Principal Communications (July – Dec)

December 9, 2022

Dear Ballard Families,

Thank you to everyone who came out to support Jam the Dam! It was so great to see our Unified student athletes at center court. I also want to recognize the incredible special education staff that we have here at Ballard High School for all their work to make this event possible. 

As we head into the weekend, I am hopeful that you can Join the Ballard HS Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) committee and the Lincoln HS DEI committee Saturday December 10th for a film watch party and discussion. Here are the details: 

• This event is offered in-person and virtually. Light refreshments will be served at the in-person location
• Event: The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks watch party and post-film discussion
• When: Saturday December 10th 
• 10:00 am film viewing (the film is available on Peacock if you’d like to watch it on your own or in advance)
• 11:30 am post-film discussion
• Where: Lincoln High School Room 334 or Zoom (email lincolnptsadei@gmail.com for Zoom link to attend virtually)
• FYI: if you decide to watch the film on your own, it’s only available on Peacock. Peacock requires a monthly subscription ($4.99/mo and you can cancel after 1 month). 

Also, another important parent and guardian event that is coming up next week is the Diversity Empowerment Council (DEC). The (DEC) will be meeting online meeting (via Teams) on Thursday, December 15th, from 7 pm to 8 pm.  The DEC meets the third Thursday of every month.

The intention of the DEC is to build community amongst parents and guardians of students of color at Ballard High School.  If you are interested in participating, please email JaLynn Montes (Assistant Principal) at jmmontes@seattleschools.org to receive a link to the meeting. 

And as always, I want to note that important announcements and additional highlights are on our website, so please be sure to visit this often for the most up-to-date information about Ballard High School.

Abby Hunt (she/her)
Principal 

December 2, 2022

Dear Ballard Families,

I hope that you are all staying warm during this stretch of wintry weather. This week, I want to highlight Jam the Dam, which is one of our most important and exciting sporting and community events of the year. This event is a celebration of the Ballard Unified basketball team and is taking place on Wednesday, December 7th. Our student athletes will be taking on Roosevelt Unified, with a 4:00 PM tip off in the Ballard Main Gym!

Unified Programs are partnerships between Seattle Public Schools and Special Olympics of Washington that partner students with and without disabilities together to practice and compete. Unified is dedicated to promoting social inclusion through activities, shared sports training, and competition experiences. 

I look forward to seeing you all there!

And as always, I want to note that important announcements and additional highlights are on our website, so please be sure to visit this often for the most up-to-date information about Ballard High School.

Abby Hunt (she/her)
Principal 

Nov 23, 2022

Dear Ballard Families, 

As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday and Native American Heritage Day, I want to thank each of you for the ways that you support the students and staff at Ballard. I recognize that this year has presented us with some challenges; however, there is also so much to celebrate as our students, with the support of Ballard educators and families, have shown us that they are resilient, creative, caring, and committed to seeing Ballard into the next era. I hope that you are all able to enjoy some downtime this weekend with your families and that your student(s) can get some much-deserved rest. 

And as we consider the multiple ways that we are a community, I want to highlight Bucky’s Home for the Holiday, 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 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.

Here’s how Bucky’s Home for the Holidays works:

• The BHS PTSA is kindly asking for donations of gift cards! Families and staff are asked to purchase and donate a variety of gift cards to Fred Meyer, Target, Starbucks, Town & Country (Ballard Market), Safeway and other local businesses in the amount of $10 or more. 
• Gift cards will be distributed equitably in festive Bucky Gift bags and handed out to families in December. All information about the families will remain anonymous to the community, except for a few program leads.  

It’s easy to give! Simply drop off gift cards in the Main Office with Cindy Peterson or Bethany Nielcen. OR Donate monetary gifts through The Ballard High School Foundation (Tax ID #91-1811275), which will be converted into gift cards. Donate to Bucky’s Home for the Holidays.

Please donate by December 9. Thank you! 

If your family could benefit from assistance from this program, please reach out to Coach Ross Humphries  rdhumphries@seattleschools.org , Coach Malik Prince mrprince@seattleschools.org  , and/or Coach Dale Griffith ddgriffith@seattleschools.org . Your information will remain confidential. Please let them know by December 9 if you would like to be included in this program.

And as always, I want to note that important announcements and additional highlights are on our website, so please be sure to visit this often for the most up-to-date information about Ballard High School.

Thank you and I hope you have a great weekend.  

Abby Hunt (she/her)
Principal 

Nov 18, 2022

Dear Ballard Families,

This week marks the end of the first quarter. As I reflect on all that has occurred at Ballard HS these past few months, I am humbled and grateful to be part of such a dynamic and caring community. 

As you check-in with your student(s) about quarter grades, please celebrate where they are seeing growth and success. I can attest that students have been deeply engaged in their studies this quarter and I am proud of the growth that has been made just in these few months’ time. And if you see areas where your student needs more support, make sure to encourage them to see their teacher(s) during the 30-minutes of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) time that we have each day. This time in our daily bell schedule can be a game changer for students, so please encourage them to use it! 

Congratulations are in order for Ballard HS Marching Band–once again, BHS Marching Band has been awarded the Mayor’s Award for the Best Musical or Drill Entry in the Auburn Veteran’s Day Parade. If you missed it, the parade was streamed live by KOMO 4. We are in position 153 (at 1:47:20) of about 170 entries. 

As our fall sports season wrapped up, we saw both our girls’ cross-country team and girls’ medley relay swim compete at state and our girls’ slow pitch softball team won the metro title! 

And as always, I want to note that important announcements and additional highlights are on our website, so please be sure to visit this often for the most up-to-date information about Ballard High School.

Thank you and I hope you have a great weekend.  

Abby Hunt (she/her)
Principal 

Nov 10, 2022

Dear Ballard Families,

I want to thank you for your communication and support this week. It has been a challenging time and we continue to keep all those who are a part of the Ingraham community in our hearts. As some of you may have heard, there is a student walkout planned for 9:50 a.m. on Monday morning related to gun violence prevention. The plans for this walkout have students proceeding to downtown Seattle and congregating at Seattle City Hall. I do want to note that while this is not a school or district-sponsored event, Ballard HS supports students exercising their rights to engage in political expression and civic engagement in a peaceful manner.

Should you and your student decide that this is something that your student will take part in, I ask for your assistance with attendance.  As Washington state law requires that we maintain accurate attendance records, communication about your student’s attendance is important. 

