A Message From Principal Wilson; Parents/Guardians,
For all of her hard work and dedication to Benson High School I would like to publically recognize and acknowledge Ms. Roi San Anderson who is the foundation and glue that keeps Benson moving in the right direction. Thank You Roi San for your support to the Benson Family & Community.
I would personally like to Thank the Benson PTSA for providing “Treats and Snacks” for the Benson Teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week last week. I was thoroughly impressed by the effort that was put forth by our PTSA in acknowledging the hard work that our staff endures in educating and preparing our kids for life after high school. Great job PTSA!!
-Principal Wilson
Site Council meeting will be held on Wednesday May 14th from 4pm-5:30pm in the Library Conference Room. Please come by and support Benson as we look at the infrastructure of Benson High.
PTSA will be meeting on Wednesday May 14th from 6pm-7pm in the Library Conference Room.
A Message from Luke Hotchkiss and Rich Weber (Benson Construction)
Darian Romero wins the Gathering of the Guilds!
May 2-4 at the Oregon Convention Center hosted the ‘Gathering of the Guilds’ a woodworking show that included a prestigious high school woodworking completion. There were approximately 75-100 different students projects entered from around the state of Oregon. Darian won the top prize ‘Best of Show’ for his humidors that were also on display at Tech Show. Along with the ribbon he won approximately $200 in prizes and gift cards. Darian showed great determination, skill and dedication to finish these projects, and represented Benson well!
A Message from Neeley Wells (Site Council)
Jefferson Cluster Feeder PTAs Community Roundtable!
Tuesday, May 13 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Jefferson high School Cafeteria
5210 N. Kerby
There will be a community roundtable to talk about the upcoming district-wide boundary review. Each feeder school will have the opportunity to share successes and challenges, especially as they relate to enrollment, boundaries, and transfers. Since Benson doesn’t have any feeder cluster, but is a part of the District, this could be a great opportunity to gain knowledge about the upcoming boundary review. PPS officials, including Superintendent Carole Smith, will be there to listen and gather feedback. At the end of the agenda, there will be a brief Q & A, if there are questions for PPS.
Childcare and snacks provided by PPS!
A Message from Brian Stauffer: (Community Bilingual Agent for Benson)
These students were recognized from Benson with an Honorable Mention Nomination in the Si Se Puede Latino Student Recognition Event.
Cynthia Aguilar-Arizmendi (10)
Valentin Sainz-Lopez (12)
Alfonso Perez-Cruz (12)
Yessica Martinez Mulet (10)
Lupe Urbano (10)
Bryan Hernandez (11)
Irving Gomez-Cruz (11)
Vanessa Aldaz (11)
Emily Pineda (10)
Hector Najera-Hernandez (11)
Daniel Soriano-Valencia was chosen to represent Benson in this Latino Student Recognition event.
Congratulations to Daniel on this accomplishment.
On Tuesday, May 20, 2014, Portland Public Schools will celebrate the accomplishments of our Latino students with our third ¡Sí Se Puede! (“Yes, we can!”) Event to be held at the Blanchard Education Service Center from 6:00 p.m. to 8 p.m.
¡Sí Se Puede! is an opportunity for students to celebrate and inspire each other, build relationships outside their schools and share the rich diversity of their talents and experiences with the greater Portland community.
Each year, teams of teachers, counselors and administrators at all our PPS high schools embrace the chance to promote their Latino students who exemplify:
-Contribution to family, community and school
-Creative accomplishment
-Academic achievement
-Commitment to growth after high school
This year we are pleased to add 8th graders to our list of honored students. All 18 honored students will receive special recognition, a professional photo portrait and will be highlighted in a special commercial to be aired on KUNP/Univision and PPS Channel 28.
The May 20 celebration for our students and their families will feature music, children’s activities and food. Honorees will be asked to invite a teacher, administrator or member of the community who has made a difference in their lives to share in the festivities.
