April 6th 2015
A Message From Principal Wilson:
Parents/Guardians,
- Thursday April 9th will be the end of the 3rd Grading Quarter
- Friday April 10th there will be no school for students as this will be Teacher’s Planning Day
- Parents please note that the first day of school for the 2015-16 school year will be on Thursday August 27th. Please be sure to plan your summer vacations accordingly.
I’ve attached a flyer from PPS in English and Spanish regarding this information.
- This coming Thursday April 9th Benson we will be on its regular Thursday Tutorial Schedule with tutorial happening at the end of the day.
- Parents please note that I’ve attached the Benson Counseling Team Newsletter to this email as there are some very important items that the Benson Counselors would like for you and your students to know as we wind down the last three (3) months of school.
Thursday’s Tutorial Schedule
Period 1 8:15-9:37
Period 3 9:42-11:04
Lunch 11:04-11:34
Period 5 11:39-1:01
Period 7 1:06-2:28
Tutorial 2:33-3:15
A Message from The Counseling Department
Juniors and Seniors: Concordia U. is hosting a “financial reality fair” for Juniors and Seniors on Saturday April 11 from 10:00 am – 12:00pm. After the fair, they are also hosting a free FAFSA “help” session for seniors. Please read the attached flyer.
Congratulations to Benson’s Women’s Basketball Coach Eric Knox for being named April Coach of the Year presented by Legacy Health.
A Message from Teaghan Phillips
Arte e identidad | Student Mural Exhibition
Tuesday, April 7 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Benson Polytechnic High School, Old Gym 546 NE 12th AVE | Portland, OR | 97232
After 6 weeks of printmaking, graffiti, hip-hop, aztec dance, and mural painting workshops funded in part by RACC, Benson students are showcasing their completed works. Come support student art and check out the student mural, Aztec dance, hip hop and more!
Teaghan Phillips
LÁMP:ARA Coordinator | AmeriCorps Member
Benson High School
503-916-5100 (ext. 77266)
Benson Latino Parent Meeting
We’d like to invite the Benson Latino families to again attend a meeting on Tuesday, April 7th, from 5:30 to 7:00pm. This meeting will center on a new program starting at Benson this year called ESCALERA: Taking Steps to Success. ESCALERA is offered to Latino Junior students, and it helps them to obtain their diplomas, and develop their future goals. Snacks will be offered. Come and share your ideas!
Junta de padres Latinos en Benson
Queremos invitar a las familias latinas de Benson otra vez a asistir a una junta el martes, día 7 de abril, de 5:30 a 7:00pm. Esta junta se va a centrar en un nuevo programa en Benson que va a empezar este año llamado ESCALERA: Tomando pasos hacia el éxito. ESCALERA se ofrece para estudiantes Latinos que son Juniors, y les ayuda a obtener su diploma y a desarrollar metas para el futuro. Se ofrece comida gratis. ¡Vengan a compartir sus ideas!
A Message from The Benson Automotive Team of Ed Railey and Brett Anderson
Two of Benson’s Auto majors Fox Power and Bowen Rowe have tested and scored high enough to qualify Benson Tech as a competing team in the Ford/AAA Auto skills State hands on final. These students will be competing against 9 other High Schools from the state of Oregon. They will have to diagnose and properly repair a 2015 Focus SE in a 90 minute competition. The outcome, win or lose usually results in long term employment opportunities for the competing students. The hands-on competition will be held at MHCC in early May.
Go Benson Tech!!
Ed Railey
Automotive/Aviation Technology Instructor
Benson Polytechnic High School
A Message from Benson Counselor Amy Henry
Asian American Youth Leadership Conference will be held on Friday, May 15th at Concordia University. You will need to register by Friday, April 17.
Please see Ms. Henry in counseling for registration information.
A Message from Miranda Ryan (Benson’s Career Coordinator)
Financial Reality Fair-Sat, April 11 @ 10am Concordia university
Young Adult Leaders in Action:
To apply you should:
• Be interested in learning about international issues and other cultures
• Be passionate to take action and serve the local and global community.
