May/June 2015 HUSKY HAPPENINGS

HUSKY HAPPENINGS
Come see us at
11606 West Lincoln Ave West Allis, WI 53227
Principal
Mr. Matt Lesar
LesarM@wawm.k12.wi.us
(414) 604-3200
May/June 2015
Dear Nathan Hale High School Families:
Spring is finally here and the end of the school year is fast approaching. To
this point, we have had a successful school year and I am looking forward to
Assistant Principals
more of the same the last four weeks of school. Looking back on the school
year, I am very proud of our students’ accomplishments both in their acaMs. Chambers
A-K
demic coursework and co-curricular activities. I would like to thank them for
ChambersT@wawm.k12.wi.us
their hard work and dedication in all that they do in making Nathan Hale a
“school of excellence.” We truly have great kids here at NHHS. FurtherMr. Borland
L-Z
more, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our committed volBorlJe@wawm.k12.wi.us
unteers throughout the school year, including our parent groups (PTSA,
Friends of Music, & Booster Club) for their continuous support and giving of
Dean of Students
time and talents in making a positive impact on our school community.
Following are a few items to share for the months of May and June.
Mr. Coyle
CoyleD@wawm.k12.wi.us
Nathan Hale High School Recognized Nationally
Counselors
For the tenth consecutive year, Nathan Hale High School has been recognized by the Washington Post on their America’s Most Challenging High
Ms. Reisenauer A-Dos
Schools list at #23 in the state and #1430 nationally, up from the prior year
ReisG@wawm.k12.wi.us
#28 and #1717 respectively. According to the Washington Post, public high
schools are ranked according to the ratio where the total number of AdMs. Arp
Draj-Kauf
vanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and/or Cambridge tests
ArpJ@wawm.k12.wi.us
taken by all students at each high school in 2014 is divided by the number
of graduating seniors. Public high schools on this list have an index of at
Mr. Leinberger Kaur-Ngu
least a 1.000 and are in the top 11 percent of approximately 22,000 public
schools measured this way. This continued success and accomplishment is
LeinL@wawm.k12.wi.us
an effort by all and another representation of what outstanding students,
Ms. Houston Ni-Schwartz staff, and school community we have here at Nathan Hale.
HoustonKwawm.k12.wi.us
Ms. Levine
Schweda-Z
LEVIN@wawm.k12.wi.us
Main Office
(414) 604-3200
Attendance Line
(414) 604-3201
Student & Staff Recognition
Senior, Susan Melk, won a $3000.00 Herb Kohl Educational Foundation
2015 Excellence Scholarship and was recognized at Menomonee Fall High
School over spring break on April 11th. This award recognizes students who
have demonstrated academic potential, outstanding leadership, citizenship,
community service, integrity, and other special talents. She is one of only
100 graduating seniors state-wide who received this recognition. We congratulate Susan on this outstanding accomplishment.
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Freshmen, Cory Jeschke, performed at the State Solo & Ensemble Music Festival at Cardinal Stritch University on Saturday, May 2nd, and received the Exemplary Soloist Award on the tenor sax. At the 2014 State
Festival, Adjudicators identified 492 truly exemplary soloists selected from amidst 9,000 solo events performed at state and beginning with over 100,000 students initially performing at the district level. This is the
first band member from Nathan Hale to win this award in at least the past seven years.
Nathan Hale Band Director, Ms. Kristi Wicihowski, was recently selected as a quarterfinalist for the GRAMMYs Music Educator Award. The GRAMMY Foundation and the Recording Academy have partnered to present this award to recognize music educators who have made a significant and lasting contribution to the
field of music education and who demonstrate a commitment to the broader cause of maintaining music education in schools. The award is open to all current U.S. music teachers kindergarten through college, including more than 4500 initial nominations from all 50 states and is now down to 213 quarterfinalist (1 of 5 from
Wisconsin) which Ms. Wicihowski is a part of. Quarterfinalists will now complete additional materials to be
reviewed by the screening committee with ten semifinalists being announced in September and the winner
accepting the award during the 2016 GRAMMY Week and attend the GRAMMY Awards.