To excuse your student’s absence, please have your student bring the Civic Engagement Activity Form to the attendance office Monday morning before the walkout. I let students know about this form over the intercom this afternoon stating that printed copies were available in the main office and attendance office. Further, please be patient with our attendance specialist, as determining on how many students participate, it might take her several days to get all records accurately captured.

Related to the demands that this student walkout is promoting, I want to note that Ballard High School is actively in the process of hiring a social worker to join our existing counseling team and Swedish teen health center partners.

As we look for ways to find healing this weekend, I want to highlight that this evening at 7:30 p.m. the Ballard High School Wind Ensemble will be performing alongside the Navy Band Northwest. This is a truly exceptional opportunity for both our students and for listeners. More details about tonight’s show are on our school website.

And as we head into Veterans’ Day weekend, I would like to thank those of you who have served our country. And for those veterans whom we have lost, let us take time to remember and honor them by sharing their stories. I know I will be sharing with my children memories of my grandfather who served in the army during World War II.  

Thank you, 
Abby Hunt (she/her) 
Principal

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Nov 8, 2022

Dear Ballard Families,

I want to follow up on Superintendent Jones’s email sent earlier today about the tragic incident at Ingraham. The gun violence that occurred at Ingraham this morning echoed through our community. As I walked throughout the building today and spoke with students and educators, I observed an incredible level of care and thoughtfulness in how educators pivoted in their day to be present with students, and I want to reassure you that our priority, especially in these next few days, will be on providing counseling and social emotional supports for students as needed. 

I also recognize that as we process today’s event, many of you might have concerns about a similar incident occurring at Ballard. Tragically, as some of you all too well know, in 1994 a shooting did occur on Ballard’s campus and sophomore Missy (Melissa) Fernandes died. I truly hope that my sharing of this does not evoke fear; rather, I want to recognize that some of you were here at this time and the events of today might be triggering or it may add to how you are processing. 

With this reminder of Missy and the events of today in mind, I want to emphasize that safety is a fundamental priority for us, and I want take this moment to inform or remind you of some of the processes that we have in place: 

• First, I want to assure you as I did students and staff promptly today that the Ballard campus was safe and we had no reason to go into a lockdown or a shelter in place. Please know that in the event there is a safety concern at Ballard, you will receive communication as quickly as possible.
• As we consider some of the additional supports we have in place, I want to name that we have each other—our staff and our students are critical to the communication of anything suspicious at BHS. A staffing piece of critical importance is that we have two amazing security specialists who actively monitor the campus and our security is supported by responsive regional and district security personnel. And in addition to the presence of educators throughout the building and our security, we have a team of four administrators who are dedicated to the daily supervision of the hallways and entries during morning, passing period, lunch, and after school times. Further, we have safety procedures that we routinely revisit as a school. Additionally, when we think about safety, we are also thinking about our social emotional well-being. At Ballard, we are focused on supporting student mental health. We have the Teen Health Center with mental health and drug and alcohol counselors and we have our BHS counseling team. And our school-wide professional development is actively focused on supporting a sense of belonging for students and creating safe and welcoming environments. 

I understand that the things I’ve named above can’t completely control the presence of gun violence or completely address the mental health needs in our larger community. But they are precautions that matter day in and day out on our campus and we are committed to doing whatever is within our control to keep our community safe.   

As always, I thank you for your partnership as we work collectively as a community in these efforts. As you dialogue with your student about the questions and concerning events of today, I want to again highlight the resources shared earlier by SPS to aid discussions about incidents like today’s. 

• Talking to teens about Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers  
• Seattle Police Department Personal Safety Tips  
• SPS Coordinated School Health Mental Health Resources 

Additionally, Crisis Connections provides a 24-hour crisis line 866-427-4747 and website resources at crisisconnections.org or Teen Link 866-833-6546.   

Please hold your loved ones close and thank you for all the ways that you bring care to the Ballard community. 

Sincerely,

Abby (she/her)
Principal

Nov 4, 2022

Dear Ballard Families,

As we enter November, I want to recognize that November is Native American Heritage Month, which is a time to celebrate the rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native people. With this, I want to share the American Indian Studies webpage put together by SPS, which features work and resources from within SPS and beyond.

And if you missed the Fall Orchestra Concert last night, please enjoy the incredible performance put on by students. Congratulations to all musicians and a wonderful job to Mr. Valdez in his first formal performance at Ballard High School! Watch the Orchestra Fall Concert on the BPA YouTube Channel.

Also, in last week’s message, I wrote about care and resources for students, and I shared just a few school-based resources. I want to follow-up this week with a specific focus on substance abuse. We know that drug use is something that impacts our society, and our school community is not immune to this. We are fortunate to have a drug and alcohol counselor here onsite in the Swedish Teen Health Center and students receive direct instruction around substance abuse and prevention in their health classes. Still, we know that further safeguards are necessary. With this, I want to promote that a free order of Naloxone can be placed through the Stop Over Dose site. This measure, while reactive as opposed to being proactive, can save a life so I hope that as a community we can continue to educate and equip ourselves with the knowledge and resources to help keep one another safe.

And in case it came up in your household, I want to share with you that Ballard High School does not support the student self-proclaimed “Senior Skip Day” that occurred earlier this week. Our educators are consistent in our messaging to students that attendance is important to student learning. This is true for our work together as individuals and in our respective classroom communities. We thank you for all that you do at home to reinforce this message.

And as always, I want to note that important announcements and additional highlights are on our website, so please be sure to visit this often for the most up-to-date information about Ballard High School.  

Thank you and I hope you have a great weekend!

Abby Hunt (she/her)
Principal

Oct 28, 2022

Dear Ballard Families,

Over the course of my previous Friday messages, I have highlighted numerous celebrations within our school community. Each week, I remain awestruck by how incredible our students and school community are. I want to be mindful, though, of the fact that there may be times when things are not always celebratory or positive. We all know that much like how the sun can quickly turn to rain, there are times when challenges can arise. Therefore, it is important that as we work together as educators and families to support students that you aware of school resources available to your student(s), should assistance be needed or your student is looking for further connections.

These are just a few resources available for students

Academic

• SEL Time. Each day, we have an hour break in the middle of our school day. 30-minutes of this time are for lunch; the other 30-minutes provide time for students to see their teachers for extra help.
• The library is open each day from 8:00 am until 4:45 p.m.
• Tutor.com contact Ms. Chambers at tschambers@seattleschools.org for information

Social

• Clubs!  See our current club offerings

Athletics

• Wrestling, swimming, and unified are all no cut sports and a great way to be involved.

