Benicia High School Panther Post

BHS Vision Statement

Benicia High School will inspire learning with integrity in order to find personal success in an ever-changing world.

Expected Student Learning Results:

• Communicator and Collaborator
• Critical Thinker and Problem Solver
• Creator and Innovator

Is your family moving out of the area? Is your student planning to transfer to another school next year?

If you are not planning for your student to return to BHS, please email BHSInfo@beniciaunified.org or notify your student's counselor.

Hello Panther Families,

Mental Health Awareness Month has been observed in the U.S. since 1949. Every year during the month of May, National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) joins the national movement to raise awareness about mental health. Together, we fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for policies that support the millions of people in the U.S. affected by mental illness. According to NAMI, 1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year.

This year, NAMI is celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month with their More Than Enough campaign. It’s an opportunity for all of us to come together and remember the inherent value we each hold — no matter our diagnosis, appearance, socioeconomic status, background or ability. We want every person out there to know that if all you did was wake up today, that’s more than enough. No matter what, you are inherently worthy of more than enough life, love and healing. Showing up, just as you are, for yourself and the people around you is more than enough. (NAMI website)

The youth.gov website also offers great information and resources for Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond. Here is information from their website that families may fund helpful:

It is normal for children and youth to experience various types of emotional distress as they develop and mature. For example, it is common for children to experience anxiety about school, or youth to experience short periods of depression that are transient in nature. When symptoms persist, it may be time to seek professional assistance. While most youth are healthy, physically and emotionally, one in every four to five youth in the general population meet criteria for a lifetime mental disorder and as a result may face discrimination and negative attitudes. As with physical health, mental health is not merely the absence of disease or a mental health disorder. It includes emotional well-being, psychological well-being, social well-being and involves being able to:

• navigate successfully the complexities of life,
• develop fulfilling relationships,
• adapt to change,
• utilize appropriate coping mechanisms to achieve well-being without discrimination.
• realize their potential,
• have their needs met, and
• develop skills that help them navigate the different environments they inhabit.

Benicia Unified School District has dedicated time and resources to the mental health of our students and the results give us hope. Documented hospitalization rate of students decreased significantly this year. The average rate over the past 6 years has been 34.5 student hospitalizations across the district (most of them originating at BHS). As a district, we are currently at 12 hospitalizations for this school year. We believe the improvement can be directly tied to the investment the district has made in mental health, including the Wellness Centers. These efforts are literally saving lives.

Benicia High School has several events planned for students throughout the month intended to provide resources, fight stigma, and raise awareness. We are partnering with the Benicia Teen Center and Kyle Hyland Foundation for a lunch time event on May 12th for Mental Health Awareness. In addition, our Wellness Center will be hosting events during Access Period, each with a different focus or strategy. Students can sign up to attend one or more event in their Counseling Google Classroom (events listed below).

• May 3 & May 4: Viewing of the movie "Inside Out", a fun movie encouraging the full spectrum of emotions.
• May 11 & May 25: Destress with Olga & Shelby - Students can destress with two service dogs
• May 17: Drum Circle: Students will have the opportunity to find their own rhythm, and to release stress and tension through music. Led by Candice Crismond, BHS Band Director.
• May 18: Class on Mindfulness & Stress Reduction - taught by Kate Perry, Mindfulness Instructor.
• May 24: Art Day: Students will have many mediums of art available in order to express their creativity.

If you need help, please reach out. Benicia High School has a team of Mental Health professionals available to students, or students can visit our Wellness Center anytime during the school day. We continue to teach and use our school motto of Panthers R.I.S.E. - which means Respect, Include, Support, and Engage. We all want to come together to raise awareness, remove stigma, and provide support through positive relationships.

Go Panthers!

Principal Brianna Kleinschmidt

School Attendance Matters - every period, every day makes a difference for student learning and access to important resources that are available on our school campus. We have seen a decrease in attendance this school year and we want to finish out the year with our best month of attendance!

