BHS PTSA News
December 20, 2020
B H S C A L E N D A R
Dec. 21-Jan. 1 | Winter Break

Jan. 7 | Library Curbside Pickup/Bingo Due, 3-5 p.m.

AND PTSA Board Meeting, 7 p.m. via Teams
Jan. 18 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day, no school


Jan. 22 | BPA Collage Concert, virtual event, 7 p.m.
Jan. 28 | Day Between Semesters, no school

Jan. 30 | BPA Goodwill Truck, 9 to noon, North Parking Lot


Feb. 6 | BPA Virtual Spaghetti Dinner, 7 p.m.

Feb. 11 | PTSA Board Meeting, 5:30 p.m.; General Meeting, 7 p.m. on Teams
ALL SCHOOL NEWS
We're thankful for the Ballard High School Community this holiday season!

Though we haven't seen each other in person as a School Community, our BHS spirit still shines. Special thanks to:

  • The Head Beaver, Keven Wynkoop, for his steady, positive leadership;
  • Cindy Peterson and Rayna Bauer for staffing the Main Office during the building closure;
  • Teacher-Librarian TuesD Chambers and Assistant Librarian Lindi Wood for their virtual library events and Curbside Pickup Days;
  • Activities Coordinator Kevin Kendrick for promoting online Student Clubs, a wonderful way for students to interact during the building closure;
  • And to the countless staff, students and families who worked so hard this semester.
  • Finally, to Ballard PTSA members and volunteers, thank you for sharing your love and commitment to our students and staff.

Courtesy of the Performing Arts Department and to help keep our spirits bright, here are the BHS Vocal Jazz Choir carolers, directed by Ms. Courtney Rowley.
Want more holiday BPA performances?
Grab a cup of cocoa and enjoy!
Winter Break reminders:

❄ This is the final PTSA Newsletter of the year as we'll be taking a short break to coincide with the holidays. Our next e-news will be Jan. 3. Submission deadline is Thursday, Dec. 31 at ballardhighnews@gmail.com.

❄ We look forward to when we gather again in person, but online learning continues on Monday, Jan. 4.

❄ The BHS Main Office will be open during Winter Break on Dec. 29-30 from 8 a.m. to noon for email or telephone (206-252-1000) contact only.
SPS one-week meal boxes available
Students and their families may pick up one-week meal boxes during Winter Break.

The SPS meal sites will resume standard meal services on Monday, Jan. 4.

  • Monday, Dec. 21, 11:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. School Sites Listed on SPS button link below
  • Wednesday, Dec. 23, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. John Stanford Center (JSCEE) east parking lot, 2445 3rd Ave. S, Seattle, WA 98134
  • Tuesday, Dec. 29, 11:15 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. School Sites on SPS button link below
Hot off the presses, new issue of Talisman
Check out the Dec. 18 issue of the Talisman, the award-winning BHS Student Newspaper.

More information here and additional articles are on also featured on the Talisman website.

Learn about our school's Journalism Program here.

(Dec. 18 Talisman cover art by Sam Rainville.)
LIBRARY
Putting a wrap on 2020, thanks Beaver Readers!
That’s a wrap #BeaverReaders! We want you to have a great ️Winter Break!
You deserve all good things and we can’t wait to catch up when you return!

See you next year!


Follow BHS Library on Instagram | Twitter
Podcast featuring Librarian TuesD Chambers
School Librarians United is a podcast dedicated to the nuts and bolts of running a successful school library, hosted by Amy Hermon.

Teacher-Librarian TuesD Chambers was a featured guest on two recent shows dealing with "Curbside Pickup" (Dec. 13) and "Virtual High School Programming" (Dec. 19). Check out both shows in BHS Library News.
Read, then play Beaver Reader Book Bingo!
Winter Break is the perfect time to relax, read and play Bingo! Track your titles on a Beaver Reader Bingo sheet, available below or on the Library News page, and try to win a prize!

Deadline for sheet submission: Jan. 7; email Ms. Chambers a screenshot at tschambers@seattleschools.org or show her at the Jan. 7 Curbside Pickup from 3-5 p.m. (Also, if you want to place books on hold for January pickup, go to

Check Schoology for more details! And how many Beaver Readers will go for the Triple-Sheet Bingo Blackout?
SENIORS
Senior Cap & Gown Orders | Due Jan. 31
Ballard HS Cap & Gown Orders + Senior Products
Time has come to begin the process of getting your Cap & Gown for Graduation!

Place order on the National Achiever website. Deadline is Jan. 31.

Keep track of all news on the Senior Resource page!
HEALTH & WELLNESS
Note from the Nurse: Happy holidays!
sparkling-snowy-trees.jpg
This holiday season is unlike any other. I wish everyone moments of peace, warm and laughter-filled connections with family and friends (even if they can’t be in person), precious memories and glorious glimpses of joy to come in the future.
Stay safe and healthy! ~ BHS School Nurse Laurie Tirtanadi
COUNSELING CENTER
Filling out college applications?
Applying to College page offers helpful links
The Counseling Center's Applying to College resource guide has answers to commonly asked questions about applying to college as well as upcoming events and opportunities. It is updated often with new content and helpful links, including: HS & Beyond Plan | Letter of Recommendation Form | Class Rank | Transcript Requests
New: WIAA Smart Choices Scholarships
The Smart Choices Scholarship Program, presented by the Dairy Farmers of Washington and Gesa Credit Union, recognizes graduating seniors from WIAA-member high schools for excellence in athletics/activities, academics, leadership and community service throughout their high school careers by awarding two $5,000 scholarships and eight $1,000 scholarships annually. Applications due by the end of day on April 1. More info here.
New: SAEOP Annual Scholarships
The Seattle Association of Educational Office Professionals (SAEOP) is proud to be continuing the tradition of awarding one $1,000 scholarship and two $500 scholarships.

