What Does The PTSA Do?
All the Ways the PTSA
Supports Ballard HS!
Teacher & Staff Appreciation May 8 – 12
The PTSA showed lots of love & appreciation to our BHS teachers & staff all week!
To kick off Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week, our teachers and staff enjoyed the complimentary coffee cart sponsored by the PTSA on Monday morning! Later in the week there were succulents and flowers too!
And… the amazing lunch provided by Ripe Catering and a Online Thank You Card too!
Thank you for supporting PTSA so we can share our gratitude!
Thanks Lunch Heroes!
In honor of School Lunch Heroes Day on May 5, 2023, the Ballad HS PTSA wants to recognize our amazing school lunch heroes who keep our Beavers so well and healthfully nourished!
Thank you, Lan Dang and Kay Shen!
Visit the school website School Meals for more information about nutrition services.
PTSA End-of-Year Award Nominees
Calling everyone in the Ballard HS Community! Do you know a BHS Staff Member or Volunteer who makes an outstanding impact at Ballard? Every year, the BHS PTSA gives out recognition awards at our year-end June General Meeting. Please email PTSA President Gloria Kruzner at bhs.ptsa.pres@gmail.com your nominations recommendation, along with a few details why you’ve chosen them, through Friday, May 12.
PTSA awards are announced annually at the final General Meeting of the school year at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 7 in the Library. Please join us for this inspiring occasion where we honor creativity in the classroom, dedicated staff members, and hard-working PTSA volunteers.
Earth Day Cleanup
Thanks to the families, individuals and students who gathered on Earth Day morning, helping to clean up and pick up litter around campus.
Special Thanks
One resourceful crew spent time removing invasive ivy that was choking a tree in the southwest courtyard. Thanks to the Department of Neighborhoods for providing tools, gloves, garbage and recycling bags. Ballard Rotarians shared even more volunteer opportunities with attendees at their information table.
Special thanks to Victoria Watson and Tanya King for coordinating the effort! There may be more of these efforts to come, stay tuned for future opportunities.
Join the BHS PTSA for 23-24
Reach Out to our Nominating Committee
Thanks to Tanya King, Lisa Vanderford-Anderson and Victoria Watson for serving on the PTSA Nominating Committee. They are tasked with helping identify candidates for next school year’s PTSA Executive Board (President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer). positions can be shared.
- President: Manages overall objectives and strategies of PTSA. Facilitates PTSA Meetings. Collaborates with Board and Committee Chairs to support PTSA vision, mission and goals.
- Vice President (performs duties of the President when the President is absent or unable to serve)
- Legislative Liaison/Advocacy Chair: acts as a BHS liaison with SCPTSA, WSPTA, NPTA, and the Seattle School Board. Keeps PTSA up to date on crucial issues.
BHS parents/guardians consider a role on the BHS PTSA next school year!
The Committee can be reached at join.bhs.ptsa@gmail.com.
In Gratitude to Our Fundraising Gala Chairs
A special thanks to PTSA Fundraising Gala Chairs Carol Cheyne and Deb Fitzpatrick, and their entire volunteer team, for planning this special community event! We are so appreciative!
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, including Deb Fitzpatrick, are graduating.
Please get in touch to find out more: ballardauction@gmail.com.
Thank you Deb and Carol! You’re the best!
Spring Grants Help Staff Support Programs Around BHS
The PTSA Grants Team approved more than $22,000 in grant requests at the Spring Grants meeting. Grants to staff included:
- Crafting Supplies for Library MakerSpace;
- CommonLit Reading Platform and Writers In The Schools program for English Language Arts;
- Eight Racketball Paddles (combining with last year’s grant request for rackets to make a full set for one class) and 50 MasterLock padlocks for P.E. classes;
- Super8 Film Processing Tank for Digital Filmmaking;
- Transportation for 100 Social Studies students to attend MisInfoDay at the University of Washington (photos from this year’s event c/o @beaverreadersbhs);
- Arts Supplies for World Languages’ Visual Projects;
- Yamaha NP-12 Keyboards for Performing Arts;
- LabQuest Devices for Chemistry/Physics;
- Pocket Constitutions for American Government students
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!
