Principal's Weekly Newsletter

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

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

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

(Trivory App)

Principal Wilson

Here is the link address:

http://bit.ly/apcompscisurvey

Congratulations to Benson's Activities Director/Leadership Instructor Torin King on putting on a fantastic Homecoming Dance this past Saturday Night at Benson Tech. In conjunction with her Leadership class the students at Benson Tech were able to have a fun-filled evening full of dance and cheer. A huge Thank You goes out to all the parent volunteers who came out to support Benson Tech and a shout out to all the Benson Tech staff members who also provide support to the Admin team throughout the evening.

We couldn't have had a fantastic evening without the support of the Benson Tech staff and community.

Benson Tech Admin Team

"Benson's Got Talent" Show is happening Wednesday December 16th! Doors open at 5:30p. Show 6 - 7:30p. Admission $5 adults, $3 students. Admission fee waivers available, please email jacpatterson@pps.net - 100% proceeds support BATS Club and future events at Benson. No one will be turned away.

Open to all students, staff! School appropriate acts only! Performers need to sign up for an audition here (bit.ly/bensonauditions), and attend a Tech Rehearsal and Dress Rehearsal.

We need 3-4 staff to be our "Celebrity Judges." Will interact with show host, have brief fun chats about each act, holding up emoji signs to signal what you think of the acts, and help select a winning act for a prize at the end of the show. Please let Jacob / BATS know if you are available to help jacpatterson@pps.net

Promotional flier is attached to share with students. Please encourage all traditional and nontraditional talents to be showcased. (Singing, dancing, cultural performances, bands, musicians etc. Media projects, videos, gaming demonstrations, podcasts, yo-yoing and other talents are encouraged too!)

Let's make this one BIGGER, BETTER, and special for our community! Thank you!

Best,

Jacob Patterson (he/him)

KBPS Broadcasting Instructor

Office 503-916-5100 ex. 88130 or 88132

Listener Line (503) 916-KBPS

jacpatterson@pps.net

www.kbps.am

Please click on the link below to read about Benson's own Coach Earl Clark who graduated from Benson Tech in 1995 and has been coaching boy's basketball for the Astros for the last 14 years. Coach Clark will be inducted into the PIL Hall of Fame on Sunday November 8th.

Congratulations Coach Clark on a well deserved accomplishment.

Principal Wilson

https://online.fliphtml5.com/PILHOF/anmw/#p=4

The Benson Tech Site Council will be meeting on Thursday October 29th from 4pm to 5:30pm in Room 112. All are welcome to attend.

Principal Wilson

Greetings Benson Tech Families,

When talking with parents, it is sometimes striking to have the reminder that I’ve been working with some of you for the better part of a decade. It makes me think back to working with some of our students in middle school and collectively struggling to resocialize following the absence of community during the pandemic. I wrote then about how our students were holistically struggling with resilience, but that I was confident that in the future it would develop new muscles that would enable them to confront great challenges.

Today I write with a sense that this prediction is beginning to show signs of fruition. In confronting challenges this year, the greatest sources of strength I have seen have come from our student body. That they have been able to confront hard situations and strong feelings, and demonstrate resilience. To start our school year that would be fraught with financial challenges, our superintendent of Portland Public Schools asked us to find radical joy. I am happy to say I have seen a lot of radical joy at Benson.

This is not to say that great needs don’t exist in our school community. In fact, I feel like the challenges we will have to confront in the future may only grow in size and scope. Yet I feel like the young people will be able to rise and confront these challenges and that a community based on our shared values will be preserved.

Benson Student Body Attendance YTD (including excused absences): 90.1%

Regular attenders by grade level (90% attendance or better)

9-71.88%

10-70.63%

11-62.50%

12-47.87%

In service and commitment,

Joe Mitacek he/him

Vice Principal

Benson Polytechnic High School

AP Exam Registration - Final Week!

For students currently enrolled in an AP class, this is the final week to complete AP Exam Registration for exams this spring. Taking and passing an AP Exam gives students the opportunity to earn college credit.

Many students have not yet completed the final payment step of registration. All AP Exams must be purchased through Schoolpay. Detailed instructions and financial aid information can be found here.

If you have questions regarding your students registration, please email kstolte@pps.net.

Kayla Stolte, M.A.T.

(she/her)

Math Teacher
Benson High School

Class of 2027 Senior Yearbook Info

Senior year is already a quarter over! The Benson Blueprint Yearbook wants to make it last forever. Here’s how!

Senior Portraits

Seniors get to choose how they are remembered with senior portraits. The deadline for submissions is January 8, 2027, but you don’t have to wait. Follow THIS LINK to submit them directly to Josten’s website (we partner with Josten’s to print our book).