Social Emotional/Mental Health

• Our Counseling Team is an amazing resource as is…
• Our Teen Health Center

Additional resources can be found on our school website.

And a now for a couple highlights from the week

Fall Choir Concert

If you were unable to attend the Fall Choir Concert this week, you can check it out here! Congratulations to all of the amazing performers! Watch on the BPA YouTube

Homecoming Dance

We had outstanding attendance at our annual Homecoming Dance that exceeded projections. The ASB leadership students did a phenomenal job promoting and planning for the event. Prior to this one, our most recent Homecoming drew in around 400 students. This year, we sold over 1,000 tickets–this is very telling of the current climate of our school culture! As tickets were sold the week of the dance, we quickly recruited as many chaperones as we could to account for this increase as we did not want to leave any students out of this event. We are happy to report that it was a very successful dance. That said, we do note that lines to enter the event were longer than usual and we apologize for this. This was partially due to the large turnout but also due to the safety measures that SPS security and Ballard administration have taken to ensure student safety. We have discussed this as a team and identified solutions to better manage crowds for future events.

As a reminder, there are always exciting things going on in the Ballard HS community, so please be sure to check out our website school news for more information.  

I hope that you all have a great weekend ~ Go Ballard! 

Abby Hunt (she/her)
Principal
Ballard High School

Oct 21, 2022

Dear Ballard Families,

We are in the final stretch of Homecoming week here at Ballard HS and it has been so much fun to see students come together in the various activities put on by the leadership students. Still to come are our Homecoming football game tonight and our dance tomorrow! Beyond Homecoming, I want to highlight a few of the other important events/things to be aware of below. 

The Burial at Thebes by Nobel Prize-winning playwright Seamus Heaney is being performed by Ballard’s theater department. Performance dates are the 21, 27, 28, 29, all shows at 7:30 p.m.

New Graduation Date! Due to the delayed start of the school year, the date for graduation has been shifted. The new graduation date is Friday, June 23, at 8:00 p.m. Graduation will be held at Memorial Stadium. This is also the last day of school for seniors.

Dia de los Muertos: please see the communication about Dia de los Muertos that was put together by our Latinx Student Union. This is an important opportunity for us to celebrate and learn about rich cultural traditions.

We, the Latinx Student Union, would like to invite you to join us in our celebration of Dia de los Muertos!  

Despite its proximity to Halloween in the United States, Día de Los Muertos is an entirely separate, and very rich, holiday in Mexico. We use it to celebrate life, and honor death, and to understand and rejoice in the relationship between them both. The celebration has existed since precolonial times (though the Spanish moved its exact timing to coincide with their holy festivals). 

Nowadays, we honor our loved ones who have passed away with “ofrendas” – altars put together in their remembrance. We use their photographs, their favorite foods, their favorite music or mementos. We create richly-ornamented sugar skulls, we use the sacred indigenous cempasúchil flower, and a multitude of other specific decorations to share our memories.

After school on October 28, LSU will create an interactive ofrenda (“altar”) for students and staff to add photos of their friends and family to commemorate their lives. Ballard students/staff who would like to do so may bring a photo or a memento of their loved one (no original photos, please, as we can’t guarantee their return) to drop off at the ofrenda any time between October 31 and November 2 to leave their memories. We would love to have you contribute in any way you can, so we can honor your loved ones as well! This ofrenda will stay up through November 2. Please bring copies (no original prints, as we cannot guarantee safety) of photos, or letters, or pictures of your loved ones’ favorite dishes or moments!

Children have a special day specifically honoring them on October 31, the first day of Día de los Muertos, and November 1-2 is to honor beloved adults. We encourage you to bring photos of loved ones, young or old!

*From October 31 through November 2, we also invite you to participate in our Calavera fundraiser!*

LSU will sell handmade calaveras (“sugar skulls”), along with individual icing decorating kits, for $3 each! This activity is another opportunity for celebration, and the hands-on aspect will contribute to our communal learning! You can decorate these calaveras for your own ofrenda (and explain to your students their part in the celebration, as the sugar skull is frequently appropriated for Halloween, and this is a great time to learn its real meaning) or bring them to our community ofrenda. We would love for you to join us in honoring this holiday.

And a reminder that these events and more can be found on our website.

In closing, I want to send a special thank you to the amazing Ballard PTSA for the incredibly thoughtful treats and appreciation you shared with staff today. You brought a lot of smiles to the faces of Ballard educators today.

Thank you for all that you do as families to support students and the Ballard community.

Abby Hunt (she/her)
Principal
Ballard High School

Oct 14, 2022

Dear Ballard High School students and families,

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend Curriculum Night yesterday. It was wonderful to have so many families in the building. If you were unable to attend, please do not hesitate to reach out to your student’s teachers.

Another important family event that is coming up next week is the Diversity Empowerment Council (DEC). The (DEC) will be hosting our first online meeting (via Teams) of the year on Thursday, October 20, from 7 to 8 pm. 

The intention of the DEC is to build community amongst parents/guardians of students of color at Ballard High School. 

If you are interested in participating, please email JaLynn Montes (Assistant Principal) at jmmontes@seattleschools.org to receive a link to the meeting. 

Also, as the year is now in full swing, the rest of October is packed with events and activities for students and families. Of note is our fall play, The Burial at Thebes by Nobel Prize-winning playwright Seamus Heaney. This performance opens October 20 and runs the 21, 27, 28, and 29. All shows are at 7:30 p.m.

And a reminder that next week is homecoming week. Our student leaders have put together an exciting week of activities with the goal of helping students feel excited and connected to our school community.

These events and more can be found on our school website. We hope to see all of you again soon!

Go Ballard!
Abby Hunt (she/her)
Principal

Oct 12, 2022

Dear Families, 

This is a reminder about Curriculum Night at Ballard High School on Oct 13. We are excited to welcome you into the building! To prepare for the evening, please be sure to have a record of your student’s class schedule, including teacher names and classroom locations. We will have maps and student helpers to help you find your way around the building. For your reference, refer to the program for the event

Thank you and we will see you soon! 
Abby Hunt (she/her)
Principal 

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October 7, 2022

Dear Ballard High School students and families,

We’ve had another great week here at Ballard! As promised, in this week’s Friday Message, we are including information specific to the PSAT and SAT and our upcoming Curriculum Night.

