Our fourth grade summer readers had a special lunch on Wednesday, September 9. Chick-fil-A catered their lunches with sandwiches, sauces, fruit cups, and brownies.  Lunch would not have been complete without a visit from Cow. The visit was topped off with a few rounds of rock, paper, scissors: Cow vs. Mr. Kent addition. If your fourth grader comes home from school and is begging for a trip to Chick-fil-A in Lansing, now you know why! Congratulations again to all of our summer readers.

Nathan Hale was lucky to celebrate its 5th International Dot Day on Tuesday, September 15. This day reminds us all to make our mark and leave things better than we found them.  View our photos of the fun we had and the memories we made along the way.  

Soccer Club is up and running for Nathan Hale's third grade boys and girls. They are off to a great start working on drills and playing skill-based games. We are looking forward to starting some 1v1 and 3v3 scrimmage games this week! 

Our fifth graders are excited to welcome Hispanic Heritage Month! Our classroom bulletin board celebrates the rich cultures and traditions of Hispanic and Latino communities from across the world. From colorful flags and artwork to music, food, and traditions, we look forward to learning about and appreciating the many cultures that make our community so special.

Valentía House Leaders met over the summer to plan themes for each House Day, created activities, and discussed events Valentía can offer throughout the school year.  Students and Staff in the House of Bravery enjoyed a day at the "Heritage Beach" by building paper castles, competing in a water balloon toss and beach ball obstacle courses, and ending the half day with an all-House Pride event.  Valentía certainly knows how to throw a fun BEACH bash! HEAR OUR ROAR!

The HMS Soccer Club is back in action. Big Shout out to Nathan Hale for letting us share their field while our new “stadium” is under construction. Vamos! Nacionales!

The air at the Troy Cross Country Invitational was thick with dark, heavy clouds, and before the races even began, the sky opened up. Rain drenched the course, turning the grass into a slick, muddy track and testing every runner brave enough to step up to the starting line. Over two thousand runners had gathered for the massive meet, but Coach Luttjeboer and his squad from Heritage Middle School weren't intimidated.

With over twenty Heritage runners making the trip, the team brought an undeniable energy to the wet, crowded field. Coach Luttjeboer gathered the team, giving them one final pep talk over the rumble of distant thunder and the chatter of thousands of competitors: control your pace, embrace the mud, and leave everything out on the course.

When it was time for the fifth-grade girls to race, the conditions were at their messiest. The course was a minefield of puddles and squelching mud, and to make things even tougher, the fifth graders weren't just racing against each other—they were merged into the same field as the older, more experienced sixth graders.

As the gun sounded, a sea of runners surged forward. Splashing through cold water and navigating slick turns, the Heritage fifth-grade girls ran with incredible determination. Pushing past older competitors one by one, they proved they belonged at the front of the pack.

Leading the charge for Heritage was Journee Green. Gliding through the mud with power and focus, Journee crossed the finish line in 8:32.4—placing 32nd overall in a crowded field of mostly sixth graders, but securing the third-fastest fifth-grade time across the entire meet.

Right behind her, Anna Ridgell (11:17.0) and Jaya Cole (11:23.1) fought hard through the mid-race sludge to keep the team score tight. Rounding out the top five, Jade Harris (12:32.2) and Leya Cruz (12:35.7) crossed the line side-by-side, with Testimony Christian, JaLaila Jeffrey, and Bella Salako pushing through to the very end to support their teammates.

When the official team points were calculated, the news made all the mud and soaked jerseys worth it. Out of all the schools competing with fifth-grade-only teams, the Heritage fifth-grade girls earned a 4th-place team finish!

Racing shoulder-to-shoulder with older middle schoolers in tough conditions, the fifth-grade girls showed grit, teamwork, and heart—proving that Heritage Middle School cross country has a very bright future ahead.