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Jan. 24 | 1st & 4th periods
Jan. 25 | 2nd & 5th periods
Jan. 26 | 3rd & 6th periods
Jan. 27 | Make-Up Day
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It's a YES for School Levy Renewal! |
At its Jan. 6 Board Meeting, the Ballard High School PTSA endorsed the renewal of two critical levies. The PTSA encourages our school community to vote on Feb. 8 in support of:
Thanks to JoLynn Berge, SPS Assistant Superintendent for Business & Finance; Richard Best, Director of Capital Projects & Planning; and Carlos Del Valle, Executive Director of Technology for their meeting presentation. Learn more about the levies here.
Want to help advocate for school levies? Check out this helpful informational flyer, linked below, put together by Schools First.
Schools First is the campaign organization that works to help pass Seattle Public Schools levies. It’s a grassroots, citizen-based organization founded in 1995. At the Jan. 6 Meeting, the Ballard High School PTSA also agreed to make a $1,000 donation to help with the group's 2022 efforts.
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First Semester Finals Schedule | Jan. 24-26
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From Dr. Williams Jan. 7 letter to parents:
"It was decided and clarified with the Instructional Council that Thursday, Jan. 27 (the makeup day for Nov. 12), will be a normal school attendance day, with no new instruction. Students will have the opportunity on Thursday to communicate with their teachers concerning assignments, grades, etc."
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Last week Ballard High School offered rapid COVID tests to students throughout the school day. These tests were offered to assist with a healthy return to school after our Winter Break.
Beginning Monday, Jan. 10 we will offer testing on a more limited basis. Jani Lauvrak, our Health & Safety Support person, will perform the testing. Students testing will need to bring a signed Parent Consent Form.
Please test only if you are symptomatic or were exposed to a COVID positive person at least 5 days prior. [MORE INFO]
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Pfizer Series Now Available in Teen Health Center |
The Ballard Teen Health Center now has the Prizer COVID Vaccine available for both Boosters as well as 1st & 2nd doses. The Vaccine is available to all BHS Staff and Students by appointment.
If you are younger than 18, your parent or guardian will need to sign a consent form. The form and vaccine information are available on the Teen Health Center page. Appointments will be available starting on Tuesday, Jan. 11.
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Yearbook Pre-Sale Continues Through Jan. 23 |
Cost: $55 with Activity Card (plus $35 if ASB needs to be purchased)
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NEW Class of '22 Service Learning Update
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The Seattle Public Schools Superintendent and School Board approved suspending the Service Learning Hours Requirement for the Class of 2022. The 60 hours are no longer required as part of graduation for this class.
Qualifying seniors are still able to submit their service hours for the Above and Beyond Service Learning Award, which is granted to those who have completed and documented more than 240 hours of service learning volunteer opportunities. Students who are earn the award will be listed in the Academic Program and receive a medallion. [SERVICE LEARNING]
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BHS Class of 22 on Facebook |
Time to Complete FAFSA Applications ... |
Seattle students follow many paths upon graduation from high school. For seniors interested in college, completing a FAFSA or WASFA is one of the first steps to receive college financial aid.
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Also, 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.
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Scholarship options online |
The Counseling Center offers many scholarship options online, including the continuously updated Seattle Schools Scholarship Bulletin. Here's some recent options: |
NEW! Museum of Flight Scholarships
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The Museum of Flight annually offers multiple scholarships to high schoolers interested in STEM and aviation careers. The application period is open now through Feb. 2. [LEARN MORE & APPLY]
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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.
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Beaver Readers ...
Open the Chapter on 2022 in the BHS Library
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Beaver Readers, kick off the new year with library groups: |
- Library Leaders meet 1 p.m. Monday;
- Eager Beaver Readers, who rate books for the Evergreen Teen Book Award, meet 1 p.m. Tuesday;
- Comic Book Club on Wednesday at 12:10 p.m. in S108, reading "The Mighty Thor: Thunder in Her Veins"; and
- Finally, the Pride Book Club meets at 1 p.m. Friday, reading "Felix Ever After."
Looking for Service Learning hours? Ms. Chambers is looking for students to help weed out nonfiction books and make room for shelving new books! Stop by the library or email her at tschambers@seattleschools.org for details.
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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.
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WSU Civil & Environmental Engineering Virtual Event |
Learn more about WSU's Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) program at WSU at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 13 via Zoom. Explore this exciting and high-paying career pathway through this Career Connected Online Learning Event, featuring WSU CEE faculty member Courtney Gardner.
For questions and to RSVP and get meeting link, email Courtney Gardner at
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Check out jobs & internships |
Local job and internship opportunities are available on the Counseling Center's Online Job Board. Here's a recent offering:
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Teens in Public Service Paid Summer Internship
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Teens in Public Service has a fantastic paid summer internship opportunity for high school students and it allows high school students to work with a nonprofit over the summer and gain work experience while also contributing to their community and getting paid. [LEARN MORE]
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Complete Your Cleanout at Goodwill Truck Jan. 22 |
Spaghetti Dinner is Saturday, Feb. 12 |
Plans are underway for BPA's 63rd annual Spaghetti Dinner! The theme for this BPA fundraiser is Motown, and the directors will be grooving with our students to come up with something fun.
For the second year in a row, the Spaghetti Dinner will be livestreamed. This year, join the fun at 7 p.m. Feb. 12. Students will be performing at school, while families enjoy spaghetti meal kits at home and enjoy the show on YouTube.
