PTSA Gala Thanks!

You Can Still Help Us Reach Building Pride Goal

Thanks to everyone who joined the PTSA's Fundraising Gala at Block 41 on March 24. With the March Madness theme, there was Pop-a-Shot fun, lovely and creative items up for bid in the silent auction, a wall of pretzels and liquid refreshments to wash it all down, delicious barbecue chicken, Beecher's mac 'n' cheese, and a bevy of baked goods to ogle over on the Dessert Dash table. (And that was before the fun of bidding with the always entertaining Stephen Kilbreath!)

Early totals are in and we've raised $80,000 to help with our mission to support students and staff, including $20,000 toward this year's raise the paddle for Ballard High Building Pride. We are so thankful for all our donors, sponsors and volunteers, who helped make this special community fundraiser celebration possible, led by the amazing Carol Cheyne.

Note: We'd love to reach our goal of $25,000 in support our amazing custodian Young Wong, to help make our building the best it can be. If you're so moved to assist with a small donation, we'd be so grateful.

Running of the Beavers 5K Recap & Results

Here are the promised results from the Ballard High School Foundation's March 23 Running of the Beavers 5K Fun Run/Walk at Golden Gardens.

Another round of thanks to organizers Dick Lee, Beth Sylves and Sue Stimac Verduin, Athletic Booster Club volunteers, Laura Lehni, ASB President Addy Wynkoop, Cheer Team and Pep Band members, and everyone who always helps make this event such a fun community get together, rain or shine.

Thanks to Bruce Johnson, Rowland Studios, for the great Running of the Beavers photos!

ASB Election Packets Now Available!

As featured in Principal Abby Hunt's Friday Message:

Students interested in applying for one of 22 open ASB positions for next school year should fill out the election packets, available in English LA classrooms, the Main Office, or in SW100.

"I am always inspired by our student leaders," Principal Hunt said. "And while there are many different types of leadership opportunities at BHS, ASB is a powerful way to support the continued growth of our school culture. If your student is at all interested, please encourage them to learn more."

Elected position packets are due Friday, April 5, while appointed position packets are due Monday, April 22.

Questions? Reach out to ASB VP Taiya Fletcher (SPS student email only) at 1tafletcher1@seattleschools.org or Advisor Ms. Laura Lehni, lllehni@seattleschools.org.

Learn more. Graphic c/o and follow @ballardhighasb.

Viking Robotics Team Qualifies for Districts

Congratulations to our Viking Robotics Team for placing in 3rd at their competition at Sammamish March 22-24, and for qualifying for district championships in Portland by ranking 35th out of 148 teams in the PNW district.

The team will travel to Districts April 3-6 next to compete for a spot in the World Championship April 17-20 in Houston. Good luck Vikings!

Viking Robotics is a youth-led inclusive and diverse community that inspires students about business, marketing, programming, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, design, fabrication, and other STEM skills.

The team participates in the FIRST Robotics Competition (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). More than 50 students works side-by-side with industry mentors to learn and apply valuable STEM-based skills in a fun, cooperative environment.

Viking Robotics Club meets Mondays and Wednesday evenings from 6-8 p.m. in teacher-advisor Mr. Connolly's Classroom. All are welcome, regardless of skill level.

Learn more on the team's website. Photo c/o and follow @vikingrobotics2928.

Applications Open for Student Leadership Roles!

As seen in previous newsletters, there are many ways to raise student voices through the following community opportunities:

Seattle School Board Student Member | Rising Juniors and Seniors: Make your voice heard and help ensure the Seattle School Board is representing the real needs and experiences of the Seattle Public School students! Applications are due Wednesday, April 10.

Seattle Youth Commission | Commission Members are appointed by the Mayor and City Council to connect youth to local elected officials, advise on city policies, and discuss issues that youth in Seattle are facing. Applications are due Wednesday, May 1.

Final Yearbook Pre-Sale Window in April

The last Shingle Yearbook pre-sale of the year is April 1-29. (No sales during Spring Break, April 8-12). Cost is $70 and yearbooks may be purchased online via parents/guardians Source/School Pay account.

Yearbooks will also be 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 are online!

Seattle School Board Candidate Forum

As part of the appointment process for open Seattle School Board seats for Districts 2 and 4, candidates participated in a forum Wednesday at Lincoln High School. The forum, shared below, was live streamed and recorded on SPS TV.

