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

Hello Panther Families,

We have a few important items to share with you this month along with the events and updates included below. Please take some time to read through everything and discuss with your students so that they can make the most of everything offered at Benicia High School. We want to make sure every student feels that they belong here and that every family feels connected to BHS.

Access Period Information

On Wednesday, August 31st, students received information during Access period about PAPER, the new online tutoring program available to every BHS student, 24-hours a day, 7-days a week. Students can chat with a tutor to get help on homework, assignments, studying, test prep, and can submit written assignments for review. We encourage you to remind your student to use this excellent resource!

During the month of September, we will continue to use Access period to deliver important information and resources to students. We will be introducing students to I'm Sparked, a new social-emotional learning program that we will use throughout the year. We will teach students how to set up their Academic Plans in Aeries so that the students, parents, and counselors can all view and update each student's educational plan and see where they are on track for graduation and for college requirements. Information about Academic Plans will be sent out through ParentSquare later this month.

We will also show students how to use a new program to make appointments with teachers and attend events during Access so that they can get academic help, make up tests, or attend guest speakers, workshops, and other events. Our Wellness Center will be offering Wellness Wednesdays with a variety of scheduled activities that students can sign up for and Thoughtful Thursdays that will provide the opportunity for small group meetings on topics related to social-emotional health, mental health, and other topics. More to come on that soon!

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) website states: "Suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background. In fact, suicide is often the result of an untreated mental health condition. Suicidal thoughts, although common, should not be considered normal and often indicate more serious issues." Link to NAMI website

September is Suicide Prevention Month. Recognizing when people in our lives are struggling with emotional pain and helping them feel comfortable to talk about it can help prevent mental health crisis, including suicide. Learning the warning signs, knowing how to start a conversation, and knowing where to get professional help can make a powerful life changing difference. This month highlights the need to raise awareness rather than stigmatize the topic of suicide. A common goal for schools and mental health professionals is to ensure that everyone has access to the resources they need to discuss suicide prevention and to seek help.

• If you are in crisis or are experiencing difficult or suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Hotline at 988
• If you’re uncomfortable talking on the phone, you can also text NAMI to 741-741 to be connected to a free, trained crisis counselor on the Crisis Text Line.

We also want to highlight several events being provided by the Kyle Hyland Foundation and Benicia Teen Center, a local organization focused on this work as well. They provide space and support for students, as well as events throughout the year. BHS will be partnering with the Kyle Hyland Foundation for a Chalk for Life event during lunch on Tuesday, September 6th for interested students. Please see below for fliers and information on other events available this month.

Sources of Strength is a program at Benicia High School that is led by students (peer leaders), with our counselors and staff, designed to support students. It is a youth suicide prevention program designed to harness the power of peer social networks to change unhealthy norms and culture, to prevent suicide, bullying, and substance abuse. The mission of Sources of Strength is to prevent suicide by increasing help-seeking behaviors and promoting connections between peers and caring adults. Sources of Strength does not only focus on risk factors, but instead works to strengthen multiple sources of support (protective factors) around youth so that when they experience difficult times they have strengths to rely on. For more information or to get connected with Sources of Strength at BHS, please email counselor Justin Keppel at jkeppel@beniciaunified.org.

Go Panthers!

Principal Brianna Kleinschmidt

• Friday, September 2nd: Common Planning Time (CPT) Schedule, student dismissal at 2:30pm
  
• Monday, September 5th: No School - Labor Day Holiday
• Tuesday, September 6th: Homecoming Ticket Sales Begin (info below & on website)
• Tuesday, September 6th: Chalk for Life/Suicide Prevention Event during lunch
• Wednesday, September 7th: Club Charter Packets Due (forms required to start a club)
• Thursday, September 8th: Club Fair Planning Meeting during lunch
  
• Thursday, September 8th: Back to School Night, 5:30-8:00pm (see info below)
• Friday, September 9th: Senior Sunrise, 6:30am at Drolette Stadium
• Friday, September 9th: Minimum Day Schedule, student dismissal at 12:50pm
• Wednesday, September 7th: Orientation for Willie B. Adkins Program, 6:30pm in room L116/117
• Tuesday, September 13th: School Site Council Meeting, 3:50pm in room A-107
  
