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Greetings Nathan Hale Parents and Guardians,
Here’s hoping this message finds you healthy and well.
NHMS has much to celebrate this week! Athletically, it is with incredible pride we share with you that our girl's and the boys' basketball teams won their district intermural middle school championship games Wednesday evening! The games were amazing with the boys’ game culminating in a nail-biter victory. Our student athletes represented our school so well in terms of play and conduct. Congratulations to all our incredible players, our coaches - Mr. Morey and Mr. Sullivan and our athletic coordinators - Ms. Folchetti and Mr. Fedeli. Currently, we are working out plans for a school-wide celebration of our teams one week from today as part of a red, white, and blue spirit day. More details will be forthcoming soon.
March represents our school’s final stretch to prepare our students for high-stakes assessments. Several teachers are conducting data-chats with their students as they review NWEA midyear results. They are taking the time and energy to share their progress and set personal goals so that each student may to strive towards reaching them between now and State assessments. Thank you to our teachers for continuing to use a data-driven approach in your lesson planning so that we are all properly differentiating and scaffolding tasks that supports the learning for all our students.
Thank you for a productive week! As always, please let us know how we may be of service to you. Enjoy your weekend… 😊
Sincerely,
NHMS Leadership Team
Academic Updates   
Arts Integration
We had an exciting week in Arts Integration, shout outs to Mrs. Jessup, Mr. Sullivan, Mrs. Fallon, Dr. Stanford, and Mr. Byrne for thinking outside the box and trying new ways of engaging students! And a shout out to all our homeroom teachers for creating Tableau for Black History Month. Way to go!
Operations Update 
Shared Decision-Making Team 
Our SDMT meets monthly to discuss various topics associated with academics, school operations, and the school community. The intention is for the group to address issues and problem-solve together. It also serves as an opportunity to proactively plan. If you have questions or concerns tied to any of those broad categories to be discussed and resolved, please pass them along to Mr. Fedeli.
School Community Updates 
School Governance Council
Our SGC met Wednesday night to review staff feedback to the vision statement draft that was presented to them on Monday. After considerable discussion among members of the council, they were able to agree upon the following statement:
Vision Statement - Final
“We empower all Nathan Hale Middle School students to develop the values, skills, and mindset for lifelong learning and realize their fullest potential in a global society.”
This new vision statement will serve our school as the direction our school will be striving to achieve over the next five years. Next, the council will focus its efforts to finalize our school’s new mission statement. The mission statement serves as our school’s pathway to fulfill the vision statement. Please read the following statement:
Mission Statement (First DRAFT):
"Nathan Hale Middle School is an inclusive arts-integrated middle school that provides a place of belonging where everyone is valued and respected. Providing skill sets (motivation) (guidance) (mentorship) and education to do so. (Foster) Setting goals and fulfilling them (self-directed learner) (self-advocacy). Students are empowered to meet current and future global challenges through developing social and cultural awareness, civic responsibility, and personal growth."
SGC has opted to take the next month to review some language from the IB Learner Profile to incorporate into our mission. Please take a look at the IB Learner Profile here: https://www.ibo.org/globalassets/publications/recognition/learnerprofile-en.pdf
Please know that we are seeking feedback from all stakeholders regarding our mission statement. If you have thoughts regarding ways we may add or tweak our draft, we greatly appreciate your input in advance. The SGC will be meeting on March 30 to finalize our school’s mission statement.
COVID Test Kits/Masks
Effective March 1, masks are now optional for all students and staff in Norwalk Public Schools. Just a reminder that masks are still required during certain activities according to guidelines such as chorus. Together as a community, we encourage everyone to model acceptance and kindness as this transition takes place, and families make individualized decisions about mask wearing.
If NHMS parents or guardians have any questions, please reach out to our school nurse.
March is Women’s History Month
To celebrate Woman’s History Month, we are hoping to form a committee to lead a culminating assembly at the end of the month. If you are willing to be on the committee, please see Jay Gerlach. If you are interested in ideas to celebrate Woman’s History Month in your classes, the Makers website offers hundreds of short PBS documentaries about powerful and intelligent modern women in science, business, politics, art, and other fields who are changing the world for the better.
Student Leadership Team
The Student Leadership met this morning with a focus on having positive interactions on social media. A group of students from Norwalk High School who are part of a club called “Bears Cares” will be meeting with the SLT in the upcoming weeks to discuss ways they can help support positive social media conduct in and out of school.
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