Ballard HS Events Calendar | |
Ballard HS PTSA Annual Give 2026-27
GOAL: $100,000
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Donate Today!
$100,000 is critical to closing funding gaps.
93% directly supports teachers and students through supplemental curriculum learning materials, reduced AP exams fees, year-long staff appreciation events, Bucky's home for the holidays, common lit software and more! 7% greatly assists the PTSA non-profit costs: this newsletter platform, State and bank merchant fees.
We've raised $40,520! Thank you so much to our generous donors. Let's keep the momentum and fill our Beaver Den!
Learn more and DONATE today!.
Questions?
Email Annual Give Chairs, Andrea, Kellie, and Kim at DirectGiving
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Principal Spotlight: Ballard HS Principal Abby Hunt
At Ballard High School, a commitment to academic excellence, student opportunity, and strong community partnerships helps students reach their full potential. Under Principal Abby Hunt’s leadership, that commitment was recently recognized when Ballard High School was named one of the top high schools in Washington by U.S. News & World Report, earning the No. 13 ranking statewide. Read more here!
| | | Congratulations to the Ballard Slow-Pitch Softball team for winning the Metro League Tournament! | | | | |
AP Exams Registration & Payment
Ballard HS students interested in taking an AP exam in May 2027, MUST register and pay for AP exams by October 30, 5:00 pm.
More information HERE!
| | | Ballard HS Counseling Center | | |
Sonja Petersen, Maya McKenzie, Tom Kramer, Gail Olson Laing, and Katie Huguenin
Students are assigned to Ballard HS Counselors by the first letter of their last name. Counselors work with students to help them develop strategies for success in academics, social skills, and in considering their post-high school plans and career options. Visit the BHS Counseling Center webpage for helpful information about college visits, job and internships, applying to college, post high school options, FAFSA & WASFA, High School and Beyond Plan: SchooLinks, Scholarship Bulletins & more!
| | Service Learning Opportunities | | Check the Ballard HS Counselors Service Learning site often for fun new opportunities for busy beavers to complete their 60-hour graduation requirement. | | The Magnolia Cooperative Preschool is hosting a Harvest Festival on October 24th from 10am-1pm. They are looking for high school volunteers to help to make it a success! Volunteers can help with any combination of the following: set up, helping to man some of the kids' stations, and/or clean up. | | Whittier Elementary is looking for high-school students to volunteer at our Fall Fest on Friday, October 23, from 5:00-7:00 PM. Volunteers would help run simple carnival booths and assist with setup and cleanup. Choose your time slot here! Volunteers will work under adult supervision and can receive documentation of service learning hours. | | |
Loyal Heights Community Center needs volunteers to help with our Fall Carnival. Friday Oct. 30, 4:30-9:30 pm.
They need help decorating the gym, setting up carnival games, helping to conduct the carnival games, and cleaning up and putting away equipment. Call for questions or to sign up: (206) 684-4052
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- College rep. visits change often. Visit the Ballard HS Counseling page to learn more.
- College rep. visits last the length of the class period that they start in and are in the Counseling Center, unless otherwise noted.
- Students: From Clever/Log into SchooLinks, click Engage, then Events to register🦫🎓🏫
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Monday October 19th
- 8:50 a.m. Lewis & Clark College
- 11 a.m. Chapman University
- 1:45 p.m. Sarah Lawrence College
Wednesday October 21st
- 9:40 a.m. Northeastern University
- 12:50 p.m. Simon Fraser University – Burnaby
Thursday October 22nd
- 8:50 a.m. University of Toronto
- 1:45 p.m. Northwestern University
- 9:55 a.m. University of Arizona
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Friday October 23rd
- 8:50 a.m. Dartmouth College
Monday October 26th
- 8:50 a.m. Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- 9:55 a.m. Hamilton College
Tuesday October 27th
- 8:50 a.m. Columbia College Chicago
- 1:45 p.m. Loyola Marymount University
Wednesday October 28th
- 9:40 a.m. Elon University
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Financial Aid Night
Parents/Guardians of Juniors and Seniors! Learn the ins and outs of the financial aid process, including rules about the FAFSA and more in this session about paying for your student’s higher education. Meet in the PAC Tuesday, Oct. 20. Note: This session will not be recorded.
- Doors open at 6:45 p.m. The event is 7:00 – 8:15 p.m.
- Info about the Seattle Promise scholarship with Jacob Shapiro as well as financial aid info from David Aramaki.
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Let counselor Gail Olson Laing know by Wed. October 8 if you need translation services.
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Senior Corner
Welcome Class of 2027
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Order Cap & Gown
Cap & Gown (Stole & Tassel) orders. Packets handed out to Seniors or pick up in the Main Office.
