What an amazing night we had on April 2! Because of your incredible generosity, including attendees, volunteers, donors and sponsors, we SMASHED OUR FUNDRAISING GOAL, raising $94,600. The total includes $25,000 in support of Equity and Inclusion at Ballard High. This funding will result in visible and invisible changes throughout the school, contributing to success for all students.

You can still Raise your Paddle by donating online to support Equity and Inclusion at BHS.

Stay tuned for the 2024 Gala date. We hope some of you will help plan next year’s event as some of our key committee members are graduating. Please get in touch to find out more: ballardauction@gmail.com.

Email ballardauction@gmail.com for registration details. Photos courtesy of @skilbreath.

BHS PTSA DEI Committee Film Screening: Roosevelt High School – Beyond Black & White

Everyone is invited to the PTSA's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee free screening/discussion of the documentary “Roosevelt High School – Beyond Black and White” from 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, April 21 in the Performing Arts Center (PAC). Roosevelt alumni from the film will be present to provide insight and answer questions. The Roosevelt Alumni for Racial Equity (RARE) filmmakers are especially hoping any other Seattle schools alumni from the 1970s might attend too, since they all experienced bussing. The film screening and discussion will provide a unique opportunity to build community and learn from each other. [FILM INFO]

The PTSA DEI Committee was created in the Fall 2021 to create a more welcoming, diversity-rich safe space in our school community where everyone feels a greater sense of belonging, where everyone has a seat at the table, and where students’ and families’ unique cultural perspectives are valued. The committee meets monthly with the Lincoln High School DEI Committee and shares links of interest in the weekly PTSA Newsletter's "Equity Corner." Questions? Email DEIatBHS@gmail.com. Learn more about the DEI Committee.

April is Occupational Therapy Month, a time to celebrate BHS’s very own Graham Foster! Occupational Therapy services help children to participate in activities of daily life. Services may address a broad range of need from strategies to maintain attention in class to assistance holding and using a pencil. Thank you for all you do, Graham!

Thank you for your donations to help fund PTSA Grants. Thanks also to Grants Chairs Libet Wallblom and Nancy Wesche for all their efforts coordinating the Grants process!

AP Exams are May 1-5 and 8-12 at BHS. Students who registered in November for exams (or who are not sure they registered) can confirm their exam registration status by signing into the myap.collegeboard.org.

Here's important information on what to bring testing day, locations and time schedule. [BHS AP UPDATES]

The Naramore Art Show, a collaboration between Seattle Public Schools and the Seattle Art Museum, runs 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekends only, through May 14 at the SAM's first floor corridor (1300 First Ave.). The show celebrates more than 200 artworks by SPS middle and high school students. Ballard has 15 student artists participating:

Congratulations Beaver artists! [MORE INFO]

If you want to be part of the Link Crew program. please reach out to Mr. Holmgren, Mr. Fort, Ms. Lehni, or Mr. Subido. Applications close May 5. [MORE INFO]

It’s that time again! Submit art and literature to the 2023 BHS Spilled Ink Journal of Art and Literature! Submit high resolution photos of art, photography, photos of sculpture, poetry, short stories of less than 1,000 words. Include in your email the type of submission, your name, whether you want submission to be anonymous, your preferred contact info. Submit to: ballardinkclub@gmail.com and tmburton@seattleschools.org by Friday, April 21!

Get ready! Students from Ballard High School (including Grayson), Denny International Middle School, and Chief Sealth International High School are taking over SPS's news broadcast, “First Bell,” on April 19.

Students are also taking on the May 17 episode! If you would like to be a part of the broadcast, let SPS know by filling out the interest form. [MORE INFO]

Seniors! Important! Pick up date for purchased cap and gowns is ONLY April 24. National Achievers will be handing them out in the Commons during lunch. If there are any issues with your order they will be able to help you on that day. [MORE INFO]

Buy your tickets today for SPREE, the all-night grad party, sponsored by the PTSA, and a BHS tradition! Immediately following the graduation ceremony, students hop onto chartered buses. Throughout the night, grads will travel to two different exciting event venues and be treated to multiple activities, meals, and fun. [MORE INFO]

Seattle Promise Students & Parents: Come to the BHS Counseling Center on the following timeline and meet up with the BHS Outreach Specialist May Saetern for FAFSA/WASFA support. Parents are encouraged to come in with their students.

