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

Hello Panther Families,

I am happy to report to our school community that Benicia High School had a positive and productive visit with our WASC Visiting Committee in March. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is the accrediting organization for secondary schools and schools seeking to earn and maintain school accreditation go through a process of self-evaluation and review from a visiting committee to make sure we are meeting the needs of our students.

Benicia High School last earned a 6-year accreditation in 2019. This Mid-Cycle visit was a "check-up" to see that Benicia High continues to focus on our school goals and work towards improving in needed areas. I want to share the feedback from this visit with you, it includes three areas noted by the visiting committee: School Strengths, Critical Growth Areas, and Additional Areas of Growth.

School Strengths:

• Great social-emotional supports for students, with services from Counseling, College & Career Center, and Wellness Center

• Students benefit from targeted academic support and remediation

• Large selection of Career Technical Education courses and electives, many curricular choices for students, opportunities to earn college credit in high school classes

• Strong and stable school leadership

Critical Growth Areas:

• Professional Development Plan - PD to support school-wide goals, content areas, and instruction

• Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS): Continue to develop Tier 2 supports

• Benchmarks - continue to implement NWEA MAP testing and use results to drive instruction and curriculum

Additional Areas of Growth:

• Academic Plans with focus on equity in College/Career Readiness for all students and student groups

• Collect, disaggregate, and analyze data on equity and access to all programs

• School Climate and Culturally Affirming classrooms (measured with REACH Survey)

Our next steps are to finalize our 2022-2023 Schoolwide Action Plan at our April School Site Council meeting and then presented to the BUSD Governing Board. In addition, we will be administering the REACH Survey in April for another opportunity to measure student experiences and feedback in a variety of areas to see the impact of our work.

I want to thank everyone involved in our successful WASC visit - our staff, students, and parents. This is a celebration of everyone's hard work and dedication to our school community.

Go Panthers!

Principal Brianna Kleinschmidt

• Friday, April 1st: Wind Ensemble Concert, 7:30pm in the auditorium
• April 4-8th: Panther Passport Week & Multi-Cultural Celebration, lunch and Access activities throughout the week
• Wednesday, April 6th: Deadline to Turn in Prom Guest Bid Form
• Friday, April 8th: Deadline to Purchase Prom Tickets
• Friday, April 8th: CPT Bell Schedule, 2:30pm dismissal
• Friday, April 8th: ASVAB Test in BHS Library, 2:45pm (registration information below)
  
• April 11-18th: Spring Break - School Closed
• Tuesday, April 19th: School Cite Council Meeting, 3:50pm
  
• Wednesday, April 20th: PTSA Meeting, 6:00pm via Zoom
  
• Thursday, April 21st: College & Career Fair
  
• Thursday, April 21st: Financial Literacy Event at Lunch with High School Nation
• Thursday, April 21st: Opening Night of Spring Musical, 7pm - see below for tickets
  
• Friday, April 22nd: Spring Musical Performance, 7pm
• Saturday, April 23rd: Prom, Yin Ranch in Vacaville (tickets required - info below)
• Saturday, April 23rd: Spring Musical Performance, 7pm
• Sunday, April 24th: BHS Band Presents Classic Car Show Fundraiser, First Street Green
• Monday, April 25th: Senior Breakfast with cap & gown distribution, 8:00am in the Student Center/cafeteria
• Wednesday, April 27th: ELAC Meeting, 6pm via Zoom
• Thursday, April 28th: Senior vs. Staff Basketball Game, 7pm in BHS Gym
• Thursday, April 28th: Spring Musical Performance, 7pm
• Friday, April 29th: Progress Report - Check Semester 2 grades in Aeries
• Friday, April 29th: Spring Musical Performance, 7pm
  
• Saturday, April 30th: Spring Musical Performance, 7pm
• Sunday, May 1st: Closing Show & Matinee Performance of Spring Musical, 2pm
• May 2-13th: Advanced Placement Exams (for those registered in advance)
• May 2-6th: BHS Staff Appreciation Week

We are excited to announce the 2022 Junior/Senior Prom! Student Leadership has organized and prepared a beautiful evening outdoors in the Olive Grove of Yin Ranch, with a Gardens of Greece theme. This is a formal dance event, with formal attire required. Students may go individually, with a date, or with friends. The last day to purchase tickets is Friday, April 8th (no exceptions).

