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. [MORE INFO]

Don't forget to submit your nomination for PTSA teacher/staff member, advocate, and/or volunteer of the year.

PTSA Award Nominations (including a reason why you feel your nominee is deserving) are due Friday, May 12 to Gloria Kruzner at bhs.ptsa.pres@gmail.com.

PTSA awards are announced annually at the final General Meeting of the school year at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 7 in the Library. Please join us for this inspiring occasion where we honor creativity in the classroom, dedicated staff members, and hard-working PTSA volunteers. (See more details below.) Learn more about PTSA Awards.

Come get some student-cultivated greenery for your garden and help support the BHS botany at the annual Plant Sale.

We take cash and checks and all sales benefit the Ballard HS greenhouse program. Full details

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.

AP Exams are May 8-12 at BHS. Students can confirm their exam registration status by signing into the myap.collegeboard.org.

Here's important information on check-in and exam times and locations, and what to bring testing day (ok: water in clear bottle, snack in clear bag; not allowed: cell phone or Apple watch).

Parents/Guardians: Volunteers are still greatly needed to help with AP Exam support.

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

Interested in representing the Beavers next school year? Sign up for a role on the Associated Student Body (ASB). There are many positions available for a variety of skills, perspectives and interests.

Applications are due May 12 for elected positions and May 22 for appointed positions. [MORE INFO] Follow the @ballardhighasb on Instagram!

The Painting Club has formed, to make a creative and welcoming place for people to paint and release stress.

Student: Naomi P.; 1nmpearson@seattleschools.org

Congratulations to Nathaniel W., one of six SPS seniors to receive $40,000 Amazon Future Engineer Scholarships!

Using an elaborate ruse to get them to the Amazon Skills Center, Seattle Public Schools students received the surprise of a lifetime when they were awarded hefty scholarships toward their education. 

Nathaniel plans to study computer science at Northeastern University next year. Full details.

The Ballard High School Graduation is scheduled for 8 p.m. Friday, June 23 at Memorial Stadium. Class of 2023 households should have received an email Friday containing important upcoming dates:

Seniors – Please complete the Senior Academic & Scholarship Awards Survey by May 31. Your awards may be recognized at the Senior Dinner on June 15. Please only list ACADEMIC awards, and only scholarships from the school that you will be attending.

You can access the survey here, on the BHS Senior Timeline or on the QR code posters that are hung in the halls.

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

Senior Families: Time to buy tickets for the PTSA all-night graduation celebration, Senior SPREE! Class of 2023 students can make memories and have fun together, all in a safe and supervised setting at two secret amazing locations.

Tickets: $200, on sale until Friday, May 26. Thank you PTSA for subsidizing the cost of the event and lowering the actual cost to families. We want ALL seniors to attend! Contact your BHS School Counselor to learn about scholarship availability. Join the fun at SPREE! Follow @BHSSpree for more announcements too!

We're looking for BHS parents/guardians to help celebrate our graduates celebrate in a fun and safe way during the PTSA SPREE Senior Graduation Party! Typically junior class parents pay it forward and help fulfill this role, to let our senior parents put their feet up after a long day of celebrations, but any grade-level BHS parent/guardian can join the fun by signing up!

Please consider a role, and sign up as a:

Registration Volunteer: from 9:30-10:45 p.m. after the June 23 graduation at Memorial Stadium.

Chaperone: From 9:45 p.m. to 6 a.m. at the secret SPREE venues. Shorter shifts and options available too!

SPREE or volunteer questions? Email Danielle and Shelby at bhs.ptsa.spree@gmail.com.

The Counselors will be intermittently involved in proctoring AP Testing May 8-12. Please make an appointment on the Counseling Bookings page, as drop-ins will not be as available as normal.

In addition, the Counseling Center will be closed on May 8 and 10 for testing. If there is an urgent need, please see an administrator or the Main Office.

