Senior Families: Buy your grad's Senior SPREE ticket today! Sales close on May 26! Don't let your senior miss their all-night grad party and an opportunity to create final memories as the Class of 2023!

Why SPREE? Because our graduates need to celebrate their big day. And we want them to do it in a safe and FUN way! Chartered buses leave Memorial Stadium following the graduation ceremonies and take graduates to two secret PNW event venues where they will be treated to activities, fun and food all night long. Buses return the next morning to the BHS parking lot.

Tickets: $200. SPREE is sponsored by the Ballard PTSA and we want ALL seniors to attend! Contact your BHS School Counselor to learn about scholarship availability. [MORE INFO]

Senior Families: Pick up your student's free 2023 Senior Yard Sign (supplies limited) from 3:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 16 in the North Parking Lot, in front of the BHS Library. SPREE representatives will also be there to answer questions and provide ticket purchase details! [MORE INFO]

Grade 9-11 Parent/Guardian Chaperones are needed to make Senior SPREE a success. It has been a longstanding BHS tradition that underclass parents/guardians help chaperone at SPREE for our senior class parents/guardians. And it just happens to be a blast! The grads are SO appreciative.

Grab a friend and help allow our 2023 graduates to celebrate safely and their parents to put their feet up after a long day of celebration. Chaperones can pick an all-night shift, or elect for the first or second part of the event, via the online signup form.

You can volunteer to assist any PTSA Committee or help fill this roles that will be opening next fall (positions can be shared): President, Vice President and Legislative Liaison (Advocacy Chair).

Learn more on What Does the PTSA Do? page. Questions? Email Nominating Committee Co-Chair Victoria Watson at join.bhs.ptsa@gmail.com.

Please reach out by June 1. We will present next year's Board at our June 7 PTSA General Meeting for a membership vote and need a President (or co-presidents) to move forward. Current President Gloria Kruzner is happy to help mentor and show you the ropes!

Attention: Ballard HS students and families please review the updated Academic Deadlines and Final information below.

Seniors | Class of 2023

Read complete Academic Deadlines 22-23 for more information and visit the BHS Bell Schedule page for updated Finals Schedules.

There are two assessments coming up this month. Students must have a SPS-provided laptop.

Grade 11: May 15-16 Juniors will have the opportunity to take the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS).

Testing begins during Period 1 in the Aux Gym. It is not a graduation requirement.

Grade 10: May 23-25 Sophomores will take the Smarter Balanced Assessments (SBA) Math in their current Math Class.

Read full SBA details and Laptop requirements.

Class of 2023 families: As the end of your student's Ballard High School career gets closer every week, make sure you're staying up-to-date with the Senior Timeline, linked here:

Senior Prom will be "A Starry Night", 8-11 p.m. Saturday, June 3 at the Columbia Tower.

Ticket sales run through May 26 during lunch and after school in the Activity Center (or buy online via Source/SchoolPay). Full Details and Required Forms.

Junior Families (and younger grades too!): Did you know there are helpful post-high school resources you can start using on the Counseling Center Dashboard/BHS website?

This includes:

➤ Kellen "Bobo" Jones '08 Memorial Grant applications are due by Monday, May 15. Each year, a $500 grant is awarded to one male and one female BHS student athlete in their senior year. Successful applicants will exhibit the attributes that made Kellen Jones a successful athlete, teammate and Ballard Beaver. Grant may be used for post high school vocational training or college. Full details.

➤ The Washington Beta Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon is offering two $1,000 scholarships and eight $250 scholarships to fall 2023 incoming male freshmen at the University of Washington. Full details and application. Deadline June 30.

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

Here are some upcoming Service Learning Opportunities.

➤ Magnolia Cooperative Preschool turns 80 this year and they are celebrating with a birthday-themed community party. They are looking for high school volunteers to help to make it a success from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 20. Volunteers will help by setting up, helping to man some of the kids' craft stations, and helping to clean up. Sign up here.

➤ Edible Hope Kitchen at St. Luke's offers a weekday morning meal service for neighbors in need. Volunteers are needed to help support the program. Tasks include: set up, food service, and cleanup. Full details. Signup here. Questions? Email: Daniel@stulukesseattle.org.