Order Cap, Gown, Tassel & Stole before 12/20/26.
You don't need to order packages. To order graduation ceremony required products
Select-> Shop All Graduation Products
Select-> Cap, Gown, Tassel & Stole Item
Order questions? Call (425) 357-1338
Remember, you can borrow recycled caps & gowns. See the Counseling Center for more information.
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Class of 2027
Senior Yearbook Photos
Ballard Seniors have the option to submit their own photo for the yearbook. If a different photo is not submitted, the School ID photo taken at the beginning of the school year will be used.
DUE NOVEMBER 12
Click here for photo submission instructions and to learn more about senior portraits and personal yearbook grad ads!
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Grad Ads!
Shingle Grad Ads (aka, Personal Ads) 2026-27
Size photo limit price
1/2 Color 8 $180.00
1/4 Color 5 $120.00
1/8 Color 2 $65.00
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Scholarship Opportunities
The Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship award is available to high school seniors and the deadline is November 12th, 2026. You can find more information, and students may apply online at: enf.elks.org/MVS The Ballard Elks Lodge awards six $1,000.00 scholarships to be used towards college tuition. Be sure to select “Ballard Elks” during the application process.
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2026 Seahawks Community Scholarship Due Nov. 1
The Seattle Seahawks are excited to announce that applications are now open for the 2026 Seahawks Community Scholarship. This scholarship program awards up to $10,000 to qualifying high school seniors across Washington to support tuition or educational expenses. Funds will be paid directly to the recipient’s college, university, or accredited program in 2027.
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be a U.S. Citizen and Washington resident
- High school senior, graduating in 2027
- Demonstrate financial need
- Show leadership in school and/or community
- Strong academic achievement
- Planning to attend a four-year college/university, community college, or accredited technical/vocational program in fall 2027.
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The application will be open until November 1, 2026! Apply Today!
| | | | | Are you applying to WSU? Do you have at least a 3.8 GPA? If so, let your school counselor know you’d like to be considered for the WSU Regents Scholarship worth $4000/year for four years for a total of $20,000! WSU is looking for students with outstanding academic potential who have demonstrated leadership through contribution to community, family, and/or school activities. If you are nominated as a Regents Scholar, you will then compete for the Distinguished Regents Scholars Award, which covers full tuition and fees for four years, approximately $42,000. Contact your school counselor by Friday, October 23, 2026 to be considered for this scholarship. | | |
Ballard HS Library Resources
News, Resources & Events in the Ballard HS Library
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Weekly Library Volunteers Wanted
Help Ms. Chambers in the library on a weekly basis. As a resource to all students, the library is busy throughout the day, but especially during lunch hours. Shifts are available M-F starting as early as 8:30AM, where you will help with shelving, check-ins and various projects. Training will occur on your 1st and 2nd shifts. Please Sign up Here.
NOTE: All volunteers MUST complete an SPS Volunteer Application and be approved before volunteering. You will be considered a Tier 1 – Supervised School Volunteer, invited by TuesD Chambers. Once you clear this process, you can sign up.
| | Please contact Ms. Chambers with any questions. | | |
Ways for students to participate in the library this year!
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Mondays (both lunches, come to the Book Club Room)- Library Leaders
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Tuesdays (both lunches, come to the Book Club Room)- That Dam Book Club
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Wednesdays (both lunches, come to the Book Club Room)- Comic Book Club
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Thursdays- Check back!
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Fridays (2nd lunch only, come to the Book Club Room)- Romance Book Club
There are lots of opportunities for community service before school, after school, and at lunch. Students can shelve books, make book displays, bookmarks, and clean the library. We are starting our 1st Chapter Friday read aloud in two weeks and we can’t wait to have Beaver Readers hype the library.
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Click HERE for more details on how to log in.
Want more info? Have questions?
Email BHS Librarian-Teacher, Ms. Chambers at tschambers@seattleschools.org
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Ballard Students Tutoring Access
Seattle Public Library & Tutor.com
Students have access to a feature with Seattle Public Libraries called Tutor.com that will read students’ papers, help with math questions, and tutor on multiple subjects.
Log in to Tutor.com with a library card or library link number and PIN. To find out how to use your Seattle Public Schools student ID number, visit our Library Link page.
Tutor.com is a FREE tutoring resource provided by The Seattle Public Library.
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Fall Athletics, Athletics Booster Club (ABC) News
Ballard HS Athletics & Club Sports: Go Beavers!
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Ballard Performing Arts (BPA) News
New CutTime Communication, Camps, Concerts & More!
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Fall Play: Macbeth: When We All Fall Asleep Where Do We Go?