• Work cooperatively with other you and council staff
• Bring a unique perspective and voice to the program
Applications are in the career center and are due by April 30, 2015
FBI is now accepting applications for the Youth Leadership Academy
Explore the power of positive leadership, develop intercultural communication skills, and explore career options. With a mix of forensics, fitness, and fun, students wrap up the week with the investigation into a mock case- from the time of the crime through to the courts. Applications are in the Career Center Apply by May 1, 2015
Job Opportunities with Summer Works
Applicants must be low income, between the ages of 16-21, and eligible to work in the U.S.
Apply at: www.worksystems.org/SummerWorks
Upcoming Job Fair:
Tigard Public Library
13500 SW Hall Blvd.
May 6, 2015
2:30p.m.-5:30p.m.
Take Tri-Met line #76
Career Days:
- Interested in fire fighter, emergency responder, wildlife management, or media relations? Sign up for a career day to Port of Portland. April 29th, 2015
A Message from Benson’s Digital Media Teacher Cathy Skach
Seniors in Digital Media -Video Production submitted entries to the 2015 O[yes] “Speak up. Work Safe.” high school video contest. Three entries from Benson have been selected as finalists! The students’ videos will now enter a second phase of judging where they will select the first, second, and third place prize winners. The eleven finalist videos are posted at http://youngemployeesafety.org/speak-up-work-safe-video-contest-finalists-announced/.
Benson finalists are:
“Shop Safety of Horror” – by Senior Hunter Cripps
“Think Safely – It Couldn’t Hurt” – by Seniors Joey Oshea-Bianco and Simon Nguyen
“This is You”- by Allison Plager and Andy Lai with guest Vicary Biggs
The top three entries will take home cash prizes ranging from $300 to $500 and will earn a matching amount for their school. O[yes] hosts the contest, which is sponsored by Oregon OSHA, SAIF Corporation, local Oregon chapters of the American Society of Safety Engineers, the Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences at OHSU, Hoffman Construction, Central Oregon Safety & Health Association, the SHARP Alliance, the Construction Safety Summit, Northern Lights Theater, and SafeBuild Alliance.
The contest, open to all high school students in Oregon, also features the tagline “Work shouldn’t cost you your future.” Students were tasked with creating a 90-second video based on the concept of speaking up about hazards at work. The videos were judged on creativity, originality, youth appeal, production quality, and message.
Contest winners will be unveiled at a screening event at Northern Lights Theatre in Salem on May 2nd.
Good News from Elaine Ferrell-Burns (Benson’s Media Specialist)
Benson HS 2nd Annual Poetry Slam. Congratulation to the following students who will be representing our school at Verselandia on April 20th. Questions? Contact your Librarian, Mrs. Ferrell-Burns at [email protected].
1st Place – Havana Maceo
2nd Place – Wyatt Gilderson
3rd Place – Kyle Patubo
Way to go Team Epilogue! Our Benson Library Battle of the Books Team placed 3rd in their Regional Competition and will be representing Portland Public Schools at the Oregon State Battle of the Books on April 11th. We are proud of Elizabeth Wiegand, Dexter Kearney, Abigail Kindall, and Branwyn Donovan!
Elaine Ferrell-Burns
Library Media Specialist
Creston, K-8 (Mon, Tu, Wed pm)
Benson HS (Wed am, Th, Fri)
Currently reading…
All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr
and
The Port Chicago 50, by Steve Sheinkin
and
Viva Frida, by Yuyi Morales
A Message from the Counselors regarding forecasting:
Beginning in April, the Benson Counseling team will begin forecasting for next year’s classes. The Counselors will be presenting information in classrooms and then follow up with individual meetings with students. This is a time for students to choose classes and review academic progress with their counselor. Students will be given forecasting materials to bring home and review with their guardian. The schedule is as follows:
April 13-17 – Junior Class
April 20-24 – Freshman Class
April 30 – Sophomore Major Fair
May 4-8 – Sophomore Class
A Message from Christin Chambless (Benson’s PTSA President)
Dear Benson High School senior parents and students,
Benson High School PTSA is planning on hosting its Graduation Party on June 8, 2015. The PTSA is sponsoring a “Safe and Sober Grad Night Party” for the 183 students in the Graduating Class of 2015. This traditional all night event provides a safe and sober environment where the students can celebrate on graduation night. The prevention of alcohol and drug related tragedies on this special night benefit the entire community as a whole.