Questions? Contact May Saetern via cell/text at 206-661-5207 or May.Saetern@Seattlecolleges.edu. [MORE INFO]

Looking for scholarships? Check the BHS Counseling Scholarship page as well as Naviance often! Here are some available options:

Did you miss the Seattle Promise application deadline? Seattle Colleges Foundation Scholarships application is now open! 

Students are encouraged to apply now through April 13. [MORE INFO]

The P.E.O. Women Helping Women Reach for the Stars Scholarship (attached here) 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 April 17.

➤ Earn service hours helping with cleanup and weeding projects at the PTSA’s Family Friendly Cleanup Day from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 22 at Ballard High School. Sign up here. [MORE INFO]

➤ Up to four students are needed to help at Ballard Athletic Booster Club Trivia Night from 5-9:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 26 for set-up, popcorn service, game assistance and cleanup at the Ballard Elks. 6411 Seaview Ave. N. 2nd floor, lodge room. More info, signup: Kelly Jones, BallardBeaverTrivia@gmail.com.

Seattle University is hosting the 2023 Spring College Fair from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 22. Visit pnacac.org for more information.

Students can sign up for college visits at the Counseling Center online through Naviance. Full details and list here.

Questions? Contact Carol Bristol, Ballard HS Counseling Secretary at chbristol@seattleschools.org.

Students, take a deep dive into a job or internship! Here are some listings on the Counseling Center's Job & Internship Board!

Career Quest is a Seattle Public Schools (SPS) Internship program. Students can earn high school credit outside of their school day with meaningful career exploration. Learn more about this program and regional internships on the BHS website.

Woodland Park Zoo is hosting a Career Exploration Day from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 22. The all-day event is geared toward high school students to learn more about different careers at Woodland Park Zoo! Activities include: Career panel, animal keeper talks, behind-the-scenes tours and workshops. Registration: $35, scholarships available. [MORE INFO]

King County Parks Youth Conservation Corps is a PAID summer internship program for teens interested in jobs in parks and the environment. Ten positions are open to all King County students entering grades 10-12. Applications are open until April 16. [FULL DETAILS] Also, more King County volunteer opportunities.

Follow Your Heart Into a Great Book 🫶

Don't forget to Follow Your Heart Into a Great Book! Snap a photo with your hands shaped into a heart with your book. Send it to tschambers@seattleschools.org, share it to social media (Instagram or Twitter with #HeartGreatBook), or share your image via the library padlet!

April is School Library Month, highlighting the valuable roles librarians play in transforming lives and strengthening our communities. The Celebrating School Librarians page recently shared a well-deserved compliment for Teacher-Librarian TuesD Chambers!

“Ms. Chambers shows each and every day that her energy and commitment to the reading lives of students at Ballard is boundless. She is an ardent advocate for forward-thinking library services that center around the lives of her students.” – Rebecca Wynkoop, parent

Learn more about the Ballard High School Library, how you can help support library services at BHS (including DonorsChoose asks), and follow @beaverreadersbhs on Instagram! School Library Month Graphic c/o @BHSLibraryLeaders

Out-of-state BPA Field Trips returned this school year after a several year hiatus. Congratulations to the Band and Orchestra which performed Friday and Saturday at the Magic Kingdom! Choir will head to New York City April 12-16. Photo and follow @ballardperformingarts to enjoy their musical travels too!

Did you know we have Theatre Arts classes at Ballard High School? The acting class is working on two- and three-person short scenes and will then move on to audition technique, resume writing, and playwriting with writing specialist Rachel Atkins. Theater tech are currently working on set design models.

After school, Ballard Thespians are working on the One Act Play Festival May 18-20. For questions about Theatre Arts classes, email Ms. Indira Rampersad at igrampersad@seattleschools.org.

