Principal's Weekly Newsletter
Benson Polytechnic High School May 8th 2023
A Message to our Parents/Guardians: Information Platforms for Benson Tech
Please be sure to follow me on Twitter @BensonTechPride. (Twitter)
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
Teacher Appreciation Week May 8th-12th
Parents/Guardians,
Please help me in "Thanking" all of our fantastic Teachers here at Benson Tech. Our teaching staff is top notch in the District and the teachers here at Benson Tech are committed to serving our students to the best of their abilities. It has been an honor and privilege to work along side such dedicated individuals and it's awesome that the teachers of Benson Tech are being recognized and appreciated for all that they do in supporting our students throughout the school year.
Happy Teacher Appreciation Week to the teaching staff of Benson Tech.
"Benson Tech Teachers Rock!"
Benson Tech Administration
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (as of 2009, officially changed from Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month) is observed in the during the month of May and recognizes the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States.
NW Cyber Security Camp Happening This Summer
Announcing NW Cyber Camp 2023, the premier cybersecurity summer camp in Oregon! This year's camp (July 24-28) includes co-ed and girls-focused classes, scenario-based hands-on learning, and expert guest speakers from the cybersecurity industry. Join us at Portland Community College- Sylvania, Mt. Hood Community College, or OSU, for an exciting week of exploring cybersecurity concepts and building real-world skills that can propel your academic and career goals. Thanks to our cybersecurity industry sponsors, the camp is FREE for all students this year. Learn more and register today at www.nwcyber.camp.
Video
The camp also just released a short video, with testimonials from several of the founding students, and a brief overview. The camp created this at the request of teachers/counselors at PPS.
You can watch it here. https://youtu.be/i8Jp7dVLzvA.
A Message to our Senior Families
Beginning Monday April 3rd Seniors shall be disqualified from participation in commencement exercises and related activities if they are found to be in violation of PPS District Alcohol or Drug policy or any violation resulting in three or more days of suspension or more serious disciplinary action.
Benson Tech Admin Team
Important Updated Senior Information from Vice Principal Dan Malone
Here you go,
Graduation Update!!
Senior parents,
Here is the latest in the Graduation (6-5-23 @ 4:30) world this week:
Cap and Gown distribution took place on Wednesday of the past week. If your student did not pick up their Cap & Gown they can find it in the main office. If your student still needs to order a Cap/Gown, they can do so by going to Jostens.com, put in Benson Polytechnic HS and follow the steps from there. If students need further assistance they can find me in the Counseling office.
The sign up for graduation tickets will be online by May 8th. A reminder that each student can receive 12 tickets. If you need more please email me at dmalone@pps.net and I will add you to the list. Tickets will begin to be sent out the last week of May. All tickets will be sent electronically through SeatGeek, which is the app that Providence Park uses.
Please note that the doors to the park will open at 4:00pm on the 5th. Seating is first come, first serve. Anyone with mobility challenges can ask any Providence Park employee for assistance at the door. Providence Park does NOT allow balloons in the Park. Save yourself the hassle and leave your celebratory balloons at home.
Dan Malone
He/Him
VP, Modernization
Benson Polytechnic HS at Marshall Campus
Important Senior Information
Parents/Guardians,
Please click on the link below to access important and time sensitive information regarding our Senior students.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NX-URypiTm0YiGXP0bzu9imS4vWY_SFoBM3SQMV_3rw/edit?usp=drivesdk
Senior Graduation Requirements
Dear Parents/Guardians of Senior Students
All seniors in Oregon are required to complete 4 components of the Personal Learning Requirements (PLRs) in order to receive a diploma, in addition to earning the required credits towards graduation. The four components are a Resume, two Career Related Learning Experience Reflections AKA CRLEs, and a My Plan Project. Portland Public Schools is sending letters to students and families this month that share the progress your student has made towards completion of the PLRs. Students were assigned the My Plan Project in their English classes last semester and they turned them into their English teacher. The other three items, CRLEs and the resume, are completed in various classes through the high school experience and are submitted directly to our Career Coordinator, Miranda Ryan.
Students can submit completed work to Ms. Ryan via this link. You can also reach out to her with any questions regarding completion of this important graduation requirement (mryan1@pps.net)
Thank You
Sara Callies
Curriculum Vice Principal
Mental Health Awareness Corner
Each week our BHS Student Support Specialists (Counselors, Social Workers, School Psychologists, & Therapists) will be including mental health awareness. This week we are focused on National Child Abuse Prevention Month or NCAPM #NationalChildAbusePreventionMonth #ThrivingFamilies.
Mental Health Awareness Month
Mental Health Awareness Month recognizes the importance of mental health for—and its impact on—the well-being of children, families, and communities. Mental well-being allows children and youth to manage stressors, fully realize their abilities, learn and work well, contribute to their communities, and thrive. Below, you’ll find several resources that discuss some of the mental health challenges that children and youth face, along with strategies to increase their access to affordable, effective mental health care.
A National Agenda for Children’s Mental Health presents a vision and related set of strategies for creating a more effective and equitable mental health system for children and youth nationwide. The authors also discuss challenges in supporting children’s mental health and provide strategies for addressing those challenges.
