Talisman

The Student News Site of Ballard High School
Jack Rees (top left), Hanzo Watanabe (top right), and Thijs Buning (middle) will become next years sophmore ambassadors.
The future of ASB: upcoming sophomores elect ambassadors
Scholar of the Quarter program returns, assisted by Plant Club
Scholar of the Quarter program returns, assisted by Plant Club
Old tile covered by a layer of plaster outside of the Ceramics classroom.
BEACH Club Works to Remodel School Decorations
Natalie McMannus (11) playing Eurydice and Teddy Dodd (10), whose love story comes to life in "Hadestown"
Theater students prepare to put on ‘Hadestown’
Seattle Public Schools’ library funding hangs in the balance
Seattle Public Schools’ library funding hangs in the balance
Even the ghost, was more than one person
Even the ghost, was more than one person
"The characters understand that true heroism isn’t stopping cosmically evil and all powerful beings, it’s saving ordinary people from getting killed in the crossfire"
How Marvel’s very own Suicide-Squad humanizes heroes
“Go on a vacation,” they must say. “New location, new you.” I have always been fascinated by such marketing of vacation.
‘The White Lotus’ is in half bloom
Dacus breaks out of the genre she’s been pigeonholed into, creating something that feels simultaneously novel and timeless.
Lucy Dacus archives love, loss and limerence on ‘Forever is a Feeling’
“Gaman” is a Japanese word that roughly translates to the Zen Buddhist concept of staying strong despite the obstacles that cross one’s path.
Star 99 is finally getting their flowers and ‘Pushing Daisies’
Students are more willing to participate in food science, partially because they get to enjoy the meals they have prepared and they are constantly learning new life skills
Creating comfort and connection
Freshman Lachlan Collis jumping on mountain biking trails.
More than a race
Maddie Marushka 10, Sabi Yoon 11, Aliana Kirkos 12, Gavin Mcgregor 10, Max Bykowski 12, Frances Diver 10, Robin Dowdy teacher supervisor, Josie Good 11 (Xander Howarth) Dowdy said that she saw the bond that team members have formed as a little family, in a way.
Mock Trials’ challenges and rewards
Freshman Connor Bembry's small business curring and styling men's hair has begun to gain traction recently as clients aid the advertisement of his work and new clients get wind of his craft.
Cuts by Connor
The four band members (pictured above) brought their love of music together to form their all-female band Electric Kitty
Finding their sound
Captain and senior Maddie Singer aims a pass towards her teammates, the energy that she brings to the sport keeping them driven. (Courtesy of Anthony Spinelli)
From overlooked to ranked, girls lacrosse is heading to Regionals
Senior and captain Owen Cutting sprints across the field, keeping the ball away from an opposing Roosevelt player. Midfield players adapt well when situations arise, helping the team’s success. (Courtesy of Steve Muench)
What makes a successful boys varsity soccer team?
“All In” is a phrase we often say to each other. It’s on the back of one of our practice shirts, and it is something we leave practice saying every single time. Those two words have made a huge impact on my life and my approach to nearly everything. (Courtesy of Varsity Spirit)
‘All In’ for Cheer winning Nationals
“Being able to provide a place where top female soccer players can play in front of big crowds and their community, and just the level of players all coming together on one team is really, really exciting,” Arrant said. (Courtesy of Marissa Lordahl)
Highlighting the future of women’s soccer
Senior and Redhawks captain Nadia Bellabarba skates across the ice, evading opponents and leading her and her teammates to Nationals. (Courtesy of Carlo Bellabarba)
Redhawks captain leads hockey team to Nationals
Our education system must come to view AI as a tool rather than a necessity because this technology can be helpful to an extent, but at the cost of our own creativity.
The value of imperfection: why human creativity matters more than AI efficiency
True stars like Marilyn Monroe are nonexistent in this social media age.
Missing super stars: the new pop culture
Prom should be about making memories, not trash, therefore vintage prom dresses are the perfect choice.
Vintage over Viral
Already trying to make sense of our place in school, in society, in adulthood, how are we possibly supposed to make sense of our place on Earth, in the Milky Way, in the universe? The problem is that we aren’t; the existential ennui of being a highschooler is normalized to the point of disinterest.
Fearing the unknown
Phones have made it basically impossible to retain any self worth as social media has perpetuated continual growth of beauty.
The allure of Instagram face: a social media beauty blueprint

Talisman

Talisman
Students are more willing to participate in food science, partially because they get to enjoy the meals they have prepared and they are constantly learning new life skills

Creating comfort and connection

Sophia Gerl, Staff Reporter
May 27, 2025
Freshman Lachlan Collis jumping on mountain biking trails.

More than a race

Noelle Shin, Staff Reporter
May 27, 2025
Maddie Marushka 10, Sabi Yoon 11, Aliana Kirkos 12, Gavin Mcgregor 10, Max Bykowski 12, Frances Diver 10, Robin Dowdy teacher supervisor, Josie Good 11 (Xander Howarth) Dowdy said that she saw the bond that team members have formed as a little family, in a way.

Mock Trials’ challenges and rewards

Lucia Kelley, Staff Reporter
May 27, 2025
Freshman Connor Bembry's small business curring and styling men's hair has begun to gain traction recently as clients aid the advertisement of his work and new clients get wind of his craft.

Cuts by Connor

Noelle Shin, Staff Reporter
May 27, 2025
The four band members (pictured above) brought their love of music together to form their all-female band Electric Kitty

Finding their sound

Marley Helfer, Editor-in-Chief
April 11, 2025
Sophomore Neve Takahashi (left), senior Larry Orlov (right) and freshman Kai Knecht are developing a video game that uses a mix of hand and computer animation.

Game in development club involves designing a game for student play

Alfie Koll-Williams, Staff Reporter
March 7, 2025
Since Time Immemorial

Since Time Immemorial

Coco Otto, Staff reporter
March 6, 2025
While dopamine release isn’t the only factor to instigate an addiction, it plays a large role in the habits formed around activities that quickly reward the brain: scrolling on one's phone or partaking in substances like drugs and alcohol.

Reels, rewards and resolutions

Madeleine Clark, A&E Editor
February 14, 2025
Milana Vasilieva (left) and Nika Zinchenko (right), founders of the Slavic Club, pose in front of the Ukrainian flag displayed in Ms. Russell’s classroom which is where they hold their Slavic Club meetings every Wednesday during lunch.

From the war in Ukraine to finding refuge

Sabi Yoon, Staff Reporter
December 19, 2024
AI in College Admissions

AI in College Admissions

Coco Otto, Staff Reporter
November 26, 2024
Robyn Maddess taught at BHS for 14 years, impacting countless individuals in the BHS community and beyond. In honor of her contributions to the school, the Life Skills Lab has been renamed to Ms. Robyn’s Life Skills Lab, and a celebration of her life was held at the Elks Club for friends and family (pictured above).

An unforgettable impact: more than just a teacher

Marley Helfer, Co-Editor in Chief
November 20, 2024
Photo of the image that appears on school-issued devices that reads “this page is blocked.” (Seattle Public Schools)

District restricts online curricula

Abigail Bekele, Features Editor
November 20, 2024
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