Location: The Olive Grove of Yin Ranch on Pleasants Valley Road in Vacaville, CA

Date: Saturday April 23rd

Time: 6:00 pm until 10:00 pm

A photographer will be present at the event to take pictures of guests at no cost to participants.

Heavy appetizers, desserts, and drinks will be served.

Ticket Prices:

• $80 with an ASB card, $90 without an ASB card during the first week of ticket sales (March 21st through 25th).
• $90 with an ASB card, $100 without and ASB card until the deadline (March 28th through April 8th)
• No tickets will be sold after April 8th. Space is limited so purchase your ticket(s) early!

Link to website for Prom Memorandum and Guest Bid Form

Students must have a completed and signed Prom Memorandum with them to purchase their ticket(s). Students requesting to bring a guest must also have a Prom Memorandum and Guest Bid forms submitted and approved before purchasing a guest ticket.

Students must have their school ID card when purchasing tickets and when checking into the event.

Parking at the event venue is limited. We encourage students to carpool or rideshare to the event.

Parents of 11th & 12th Graders:

California statewide tests are coming up for our 11th and 12th grade students:

• 11th Grade: Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBAC) Math and English exams, & California Science Test (CAST)
• 12th Grade: California Science Test (CAST)

Students will be tested regardless of whether they are currently enrolled in an English, math or science 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. Additionally, 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 CAST is scheduled for April 20-22nd. The SBAC English and Math exams are scheduled for May 16-20th. 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 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 bring back our SBAC Incentive Program for the Class of 2023 (current 11th grade students). Students can earn great prizes by giving their best effort on the SBAC Math and English exams, including free Homecoming and Prom tickets. More information will be presented to Juniors in April. Students who are opted out of exams are not eligible to participate in the Incentive Program or considered for Valedictorian or Salutatorian.

Your annual membership and your support of our fundraisers is actively helping us to improve the BHS campus for your students and future students. We are excited to announce a new project as we are committed to fundraising $10,000 or more to purchase and install additional water bottle filling stations. BHS currently has 4 bottle filling stations, which together have saved more than half a million water bottles, and we plan to add more in much needed areas of campus.

Join us! Become a member today - every parent, guardian, student, and staff member can join PTSA for just $10 each. Support our fundraisers! Add us as your charity of choice on AmazonSmile, purchase a Memory Brick (see info above), purchase Krispy Kreme donuts, or make a direct donation! Every dollar makes a difference or our students!!

Last year was tough on everyone - yet in spite of not being able to fundraise, Benicia High's PTSA continued to fund important items for our students and school such as scholarships for the Class of 2021, teacher appreciation events, and Grad Night. With many more things to fund this year as school is fully up and running, we are relying on membership and doubling our fundraising efforts! In order to do this, we need your help! Please consider a PTSA membership for yourself and your student for the 2021-22 school year. The membership price is still just $10 per person and membership is crucial to our success.

Shopping on Amazon? Be sure to use Amazon Smile and select "Benicia High PTSA" as the charitable organization of your choice. A small percentage of your purchase will benefit Benicia High School thanks to the PTSA's projects, scholarships, and grants. If you are already signed up with Amazon Smile, be sure to renew your selected charitable organization each year.

Amazon Smile is now available on the Amazon app also!

Hello Panthers!

Respect, Include, Support, and Engage are behaviors that demonstrate qualities of character. Characteristics that help others instill trust in another person as being reliable and dependable. Strengthen your relationships with friends, family, teachers and community members by working toward improving your ability to follow through with the R.I.S.E expectations and continue to become a strong, reliable, and dependable person.

Spring Break is upon us and we encourage you to take R.I.S.E with you everywhere you go and show the Benicia community or others what it means to be a BHS Panther.

Pawsitive reward drawings continue to happen every Wednesday. Remember to bring your red Pawsitives to the front office and place them in a raffle box to win prizes.

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!

College & Career Fair - Thursday, April 21st

The BHS College & Career Center is hosting a College & Career Fair on campus on Thursday, April 21st, with over 15 colleges and businesses available to students. This event will take place during Access Period. For more information, see Ms. Marwick in the College & Career Center.

ASVAB Testing - Friday, April 8th

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a heavily researched and well-respected aptitude test developed by the Department of Defense. It measures a young adult’s strengths and potential for success in military training. The student testing program, also known as the ASVAB Career Exploration Program (CEP), is used for career exploration and is given in high schools and community colleges, at job corps centers and at correctional facilities. For more information or to pre-register for the test, please see Ms. Marwick in the College & Career Center.

