January 2, 2022
Jan. 3 | No School, COVID testing for SPS students at specified area middle schools (including Whitman, McClure, Hamilton 1-4 pm)

Jan. 17 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, no school


Jan. 22 | Goodwill Truck at BHS For BPA, 9-noon

(special bell schedule)

Jan. 21 | 1st & 4th periods
Jan. 24 | 2nd & 5th periods
Jan. 25 | 3rd & 6th periods
Jan. 26 | Amnesty Day
ALL SCHOOL NEWS
COVID Testing Available for staff, students
Back to School Updates | No School, Jan. 3

On Dec. 30, SPS sent out an email to all families that there would be no school for students on Monday. We wanted to make sure that you were aware that our BHS students can be tested on Monday, Jan. 3 at various SPS middle schools across Seattle.

  • Please see the attached list of available Monday SPS testing sites. In addition, we will have COVID tests available at BHS on Tuesday, Jan. 4 (and ongoing) if you prefer your child to test at BHS. COVID testing is not mandatory, and students will be allowed to enter school without a test result.  
  • Also, on Monday, grab and go meals will be available for our BHS students between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Our cafeteria staff will be handing out meals just inside the entry doors by the gymnasium. These grab and go meals are free for all BHS students.
  • Most of you may have seen or heard about the newest CDC guidance on quarantine/isolation. Please know that SPS will continue following the old quarantine guidance. Please note that there are differences according to whether or not your child is fully vaccinated.
  • Finally, please make sure that your child's device is updated, signed in, etc. Refer to the SPS tech support and directions for Laptop/iPad set up, etc.
"We will continue to provide you with updates, as we receive new information," said Dr. Williams. "Thank you, again, for your flexibility and continued efforts to keep your family and others safe and healthy."

If you are not receiving emails check your Communication Preferences set up or refer to the Messages from the Acting Principal.
Thank you for supporting PTSA Direct Appeal!
Thank you to all who have donated to this year's Direct Appeal, our annual PTSA fundraiser devoted specifically to BHS academics.

We have tallied more than $55,000 in donations to help promote learning success. We are in gratitude for all your support and can't wait to share how the ensuing grants from your donations foster inspired teaching, benefiting students all around our school building.

Extend your gift even further: Don’t forget to check into Corporate Matching -- check with your employer to see if they will double your donation.
Yearbook Sales Continue Jan. 3-23
Did you forget to purchase a yearbook in the fall? There is a new Shingle yearbook sales window from Jan. 3-23. Yearbooks are sold online through the Parent Source/SchoolPay account

Cost: $55 with Activity Card (plus $35 if ASB needs to be purchased)

Read All About It! News & Updates Online
BHS students and families, find all your back to school news: School events, athletics, library opportunities, jobs board, scholarships, graduation requirements, resources and more on the BHS website!
 
Counseling Center Food Pantry has more options
The BHS Counselors have partnered with the Ballard Food Bank to offer a Food Pantry for BHS students. Students can stop by Room S217 during the school day to grab food items to take home for families.

The food pantry has these new options below, in addition to the other food staples it offers.
  • Red Pepper & Tomato Soup
  • Pasta Noodles
  • Tomato Pasta Sauce
  • Quinoa & Brown Rice
  • Canned Chicken
If families would like, staff can organize a take home bag for your student to take home or for families to pick up. Please reach out to BHS Counselor Ms. Bowman to arrange this at sabowman@seattleschools.org.

SENIORS
BHS Class of 22 on Facebook
Senior Families: Check out the BHS Class of 2022 Parents Facebook Group for updates specific to your Ballard HS Seniors. Also, keep track of all 2022 News on the Senior Resource page!
SPREE Volunteer Info Meeting
The first SPREE (Senior Graduation Celebration) Volunteer Info Meeting is 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 5 via Teams. More info: Becky Moore, bhs.ptsa.spree@gmail.com
Seattle Promise Applications due Feb. 1
Seniors: Don't miss out on two years of free tuition at Seattle Colleges. The Seattle Promise scholarship is available to all SPS graduates regardless of GPA, income, ability, or country of birth. Apply by Feb.1.

Visit the Seattle Promise Application & Financial Workshop site to find application completion help.

Scholarship options online
The Counseling Center offers many scholarship options online, including the continuously updated Seattle Schools Scholarship Bulletin. Here's a recent option:
Washington PTA Scholarships
Washington State PTA offers four $2,500 scholarships to graduating seniors from Washington state public high schools with an active PTA, who will be starting college (either two-year or four-year) in the fall.