➤ Help for a few hours, or throughout the day, at the Greenwood Car Show (Greenwood Avenue North, from North 67th to North 90th Street) on Saturday, June 24. Jobs include: checking car entries; set up and clean up; staffing merchandise booths; or monitoring closed intersections. Questions? Contact Event Director J.R. Harwood II at jrharwood77@gmail.com. More information and signup.

➤ Pedalheads Bike Camps is hiring part-time Camp Counselors (15 and older) to help run their summer children's programs and inspire the next generation of cyclists. It’s active, adventurous, fun and incredibly rewarding! Learn more and apply.

BeaverReaders: Check out what's going on in the library through their new monthly newsletter recap "Beaver Bite."

You can also catch monthly updates on the Library YouTube page (see above); look for news and information on the Ballard High School Library webpage; and follow @beaverreadersbhs on Instagram!

Thanks for donating to Ms. Chambers' DonorsChoose projects on May 9-10 matched donation days! We can't wait to checkout the new crafting options in the Makerspace area and check out the racial justice titles that were funded through the effort!

The Ballard High School Playmakers are proud to bring back the tradition of the One Act Play Festival! Five student-directed short plays will be performed in one entertaining show at 7:30 p.m. May 18, 19 and 20 in the Performing Arts Center.

Spring Sports regular seasons are wrapping up with many teams continuing into post-season action! More info and updates as available will be on the Spring Athletics page.

Congratulations to the BHS Track team that competed at Metro Championships May 10 and 12 at SWAC.

The Girls Track team finished in 4th place at the Metros with an amazing 24 PR's. Freshman Cassidy A. took 1st in the 3200m; and junior pole vaulter Madeleine K. came in 2nd with her vault of 11-09.00. Both Junior Kathryn N. (300m hurdles) and sophomore Hazel E. (triple jump) made the podium with 3rd place finishes. Ballard's young 4x400 relay team also earned a 3rd place finish, with excellent efforts from freshman Siena S. and sophomores Lucia W., Annelise G., and Dorrie J. The Girls Team qualified all relays to the District Meet and 20 members of the team to the District Meet.

For Boys Track, 9th grader Jackson S. placed 6th in the pole vault to make the podium, and sophomores Jona S. (300m hurdles) and Max G. (triple jump) PR'd (40-03.50) to place 8th and make the podium. Junior Dexter S. PR'd in the 3200m (10:08.05), and junior Nathan W. PR'd in the triple jump (36-10.50). The boys 4x400m relay team also had a 6th place finish with senior David P., junior Logan P., and sophomores Alex D. and Simon C. The boys are sending 13 members of the team to the District Meet.

Here are the full Metro Championship results. Congrats Beaver athletes! Districts are May 17 and 20 at Renton Memorial Stadium. Schedule.

Tennis: Congratulations to Silas H., who placed 9th in Metros and will be competing in boys singles at Districts. Asher S. and Nils H. got 8th in boys doubles at Metros and will be at Districts as well. Photo c/o and follow the team @ballardhighschooltennis.

Congratulations to Fastpitch Softball which earned 3rd Place in the Metro Tournament! They ended their regular season Monday beating Rainier Beach 17-0. In their first game at Metros Wednesday, they beat West Seattle 5-3. Following a 6-1 loss to Roosevelt (who would later win as Metro Champions) earlier on Friday, the team came back in their second game of the day and beat Seattle Prep 10-5. Photo c/o and follow @ballardbeaversoftball.

With a second loss in the Metro Tournament on a 6-5 walk off to Eastside Catholic Tuesday, Beavers Baseball was eliminated from the playoffs. Congratulations on a great effort this year, including a no-hitter and fun win at T-Mobile Park! The young team battled and ended the season with a 12-12 record. Senior Max F. led the lumber with 26 hits and 7 doubles. Senior Kaden L. led the arms with a 4-2 record and 2.22 ERA. Follow the team @ballardbeaversbaseball

The Metro-Public Champion Boys Lacrosse team is preparing for the State Playoffs where Ballard will host a TBD game on May 19 or 20. Look for updates on the Spring Athletics page or the team's @ballard_lacrosse Instagram page.

