Fall PTSA Board & General Meeting

Drug Prevention and Health Services

Ballard HS Community: Mark your calendars for our Fall General Meeting 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17 in the Library.

Lynnet Mitchell, SPS's Healthy Schools Coordinator of Prevention and Intervention, will provide a fentanyl awareness training with substance abuse prevention strategies families can use in their own homes.

In addition to Lynnet's important presentation, we will be sharing building wellness resources.

Principal Abby Hunt will have a school update. Members will also vote on our Standing Rules and final 2023-24 PTSA Budget.

The meeting will be presented in a hybrid, in-person and Zoom format. Email President Karla Rava at bhs.ptsa.pres@gmail.com for the meeting link by Monday evening.

This Fall General Meeting will follow a 5:30 p.m. PTSA Board (business) meeting, also in the library. All are welcome at both meetings, members can vote! More info.

Parents/Guardians, Join Us!

Ballard Financial Aid Info Night Oct. 26

Junior and Senior families: Worried about paying for your student’s college education?

Join us in the Ballard HS Performing Arts Center (PAC) on Thursday, Oct. 26 to hear Financial Advisor David Aramaki speak about strategies for your finances, college savings tools like 529s, the financial aid process, educational tax breaks, and other aspects of this major financial commitment. This event will not be recorded.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the program runs from 7-8:15 p.m. We will have tables with Seattle Promise Scholarship details, information about the new FAFSA & WASFA as well as other scholarship resources and more!

More info.

Student ID/ASB Card Photo Retake & Info

Student ID/ASB Cards will be delivered to students' 3rd period classes starting on Monday. If you took your picture late, your card has not yet been delivered. When those cards are here, there will be another announcement.

Note: If the ASB Fee was paid in the first couple weeks of September the ASB Fee code is printed on the Card under the photo.

If ASB Fees were paid later or the code is missing, students will need to pick up a Paid ASB Sticker to put on their Card.

School pictures are used for the yearbook and Student ID cards and is an Activity Card if ASB fee is paid, all students will get their picture taken, no purchase required. If students didn’t get photos taken, they won’t have an ID.

Retake Day Oct 24: For students who want to retake a photo. If also they also want a new Student ID the cost is $5 that day. The Student ID for the Retake Day will be delivered around the end of October. More info.

School Resources for Students

In her Friday letter, Principal Abby Hunt shared some school resources available to students:

Academic:

• Social Emotional Learning (SEL) time. "Each day, we have an hour break in the middle of our school day. 30-minutes of this time is for lunch; the other 30-minutes is time for students to see their teachers for extra help," she wrote.
• The library is open each day from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm (Friday until 4 p.m.)
• Math tutor in the library Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:45-4:30 p.m.
• Tutor.com

Social:

• Clubs! See our current club offerings.
• Athletics: "As we approach the Winter Sports season, wrestling and unified are no-cut sports and a great way to be involved," she said. "And sports that typically don’t see cuts based on turnout include: girls’ gymnastics, girls’ bowling, co-ed ultimate frisbee, and boys’ swimming."
• Social Emotional/Mental Health: Our Counseling team is an amazing resource as is our Teen Health Center,

Additional resources can be found on the Ballard High School website.

Grade 11 PSAT/NMSQT

BHS Testing Schedule Dates Week of Oct. 23-27

Ballard HS Juniors are assigned to PSAT Testing Groups with their US History class in either an AM Session or a PM Session throughout the week of Oct. 23-27, depending on their US History class period and teacher.

Important: All students will be testing on their SPS-issued laptop.

What to Bring:

• A fully charged SPS-issued laptop with Bluebook app downloaded.
• Power cord to charge laptop.
• A pen or pencil for scratch work
• Snacks and drinks (must be under desk during testing)
• Scientific or Graphing Calculator (note: Students WILL have access to the embedded Desmos calculator in the Bluebook app)

More information is on the BHS PSAT webpage and will be shared with students in their US History classes.

Fall 2023 PSAT/NMSQT Student Study Guide

Questions? Contact Katie Huguenin, kwhuguenin@seattleschools.org

AP Exam Registration & Payments Due by Nov. 6

Important! Ballard HS Students that want to take an AP Exam MUST register AND then pay for their AP Exams by Monday, Nov. 6.

Please read complete details and more important information regarding AP Exams on the school website.

Follow these steps to register:

Students – Step 1: Sign in to My AP College Board and enroll in your AP class sections using a unique join code provided by your AP teachers.

Students – Step 2: For each exam, confirm your exam registration status by Nov. 6 by selecting “Yes”.

