetic information, citizenship status, or economic status in its programs, activities and employment and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.  The following individual has been designated to address inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Superintendent of Schools, 3215 Cuming Street, Omaha, NE 68131  (402-557-2001).

Las Escuelas Publicas de Omaha no discriminan basados en la raza, color, origen nacional, religion, sexo, estado civil, orientacion sexual, discapacidad, edad, informacion genetica, estado de ciudadania, o estado economico, ensus programas, actividades y empleo, y provee acceso equitativo a los "Boy Scouts" y a otros grupos juveniles designados.  La siguiente persona ha sido designada para atender estas inquietudes referentes a las polizas de no discriminacion:  El Superintendente de las Escuelas, 3215 Cumming Street, Omaha, NE 68131 (402-557-2001).

PTSC

The next PTSC meeting will be Tuesday, April 11 at 6:00 p.m. in the Nathan Hale library. 

PTSC stands for Parents, Teachers, Students, and Community, and it is an organization that supports Nathan Hale Magnet Middle School.  Nathan Hale's PTSC needs you.  Please consider becoming a member.  The remaining meetings for this year are scheduled for April 11 and May 9.  

The PTSC collects Box Tops for Education to help fund their scholarship program.  All Patriots are encouraged to collect Box Tops and turn them into Mr. Conn in the main office.

Like Us On Facebook

Nathan Hale has a Facebook page.  Find us.  Like us. Follow us for updates on what's been happening at Nathan Hale.  You can "like" Nathan Hale Middle School or @NathanHaleMS.  Thank you to Ms. Boesch and Ms. Wolf for creating and maintaining our Facebook page.

Buy A Yearbook

Mrs. Foley and the Yearbook Club encourage everyone to buy a yearbook for the 2016-2017 school year.  Yearbooks are on sale until April 20, 2017.  They will be delivered on May 22, 2017.  Yearbooks cost $15.00.  Order forms can be picked up from Mrs. Foley in Room 20.  When using an order form, payment can be made via check or cash.  Checks should be made out to Nathan Hale.  Completed forms and payment can be returned to Mrs. Foley in Room 20 or Mr. Conn in the main office.  Orders can also be made online at www.jostenyearbooks.com.  

Urgent!  Date Change!  Don't Miss The Spring Play!

Make sure to attend the Spring Play on Thursday, April 6 at 6:00 p.m. in the auditorium.  Admission is free.  Ms. Workman and the Drama Team have been working hard to prepare the play called High School Election.  This parody of school elections will have you laughing and actually enjoying politics.

Upcoming Music Performances

April 7th --  Vocal adjudication at TAC

May 9th --  Sixth-grade area concert at Northwest High School at 7:30 p.m.

May 16th -- Spring Concert at Nathan Hale's auditorium at 6:00 p.m.

Save the Date -- Honors Night

Mark your calendar for Thursday, May 11, 2017.  This is the evening of Nathan Hale's Honors Night.  Come see our Patriots shine! 

Physical Education (Boys) -- To close out third quarter, Mr. Williams and his sixth-grade and seventh-grade classes tried their hand at badminton.  They learned when to underhand, backhand, and overhand strike.  They also learned a variety of defensive strategies.  To begin fourth quarter, they are reviewing concepts learned from past invasion sports by playing soccer.  So far they have been practicing their dribbling, passing, and trapping skills.  Soon, the boys will be translating these skills to the soccer field.  Mr. Clayburn's physical education students participated in net games during third quarter.  They finished with badminton.  During fourth quarter, they will focus on outdoor games and finally, transition to physical fitness.  

Physical Education (Girls)  --  The girls and Ms. Kowal started the semester with some fitness testing.  Following the testing, they had a few classes to complete fitness circuits.  Next, they moved to badminton which proved to provide some fun, competitive play.  Assistant principal, Mr. Johnson, even arrived to show off his skills in the sport.  After completing a few days of stretching and strengthening through yoga, the girls will finish the quarter with team handball.  During fourth quarter, the lady Patriots will play floor hockey, pickle ball, and cricket.

Spanish --  For third quarter Mrs. Peters and her students talked about family, home, and chores -- in Spanish, of course.  During fourth quarter, they will discuss weather, school, and after-school activities.  Buena suerte! 

Introduction to Careers -- Mrs. Kildow and her students summed up a quarter's worth of study by writing their own resumes.  A new group of students will start fourth quarter by learning about social skills necessary to be successful in our chosen careers.

Vocal Music --  Ms. Boesch and her students spent third quarter preparing for their performances coming up during fourth quarter.  The eighth-grade students have adjudication on April 7.  The sixth-grade area concert is May 9, and the Spring Concert is May 16.  The students are working hard.  Please join us for these performances.  

Instrumental Music --  Mr. Karpf and his student performers geared up during third quarter for adjudication on March 22.  The drumline prepared for the Spring performance.  Some students are really working hard and starting to shine!

Social Justice --  During third quarter, Ms. Skradski's eighth-grade students learned about abolitionists and took a field trip on March 8.  Her seventh-grade students learned about what causes people to live in poverty. 

ACP --  The students in Ms. McNeil's class have been identifying main idea and practicing making inferences using the story and movie Beauty and the Beast.  They will take a field trip during fourth quarter to see the  movie and then reflect about the differences and similarities between the movie and the book. 

Leadership -- Ms. Benson's sixth-grade Service Learning students focused on what it means to give their skills, talents, and abilities to help others.  The students created businesses that focused on helping people feel safe and good about themselves.  Her seventh-grade Leadership students focused on their Anti-Bullying Initiative to encourage all students to be themselves and not judge others.  Finally, her eighth-grade Leadership students focused on what it means and looks like to be a leader. 

Live! Laugh! Love! Mrs. Patton started a new club at Nathan Hale.  It is called Creative Inspirations.  The club meets every Tuesday after school in Room 25.  Students have the opportunity to color inspirational quotes embedded in designs.  When they complete a quote, it is mounted on  construction paper, laminated, and given to the student to take home.  

Through the website, DonorChoose.org, a local donor has provided funding for two, cool science experiments in Mrs. Swain's classes.  The first experiment will involve beetles and metal washers.  The students will test to see how strong these bugs are, by counting the number of washers they can pull.  The second experiment will find these sixth-grade Patriots creating their own microcosms -- a tiny aquatic world filled with algae, frogs, water plants, and snails.  They will watch and record how all these creatures interact.

The Patriots are very proud to announce that Principal Darin Williams and volunteer-extraordinaire Pastor Portia Cavitt will be the recipients of awards at the Omaha Education Association's annual Laurel's Night on April 23, 2017.  Mr. Williams will receive the Spirit of Collaboration Award which is presented to an OPS administrator who has shown a commitment to work with teachers while showing mutal respect, clear and direct communication, and a willingness to understand.  Pastor Cavitt will recieve the School Bell Award which is presented to an individual who has made outstanding contributions to education.  Congratulations! 

What do you think?  This is the third edition of Nathan Hale's digital newsletter.  We would like to know what your thoughts are about the newsletter and about receiving it in a digital format.  Please email your comments and feedback to Mrs. Tetschner at angela.tetschner@ops.org.  Thank you.