Senior Recognition Ad

In no time, it will be early summer, and your kid will be marching across that stage. Consider marking the moment with a Recognition Advertisement printed in their senior yearbook. Ads take a number of forms and styles, from heartfelt messages at the start of a new life chapter, to inside jokes, to immortalizing all those senior portraits you paid for, to embarrassing pictures of your kid as a baby… or tween. You have full design control! HERE’S THE LINK FOR SENIOR ADS!

All proceeds from ad sales go towards providing a yearbook for an Astro in need.

Haven’t reserved a book yet?

HERE’S THE LINK TO RESERVE A YEARBOOK. We ran out last year, so don’t wait until May!

Reach out to ghunting@pps.net with questions.

Greg Huntington

Yearbook Advisor

AP Computer Science Could Be Coming to Benson! Have Your Say!

Interested in game development, cybersecurity, programming, or creating apps?

Benson is exploring new Computer Science opportunities for the 2027–28 school year, including a possible AP Computer Science Principles course.

We want to hear from you! Whether you've taken Computer Science before or have never written a line of code, your input can help shape future course offerings.

The survey takes about 2 minutes to complete.

Take the AP Computer Science & CS Course Interest Survey

Davie Beckler

Benson Tech Computer Science Instructor

Tier 2 Attendance Intervention Plan (85%–89% Group)

• Target Audience: 98 students currently hovering between 85% and 89% attendance.




• Ultimate Goal: Elevate all 98 students to a minimum of 90% attendance.

Action Steps

1. Immediate Outreach & Scheduling
   • Who: Attendance Coach.
   • Action: Call the families of all 98 identified students.
   • Objective: Secure a designated date and time for an individual student/family meeting.







2. ASERT Team Review
   • Who: Attendance Coach & ASERT Team.
   • Action: Bring this specific cohort list to the next ASERT meeting.
   • Objective: Collaboratively brainstorm tailored support strategies and review any known barriers for these students before individual meetings begin.







3. Individualized Support Mapping
• Who: Attendance Coach & Student.
• Action: Conduct the one-on-one meetings.
• Objective: Create and sign a personalized attendance success plan that addresses their unique challenges (e.g., transportation, morning routines) and maps out the path to 90%.

Montreal Granville BS, MS

Student Attendance Coach

Mgranville@pps.net

Benson Polytechnic High School

971-413-3134

Refer a Student to me by filling out this quick form!

Our PTA Clothing Closet day has changed to Monday, November 16th from 9:30am to 1:30pm. If you're interested in helping some PPS families out during the upcoming holidays, please sign-up here.

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We've partnered with See's Candy to bring your favorite sweet treats right to your door. It's not too early to shop our Holiday Store. Our General Store is open year-round. A significant portion of your purchase will go to support Benson's students.

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Interested in supporting Benson? Add yourself to our mailing list here.

Benson students: would you like to travel to the Dominican Republic in the summer of 2027? Señorita Arias is now leading the “Exploring Health Sciences in the Dominican Republic.” Visit https://www.eftours.com/3094670AA to find out more about the trip.

Please note:

• You do not need to be a Health Occupations major to join this trip.
• This trip is not sponsored by Benson or PPS.

Registration is open until February of 2027!

Reach out to bensonhstravels@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like more information.

A Message from the Benson Swim Team:

Swim Team season Starts November 16th!! Benson Swimming has grown tremendously in the last 4 years and have had some great success! We always need new swimmers to keep growing! So if you can swim well and would like to join other swimmers at Benson for the Winter sports season, DO NOT WAIT, sign up now it is not too soon.

Steve Espe

Benson Tech Swim Coach

College Application Presentation

Please click the link above for a preview of how to fill out the college application.

--

Sincerely,

Morgan McFadden

School Counselor- Benson High School

Work Cell (with text): 971-231-4149

Caseload: Last Names G-Ma

To schedule an appointment, use the following link: Ms. Morgan

Dear Tech Families:

Come get your Flu and COVID vaccines in the Benson Wellness Center!

By appointment only: if you have never been seen by our providers you will need to register as a patient by calling 503-494-8505.

Please talk to any adult in the clinic if you have questions about how to do that! Or call 503-418-0409.

Sincerely,

Caroline Bleckmann, LCSW, She/her

School Social worker, Benson Polytechnic High School

Do you like to argue and prove your point? Benson Mock Trial is looking for committed members! Join us every Tuesday & Thursday in Room 11 (Mr. Morris' room in the basement) from 3:40pm-6pm. Dinner is provided. Contact Ms. Goertzen: hgoertzen@pps.net with any further questions.

