On October 6, 2025, Seattle Public Schools changed to a two-lunch schedule. It was implemented in seven public high schools, including Nathan Hale.
“Two lunches reduces long lines, makes it easier to find a place to sit, and ensures all students have a healthy amount of time to eat,” stated the Seattle Public Schools website. “It also supports our culinary staff, who need time to stage and serve fresh food.”
When it was first announced, the decision was met with significant backlash from students. SPS high schoolers organized a walkout in protest on September 15th. A petition was created on September 9th to oppose the decision. The petition has since gained over 5,000 signatures.
Before October 6th, opinions were very heated about the impending schedule change. On September 10, an open mic was held in Nathan Hale’s Benson Forum. Students from all grades shared their thoughts about the schedule change.
Concerns ranged from the logistics of Nathan Hale’s many clubs to grades and support opportunities. All the students who spoke were opposed to the schedule switch.
After the switch, opinions seemed to change.
“Most students are happy they have a mentorship each day,” assistant principal Ambyr Burrell said.
Nathan Hale now has A and B lunches. Which lunch a student is in is determined by their mentorship teacher.
As a result, mentorship is now every day. Before, mentorship usually happened only on Wednesdays. Students go to their mentorship classrooms while the lunch their mentorship is not assigned to is happening.
After the schedule change was announced, Junior Leo Falit-Baiamonte expressed disapproval that SPS didn’t begin the school year with the new schedule.
Falit-Baiamonte suggested that the decision should have been made in August before school started, and that the timing was unfair.
“A few weeks into the year is ridiculous,” Falit-Baiamonte said.
Burrell also acknowledged that it was not very good timing.
Falit-Baiamonte said that Nathan Hale’s community was the reason he preferred one lunch. Falit-Baiamonte spoke at the student walkout, was interviewed by KIRO 7, and appeared in the Seattle Times.
The fate of clubs was a common concern for Hale students before the two-lunch schedule started.
“We had to find a new classroom, we had to communicate with all the club members,” said junior Ben Wolczyk, president of Economics Club. “It was definitely an inconvenience.”
Wolczyk said that the club planned to meet during B lunch, but the classroom they met in now has Mentorship during that time.
On October 13, Hale introduced the SmartPass system. It is a digital system that has replaced support passes, allowing students to sign up to either attend a club or go to a teacher for support.
“There’s a learning curve to everything,” Burrell said about the passes. “Everyone’s been handling it with grace and patience.”
“I think it’s working pretty well,” Wolczyk said.
Burrell mentioned that there was a concern that students could potentially use the passes to skip Mentorship. However, this remains only a potential concern.
Falit-Baiamonte has another concern about the schedule.
“This is purely speculation,” Falit-Baiamonte said. “People think this is further control of the schools and a pathway to shutting down our campuses.”
Falit-Baiamonte said the superintendent’s reasons for the schedule switch were weak. “Mr. Jacobson said an amazing line,” Falit-Baiamonte said. “If someone gives you three bad reasons to say something, there probably is a fourth reason they’re hiding from you.”