The Benicia Fire Department is hosting an upcoming Junior Firefighter - Explorers Program meeting for any high schoolers interested in a career in the fire service. The program is open to all genders and being a Scout is not required. It is for kids ages 15 - 20. The Benicia Fire Department program is part of the Boy Scouts of America, Explorer Program. The Explorers are given the opportunity to become part of the department and work with on-duty crews in daily activities.

The meeting is on April 9th at 5pm at Station 11, 150 Military West. It will be a meeting to kickstart the program following a suspension of in-person activities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Feel free to call the department with any questions: 707-746-4275.

Make your favorite 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 (linked here) - must be submitted at least 5 days prior to the requested posting date.

2. Purchase the Marquee Wish on the BHS Webstore (linked here)

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

Counselors are available to provide a full range of services to students virtually. This includes academic, college, career, personal, social, and emotional support. If your child could benefit from additional support, please contact your counselor by email.

Counselors met with all 8th through 11th grade students in February to present course selection information, along with graduation and college entrance requirements. During the month of March, counselors will meet with students in grades 9-11 in one-on-one meetings to review their course selections and discuss their academic plans. One important reminder is for students (and parents) considering Advanced Placement classes for next year to understand that it is a commitment to the full school year of the class and students make the commitment to the class, many of which require summer work. Our course catalog has the following statement:

Benicia High School supports any student who wishes to enroll in Advance Placement (AP) classes. Please remember that Advanced Placement courses are rigorous college level courses. Students should be motivated to take an AP class by an appreciation for the subject. Any student signing up for an AP course should carefully consider the homework demands which can range from one to two hours per course per night. Students who are overextended with academics or extracurricular activities should give careful consideration to whether they have time to devote to an AP class. Students should also consider the number of AP classes that they can successfully complete at the same time. Benicia High School recommends a maximum of three AP classes per school year. Signing up for an AP course is a yearlong commitment, with the exception of AP Government which is one semester. Students who sign up for an AP course are expected to remain in the course. Please be advised AP meetings will take place in the spring for students who have signed up and many of our courses require summer homework to be completed by the first day of school. See page 14 of the Course Catalog for more information on our AP policies.

Counselors:

9th grade - Ms. Wallace at kwallace@beniciaunified.org

10th grade - Ms. Smith at jsmithalford@beniciaunified.org

11th grade - Ms. Rainey at erainey@beniciaunified.org

12th grade - Mr. Keppel at jkeppel@beniciaunified.org

College & Career Center - Ms. Marwick at gmarwick@beniciaunified.org

Suicide prevention and awareness is an important topic for teens and adults. Please share and use these resources as needed. Also, Benicia High School has a team of counselors, psychologists, and caring staff who are available to talk with students and provide support.

English:

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (24/7): Call 1-800-273-8255
• Crisis Text Line (24/7): Text “HOME” to 741741
• TrevorLifeline (24/7) for LGBTQ youth under 25: Call 1-866 488-7386

Spanish:

• Nacional de Prevención del Suicidio (24 horas al día/7 días a la semana): Llame 1-888-628-9454
• Línea de texto de crisis (24 horas al día/7 días a la semana): Envía mensaje de texto “HOME” a 741741
• TrevorLifeline (24 horas al día/7 días a la semana): Llame 1-866 488-7386

We also have the TRUEcare Resource Map that was developed by community members. The links below provide the map in three languages:

• English https://www.solanocounty.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=34023
• Spanish https://www.solanocounty.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=34025
• Tagalog https://www.solanocounty.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?blobid=34026
• Interactive version of in all three languages on their website: https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/bh/access_to_services/default.asp.

Student drivers are expected to park on campus and to have a visible parking pass in/on their vehicle. We ask that students do not park on surrounding streets so that we can be considerate of our neighbors.

Student Parking Passes are FREE this year, 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.

Link to Student Parking Registration

Free meals will be provided for all students for the 2021-22 school year. The United States Department of Agriculture has extended pandemic flexibilities providing free school meals to all students at all schools throughout the 2021-2022 school year.

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

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

• Student eligibility for discounted services such as advanced placement testing and internet service provider discounts

• School eligibility for significant additional State Funding

How to access the Free/Reduced Meal Application:

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

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 grades 9-12, 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

Get school updates via the Remind system: text @beniciah to 81010

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.