We are truly pleased that we can serve as a setting for the PSAT and SAT for our students. It brings me peace of mind to know that Ballard students will be in a comfortable, known space, surrounded by friends and peers, and in the presence of caring adults while testing. We look forward to supporting this day. With this, we do ask that you help remind students of the important details below.

October 12: PSAT/SAT: 11th and 12th grade students will be testing on this day. It is important that students arrive by 8:30am. Testing will begin at 8:50am. It is incredibly important that students are on time. Students will not be admitted for testing after 9:00am. Lunch will be available for purchase on this day for students once they are finished with their test.  Please refer to the room locations for testers so that your student knows where to go. This is available in the on the school website and the Special Gr 11 PSAT Mailing and Special Grade 12 SAT Mailing. This information is also posted throughout the school. 

October 12: 9th and 10th grade students will also arrive at 8:50 a.m.. We ask that they are quiet as they navigate the building (inside and out) as it is incredibly important that we maintain a quiet testing environment. Due to testing, 9th and 10th grade students will need to report to alternate locations, which are outlined on the school website and in the Grades 9 & 10 Special Mailing. Ninth and 10th grade students will spend the day engaging in two sessions of social emotional learning followed by lunch and an early dismissal at 12:35.

October 13: Curriculum Night—We are excited to welcome families into the building for our upcoming in-person Curriculum Night. The program containing details for the evening is available in the Main Office, and also on the Curriculum Featured News. We are excited to share that BHS Spirit wear will be on sale in the lobby and we look forward to seeing you!

In addition to what’s been shared above, please remember that we maintain a robust website which is a great hub of information for all things Ballard, so please be sure to take a moment and explore and check it out for additional information.

Thank you and Go Ballard!

Abby Hunt (she/her)
Principal

September 30, 2022

Dear Ballard High School students and families,

The year is in full swing and smiles are abound. From music field trips, athletics events, clubs, and our school-wide club rush, we have seen so many incredible events and opportunities for students to be involved within and beyond the classroom. We know that students who are involved in a school activity feel more connected and this is incredibly important for individual student well-being as well as building community for all of Ballard High School. If you or your student are not involved, please encourage them to join one of our many clubs or activities!

For parents and guardians, looking ahead there are a variety of ways to get involved. Most notably (listed by upcoming dates):

The PTSA is holding its first general membership meeting of the year at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 6.  This is open to all parents and families. This meeting will be held in-person in the library and there will also be a Teams live link available soon. Please contact bhs.ptsa.pres@gmail.com for additional information.

Curriculum Night is taking place from 6:30 – 9 p.m. on Thursday, October 13. Please plan to attend this in-person event so that you can meet your student’s educators. More about Curriculum night information to come! 

The Diversity Empowerment Council (DEC) will be hosting our first online meeting (via Teams) of the year on Thursday, October 20, from 7 to 8 p.m. The intention of the DEC is to build community amongst parents/guardians of students of color at Ballard High School. If you are interested in participating, please email JaLynn Montes (Assistant Principal) at jmmontes@seattleschools.org to receive a link to the meeting. 

In next week’s Friday Message, please know that we will be communicating details specific to the SAT and PSAT tests, which will occur on October 12.

In addition to what’s been shared above, please remember that we maintain a robust website which is a great hub of information for all things Ballard, so please be sure to take a moment and check it out for additional information. 

Go Ballard!

Abby Hunt (she/her)
Principal

September 23, 2022

Dear Ballard students and families,

It was wonderful to have a full five-day week to settle into our routines. Students now have their laptops, they have had their pictures taken, and learning is taking place throughout the building. Our admin team has been actively visiting classrooms, observing the many ways that educators are thoughtfully working to build relationships and community.

As we are now fully up and running it has also been a highlight to see families in the building. I have had the great pleasure of both formally and informally meeting many of you. Whether it was at a parent meeting, a sporting event, or as you were picking up your student from an activity, it is evident that your involvement and support is a major factor in the strength and vibrancy of our community. Thank you.

An important upcoming event where we will hopefully see all families in the building is our annual Curriculum Night.  This year, this event will be on the evening of Thursday, October 13.  We will be providing more information as the date draws near, but I want to highlight it now for your planning.

Also, as you look to support your student, I want to share some information specific to the school issued laptops. First, please know that all students should have an SPS laptop. If for some reason your student does not have one yet, please have them go to the Technology Room located at N110. Also, we recognize that it is important that students have an operating laptop. 

SPS provides staffing for tech support in our Technology Room in N110; however, this is on a limited basis. Please know that the hours for Tech Support (where a student can swap out their computer for a working one if need be) are:

• Mondays and Fridays: 8:00-8:50 and 11:45-12:45
• Wednesdays: 8:00-8:50, 12:00-1:00, and 2:25-3:30

Thank you for a great start to the year. Go Ballard!
Abby Hunt (she/her)
Principal

September 16, 2022

Dear Ballard Students and Families,

What an exciting first few days we have had a Ballard High School! It was so wonderful to see students returning and to be able to welcome the class of 2026. Our student leaders, family volunteers, and educators all did an amazing job ensuring that our first few days were positive and welcoming.  Thank you to everyone who was able to come help. 

In this communication, I am providing updates on:

• Laptops
• Start of school forms
• School photos
• Ballard’s administrative team
• A reminder of the BHS website

I do want to acknowledge that with the delayed start there are a few logistics that we had to adjust. Most notably, this includes:

Laptop distribution: laptops were distributed on Thursday, 9/15, and Friday, 9/16. If your student did not receive a laptop, please have them stop by the Technology room N110. 

Start of School Forms: please be sure to complete and return the forms available at this link by September 30, 2022. Visit the Start of School Forms page.

School ID Photos: school photos have been postponed to Thursday, 9/22, and Friday, 9/23. Students will get their photo taken with their language arts or world history classes. Please refer to the schedule below to determine which day your student will have their picture taken.

Administrative Team Update

Also, I want to take this time to introduce you to our full administrative team. I am honored to be joined by Ms. JaLynn Montes, Mr. David Fort, and Dr. Jody Shuman. I am including a brief bio for each of them below and I hope you have them opportunity to meet them soon if you haven’t already.