This event has not occurred in the past couple years but we are determined to bring this tradition back to Benson High School. Our plan is to pick up the graduates and bus them to the event at 10pm on June 8th and return them to Benson around 6am June 9th. The students will be provided with food, drinks and entertainment all evening.
We are trying to limit the cost to families by fundraising. We have partnered with Local Farmer’s Direct, who has offered to donate $25 for every household that tries their delivery service of fresh local products. So far we have raised $550. The cost to put on this event would require us to charge the students $50-$60 per student. If we are successful in our fundraising attempts the cost to seniors will be reduced to $25-$30 per student. We are hoping to get 100 Benson families to support our fundraiser.
Thank you for helping us bring Grad Night 2015 back to Benson High school students!
The Informational Flyer is attached to this newsletter!!
Sincerely,
Christin Chambless
Benson High School
PTSA President
This Week in Athletics
Monday
4:30 BB (V) vs Grant @ Sckavone
4:30 BB (JV) @ Grant
4:00 WTN @ Hood River
4:00 MTN vs Hood River @ Irving
Tuesday
4:30 BB (V) @ Grant
4:30 BB (JV) vs Grant @ Irving
4:00 SB vs Wilson @ Custer
Wednesday
4:00 TR @ Lincoln
Thursday
4:00 SB vs Roosevelt @ BHS
4:30 BB vs Lincoln @ Gabriel Park
4:00 WTN @ Wilson
4:00 MTN vs Wilson @ Irving
Friday
4:30 BB (V) vs Lincoln @ BHS
Saturday
10:30 TR@ Aloha Invitational
A Message from Steve Curley (Testing Coordinator) Regarding Smarter Balanced Testing
“Starting in May, Benson will be testing all 11th graders using the new Smarter Balanced Assessment. We will give 11th graders an opportunity to practice prior to testing in order to get used to the new interface. The Smarter Balanced is replacing the OAKS tests that we have all become accustomed to.
The following link has a lot of information about the tests including practice tests.
http://www.smarterbalanced.org/parents-students/
Look for more updates on testing in the coming weeks.”
Steve Curley
Learning Center Teacher/Special Education
Building Testing Coordinator
Attendance/Tardy Policy
One of the main reasons students struggle in school is poor attendance. Please help ensure students attend every day and arrive to school on time. We have an automated phone system that calls parents when a student is marked absent from a class. You may also receive a call from teachers and/or administrators when a student is not attending classes on a regular basis or has an inordinate amount of tardies.
Benson has implemented a new tardy policy that started Monday September 8th in that if a student is late to class then he/she will need to go to the main office to get an admittance slip in order to get into class. Our goal is to get students focused on arriving to school and to class in a timely fashion so that classroom instruction can be maximize to its fullest potential and this can only happen if students are arriving to school on a daily basis and are also arriving to their classes on time.
Free Math Tutoring
Available in the Career Center during Thursday’s Tutorial (2:33-3:15)
A Message from Miranda Ryan (Benson’s Career Coordinator)
Announcements:
Jobs:
• Office Assistant $ 9.25 must be 16 or older
• Apprentice Painting Positions open in May for student 18 years and older
• Youth Conservation Crew-Work outdoors from June-August making $9.25/hr.
Scholarships:
• EXXon Mobil Bernard Harris Math and Science Scholarship 5,000 due April 8th
• Oregon State Elks Association Vocational Grant for any student pursuing a vocational/technical program. Application is due April 1st.
Programs:
- The Eagle Program is a unique internship for Sophomore students working on the golf course. You do not need to know anything about golf to apply. Students who successfully complete the program are eligible to compete for the Evans Foundation Scholarship their Senior year. Applications are due April 10th.
Pre-College Programs:
Reed College: The Young Scholars Program allows selected high school senior to enroll in one Reed undergraduate class for the academic year. Juniors should apply by April 1st.
