Safety Update

From Principal Abby Hunt's Friday Family Letter:

Dear Ballard Families,

I need to update you about a safety concern that is impacting the Ballard community.

There have been several incidents recently where people have been robbed while walking in the neighborhood. Many of these incidents involved a weapon. Additionally, gun violence in our larger metro community has understandably raised concerns.

I share this information not to evoke fear or panic, but rather to help you consider how you and your family can stay safe when you are out in the community.

Please know that student safety and well-being at Ballard High School is our top priority. I am working closely with regional school leaders and the district’s Safety and Security team on best practices in keeping our campuses safe.

Full letter, resources and safety tips

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 Performing Arts Center 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., program runs from 7-8:15 p.m. We will have tables with Seattle Promise Scholarship details, information about FAFSA & WASFA, scholarship resources and more! Full details.

Photo Retakes Oct. 24

Rowland Studios photographers will be at BHS Tuesday, Oct. 24 for students who want to retake a photo.

If 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.

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.

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.

Senior SAT Scores Should Be On College Board Nov. 1

Ballard HS Seniors who took the SAT at BHS on Oct. 11:

SAT Scores should be posted on the College Board site on Wednesday, Nov. 1. Students will need to log into their College Board account to view their scores.

More info on the BHS SAT Overview.

Reflections Student Art 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.

More info.

Fall PTSA Meeting Recap

Thanks to all who attended our Fall General Meeting and special thanks to speaker Lynnet Mitchell, Healthy Schools Coordinator for Seattle Public School's Prevention and Intervention Department.

Mitchell provided a fentanyl awareness training and substance abuse prevention strategies. In addition to Mitchell's presentation, Principal Abby Hunt shared information about the school's wellness resources, including our Counseling team and Teen Health Center,

Members also approved the 2023-24 PTSA Budget and Standing Rules.

Mitchell also provided each attendee with a dose of naloxone for their own homes.

If you would like to order a box of naloxone for your own home, you can order free kits online. More sources can also be found here.

Membership Drawing Winner Selected

Congratulations to PTSA member Megin Edwards!

One of the 170 PTSA members who have signed up so far this year, Megin was automatically entered in our BHS Beaver Gear drawing. Her name was picked by our Membership Chair Deborah Frieze and Lisa Vanderford-Anderson before our Fall General Meeting!

Teacher, parents, students too: You can still sign up for an annual membership here!

Read more about why you'd want to join the Ballard PTSA! We need your voice!

Help Us Shape Future Meeting Topics

We are interested in learning more about what PTSA parent-education meeting topics you'd like to hear about!

Please take our quick survey!

Questions? Email Family And Community Engagement Chair Victoria Watson at bhs.ptsa.face@gmail.com.

Direct Appeal Welcome

We'd like to welcome new Direct Appeal Chair Kristen Anderson to the PTSA Board.

Look for more information coming soon about our annual fall fundraiser!

PTSA Staff Appreciation Team Shares Gratitude

The Staff Appreciation Team has been busy!

Thanks to co-chairs Lisa Vanderford-Anderson and Lisa Willis who set up a "put together a root beer float" bar for all BHS staff.

They also provided handwritten notes and chocolates to all custodial staff for National Custodian Week.

Important Dates – Senior Timeline

College Visits: Happening Now. Learn more.

College Admission Application Support: Wednesdays, 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: Friday, Nov. 3 TBD

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!

National Recognition From College Board to BHS Students

Congratulations! These Ballard HS Students earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Programs:

National African American Recognition Award (NAARA): Nina Aziz.

National Hispanic Recognition Award (NHRA): Anya Souza-Ponce, Camila Martinez and Johannes Thiessen.

The College Board National Recognition Programs award academic honors to underrepresented students. The four national recognition programs include the National African American Recognition Program, National Hispanic Recognition Program, National Indigenous Recognition Program, and National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program. Full details.

Beaver Students Ignite Spirit on SPS First Bell News Broadcast

Students from Ballard High School and other SPS schools took over SPS’s Oct. 18 “First Bell” news broadcast.

The episode features Ballard students Semai Hagos and Nina Ando (00:06 – 00:11 & 2:20 – 3:05) as well as (04:22 – 4:36), with Semai listing all the ways students can show school spirit.

Catch the full episode below. More info.