April Occupational Therapy Month
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!
Gala Fundraising Dinner
Thank You!
A big Thank You to all of our fundraising volunteers and our donors for an epic evening for Ballard HS! Thanks to the always engaging auctioneer, Stephen Kilbreath, FOODZ catering for rocking the breakfast for dinner theme, Block 41 for the gorgeous venue and our PTSA Volunteer Molly Sousley who supported the fabulous Dessert Dash!
In addition a thank you to our two fantastic Masters of Ceremony Laura Lehni, ASB Advisor and ELA Teacher & David Furman, Special Education Teacher who kept the love going the entire night, sharing student messages of hope and support. Donors can still #RaiseThePaddle by texting EQUITYFORBHS to 44321 or visit our Raise the Paddle site or our PTSA Fundraising Info page.
Extra special thanks to PTSA Gala Coordinators Carol and Deb for all their hard work!
Special Education Guide Released
Thank you BHS PTSA for hosting Janis White, SSEPTSA at the BHS PTSA Board Meeting and for sharing the Special Education Just Released Guide to Special Education in Seattle Public Schools.
Another resource for Ballard HS families is the BHS Special Education & Disability Students Resource & Exchange on Facebook.
Our Ballard HS PTSA was able to provide a $500 donation to the Seattle Special Education PTSA to help offset fees in the creation of this helpful resource!
Staff Lounge Sprucing
In gratitude for our amazing staff, the PTSA purchased an electric tea kettle and a microwave for the staff lounge. Thank you teachers and staff! And thank you to the community for your support of the Ballard PTSA.
Thanking our amazing PTSA Staff Appreciation team that appreciates our BHS Staff
Happy Valentines Day from our PTSA Staff Appreciation Committee Lisa Vanderford-Anderson and Michelle Peters who surprised our Ballard High School Staff with treats!
Thank you!
Thank You BHS Counseling Center Team
In celebration of National School Counseling Week, our PTSA Staff Appreciation Committee Lisa Vanderford-Anderson and Michelle Peters who thanked our BHS Counselors & Support Staff Team with cards and treats!
We are so grateful for our all of our Counseling Center Support Staff at Ballard HS!
Bucky’s Home For the Holidays
Thank you for all the donations of GC’s to Bucky’s this year!
Bucky’s Ballard High School Home for the Holidays which is a partnership between the Ballard HS PTSA, the Ballard High School Foundation, the BHS Teen Health Center and Ballard High School Staff and Students.
Affectionately known as “Bucky’s”, the intent of this partnership is to provide donated gift cards that will be given to Ballard High School community families in need of financial assistance, to help with food and household essentials during the two week Winter Break and to help celebrate the holiday season.
Thanks to families who brought gift card donations to the Main Office or gave online to help support Bucky’s Home for the Holidays. The “Bucky’s” program shares gift card donations with identified BHS families to help make their holidays brighter. Special gratitude to Ballard PTSA FACE co-chair Victoria Watson and Graduation Success Coordinator Ross Humphries. We are also indebted to our partners: the Ballard High School Foundation for their generous donation and facilitating an online gifting option; the Ballard HS Main Office; BHS Counseling Center; as well as the BHS Teen Health Center.
Thank You Direct Appeal for Academics
Once a year, the BHS PTSA raises funds to support academics. This is the only donation request that goes to support academic materials, curriculum, technology, extra teaching support, and enrichment opportunities. We know that you get a lot of requests for funding, but this may be the most important donation you make this year.
Blkpatch Fundraiser
BHS PTSA supported raising money for culturally inclusive first aid kits and a 40-minute training to each Rainier Beach High School student before Winter Break, when many students won’t have access to health care and emergency services through schools. The program hopes to expand to provide a kit to all Seattle School District students as fundraising increases. Ifrah Abshir is a Rainier Beach High School and University of Washington graduate who formed Blkpatch to improve health equity for students.