JaLynn Montes has a BAE in Education and English from PLU, a M.Ed. in Adult and Higher Education from WWU, and a residency admin certificate from WWU.  Over the years, she has taught ELA/SS in Portland Public Schools, the Edmonds School District, and in Seattle Public Schools.  While having and raising her 3 children, she worked for 15 years at Everett, Edmonds, and Shoreline community colleges as a part-time ESL teacher to immigrants, refugees, and international students. For the past 2 years, she worked as an AP at Redmond Middle School in the Lake Washington School District.  She is happy to be back in SPS as an AP at Ballard where two of her three children attend. 

David Fort A lifelong Seattleite and parent of two Seattle Schools students, David has spent 18 years working with SPS. As a teacher, he taught Language Arts and Senior Projects at Chief Sealth High School. He taught World History and American Government at Franklin High School where he worked on the Building Leadership Team and was a Career Ladder Teacher. For the last 6 years, David worked as a Consulting Teacher (STAR Mentor) working on teacher induction and teacher growth and support. He also worked on the Racial Equity team there and led district-wide trainings for new to profession and new to district teachers.

Jody Shuman has a Ed.D. in organizational leadership with an emphasis in special education and a M.Ed. in special education, both from Grand Canyon University. She has 10 years of experience in education from schools in Texas, Colorado, and Seattle. This will be her first year as an administrator but not her first year at Ballard. She taught in special education for the last 4 years, in addition to coaching volleyball and basketball. She is excited to continue working with the Ballard community in her new role.

In addition to what’s been shared above, please remember that we maintain a robust website which is a great hub of information for all things Ballard, so please be sure to take a moment and check it out for additional information. 

Go Ballard!
Abby Hunt (she/her)
Principal

First Day Bell Schedule, Wed., 9/14

September 13, 2022

Dear Ballard families and students,

We are so excited to welcome everyone back into the building tomorrow, Wednesday, 9/14. Please know that we will maintain our adjusted bell schedule for the first day of school as we had originally planned to ensure that our 9th graders and new-to-Ballard students have a chance to become oriented to the building before the rest of our student body arrives. For details, please refer the first day bell schedule as it appears on our website. Additionally, please note that though Wednesdays are typically early dismissal days, tomorrow school will end at 3:40.

Additionally, I want to express my gratitude to the student leaders, family volunteers, and educators who have prepared for and will be onsite to welcome the class of 2026 along with the rest of the Ballard student body. Thank you!

And please know that as we pivot, we will be sending another communication very soon with updates to information such as laptop distribution, photos, and other start of school logistics that now need to be rescheduled. More to come soon.

Go Ballard!
Abby Hunt (she/her)
Principal

Communication Regarding the Start of School

September 2, 2022

Dear Ballard High School Students and Families,

I hope this communication finds you well. I want to share a brief update with you to assure you that Seattle Public Schools (SPS) is committed to continuing to work with our educator union, Seattle Education Association (SEA) to start school on time next Wednesday, Sept. 7.

We are optimistic that an agreement will be reached that best meets the needs of students, families, staff and school communities.

It is possible that there will be a delay for the first day of school for students while the contract is finalized. However, should a delay in the start of school occur, SPS will send out regular updates and keeping families informed. Meal sites and child care resources will be included in this information.

You can also find more information about the bargaining process at the SPS Collective Bargaining Updates page.

Please know that we are ready and excited to see your student(s) at school and  look forward to a great school year together!

Sincerely,
Abby (she/her)
Principal 

SPS Resources & FAQ

BHS Bell Schedules

Welcome to the 2022 – 2023 School Year!

August 24, 2022

Dear Ballard High School Parents, Guardians and Students

Our August letter has a lot of important information for you, and I appreciate you taking the time to read it. As we prepare to open the new school year, I want to share with you that our focus is on inclusion and community. These priority areas are more important now than they ever have been, and they extend to every aspect of Ballard High School. Educators will begin engaging in this work on August 30 as we return for our summer professional development and we will continue this focus as we welcome students on the first day of school and throughout the year. Also, as families are a key part of our community we are excited to welcome you back into the building this year. So please take a moment to read the information below and know that we look forward to seeing you soon!

Parent/Guardian Volunteers Needed

Speaking of welcoming you back into the building, we are looking for parent/guardian volunteers to support the first week of school. Please look for an email from the Ballard High School PTSA which will outline the volunteer opportunities that we need to fill. The first few days of school will have a lot of activity, so if you’re able to help hand out schedules, assign lockers, distribute laptops, and more please sign up! We are grateful for your engagement and support!

Not Attending The First Day(s) of School?

It is very important to contact the school if your student is absent at the beginning of school (first day is Sept 7). Students who do not attend any classes during the first seven days of school will be dropped from Ballard High School as “no shows.” Contact the Attendance Office at ballardhs.attendance@seattleschools.org to let us know your student will be absent on the first day(s) of school but will attend Ballard HS.

Not Attending Ballard High School in the Fall?

Please email Kim Nickerson at kdnickerson@seattleschools.org. Please include the parent/guardian’s name, student’s full name and date of birth, your phone number, and the name of the school your student will attend instead of BHS.

Health & Safety

Given the recently updated public health guidance, we will send out a separate communication containing Covid health and safety protocols specific to Seattle Public Schools. This will be sent prior to the start of school.

Freshman Parents Only
Orientation on Aug 30 at 7pm in the PAC

Grade 9 Parents of Freshmen Only there is an Orientation for you on Aug, 30 at 7:00 p.m. in our Ballard High School Performing Arts Center (PAC).

Performing Arts Music Students

Uniform Fittings 8/30, 8/31, & 9/1 from 8:30am – 2:30pm each day. All band students should come in for Marching Band uniforms. All music students from Orchestra, Band, & Choir wearing skirts and dresses for music concerts should also come in one of the 3 days. Students wearing tuxedos will have their uniform fittings the week of 9/12 in their music class. Learn more on the Performing Arts website.

Fall Sports

Please visit our Athletics page for more information. Football practices began on 8/17, all other fall sports began 8/22. All paperwork (including a current sports physical) and ASB Fee $35.00 must be paid (via the Source/School Pay) prior to the first day of the season.