For the month of May 2023, Benicia High School is incentivizing students to have perfect attendance with two levels of excellence:

Blue Level - Perfect attendance to all days of school and all class periods. Not a single class period missed, with the exception of excusal with a medical note or for bereavement.

Gold Level - Perfect attendance to all days of school and all class periods, AND not tardy to a single class all month.

This Perfect Attendance Incentive will begin on Monday, May 1st and run through Tuesday, May 30th (the last regular day of school before Finals begin). We will run attendance reports on May 31st and all students with perfect attendance at the Blue Level will receive one raffle entry. Students with perfect attendance at the Gold Level will receive two raffle entries and winners will be pulled from the raffle and announced on May 31st.

Perfect Attendance Incentive Prizes:

For 12th grade students, the raffle prize will be 2 additional tickets to the Class of 2023 Graduation Ceremony. We anticipate we will be able to draw 10 winners.

For 9th-11th grade students, the raffle prize will be a free ticket to the 2023 Homecoming Dance, with 10 winners drawn for each grade level.

This is an optional incentive program. Excused absences with a medical note or due to bereavement must be communicated to the Main Office within 72 hours of the absence. Period absences due to BHS athletic events or field trips will not count against the student for the purpose of this event.

Questions? Please email BHSInfo@beniciaunified.org or call (707) 747-8325.

• May 1st - May 12th: AP Exams (see info below)
  
• Wednesday, May 3rd: Wind Ensemble Concert, 6pm in the auditorium
• May 3rd & May 4th: Wellness Center Access Event for Mental Health Awareness Month - watching "Inside Out"
  
• Friday, May 5th: Improv Show, 7pm in the auditorium
• May 8th - May 12th: School Staff Appreciation Week
• Tuesday, May 9th: School Site Council Meeting, 3:50pm in room A-107
• Wednesday, May 10th: PTSA Board Meeting, 6:00pm via Zoom
  
• Thursday, May 11th: Wellness Center Access Event for Mental Health Awareness Month - Destress with two service dogs
  
• Friday, May 12th: Lunch event with Benicia Teen Center for Mental Health Awareness Month
• Friday, May 12th: BHS Beginning Dance Show, 7pm in the auditorium
• Saturday, May 13th: Musical Theatre Showcase, 7pm in the auditorium
• May 15th - 19th: State Testing (11th grade) CAASPP Math & English Language Arts exams (see info below)
• Monday, May 15th: Block Schedule Day (periods 1/3/5), 3:05pm student dismissal
• Monday, May 15th: College & Career Center event "Great Colleges for B Students," 6:30pm (see info below)
• Tuesday, May 16th: Block Schedule Day (periods 2/4/6), 3:05pm student dismissal
• Wednesday, May 17th: Wellness Center Access Event for Mental Health Awareness Month - Drum Circle
  
• Wednesday, May 17th: Freshmen Band Orientation, 4:00-6:30pm in the gym
• Thursday, May 18th: Wellness Center Access Event for Mental Health Awareness Month - Class on Mindfulness & Stress Reduction
  
• Thursday, May 18th - Saturday May 20th: Advanced Dance Show, 7pm in the auditorium
• Saturday, May 20th: BHS Band presents - Jazz in the Park, Benicia City Park/gazebo
• Monday, May 22nd: Panther Athletics Hall of Fame Meeting, 6:30pm in room L-116
• Tuesday, May 23rd: Senior Awards Night, 6:30pm in the auditorium (see Senior Bulletin for info)
• Wednesday, May 24th: Wellness Center Access Event for Mental Health Awareness Month - Art Day
  
• Thursday, May 25th: Wellness Center Access Event for Mental Health Awareness Month - Destress with two service dogs
  
• Thursday, May 25th: Senior Parade, 1:30pm (see Senior Bulletin for info)
• Thursday, May 25th: Senior Banquet & early yearbook pick-up, purchase ticket in Main Office
• Thursday, May 25th: ELAC Meeting, 6:00pm
  