Kellen "Bobo" Jones '08 Memorial Grant

Each year, a $500 grant is awarded to one male and one female BHS student athlete in their senior year. The successful applicants will exhibit the characteristics and attributes that made Kellen Jones a successful athlete, teammate and Ballard Beaver. This grant may be used for any post high school vocational training or college. Applications due by May 15. Full details.

If you have questions, email KellenJonesMemorialGrant@gmail.com.

➤ UW Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies awards scholarships to incoming UW students who are committed to the principles of justice, equality and diversity and have demonstrated financial need. Students with an interest in labor studies or a family background in labor and social justice are encouraged to apply. Applications due May 22. Full details.

➤ Are you a high school student (15 and older) who is curious about how cities grow, change, and develop? Have you ever wondered how governments decide where train lines go? Do you have ideas about how to make our communities better places for everyone? If so, you should apply for the Puget Sound Regional Council's Summer Planning Academy (SPA)! Upon completion of the academy, students are eligible to receive a $500 scholarship. Applications due May 15.

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

Here are some upcoming Service Learning Opportunities.

➤ Outdoors for All Summer Camps provide recreation activities for youth and adults with disabilities. Volunteers, 14 and older, will support staff and counselors with group management, activity delivery, and support campers to ensure safety, fun, and learning. We will be on the move enjoying activities that may include rock climbing, cycling, hiking, trips to the zoo, and visits to local parks. Camps at Magnuson Park and Lake Sammamish State Park June 26 – Sept. 1. Sign up here.

➤ 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.

➤ Somos Mujeres Latinas is looking for student volunteers from 4-8 p.m. Friday, May 19 to help prepare for its 9th Latin Women's Symposium at North Seattle College. Email Janely at voluntariadosml@gmail.com if you wish to volunteer. More hours may be available May 20, the day of Symposium.

➤ Volunteers are also needed to help out at the Whittier Elementary Spring Fling 7-9:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 20. Event will be held outside of Whittier Elementary on 13th Avenue Northwest, between Northwest 75th and 77th St. Volunteers will be moving items to staging and helping pick up items for check out. Email Renee Hartnett at rbishman@gmail.com if interested and available.

➤ Ballard Food Bank is hiring for a part-time paid ($18.69/hr.) Communications Intern. Are you passionate about storytelling and the issue of food insecurity? Do you want to have a positive impact on your community? Then, this is the role for you! This role is also best suited for high schoolers looking to gain experience. Learn more and apply.

➤ 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 did you know Saturday was National Free Comic Book Day? Don't worry, if you missed the celebration, the Ballard Library has << POW! ZAM! GAZOINKS! >> a bunch of new titles to fulfill your need to read comics!

More Makerspace Fun: Want a creative stress release while starting the 4th Quarter or taking a break from AP Exam studying? Check out the Library Makerspace. Crafty fun of late has included relaxing Kumihimo looming and cute carrot-stamped cards. This week, students can come in at lunch or after school to make Mother's Day cards or celebrate someone in their lives who cares for them.

Thanks to UW capstone student Nina Karagounis, who's wrapping up her role with the BHS Library, for the card project and all her fun Makerspace ideas!

Learn more about the Ballard High School Library. Follow @beaverreadersbhs on Instagram!

The Ballard High School Playmakers are proud to bring back the tradition of the One Act Play Festival!

Full details | Buy Tickets Today!

Ballard Performing Arts will be partnering with Caffe Appassionato once again to sell delicious 12 oz. bags of coffee. Consider supporting this important fundraiser which supports many of our performing arts students. Choose from four delicious blends! Coffee will be delivered in early June. Thank you for your support, sale ends May 10! Order Here!

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

Boys and Girls Track teams competed at the final regular season meet of the year May 4 at Nathan Hale. Here are the full results. Athletes who don't qualify for Metro Championships will participate in an All-Comers Meet that starts at 2:45 p.m. Thursday, May 11 at the Northeast Athletic Complex (Nathan Hale), 10750 30th Ave. N.E. Metro League Championships are May 10-12 at the Southwest Athletic Complex, 2600 S.W. Thistle St. Events start at 2:45 p.m. each day. Here is a schedule for each day’s events at the Metro Championships. QR code to buy tickets. Go Beavers!