Cheer Tryouts are 4:30-6:30 p.m. May 2-5 in the Gym. Tryout packets (and Final Forms registration) due by May 2.

Photo c/o and more info @ballardcheer page. Questions? Email ballardhs.cheerleading@gmail.com.

Dance Team tryouts for the 2023-24 school year will be 4:30-7 p.m. April 25-28 in the Gym. No prior experience is required, and all are welcome to try out! Registration on Final Forms must be completed by April 24. [MORE INFO/APPLICATION] Questions? Email bhsdanceteam@gmail.com

Mark your calendars for Athletic Booster Club Trivia Night Wednesday, April 26 at the Ballard Elks Club. Registration starts at 6 p.m.; trivia starts at 7 p.m. Put together your team of six people – entry fee is $10 per team member. Gather family, friends, and yes, high school students can play too. The more diverse your group in interests and age, the better you’ll do. More info on our fun Trivia Night coming soon. Want to reserve your spot and register a team early? Send an email to BallardBeaverTrivia@gmail.com. [MORE INFO]

Beavers Baseball defeated Kentwood 4-1 on Friday at T-Mobile Park. The Beaver Brigade was able to come and cheer the team while the Mariners headed on their first roadtrip of the season.

Fun fact from Coach Doug Montgomery: "The last time we played Kentwood was exactly 10 years ago, April 6, 2013, at (then) Safeco Field. Coming in, they won the 2012 4A State Championship, and at the time of our game were 10-0, ranked #1 in the state, and #16 nationally in 2013. The Boys from Ballard won that game 3-2, as we trotted out 7 pitchers who each threw 1 inning. Kentwood’s catcher, Reese McGuire (who was drafted in the 1st round two months later, and still plays for the Boston RedSox), went 0-4. Coach Frank (sr, catcher) drove in Coach Westerman (soph, OF) for the go-ahead run. We’re hoping to recreate that magic again this year." Looks like the Beavers did, congrats!

Purchase a ticket for the Saturday, April 22 Mariners game versus the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday, April 22. (If the team sells 1,000 tickets, they get to play a game at T-Mobile Park.)

"In addition to that fun experience, we also use this as a fundraising opportunity to cover all of our team expenses," said Coach Montgomery. Tickets are sold at a discounted price of $20 for seats in Sections 329 and 330.

Email ballardbeaversbaseball@gmail.com if you're interested in purchasing online digital tickets. Ticket sales end Friday, April 14. Photo c/o and follow @ballardbaseball.

Update from Coach Ross Humphries @ballardbeaverfootball:

Linebacker Alex G. (Colorado School of Mines), and

Defensive Back Sir H. (George Fox University).

Lineman Jake I. (Central Washington University) #BeaverPride.

Congratulations to Seattle’s Sno-King Girls Junior Thunderbird Hockey team, with Ballard High sophomores Kennedy J. and Noel B., who recently won the USA Hockey Girls 16-and-Under National Championship last weekend in Irvine, CA. They won 2-1 in the final match-up against a team from Rochester, NY. This is the first national girls title for Washington state. They also won the Pacific Districts title earlier this year. [MORE INFO]

More info on Ballard's Metro home page and Spring Athletics page too.

PTSA UPDATES

Come celebrate Earth Day and help clean up our campus with PTSA’s Family Friendly Cleanup Day from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 22 at Ballard High School.

Service Learning Hours are available too! [MORE INFO]

Email: volunteers.ballardhs@gmail.com

Whether you are new to PTSA or not, we are actively seeking someone who will take on the following responsibilities (or two people could share the job!). Note: Outgoing president will be available to mentoring those interested (and was new to PTSA Board work upon entering high school too!):

Email the Nominating Committee at join.bhs.ptsa@gmail.com for more information. Thank you to Tanya King, Victoria Watson and Lisa Vanderford-Anderson for chairing our Nominating Committee this year!

Calling everyone in the BHS Community! Do you know an educator, staff member or volunteer who makes an outstanding impact at BHS?