Applications due March 1. [FULL DETAILS]
LIBRARY
There's still time to participate!
Extreme Beaver Reader Challenge
Extreme Beaver ReaderBeaver Readers, time to share your extreme reading photo moments! Prizes will be given, and your photos will be shared. Send your epic photos to BHS Teacher-Librarian Ms. Chambers at tschambers@seattleschools.org. Submissions accepted through Jan. 7. [MORE INFO]
Win Bingo by Sharing Your December Reads!
Did you do a lot of reading over those frosty Winter Break days? Fill out your December Bingo flyer (linked PDF in the graphic) and turn in by Jan. 7 for prizes!

Thank you student Library Leaders for coordinating.
COUNSELING CENTER
Counseling Center has helpful online resources
Students can find scholarship information, applying to college resources, job and volunteer opportunities, and even schedule appointments with their counselors via the Counseling Center webpage.

  • This week's online College Visit: Academy of Interactive Entertainment (Seattle) at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan 5. Log onto Naviance to sign up.
Check out jobs & internships
Local job and internship opportunities are available on the Counseling Center's Online Job Board. Here's a recent offering:
  • Seattle Public Library (SPL) – Student Assistant Program | Gain job skills at your Library. Positions available for students, 16 and older, at Central Library and branches. Applications due by 5 p.m. Jan 10. Students work from 12-15 hours per week. Visit the SPL website to learn more.

BHS only shares postings and does not endorse any of these businesses.
BALLARD PERFORMING ARTS
Jazz Band Recording for Hot Java Cool Jazz
Prior to Winter Break, Jazz 1 students recorded their submission for a coveted spot in Starbuck’s Hot Java Cool Jazz at the Paramount Theater in March.
Check out this video clip with our revered Jazz clinician, Gary Hammon, conducting. Good luck to our Jazz 1 students!
Complete Your Cleanout at Goodwill Truck Jan. 22
The Goodwill Truck is returning to the BHS North Parking Lot from 9 a.m. to noon (or until the truck fills) on Saturday, Jan. 22. Please save your New Year’s cleanout of clothes, home decor, kitchen items, electronics and more for the big blue truck and help BPA at the same time.
ATHLETICS
Games & Meets cancelled thru Jan. 7
New update from @ballardathletics: "All games/meets have been cancelled through Friday (Jan. 7)."

On Saturday Jan. 8, the boys varsity basketball team will host O'Dea at 1:30 p.m. and the girls varsity basketball team will host Holy Names at 4:30 p.m.

The Winter Athletics webpage features all BHS Athletics and club sports details, including a link to team schedules and Coach Directory. It also includes updated spectator policies for COVID. Also, don't forget to visit the Ballard Athletics YouTube page to see some games streamed live.
Spring Sports Registration Due Feb. 14
Spring Registration 21-22 Paperwork due Feb. 14 | Sports Start Feb. 28
Spring Sports: Baseball, Girls Fastpitch Softball, Girls Tennis, Boys Tennis, Girls Track, Boys Track. [SIGN UP DETAILS]
PTSA CONNECTIONS
Jan. 6 Board Meeting includes levy presentation
The BHS Community is welcome at PTSA Board meetings, which are held online this year via Microsoft Teams.

At our 7 p.m. Jan. 6 meeting, we will:

Hear a building update from Dr. Williams;
Host an informative SPS levy presentation. (To learn about local levy advocacy efforts, check out the Schools First website.)

We will also continue work on building our Equity Team and further examine the WSPTA's Resolution 2.26 Dismantling Institutional and Systemic Racism.

Board Meetings also include committee updates, we'd love to have you join us and learn how you can get involved! Note, only current PTSA members can participate in voting.

Following our Jan. 6 meeting, future Board Meetings are at 7 p.m. on the following Thursdays: March 3, April 7 and May 5. The Board also meets at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 10 and June 9, prior to our PTSA General Meetings.

We have also two remaining General Meetings:

  • Winter, Program TBA, 7 p.m., Feb. 10.
  • PTSA volunteer & educator awards event, 7 p.m., June 9.

For questions or meeting link, please email Gloria Kruzner, bhs.ptsa.pres@gmail.com.

Focus on Advocacy Week Jan. 17-21
Join WSPTA for Focus on Advocacy Week, Jan. 17-21, as we share our platform with our legislators in Olympia.