• Friday, May 26th: Common Planning Time (CPT) Schedule, student dismissal at 2:30pm
• Friday, May 26th: Yearbook Distribution for pre-ordered books, before school/during lunch/after school in the multi-purpose room
• Friday, May 26th: Panther Bowl football game, 7pm at Drolette Stadium (tickets on GoFan)
• Friday, May 26th: BHS Band's Spring For Fun Concert, 7pm in the gym
• Monday, May 29th: No School (holiday)
• Tuesday, May 30th: 6-period Bell Schedule, 3:35pm student dismissal
• Wednesday, May 31st: Finals Schedule (day 1 - periods 1 & 2), 1:50pm student dismissal
• Thursday, June 1st: Finals Schedule (day 2 - periods 3 & 4), 1:50pm student dismissal
• Friday, June 2nd: Finals Schedule (day 3 - periods 5 & 6), 12:50pm student dismissal
• Friday, June 2nd: Last day of school - end of Semester 2 grading period
• Friday, June 2nd: Mandatory graduation practice for Class of 2023 (see Senior Bulletin for info)
• Saturday, June 3rd: Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2023, 10:00am (ticket required for entry)
• June 5th - June 30th: BUSD Summer School (credit recovery for BHS students) - please talk with your counselor for more information

BHS's Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA) is currently looking to fill open board positions for the 2023-2024 school year. We welcome new members to join the organization ($10 fee) and join the Board. This is a great opportunity to get connected with the school community and bring your ideas to BHS! We ​welcome and encourage parents of incoming 9th grade students ​to join our board as well.

Open Board Positions for 2023-24 school year:

• Secretary

• Treasurer

• Parliamentarian

• VP Membership

• VP Volunteers

Link to become a member of PTSA: https://bhs.beniciaunified.org/parents-students/ptsa/

For questions or to submit interest in joining the Board, please email PTSA President, Amy De Lago at adelago@comcast.net

We are excited to celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2023. As a reminder, the graduation ceremony is a closed event and ticket is required for entry. Each graduating senior will receive 6 tickets.

Friends, underclassmen, and others who would like to view the graduation ceremony are able to watch the live stream of the event on Saturday, June 3rd at 10:00am using the link below.

The Panther Athletics Hall of Fame met in April and approved the new organization's purpose, guidelines, and procedures as well as an official nomination form. The Panther Athletics Hall of Fame is now accepting nominations for our first group of inductees!

Nominations can be submitted using the online form or with a paper form available in our Main Office. The nomination window for each year is April 1st through September 1st, then the Selection Committee will meet to review, research, and vote on inductees. We will announce inductees in January 2024 and plan for a recognition event to take place in March 2024, with invitation to our entire former and current school community to attend and celebrate with us.

The Panther Athletics Hall of Fame meetings are open to all to attend and we welcome more members to join our committees. We meet on the fourth Monday of the month, at 6:30pm in room L-116/117 (across from the BHS library). We invite all interested community members and alumni to join us as we hope to have every sport represented, male and female teams, as we work together to start this new organization.

Next Hall of Fame Meeting: Monday, May 22nd, 6:30pm

Please email BHSInfo@beniciaunified.org. with any questions or to get involved. #GoPanthers

Parents of 11th Graders:

California statewide tests are coming up for our 11th grade students: Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC) Math and English exams.

Students will be tested regardless of whether they are currently enrolled in an English or Math class. The assessments provide an academic check-up by measuring real-world skills such as critical thinking and problem solving. All assessments are done online and are not timed to ensure students have the time they need to complete each section successfully.

These assessments are a key measure for our school on the California School Dashboard, an important part of the recognition of Benicia High having an exemplary educational program, as well as helping our students prepare for success in college and careers.

The SBAC English and Math exams are scheduled for May 15-19th. Each subject test will take about one block period to complete. Students will be allowed extra time if they do not finish within the period. We will run a special bell schedule that week to best accommodate testing, with block schedule days Monday, May 15th through Thursday, May 18th, and a regular 6-period day on Friday, May 19th.