Mr. Michael Ellery, Nathan Hale Social Studies teacher, was inducted into the Kettle Moraine School District
Laser Trailblazer Hall of Fame on Friday, May 1st in front of the entire student body and district/local dignitaries. This award honors the accomplishments and humanitarian efforts of former graduates of Kettle Moraine
High School of 10 years or more and have made, or are making, a significant contribution to the local, state,
national or international community in the fields of entertainment, athletics, the arts, community, government
or military service, professional endeavors, entrepreneurial or industrial leadership, science or technology,
education, research, or humanitarian efforts. Mr. Ellery was honored under the categories of education, research, and writing.
Student Recognition and Awards
We are looking forward to recognizing and honoring our Nathan Hale award winners for the 2014-15 school
year at the upcoming Academic Awards Evenings this week. Students meeting the Honor Roll GPA requirement or scholarship and special awards criteria have been invited to the celebration. The Juniors and Seniors will be recognized on Wednesday, May 20th, with dinner at 6:00 pm followed by the awards program,
while the Freshmen and Sophomores will be recognized on Thursday, May 21st, with the program beginning
at 7:00 pm and a dessert reception following in the Nathan Hale gymnasium. I look forward to this celebration of our students’ accomplishments.
Fourth Quarter – Stay Focused
With the end of the year in sight, it is important that the students continue to work diligently on their daily
coursework, which includes completing daily assignments and homework. Completing this work is the key to
each student’s academic success. With this being said, I am asking all parents to make it a priority to support this effort. Please talk with your son/daughter regarding the importance of giving his/her full effort the
last four weeks of school. I know we all lead very busy lives; however, together we can ensure all of our students are successful. I thank you for your efforts in this area throughout the school year and your continued
focus on school as a top priority.
Summer School – 2015
As explained in prior newsletters, Nathan Hale is in alignment with the expectations mandated by the United
States Department of Education that each of our students stays on track to graduate high school in four
years. Students who are currently not on track to graduate, meaning they are credit deficient or failed a first
semester class, were recently sent letters requiring their attendance at mandatory summer school June 16July 3. In addition, those students that fail a Semester 2 course will need to attend summer school as well
and will receive a letter shortly after school ends in June to attend from July 6-July 24. This intervention is to
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allow for students to acquire the missed essential knowledge and skills and recover credits to graduate on
time, ultimately preparing them for a successful future. Once again, to plan ahead, summer school will run in
two sessions; June 16-July 3 (Semester I failures) and July 6-24(Semester II failures). Please arrange vacations accordingly. Feel free to contact your student’s school counselor with any questions.
Farewell To The Class of 2015
The days are winding down for our graduating seniors, as they close one chapter of their lives and open another. The Nathan Hale staff wishes them much success as they move on from high school to pursue further
degrees, enter the military, or move directly into the world of work. We are looking forward to an exciting culmination to the school year and celebration of their accomplishments. As a reminder, the Graduation Ceremony is scheduled for June 13th at 11:00 a.m. in the Nathan Hale gymnasium. As in the past, each family
will be given four (4) tickets for attendance due to limited seating capacity; however, additional seating will be
available in the air conditioned auditorium for live viewing via closed circuit television on a first come, first
served basis. Senior graduation agreements were distributed to your students to be signed and returned to
the office by June 1st showing your student’s intention to participate in the ceremony. This document is also
available on the main page of our school website. I look forward to seeing everyone at this special event in
honor of our Senior Class of 2015.
I wish everyone a great close to the school year and I hope to see you at the upcoming events.
Partners in Education,
Matthew M. Lesar
Principal
Nathan Hale Senior
Graduation
Will be held on
June 13, 2015
11:00 a.m.
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#HuskyNation
On March 30th, Mrs. Krasovich's 3rd hour class celebrated their Pennies for Patients victory with a pizza
party. Mrs. Krasovich's class won the 3rd hour competition by making the biggest donation to Pennies for
Patients, a campaign that benefits the Leukemia and
Lymphoma Society. The celebration was extra special
with a visit from Casey, a four year old that has been
fighting Leukemia for the past two years.
Casey, his mother, and aunt (Hale student
Brianna S.), show the class his "Beads of
Courage," which show the various treatments
and procedures he has endured.
Nathan Hale Guitar Club plays at the first annual talent show featuring staff members, Mr.
Bufe and Mr. Budzinsky (English teachers).