October 23 - 25
Join us for a story of prophecy, witchcraft, murder, and music. Shakespeare’s most iconic horror story comes to life with an underscoring of the five-time Grammy award-winning Billie Eilish album, pulling us into the world of the supernatural and dream-state.
This production contains loud noises, some flashing lights, smoke & staged violence. Tickets are going fast! You don’t want to miss it.
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New! BPA Communication Tool: CutTime!
Performing Arts has moved the BPA Program’s communication tool for concerts, uniform tracking, fee management, to a platform called CutTime.
Learn more.
| | | Join Your Ballard High School PTSA | |
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Join the Ballard High School PTSA!
Renew Membership Yearly
Becoming a member helps us meet our PTSA goals to continue supporting Ballard HS students, staff, and our community.
Joining does NOT mean you're committing to volunteer — it ensures that Ballard HS PTSA has a strong voice and can continue advocating for our students with local, state, and federal leaders. Membership also keeps you in the loop. As a member, you'll stay informed on what's happening at BHS and have a voice in decisions that affect your student's education — from school policy to funding priorities. 👉JOIN TODAY!
PTSA Membership Chairs: Missy Hill & Sadie Agurkis
Questions? Email membership@ballardhighptsa.org
| | | | Your Voice Matters - PTSA Advocacy | |
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PTSA Advocacy Matters! It gives Ballard families a collective voice to support students, strengthen schools, and build a thriving community.
PTA's mission is to make every child's potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children, National PTA Mission Statement
Want to get involved or have questions?
Email Avi & Julianna at Advocacy@BallardHighPTSA.org
November 3 Election
WSPTA urges all members to vote no on IL26-001, IL26-638, and IP26-645.
IL26-001 Would rewrite Washington’s parental rights law, removing student safety protections, and recreating conflicts with state & federal law that were resolved in 2025.
What a NO vote does. A NO vote leaves Washington’s current parental rights law in place, including those rights consolidated in 2025 and the safety protections for students at risk at home.
IL26-638 Would require every student who wants to play a girls’ school sport to obtain medical verification of their biological sex from a health care provider. This is a requirement that no student faces today. It is not medically necessary.
What a NO vote does. A NO vote leaves Washington’s current athletics law in place. No student would be required to obtain verification of their sex in order to participate.
IP26-645 Would repeal the “Millionaire’s Tax” passed by the Legislature in 2026 and prohibit any tax on, or measured by, individual income, at the state level and in every county, city, and local jurisdiction in Washington. The state's fiscal impact statement estimates the repeal would reduce state revenue by $11.4 billion across state fiscal years 2027 through 2031, cutting the general fund support that pays for core government services, particularly public K-12 education, higher education, and human services.
What a NO vote does. A NO vote leaves the Millionaire’s Tax in place and leaves the Legislature and local governments free to consider taxes on income in the future.
For more information, see the Frequently Asked Questions:
FAQs: WSPTA’s Opposition to Initiatives IL26-001 and IL26-638
FAQ: WSPTA'S OPPOSITION TO INITIATIVE IP26-645 - WSPTA
| | | | Community Events & Support | | For more information and/or if you are interested in attending, please visit https://tinyurl.com/PNWdigitalage26. If you can't make the date/time work, register anyway as all registrants will receive an email with the recording following the event | |
PNW Parent Education Presents...
Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 12pm - 1pm PT
Join PNW Parent Education for a FREE online presentation titled ”Growing Up in Public: Milestones of Growing Up in the Digital Age” with Dr. Devorah Heitner, media and technology expert and author of Growing Up in Public and Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital World.
In this event, Dr. Heitner will share ways in which we can support our youth as they grow up in a hyper-connected world. The event will be moderated by Christy Keating from The Heartful Parent Collective.
| | | Submit Requests for Newsletter Content | | | | |
Got News?
We would love to share your Ballard high School news stories and photographs.
Submit your information to the PTSA Communication volunteer team by completing the BHS PTSA Communication Request Form
Thank you in advance for your submissions and interest in BHS PTSA Newsletter!
| | | Ballard HS PTSA School Communication Channels | | Quick Links To Ballard High School Resources | | Do You Have an Announcement for the BHS PTSA Newsletter? We would love to share your Ballard High School news stories and photographs. Submit your information to the PTSA Communication Volunteers by completing the PTSA Request Form. Editors have discretion over what is published. The BHS PTSA is a group of volunteers who provide Community Resources purely for informational purposes and does not necessarily support the activities or views presented therein. BHS website updates email: dmtaylor@seattleschools.org Thank you in advance for your submissions and interest in the BHS PTSA Newsletter! | | | | |
