Please be sure to follow me on X (Formerly Known As Twitter @BensonTechPride.) (X)

Please be sure to go to our PPS/BHS Website at www.pps.net/benson for important school information, events and school activities that will be happening throughout the school year. (PPS/Benson Tech Website Calendar)

Parents/Guardians please be sure to download the Trivory App for up to date information regarding Benson Tech. This is a great communication tool for Benson Tech and we highly encourage all parents/guardians and students to stay connected with the school by downloading the app. https://trivory.com/

(Trivory App)

Principal Wilson

Dear Benson Tech Families,

November is Native American Heritage Month. All month long, we are recognizing the history, culture, and contributions of Indigenous people to our city and communities. National Native American Heritage Month was recognized federally for the first time in the United States in 1990.

In working with the Benson Tech Native American Culture Club we will be having our staff reading some slides at the beginning of our second class of the day on a daily basis during the month of November showcasing the culture and history Native Americans/Indigenous people.

Here is the link to the first four slides that will be read to our students on Tuesday November 5th.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1OtiKOaMFwjKBPgiOSZ3fad-agsCNqImqR9wMPfzHkyo/edit?usp=sharing

Benson Tech Administration

Families, Monday November 25th we will host conferences by appointment only, and Tuesday, November 26th conferences will be drop-in style. Please see the attached letter about how to make appointments for Monday and for additional information about the times that teachers will be unavailable for breaks and meals on Tuesday. Conferences are a wonderful time to connect with teachers about your student's successes and needs. We ask that you limit conferences to 5 minutes when there are other families waiting so as many families as possible are able to connect with their teachers.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-uCbzl6WJI4uDFIQsaKHXb6x7kkXMlKAaC-ZdmMdWjQ/edit?usp=sharing

Sara Callies

Curriculum Vice Principal

The successful schools survey is an annual event that helps us collect valuable information about how our community functions. Please take a few minutes to share your feelings about Benson Tech. We use the results to help prioritize needs and work towards school improvement. Please be sure to complete the whole survey and click submit at the end or your responses will not be collected. Your feedback is anonymous and we appreciate your time.

The survey can be accessed at the link below:

https://surveys.panoramaed.com/portlandor/fall24family

Benson Tech Administration

Career News: Please check out Benson Tech's Career Opportunities board for an updated list of current opportunities for all grade levels. If you have any questions or need help applying, please connect with Jzalana Bethune-Summers, Career Coordinator, in the College and Career Center or email jbethunesummers@pps.net.

Thank you!

Jzalana Bethune-Summers (She, Her)

Career Coordinator

Benson Polytechnic High School

Call/Text: (971) 471-9189

Picture Retake Day has been rescheduled for Thursday, November 7th during lunch in the Auditorium. If you have any questions, please reach out to Roi San or email her at randerson@pps.net

Thank you!

Roi San Anderson

She/Her Pronouns

Principal Secretary

Benson Polytechnic High School

503-916-5100 ext. 88401

Athletics Update

Jessica Russell

Athletic Director

Benson Tech High School

• Sign up for sports at Benson here!
• Do you know of a current or former athlete who has done something awesome? Click this link to share their accomplishment with us.
• Need a blank physical exam form? Links are below.
  Languages: English | Spanish | Vietnamese | Chinese | Russian | Arabic | Chuukese | Japanese | Somali | Ukrainian | Marshallese | Swahili
• Here is a link to the Benson Wellness Center, where you can schedule a physical exam.

Dear Benson Tech Parents/Guardians,

Snowboard Team Fundraiser and Registration Night at the Broadway Blind Onion on November 6th! Enjoy a pizza and support our team!

To complete team registration drop by anytime between 6-7:30 pm to turn in any remaining paperwork and payment and grab a pizza!

Thank you Blind Onion Broadway for your ongoing support!

The Northeast PDX Snowboard Team is a non-profit, tax exempt organization designated as a 501(c)(3) by the IRS. Federal Tax ID #88-418886

Denisse MORENO

Rather than me writing an update, here are three student perspectives. Part of Construction is making a portfolio of the work we are doing, so here are a couple of the Juniors in the Construction major, and a Sophomore in the Woodworking Elective that is in the Communication Design Academy.