To accompany the meal and performance, BPA will be selling wine. If you would like to donate a bottle of wine to help defer event costs, email Kris Bulson, BPAB Fundraising Chair with your interest. [DINNER DETAILS]
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Chamber Orchestra to perform at Music Conference |
Congratulations to Chamber Orchestra students, who have been invited to be special performers (in a collaborative concert with Seattle Pacific University’s Orchestra) at the Washington Music Educators Association State Conference in Yakima on Saturday, Feb. 19. |
No in-person fans allowed through Jan. 22 |
New update for Beaver fans from Athletic Director Eric Ensign: Seattle Public Schools has updated the spectator policy and no fans will be allowed at games played at any SPS school until Jan. 22.
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More updates: Ballard Gymnastics participated in the Sehome Invite Jan. 8, bringing home hardware from the Meet at Ferndale's Gym Star Sports Center. Photo c/o @ballardgymnastics.
The Winter Athletics webpage features all BHS Athletics and club sports details, including a link to team schedules and Coach Directory.
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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]
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Girls Lacrosse signup now available |
Registration is now open for the Ballard High School Girls Lacrosse Club. This a no-cut, fun athletic opportunity with both Varsity and JV teams. Tryouts begin Feb. 28 and the season usually runs from mid-March to early-May. [ SIGN UP INFO] |
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Jan. 6 Board Meeting includes DEI Formation |
The Ballard High School PTSA also established a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, which will be co-chaired by parents Shelley Bolser and Naida Boyer.
We also heard a moving presentation from Students Against Sexual Assault and approved the start of an ad hoc PSSASA (Parents Supporting Students Against Sexual Assault) committee. Parent Erika Goodmanson will chair this group.
Details on our Feb. 10 Winter General Meeting programming will be available soon. We look forward to seeing you virtually.
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Focus on Advocacy Week Jan. 17-21 |
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.
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WSPTA Game Development and Essay Contest |
The WSPTA has two contests of interest for students, both with a deadline of March 1: |
Game Development Competition |
The WSPTA Game Development Competition is a STEM-based program, introduced in 2016, to encourage and support student success. Students share their knowledge and creativity based on this year's theme, "Changing the World."
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The WSPTA Essay Contest is for students of all ages to write an essay about an influential role model that has had a profound impact on their life. The objective is to help celebrate the people that are most important in influencing the lives of children around the state of Washington.
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Prospective Families Update |
We will not be hosting an In-Person Open House, or Tours including Students Shadowing this year.
More information about Ballard High School for prospective students and families for Fall 2022 will be posted soon!
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Quick Links for Info Around Campus |
BHS students and families, find more school news on the Ballard High School website: School events, athletics, library opportunities, jobs board, scholarships, graduation requirements, resources and more!
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VOPP enrollment open thru 2/18 |
Enrollment for the 6-12 Virtual Option Pilot Program (VOPP) is now open through Feb. 18 for second semester.
Families seeking an online virtual option can learn more by attending a Virtual information session on Tuesday, Jan. 11, or Jan. 18 from 6-7 p.m.
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Reminder to Keep SPS Laptops Updated |
REMINDER! SPS Student Laptops should be restarted every weekend:
Please restart the device, reconnect to wifi, and login. Leave the computer on for at least an hour to make sure new software updates have been completed.
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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!
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From our new DEI Team!
January Has Several Observances of Note
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January 7 is Orthodox Christmas, an important holiday in Ethiopian, Russian, and other cultures who practice Orthodox Christianity.
መልካም የልደት በዓል ("Melkam Gena!" in Amaharic) and с Рождеством ("S Rozhdestvom!" in Russian) to all those who celebrate Orthodox Christmas!
January 17 is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Here are some ways to participate and further Dr. King's legacy:
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News: Tribe members work to overcome divisive inequities
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Compiled by Shelley Bolser and Naida Boyer, DEI Committee Co-Chairs.
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Seattle Council PTSA represents more than 80 PTAs and PTSAs in Seattle Public Schools, including Ballard High School PTSA. Here's a recent advocacy update from their Legislative Chair, Samantha Fogg:
❖ On Jan. 10 at 7 p.m., the SCPTSA will host a conversation with Assistant Superintendent JoLynn Berge via Zoom. Samantha Fogg will talk with Asst. Supt. Berge about the potential impact of this session's Legislative Bills on SPS.
❖ Saturday, Jan. 15, 9:30 a.m. Part 2, also via Zoom: Going deeper into understanding our district’s budget and funding with Asst. Supt. Berge.
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Legislative Session Kicks Off 1/10 |
Jan. 12 | 10:30 a.m., Senate Early Learning and K12 Education Committee
Jan. 13, 1:30 p.m., House Education Committee
Jan. 14, 8 a.m., Senate Early Learning and K12 Education Committee
Make your opinion known through written testimony, by phoning in your testimony to the Legislative Hotline: 1.800.562.6000 or by signing into the bill online and clicking pro or con.
Please remember that youth can testify. Further, in Seattle Public Schools, if you give two days notice, students may have one excused absence per semester for civic engagement. (See page 7 in this link for details.) Students can also submit testimony in writing.
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January Legislative Update |
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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]
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Writing Workshop for Mixed Race Teens |
Grades 9-12 | Jan 16 | 1-4 p.m.
In this Hugo House workshop for mixed-race teens, Anne Liu Kellor invites young writers to unpack, discuss and explore the ever-shifting and multi-layered experience of being mixed race as students read short writing excerpts and respond to free writing prompts.
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Mitzvah Corps Family Volunteer Challenge
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Join the Stroum Jewish Community Center’s Mitzvah Corps for a new year of making a difference with our Volunteer Challenge. From January through April, we’ll offer a variety of in-person and at-home volunteer opportunities for the whole family across the Puget Sound!
Each time you volunteer through Mitzvah Corps, submit a photo of your family in action. We’ll track participation and the family with the most volunteer activities will be featured on the group's website and in social media.
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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.
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