Nathan Hale Robotics Team finishes third place
at the Regional competition at UW-Milwaukee.
Nathan Hale teachers celebrate recommendation by AdvancED for School Accreditation.
Senior, Susan Melk, won a
Herb Kohl Educational Foundation 2015 Excellence Scholarship in the amount of $3000.00.
She was one of only 100 graduating seniors state-wide receiving this recognition.
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SENIORS INFORMATION AND EVENTS
GRADUATION:
JUNE 13, 2015 11:00 a.m. Nathan Hale Gymnasium by ticket only.
Extra seating in the air conditioned auditorium with a big screen!
SENIOR GRADUATION AGREEMENT - Must be signed and returned by June 1, 2015
The booklet explaining dress attire, tickets, rehearsal times, and other information and expectations was
handed out to seniors during a planned senior homeroom on May 7th. This agreement serves as a contract
and must be signed by both the student and parent and returned. Failure to return this contract will result in
not being able to participate in the graduation ceremony. Please contact Mr. Pritzl at 604-3200, ext. 6377
with any questions.
ATTENTION SENIORS: GRADUATION FEES - Cash only is accepted after May 3
Seniors who still owe their $20 graduation fee as well as any other obligations were contacted with reminders. This fee was due at August’s Forms and Fees Day. This amount and any obligations appear on the
Infinite Campus Parent Portal under a “FEES” tab. In order to participate in the graduation ceremony and
receive your diploma, all fee’s must be paid. The graduation fee covers such expenses as sound, light, decorations, diploma, diploma cover, program, tickets, and more. Please come to the Main Office, Room 104 to
pay.
SENIOR DINNER DANCE - Formal Dance-Black and White Theme
Tickets on sale Monday, June 1 – Friday, June 5. No tickets sold after the June 5th.
When:
June 11, 2015
Arrival 5:00p.m
Dinner 6:15 p.m.
Dance 8:30-10:30 p.m.
Where:
Joey Buona’s
500 N Water St., Milwaukee, 53202
Tickets:
Price: $35.00
Ticket on sale during all three lunches, in the cafeteria
In order to purchase tickets the following must apply:
No obligations owed

No referrals
No detentions owed
Graduation agreement turned in
SENIOR REHEARSAL AND PICNIC
Senior Rehearsal will take place on Friday, June 12th at 9:00 a.m. sharp!
The 2015 Senior Picnic will take place near the tennis courts following graduation rehearsal. Students will
be free to come and go as they please. No admission cost or RSVP is required. A hot dog grill-out lunch
will be provided by Sodexo and will be served after rehearsal. Activities will include volleyball, lawn games,
kickball, yearbook signing, and a raffle of prizes.
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SEMESTER EXAM DAYS
Semester Exam Schedule June 9th, 10th & 11th
Time
Tuesday, June 9th
Wednesday, June 10th
Thursday, June 11th
7:30-8:20 a.m.
Student Help Time
Student Help Time
Student Help Time
8:30-9:30 a.m.
Hour 1
Hour 4
Hour 6
9:40-10:40 a.m.
Hour 2
Hour 5
Hour 7
10:50-11:50 a.m.
Hour 3
Test Make up
Test Make up (all tests
need to be completed by
2:00 on Thursday)
Tuesday, June 9 Classes dismissed at 11:50 am except for those students who owe detention time.
Wednesday, June 10 Classes dismissed at 10:40 am except for those students who owe detention time.
Thursday, June 11 Classes dismissed at 10:40 am except for those students who owe detention time.
City busses, 220 Bus, and Yellow First Student busses will run the shortened schedules.
No School for Students on June 12, 2015
End Of The Year Information!
Obligations
Throughout the school year some students may accrue obligations for library fines, unpaid school fees,
broken beakers, goggles, locks, IPad, NSF checks, missing textbooks, and more. These obligations are
listed on the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus. Once a student reaches senior status and does not fulfill the
obligation(s), that student will not participate in the graduation ceremony or get his/her diploma. It is best
to take care of these obligations as they occur to avoid constant reminders. Call the office if you
have any questions.
Report Card Date and Method of Distribution
Quarter 4/Semester 2 Report Cards will be mailed home by June 19, 2015. Please, make sure that if
you have moved your address is up to date in IC to receive the report cards.