Christian

Camila

Jack

V/R,

Luke Hotchkiss

Building Construction

Benson Polytechnic HS

Instagram: @bphs_construction

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Please find our latest Mental Health Newsletter linked below. In addition: please find a Holiday Assistance List for families - it includes a few time sensitive options for toys and meals. (These fill up quickly and some have just opened up!)

Mental Health Newsletter:

Includes: substance abuse prevention and identifying and understanding emotions.

https://secure.smore.com/n/t1x3m-benson-mental-health-support

Holiday Assistance:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OcFLZ-ap5v7XuH1RZgWCphly7CTN5eAJFUsBVlNZ1CI/edit

Here’s to Quarter 2! Wishing you wellness, Benson Mental Health Team

Attendance Updates / Changes

Per District Policy, it is the parent's / guardian's responsibility to clear unexcused absences within two school days or 48 hours of the absence or the absence(s) will remain unexcused.

Parents / Guardians may contact Attendance:

Phone: 503-916-5100 select Attendance

Email: bensonattend@pps.net

Thank you!

Benson Tech Administration

Muchas gracias a todos for adding to our ofrenda this year! Students in Señorita Arias' classes made sugar skulls and pan de muerto (bread of the dead). If you want to make your own pan de muerto in the future, here are the recipes we tried this year:

https://nibblesandfeasts.com/2023/10/pan-de-muerto-2/print/21008/

https://www.lemonblossoms.com/wprm_print/pan-de-muerto-day-of-the-dead-bread

https://www.latinofoodie.com/wp-json/mv-create/v1/creations/25/print

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/7224/pan-de-muertos-mexican-bread-of-the-dead/

https://youtu.be/21mB2A0My0I?si=keX05e126a0rWBpB

Señorita Laura Arias
(she, they / ella, ellx)
Benson Polytechnic High School
"Hoy semillas, mañana flores"

Senior Students and Families,

For information on applying to college, how to prepare for the FAFSA or ORSAA, colleges visiting Benson, and other upcoming opportunities, check out the College Newsletter.

It's college application season! Many early deadlines are approaching. Most colleges' early action and early decision deadlines are Nov. 1st and Nov. 15th. Oregon State and U of O have an early action deadline of Nov. 1st. For information on how to apply, how to prepare for the FAFSA or ORSAA, colleges visiting Benson, and other upcoming opportunities, check out the College Newsletter.

Upcoming Scholarships:

------

Kathleen Reid (she/her)

College Counselor/AVID Coordinator

Benson Tech High School

Call/Text 971-238-8322

Set up an appointment with me HERE

Lots of yearbook info. Keep reading for links!

Yearbook info for everyone:

The Deadline for name changes is November 8th. It is important to us on Yearbook Staff that your student's name is accurate. We use the preferred name on file in Synergy. If that is not accurate, please contact ghunting@pps.net.

Got great photos related to this school year? Is your student doing an extracurricular activity? A sport or club? The yearbook would love to print your photos of your student! Here's how to share: FOLLOW THIS LINK to Josten's sharing portal and we'll get the image(s) in front of the staff. And Thanks!

Still need to reserve a 2025 yearbook? ORDER TODAY!

Yearbook information just for seniors:

Senior Portrait submission. Deadline: January 24, 2025. It is a tradition at Benson that families of graduating seniors can choose to have professional portraits taken; we can put them in the yearbook! Our amazing photography department also offers free digital portraits for seniors (date TBD).

• To submit your student's professional photo, follow THIS LINK and follow the prompts.
• To request more info about the free portraits through the school, email ghunting@pps.net to connect with Greg Huntington (yearbook advisor)
• Special senior portraits are not required; we'll use the official school photo if no submissions are made.
• All questions can be directed toward Mr. Huntington.

Sponsor a yearbook program is back: To help make our yearbook more accessible to our whole community, we are again selling senior ads. Reserve a quarter-page to honor your graduate with photos and/or a personalized message. The cost is $45. For every ad purchased, we buy a yearbook for an Astro who needs it. Learn more ABOUT SENIOR ADS HERE

Career News: Astros, there are many amazing internships, jobs, and career exploration opportunities. Please check out Benson Tech's Career Opportunities board for an updated list of current opportunities for all grade levels. If you have any questions or need help applying, please connect with Katie Clark, College Coordinator, kclark@pps.net

Katie Clark (she/hers)

College & ASPIRE Coordinator

Benson Polytechnic High School

Cell: 503-894-4660 (Text/Call)

Schedule a meeting with me here!