We ask you to encourage your student to put their best effort forward so the results can reflect a true measurement of their progress. The results help teachers and administrators to improve teaching and learning throughout the academic school year in determining the impact of selected curriculum and programs to inform instruction.

Last but not least - we are excited to offer 11th graders our SBAC Incentive Program. Students can earn prizes by giving their best effort on the SBAC Math and English exams, including free Homecoming and Prom tickets. Information will be presented to Juniors in their English classes during the last week of April. Students who are opted out of exams are not eligible to participate in the Incentive Program and will not be considered for recognition as Valedictorian or Salutatorian.

The Hazing Prevention Network and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) are hosting a High School Essay Contest. The annual essay contest is designed to encourage conversations about hazing and hazing prevention at the high school level.

High school students are encouraged to write a 500- to 600-word essay focused on an anti-hazing stance.

The theme for this year’s contest is “How can I make a difference against hazing?” This theme encourages individuals to speak out against hazing and take action to prevent it from happening. The contest aims to give a platform to voices that have been silenced and to empower individuals to make a positive difference in their communities. By participating in this contest, individuals can help raise awareness and work towards ending the harmful practice of hazing.

Essays will be judged based upon the following criteria: adherence to theme, grammar/spelling, clarity of message, and creativity/uniqueness of message. The top three essay authors will receive cash prizes ranging from $500 to $150.

Entry Deadline: June 1, 2023

LINK TO WEBSITE & GUIDELINES

BHS will be completing our update of curriculum for 10th through 12th grade History (non-Advanced Placement courses). We are moving forward with the recommendation of the adoption of TCI "History Alive! World Connections" for our 10th-grade World Civilization classes. We adopted TCI curriculum for 11th and 12th grade classes earlier this year. If you would like to review the scope and sequence, that information is available here. To learn more about TCI, visit their website. If you would like to review the complete textbook, please make an appointment with BHS by sending an email to BHSInfo@beniciaunified.org.

GRAD NIGHT FUNDRAISER - VIP PARKING FOR GRADUATION

Set your reminder. VIP Parking pass will go on sell on May 6th (Sat) at 8am. VIP Parking is $50.00 proceeds go to Grad Night. Spots sell out quickly. Go to Beniciagradnight.net, scroll down to VIP Parking link.

GRAD NIGHT FUNDRAISER - LEIs

Support Grad Night, a portion of the proceed will go to Benicia Grad Night. Purchase Senior Lei from the following link: Benicia Grad Night Pre-Order Lei Form

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:

Help Needed. Grad Night needs volunteer help for Day of the event, Move days, Decorating & Setup. Please visit our volunteer link on http://www.beniciagradnight.net. On day of the event we NEED volunteers for Locker Room (where seniors check in and out) and for Security (where we secure the event, volunteers work as a team, evite a friend to volunteer).

SENIORS REGISTER NOW. Currently 181 seniors have signed up. Don’t miss out on this great event. Current registration price is $150.00. Prices will increase to $175.00 on May 14th. You can register online at www.benicigradnight.net.

SENIOR PARENTS – Memory Hall Pictures. Grad night is looking for 5-6 pictures of your senior. These pictures will be put up on a video wall during the event. If you have not already sent please email your pictures to beniciagradnight@gmail.com. Include student name on subject line ie: “pictures John Doe”

April 17, 2023 press release: Benicia High sophomores Tristan Espana and David Sanders earned another award for the Benicia High Debate Team last weekend when they broke into quarter finals at the National Parliamentary Debate League tournament. The novice debaters finished 7th in a field of 27 teams with a final winning record of 4-2. The national tournament awards the top eight teams.

Working alongside varsity debaters Conner Bush and Gabriel Stockwell, they trained with coach Juhi Yadav, Benicia alum, class of 2022.

