Email the Nominating Committee at join.bhs.ptsa@gmail.com for more information. Thank you to Tanya King, Victoria Watson and Lisa Vanderford-Anderson for chairing our Nominating Committee this year!

Learn more on What Does the PTSA Do? page or come to the 7 p.m. Thursday, May 4 meeting via Zoom! (Details coming soon.)

BHS PTSA DEI Committee Film Screening: Roosevelt High School – Beyond Black & White

Everyone is invited to the PTSA's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee free screening/discussion of the documentary “Roosevelt High School – Beyond Black and White” from 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, April 21 in the Performing Arts Center (PAC). Roosevelt alumni from the film will be present to provide insight and answer questions. The film screening and discussion will provide a unique opportunity to build community and learn from each other. [FILM INFO]

May 8-12 is Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week and we'd love to have the whole BHS community thank our teachers and staff for their creativity and commitment to our students.

Please sign our Padlet online greeting card to say thanks! (Select the + sign at the bottom of the Padlet screen to add your message! You can also add your name or their name for greater personalization.)

Questions? Email Michelle Peters and Lisa Vanderford-Anderson at bhs.ptsa.membershipchair@gmail.com. [MORE INFO]

♥ Nominate a BHS PTSA Educator of the Year: Send your nominee for a favorite BHS teacher or staff member (parents and students) or colleague (staff) for a PTSA Recognition Award through Friday, May 12 to Gloria Kruzner at bhs.ptsa.pres@gmail.com. [FULL DETAILS]

♥ SPS Shout 'Em Out: If you want to say “thank you” to a teacher who’s made an impact on your life, let SPS know and they may share it on their Teacher Appreciation Week News Page. Take a moment to share by filling out SPS's Teacher Appreciation form.

Come celebrate Earth Day and help clean up our campus with PTSA’s Family Friendly Cleanup Day from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 22 at Ballard High School.

Cleanup supplies — garbage and recycling bags, gloves, litter grabbers and safety vests — will be provided by the City of Seattle. Wear long pants/long sleeves, AND closed-toe shoes! [MORE INFO]

Questions? Email Tanya King at volunteers.ballardhs@gmail.com

April 17-28: LAST Yearbook Pre-Sale: Cost is $70 and they may be purchased online via parents/guardians Source/School Pay account. Yearbooks will also be pre-sold in the Activity Center at lunch and after school with cash, check or Debit/Credit Card.

Have you purchased your student's yearbook yet? If you're like us and can't remember where your reading glasses are, chances are you'll need to look this up! Tips on how to do so online!

AP Exams are May 1-5 and 8-12 at BHS. Students can confirm their exam registration status by signing into the myap.collegeboard.org. Here's important information on what to bring testing day, locations and time schedule. [BHS AP UPDATES]

Let it Glow! The ASB Spring Dance is 8-11 p.m. Saturday, April 22 from in the BHS Gym. Dress code is neon and glow-in-the-dark. No heels in the gym. Tickets will be sold via cash or check during lunch through April 21, in the Activity Center or via online sales [MORE INFO]:

Spring Spirit Week Fun April 24-28

ASB Spring Spirit Week is April 24-28! Students, watch for more details on Spirit Week Dress Up Days and Events from the ASB students in the hallways, in-school announcements, and on Instagram @ballardhighasb. [MORE INFO]

The Naramore Art Show, a collaboration between Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle Art Museum, runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekends only, through May 14 at the SAM's first floor corridor (1300 First Ave.). The show celebrates more than 200 artworks by SPS middle and high school students. Ballard has 15 student artists participating. [MORE INFO]

If you are a current 10th or 11th grader and want to help welcome 9th graders next year, consider completing a Link Crew application. Link Crew trains members of the Junior and Senior class to be Link Leaders. Getting a diverse group of leaders is vital to creating a group that will engage all members of the school. Applications close May 5. [MORE INFO/APPLICATION]

It’s that time again! Students, share your creativity through the 2023 BHS Ink Journal of Art and Literature! Submit poetry, short stories of less than 1,000 words, high-resolution photos of visual arts and sculpture, and photographic images. Include the type of submission, your name, whether you want submission to be anonymous, and your preferred contact info.

Submit to: ballardinkclub@gmail.com and also Ms. Burton, tmburton@seattleschools.org by Friday, April 21! [MORE INFO]

Get ready! Students from Ballard High School (including Grayson), Denny International Middle School, and Chief Sealth International High School are taking over SPS's news broadcast, “First Bell,” on Wednesday, April 19.

The episode will feature students as anchors and field reporters bringing you stories from schools around the district. [MORE INFO]

Seniors! Important! Pick up date for purchased cap and gowns is ONLY April 24. National Achievers will be handing them out in the Commons during lunch. If there are any issues with your order they will be able to help you on that day. [MORE INFO]

Buy your tickets today for SPREE, the all-night grad party, sponsored by the PTSA, and a BHS tradition! Immediately following the graduation ceremony, students hop onto chartered buses. Throughout the night, grads will travel to two different exciting event venues and be treated to multiple activities, meals, and fun. [MORE INFO]

Seattle Promise Students & Parents: Online workshops continue for FAFSA/WASFA support.