Lost & Found
If you lose or misplace something, be sure and check out our lost & found in the Main Office, Room 104.
Throughout the year we collect jewelry, keys, books, calculators, glasses, phones, cameras, clothing, and
much, much more. Come to the Main Office and identify that missing article. We’d be glad to return it. All
unclaimed items are discarded twice a year at the end of the first and second semester.
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Locks/Lockers and Books, Leaving things in the locker
Students, please remove your lock on or before the last day of school. This is YOUR lock and you may use it
again next year and all other years you are here. If you do not remove your lock, we will be cutting it off and
you will need to purchase a new one next year. Be sure to take all personal belongings.
Updated Address and E-mail
Please make sure we have the most updated address and e-mail on file in IC before school
lets out, so we can send future mailings and e-mails to the correct address once school is
over and into the summer. This also insures that the August Forms and fees packet gets to
the correct mailing address and parent.
Clearing Out Lockers
Our cleaning/custodial staff will be clearing out lockers immediately following the last exam and preparing them
for next year. Items left in the lockers at the end of the school year are donated to Goodwill. Any books left in
the locker are subject to a $5 per book charge to that student. Book charges will appear as obligations on the
August Forms & Fees Day receipt. You may also find them on the Parent Portal of Infinite Campus under the
“Fees” tab.
Summer Office Hours
The Main Office will be open all summer from 7:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. daily. Please plan accordingly.
Student Support Services is closed over the summer. Any calls will be directed to voicemail or
e-mails for responses.
2015-16 FORMS AND FEES DAY
TUESDAY, AUGUST 18
Seniors 9:00 – 11:00 am
Junior 11:00 – 1:00 pm
Sophomores 1:00 – 3:00 pm
-Break -
Freshmen 5:00 pm Last names A-E
5:30 pm Last names F-K
6:00 pm Last names L-R
6:30 pm Last names S-Z
A detailed Forms & Fees newsletter will be sent home in early August with specific information on stations,
costs, times, forms, etc. If you have moved please make sure your address is updated in IC.
How To Access Our Mobile Website!
You can access the mobile website on a mobile device (iPad, mobile phone, etc...). If you type in the URL
(Hale.wawm.k12.wi.us) on your device it will automatically pull up the mobile website.
Book/ Ipad Replacement Costs
All books/ipad must be accounted for so check at home, under your bed and be sure to return after your last
exam. The fees for any damaged or unreturned books or ipads will be assed in Infinite Campus.
Students must make sure ALL books/ipads are returned even if a student is out for vacation or medical leave.
Remember….Books are the student’s responsibility.
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Moving or Transferring to Another School
If you know your son/daughter will not be attending Nathan Hale High School next year, we need you to
sign a withdrawal form in order to make it official. Records will not be forwarded to the new school without
this form signed. Texts and library books must be returned and the locker should be cleaned out. If you
have any questions about withdrawal from school, please contact an assistant principal.
Transcripts
Copies of transcripts cost $5 for former students and the first five copies are FREE to current students - all
requests thereafter will be chargeable. (Any obligations must be taken care of before a transcript can be
issued.)
Summer Work Permits
We issue work permits in the main office all summer between the hours of 7:00 am and 2:30 pm. Information brought in after 2:30 pm will be prepared and ready the next day. The following items are needed
for a work permit:
1) letter from the employer on letterhead of some kind describing the job performed and the
address/phone number of the company, signed by a manager
2) parent signature or permission slip
3) actual birth certificate or driver’s license
4) actual social security card
5) $10
Medication
Parents . . . For your information and planning for next year . . .
The school can not dispense medication to a student that misses a morning dose at home unless the doctor’s orders we have on file specifically state we can. If your student misses a dose, then you can come in
and give it to him/her – we can’t. This is a district policy. DON”T FORGET TO STOP BY THE MAIN OFFICE
ON OR BEFORE THE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL TO PICK UP ANY OF YOUR CHILD’S UNUSED MEDICATION.
WE CANNOT GIVE IT TO YOUR CHILD.
Friend Of Music
FOM is in search of 3 officers. If you are interested contact FOM on the Nathan Hale Website at
http://hale.wawm.k12.wi.us/for_parents FOM dinner will take place on June 8, 2015.