Digital Filmmaking Program Gets New Camera Equipment

Over the summer the Digital Filmmaking Program was very generously donated a Sony F55 by cinematographer John Tipton! The students are extremely grateful to have access to this kind of equipment and to have also received a donation from the PTSA and Ballard alumni Sven Huseby to help buy accessories for our new camera. All of the new gear came in last week and they had the chance to unbox and build the camera in all its glory.

Photos c/o and follow @bhsdigitalfilm.

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.

Halloween Fun Hits the Library!

Beaver Readers can have all kinds of spooky fun in the library leading up to Halloween! We hear from Ms. Chambers and Ms. Bowman on their Instagram page (@beaverreadersbhs) that there's even a silly photo booth in the works! Check it out in the library, and visit the Makerspace to concoct your own fall crafty creation!

These clubs meet during lunch:

• Library Leaders meet on Mondays. They're working on fun Halloween decorations and more.
• That Dam Book Club meets every other Tuesday in the Makerspace.
• Comic Book Club meets on Wednesdays in Mr. Lee's classroom.
• Pride Book Club meets every other Friday.

Also, consider the following group for service hours:

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

Finally, the quarter is coming to a close. If you need help with math homework, there is a math tutor available after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays to help with questions. Sign up is available on the Circulation Desk.

More library news updates and resources are on the BHS website. Photo of PTSA Volunteer Jen Wenrick c/o and follow @beaverreadersbhs.

College Visits

Juniors & Seniors Sign up on Naviance for College Visits

Students! This month's College Admission representative visits include:

Monday, Oct. 23

• St. John’s University (NY), 9:50 a.m.
• The Oberlin Conservatory of Music, 10:50 a.m.
• Willamette University, 1:45 p.m.
• Mount Holyoke College, 2:45 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 24

• Bowdoin College, 8:50 a.m.
• Drexel University, 12:45 p.m.
• NEW DAY & TIME: Western Washington University, 1:45 p.m.
• Muhlenberg College, 2:45 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 25

• University of San Francisco, 9:35 a.m.
• University of Oregon, 1:00 p.m.
• Loyola University New Orleans, 1:45 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 27

• San Diego State University, 9:50 a.m.

Monday, Oct. 30

• University of the Pacific, 2:45 p.m.

Full details on all upcoming College Visits and Events.

College Application Drop-In Help Nov. 1

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.):

• Nov. 1
• Nov. 22
• Dec. 6
• Jan. 3
• Jan. 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.

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

Bagley Elementary Harvest Hootenanny

Daniel Bagley Elementary School PTA is excited to have their Harvest Hootenanny event on Friday, Oct. 27.

Volunteers are needed to help with set-up and clean up, and running game booths from 5-8:30 p.m.

Signup and full details.

Volunteers are needed for the Queen Anne Co-op Preschool (2011 1st Ave. N.) Fall Festival from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 28. Volunteers to help run a couple of simple games and the ticket/welcome table.

Email info@queenannecoop.org if you can help out!

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.

Bravo Ballard Thespians!

Fall Play Staging a Success

Congratulations to the Ballard Thespians for their staging of "Sonnet for a New Century," Oct. 19-21 in the Performing Arts Center.

Just announced, the spring musical will be "The Addams Family." Auditions will take place during the week of Nov. 27. Look for details on the BPA website.

Choir Kicks Off BPA Fall Concerts Wed., Oct. 25

It's Fall Concert Season!

Make sure you catch all the shows coming up in the Performing Arts Center.

• Fall Choir Concert, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25
• Fall Band Concert, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, performing with Navy Band Northwest
• Fall Orchestra Concert, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8

The shows are free, but you can You can also reserve seats for $25 each, all proceeds go to the Ballard Performing Arts Boosters.

BPA Coffee Sale Fundraiser

Support Ballard Performing Arts by ordering your favorite coffees from Caffe Appassionato, now through Nov. 15!

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.

Purchase online here.

Want more BPA updates?

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

Congrats on Another Trip to Districts, Slowpitch Team!

On Wednesday slowpitch softball kicked off the District Tournament with a 13-9 victory over Holy Names. On Thursday Ballard fell 20-2 to Lake Washington, but that set-back only re-fueled the Beavers' fighting spirit going into Saturday, when they faced and beat Chief Sealth 10-6 in their first of two must-win games. Sadly, their loss to Roosevelt 10-6 later in the day meant their postseason was over, but congratulations on another epic season, Beavers! Photo and update c/o Team Parent Liz Clyma.