The Ballard PTSA DEI Committee supports this effort and invited Ifrah to present the project at the November 2022 BHS PTSA Board meeting after hearing her present at the Lincoln High School DEI Committee meeting. The BHS PTSA offered a donation of $250 toward the effort as well as additional ideas for online fundraising channels for the project. To donate money to support this Fundraiser for Bilpatch Kits through Paypal, send and email to Ifran Abshir at: blkpatchco@gmail.com. For more information, you can reach out to Ifrah directly via email at abshirifrah@gmail.com or direct message @blkpatch/Instagram.
BHS PTSA Receives Membership Growth Awards
Happy to hear from WSPTA Membership Director Amanda Cabana: “Congratulations, your PTA has achieved continuous growth of 2 years. This is a huge achievement and should be celebrated as such!” This means our current membership of 230 has grown at least 20 percent from last year.
The WSPTA also awarded Ballard High School PTSA its Platinum Membership Growth Award for the 22-23 school year. Thanks to Membership Chair Lisa Vanderford-Anderson for all her efforts promoting participation in the BHS PTSA! And thank you to our members for signing up and supporting our efforts! Not too late to get renew or get your PTSA Membership for 22-23!
Teacher Support Grants 22-23
These Teacher Support Funds provide for teacher needs per requests of teachers and are used at the discretion of the principal. These monies help support smaller teacher and staff requests (typically less than $500) that can be funded immediately. The Fall 22-23 PTSA Grants Team awarded nearly $22,000 for enrichment activities around the school building. Thank you to Grants Team Coordinators: Nancy Wesche and Libet Wallblom for all their efforts organizing the Fall Grants Disbursement!
Some Grants Disbursed
- Special Education Sensory Lab furnishings and equipment;
- Classroom over-the-head headphones and reproducible history curriculum;
- One year trial of Common Lit Assessment Service for English/Language Art program;
- Pickleball equipment for PE classes;
- Sexual assault awareness workshop presenter for Health classes;
- Pentominoes, geometry paper, and sturdy classroom compasses for Geometry students;
- Button-making supplies for library fun and student representation;
- LED lighting kits for Digital Filmmaking program;
- Diverse mystery/horror genre library books for Beaver Readers;
- Ink Journal printing;
- Funding for Black Student Union field trips and supplies; and Polynesian Student Union field trips and cultural outfit fabric.
Homecoming Game Time Snacks for BHS Staff & Teachers
Homecoming Game Time Snacks for our amazing BHS Teachers & Staff ! ~ Special thanks to the creative & thoughtful PTSA Staff Appreciation Volunteers too! Lisa Vanderford-Anderson & Michelle Peters who made sure our teachers had plenty of snacks to keep them fueled for Friday’s Homecoming Game.
Thanks to the following parents for donating tasty eats and beverages for this spread in the staff lounge! Jodi Coren, Christiana DelloRusso, Diane Jackson, Tia Keenan, Cynthia Kemp, Tanya King, Rebekkah Madden, Kelly Mazzola, Shannon Moynihan, Heather Muwero, Melanthia Peterman, Michelle Peters, Shelley Rousseau, Ellen Saltsman, Carolyn Sherman, Jennifer Wallace and Victoria Watson
Thanks also to Volunteer Coordinator Tanya King and her cleanup team of Ann Langford-Fuchs, Jo Langford-Fuchs, Shelley Rousseau and Gloria Kruzner for helping to tidy up the Commons following Saturday’s Homecoming Dance.
Thank You PSAT & SAT Parent Volunteers!