Fall Class Schedules

Preliminary student schedules will be available to view on the Source on Tues, Aug 30 by 2:30pm. Please note that changes to our master schedule will continue to be made between Aug 30 – Sept 6 as counselors work to balance class sizes. This means that your schedule posted August 30 may change slightly by the first day of school (i.e., you might have Biology 1st period instead of 4th period or a different teacher for a core class). Continuing to balance classes is essential to keep from overloading classes as much as possible. We are allowing students to see their schedules this early to catch errors, not to accommodate students changing their minds about their spring course selections. Visit our Counseling Center for more helpful information.

Source Log In Information

This year we will only be printing Official Schedules for Grade 9 on the first day of school. Grades 10 – 12 may access their schedules via The Source so be sure and confirm that students know their sign in information. For students new to Seattle Public Schools who don’t have student logins to the Source or the Student Portal yet, parents can set up their Source account in the meantime to view their student’s schedule.

Freshmen & New Student Orientation/First Day of School Special Bell Schedule Wednesday, Sept 7, 2022

Students please bring a three-ring binder with paper, pencil, pen, and highlighter on your first day of school. There is no school-wide supply list. Each teacher will give their students a class syllabus including any supplies or fees associated with each class. Donations of Kleenex to the Main Office are greatly appreciated.

Incoming Freshmen, Transfer Students, and any students who want extra time finding classes can follow the morning schedule below. This schedule allows new students to locate their classrooms. Teachers will have a short orientation in each class. A special welcome assembly for new students will take place in the Main Gym at 9:05am.

8:30 – 9:00 Grade 9 & New Students Pick up Official Schedule in the Commons
9:05 – 9:35 New Student Assembly in the Main Gym
9:40 – 9:50 1st Period
9:55 – 10:05 2nd Period
10:10 – 10:20 3rd Period
10:25 – 10:35 4th Period
10:40 – 10:50 5th Period
10:55 – 11:05 6th Period
11:05 – 11:15 Break

10:45 – 11:15 Returning Grade 10 – 12 students. Access schedules on The Source/Locker Requests in the Commons

All Students (including those that attended earlier in the day)
11:20 – 11:50 1st Period
11:55 – 12:25 2nd Period
12:30 – 1:15 Lunch – School lunch service will be available.
1:20 – 1:50 3rd Period
1:55 – 2:25 4th Period
2:25 – 2:35 Extended Passing Period
2:35 – 3:05 5th Period
3:10 – 3:40 6th Period

New Bell Schedules

School Hours
M, T, Th, Fri: 8:50 a.m. – 3:40 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:50 a.m. – 2:25 p.m. (except Sept 7)

View all the Bell Schedules on the Ballard HS Bell Schedule page. 

Curriculum Night/Open House

Please plan to attend this event on Thursday, October 13. Information will be provided prior to October 13.

School Picture ID Day/Laptop Distribution for 22-23

School pictures are used for the yearbook and ID cards so all students will get their free picture taken. Pictures will be taken and laptops distributed on September 8 and 9. Students will be notified on the first day of school when their picture/laptop day is. Grade 9 will take their picture/receive their laptop with their World History 1 teacher, Grades 10 – 12 will take their pictures/receive their laptops with their English Language Arts (ELA) teacher. Once your student receives their Class Schedule you can review the below chart to find your student’s picture/laptop day:

• Photo Day Schedule

Students will come home with a card from the photographer with all the details on how to preview your student’s pictures and how to order a picture packet online if you would like. This year you do not need to pre-order/pre-pay for pictures. Running Start students can get their pictures taken anytime on 9/8 & 9/9. There will be a picture makeup day on 9/22. Read more on our School ID Picture Day.

Attendance Information

Ballard High School has a school-wide attendance policy that reflects our belief that student success and achievement is positively related to regular and timely attendance to class. The BHS Attendance Policy is outlined on the Attendance Overview page on the school website as well as in the Online Student Handbook. Tardiness interrupts and interferes with the instructional program being offered in a classroom. To excuse an absence, send your student with a note to the Ballard HS Attendance Office or email ballardhs.attendance@seattleschools.org. Early dismissals need to be excused in advance, please send a note/email by the morning of the day of the early dismissal.

Online Student Handbook

The Online Student Handbook is intended to support the success of each student at Ballard High School and may be found on our website under Student Life. The information in the handbook will be useful over the course of the school year. Questions or concerns about the contents of the online handbook may be directed to either your assigned Counselor or assigned Assistant Principal.

ASB/Activity Cards

All students who tryout/participate in a Ballard athletic team or perform in a music group must purchase a BHS Activity Card for $35.00. Paying the fee also allows students to receive free admission to BHS home games (discounted for Football games). They will also get a discount on school dances. Parents/guardians may pay via the Source/School Pay. Activity Cards are sold daily during break, lunch, and after school in the Activity Center. Please bring exact cash or a check payable to BHS in the amount of $35.00.

Yearbook Sales

Yearbook sales dates are established in accordance with state tax policies. Yearbooks are sold during break, lunch, and after school in the Activity Center and online through the Source/SchoolPay. No yearbook sales between April 30 and Beaver Day. Pre-Sold yearbooks will be distributed on Beaver Day. Yearbook sales resume following Beaver Day and continue until books are sold out.

9/14/22 – 10/5/22 $60.00
1/4/23 – 1/25/23 $65.00
4/3/23 – 4/28/23 $70.00 (Excludes Spring Break – 4/10– 4/14)

Start of School Packets

Packets will be emailed home and will include forms that need to be returned to Ballard. This year, all the forms/information will be available online via our website. Paper copies of all forms are available outside the Main Office.

Student Meal Changes for Fall 2022

For the 22-23 School Year no cost Breakfast and Lunch will Only be served at no cost to those students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals. All other students will be charged the rates shown on the
district Breakfast and Lunch Program page available on our website. Families should complete the Online Free and Reduced Meal Application now before school starts. For more information as well as links to the Online Application refer to the district Free/Reduced Meal page. If families need a printed form, they can pick one up in the BHS Main Office. Other benefits to qualifying students may include discounts or no costs for Athletic fees, ASB fee, College Application fees, AP Exams, and Running Start Books. To receive
these benefits be sure and complete and sign section #7 of the application. Learn more about Free and Reduced Lunch.

BHS PTSA Weekly Newsletter

The BHS PTSA sends out our Weekly Newsletter via email. If you are not already receiving the BHS Newsletter or want to add additional email addresses, please send an email to ballardhighnews@gmail.com with your name, student name and grade level.