Parents – Step 3: Make your AP exam payment via a Parent/Guardian’s SchoolPay* by 5 p.m. Nov. 6. Payments for AP Exam(s) may also be made with cash or check (Ballard HS) with student name, ID number as well as the AP Exam(s) in the Activity Center.

*Note: New this year SchoolPay has a convenience transaction fee charge if using a credit card to pay for AP Exams.

PTSA Reflections Program

The National PTA’s 2023-24 Reflections theme is "I Am Hopeful Because ..."

Students submit original works of art from the following categories:

Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts. There is also a Special Artist Division option for students with a disability as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Submission deadline is Friday, Dec. 8. More info on the WSPTA Reflections page. Questions? Email Anna Harper at bhs.ptsa.reflectionscmte@gmail.com.

LWV & SCPTSA School Board Candidate Forum Oct. 16

The League of Women Voters and Seattle Council PTSA are hosting a Seattle School Board Candidates Forum at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16.

All eight candidates have agreed to participate.

This event will be livestreamed to the SCPTSA YouTube channel and will be recorded with viewing later.

The event is via Zoom and will be livestreamed to our YouTube channel as well as recorded for later viewing.

Register here.

Important Dates – Senior Timeline

College Visits: Happening Now. Learn more.

College Admission Application Support: Wednesdays, Oct. 18; Nov. 1 & 22; Dec. 6; Jan. 3 & 31. Learn more.

Senior Portrait & Grad Ads for Yearbook (if interested):

• Senior Portrait upload for the Yearbook (Due Tuesday, Oct. 31)
• Senior Grad Ads (Due Thursday, Nov. 16) Learn More

Financial Aid Night: Thursday, Oct. 26. Learn more.

Senior Meeting: TBD November

Graduation Cap & Gown & Products: Details and order forms for National Achievers will be shared at the November Senior Meeting

Updates on the Senior Timeline page.

Senior Portrait Upload Due Oct. 31

If interested in doing so, senior families can upload one senior portrait to Herff Jones eShare by Tuesday, Oct. 31 for use in The Shingle yearbook.

Full upload instruction and senior portrait requirements are available on the BHS website.

If seniors do not submit a photo to the yearbook staff by the deadline, the yearbook staff will use the student ID photo instead.

Senior Parent/Guardian Facebook Group

Attention Parents/Families of Seniors/Class of 2024:

Please follow our PTSA Class of 2024 Facebook group for important updates!

Registration Due Oct. 27

Students Invited to Enter 48-Hour Film Competition

The Digital Film Club is sponsoring a 48-Hour Film Competition, Nov. 3-5, for all students to participate.

Filmmakers will find out the theme, line of dialogue and prop that must be included in the film entry at the kickoff event 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 in the Film Room (inside the Library). Participants will also get the opportunity to check out gear to use for the weekend.

Registration due by Friday, Oct. 27. Completed works and awards will be shared at a screening 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9 in the PAC. Full rules and registration. Graphics c/o and follow @bhsdigitalfilm page.

To learn more about all the Clubs at BHS check out the Student Clubs page.

Beaver Readers Level Up Thru Library Interest Clubs

Beaver Readers can explore all kinds of genres and interests through fabulous library clubs!

These clubs meet during lunch:

• Library Leaders meet on Mondays. Right now they're working on fun and spooky Halloween decorations.
• That Dam Book Club meets every other Tuesday in the Makerspace. Students can read whatever they want and talk about it.
• Comic Book Club meets on Wednesdays (in Mr. Lee's classroom, that's him pictured in the comic book club/history classroom multiverse).
• 3D Printing Club and Architecture Club meets on Wednesdays. (Student architects meet in the Makerspace.)
• Garment Club, using Library Makerspace sewing machines, meets Thursdays in Ms. Carlson's classroom.
• Pride Book Club meets every other Friday.

Also, there's this sweet morning option:

• Reading Buddies meet at 8:10 a.m. starting this Friday, Oct. 20. The group reads picture books to first-grade students from Magnolia Elementary online in the library Book Club Room.

Ms. Chambers is also trying to get a Cookbook Club together. She's looking for students and staff to read cookbooks, make food, and then bring it to school to share. Stop by the Circulation Desk, Chef Beaver Readers, and let her know if you're interested.

Questions? Email tschambers@seattleschools.org

More library news updates and resources are on the BHS website. And here's the full list of all BHS student clubs! Photo c/o and follow @beaverreadersbhs.

College Visits

Juniors & Seniors Sign up on Naviance for College Visits

Students!

More than 50 College Admissions Representatives have signed up to visit the Counseling Center.

