![West Seattle High School’s (WSHS) Chinese program is closing down and teachers in the program are informed to transfer to a different high school. At WSHS, 475 both former and current students have signed a petition to help teacher Ying Yu continue her Chinese program. She shares that initially, the program offered only four classes with 90 students but with her initiatives, the program grew to be full-time with 154 students and 137 students on the waiting list. (Seattle Public Schools Board Meeting YouTube Channel: Seattle Schools Board Meeting May 8, 2024, [58:25])](https://ballardtalisman.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Screenshot-2024-06-14-134038.png)
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![Henry Willy [pictured left] taking the field with his teammates in a 10-11 loss vs. Saas.](https://ballardtalisman.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/IMG_2431.jpg)
Maeve Gallagher, Staff Reporter
Originally published November 13, 2014
Avary Lenz
The Earth Service Corps Club gains volunteer hours by separating garbage, recycling, and compost in the Commons after school every day.
During the school year, Earth Service Corps hosts several important events designed to raise awareness about environmental problems.
One of their projects includes building a rain garden in the front of the school, where clean rain water will collect. The garden’s purpose is to reduce pollution and waste.
“We are trying to reduce Ballard’s carbon footprint,” senior Skyla Sorenson said. Sorenson is the president of the club, along with senior Julianna Horiuchi.
Upcoming events include a screening of “Damnation,” a documentary about the reconstruction of a fallen dam. This screening will be held in the auditorium on Dec. 4.
“We have a lot of important events that need participants,” senior Gabby Gersten, Earth Service Corps secretary, said. “In April we have a week called Spare the Air Week which encourages students to bus, bike and walk to school.” Students who participate are rewarded with doughnuts and coffee.
The Earth Service Corps Club also gains volunteer hours by separating garbage, recycling, and compost in the Commons after school every day.
In addition to the the club’s daily activities, they are in the process of hiring someone to perform an energy audit. This is when a professional shows the students how to conserve energy more efficiently by walking club members throughout the school and giving examples of where they need to save energy.
Earth Service Corps brings important environmental issues to the student body’s attention, and because of this, students are more involved with the importance of energy conservation within our community.