• Wednesday, September 14th: PTSA General Membership Meeting, 6:00pm
• Wednesday, September 14th: PTSA Board Meeting, 6:30pm
• Wednesday, September 14th: Benicia Grad Night Info Meeting, 6:30pm in room A-107
  
• Thursday, September 15th: Student Forum during Access Period
• Friday, September 16th: Progress Report - reminder to check grades and attendance in Aeries
• Friday, September 16th: Club Fair during lunch
• Tuesday, September 20th: Willie B. Adkins Program, 5:30pm in room L116/117
  
• Wednesday, September 21st: Deadline to submit Homecoming Guest Request forms
  
• Friday, September 23rd: Deadline to purchase Homecoming Dance tickets
• September 26-30: Homecoming Week at BHS - "Out of This World"
• Wednesday, September 28th: Homecoming Movie Night, 7pm
• Friday, September 30th: CPT Day Schedule, 2:30pm student dismissal
• Friday, September 30th: Homecoming Football Game, JV at 5pm & Varsity at 7pm
• Saturday, October 1st: Homecoming Dance, 7-10pm (ticket required)
• Wednesday, October 5th: School Picture Make-up & Retakes at lunch
• Wednesday, October 5th: Class of 2023 group picture during Access

You are invited to join us for an in-person Back to School Night on Thursday, September 8th at Benicia High School. This event runs from 5:30 - 8:30 pm and is meant for parents/guardians only. Parents/guardians will follow their child's class schedule and visit periods 1 through 6 for a brief presentation. The teacher's presentation is a course overview and will cover curriculum, grading, student expectations, and how you can support your child in their class. If you have specific questions regarding your student or would like to communicate with the teacher(s), please feel free to email the teacher directly.

A fillable schedule and map of campus is LINKED HERE for you to use to plan your evening. We will begin in the quad for a vendor fair and music from our Panther Band. The first period to rotate through is Early Bird, so if you student does not have an EB class, you can continue to visit vendors in the quad until 1st period begins at 6:17 PM.

We look forward to seeing you!

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

Students - try these Paper Prompts for ideas to start using Paper!

Benicia High School is excited to announce our continued partnership with the Willie B. Adkins Scholars Program and invite students to apply to participate for the 2022-2023 school year! We recently completed our first year of partnership and want to grow this program and recruit more students to join for this second year of the program at BHS. The students who have participated have found this to be a very positive and helpful experience!

We will host an Orientation on Tuesday, September 13th at 6:30pm in the auditorium. This event is for students and parents/family who are new to the program, wanting to learn more about the program, or returning for their second year.

LINK TO WEBSITE & APPLICATION

From September 20th through May 23rd, the program meets every Tuesday in room L-116 at Benicia High School, with Study Hall from 5:30pm-6:30pm and the Program Meeting from 6:30pm-8:30pm. They are also planning a Spring Break College Tour this year!

Willie B. Adkins Scholars Program is a college preparatory program, working to ensure that students are leaving the program with the right tools and a good understanding of what's expected of them beyond high school. Through their strategically planned year-long curriculum, activities, and events, they strive to meet these objectives. For more information about the program, please visit: https://www.williebadkins.com/ourservices.htm

As part of our Homecoming Week events, we will have a free outdoor movie night for students on Wednesday, September 28th. Students will receive a form through their school email to vote on the movie to be shown that night: Space Jam, Wall-E, Monsters vs. Aliens, or Back to the Future! Student clubs will have the opportunity to fundraise by selling items at the movie night.

All parents/guardians welcome from all grade levels!

Wednesday, September 14th at 6:30pm at BHS in room A-107

Join us to learn about and join the community organization that plans and provides Benicia Grad Night for our graduates. We need volunteers for planning and organizing, decorating, fundraising, clerical, and more. This is not a school event and is run by parent volunteers - this is a great way to meet other parents and have fun while providing a safe and sober graduation event in June. We work throughout the year to make this event happen.

