Ballard High School is a high school in Seattle, Washington, located in the Ballard neighborhood.
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Mission statement
"Ballard High School is an inclusive, supportive community that cultivates a tradition of excellence for all students." ~adopted May, 2008
History
Ballard High School got its start in the fall of 1901, when the Ballard School District added grades eleven and twelve to the already existing Central School, creating the first four-year high school in the Ballard area. The very small school, soon to be known as Ballard High School, was located at 5308 Tallman Ave. There were three people on the faculty, including the principal, Harry F. Giles. The first graduating class had four members and held its commencement on June 23, 1902.
By 1905, enrollment had grown to 80 students. Ballard became part of the city of Seattle in 1907 and the high school became part of the Seattle Public School System.
Ballard High School moved to its present location during Christmas vacation 1915. The school could accommodate 1,000 students. Three hundred of them were transferred from Lincoln. The building was remodeled three times, once in 1925, then again in 1941 and for the last time in 1959. At that time, the student body had grown to over 2,000.
That structure was demolished the summer 1997 due to asbestos contamination and was replaced with the current facility. The student body was housed in the old Lincoln High School building during the 1997-98 and 1998-99 school years. Lincoln was undergoing a remodel to become a middle school, the students who attended Ballard at Lincoln High had no bells to mark classes, limited classrooms, and cubically separated classrooms in the library and gymnasium facilities for the 1997-98 school year. This was due to the fact half of the facility at Lincoln was still closed for renovations (the half that held the majority of the divided classrooms). Finally in September 1999, Ballard High School returned to 1418 NW 65th St. to occupy a brand new building with the ability to accommodate evolving technology and more than 1,500 students. There are several classrooms that do not have windows.
1994 Shooting
The first murder ever of a student on Seattle School District property happened in 1994 outside Ballard High School. Then 16-year-old Brian Ronquillo, a student at Shorewood High School (Washington), fired a gun eight times into a group of students as a car he was in drove by Ballard High School. Melissa Fernandes, a 16-year-old Ballard student, was shot and killed although she was not the intended target. Ronquillo was sentenced to 51 years in prison for the gang related shooting.
Clubs and organizations
Speech and Debate Team
The Ballard High School Speech and Debate Team returned to BHS after nearly 20 years without a forensics program at the school. The team offers all types of debate and speech events recognized by the National Forensics League. The Ballard Debate Team is the only completely paperless high school team in the State of Washington. Students in the program participate in Policy Debate, Lincoln Douglas Debate, Public Forum Debate, Extemporaneous Speaking, Original Oratory and Dramatic Interpretation.
Academic Programs
Academies (School Within a School)
Ballard High maintains three formal academies on campus. These are: Biotechnology Career Academy; Finance Academy; Maritime Academy. Each of these academies comprises an integrated curriculum across content areas. Students enrolled in these academies are part of the Ballard student population but have chosen to participate in a specific content area of focus. The Biotechnology Career Academy is a three-year program that links science-language arts-mathematics as the integrated curriculum. This academy enrolls one starting ninth grade cohort and one tenth grade cohort each year and has done so since 1997. The science focus begins with biology in the first year followed by chemistry the second year and concludes with genetics in the third and final year. Each year of the program there is a student project that helps prepare the students for public speaking, project organization and writing skills. Achievements by the Finance and Maritime Academies are equally impressive but details will need to be added at a later time.
Digital Filmmaking Program
Since its beginning in the fall of 2001, students from the BHS Digital Filmmaking Program have won hundreds of awards at regional, state, national, and international film festivals. Based on their portfolios they have won honors from the National YoungArts Foundation and the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and consistently gained admission to prestigious college programs of film and television, sometimes with large scholarships. Among its awards include two National Student Production Awards awarded in 2016. They have also been invited to show their work and make presentations at numerous film festivals, media conferences, and art museums. The program has provided professional production internships through a variety of media organizations and businesses, as well as a number of feature films. A Professional Advisory Committee supports the program. The Digital Filmmaking Program is open to BHS students of all grades. Students planning to pursue degrees or careers in film/television production, broadcast journalism, art, advertising, media studies, or public relations should enroll no later than their sophomore year to begin to build a portfolio that meets college and industry application requirements. All classes are electives, fulfill either the Fine Art or the Occupational Education requirement, and result in a digital portfolio. For more information visit the BHS Video Production Program blog [2].
Music
The award-winning Ballard High School Music Department, the most complete high school music program in the city, is proud of its rich musical history. Under the direction of Mr. Michael James, Ms. Brittany Newell and Ms. Courtney Pelavin, the program has gained a reputation throughout the Northwest and beyond for its high level of musical excellence. BHS students have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of music ensembles and experiences, including a full range of offerings in choir, band, orchestra, and jazz. Opportunities include concerts, community performances, parades, festivals, competitions, camps, and group travel. The Music Program fosters an atmosphere which allows all students to grow musically while learning to be team members and develop individual artistry. Over 300 students participate in the music program, and Ballard's Music Alumni have gone on to attend many of the nation's most prestigious music schools. In 2012, Ballard's advanced jazz ensemble qualified for the first time to participate in the Starbucks Hot Java Cool Jazz performance at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle as well as the Essentially Ellington Jazz Competition in New York City.
Notable alumni
- Thomas Alberg - venture capitalist
- Josh Barnett - former UFC Heavyweight champion and current mixed martial artist
- Don Bies - former PGA Tour player
- Arnold L. Bjorklund - World War II officer
- John O. Creighton - former NASA astronaut
- Paul Enquist - 1984 Men's Double Scull Olympic gold medal winner (double partner Brad Alan Lewis)
- Richard Gilkey - painter
- Halvor Hagen - former NFL player
- George Irvine - former ABA player ([Virginia])
- Chet Johnson - former MLB player (St. Louis Browns)
- Earl Johnson - former MLB player (Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers)
- Thomas McAdams - Master Chief Boatswain's Mate, U.S. Coast Guard
- Dori Monson - KIRO and Seahawk radio announcer
- Jean Smart - actress
- Karsten Solheim - founder of PING golf club company
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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