Are you interested in MT. Hood Community College?
We are offering placement test prep workshops.
See the College and Career Center to sign up.
Miranda Ryan
Career Coordinator
Benson Polytechnic High School
503-916-5100
Information from Miranda Ryan (Benson’s Career Coordinator)
Upcoming Career Days:
Sign up for Enterprise Academy:
Enterprise Academy offers students a chance to explore the challenges and opportunities of the business world. This weekend retreat allows each student to interact with successful business people, learn key business principles and bring their own ideas to life in a fast-paced team competition. See your Career Coordinator for more information.
Miranda Ryan
Career Coordinator
Benson Polytechnic High School
503-916-5100 x: 77201
A Word From Your Library Media Specialist, Mrs. Ferrell-Burns: Oregon Battle of the Books
As your Benson HS Librarian I am excited to be able to share with you that we have been awarded a grant from the Oregon Association of School Libraries towards funding of the Benson Library Battle of the Books Club. This will be the first year that Benson Tech has participated in this reading program and the opportunity to compete with other high schools throughout the state. Students who have a passion for reading meet others and share their love of literature. We form teams of 4-5 players, read from a list of 12 books and then participate in a fun competition with other teams of students. Our club meets on Thursdays during Lunch or Tutorial. Students are invited to join the club with a registration form from the Library.
For more information, contact Mrs. Ferrell-Burns at [email protected].
Oregon Battle of the Books List 2014-15
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Deadline by Chris Crutcher
Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall
Benson Library Battle of the Books Club Meetings – Every Thursday at Lunch in the Library Conference Room. Bring your lunch and get ready to battle!
Elaine Ferrell-Burns
Library Media Specialist
Creston, K-8 (Mon, Tu, Wed pm)
Benson HS (Wed am, Th, Fri)
A Message from Dave Mylet (Benson’s Yearbook Advisor)
Senior Baby Ads
Isn’t it amazing how far the class of 2015 has come? Show your appreciation for your future grad’s accomplishments through a baby ad in the 2015 Benson Yearbook. Reasonable rates for anywhere from a full page to 1/8th of a page. E-mail Dave Mylet at [email protected] with inquiries and orders.
Size Cost
Full page $100
1/2 page $50
1/4 page $35
1/8 page $20
Thanks,
Dave
Dress Code Reminder
Parents please me mindful and remind your students that as the late summer/early fall weather is still warm outside that clothing with inappropriate symbols or signs relating to gangs, drugs, tobacco, alcohol or anything else is not acceptable. No sunglasses, du-rags, hats, bandanas, sagging pants, halter tops, exposed midriffs, low necklines, spaghetti straps, or holes and tears in clothing. No bare feet, spike jewelry, hanging belts and chains. Dresses and skirts, with arms at your side; need to be at the end of your fingertips in length. Skorts and shorts need to have a 4 inch inseam.
Benson Robotics Club
Parents, is your child interested in building robots? Benson has been home to a robotics club for almost 9 years! Please have your kids come to room E-127 after school on Fridays and build robots with the robotics club!
Scholarships
Parents please encourage your Seniors to apply for these scholarships if interested.
Please see Ms. Ryan or one of the three Counselors (Mr. Wren, Ms. Schoettle or Ms. Henry) in the College and Career Center for further details.
Oregon Jaycee Foundation Scholarship Program:
This foundation will award at least two $ 500 scholarships to a graduating Oregon high school senior in the
Class of 2015. The amount of the scholarship is a one-time grant. The final selection of a recipient will
be based on the following criteria: leadership qualities, personal accomplishments and community service.
The scholarship application form is attached to this email.
The application deadline is April 30, 2015.
George Abele
Oregon Jaycee Foundation
More Scholarship Opportunities:
- Buick Achievers : for more information, got to www.buickachievers.com
Reed College:
The Young Scholars Program allows selected high school seniors to enroll in one Reed undergraduate class for the academic year. Juniors should apply by April 1st
Make It a Great Week!
Curtis Wilson Jr., Principal
Benson Polytechnic High School
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