While Stockwell, Bush and Espana have competed in previous tournaments, this was Sanders’ first outing, and schools generally send their best teams to nationals. Sanders volunteered to fill out the novice team and, along with his fellow debaters, debated six rounds in two days on topics ranging from government investment in AI to the question of paying a ransom to hackers.

In Parli debate, a topic is “dropped” and debaters have 20 minutes to prepare a full argument case, along with supporting evidence and an explanation of the impact of their case. Speeches are 7 and 8 minutes long, improvised around a case outline, and final rebuttals are passionately argued in order to persuade the judge. The skills and technique required to win are formidable.

It was a great ending to a tough competitive year - one that saw some team changes and the loss of last year’s coaches Tristan Keene and Braden Begbie, both of whom left for college. Keene now debates for UC Berkeley and recently won first place in the two largest college national parli tournaments. Begbie is a junior at UC Santa Cruz. But Berkeley freshman and former Benicia Debate Team champion Yadav stepped in a few months ago to fill the void, at times conducting zoom sessions that ended at 10:00 pm!

The team will lose graduating senior Bush, who will join Keene and Yadav at Cal, and otherwise begin training over the summer before the competitive circuit begins again in September.

Pictured Left to right: Sophomores Tristan Espana and David Sanders, Junior Gabriel Stockwell, Senior Conner Bush

Questions? Contact Ms. Marwick in the College & Career Center or via email at gmarwick@beniciaunified.org

Project Aspire is a day filled with interactive group activities geared towards introducing female students (though male students are welcome too) to engineering and STEM fields. The event will be held on Saturday, May 20, 2023, from 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM on Zoom.

Participants will have the opportunity to rotate through various stations that will allow them to interact with our members while engaging in events that consist of keynote speakers, club presentations, and activities focused on different aspects of engineering. The day will be capped off with an alumni Q&A panel. Additionally, we will be holding a raffle for 10 Amazon gift cards for the first people to sign up, as well as a raffle for all participants at the end of the event! We assure you that students won't want to miss it!

Empowered women empower women, and we invite everyone to come out and experience a day of interactive STEM education. The registration form for participants will close on Friday, May 12th, 2023, and the registration link can be found here.

May 20, 2023

10:30 AM

Solano County Fairgrounds, McCormack Hall Lawn

Free to all!

Theme: ART IS POWER!

The goal of the event is to recognize youth artists, showcasing their talent in a hybrid setting that would allow for live performances and displays, as well as participation virtually through a live stream event and pre-recorded content. There are three components of the Student Art Showcase, the performing arts, art exhibit (formerly called the Solano Student Art Faire), and community booths.

Eligibility:

Any student living in or attending school in Solano County. Open to all school aged youth and community youth groups.

Genres:

Performance space is limited - Register Today! - https://www.solanocoe.net/performingarts

• Individual or group performances are eligible

The free Showcase will feature an outdoor stage for live performances, an art exhibit with art from Solano County schools (grades 4-12), and informational / activity booths hosted by local community organizations and student groups featuring information and services ranging from but not limited to, mental health, general wellbeing, drug and alcohol prevention and intervention, and violence prevention.

The Solano Student Art Showcase is part of collaborative group of organizations hosted by the Solano County Office of Education with the objective to highlight youth resilience during COVID by supporting all types of youth artists and to promote mental health and wellness, and alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) prevention through art.

For more information visit https://www.solanocoe.net/showcase or contact Rebecca Floyd at rfloyd@solanocoe.net or Johanna Nowak-Palmer at jnowak@solanocoe.net

To register for the 2023 virtual summer camp click HERE

The American Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region is hosting two of our annual Summer Youth Programs and we’d like to share these opportunities with you.

The first program is the Leadership Development Center (LDC). Aimed for students ages 13-18 years old, LDC is an in-person summer camp where youth learn about the Red Cross mission & how they can be involved in serving their communities, valuable professional development skills, and plenty of the fun aspects of going to summer camp! LDC provides great opportunities for youth to become leaders in their school and local communities.