Upcoming Key Dates

September 7 First Day of School with a Special Bell Schedule 
September 8 and 9 Laptop Distribution/School ID Pictures – Makeup Picture Day is 9/22
October 6 First PTSA General Meeting 7:00 p.m. TBD in person or virtual
October 12 PSAT for Grade 11 (Juniors) & SAT for all Grade 12 (Seniors)
October 13 7pm – Curriculum Night
October 14 Statewide Professional Development Day – No School for students
November 11 Veterans Day – No School
December 16 One-hour early dismissal – Winter Break
December 19 – January 2 Winter Break

Running Start Students

Running Start Students are responsible to be aware of school deadlines such as SAT & AP registration/tests, ordering graduation supplies, graduation rehearsal, & other “senior” related dates throughout the school year. Students can sign up to receive the weekly PTSA newsletter by emailing ballardhighnews@gmail.com to stay informed of upcoming events. Student ID card/yearbook photos are on 9/8 or 9/9 anytime between 9am – 3pm.

Seniors

Important Dates – more details in September. 
Senior Class Meeting – TBD – Late September
Senior Portrait Photo – Due October 28 to yearbook staff – Digital photos can be emailed to the Shingle editors – ballardshingle@gmail.com . Senior ID pictures will be used in the yearbook if a portrait picture is not submitted by October 28. 
Senior Grad Ads – Due November 16

State Testing Required

State Assessments windows are listed below. More specific dates and times will be posted as they become available. 

Smarter Balanced ELA/Math (Grade 10 required, Grades 11 & 12 optional if needed for grad pathway)

• March 6 to June 9, 2023

Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (Grade 11 required)

• April 17 to June 2, 2023

Transportation

All Freshmen students will receive an ORCA card on the first day of school. Students in Grades 10-12 may continue using the ORCA card they received during the last school year, they no longer have an expiration date. Order replacement ORCA cards.

Note from our BHS Nurse

Please inform our School Nurse, Laurie Tirtanadi, RN MS ARNP, if your child has Seizure Disorder, Diabetes, Asthma, Life-Threatening Allergic Reaction, or any other potentially life-threatening medical conditions. For your child’s safety, it is important that she has medical information, Diabetic and Seizure Physician Care Plans, Authorization for Medication forms so she can prepare and train staff. Complete and return the Authorization for Medications to Be Taken at School form if your child requires medications to be taken at school. Please bring in medications by the first day of school. Forms are available in the Nurse’s & Main Offices and on the School Nurse page. You can also find updated immunization information and links, medical forms and watch for flu shot clinic dates and consent forms. Nurse Laurie may be reached at 206-252-1007 or ljtirtanadi@seattleschools.org.

We look forward to the new school year and seeing you! 
Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Abby Hunt (she/her)
Principal

Dear Ballard High School Students and Families,

July 11, 2022

We hope that you and your family are enjoying your summer vacation. I am honored to join this amazing community as your principal. Standout traits of Ballard High School include its rich tradition and strong connections among students, staff, and families; with this, I look forward to meeting each of you and making many memories that will add to the legacy of our school. Further, I want to assure you that I am deeply committed to providing a safe, vibrant, inclusive, and educational community for all students. I see this responsibility as both a principal and a parent. My wife, Bridget, and I have two children, Helen (5) and Julia (2). Helen is beginning kindergarten in Seattle Public Schools, and I promise you that I will always lead Ballard as though my children were students here.

Over the course of my twenty years in secondary schools, I have had the privilege to work in a variety of settings and communities. I am coming to Ballard from Nathan Hale High School where I served as an assistant principal. Prior to Nathan Hale, I was a dean of students in the Kent School District. I also taught language arts in Seattle, Chicago, and Belize. These opportunities and experiences have shaped and honed my insight and skills as an educator while enhancing my value of community and commitment to racial equity.

We are working hard this summer to complete the hiring of our administrative and educator teams, and I look forward to sharing these updates with you in our August letter. For now, please review the information below, which includes FAQs such as the Main Office Summer Hours, Athletic Paperwork Due Dates, a Summer Reading List, and other beginning of the school year 2022-2023 information.

Thank you for being a part of the Ballard community. Go Beavers! 

Abby Hunt (she/her)

Principal
Ballard High School
abhunt@seattleschools.org

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Key Dates & Main Office Phone 206-252-1000

Teachers, Athletic Sec, Counselors official last day is June 28, 2022. Please note the Counselors are not available during the summer.

• June 28 – Aug 26: Monday – Friday Main Office Hours, 8:00 – 3:00pm
• Beginning Aug 29: Main Office Open Regular Hours, 7:30 – 4:30pm
• August 30, 31 & Sept 1: Performing Arts Uniform Fittings, 9:00 – 2:00pm. More details below.
• TBD August 30: Parent/Guardian Only Orientation, 7:00pm 
• September 5: Closed Labor Day           
• September 7: First Day of School/Orientation, 8:30am (Grade 9 & new to BHS students) 10:45am (All other students)
• September 8 & 9: School Pictures. More details to follow.
• October 12: PSAT – Grade 11, SAT – Grade – 12
• October 13 (Tentative): Open House/Curriculum Night, 7:00pm  
• October 14: No School Professional Development Day

Not Attending Ballard HS in the Fall? Complete these steps. Step One: Email Kim Nickerson at  kdnickerson@seattleschools.org. Include the parent/guardian’s name, student’s full name and date of birth, your phone number, and the name of the school your student will attend instead of BHS. Step Two: To withdraw your student from the SPS District please visit Not Attending and complete the online form.

Planned Absence the First Week of School? Email ballardhs.attendance@seattleschools.org if your student is not able to attend the first 8 days of school. Students who do not attend on those days will be dropped from Ballard HS as “no shows” which means the student’s courses will be dropped and you will have to re-enroll in Seattle Public School online or at the JSCEE district enrollment office.

Ballard HS Library Summer Reading: The BHS Librarian has developed a Summer Reading List so students may continue reading during their break. Summer Hours are July 28 & August 18 from 1-3pm. Learn more about the Ballard Library.

