Talisman

The Student News Site of Ballard High School
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
Safety signs that are outside of the main doors of the school building.
Washington State’s Legislative Session began Jan. 13: here are key bills that could affect students
Students getting their hearts checked from the local firemen.
School hosts record-breaking heart screening event
Blueprint layout of the Pacific Science Center where the Winter Ball was held.
Associated Student Body plans Winter Ball at Pacific Science Center
“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’
In actuality, the anchor and guiding force of this movie is Mikey Madison.
Mikey Madison legitimizes sex work as ‘Anora’
It’s nonetheless easy to see why ‘Le Planète Sauvage’ or ‘Fantastic Planet’ has remained a cult classic.
An alien view of earthly dilemmas
One of the greatest accomplishments of “Mufasa” is that it brings back interest towards the magnificent universe of the pridelands
‘Long live the king’ in this live-action prequel
The hunt for a perfect bagel
The four band members (pictured above) brought their love of music together to form their all-female band Electric Kitty
Finding their sound
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
Since Time Immemorial
Since Time Immemorial
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
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
“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
Senior Dorrie Jacobson runs track during the spring and plays soccer in the fall, both on the school’s varsity teams. She prefers the warmer weather of spring sports.
Why do spring sports feel different?
“I have never done a sport that was so demanding and yet so fun and exhilarating,” Price said. “I look [forward] to it every day and am so happy that I became so good at it." (Courtesy of Lucy Richins)
The mat is unforgiving: the highs and lows of wrestling
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
Abigail Bekele and field trip attendees steering a traditional Hawaiian navigation boat.
The unforgettable experience of high school in Hawaii
Even though running has its cons, it has way more pros. I enjoy the good and the bad, even if that means getting soaked in the rain. I get to enjoy scenery, hang out with friends, and a sense of achievement.
The ups and downs of running: why I keep lacing up
Lively made a civil rights complaint and eventually filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, Wayfarer and its CEO Jamey Heath for sexual harassment and the intentional and strategic destruction of her reputation.
Blake Lively versus Justin Baldoni: the fight over public sympathy

Talisman

Talisman
All content by Max Bykowski
“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’

Max Bykowski, Sports Editor
April 2, 2025
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.

[Photo] Fearing the unknown

Xander Howarth, Opinions Editor
April 2, 2025
So why would anyone try to make good music? In a landscape so capricious that it rotates trends by the week, quantity is valued more than quality.

[Photo] Streaming, social media and AI are killing albums

Max Bykowski, Sports Editor
February 14, 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.

[Photo] Reels, rewards and resolutions

Madeleine Clark, A&E Editor
February 14, 2025
A show that will go down as one of Netflix’s best

‘Arcane’ season two was flawed – and I loved it

Max Bykowski, Sports Editor
December 18, 2024
The plot follows Wilbur (Isabella Ward de Campos Gonçalves), the runt of his litter of pigs.

‘Charlotte’s Web’ revisits a childhood classic

Max Bykowski, Sports Editor
November 1, 2024

‘Content warning’: Get famous or die trying

Max Bykowski, Staff Reporter
June 11, 2024
“Link Crew is meant to be a way for [upperclassmen] to help ninth graders with the transition to high school,” Laura Lehni, language arts teacher, ASB advisor and Link coordinator, said

Link Crew applications open for current sophomores and juniors

Max Bykowski, Staff Reporter
May 15, 2024
(Them.us)

Chappell Roan’s music is queer, campy fun

Max Bykowski, Staff reporter
May 5, 2024
(Plastic Death) is, to say the least, an experience. (Glass Beach/Band camp)

Glass Beach releases genreless sophomore album ‘Plastic Death’

Max Bykowski, Staff reporter
March 19, 2024
ELA teacher Laura Lehni voices her uncertainty for the course of Ethnic Studies.

A class kept from growing: the concern about Ethnic Studies

Max Bykowski, Staff Reporter
March 18, 2024
Many of these collectors have upwards of twenty water bottles in their collections and have built shelves in their houses to display all of them.

Stanley tumblers, consumerism and the lifetime of a trend

Max Bykowski, Staff Reporter
February 8, 2024

Respiratory illness cases surge over winter break

Max Bykowski, Staff Reporter
February 1, 2024
Wikipedia

‘No Blues’ remaster for its 10th anniversary

Max Bykowski, Staff Reporter
December 12, 2023
ASU Potluck with group leaders and members gathering to share different Asian cuisine from various regions

More than just a meal

Max Bykowski, Staff Reporter
December 12, 2023
Written by the BHS ensemble of 2023 and directed by Miller Shor, the cast bows for curtain call. “Sonnets For a New Century” asks the question: “What could you not leave this world without saying?”

Fall play reflects on the legacy one leaves behind

Max Bykowski, Staff Reporter
November 9, 2023
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