Contact Info: BeniciaGradNight@gmail.com

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 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!!

Attend our General PTSA Membership meetings on September 14th and April 19th. Members will receive an email with more information about volunteer opportunities, committee opportunities, and possible Board positions.

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

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!

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

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.

Parking passes will be distributed in September and tickets will not be given until parking passes are distributed.

Hello Panthers! September's expectation of the month is Respect. We challenge students, staff, and the community to demonstrate and further develop their character in this area. We can demonstrate respect by keeping our campus clean, providing other's space and property appropriate boundaries, and using appropriate language in classrooms and on campus.

This month we will be starting the PBIS teaching modules on Edpuzzle (available in Google Classroom). Students, make sure you complete these short modules in Access period or at home.

We remind all students that Wednesdays are PBIS drawing days. Please put your PAWsitives in the raffle boxes of your choice in the main office. There are many great prizes to win!

We are excited to share that Benicia High School has earned a Silver Medal from the California PBIS Coalition for reflecting excellence in the implementation of the core features of PBIS. We want to share a big THANK YOU to our staff and students for their great work!

Benicia High School's College & Career Center is providing four free student trips this year to visit a range of colleges and employers throughout the area to help students learn about the various options as they plan for life after high school. Students interested in attending one of the quarterly field trips should stop by the College & Career Center, room H-109, or the Counseling Office to pick up the forms and reserve a seat. Bus transportation will be provided by the school district. Students can request a free school lunch, bring their lunch, or bring money to purchase lunch during the trip.

Dates for the trips:

October 18th

November 15th

February 15th

March 28th

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

STATE OF CALIFORNIA LAUNCHES CALKIDS COLLEGE SAVINGS PROGRAM
Funds Will Make Higher Education More Accessible for California Families

Figuring out how to pay for college can be tough, especially for families with limited resources. Fortunately, the State of California has launched a program that could make college a reality for millions of children in our state. Starting July 1, 2022, community-based organizations throughout the state will work to educate parents about the California Kids Investment and Development Savings Program (CalKIDS).

CalKIDS, a new program administered by the ScholarShare Investment Board, an agency of the State of California and chaired by the State Treasurer, will automatically provide eligible, low-income public school children in grades 1-12 in California with the tools to start saving for college, including an initial seed deposit and possible financial incentives in a college savings account. The State of California created the program to expand access to higher education and encourage families to jumpstart saving for college and other forms of career training, regardless of household income.

Kids in grades 1-12 may receive up to $1,500 in college savings
The State of California will offer eligible low-income public school students the following awards in a CalKIDS account to save for higher education, as applicable:*

• $500 automatic deposit for eligible low-income public school students enrolled in first through 12th grade
• $500 additional deposit for eligible students identified as foster youth
• $500 additional deposit for eligible students experiencing homelessness

Over time, funds in a CalKIDS account can grow tax-free and be used for future higher education expenses, such as tuition, books, computers, and room and board. When the student is ready to use their savings to pay for any qualified higher education expense, they can easily redeem their funds, including any earnings, from their CalKIDS account.

To learn more about the program, visit CalKIDS.org.
Or, watch this video to learn how to register: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpyvh5aBgRE

* Final seed deposits and financial incentives are subject to change and approval by the ScholarShare Investment Board.

Benicia High School is offering the opportunity to take the PSAT/NMSQT on Wednesday, October 12th at BHS as part of the school day. It is important for students and their families to understand what this test is and why a student would want to take advantage of this opportunity.

The PSAT is a practice standardized test, like the SAT, intended to measure the knowledge and skills in reading, writing, and math that students learn in the classroom. NMSQT stands for National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test and provides opportunities for major scholarships and recognition. Scores are available to students in December and are not sent to colleges.