Thanks to Ballard senior Semai Hagos, who served as one of the student moderators, along with Lincoln senior and Seattle School Board student member Aayush Muthuswamy. (Board President Liza Rankin is pictured in the thumbnail above.)

District 2 candidates in appearance were: Sarah Clark, Danielle Gahl, Shawn Sullivan, and Carol Thompson

District 4 candidates participating were: Gabriela Gonzalez, Joe Mizrahi, Rachelle C. Olden, and Laura Marie Rivera

Full details.

Multicultural Festival Potluck April 26

The BHS Multicultural Student Union is planning its first festival in the Commons on Friday, April 26! Organizers are looking for volunteers to come and help celebrate!

Parents! Families! Students! Can You Help Out?

• Bring food or a game from your culture!
• Perform a dance, a song, an instrument that represents you or your culture!

More info.

The Multicultural Student Union meets Tuesdays during lunch in S103. Full details on the Clubs and Organizations page.

Multicultural Week will be April 22-26. Look for more information coming soon!

Senior Announcements

New additions to our Senior Announcements are on the Senior News page, including these action items:

Wednesday, April 3:

• Senior Class Photo will be taken 10:55 a.m. during 3rd Period on Ballard Field.
• During lunch, seniors must confirm name for Commencement Program.
• Pick up cap & gown order: National Achiever will be handing pre-ordered caps and gowns in the Commons during lunch. Check in with your Counselor if you'd like to borrow a cap and gown set.

Monday, April 15:

• Want to speak at, perform for or host the graduation festivities? Turn in the interest form by April 15!
• Auditions will be April 18-19 during lunch in the PAC.

Senior Dinner! RSVP Needed ASAP! Wednesday, June 5:

• Senior Dinner at the Ballard Elks 5-8 p.m.
• Students only, RSVP ASAP, tickets will be sold closer to the date.

SPREE Senior Grad Party Tickets on Sale

Buy your tickets today for SPREE, the all-night grad party, sponsored by the PTSA, and a BHS tradition! Ballard's graduation is earlier this year, at 5 p.m. Friday, June 14 at Memorial Stadium. Following a quick break to change, have a bite to eat, and hug family members, students attending SPREE will hop onto chartered buses back at Ballard High School.

Throughout the night, grads will travel to two different exciting event venues and be treated to multiple activities, meals, and fun. Scholarships are available, we want everyone to attend who's interested in joining the fun! Full details.

BHS Counselors Reminder: Get Your Forms in By May 1!

Get your forms in! Turn in any PE waiver forms and Service Learning forms; take your PE competency test if you need to. Deadline is May 1 so Counselors have time to process the forms and you stay on track for graduation. See your School Counselor if you have any questions. The Counselors have drop ins at lunch every day so swing on by.

Share Senior Decisions

Seniors, share your post-graduation decisions for college or future plans, intended major, and senior and baby photo with classmates on the student-run Ballard HS Senior Decisions 2024 Instagram Page.

Note: Decision Day at Ballard HS is May 1. If you want, represent in your school swag

Beaver Reader Book Recommendations

That Dam Book Club meets every other Tuesday in the Library. Here are some titles the students are recommending (above) and Ms. Chambers is recommending (below).

Volunteers Help Our Busy Library Tick

Thanks to the PTSA volunteers who helped make coloring sheets for Women's History Month.

Parent/guardian volunteers, and students looking for service learning hours, are always welcome at the BHS Library!

Beaver Readers, stop by the Circulation Desk to learn more! Parent/guardian volunteers can sign up here, but will need to have their volunteer authorization up to date with Seattle Public Schools.

Photo c/o and follow @beaverreadersbhs. More library updates on the BHS website!

Counseling Center Snacks Needed

Our awesome BHS Counselors like to have snacks on hand for students they work with, for when they visit the Counseling Center and come in hungry. And they’re currently running a little low on supplies.

They would be incredibly grateful if you’d be willing to donate granola bars and other snack supplies from their Amazon Wishlist. More info.

SYEP Summer Internship Applications Extended

The deadline has been extended! Apply now through April 21 to the Seattle Youth Employment Program (SYEP).

This summer internship provides youth with professional and/or structured paid work settings within city departments, local businesses, and non-profit agencies to gain hands-on experience, develop professional connections, and build resumes.

Applications are open for SPS students and Seattle residents 16-24, who live in a household with income at or below 80% Area Median Income. More info.

Bellevue College Discovery Day April 20

From the College Visits and Events page: Bellevue College is offering Spring Discovery Day open house event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20. Information tables and sessions, and campus tours available too.