This week's visits include Seattle U, UPS, Dartmouth, MIT and UBC. See the graphic for even more options!

Visit the Naviance website or the College Visit page to sign up.

See Ms. Bristol in the Counseling Center if you need help signing up.

Full details on all upcoming College Visits and Events.

College Application Drop-In Help Oct. 18

Seniors! Come get help with your college admission applications! Drop-in help is available in the Counseling Center on the following Wednesdays after school (2:30-3:30 p.m.):

• Oct. 18
• Nov. 1 & 22
• Dec. 6
• Jan. 3 & 31

Bring your laptop and/or your questions! More info.

College Events

Black College Expo Nov. 4

SPS is hosting a Black College Expo from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 at Rainier Beach High School, 8815 Seward Park Ave. S.

The expo is open to students of ALL ages. Everyone is welcome! Meet one-on-one with Historically Black Colleges and Universities, other colleges, universities and programs.

Attendees will have a chance to get accepted and earn scholarships! More info.

Seattle Promise Information

Seattle Promise scholarship provides up to two years or 90 credits of free tuition towards a graduating SPS senior’s first degree at Seattle Colleges. Students can choose to study at North Seattle College, Seattle Central College, or South Seattle College.

Class of 2024 SPS graduates are eligible, regardless of grade point average, income, or country of birth. Students begin their studies in Fall 2024. 

Learn more about Seattle Promise.

Seattle Promise Outreach Specialist

Need help with your Seattle Promise Application?

Our BHS Outreach Specialist is Trinity Covington (trinity.covington@seattlecolleges.edu)

She is in the Ballard High School Counseling Center from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays



Learn more on the Counseling Center's Applying to College page and Seattle Promise Information page.

Spotlight Scholarship

Hagan Scholarship Foundation

The Hagan Scholarship provides up to $7,500 each semester for up to 8 consecutive semesters, workshops to learn important life skills not typically covered in the college curriculum, funds to purchase college essentials, an HSF Schwab Brokerage Account to manage, funds to study and travel abroad, and the opportunity to extend the Hagan Scholarship to obtain a graduate or profession degree. Apply online by Dec. 1. Informational brochure available in the Counseling Center.



More info on the Scholarship Bulletins page.

Scholarship Offering

WSU Regents Scholars

WSU's Regents Scholars Program nominations are now open, seeking students with outstanding academic potential who have demonstrated leadership through contribution to community, family and/or school activities. Students must have a minimum 3.6 GPA at the time of application submission to qualify. Please see your counselor by Oct. 23 if you are interested in being considered.

All eligible nominees who complete the application process, will receive a Regents Scholars award, which provides $4,000 per academic year for four years. Those students will then compete for the Distinguished Regents Scholars Award, which covers full tuition and fees for four years, approximately $62,000. More info.

Scholarship Offering

Kelly Foundation of Washington

Are you bound for college, community college or an accredited trade school next fall? Apply by March 8 for the Ewing C. Kelly Scholarship to possibly help you get started!

Applicants will be judged on citizenship, academic achievement, and financial need. Each award is worth $2,500 and winners will be notified in April.

More information is available on the Kelly Foundation website.

Scholarship applications are available online or in the Ballard HS Counseling Office.



More info on the Scholarship Bulletins page.

Service Learning Offers Lessons Beyond Classroom

Service Learning is giving time, without pay. One of the graduation requirements for SPS is 60 hours of Service Learning. The Counseling Center posts service-learning resources at school and online.

For questions, email Counseling Secretary Carol Bristol at chbristol@seattleschools.org.

Student volunteers are needed Saturday, Oct. 28 for the Sunset Hill Community Association's Family Halloween Parade & Party. Not-too scary costumes encouraged. Need to enjoy kids and be fun-loving. Job options and signup.

For more information please contact Ms. Drummond at events@sunsethillcommunity.org.

Service Learning

Bitter Lake Community Center

Bitter Lake Community Center needs volunteers for the Big Pumpkin Bash and Halloween Crafternoon Oct. 21 and 22 (see flyer).

Volunteers can show up at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 21. There will also have a prep day from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 20.

Volunteers will help run carnival games, pass out candy, refreshments and arts and crafts.

Questions? Email DeQuan at DeQuan.Flight-Roberson@seattle.gov.

Service Learning

Sheraton Grand Seattle Gingerbread Village

Volunteers are needed for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's 29th Annual Sheraton Grand Seattle Gingerbread Village, which runs from Nov. 21-Jan. 1.

Volunteers help guide guests through the amazing display and hand out candy canes too at the Sheraton Grand Seattle, 1400 6th Ave.