Tennis: Congratulations to the 12 BHS players participating in the Metro Tournament! Boys Singles: Silas H., Cole N.; Girls Singles: Alexa T., Sabi Y.; Girls Doubles: Lauren O. + Katherine M. | Cami M. + Sienna L.; Boys Doubles: Asher S. + Nils H. | John O. + Jonathan N. The tournament started Saturday, and continues Monday and Tuesday. Thanks to parent Sarah Terry for the photos from a soggy day one of Metros! Follow the team @ballardhighschooltennis

Fastpitch Softball beat Cleveland 20-0 on Monday. On Tuesday, they beat the Lincoln Lynx 11-5. Continuing their double-digit dominance in the score column, the team beat the Nathan Hale Raiders 14-0 Thursday. Follow the team @ballardbeaversoftball. Fastpitch post-season starts this week, here's the Playoff Bracket!

Beavers Baseball beat West Seattle 4-1 on Monday. In Metro Tourney action, they beat Chief Sealth 5-4 Wednesday at Southwest Athletic Center. After losing to West Seattle Saturday, the team plays either Eastside Catholic or O'Dea at 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 9 in a loser-out game at Steve Cox Park, 1321 S.W. 102nd St. Follow the team @ballardbeaversbaseball | Playoff Bracket | Tickets

The girls lacrosse team celebrated their seniors last night at BHS Field for their final game of the season Friday against Bainbridge, including Captain Cathy J., and senior players Eden G., Aitana M., Lucy M., Ella S., and Louise W. Follow the team @bhs_girlslax. Full schedule.

The Metro-Public Champion Boys Lacrosse team lost its first round of the Metro Playoffs to O'Dea Wednesday, in a game called early due to lightning. Next, the team beat Nathan Hale 10-4 on Friday. They then turn their attention to the State Playoffs where Ballard will host a TBD game on May 19 or 20. Follow the team @ballard_lacrosse.

Varsity Soccer beat West Seattle 4-1 Monday in the first round of the Metro Tournament at home. On Wednesday they faced Chief Sealth at the Southwest Athletic Complex. Friday, they beat Roosevelt 7-1 and they will face Garfield next Wednesday. Photo c/o and follow the team @ballardsoccer. | Playoff Bracket

Ballard Ultimate Frisbee (BUF) is nearing the end of the girls season but will continue with Captains' Practices for all genders over the summer. They're always looking for new players so if you're interested in joining the team or learning more about BUF, fill out our Interest Form here. Questions? Email ballardultimate@gmail.com.

Photo c/o and follow the team @ballardhsdanceteam 

Congratulations also to those who participated in Cheer Tryouts May 2-5 in the Gym. Can't wait to hear who made the team on @ballardcheer.

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. This will be an opportunity to learn about the program and what to expect. Returning families are welcome to attend if they would like. Questions? Email Coach Ross Humphries at ballardbeaverfootball@gmail.com.

SPS UPDATES

BHS students shared words of gratitude to our educators on the Seattle Public Schools' Teacher Appreciation Week callout page:

“Thank you for your support during orchestra, and your cooperation with us learning musicians. Thank you also for the opportunity to go places and play cool music for people. Also, thank you to Mr. Foster for making the end of the day fun for all of us. Thank you for making the classroom a fun place to work on our activities; and thank you for giving us the opportunity to learn about the very significant maritime history in Seattle.” – Kevin B.

Thank you, Ms. McGinty, for being such a great teacher! You work hard to connect with the students and keep lessons easily approachable. You stay calm even when there are issues in the classroom. Everyone speaks highly of you, and you are always there to help anyone out whenever necessary. You are an amazing biology teacher, and you push the people who are doing well in class to take AP level courses in the subject.” – Aidan C.

“Mr. G., there is so much to thank you for. Thank you for taking so much time out of your own life for the Ballard High School Band. You have always made the band so much fun to be a part of. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!” – Dylan J.