Highlights include three Running Start sessions, a Neurodiversity Center open house, a Financial Aid information session, a General Information Session en español, and Campus Tours happening every 30 minutes!

More info.

College Visits

Juniors, check out the school representatives offering College Visits in the Counseling Center. Sign up via Naviance. Upcoming schools include:

Monday, April 1

Columbia College Chicago | 2:45 p.m.

Wednesday, April 3

University of California - Santa Cruz | 1 p.m.

Tuesday, April 23

Emerson College | 9:50 a.m.

Find even more visits online!

Spotlight Service Learning

Spring Egg Hunt Prep & Volunteers Needed

From the Service Learning opportunities page: Volunteers are needed for Spring Egg Hunt at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 30 at the Loyal Heights Community Center.

Before this popular community event can happen, volunteers are needed to come to Loyal Heights Community Center after school and stuff eggs with candy.

To learn more, contact Loyal Heights Teen Program Coordinator Ron Brown at Ronald.Brown@seattle.gov.

Spotlight Service Learning

YESL Pre-Employment Program

Apply today for Seattle Parks & Recreation's YESL (Youth Employment and Service Learning) Pre-Employment Program, offered online April 22 through June 10. 

Class Options:

Ages 13-14 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays; or 4:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays

Ages 15-18 | 4:30-6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Gain skills on time management, resume writing, fostering a growth mindset, and more. Earn a stipend or Service Learning hours. Possible chance of earning high school credit.

Apply by April 5. Questions? Email teen.programs@seattle.gov

Spotlight Service Learning

Phinney Neighborhood Association

The Phinney Neighborhood Association (PNA) has a few opportunities coming up in April and May that might be great for student Service Learning hours!

Spring Cleaning at the Phinney Center on Saturday, April 20 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Phinney Center: 6532 Phinney Ave. N. Spring clean the gardens and grounds: weeding, pruning, spreading mulch, etc. Learn more & sign up for April 20.

PNA Spring Fundraiser at the Phinney Center | Spend a couple hours before PNA's April 27 Spring Fundraiser exercising your crafty self from 7-9 p.m. Thursdays, April 18 and 25. Projects will include lots of cutting out decorations, making table center pieces, and other crafts. Set up and clean up assistance needed for fundraiser event day too. Learn more & sign up.

Spring Cleaning with the PNA Village on Saturday, May 11 (sign up by May 8). Spring Cleaning on May 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at seniors’ homes in NW Seattle. Spring cleaning the gardens and grounds: weeding, pruning, spreading mulch, etc. Learn more & sign up for May 11.

Spotlight Scholarships

UW Labor Studies Scholarships

University of Washington's Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies scholarship applications are now open! Scholarships and fellowships are open to undergraduate (including incoming freshmen) and graduate UW students, with funding that ranges from $5,000 to $10,000.

Students only need to fill out ONE online application to apply for all of the Bridge Center's awards!

Applications are due on Monday, May 6. More info. The Bridges Center will also hold a scholarship info session at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 10. Register here.

PEO Scholarship for Young Women

The P.E.O. Women Helping Women Reach for the Stars Scholarship is offered to high school women graduates who are planning on attending vocational institutions as well as college and universities. Candidates will be chosen based upon merit, leadership and financial need. Deadline Monday, April 22.

Application attached or pick up in the BHS Counseling Center.

The Addams Family Delights Audiences

The Ballard Thespians staging of The Addams Family was amazing! Congrats to the entire cast, pit orchestra members, stage crew, theatre tech, ushers, directors and volunteers. Bravo to Ms. Miller on directing her first incredibly successful BHS musical too! Photos by Tansy Velush c/o and follow @ballardperformingarts.

One Acts Auditions This Week

Spring One Acts auditions are now OPEN! The one act productions are student-written and student-directed, and a fun and low-pressure way to participate in after-school theater.

If you would like to participate, please sign up for a time slot inside the Black Box Theatre and pick up an info packet. Students need to prepare a one-minute contemporary comedic monologue. Students of any grade and experience level can apply.

If you have any questions, see Ms. Miller in the Black Box Theatre or email mashor@seattleschools.org.

More info.

Pep Band Performs at Running of Beavers

It was a rainy morning for the Running of the Beavers, but the Pep Band entertained the runners with some newer songs along with their more familiar repertoire. They even had some new bass drums sporting a fierce-looking Beaver.

Thanks to all who came out! We also spotted Band Director Jay Gillespie on the course! Bravo!