Congratulations to Boys Soccer who took 4th place in Metro Championships after beating Chief Sealth 2-1 Friday at Interbay (and Garfield Wednesday 1-0 at home). The Sealth win earns the team the last spot in the State Playoffs. Photo c/o capturesbycalvin on @ballardsoccer.

Boys Basketball will have a Tuesday Open Gym from 6:30-8 p.m. May 16; and 5-7 p.m. May 23 and May 30. All BHS students are welcome to join, but must have completed their Final Forms paperwork.

Pre-season Football Practices begin May 30. Players and families will need to have their Final Forms paperwork completed before then. Paperwork for the 2023-24 school year will be available online starting May 1.

At 6 p.m. Monday, May 15 the team is going to have a Meet & Greet for new football families in the BHS Library. Returning families are welcome to attend if they would like. Questions? Email Coach Ross Humphries at ballardbeaverfootball@gmail.com.

MORE NEWS & NOTES

In gratitude to our teachers and staff, the PTSA showed lots of love and appreciation to our BHS teachers and staff with treats throughout the school week.

A special thanks to the Staff Appreciation Team of Michelle Peters and Lisa Vanderford-Anderson for planning a week of creative giving in honor of our teachers and staff.

Full details on a week of gratitude! Check out our Appreciation Padlet too.

Principal Abby Hunt shared a Link Crew update in her recent Friday family message.

More than 220 students applied to welcome next year's Class of 2026! Thank you for your interest!

Principal Hunt at desk photo c/o Emma S. Talisman Student Newspaper

Interested in representing the Beavers next school year? Sign up for a role on the Associated Student Body (ASB).

Applications are due May 22 for appointed positions. The deadline for applying for elected positions has passed. [MORE INFO]

Simply click on the School Bulletin and Calendar and News links, located on the Ballard High School website, to stay up-to-date on what is happening at Ballard.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and BHS students have access to mental health services through several different sources at Ballard High School, including the Counseling Center, Nurse's Office, and the Ballard Teen Health Center.

Celebrate the 2023 Ballard High School Foundation Golden Beaver Scholarship recipients at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 21 at Ristorante Picolino's. Family-style Italian lunch: $30.

Email Foundation Executive Director Dick Lee at rjlee@seattleschools.org to RSVP by 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 16. Full details.

SPS UPDATES

ADVOCACY UPDATE

The Seattle Council PTSA and Seattle Student Union will be co-hosting an online Celebration of the 2023 Session at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 16 via Zoom (Meeting ID: 849 3602 1670

They'll be joined by Rep. Gerry Pollet (D-46th), Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos (D-37th), Sen. Jamie Pedersen (D-45th), and School Board Vice President Liza Rankin.

More details and all of the year-end planned meeting on the SCPTSA Calendar.

EQUITY CORNER

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.

Tuesday, May 16 is the second-last session for these free online workshops by The Rhapsody Project, using lessons from the history of American music to frame discussions of how we parents can work toward equity in our school communities.

Click here to register Thank you to Lincoln High School DEI Committee for funding this workshop series!

May 20 (In Person at Seattle Center, Free) A Glimpse of China (seattlecenter.com)  

May 20 (Online, Free) South Sound Japanese American Day of Remembrance - Washington State Historical Society (washingtonhistory.org)

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Join Bonnie Rochman, a local college essay coach and Roosevelt/Garfield parent, for Demystifying the College Essay Process, a free online workshop to share tips and strategies for writing a compelling college essay, at 7 p.m. Monday, May 22. RSVP to CollegeEssay911@gmail.com.

This summer, OneWorld Now and STARTALK are offering Summer World Languages and Leadership Program in Arabic, Korean, and Mandarin Chinese. 

Learn more and register at oneworldnow.org/summer.

We're hearing about a lot of area opportunities for teen summer enrichment.

Here are some options:

Signup here. Questions? Email BHS Boys Hoops Head Coach Lorenzo Durant III at lldurant@seattleschools.org.