Dear Ballard High School Students and Families,

We hope that you and your family are enjoying your summer vacation. We are looking forward to the start of the school year and to welcoming back all students on September 6th. This year, I am excited to share that we have brought back LINK crew and will be holding a special 9th grade focused orientation on the first day of school. Please refer to our website for the exact arrival times for grade 9 and new-to-Ballard students, and for students in grades 10-12, as we have a special bell schedule for our first day on September 6th.

In addition to welcoming students back to the building, I am hopeful that we will see all families at one or both of our upcoming family events. For 9th grade parents and guardians, we will have an evening event to welcome you to the Ballard community and ensure you have the information you need to support your student(s)’ experience at Ballard HS. And then for all families, we are excited to see you at our Back-to-School Night on Thursday, September 28th.

We are working hard this summer to ensure that our building and programs are all ready for the return of students, families, and staff and we look forward to seeing you soon! For now, please review the information below, which includes FAQs such as the Main Office Hours, Athletic Paperwork Due Dates, a Summer Reading List, and other beginning of the school year 2023-2024 information. Visit the Ballard High School website for updates.

Thank you for being a part of the Ballard community. Go Beavers!

Abby Hunt (she/her)

Principal

Ballard High School 

abhunt@seattleschools.org

Complete these steps. Step One: Email Erin Hayes emhayes@seattleschools.org. Include the parent/guardian's name, student’s full name and date of birth, your phone number, and the name of the school your student will attend instead of BHS. Step Two: To withdraw your student from the SPS District, visit Not Attending and complete the online form.

Email to BHS Attendance at: ballardhs.attendance@seattleschools.org if your student is not able to attend the first 8 days of school. Students who do not attend on those days will be dropped from Ballard HS as “no shows” which means the student’s courses will be dropped and you will have to re-enroll in Seattle Public School online or at the JSCEE district enrollment office.

If students requested an AP course, please be aware that some courses require that students complete assignments over the summer before beginning class in the fall. The following courses require summer assignments: AP Studio Art, AP Photography. Students taking Grade 12 APLit must acquire a book. For both 12 APLit and 11APLA, recommended reading lists are available on the school website and students are strongly encouraged to keep their reading muscles in shape by reading a minimum of two books this summer. Students are not assured a place in an AP class until they receive their schedule. If they requested one of the above courses during registration, they should complete the required summer assignments. Visit the BHS Website for details.

The BHS PTSA sends out our Weekly Newsletter via email. If you are not already receiving the BHS Newsletter or you want to add additional email addresses, please send an email to ballardhighnews@gmail.com with your name, student name, and grade level.

For students who attended Ballard HS second semester of 2023, final grades are viewable on The Source.

During the summer, library/textbooks may be returned to the Main Office. Outstanding fines may be paid in the Activity Center (AC) beginning August 16.

Service Learning (SL) is giving time, without pay. SL allows students to learn academic, social and personal skills though real hands-on activities. Summer hours that students complete that meet the Service Learning requirements can be counted toward the 60-hour graduation requirement, except for incoming freshmen who can only claim 15 SL hours in the summer. Forms are available on our website.

A reminder to complete all required forms for each sport you will play on FinalForms. Football: Due 8/15, Football Tryouts/Practices begins on 8/16. Fall Packets & ASB Fee: Due 8/15. Volleyball, Girls Swim & Dive, Girls Soccer, Cross Country, Golf and Slow-pitch Softball: tryouts/practices begin on 8/21. Important: Paperwork must be completed online with FinalForms. Visit the Student Life > Athletics page for detailed instructions as well as a current Coach Directory. Late paperwork may limit participation for tryouts.

Rowland Studios has been in partnership with Ballard HS for many years and will take pictures of all our students for ID cards and for the yearbook. It is not required that your Senior Portrait be taken at this studio. If you do not submit a photo to the yearbook staff, they will use your Student ID photo instead. Email Senior Portraits to The Shingle at ballardshingle@gmail.com.

The district is no longer managing ORCA cards for students. A statewide measure now allows youth under 19 years of age to ride public transportation for free. Students will need to request a new ORCA card, but can use their student IDs when boarding buses in the meantime. Please visit the Transportation page for intructions for ordering new cards.

Many of the SPS required forms are available online. In addition, paper copies of Start of School forms will be in the Main Office and on the BHS website. Start of School forms also include Booster Clubs, Privacy, BHS Nurse & Teen Health Center information. Additional information is on the Start of School Forms page.

Forms for this program are available in the Main Office or online at paypams.com/onlineapp. If your student qualifies, there may be additional benefits such as discounts or no costs for Athletic fees, ASB fee, Pre-college exams (PSAT/SAT), College Application Fees, AP Tests, Field Trips, and Running Start books. For students to receive any of the benefits listed above, you will need to complete Part 7 of the application and check all the boxes. Mail the completed form to Nutrition Services-MS 32-372, P.O. Box 34165, Seattle, 98124, or you may hand deliver to our BHS school lunchroom.

Students may view their schedules on the Source shortly before the start of school. Further information to come.

View the Ballard HS Daily Bell Schedules on the BHS Bell Schedule page. 

Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri the Start Time is 8:50 a.m. the End Time is 3:40 p.m.

Every Wed (except Sept. 6) is a 75-minute Early Release with a Start Time at 8:50 a.m. and End Time at 2:25 p.m.

9th Grade & New Students please arrive at 8:30 a.m. to pick up your schedule. Orientation starts at 8:50 a.m. All other students (all grades) can view their schedules on the Source (via phone or computer). Lunch will be served at 12:15 p.m. and then beginning at 12:55 p.m., we will start 1st Period and go through all 6 Periods. Please see the website for the detailed First Day Bell Schedule.