Documents Needed for FAFSA/WASFA Applications | Seattle Promise FAFSA/WASFA Tips

Questions? Contact May Saetern via cell/text at 206-661-5207 or May.Saetern@Seattlecolleges.edu. [MORE INFO]

Looking for scholarships? Check the BHS Counseling Scholarship page as well as Naviance often! Here's a new option:

Thai-American students are invited to apply for the Angel Wings Thai Scholarship. Application deadline is June 23. [FULL DETAILS]

Explore Service Learning, College, Internship, and Scholarship options on the Counseling Center Dashboard!

Here are some upcoming Service Learning Opportunities.

➤ Magnolia Cooperative Preschool needs help with set up, clean up, and staffing its annual auction, April 28-29. Check out the Sign up Genius for more details and for available time slots.

➤ Earn service hours helping with cleanup and weeding projects at the PTSA’s Family Friendly Cleanup Day from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 22 at Ballard High School. Sign up here. [MORE INFO]

➤ Up to four students are needed to help at Ballard Athletic Booster Club Trivia Night from 5-9:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 26 for set-up, popcorn service, game assistance and cleanup at the Ballard Elks. 6411 Seaview Ave. N. 2nd floor, lodge room. [MORE INFO] Sign up with Kelly Jones, BallardBeaverTrivia@gmail.com.

➤ Volunteers are needed for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's (JDRF's) Beat the Bridge to Beat Diabetes event, taking place on place on Saturday, May 21 at Husky Stadium and surrounding 8K Course. Sign up here.

Seattle University is hosting the 2023 Spring College Fair from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 22. Visit pnacac.org for more information.

Full details and list here.

Questions? Contact Carol Bristol, Ballard HS Counseling Secretary at chbristol@seattleschools.org.

Students, take a deep dive into a job or internship! Here are some listings on the Counseling Center's Job & Internship Board!

Local career pathway: Pioneer Plumbing founder Brian Larson has long-time roots in the community, growing up in Ballard and graduating from Ballard High School. Brian is looking for plumber-trainees to start learning the trade following graduation. Learn more about Pioneer Plumbing. Questions? Email Brian at brian@pioneerplumbing.biz for more information.

Career Quest is a Seattle Public Schools (SPS) Internship program. Students can earn high school credit outside of their school day with meaningful career exploration. Learn more about this program and regional internships on the BHS website.

Follow Your Heart Into a Great Book 🫶

Beaver Readers, you can still Follow Your Heart Into a Great Book! Snap a photo with your hands shaped into a heart with your book.

Send it to tschambers@seattleschools.org, or share your image via the online library Padlet! Learn more about the Ballard High School Library and follow @beaverreadersbhs on Instagram!

BPA Field Trips returned this school year after a several year hiatus.

Congratulations to the Choir which traveled to New York City April 12-16.

Thanks to BPA President Kelsey Fatland for sharing pictures from the April 13 Choir performances at Queens College. Follow @ballardperformingarts on Instagram and Facebook!

This spring, six student directors have selected five One-Act Plays to bring to the Ballard stage, all of which explore what it’s like when reality itself comes into question. Performances run 7:30 p.m. May 18-20 in the PAC.

Dance Team Tryouts for next school year will be 4:30-7 p.m. April 25-28 in the Gym. No prior experience needed, all are welcome to tryout! Final Forms registration must be completed by April 24. [MORE INFO] Questions? Email bhsdanceteam@gmail.com

Cheer Tryouts are 4:30-6:30 p.m. May 2-5 in the Gym. Registration due by May 2.

Photo c/o and more info @ballardcheer page. Questions? Email ballardhs.cheerleading@gmail.com.

Registration starts at 6 p.m.; trivia starts at 7 p.m. Put together your team of six people – entry fee is $90/team (or $15/person). Gather family, friends, and high school students can play too. The more diverse your group in interests and age, the better you’ll do. Don't have a team but still want to reserve a spot? Send an email to BallardBeaverTrivia@gmail.com. [MORE INFO]

Following an amazing trip to T-Mobile April 7, and beating Kentridge 4-1, Beavers Baseball had epic performances over the Break. On Monday, they topped O'Dea 3-0, behind Kaden O.'s complete game shutout and Truitt M.'s 2-for-4 with two doubles; and Fisher W.'s 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Beaver pitchers also cruised to a 2-0 shutout against the Nathan Hale Wednesday. The final game of Break was a 5-4 nailbiter loss to Garfield Friday. T-Mobile pics c/o Coach Doug Montgomery's mom, Laura Gregory.

More info on Ballard's Metro home page and Spring Athletics page too.

PTSA UPDATES

A special thanks to PTSA Fundraising Gala Chairs Carol Cheyne and Deb Fitzpatrick, and their entire volunteer team, for planning this special community event! We are so appreciative!