Summer Assignments for AP Classes: If students requested an AP course, please be aware that some courses require that students complete assignments over the summer before beginning class in the fall. The following courses require summer assignments: AP Studio Art, AP Photography, APLA, APLit & UWHW 111. Students taking Grade 11 APLA or Grade 12 Lit or Grade 12 UWHS 111 must acquire a book. In addition, suggested reading lists are available as well. Students are not assured a place in an AP class until they receive their schedule in Sept. Visit the BHS Website for more details at ballardhs.seattleschools.org

Victor Salvino 22nd Annual Golf Classic Tournament August 19, 2022

The 22nd Annual Golf Classic is a remarkable golf tournament with a new name, new day of the week, new location, and new golfers are welcome too! Come join in and support Ballard High School Athletics, the Performing Arts Boosters, as well as Dance & Cheer. More information is available at BHS Golf Classic

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TBD 9th Grade Parent /Guardian Only Orientation Night!  7PM on Tues, Aug 30

Parents/Guardians of incoming 9th graders: Please join us at 7:00 PM in the Performing Arts Center for a special Orientation Night just for you! The purpose of the evening is to share tips on how you can help your student make a successful transition from middle school to high school. Event is for Parent/Guardians Only. Beaver Gear will be available too! More details to follow.

9th Grade Student Orientation Sept 7

This year, orientation for 9th graders and students new to Ballard will occur on, Sept 7, the first day of school. 

On this day, we invite our incoming 9th graders and new students to arrive at 8:30am and pick up their class schedule and then go to each of their classes for a ten-minute orientation. 

A welcoming assembly will follow. 9th graders and new students will then be joined by our returning students and will attend their 1st – 6th period classes for a second time to assist with their transition to Ballard HS. We are deeply sorry that we are unable to host an orientation in the summer as we have traditionally done.

Link Crew: Unfortunately, this past spring we were unable to organize and prepare our Link Crew leaders and support staff. Please know that we recognize how important Link Crew is and with this new year we fully plan to restore this program. Thank you for your understanding. 

What is Link Crew? A Mentoring Program, that assigns every incoming 9th grader with successful upperclassmen at a ratio of about 10:2 to help them adjust to the realities of high school.  Link Leaders, the mentors, are chosen through an application process in the spring and they are trained in late August to prepare for an exciting Freshmen Orientation Program.  Follow up activities are organized throughout the year to increase freshmen connection to school and improve their academic and social success.

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Performing Arts Uniform Fittings: All music students will need to be fitted for their concert attire for the upcoming school year.  We will be doing these fittings on Tues August 30, Wed August 31, and Thurs September 1 on the auditorium stage from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm each day. All students in any band class: percussion, concert band, symphonic band and wind ensemble will be fitted for a marching band uniform. All band, choir and orchestra students that will be wearing skirts and dresses for concert attire will need to be fitted for your group’s concert uniform. All band, choir and orchestra students that will be wearing tuxedos for concert attire will be fitted after school begins. Email bpabcommunications@gmail.com with any questions at all.

BHS PTSA Weekly Newsletter: The BHS PTSA sends out our Weekly Newsletter via email. If you are not already receiving the BHS Newsletter or you want to add additional email addresses, please send an email to ballardhighnews@gmail.com with your name, student name and grade level.

Second Semester Grades: For students who attended Ballard High School second semester of 2022, final grades are viewable on The Source.

Outstanding Fines, Overdue Library/Textbooks: During the summer, library/textbooks may be returned to the Main Office. Outstanding fines may be paid in the Activity Center (AC) beginning August 10, 2022.

Service-Learning Hours: Service learning is giving time, without pay. SL allows students to learn academic, social, and personal skills through real hands-on activities. Summer hours that students complete that meet the SL requirements can be counted toward the 60-hour graduation requirement, except for incoming freshmen who can only claim 15 SL hours in the summer. Forms are available on the Service Learning page.

Fall Sports: Complete all required forms for each sport you will play on FinalForms. Football: Due 8/15, Football Tryouts/Practices begins on 8/17.  Fall Packets & ASB Fee: Due 8/15. Volleyball, Girls Swim & Dive, Girls Soccer, Cross Country, Golf and Slow-pitch Softball. Tryouts/practices begin on 8/22. Important: Paperwork must be completed online with FinalForms. Visit the Student Life > Athletics page on the school website for detailed instructions as well as a current Coach Directory. Late paperwork may limit participation for tryouts.

Class of 2023 Senior Yearbook Photos | Due October 31, 2022: Rowland Studios has been in partnership with Ballard HS for many years and will take pictures of all of our students for ID cards and the yearbook. It is not required that your Senior Portrait be taken at this studio. If you do not submit a photo to the yearbook staff, they will use your Student ID photo instead. Email Senior Portraits to The Shingle at ballardshingle@gmail.com  

Transportation | ORCA Cards: Students should not throw away their current ORCA card. These cards may be used throughout the summer and for the 2022-2023 school year. You may ignore the expiration date on the back of the card. The SPS School District transportation office will mail information during the last week of August to every HS student for transportation by Metro, school bus, or other appropriate carriers. The SPS District transportation office number is 206-252-0900.

Start of School Paperwork Packets: Many of the SPS required forms are available online. In addition, paper copies of Start of School forms will be in the Main Office and online on the BHS website. Start of School forms also include Booster Clubs, Privacy, BHS Nurse & Teen Health Center information. 

Free & Reduced Meal Program | More Than Breakfast and Lunch: Forms for this program are available in the Main Office or online at Apply for Free and Reduced Meals. If your student qualifies there may be additional benefits such as discounts or no costs for Athletic fees, ASB fee, Pre-college exams (PSAT/SAT), College Application Fees, AP Tests, Field Trips and Running Start books. For students to receive any of the benefits listed above, you will need to complete Part 7 of the application and check all the boxes.  Mail the completed form to Nutrition Services-MS 32-372, P.O. Box 34165, Seattle, 98124 or you may hand deliver to our BHS school lunchroom.

Bell Schedules: View all the Bell Schedules on the Bell Schedule page. Mon Tues, Thurs & Fri the Start Time is 8:50am and the End Time is 3:40pm. Every Wed (except Sept. 7) is a 75-minute Early Release with a Start Time at 8:50am and an End Time at 2:25pm.

First Day of School | Special Bell Schedule | Wed, Sept 7 | 9th Grade & New Students please arrive at 8:30am to pick up your schedule. Orientation starts at 8:50am. Meet teachers and attend a special assembly. All other students (all grades) can pick up their schedules beginning at 10:45am and will start 1st Period at 11:20am and go through all 6 Periods. More details to follow in our Ballard HS August Letter.

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Read the Incoming BHS Freshman Students & Families Letter

Read the Grades: 10-12 Students & Families Letter

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