Counseling Center Quick Links

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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SPS Internship Directory

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Jobs, Internship Opportunities

Summer Work Site Paid Learning + CTE Credit

1. Seattle Youth Employment Program (SYEP) Applications now open until May 4. 2026. Refer to the SYEP website for household income requirements. There are 250 slots across a variety of roles; applicants are chosen by lottery.
2. Port of Seattle Applications open on May 4, 2026. Lots of different subject areas and the Port of Seattle website has a complete listing as well as past interns. Fishermen’s Terminal is planning to host interns; and Shilshole Bay is TBD. Apply today!

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SPS Internship Opportunities from Career Connected Learning

They have paid stipends and/or hourly wages + CTE credit. 

Here is a quick summary on the ones that are geographically closest to Ballard High School attendance area. 

1. Amazon Periscope:  2- week career finance/accounting intensive at Amazon South Lake Union campus for current 10th grade students – 30 spots
2. Open Science Quest– 3-week career intensive at the Allen Institute in South Lake Union during which student dive deep into cell biology, neuroscience, and immunology – 20 spots.  Student must have completed Biology.
3. Education Quest – 4-week internship at an SPS elementary school, mentored by a teacher.  Over 50 open spots for any student considering an education career and is at least 16 years old. Closest elementary schools would be John Hay elementary in Queen Anne and James Baldwin elementary in Northgate.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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 April 2, 2026