In the grassroots spirit of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., on Monday, Jan.17, we will kick off the week by meeting with state representatives and senators. WSPTA will provide attendees with all the tools and information you need to ensure that PTA is loud and proud that day.

Throughout Focus on Advocacy Week, we will send you calls to action to help you share your opinion and your story with your legislators.

The Washington State Legislative Session runs from Jan. 10 Through March 10. Subscribe to the WSPTA Action Network today to engage in the calls to action.
SPS UPDATES
MLK Day of Service
In partnership with Seattle Public Schools, City Year Seattle/King County invites you and your family to join our MLK Day of Service that directly contributes to bettering our school communities.

We invite you to join us on Monday, Jan. 17 to help honor MLK’s vision for our “collective humanity.”
In keeping with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s practices of continuous learning and environmental justice, volunteers will participate in a Virtual Community Summit on Zoom and an in-person Outdoor Community Clean-Up at partner school sites.
This event is free for all attendees, with a suggested donation of $25 per registrant.


Other area MLK events:
Seattle Martin Luther King Jr. Organizing Coalition, includes March, Rally and Virtual Youth Event.

Americorps MLK Day of Service, list of area service options
Planning for Inclement Weather
Seattle Public Schools closely monitors weather conditions and will inform students, families and staff of any updates affecting the school day as early as possible.

Stay in the Know with SPS!
Stay in the know with the district newsletter and social media pages to get fresh news and announcements from across Seattle Public Schools!


Also, learn about setting your own household's Communication Preferences.
AAMA Annual Report: “Our Voice, Our Vision” 
The Office of African American Male Achievement recently released its new report, "Our Voice, Our Vision: Strategies for Supporting Black Excellence in Seattle Public Schools." The report explores how our Black boys, teens, and families experience our school system.

Support BHS PTSA while you shop
Support BHS academics while you do your new year shopping!
Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to BHS PTSA. Check out the AmazonSmile information page to learn about using AmazonSmile and select “Ballard High School PTSA, Seattle, WA.” Thank you!

To participate at Fred Meyer stores, link your Shoppers Card card to the BHS PTSA (code MJ933).
Once your card is linked, all you have to do is swipe your Shopper's Card while paying for your purchases. More info: Community Rewards.
Nominating Committee Formation
In order to identify candidates for next school year's PTSA Executive Board (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer), a nominating committee is formed.

Members of the nominating committee must belong to the PTSA and are elected by fellow BHS PTSA members at the Feb. 10 General Meeting.

If you're interested in helping with the nominating committee, email Gloria Kruzner at bhs.ptsa.pres@gmail.com.

Community Resources
The BHS PTSA offers Community Resources for informational purposes & does not necessarily support activities or views presented therein.
Seattle Aquarium Ocean Career Series
Join Seattle Aquarium for a free virtual series to learn about different marine and ocean sciences careers!

  • Jan. 25 learn about what it takes to care for the animals who call the Aquarium home, as well as how we connect to animals in the wild with our research projects.
  • May 3 meet the Aquarium’s veterinarian and learn more about what’s involved in caring for the diverse population of animals.

Register by Jan. 24 and/or May 2 to receive a link for these webinars. [FULL DETAILS]
UW Toothbrushing Device Study Seeks Participants
Learn more about a toothbrushing device study on campus at the University of Washington, School of Dentistry, in the Regional Clinical Dental Research Center.
Researchers are enrolling children between the ages of 5-17. More information on flyer. Questions? Email Dental Research Assistant Mary Hagstrom at mkh8@uw.edu or call her at 206-685-8132.
Penguin Artistic Cohort
We're still accepting youth artists and leaders ages 14-19 for the 2022 Penguin Artistic Cohort - and we'll pay you for your commitment! Get your applications in ASAP to join the first retreat Jan. 8-9 at University Heights Center!

PAC members determine the direction of each retreat, but possible topics include:

  • Directing your peers - how to be a strong director and still be a good friend
  • Inclusive rehearsal practices for neuro-divergent actors
  • Planning for supporting more youth-driven work
  • Techniques and material for monologue work through an equity lens

Do You Have an Announcement for the BHS PTSA Newsletter?
Submit content (appropriate and relevant to Ballard High School or Community) by 5 p.m. Thursday (1 or 2 weeks before your event ) to the BHS Newsletter Editor email at ballardhighnews@gmail.com. Please submit posts no more than 100 words and include relevant URLs, contact info and a small graphic (if available). Editor has full discretion over what is published. The BHS PTSA provides Community News for purely informational purposes and does not necessarily support the activities or views presented therein.