The true highlight of the evening will be when our honored students take center stage to display their creativity, speak their truth and/or share their vision of the future.
In the spirit of community, we welcome everyone at PPS to be an active part of the ¡Sí Se Puede! Event. Please join us on the evening of the event to catch your first glance at Oregon’s future leaders in business, science, politics and culture.
To ask about opportunities to connect your school or department with any of our Latino students or families, or how you can support or participate in the ¡Sí Se Puede! Event, please contact:
Veronica Bañuelos [email protected]. (503-916-3047) or
Francisco Garcia [email protected] (503-916-3097)
-Benson Admin Team
A Message from David Champion (Norse Hall/Benson Supporter)
As most of you know, we are having our annual Syttende Mai (May 17th) celebration at Norse Hall on Saturday, May 17th, 2014, highlighted by a parade, starting in front of Norse Hall, 111 NE 11th Avenue, at 3:00 p.m. It will first head north on NE 11th Avenue, right on NE Davis, then left on 12th Avenue to Lloyd Center, wrap around Holladay Park, and then return to Norse Hall, altogether around 1.5 miles. Since 2006, Benson has participated in the May 17th parade, usually the groups we support. Last year, the Benson Robotics Club, SkillsUSA, and cheerleaders walked in the parade, and, in the past, the Benson PTSA carried its banner in the parade. Last year, the parade included a band, school groups, two Viking ships, a police escort and over 450 people. It was also covered by KATU.
This year, we expect more people and more local media coverage, partly because this year, May 17th falls on a Saturday and partly because it will be a bicentennial celebration (May 17th is Norway’s Constitution Day-the constitution was ratified on May 17th, 1814). We’re inviting all members of the Benson community to participate in this year’s parade, in short making the parade a sea of blue-and-orange. So, the more people from Benson wearing Benson shirts along with more banners, the better.
Thanks,
David
A Message from Matt Pellico (Benson Science & Robotics Club)
On Saturday May 3rd, Five Benson students competed in the 2014 Portland State University Innovation Challenge. The theme of this year’s challenge was “Technology for the Older Generations”.
The student team of Bronson Kim, Rose Adrian, Theo Nguyen, Devon Straub, and Chris Halverson met at least one day each week for the last 4 months inventing a technology and preparing a presentation. Portland State University matched them up with three outstanding graduate student mentors. They researched, and then invented a theoretical medical computer they termed the “Medi-box”. The Medi-box collects and records health data wirelessly from a variety of non-invasive user friendly sensors. A sensor could be a wrist watch you wear that constantly measures your pulse over the course of a day. Or it could be pillow that tracks your sleep patterns and temperature. The sensors themselves would be open source, to encourage research and development of many new sensors. Information from the Medi-box would be up-loaded directly to a physician, and any critical information would receive a higher priority. For the presentation they put together a poster display, a PowerPoint program, and a 3-D model of the Medi-box.
The five students presented their results to an elite panel of judges for over 10 minutes. Then they fielded audience questions for another 15 minutes. Clearly Benson’s presentation was among the best of the eight schools competing. In the awards ceremony Benson earned the “Best Team Venture” award and its accompanying banner. The judges later revealed that the Benson team was second in several other categories and came close to earning multiple awards. Additionally each of the five students earned a $1,000 scholarship to PSU, should they choose to attend.
Congratulations to Bronson, Rose, Theo, Devon and Chris
-Benson Admin Team
Extension of the School Year:
Parents/Guardians please note that the Portland School Board approved calendars for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 school years on March 31 and added two days to the current school year to make up for snow days. School will end this year on Friday, June 13. PPS closed all schools three full days this school year due to inclement weather: Dec. 11, Feb. 7 and Feb. 10. To make up the missed class time, June 12 and 13, originally scheduled as teacher planning days, will now be full school days. School will let out for summer break Friday, June 13 and planning days will move to Monday and Tuesday, June 16 and 17 for teachers.