Every year, the PTSA gives out recognition awards at our year-end June General Meeting.

Email Gloria Kruzner at bhs.ptsa.pres@gmail.com your nominations, along with a few details why you've chosen them, through Friday, May 12.

Winners will be celebrated at our 7 p.m. June 1 General Meeting in the Library. [MORE INFO]

The WSPTA Reflections Webpage has been updated with the 2022-23 WSPTA Reflection winners, including BHS Honorable Mention artist Lake N.'s piece "Save Our Planet."

There will be a Reflections Celebration at 6:30 p.m. on April 27. The online celebration will feature the award-winning students and their artwork. The event is free and open to all. [MORE INFO]

PTSA members: Did you know you can help set the future course for the Washington State PTA as a delegate representing Ballard High School PTSA?

Join the Annual Washington State PTA Business Meeting online April 29-30 (9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday) when verified delegates elect the new board members and consider changes to the bylaws.

Just like our local and council PTAs, Washington State PTA needs to have a quorum in order to elect its officers and vote on changes to our bylaws. Quorum is reached by each PTA sending delegates to the annual business meeting. (BHS has four delegates, and three positions are still open for participation.)

Sign up today! Registration deadline is at noon, Wednesday, April 12.

SPS UPDATES

Recent flyers include community information on:

[MORE INFO]

The Seattle Public Schools LGBTQ+ Families Dinner is 4-7 p.m. Saturday, May 6 at Meany Middle School. This event is open to the families of LGBTQ+/gender-expansive kids in SPS as well as LGBTQ+ parents/guardians. Please RSVP. [MORE INFO]

After years of trying to bring Black Studies to Seattle Public Schools, the district was able to offer virtual courses to students for the first time this school year. In celebration of that achievement, students, staff, and families gathered for the 1st Annual Black Studies Showcase. 

Hundreds of Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind students from Washington and Alaska gathered at the Junior Achievement facility in Auburn in early March. They were there to participate in the Deaf2Deaf Experience, provided by the Washington Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth (CDHY).  

ADVOCACY UPDATES

Here's PTSA Legislative Liaison Brian Duncan's April 9 update.

Brian is still looking for a co-chair with a taste for advocacy to mentor before he graduates as a BHS parent in June.

If you are interested or have questions about the role, email Brian at bhs.ptsa.legislative@gmail.com.

On Monday, March 20, the King County Office of Performance, Strategy, and Budget launched the Career Pathways for Youth Affected by Gun Violence grant program. This opportunity is funded with $1 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to support a gun violence prevention grant program in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Violent crime and gun violence are public health challenges that were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

King County seeks to fund data-informed, community-focused violence deterrence/intervention programs for youth ages 12-28 who have been directly or indirectly affected by gun violence. [MORE INFO] Application deadline: Noon, April 21.

Each week, WSPTA Legislative Consultant Marie Sullivan puts together a list of bills and upcoming events that are associated with the group's legislative priorities.

[MORE INFO]

Check out the SCPTSA's April 4 Newsletter for helpful updates on area events and advocacy opportunities.

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

Tuesday evenings, now through May 23: Drop In Virtual Learning & Strategy Sessions, adapted from Rhapsody's Face the Music Curriculum (FREE online) 

Click here to register (FREE)

Happy Easter! To all our Christian friends celebrating Easter on April 9 Easter - Dates, Easter Eggs & Easter Bunny - HISTORY 

Roosevelt High School: Beyond Black & White Film Screening & Discussion April 21 at BHS

Now through April 30 MOHAI — From the Ground Up: Black Architects and Designers 

In the News 

“The playground installed at Three Rivers was designed specifically to address the physical and social inclusion of people of all ages and abilities.”   

Join National PTA, the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism and a wide coalition of Jewish and non-Jewish groups in support of the Stand Up To Jewish Hate campaign to raise awareness and empower all Americans to prevent hatred and intolerance towards Jews. Follow #StandUpToJewishHate on social media and post with #🟦. Learn more.