A few of the 2023 Leadership Development Center Session highlights include:

· Team Building

· Public Speaking

· Diversity & Inclusion Sessions

· Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

· International Humanitarian Law

Through these hands-on and interactive activities, students will walk away feeling empowered to serve their local communities. They will also have the chance to build their confidence and create long-lasting friendships. For more information, click here.

The second program is the Summer Internship Program, dedicated to providing a service-learning experience for youth volunteers. This program is aimed for students enrolled in an accredited college, university, or high school and are above the age of 14. The intern positions provide students the opportunity to work within one of the oldest and well-respected non-profit organizations across the globe and learn about the ins and outs of our different lines of service. Interns are valued team members and help promote the mission and services of the American Red Cross. The program offers stimulating and challenging projects that build interns’ professional skills and leadership experience. Although this is an unpaid internship program, they are proud to offer college credits established by the intern’s academic institution.

A few highlights of the internship program include:

· Professional Development Workshops

· Academic Student Learning

· Direct Supervisor Mentorship

· Project Management Training

· Professional Networking

· Volunteer Management

Here is a link to the program flyer to share: 2023 Summer Internship Program Flyer

No previous Red Cross experience is necessary to apply for LDC nor the Summer Internship Program.

Register for Leadership Development Center here: tinyurl.com/NCCRLDC2023

Register for Summer Internship Program here: tinyurl.com/NCCRInternship2023

Solano County Office of Education’s free Summer Girls in Robotics Leadership Camps are now open for registration! These are 5-day camps (except for June 20-24) are open to any Solano County high school (GIRL+) student. These camps aim to promote coding, robotics and leadership skills among students through a fun and exciting curriculum. The following are the dates, times and location of these camps:

GIRL+ Camp (for high school)

July 10-14 9 am – 3:00 pm Solano Community College, Vallejo

To apply, click on this link: https://www.solanocoe.net/girlcamp.

Please note: It’s a 2-step application process:

Step 1: Fill out the Application Form.

Step 2: Complete the application packet that you will receive via email once the application form has been filled out.

Both steps must be completed on or before Monday, May 22nd, before your application is considered for review.

Solano College is offering an Industrial Robotics Bootcamp this summer, June 19 – June 29, 2023. The course runs 9:00 am to 3:30p each day for those 9 days. The course is ADVM 162 – Industrial Robotics – 3 Units – CRN 60268. By completing this course, students will also receive an industry certification from Fanuc Robotics for material handling. Students will also learn about career options in the Advanced Manufacturing industry as well as the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in related fields of automation and engineering. Students can go to the link below and enter their information, a representative from SCC will then follow up with the interested students regarding registration details and paperwork. There is no cost to students, other than the transportation to get to the Fairfield campus. It is limited to just 18 students from Solano County, so it will fill up fast.

Register at: https://tinyurl.com/SCCRoboticsBootcamp2023

Stuck on homework? Need help preparing for a test?

Too shy to ask a question during class?

Paper is here to help!

Paper connects students to a real human tutor 24/7, 365 days a year, on ANY subject through a live chat feature. Students can also submit written work (essays, lab reports, college applications, writing prompts, resumes and more) and receive feedback in less than 24 hours.

Full access to Paper is available to students now!

Go to app.paper.co/login and login with your school account, or

Click on the Paper app on your Clever dashboard

NEW as of March 22, 2023!!! PAPER now offers an app through the Apple App Store and Google Play Store to make it easier for students to get help.

Link to PAPER in the Apple App Store

Link to PAPER in the Google Play Store

Make your student's birthday extra special with a Marquee Birthday Wish! For $20 you can put their name in lights on the BHS marquee and send a birthday wish they'll never forget.

1. Submit the information using this Google Form - must be submitted at least 5 days prior to the requested posting date.

2. Purchase the Marquee Wish on the BHS Webstore. Message requests will not be posted unless they are also paid in advance.

This is a fundraiser for the BHS Associated Student Body and benefits students through school activities.