Come join us at the Nathan Hale Website!
http://hale.wawm.k12.wi.us/
It’s an easy and convenient way to contact your student’s teacher…….How do you do it?? Go
to the Nathan Hale Website at
http://hale.wawm.k12.wi.us/
Click on d click staff>click staff directory> click on the teacher’s name.
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Community Building At Hale
and Raffles, Raffles Raffles galore!
Our PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) Team and Hale Faculty have been working hard
to recognize students who are “being respectful, responsible and safe” and “Walking the Husky Way!”
Statewide, the charge of PBIS is to create a more positive environment for our school community by establishing clear expectations and teaching, modeling and reinforcing appropriate behaviors school wide. We
have been acknowledging positive behavior by giving students green “Pride of the Pack” coupons which students have been using to redeem coffee, tea or hot cocoa from our student run “Haleterra” coffee shop (4
POPs/cup) or to buy Milwaukee bus tickets (10POPs/1) and also to enter lots of raffles! It is noteworthy that
1,127 beverages have been purchased using 4,508 Pride of the Packs.
We have been holding raffles during both the Homecoming and Sweethearts Pep Assemblies for the past
couple of years. Students who turn their POPs in during those events have more chances to win later as well
as we continue to add POPs into each grade’s bin. This was the first year that we took the advice of students
who had given us ideas about what kinds of incentives they would like to earn. We decided to hold some
small focused raffles. 27 students participated in the “$46 raffle” this spring. Students received one raffle
ticket for every ten POPs that they turned in to the office over the course of three school days. This brought
in 54 entries for a total of 540 POPs. Two students won half the cost of a $91 AP exam. Prom also brought
in 240 Pride of the Packs from the Junior and senior classes. A very lucky Chris K. won both of the $25 half
the cost of a Prom ticket. The “Front of the Lunch Line” coupon has given students a
weeklong pass to leave class early in order to get down to the cafeteria before anyone
else. One student from each grade level has won this weekly raffle since we returned
from Spring Break! Teachers win when their students win. It is all about luck but
teachers who have recognized good behavior by their students have also won gift
Advisers Amber Hancards to Starbucks and Speedway. Our PBIS team members who were formerly
sen, Jessica, Santiago,
known as FOR advisors, Amber Hansen, Jen Kuhlenbeck and Jessica Santiago have Jen Kuhlenbeck host motibeen instrumental in bringing in other community building activities this year. They
vational speaker Jonathan
Williams"
created and facilitated our all school “Kahoot! Battle”. They brought in our guest
speaker Jonathan Williams who spoke to the importance of not letting your circumstances stop you from
achieving great things in life.
Combating We are currently holding a fundraiser for Batten’s Disease in
Struck by
honor of Sully and Colty Ustruck and hope to raise over $1,500
Battens Disease in order to have four lucky homerooms duct tape our adminUstrucks
In memory of Sully and Colton
istrators to the wall! This summer our PBIS team will continue
Ustruck, who lost their battle with
 Donate min. $1 earn a raffle ticket
Battens
Disease
at
a
young
age,
the
for admin duct taping to the wall (the
to meet and we are seeking membership from both a parent and
more money donated, the more
Nathan Hale School Community is
raffle tickets earned)
a student. If you are interested in being a part of improving our
determined to show support for our
West Allis family in a fundraising
 Donate min. $1 earn the right to
school community please let internal PBIS Coach Bridget Geboy
wear Packers/Badgers/Brewers
event. Our goal is to raise $1 per
sports wear/hat on Fridays: 5/22
-Helfenstein know at: gebob@wawm.k12.wi.us
student = $1500!
or 5/29
THANKS for encouraging your child to continue to do great
Money raised will be donated in
 Donate money, may win drawing to
throw a pie in administrator’s face
memory of Sully and Colton to the
things and Walk the Husky Way!
 2nd hour classes with the most
money raised get to duct tape
administrators to the wall
2nd Hour Competition
Children’s Batten Disease Foundation
Monetary donations accepted from community members. Contact Jennifer Kuhlenbeck at KuhlJ@wawm.k12.wi.us Social
Studies Teacher/FOR Advisor Nathan Hale High School 414-604-3200
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