BHS Marching Band at Seawolves Game May 3

The BHS Marching Band will be performing at the Seattle Seawolves professional rugby match on Friday, May 3!

Families can experience the thrill of professional rugby with discounted tickets using our special PTSA Fundraiser Gala discount link.

This offer includes all upcoming games, including the May 3 College Night game with the halftime band performance; and Friday, April 5 Kids Night where there will be a bevy of activities, including a chance to meet and get pictures with the players after the game.

Shout out to BHS alum and Seawolves Manager of Business Operations, Payton Lawson '17 for the team's Gala donation and this special promotion!

Athletics Spring Season Continues

Softball dropped their first game of the week 7-6 to Cedar Park Christian Monday. They topped Cleveland 20-0 Thursday. The team has two away games this week: at Jackson 4 p.m. Monday, April 1, and Franklin (Rainier Playfields) 4 p.m. Thursday, April 4. Photo c/o and follow @ballardbeaversoftball

Boys Soccer beat Chief Sealth 3-2 Tuesday, while dropping a 3-1 game at Roosevelt Thursday. This week, they host Sealth at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 2 and visit Garfield at Memorial Stadium for a game at 5:45 p.m. Friday, April 5.

Baseball beat Chief Sealth 6-5 Friday and lost to West Seattle 11-3 Saturday. This week, the Beaver batters have three games at their home Whitman Middle School Field, hosting Ingraham at 4 p.m. Monday, April 1, Lincoln at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, and Lakeside at 4 p.m. Friday, April 5. Stop by and cheer on the team!

On Tuesday, Girls Lacrosse hosted and topped Garfield 15-7. On Thursday, they visited to Stanwood, beating their hosts 13-10. This week, you can cheer on the team as they host Shoreline at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 4.

Full schedules are linked under team names and available throughout the week on the BHS website.

Athletics News & Notes:

Game Day Slips Reminder

Boys Lacrosse beat Shorecrest Tuesday 11-5 and Franklin 14-4 Thursday. This week they visit Juanita Tuesday, April 2 and Woodinville Friday, April 5. Photos by Ed Tanaka.

Tennis boys team and girls team hosts Ingraham at their home BHS courts at 3:30 p.m. Monday, April 1 and Garfield at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4. Sandwiched between is an away match against Lakeside at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 2 at Lower Woodland Park. Go Beaver Tennis!

Track competed Wednesday at the Northwest Athletic Complex (Ingraham) against Lincoln, Cleveland and Eastside Catholic. The girls and boys teams both came in first! Meet results. This week, they're back at Ingraham on Thursday, April 4, with events starting at 2:45 p.m. The Beavers will be competing against the Rams and Franklin.

Gx Ultimate Frisbee beat Westside 9-7 Thursday. This week, the team has two home games: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 3 with Roosevelt and 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4 with Ingraham-Lakeside.

Send your team updates to ballardhighnews@gmail.com. Go Beavers!

Game Day Slip Reminder

Athletes, please remember to pick up your "Game Day Slip" in the morning and have each teacher sign it throughout the day.

Do your best to hold on to it so you don't have to scramble to collect signatures if you lose it.

Duffel Bags Order Update

The January pre-ordered duffle bags were expected to be shipped to BHS on March 28. Beaver Gear reps plan on distributing them upon arrival this week during lunch. Look for updates on the @bhs_athleticboosterclub Instagram page. More info. Email bhsabcgear@gmail.com any questions.

Next PTSA DEI Committee Meeting April 2

The next DEI Committee meeting

is from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 2 at Fish Ladder Lounge (4910 Leary Way N.W.)

We’d love to see you there! The Ballard PTSA DEI Committee meets the first Tuesday of each month.

Please reach out to DEIatBHS@gmail.com if you're interested or have any questions.

Upcoming Events

Happy Easter! To all our Christian friends celebrating Easter on March 31. Easter - Dates, Easter Eggs & Easter Bunny - HISTORY 

April is World Autism Awareness Month. Here are some ways to celebrate and participate: World Autism Awareness Day | Autism Speaks

April 5-7 (Virtual and In-Person) Seattle Deaf Film Festival

SDFF 2024 - Deaf Spotlight

Extended deadline April 9:

Host Seattle Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Summer Interns! - Human Interests

In the News

OPINION | To Close Out Women’s History Month, Let’s Commemorate Influential Local Women | South Seattle Emerald

Riding the waves with Indigenous youth | Crosscut

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.