SPS graduating seniors who wish to continue their education at a 2-year, 4-year college or vocational school are encouraged to apply. Application deadline is Friday, April 9.
ATHLETICS
Tentative Season 2 dates & deadline
Ballard Beavers Logo
Season 2 Athletic Registration is due Jan. 15 on FinalForms.

Season 2 includes the following teams and tentative season dates:
  • Jan. 25-March: Gymnastics
  • Feb.-March: Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Boys Swim & Dive, Girls Wrestling and Boys Wrestling

Dates are tentative based on COVID outbreak, WIAA decision making. More info on the BHS Athletics Overview.
PTSA UPDATE
PTSA forming nominating cmte.
In order to identify candidates for next school year's PTSA Executive Board (President, VP, Secy., Treasurer), a nominating committee is formed.

Members of the nominating committee must belong to the PTSA and are elected by fellow BHS PTSA members at the Feb. 11 General Meeting.

Committee work includes holding confidential meetings, reviewing nominations, interviewing candidates, and searching for the best qualified candidates. The nominating committee is not charged with filling the non-elected positions on the PTSA.

If you're interested in helping with the nominating committee, email Gloria Kruzner at bhs.ptsa.pres@gmail.com.
Ballard Cares helps families in crisis
Help support BHS families in crisis due to COVID-19 by donating to Ballard Cares.
Please contribute whatever you can. Your donation will go directly to supporting families in our community.
PTSA Board meets in new year
The BHS PTSA Board will next meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 7.

PTSA Board meetings are held monthly during the school year via Microsoft Teams and are open to all, although only Board and Standing Committee members may actively vote.

Email Gloria Kruzner at bhs.ptsa.pres@gmail.com for more information and meeting link.
COMMUNITY ARTS, CULTURE, ACTION
The BHS PTSA offers these Community Activities for informational purposes & does not necessarily support activities or views presented therein.
Ski Bus Program Update
Plans for Mohan Skiing's 2021 Snowsports Season are still being developed. Vist the skimohan.com website for more details.
SPL offers free printing services
Seattle Public Libraries are offering up to 10 free, black and white printed pages per person per day while Library buildings are closed.

Service available Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m. at Ballard and Broadview Branches. It's also available Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. at the Greenwood Branch.
LLS Students of the Year opportunity
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Students of the Year campaign is a leadership development and philanthropy program in which high school students participate in a fundraising competition to benefit LLS.

The winner gets a scholarship, but all who are successful get letters of recommendation and references. More info: Students of the Year – Seattle website.
BofA Service Learning option
UW Enrichment Winter Courses
The University of Washington is offering school-year enrichment courses (not for credit) for high school students:

  • Algorithmic Thinking: Programming Logic Fundamentals (10th-12th grades)
  • Coding in Java II (10th-12th grades)
  • Writers' Workshop (10th-12th grades)

Registration deadline is Dec. 28; courses begin Jan. 5, running twice weekly over 10 weeks. For details visit the UW Winter Courses website.
SHOP AND SUPPORT BHS PTSA
Support BHS PTSA at Fred Meyer
Thank you to the BHS families who contribute to BHS PTSA while they shop at Fred Meyer.

A digital account is needed to participate in Fred Meyer Community Rewards. To help contribute, link your Shoppers Card card to the BHS PTSA (code MJ933).

Once you link your card, all you have to do is shop at Fred Meyer and swipe your Shopper’s Card.
More information about Community Rewards here.
AmazonSmile supports Ballard PTSA
Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to BHS PTSA. Check out the AmazonSmile information page to learn about using AmazonSmile and select “Ballard High School PTSA, Seattle, WA.”
Thank you!
BHS PTSA Friends of Ballard FB group offers community support
The BHS PTSA Friends of Ballard Facebook group is about community -- parents, volunteers, staff, students, neighbors all sharing news and information.

Parents, students, staff, neighbors, alumni -- it takes a village, let's build one here! Join the conversation, get involved -- it's Great to be a BHS Beaver. Check out Friends of Ballard here!

Follow BHS PTSA on our Instagram page @bhs.ptsa! We are also on Twitter!
Become a member of BHS PTSA
The BHS PTSA exists to strengthen the BHS Community but we can't do it without you!

Please consider membership in the BHS PTSA! Your membership helps drive our focus on supporting our school.
Community Resources
The BHS PTSA offers Community Resources for informational purposes & does not necessarily support activities or views presented therein.

Seattle Public Schools
Community support
Food bank services
Do You Have an Announcement for the BHS PTSA Newsletter?
Submit content (appropriate and relevant to Ballard High School or Community) by 5 p.m. Thursday (1 or 2 weeks before your event ) to the BHS Newsletter Editor email at ballardhighnews@gmail.com. Please submit posts no more than 100 words and include relevant URLs, contact info and a small graphic (if available). Editor has full discretion over what is published. The BHS PTSA provides Community News for purely informational purposes and does not necessarily support the activities or views presented therein.