Find out about college support and events here!

Dear Benson Tech Community,

We are excited to welcome Sankofa Counseling to our school! Therapists Donnell Adair (he/him), Ashley Thompson (she/her), and Latrece Gaither (she/her) will each be here one day a week.

Donnell, Ashley, & Latrece all identify as Black. Sankofa prioritizes the mental health needs of our BIPOC students(Black/Indigenous/People of Color).

If you are interested in this for your student, step one is to contact your child's School Counselor to talk about current openings. Parents/family members can contact me any time, as well.

Amy Henry last name A-G

Morgan McFadden Gr-O

Christy Wheeler P-Z

Sincerely,

Caroline Bleckmann, LCSW, She/her

School Social worker, Benson Polytechnic High School

For all meeting requests click here or use google calendar for PPS employees

Benson staff referral form

Benson Wellness Center

Benson Community Resources

Cell/Non-urgent texting: 503-729-3486

Monday-Friday, 8-4:00

How can the School Social Worker help me?

Outside of office hours, if you or your loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis, please call the Multnomah County Crisis line at 503-988-4888.

We are short on chromebooks at Benson. When students check out a loaner computer sometimes they aren't bringing them back by the end of the day. This makes it challenging for others who are having theirs repaired, or just need one for a day.

Please help us out by searching for, and returning, any PPS extra chromebooks that might be in your homes.

A PPS computer has a Silver IT sticker on the back and has an Identification number that starts with IT00-123456

We would also like to encourage you to talk with your students about keeping their devices safe at school and not leaving them out unattended, not loaning them to other students or leaving them behind in their classrooms.

Also, please remind your students to charge their chromebook nightly. Many teachers assign most of their work using computers.

Having a charged chromebook helps your student succeed in their classes.

Sincerely,

Carl Larson

Benson Tech Librarian

If you are needing to pick up your student(s) during school hours for appointments, etc..please allow at least 30 minutes BEFORE they need to leave for their appointment / pick up.

Due to the size of our new building, it gives staff time to find your student and have them meet you in the office or out front.

You can call or email the attendance office with these requests.

PH: (503) 916-5100 --- choose attendance line

Email: bensonattend@pps.net

Thank you for your assistance.

Benson Tech Admin

Parents/Guardians of our Senior Students,

Please be sure to read the attached letter from my office regarding the venue change for our Graduation Ceremony scheduled in June.

Principal Wilson

SchoolPay Information for Payment of Fees and Donations

SchoolPay is the online tool for families to make payments for fees and donations easily from home or a mobile device. We recommend that you sign in and use your SchoolPay account so you have a saved history of your payments in one place. HERE is the link with more information and to get started. If you have any questions, please contact the bookkeeper, Sheli Bryan.

ATHLETIC PAY TO PLAY FEE LINK For students participating in PIL athletics, the fee is $200 per sport for the first two per year and the fee for a third sport is waived. If you qualify for Free/Reduced Meals, the fee is $35.

PE UNIFORM FOR 9TH GRADERS LINK All families of 9th grade students are asked to pay $25 to cover the cost of the uniform, a combination lock, and to help support the costs of the PE/Health course.

Suggested Donations

STUDENT ACTIVITY FUND LINK Families who are able are asked to contribute funds to school-wide projects, classes and programs each year. The school operational budget does not cover all the needs of our students, classrooms, programs, activities, and building/equipment improvements. We rely on voluntary contributions from families to enhance the overall experience for our students. As the school year progresses, we will highlight needs as they arise for teachers and student groups. Individual teams and teachers may be sharing information as well. If you are able to contribute a suggested $25, or whatever you can afford, to our Student Activity Fund, these dollars will help fund school-wide activities for all students. Thank you.

Sheli Bryan (she/her)

Bookkeeper

Benson Polytechnic High School

546 NE 12th Ave.

Portland, OR 97232

Parents/Guardians,

Please be sure to read the attached memo from my office that covers Benson's New Cell Phone Policy.

Thanks

Principal Wilson