Panther fans can now purchase spirit wear online with a range of items and accessories and proceeds benefitting our general athletics program. Items are delivered directly to you - including hats, blankets, jackets, shirts, backpacks, wall decals, and more. You can even design your own items!

https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/california/benicia/benicia-high-school

We will still continue to offer spirit wear sales on campus that benefit our Associated Student Body (ASB) and various team wear. Thank you in advance for supporting your BHS Panthers!

Benicia High School is proud to partner with our Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA) and work together to build a positive school community. Last year we were successful in growing our membership, adding to our Memory Brick project in Drolette Stadium, and meeting our goal to donate $10,000 to the purchase and installation of 6 more water bottle filling stations across campus.

Join us! Become a member today - every parent, family member, student, and staff member can join PTSA for just $10 per person. (Membership link below)

Support our fundraisers! Add us as your charity of choice on AmazonSmile, make a direct donation along with your membership purchase, and check here each month to learn about our current fundraisers. Every dollar makes a difference or our students!!

We look forward to having you join our PTSA and become a member of this amazing school community!

Student Parking Passes are FREE, but students must register using the link below. Once a student has submitted the registration information needed, the information will be reviewed and a parking pass will be issued to the student (delivered to them in class). If information is missing or needed, the student will receive an email in their student email account with further instructions.

For students seeking a work permit for after school or weekend employment, Ms. Gladi in the College & Career Center is available to assist you. To start the work permit process, the student must work with their potential employer to first fill out the “Intent to Employ a Minor and Request for Work Permit.” The student can then email the document to Ms. Gladi at mgladi@beniciaunified.org for review and completion.

Link to Work Permit Document

Mental health and well-being is a priority for feeling safe, comfortable, and ready to learn at school. In support of this, we have invested in several resources that you can access whenever you need help. You are not alone and it is an act of bravery and strength to seek help. We encourage you to use our on-campus resources and save the community resources so you can easily find them if you or someone you know needs help.

• Access help by visiting the Wellness Center

• Sign up for support with a counselor or ask to talk with a school psychologist

• Talk with a trusted staff member

• BUSD has partnered with Care Solace to support our community’s mental health

If you or a family member is looking for help with mental health or substance use, Care Solace can quickly find treatment options matched to your needs, regardless of the circumstance. Care Solace’s care navigation services are confidential and complimentary to Benicia Unified School District’s students, staff, and their families. Care Solace’s team is available 24/7/365 and can support you in any language.

If you would like to use Care Solace to help you find a provider:

• Call 888-515-0595, available 24/7/365

• Visit www.caresolace.com/beniciausd to search on your own OR click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.

In an emergency:

• Call 911 or and request a Crisis Intervention Trained (C.I.T.) response

• Go to the closest emergency room for support

• Call the National Suicide Prevention & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org

• Text “Hello” or “Home” to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor

• Trevor Lifeline LGBTQQ+ Crisis Support: 1-866-488-7386

What is the Benicia Mentor Program?

The mentoring program started in 2002 at Liberty High and expanded to Benicia High and

Benicia Middle Schools in 2009. The mentors are community members who volunteer their

time to connect with and support students.

What is a Mentor?

A mentor is vetted through the BUSD and is not meant to take the place of a parent or

guardian, but is an adult friend whom a student can speak with about what may be going on in

their lives. The mentor is not there to correct, tutor, or change student, but to be role models

who are able to share from their life experiences. The mentor and student meet weekly on

campus, during the school day. Also, if there comes a time when we feel your student is in

danger to themselves or others, the mentor will communicate their concern to the school

administration for further action.

Why a need for a Mentoring Program?

As we are all well aware of, the past 3 yrs. have been unprecedented. Some students are better

at “covering up” their needs, frustrations, and fears than others are. Many students are trying

to figure out how they fit into today’s world and how they will be able to deal with the threats

of violence, changes to laws that may affect them, or if there will be employment waiting for

them when they graduate. There are times a student would rather bounce things off an adult

who is not their parent or guardian. It is by no means a put down to the parent, but it is a good

thing that another caring adult can be there for your child.