Signup for shifts and more info.

Buy Tickets for the Fall Play

Fall Play | Sonnets for a New Century

The fall play, "Sonnet for a New Century," will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19-21 in the Performing Arts Center.

The show is a devised play based on the work of playwright Jose Rivera. It explores themes of love, loss, and everything in between. A rare opportunity for our students to speak as themselves, "Sonnets" is written by the students about their own lives. It is a vulnerable, honest piece about what it means to grow up in a new century, with a world of unknown laid out ahead.

Buy Tickets Today!

Marching Band Performances

In case you missed the Homecoming Halftime Show, Ballard Performing Arts recently shared the Full Homecoming Playlist on their YouTube page.

Next up, the Marching Band will perform at the Veteran's Day Parade starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11 in Auburn.

The parade route travels along Main Street from E Street to A Street NW/SW. Full parade details.

Jazz Concert at the Royal Room on Oct. 24

BHS Jazz Band groups will be performing their Fall Concert at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24. The Royal Room, 5000 Rainier Ave. S., is a great venue to listen to the amazing music our students produce, order some food, sit back and relax.

Suggested donation: $10/family to help offset venue fee (if able). Paying this fee online will help reduce any congestion at the door the night of the show, although BPA will have volunteers to accept donations the night of the show as well.

Fill a Goodwill Truck Event Oct. 15

Fall is a great time to clean out your garage and closets! Goodwill trucks will be parked in the BHS parking lot on Sunday, Oct. 15 from 9 a.m. to noon. Bring your donations and your neighbor’s too! For every truck we fill we get $600 for BPA! 

Students can earn service hours and parents are encouraged to participate. Tasks include sorting, unloading cars and traffic control.

Sign up for the October 15 event here!

Coming Soon, BPA Coffee Sale Fundraiser!

Support Ballard Performing Arts by ordering your favorite coffees from Caffe Appassionato between October 18 – November 5!

For each bag sold, the BPA student you name will earn $6 toward program fees, camps and trips. Proceeds with no student named will go into the BPA general fund. A link to purchase will be available on October 18!

Want more BPA updates?

Subscribe to the weekly Ballard Performing Arts Newsletter for more Ballard Performing Arts news and updates.

Slowpitch Softball wins Metro League Championship!

A thrilling week of Slowpitch Softball started with a Ballard victory over Nathan Hale (19-10), followed by a victory over Holy Names (18-8), and culminated in a victory over Roosevelt (3-1) to bring home the Metro League Championship trophy for the second year running. The championship game was a real nail-biter, as both teams played stellar defense, but Ballard's hitting won the day.

The Beavers will play Holy Names next at the District Tournament at 4 p.m. on Wednesday at SWAC2, hoping to snag a trip to the State Championship. Photo and update c/o Team Parent Liz Clyma.

Ticket details for the District Tournament will be shared on the BHS website when available. Go Beavers!

Final Home Swim Meet

The Ballard Girls Swim & Dive team is hosting a final dual meet starting at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20 against the Bishop Blanchet Bears.

Go Beavers!

Metros will be Oct. 27-28 at Snohomish Aquatic Center

Follow the Ballard Girls swim team on Instagram: @bhsgirlsswimanddive.

Final Football Game of Season Friday @ BBHS

The Football Team celebrated Senior Night Friday against O'Dea.

Their final game of the regular season is 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20 at Bishop Blanchet.

Schedule. Photo c/o Ed Tanaka. Follow the team @ballardbeaverfootball

Volleyball excelling in Metro Sound League

The 8-2 (League, 8-3 overall) Volleyball team is second in the Metro Sound League going into the last two weeks of action. This week, they beat Chief Sealth 3-1 and Rainier Beach 3-0.

Varsity Schedule, all games start at 7 p.m. | Fan Theme

• Oct. 16 vs. Cleveland | Pink Out
• Oct. 18 @ Ingraham | BHS Colors
• Oct. 23 vs. Garfield | Blackout
• Oct. 25 @ Franklin | BHS Colors

Photo c/o and follow the team @ballardvolleyball. Fans can also watch volleyball games online.

Ballard Golf Tees Off Monday

Ballard Golf tees off against Seattle Prep at 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16 at Jefferson against O'Dea for the Boys Team and Holy Names Academy for the Girls Team.

While the Girls Team dropped their match to the Panthers, the Boys Team topped Seattle Prep Oct. 9 at West Seattle Golf Course 129-127.

Full schedules for both the 5-4 Boys Team and 4-4 Girls Team.

Photo c/o and follow @ballard.golf.

