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Announcements, News & Events
Weekend Food for Kids
BHS Students! Did You Know? Ballard Food Bank provides free weekend food bags for Ballard High School students. There are no eligibility requirements, and most dietary needs and allergies can be accommodated. To sign up, bring a completed enrollment form to the main office, or contact Ballard’s school social worker Elly Sprinkle at elsprinkle@seattleschools.org.
Seniors! Applying to WSU?
Seniors: Are you applying to WSU? Do you have at least a 3.8 GPA? If so, let your school counselor know to be considered for the WSU Regents Scholarship worth $4000/year for four years for a total of $16,000! 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 Monday, October 27 to be considered for this scholarship.
BHS Counselors Wishlist
Parents! Can you contribute to the Counseling Center Staff Wishlist Items?
Individual Snack Bags (ie: Goldfish, Sun Chips, etc.), Fruit Snacks, Granola Bars, Spiral Notebooks, Composition Books, Paper Folders (like a PeeChee), Lined Paper, Pencils, Pens. Drop off in the main office. Thank you!!!
Senior Parents! Curriculum Night Pre-Session Oct. 9
Class of 2026! Curriculum Night “pre-session” from 5:30 p.m. – 6:20 p.m. with BHS Counselors in the Performing Arts Center (PAC) who will answer questions about applying to college, requesting letters of recommendation, the basics of financial aid and info that was shared with your Seniors last week.
Common Application Help Session Oct. 15
Get help with your Common Application: Wed, Oct. 15 from 2:30-3:30 p.m. in the counseling center. Please bring your laptop. Common Application: 1000+ colleges/universities, One application is sent to all participating institutions. Students request recommendations from teachers and their school counselor through the application. Counselor completes the School report which includes GPA, class rank, and a Counselor recommendation (which includes a letter of rec), if needed. BHS reports weighted rank (decile/percent), unweighted GPA (4.0 highest). Transcript is attached electronically by counselor.
BHS Financial Aid Info Night Oct. 23
Junior & Senior Parents/Guardians
- October 23, 2025
- Doors open at 6:45 p.m.
- We will have tables with Seattle Promise Scholarship details, information about the FAFSA & WASFA as well as other scholarship resources and more!
- Bring Your Questions!
- Doors open at 6:45 p.m.
- Ballard High School Performing Arts Center (PAC)
Visit our Ballard HS Counselors Applying to College page as well as the information we have posted on our Financial Aid Information page for more resources. Questions? BHS Co-Head Counselor Gail Olson Laing at gsolsonlaing@seattleschools.org
Beta FAFSA
The FAFSA officially opens on October 1, 2025 but a beta version is available at: studentaid.gov. Even if you know you won’t qualify for federal need based aid the BHS Counselors recommend families fill it out because some schools require it to be considered for any of their merit aid or other school based aid. The Seattle Promise scholarship requires it as well.
Gear Up Washington State News College Visits
Why Visit Colleges: Get a firsthand view, Get answers to your questions, Get valuable information, and Get ready to decide. Research shows that students who attend at least I college visit are 1½ times more likely to enroll in college after high school graduation, & even 3 times more likely if a parent attends the college visit with the student. Visiting a campus can help you get a first-hand look at a school or program to see if it is a good fit. You can see what the atmosphere is like. Find out what support programs are offered and talk to faculty, financial aid and admissions office, and other students.
Jobs, Internship Opportunities
YOU make the call…Umpires & Referees Needed
Umpires Northwest LLC and Sports Officials Northwest LLC are looking for NEW and/or EXPERIENCED umpires and referees to become part of our continued success in WA. NOW is the time! The season is here, come PLAY BALL with us! GREAT PAY, FLEXIBLE SCHEDULES, weekday, and weekend schedules available. Extensive training provided (general rules clinic and on field mechanics). We currently service: Adult and Youth Leagues and Tournaments. If interested or would like more information visit the Umpires Northwest website or, reach out to a contact: Pablo de Leon 206-271-3722 Pablo@umpiresnw.com or Lenny Akins 253.266.9970 havochoops22@gmail.com or OJ Simpson 360.509.3232 ojsjc32@gmail.com or Steve Reed 206-962-9113 steve@umpiresnw.com or stevenreed@sportsofficialsnw.com
You Grow Girl Internship
Paid Internship opportunity for female-identifying youth, 17 years old and older. You Grow Girl! is accepting applications for their upcoming cohort for their Peer Support Vocational Training Program. Youth with lived experiences participating in mental health and other service systems who are interested in supporting systems-involved middle-school aged youth through peer mentorship are encouraged to apply. Completion of this program includes a stipend of $1,000 and attainment of industry recognized professional credentials and employment opportunities. Call or text You Grow Girl! at (206) 417-9904 for more information.
SPS Internship Directory
Live list of available internships open to Seattle Public Schools students (ages and requirements vary). Review the available internships and learning opportunities.
Reminders
Students should only participate in an opportunity they feel is safe to them. BHS only shares these postings and does not endorse any of these businesses.
Can’t Find What You Are Looking For?
Email me with tips on information you would like located here or better ways to support your searches on the Ballard HS website. Diane Taylor, BHS Website Editor at dmtaylor@seattleschools.org Thank you!
As of October 1, 2025