Why Take the PSAT/NMSQT:

1. It connects students to more than $235 million in scholarships, including the National Merit® Scholarship Program. If your child opts into the free Student Search Service®, scholarship providers will invite them to apply.
2. It's excellent practice for the SAT. Both tests measure the same knowledge and skills and ask the same types of questions, so PSAT/NMSQT takers will know what to expect on the SAT.
3. It's the first step to a free, personalized SAT study plan. Official SAT Practice on Khan Academy® uses your child's PSAT/NMSQT score to create a customized SAT study plan with sample questions that focus on areas where they need help.
4. It shows student progress on the road to college. The PSAT/NMSQT is part of the SAT Suite of Assessments, a series of tests beginning in eighth grade that shows your child and their teachers whether your child is on track for college.
5. It shows which Advanced Placement Program® (AP) courses your child is ready for. The PSAT/NMSQT Score Report indicates which college-level AP courses your child has the potential to succeed in.

Registration is $20 and we have space reserved for 100 students to take the test, with priority given to 11th grade students. Registration will be open from September 6th to October 6th on the webstore (linked here).

FBI Sacramento is currently accepting applications for its 2022 Teen Academy. The Teen Academy will be held at the FBI Sacramento Field Office in Roseville, California, on Friday, November 18, 2022 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Participants must be California high school students who are juniors or seniors for the 2022-2023 school year.

The Teen Academy program allows high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to get a comprehensive look into today’s FBI. Students are provided with presentations on topics including terrorism, cyber crime, public corruption, evidence response, SWAT, and the day-to-day operations of a typical FBI office. Students also learn from special agents, intelligence analysts, language specialists, and professional staff about investigative tactics that include gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and assisting with cases. The Teen Academy is designed to promote an educational experience that we believe will provide students with a greater understanding of the FBI's mission. Through both hands-on experiences and case presentations, we seek to further explain to our younger generation how the FBI addresses the concerns of the community.

Interested students need to complete the application and submit that along with their supporting essay, which requires a signature from both a parent or guardian and the principal or counselor. The application can be found on our webpage at https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/sacramento/community-outreach. The completed application and essay should be addressed to: FBI Sacramento, Attn: Shelby Samaniego, Community Outreach Specialist, 2001 Freedom Way, Roseville, CA 95678. All applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 30, 2022. Please do not email applications. They must arrive via mail or dropped at the Roseville office. Incomplete and late applications will not be accepted.

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

Accessing Crisis Counselors Just Got Easier

988 has been designated as the new three-digit dialing code that will route callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (now known as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), and is now active across the United States.

When people call, text, or chat 988, they will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the existing Lifeline network. These trained counselors will listen, understand how their problems are affecting them, provide support, and connect them to local resources if necessary.

The previous Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) will always remain available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis.

What Happens When I Call The Lifeline?

Calling the Lifeline can seem intimidating, confusing, or even scary! At Sources of Strength, we believe in reducing barriers to get folks more connected to help. We encourage Mentors and Trusted Adults to demystify and explore the help that's available 24/7/365. When you call the lifeline...

1. First, you'll hear a message telling you that you've reached the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

2. They'll play a little hold music while they connect you.

3. A skilled, trained crisis worker who works at the Lifeline network crisis center closest to where you're calling from will answer the phone.

4. This person will listen to you, understand how your problem is affecting you, provide support, and share any resources that may be helpful.

5. To read a more detailed explanation of what happens when you call the Lifeline, CLICK HERE.

When Should I Use The Lifeline?

No matter what problems you're dealing with, whether or not you're thinking about suicide, if you need someone to lean on for emotional support, call the Lifeline.

People call to talk about lots of things: substance abuse, economic worries, relationships, sexual identity, surviving abuse, depression, mental and physical illness, and loneliness, just to name a few.

VIRTUAL Screening of the Documentary

Angst, Raising Awareness around Anxiety

Wednesday, September 28, 2022 from 6:00PM – 7:30PM

Register at:

https://solanocoe.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYufuuspj8jHdCMDUzB-FRpGe1r5ZIoUYUe

**After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing the Zoom meeting information to join the meeting.**

Film plus discussion will last 1 hour and 30 minutes

This short documentary covers all aspects of anxiety, how to deal with its symptoms and support others who suffer from it. Angst features World Champion Swimmer Michael Phelps, experts in the field, and regular teenagers, who provide a candid but optimistic view of this most common (but 100% treatable) disorder. It is as much relevant to us, as adults, as it is to our teenage children.