Cheer Soccer at Home Against Lincoln Friday

An exciting Girls Soccer season continued last week as the team tied Seattle Prep 1-1 Oct. 9 and topped Ingraham 3-0 Oct. 13. Next up on the schedule they'll head to Nathan Hale to play at 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 16.

You'll want to head out and cheer on the Beavers as they face Lincoln in their final home matchup of the regular season at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20.

Photo c/o Lisa Vanderford-Anderson. Schedule. Follow the team @ballardgirlsoccer

Cross Country to Metros Oct. 19

Congratulations for another hard fought meet Wednesday with great effort from Beaver athletes and the BHS XC community. Cassidy A. and Emme R. took first and second for girls' varsity. Dexter S. took 6th for boys' varsity.

Special thanks to the coaches for showing up two hours early to mark the course and the many parent volunteers who assisted as BHS XC hosted the large, eight-school 439 athlete meet. Meet results and schedule.

The Metro League Championship is Thursday, Oct. 19 at Lower Woodland. Photo c/o and follow @ballardhsxc.

Winter Sports Signup Coming

It's almost time to cheer Ballard's Winter Athletics teams!

Ballard offers the following programs:

• Basketball
• Gymnastics
• Boys Swim & Dive
• Boys Wrestling
• Girls Wrestling
• Girls Bowling
• Girls Flag Football
• Mixed Ultimate Frisbee (club)
• Unified Basketball

The deadline to submit winter sports athletics registration Final Forms is Tuesday, Nov. 7 with Winter Sports starting Monday, Nov. 13.

Get important news and information on the Ballard High School Athletics webpage. Coach contact information is also available on the BHS website.

Need to Update Your Sports Physical?

The BHS Teen Health Center offers Free Sports Physicals!

Appointments can be made by emailing or calling/texting Say at Sailau.Tuitele@swedish.org or 206-390-3355.

Winter Sports Interest Meetings

The following teams are having pre-season meetings:

Learn more about the Girls Flag Football Team at an interest meeting at noon Friday, Oct. 20 in Room S103. No experience is needed to play. Snacks and drinks will be provided.

Gymnastics is hosting an information meeting during lunch on Thursday, Oct. 18 in the Commons. Come find out about joining the team!

Boys Wrestling info meeting at 12:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19 in Room N104. You do not need experience – the coaches will teach you everything you need to know, and the team takes all sizes. Come join a tight-knit team for what should be a very special season.

Girls Wrestling info meeting at 12:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20 in Room N104. The girls have their own division, weight classes, tournaments, and State Tournament. The teams take absolutely anyone and coaches will teach them everything they need to know to be successful. Girls Wrestling is one of the fastest growing sports in the country – Come and be a part of the movement!

Required Boys Swim & Dive meeting at 3:50 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19 in Coach Morean’s room. Please have ALL athletic paperwork to Final Forms before meeting. If you can’t make it see Coach Morean someday during lunch and introduce yourself.

Questions? Coach contact information.

Time to Get BUF!

Are you interested in playing ultimate frisbee? Ballard Ultimate Frisbee (BUF) welcomes players at all skill levels. There are three seasons:

Fall Season - Boys Ultimate - August through October (just completing)

Winter Season - Coed Ultimate - November through February

Spring Season - Girls Ultimate - March through May

We encourage you to come out and play! Fill out this Google Form. Questions? Email BallardUltimate@gmail.com. Ballard Ultimate website.

See an interesting event that celebrates Diversity, Equity, or Inclusion and you’d like to see it highlighted here?

Send it our way at DEIatBHS@gmail.com.

The Ballard PTSA DEI Committee meets the first Tuesday of each month.

The next DEI Committee meeting is 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7 at Station 18, 5425 Russell Ave. N.W. 

We’d love to see you there!

Upcoming Events

October 15-24 Navratri: This is a Hindu festival celebrating the Goddess Durga. It means “Nine Nights.” Learn more here! What is Navratri? Why celebrate Navratri? Nine day of festival mean (mpanchang.com)

October 19 is Spirit Day: Wear purple on this day to support LGBTQ+ youth and speak out against bullying. Find more ways to get and give support here: Join GLAAD this Spirit Day and Take the Pledge Against Bullying

In the News

Watch: Seattle celebrates second official Indigenous Peoples' Day | king5.com  

This Redmond radio station is helping fill the Spanish-language news gap | The Seattle Times

2023 Community Wealth Building Pilots: Building & Retaining Wealth Among African American Legacy Homeowners in Seattle - Front Porch

EXHIBIT: I Am Filipino — Wing Luke Museum