How Do You Get Your Student Involved?

I am Ric Small and I have been involved in the mentoring program from the beginning. I would

be more than happy to answer any questions you may have and to get your student signed up.

We have a form for the parent/guardian and student to sign. Please contact me at 707-333-

4509, or ric@alonzosmall.com.

The PeerBuddies program pairs children and teens with social difficulties with same-aged Peer Buddy volunteers to create an inclusive space for learning essential social skills. Our services are provided in the community or via Telehealth.

Our In-Person Private Sessions take place in the community for 1 hour a week, for 10 weeks between the hours of 9:30 am-6:00 pm, Monday-Friday. Locations include parks, cafe's, public libraries, and other places around Benicia that would be motivating for our kids to hang out! All of our participants and their buddies work to create inclusive spaces for learning essential social skills - all while engaging in varied, stimulating, age-appropriate activities around our community! Our Lead Facilitators (RBTs) guide and support every session and our Private Sessions program is a drop-off/pick-up arrangement.

The first step to getting enrolled in the program is to submit an application:

Peer Buddy Volunteer Application

Participant Application

We are pleased to announce our district-wide participation in the National School Lunch and School

Breakfast Programs with the California “Universal Meal”. All students enrolled in the Benicia School

District will receive breakfast and lunch free of charge each day they are at school. All food and

beverages served at BUSD schools meet state and federal requirements.

Families still need to complete the Free/Reduced Meal Application on the BUSD web site for the following other benefits:

• Student eligibility for Pandemic-EBT benefits (more information below)

• Student eligibility for discounted services such as Advanced Placement Exams and home internet/WiFi services

• Discounted college application fees

• School eligibility for significant additional State Funding

• Apply on line at: http://www.myschoolapps.com/
• You will be notified with the results

Should a family need to request special meals or accommodations for a student for medical purposes, please use THIS FORM and email the completed form to smurcia@beniciaunified.org.

Communication is a key component to a successful school community. Our team of administrators, counselors, teachers, case managers, and staff members work to provide the best communication possible throughout the year and ask that you partner with us in this effort.

An area of concern regarding communication are the online forums and apps such as the “Benicia Happenings” group on Facebook, Next Door app, and similar pages/social media sites. On several occasions, incorrect information has been posted and negative or bullying remarks have been directed towards the school, staff, parents, and other individuals. Spreading false information is extremely disruptive and may compromise the work of the school and school safety. Posting negative and disparaging comments damages the positive school culture we work to create every day.

In high school we encourage students to grow to be self-advocates and to communicate for themselves. Most concerns can be addressed and solved when the student proactively and positively communicates directly with their teacher or their counselor. For further assistance, we provide a communication guide on our website with information on who to contact and the timeline to expect a response.

In an effort to provide high quality communication, we ask that questions be directed to school staff via email or phone so that correct information can be provided. When in doubt, contact the school. Our Main Office number is (707) 747-8325 and if you are not sure who to email you can send your question to BHSInfo@beniciaunified.org and we will direct it to the correct person to assist you. We also recommend use of our website, school-operated social media accounts, and monthly newsletter to access accurate and timely information. We thank you in advance for your support in this effort.

Link to BHS Communication Guide

Email: BHSinfo@beniciaunified.org
Website: bhs.beniciaunified.org/
Location: 1101 Military West, Benicia, CA, USA
Phone: (707) 747-8325
Facebook: facebook.com/BeniciaHighPanthers
Twitter: @BeniciaHighBHS

District programs, activities, and practices shall be free from unlawful discrimination, including discrimination against an individual or group based on race, color, ancestry, nationality, national origin, immigration status, ethnic group identification, ethnicity, age, religion, marital status, pregnancy, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or related recovery, parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or genetic information; a perception of one or more of such characteristics; or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.