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Announcements, News & Events
Skills Center 2026-27 Applications: Applications for the Seattle Skills Center’s 2026-27 school year courses are available on the Skills Center website. The Seattle Skills Center prepares students for college, career, and life through advanced Career and Technical Education courses. There are a wide range of career pathways at several locations around the city like Maritime Vessel Operations, Media Arts: Creating for Social Media, Video Game Design, and Careers in Educations/Teaching Academy. Classes work best for 11th and 12th grade students.
A virtual open house is in the works! Keep an eye on the Skills Center webpage for updates and details.
Cancer Pathways 2026 Teen Writing Contest
This national contest encourages teens in grades 9-12 to write about their experience with cancer, either their own or of a loved one, for the opportunity to win one of several $1,000 prizes. Entries must be submitted in essay format and not exceed 1,500 words. Contest Closes: February 28, 2026 with Winners Announced: Early May 2026.
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. Forms with information about the program are in the counseling office – to sign up contact Jake Wishart, your counselor, or Ballard’s school social worker Elly Sprinkle at elsprinkle@seattleschools.org.
SPS and PEPS Parent Workshop Series
PEPS (a local non-profit) is partnering with Seattle Public Schools to offer a four-part parent workshop series. This first workshop will help you better understand your teen’s choices, especially risky or impulsive ones, and provide you with practical tools to strengthen your connection with them, as the relationship you nurture with your child is a key source of their resilience and growth. You will gain insight into the science of adolescent brain development and learn how it impacts their decision-making.
There are 4 workshops for parents/caregivers and they can attend one or all sessions as they are all virtual meetings. Please note registration for SPS and PEPES Parent Workshop Series is needed to obtain the zoom link. Questions, please reach out to programs@peps.org.
SPS Support for Families in Need
SPS remains committed to supporting students and families in every season, especially during times of crisis. Learn more on the district website.
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 Washington State! 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 one of our contacts: Pablo de Leon at 206-271-3722 Pablo@umpiresnw.com or Steve Reed 206-962-9113 at steve@umpiresnw.com or stevenreed@sportsofficialsnw.com
Teens in Public Service (TIPS)
Are you a high school student passionate about service and interested in a paid summer internship at a nonprofit organization? Teens in Public Service (TIPS) places high school interns at a variety of nonprofits – museums, food banks, nature preserves, and more. As a reminder, TIPS interns gain…A summer’s worth of impactful work experience, exposure to the “behind the scenes” of nonprofit orgs carrying out community-centered work, mentorship, networking opportunity, and support from TIPS and their nonprofit supervisors / coworkers and a paycheck – interns will be paid Seattle minimum wage. You can read our 2024 interns’ summer reflections on our website. Apply today for the TIPS Summer 2026 program. The application is due March 3, 2026.
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 January 15, 2026