Dress Code Reminder
Parents remind your students that as we move into warm weather that clothing with inappropriate symbols or signs relating to gangs, drugs, tobacco, alcohol or anything else is not acceptable as regard to PPS policy. No sunglasses, du-rags, hats, bandanas, sagging pants, halter tops, exposed midriffs, low necklines, spaghetti straps. No bare feet, spike jewelry, hanging belts and chains.
Thank You!!
-Benson Administration
Freshmen Daily Planner:
Parents/Guardians please remember that freshmen have a daily planner that will help parents monitor daily homework needs and due dates from teachers. The daily planner also contains contact information and email addresses of their teachers. Please also be aware of the automated phone calls from the school alerting you (parents) of absences/skipping by your child. This will allow you the opportunity to follow up with your child before the absences become a chronic issue.
A Message from Debbie Corning (Benson’s Bookkeeper)
The Bookkeeper will no longer be accepting personal checks for the rest of the school year.
Thank You
Parents; The District’s Sixty (60) Day Rule
Commencement Disqualification- Seniors may be disqualified from participation in commencement exercises and related activities if within 60 days of the last senior school day (June 3rd 2014) they are found to be in violation of the District’s Drug and Alcohol policy or any Level 3 or greater violation resulting in a disciplinary action of suspension.
THE 60 DAY RULE BEGAN ON Friday APRIL 4, 2014
Please make sure your Seniors are mindful of this as we move into PROM season and SENIOR celebrations!
-Benson Administration
A Message from Linda McLellan (PE Teacher; Fit 2 Live and Learn Class)
Freshmen Parents: If you want to check on whether your child has completed daily homework, the list of homework (which they do have each night) assignments & expectations are listed in their daily planner. Please ask to see that planner. In that planner you will also find teacher’s email addresses and other resource information to help your child navigate their High School experience.
This Week In Athletics:
Monday May 12th
4:30 BB (V) @ Parkrose
4:30 BB (JV) vs Grant @ Irving
4:00 SB vs Madison @ BHS
1:00 MTN PIL Tourney @ Gabriel
Tuesday May 13th
3:00 MTN vs PIL Champs @ Gabriel
3:00 WTN vs PIL Champs @ Gabriel
Wednesday May 14th
3:45 TR Varsity Prelims @ Marshall
4:30 BB (V) vs Grant @ Sckavone
4:30 BB (JV) vs Lincoln @ Pendleton Park
Thursday May 15th
3:45 TR (V) vs District Finals @ Marshall
4:00 SB vs Franklin @ Clinton
A Message from the Benson Counseling Staff of Amy Henry and Steve Wren:
Parents here are a few things we want to make sure you don’t miss and communicate with your students.
SENIORS–KEEP WORKING ON POST HS PLANS:
Going to an apprenticeship after Benson? – See your major teacher; update your resume.
Math Tutoring: The counseling center is now offering FREE math tutoring on Thursdays from 3:30-5:00pm for students in Algebra 1 – Pre-Calculus. Feel free to drop in any Thursday and get help with math in the counseling center.
COLLEGE VISITS:
All visits will be held in the Counseling Center. You must sign up in the Counseling Center for these visits.
Summer Opportunities For Your Kids:
Want to work this summer? Sign up for the Summer Works Program. See Miranda Ryan for more details
PLACE (Planning and Leadership Across City Environments): By signing up for PLACE you will work on real projects that directly involves you in planning Portland’s future. During this dynamic, interdisciplinary, and experiential summer program, you will learn from the city’s best minds as they grapple with decisions that shape Portland’s Future. Sign up in the Career Center.
International Summer Science Institute: Applicants to the international Summer Science Institute must have excelled in their science studies and demonstrated their interceded in scientific research beyond the classroom—in extra research projects, science competitions, summer programs, etc. Pick-up applications in the Career Center.
C. Wilson
Principal of Benson Polytechnic High School
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