This change is part of the district's Fiscal Stabilization Plan to address its $130 million structural deficit.

Metro bus service is free for all riders 18 and younger. (Orca Card details here. There are still some Orca cards in the BHS office if students would like to pick one up.)

Visit the shuttle service webpage for more information.

Here's their May 3 Budget Meeting Overview that was sent to SPS families.

Read more about the draft budget and the Fiscal Stabilization Plan in the May 3 Board presentation materials.

On May 10, the Seattle School Board will view the second half of the Fiscal Stabilization Plan presentation. The Board will take a vote on the plan. The meeting will be livestreamed for the public to view. After the meeting, SPS will send another update to our community.

Funding Our Future webpage: www.seattleschools.org/budget

PTSA UPDATES

Email the Nominating Committee at join.bhs.ptsa@gmail.com for more information.

Learn more on What Does the PTSA Do? page.

OFFICE NOTES

Committee participants must complete an interviewing training. The next training is 4-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 9 on Teams. Register here.

If you and/or your student attend this training, please let Cindy Peterson (crpeterson@seattleschools.org) in the Main Office know.

ADVOCACY UPDATES

Here's this month's update from PTSA Legislative Liaison Brian Duncan.

Questions or comments? Want to join the Legislative Committee as a co-chair? Email Brian at bhs.ptsa.legislative@gmail.com.

Learn more about SPS Board members, responsibilities and their district zones.

Questions? Contact Brian Duncan at bhs.ptsa.legislative@gmail.com

Prepared by WSPTA Legislative Consultant Marie Sullivan, legconsultant@wastatepta.org 

As was reported last week, the Washington State Legislature adjourned Sunday, April 23, closing the 105-day session with some significant gains, including increased funding for special education, investments from the Climate Commitment Act, and bills designed to prevent and mitigate gun violence. Governor Jay Inslee has until May 16 to sign bills, including the two-year spending plans for operations, construction, and transportation. And, for anyone keeping track, legislators introduced nearly 1,700 bills this session!

Please see the 2023 Legislative Scorecard for a review of bills passed, bills not passed, and funding provided either directly to school districts or school districts are eligible for the funds. Since the Governor has yet to complete bill signings, including signing the budget, this document has a “draft” label; it will be updated once the pen is finished. In addition, please see the New School Year Requirements document. 

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.

May 9 (Online, Free) is Session 6: Renewal  

Check in Question: “What is one thing you do to refresh yourself, or take care of yourself?” 

The need for renewal is present: Personally, Communally and Culturally 

To best contemplate the work of renewal, we look to shining examples of Gullah Geechee culture in the Georgia Sea Island Singers and the McIntosh County Shouters. There are a variety of beautiful cultures throughout the Gullah Geechee Heritage Corridor that, to successfully survive the racism that continues to blight America, have continuously renewed, absorbed and adapted a variety of traditions to forge a strong cultural identity that extends from musical practices to culinary culture, arts and craft, and spiritual practice.  

In addition to reading through the webpage above, we will discuss this video about the McIntosh County Shouters along with this footage featuring Bessie Jones from a 1965 interview on Pete Seeger’s TV show). 

May 11 Film Screening and Discussion (In Person at UW, Free): From Earth to Sky/Indigenous Architecture: The Past, The Present, The Future CBE Events Calendar - Built Environments (uw.edu)  

May 13 (Online, $10) Asian and Asian American Identity in US-based Performing Arts: A Forum Tickets, 3 p.m. Saturday, May 13 | Eventbrite  

May 13-14 (In Person at the Seattle Chinese Garden, suggested donation): Peony Festival | Seattle Chinese Garden

May 13 (In Person at the Bellevue Art Museum, $15) 12th Community Speaks: Frames of Mind 2023 Tickets, 7 p.m. Saturday, May 13 | Eventbrite  

Tens of Thousands Attend Gathering of Nations, World's Largest Powwow | Arts & Entertainment (nativenewsonline.net)  

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.