State Policymakers Can Support Equitable School-based Telemental Health Services offers ways for state policymakers to support the equitable provision of school-based health services via videoconferencing or phone, which can expand children’s access to important mental health services.
Addressing Discrimination Supports Youth Suicide Prevention Efforts finds that experiences of identity-based discrimination among youth are associated with increased risk of suicide. The authors also provide strategies for state leaders to ensure that state suicide prevention plans address discrimination.
Resources to Support Children’s Emotional Well-Being Amid Anti-Black Racism, Racial Violence, and Trauma provides recommendations for caregivers to support children who have experienced racism or racial trauma.
Source: Home - Child Trends – ChildTrends
Event: Want to help decrease stigma around mental illness? Increase mental health awareness with NAMIWalks Northwest on May 21 at Peninsula Park: a community of advocates, caregivers, and people with lived experience of mental illness. Festivities begin at 11AM, and the walk is scheduled for 1:00PM.
As is always the case, it is OK to not be OK: here are resources that can help.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress
Text or call 988 to talk with a trained counselor
Help in Spanish: 988lifeline.org/help-yourself/en-espanol
Info for people who are deaf and hard of hearing: 988lifeline.org/help-yourself/for-deaf-hard-of-hearing
Website: 988lifeline.org/
Local Resources
Multnomah County Crisis Line - 503-988-4888 including mobile outreach (interpretation available and open 24/7)
Lines for Life General Line: Call 800-273-8255
Oregon Youth Line: Text Teen to Teen 839863 - Teens have access to texting trained teen mental health responders
PPS page with supports for students & families impacted by gun violence.
A website on Digital Wellbeing: great info for families, youth & schools.
PPS Healthy Choices Bulletin - This newsletter has a curated list of substance use resources and also highlights student and family accessible services and activities.
April edition and a link to archived Healthy Choices Bulletins.
Substance Use Resources, includes Request for Supports Prevention Strategies and Healthy Decision Making.
Benson Wellness Resources
Benson Wellness Center with mental health supports, in house support
BHS Counseling Center with school counselors (by alphabetical order)
Archive of this Wellness Information from previous newsletters.
May is also Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month! Find more resources here:
Benson Tech Mental Health Awareness Team
Little Libraries at Benson! Donations Needed!
We are happy to announce that our Construction/Woodworking CTE programs have provided Little Libraries to place throughout our building. Students/Staff are invited to give and take books in order to increase interest in reading. We could use your help! Age-appropriate books in good condition are needed.
Ideal donations: (books are ideal, but periodicals could be used as well)
Fiction/Nonfiction books from underrepresented groups - for example: LGBTQIA2S+, BIPOC authors, Lived Experience authors with disabilities
Nonfiction/Fiction in our CTE and high interest areas: construction, woodworking, health science, graphic design (photography & film, too), art history and art books, manufacturing and engineering, radio broadcasting, health/fitness, social/emotional and mental health
Graphic Novels
Literary publications
Multiple languages are welcome - we will have a specific little library celebrating multiple languages
Please bring donations to the media center/BHS Library for distribution - note: if something is not selected, it will be donated locally - thank you! Little Library Committee
Benson Tech Weekly Athletic Bulletin
Please click on the link below to access this week's Weekly Athletic Bulletin
Mat Clark
Athletic Director
Benson Polytechnic High School--PPS/PIL
503-916-5100
Benson Tech College Newsletter
For the latest information on college admissions, scholarships, financial aid, and related upcoming events, please check out Benson's COLLEGE NEWSLETTER. Always feel free to reach out to me (Kathleen Reid) or Katie Clark if you have any questions or for help completing financial aid (FAFSA/ORSAA) or scholarship applications.
Kathleen Reid
College Counselor/AVID Coordinator
kreid@pps.net or 971-238-8322
Sign up for an appointment with Kathleen here
Katie Clark
College Coordinator
kclark@pps.net or 503-894-4660
Sign up for an appointment with Katie here
A Message from Benson's Career Coordinator Miranda Ryan
Seniors,
Please remember to finish your personal learning graduation requirements. These requirements are necessary for graduation.
Career-Related Learning Experiences 1
Career-Related Learning Experience 2
Resume
My Plan Project (Complete in 12th-grade English).
Please see the Career Newsletter for the latest career opportunities:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nadDd7P7ri7um3mwRaGFoll2pNf6I6JoFtO6u9TTSwI/edit?usp=sharing
Career Opportunities:
Please see the Career Newsletter link for information on jobs, internships, and career opportunity events:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nadDd7P7ri7um3mwRaGFoll2pNf6I6JoFtO6u9TTSwI/edit?usp=sharing
Miranda Ryan
Career Coordinator
Benson Polytechnic High School
Cell: 503-312-2774
Office: 503-916-5100 X:77201
Schedule a Meeting: http://bit.ly/BHS_careercalendar
Personal Learning Instructions: https://bit.ly/3D9V6r8
Career Website: http://bit.ly/bensoncareers