Thanks to Volunteer Coordinator Tanya King, parent volunteers Deborah Schiff and Marie Walker; Assessments Coordinator Kristina Katrel, and Staff proctors for helping make sure College Board testing ran smoothly last week for juniors and seniors. If you are interested in learning more about volunteering at BHS, email Tanya at volunteers.ballardhs@gmail.com
PTSA Weekly Newsletter
The BHS PTSA Communication Team: Gloria Kruzner, Diane Taylor and Chuck Fuller who all help get information out in various ways to the BHS Community via the PTSA Newsletter, Instagram, Facebook Accounts, Twitter and information posted on the School Website. The BHS PTSA Weekly Newsletter is a PTSA member volunteer-run informational newsletter that is emailed to subscribed families with important information for families and students as well, including sports, clubs, performing arts, community news and more! View past PTSA Newsletters.
If you are not receiving the newsletter or want to add a 2nd email or a student (Personal email NOT student SPS email) Subscribe via the online sign up form or email ballardhighnews@gmail.com (include your students grade & name).
BHS PTSA Membership
Not too Late to Join the BHS PTSA, become a partner in your student’s education.
The PTSA is you, me and all of the parents/guardians, students and staff dedicated to the educational development and success of all students. The PTSA membership is open to anyone concerned about the education, health, and welfare of our youth and is a way to show your commitment to working with teachers and the school administration to build a better future for the next generation.
- We help families stay informed and connected to the school community.
- We plan school-wide celebrations, parent education and staff appreciation events.
- We raise much needed grant money for academic, enrichment and extracurricular activities.
View the PTSA Membership Info. For Volunteering and Teacher Support Fund Information please reach out to the Membership Chair. Warm Regards, PTSA Membership Chair, Lisa Vanderford-Anderson, bhs.ptsa.membershipchair@gmail.com.
Thank You Back to School Volunteers!
Finding out we were headed back to school 15 hours before Wednesday morning’s “go time” meant flexibility on the part students, staff and all our parent/guardian volunteers.
A special thanks to Volunteer Coordinator Tanya King and the many (50+) group of volunteers who showed up to help with back to school projects around the school.
Your support benefits our entire school community! We Appreciate YOU!
PTSA Staff Appreciation Volunteers
Thank you to the Staff Appreciation Volunteers for 22-23; Lisa Vanderford-Anderson and Michelle Peters who treated BHS Staff on their first day back!
There was some amazing breakfast items with Starbucks coffee and pastries.
Later in the day there was a tasty lunch service from Ripe Catering with sandwiches too!
PTSA Building Leadership Team (BLT)
The purpose of the Building Leadership Team (BLT) as stated in its by-laws is “to promote and facilitate the collaborative decision making process which affects academic achievement, and to advise and consent on building management issues.” Specifically, the BLT oversees the facilitation and development of the Continuous School Improvement Plan (CSIP), school-wide professional development plan, and the school’s budget. Questions? Email PTSA BLT Rep: Kristi De Vaddar, knistidv@gmail.com
Family And Community Engagement (FACE)
The Family and Community Engagement (FACE) committee engages in a variety of activities to foster awareness of both the needs and resources in the Ballard High School community. This has included facilitating guest speakers addressing topics such as suicide awareness, supporting students and families during the COVID-19 crisis and college prep and other career pathways.
FACE volunteers help facilitate and coordinate the Weekend Food For Kids program, sponsored by the Ballard Food Bank. This program helps ensure our BHS families in need have sufficient food on weekends. The FACE committee also helps coordinate BHS’s Bucky’s Holiday Giving program which is designed to assist our families who may not have the financial stability to enjoy the holiday season as much as many BHS families. BHS PTSA FACE Volunteer Victoria Watson, bhs.ptsa.face@gmail.com
Passive Fundraising Programs
Passive fundraising programs are easy ways to support BHS academics and PTSA initiatives while you do your back to school shopping!
- To participate at Fred Meyer stores, link your Shoppers Card card to the BHS PTSA (code MJ933). Once your card is linked, all you have to do is swipe your Shopper’s Card while paying for your purchases. More info: Community Rewards.