“Angst helped us start the conversation so people were normalizing that all of us go through different issues and problems, so how do we talk about it, how do we get help?”

-Julie Krause, Benefits Manager, Microsoft Global Wellness

“iNDIFLIX promotes public health by enlightening viewers about complicated emotional topics which are usually associated with fear, silence and stigma. Addressing societal problems like anxiety, social media, bullying and race, we learn about real people who grapple with challenges and overcome them. iNDIFLIX provides education and inspiration and encourages all of us to improve our own and others’ emotional well-being.”

-Laura Kastner, Ph.D., Clinical Professor Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington

Benicia High School administration is partnering with our Associated Student Body President and student-elected representatives to hold regular Student Forums during Access Period. Each Student Forum will have a pre-planned topic based on our school-wide goals, student requests, and school planning. The meetings will also provide information on upcoming events so that more students are informed on school activities and can help share that information with their Access Period peers. The remainder of the meeting will be open for student-led discussion.

Are you interested in being a student representative?

• Each Access Period class may send up to 2 student representatives. Those student representatives are expected to help communicate on behalf of their peers, respecting various voices and opinions, and will report back with information from the Student Forum. Students with personal concerns should speak with a staff member individually so that we can ensure privacy of personal matters.

Student Representative Responsibilities:

• We recommend taking notes during the Student Forum so that Student Representatives can report back to their Access Period class. They may also want to make notes of student concerns, suggestions, and topics to bring to the Student Forum meetings.

• For every concern brought to the Student Forum, there must be a suggestion provided as well. Student representatives are expected to work with their classmates to consider suggestions and solutions.

• When a vote is requested, the student representative should share the question/topic with their classmates and take a straw vote, asking students to raise their hands to vote for the option of their choice, and record the votes. Those will be added to the other Access Period votes to provide an overall tally and student majority.

Student Forum Meetings:

Thursday, September 22nd

Thursday, October 20th

Thursday, November 17th

Thursday, February 16th

Thursday, March 16th

Thursday, April 20th

The September Student Forum topics will include an opportunity to meet and talk with our new Superintendent, Dr. Damon Wright, introduction of student representatives, discussion of upcoming and future school events, opportunity for students to suggest ideas for school activities, information about the Willie B. Adkins program, and time for open forum.

Future topics planned for Student Forum discussion: review of school-wide goals, discussion of how we can create and maintain culturally affirming classrooms/campus, discussion of community concern regarding "La Migra" and how to bring it to an end, discussion of how we can make every student feel a sense of belonging at school, and more. Students can suggest topics for future forums at the meetings or by emailing Principal Kleinschmidt.

The English Language Arts Department is piloting the Expository Reading and Writing Curriculum 3.0 (ERWC) in 9th and 10th grade classes. This curriculum is currently used in our ERWC 11 and ERWC 12 courses. Parents, if you would like to view the curriculum, please reach out to your child's teacher or view the links provided below.

ERWC 9th Grade Units

ERWC 10th Grade Unit

The World Languages Department is piloting new curriculum for AP Spanish Language & Culture and for Spanish 1-3 courses. Spanish levels 1-3 and 3 Honors is piloting "Exploremos" by Cengage, and AP Spanish is piloting a curriculum called "Temas" by Vista Higher Learning. This updated curriculum can also be accessed digitally by students to better reinforce, speaking, listening, reading, and writing in a real-world scenarios.

Spanish 1-3 & 3 Honors: "Exploremos" by Cengage

AP Spanish: "Temas" by Vista Higher Learning

If you would like more information on this pilot, please contact your teacher student's teacher. If the department decides to move forward with adoption of this curriculum we will provide that information and the curriculum will be provided for parents to view at the BUSD office.

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!

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

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

How to access the Free/Reduced Meal Application:

• 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.