Stay tuned for the 2024 Gala date. We hope some of you will help plan next year’s event as some of our key committee members, including Deb Fitzpatrick, are graduating. Please get in touch to find out more: ballardauction@gmail.com.

That's Deb on the left, Auctioneer Stephen Kilbreath, and Carol on the right! You're the best!

The WSPTA Reflections Webpage has been updated with the 2022-23 WSPTA Reflection winners, including BHS Honorable Mention artist Lake N.'s piece "Save Our Planet."

There will be a Reflections Celebration at 6:30 p.m. on April 27. The online celebration will feature the award-winning students and their artwork. The event is free and open to all. [MORE INFO]

Students, get inspired for next year's program and explore the 2023-24 Reflections Theme, I Am Hopeful Because ...

OFFICE NOTES

Welcome back from Spring Break, find news and updates on the BHS Website! More details on the BHS Calendar and News page

SPS UPDATES

LGBTQ+ Family Gathering

The SPS Health Education Office is offering a dinner and gathering for all LGBTQ+ families in our district on Saturday, May 6, from 4-7 p.m. at Meany Middle School.

This event celebrates LGBTQ+ parents, guardians, and students, as well as LGBTQ+/gender-expansive kids in SPS and their parents and guardians. Dinner will be served at 5:30 p.m. All SPS families and staff are welcome to attend. Expect food, connection, activities for kids, and opportunities to learn about community resources for families!

Questions? Email: lgbtq@seattleschools.org

LGBTQ+ families can join our mailing list and visit the district LGBTQ+ Family site for more information. [MORE INFO]

ADVOCACY UPDATES

Join WSPTA Legislative Consultant Marie Sullivan to get the scoop on the 2023 Legislative Session during an interactive Zoom meeting from 7-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 26.

Bring your questions, but you'll need to follow the link to register for the event. [MORE INFO]

Each week during the Legislative Session, Marie also puts together a list of bills and upcoming events that are associated with the group's legislative priorities.

[MORE INFO]

Email your draft title to see if others are working on the same topic by May 1. Draft issue titles and principle topics should be emailed to the WSPTA Advocacy Director. Draft resolution titles should be emailed to the WSPTA Resolutions Chair.

Noon June 1 Deadline - This is the deadline for final submissions. Updated instructions and forms, as well as current issues, resolutions, and legislative principles, can be found on the website.

EQUITY CORNER

➤ DEI Committee Meeting: April 19 at 7 p.m. at Station 18 in Ballard. We’d love to see you! Please reach out with any questions: DEIatBHS@gmail.com.

➤ Also, the Roosevelt High School: Beyond Black & White free Film Screening & Discussion April 21 at BHS Performing Arts Center. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. Screening and discussion at 7 p.m. [MORE INFO]

April 16: Happy Easter (English), Melkam Fasika (Ethiopia - Amharic), Zee Velykodnem (Ukranian), Kalo Pasha (Greek), and greetings in many more languages ... to all our Orthodox Christian friends celebrating Easter! Many countries and cultures celebrate Easter on this date: https://www.officeholidays.com/holidays/orthodox-easter-day  

The Seattle Nordic Film Festival runs April 21-23 and features films that center people living with disabilities, LGBTQ stories, neurodiversity, BIPOC folks, women, and more. Read more here: Majestic Bay Theatre to host this year’s Seattle Nordic Film Festival – My Ballard

April 22-30 “Celebrating its 20th annual festival, the Seattle Black Film Festival (SBFF) returns to Seattle for another year of Black Brilliance in film!” Seattle Black Film Festival - Langston Seattle 

Donate now through April 30 to the Southeast Seattle Schools Fundraising Alliance (sessfa.org)

“The Southeast Seattle Schools Fundraising Alliance represents 17 public school PTAs and PTOs in Southeast Seattle, serving approximately 6,600 students collectively. Using a collaborative fundraising model, our mission is to:

 

See interesting article here, for more info: Equity-Focused Fundraiser for Southeast Seattle Schools Is Back — and Bigger Than Ever | South Seattle Emerald

See an interesting event that celebrates Diversity, Equity, or Inclusion and you’d like to see it highlighted here? Please send it our way! DEIatBHS@gmail.com

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Washington Student Achievement Council offers many resources for families as they prepare for life after graduation.

Students, your future awaits! Start planning your college or career pathway today.

Hugo House's Write Time for Teens is a free drop-in online writing circle from 5-6 p.m. Wednesday, April 19 where young writers can explore a variety of writing techniques, flex and perfect their skills, and celebrate their work in community with their fellow young writers. [MORE INFO]

Explore all Hugo House Youth Programs.

The 5th Avenue Theatre Awards Project is pleased to announce a new category of recognition for high school students — Special Honors: Student Excellence.

All students who participate in The 5th Avenue Theatre Awards Project through their video submission in any category will be under consideration for this Special Honor. Submission deadline May 15. [LEARN MORE]