Swim Heads for Metros Oct. 27-28

The Ballard Girls Swim & Dive team hosted a final dual meet Oct. 20 against the Bishop Blanchet Bears and celebrated the team's seniors, pictured above. While we're waiting on scores for that final meet, they have been on a hot streak going into Metros, winning their three prior meets.

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

Photo c/o and follow the Ballard Girls swim team @bhsgirlsswimanddive.

Football Faces Lincoln Friday

The Football Team lost to Bishop Blanchet in a scoring marathon Friday 53-54.

Come cheer the team one more time at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 against Lincoln at Memorial Stadium.

Schedule. Photo c/o Ed Tanaka.

Follow the team @ballardbeaverfootball

Volleyball Faces Garfield for top of Division Monday

Show up in all pink to show your support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month as the Volleyball team faces Garfield at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 23 for the second year in a row title of division champs!

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

Joey Bunich Reps BHS Golf at Districts

Congrats to Joey Bunich for shooting a 76 at Metros Friday. He will be representing Ballard Golf in the District Tournament next week.

Full schedules include season scores for both the Boys Team and Girls Team.

Photo c/o and follow @ballard.golf.

Soccer Wraps Regular Season at Blanchet Tuesday

An exciting Girls Soccer season continued last week as the team beat Nathan Hale 2-1 Monday and tied Lincoln at home 0-0 Wednesday. Next, they'll wrap up the regular season at Bishop Blanchet. Kick off is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24.

Photo c/o Elliot Stoller. Schedule. Follow the team @ballardgirlsoccer

Cross Country Moves Onto Districts Oct. 25

Following two gritty races Oct. 26, both the Boys and Girls Cross Country Teams are going to Districts! Congratulations to the Girls team who took 4th at Metros and the Boys team who tied for 8th (but took the tiebreaker against Garfield to go to Districts by having their 6th team runner complete the course faster).

Also, big congratulations to Cassidy Armstrong who won the Varsity Girls Metro Race! Results HERE

District Championships are Wednesday, Oct. 25 at Marymoor Park. Boys race is at 3:30 p.m. and the Girls race is at 4 p.m. 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
• Unified Basketball

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

Updates on the Athletics webpage. Coach contact information is also available on the BHS website.

Join the Girls Bowling Team!

Mandatory Girls Bowling meeting during lunch on Wednesday, Oct. 25 in Coach Cachopo's classroom (SW111).

Follow the team @ballardgirlsbowling.

Questions? Email sacachopo@seattleschools.org.

Girls Flag Football Interest Meeting

Girls Flag Football!

If you are interested in playing Flag Football please come to the info meeting from noon to 12:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 in Ms. Dowdy's Room. Snacks and drinks provided.

No experience necessary to play, all are welcome!

Boys Lacrosse Fall Ball

Registration is open for Boys Lacrosse Fall Ball! Season is the month of November and ends with the Space Needle Shootout tournament the first weekend of December! 

Follow along @ballardlacrosse and register here.

Please reach out to Coach Ray with any questions raypryphun@gmail.com. Everyone welcome and scholarships are available. 

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, location TBD.

We’d love to see you there!

Upcoming Events

October 28-29 Día de Muertos Festival Seattle (seattlecenter.com)

“Seattle Center Festál presents Día de Muertos Festival Seattle in partnership with the Día de Muertos Festival Seattle. The festival offers performances, elaborate altars, colorful face-painting, sugar skull workshops, visual art, and more!” 

October 29 (Pioneer Square, Free) “Join us in a vibrant family-friendly celebration that ignites appreciation for our loved ones, family members, and ancestors. ...Including a LIVE Dj, Food Vendors, and special public giveaways!”



Dia De Los Muertos Market at TASWIRA, TASWIRA African Art & Design Gallery, Seattle, 29 October (allevents.in)

November 2-5 (Town Hall, Ticket $33) “During the family annual Catrinas Festival the public is invited to bring pictures, flowers, candles, and mementos of loved ones to place on the giant altar decorated with flowers, folk art and “ofrendas”. The festival includes a street market, music, dancing, Loteria, performances, children’s activities, and more Catrinas Festival 2023 | – Celebrating the Day of the Dead (seattlecatrinasfestival.com) 

In the News

Northwest Native fashion show a hit - ICT News

WA colleges help transfer students chart a path to four-year degrees | The Seattle Times

‘She Marches in Chinatown’ Tells the Story of a Seattle Drill Team Unlike Any Other in the World | South Seattle Emerald

New bus-shelter mural in Federal Way honors trailblazing Black couple | The Seattle Times