Do you like to argue? Do you want to understand the proceedings in a courtroom and how to engage? Then Benson’s Mock Trial Team might be for you. Come check it out! We practice every Tuesday and Thursday after school from 3:40pm-6pm. Dinner is provided! Email Ms.G with questions or for more information at hgoertzen@pps.net

Dear Benson Tech Community,

Here are some team pictures of the boys soccer team for the season and the senior team photo. It was not the season that we expected but at the end of the day the boys gave their all! We will miss the seniors and we wish them nothing but the best on the rest of the year and future plans!

Contest Schedule This Week

We’re down to two contests left this fall season! Congratulations to all of our fall athletes.

Wednesday, 10/28: District cross country meet (Lents Park), 2:00 PM

Race schedule:

• Varsity girls - 2:00 PM

• Varsity boys - 2:45 PM

• JV girls - 3:30 PM

• JV boys - 4:15 PM

Friday, 10/30: Football @ Centennial HS, 7:00 PM

Winter Cheer Tryouts Start MONDAY!

Interested in joining cheer this winter? Tryouts will take place next week, starting Monday, 10/26 at 6:15 PM. Be sure you are registered and cleared to participate by Monday's tryout. Click this link to register: Sign up for sports at Benson here! Questions? Email the head coaches VaSheeta (vcharles@pps.net) & Esperanza (ecamara@pps.net).

Register for winter and spring sports at Benson!

Please sign up for sports at Benson using this link. Winter sports include swimming, wrestling, and basketball. Athletes who want to participate on the first day of the winter season need to register by November 9 at midnight. The first day of the season/tryouts is November 16. All athletes need to be fully cleared (including the physical exam form filled out by a medical provider) to participate.

ASB Stickers

Benson Tech will offer ASB stickers for purchase this year to benefit the Athletics Department. If a student or their family purchases this sticker, the student will have free admission to all regular season contests held at Benson HS for the entire 2026-27 school year. A student ticket for a regular season contest costs $5 a game, and we are selling the stickers for $20. The sticker will go on their school ID card, so they can show that at the ticket booth for free admission to regular season home games at Benson HS. Students may pick up the stickers from the athletic office or the bookkeeper after they have purchased it on SchoolPay, or in person. Funds from the ASB sticker sales will go back to Benson Tech athletes to pay for varsity letters, athletic training supplies, uniforms, team gear, and equipment.

Attendance Reminders

Fall rosters have been finalized, so we will begin running attendance reports and holding athletes out from contests and practices if they are in violation of the PIL/PPS athlete attendance policy. I've included the policy below for reference.

Athletic Attendance Procedure
1. Attendance at school for the entire day is a prerequisite for participation in an athletic contest or practice. School related activities or appointments with at least 24 hour notice and approval by the administration do not fall under this regulation. Emergency situations may be reviewed by the administration.

2. As soon as it is verified that a student athlete has an unexcused absence from any class (including being marked late after tardy), they will not be permitted to participate in the practice or contest that day.

Pre-arranged absences that are excused:

• A school-related activity

• An appointment, but only if an athlete’s parent/guardian received prior approval for the absence from the athletic director or a school administrator

• A situation deemed to be an emergency by the athletic director or a school administrator

Unexcused absences:

• The athlete attending an appointment that parent/guardian did not obtain prior approval

• The athlete not attending a class for reasons not deemed to be an emergency by the athletic director or school administrator

Jessica Russell

Athletic Director

Benson High School

From the Bookkeeper

SchoolPay is the online tool for families to make payments for fees and donations easily from home or a mobile device. We recommend that you sign in and use your account so you have a saved history of your payments in one place. Here are some of the direct links for specific items.

Athletic "Pay to Play Fee" For students participating in PIL Benson teams, the fee is $200 per sport for the first two sports per year and the fee for a third sport is waived. If you qualify for Free/Reduced Meals, the fee is $35. If you have not yet paid for fall sports, please do so as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please contact the bookkeeper, Sheli Bryan.

ASB Sticker Purchase a $20 sticker for your student's ID to get them into any home game during the regular season. Proceeds go to support Benson athletic programs. The regular cost of student admission is $5 per game. The sticker can be picked up from the bookkeeper in room 120 once purchased.

PE Uniform for 9th Graders All families of 9th grade students are asked to pay $20 to cover the cost of the PE shirt, a combination lock, and to help support the costs of the PE/Health course.

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

Sheli Bryan (she/her)

Bookkeeper

Benson Polytechnic High School

546 NE 12th Ave.

Portland, OR 97232

503-916-5100 ext. 88412

Pre-order the Benson Blueprint (2027 Yearbook)!

This year's staff is assembled and excited to get started making the book.

Follow THIS LINK to Josten's website to take advantage of early-bird pricing. Hurry! Prices go up in October!

Dear Benson Tech Families and Students,

Welcome to the 2026/27 school year. As a reminder the School Board adopted new policy and the Governor's Office enacted an Executive Order pertaining to cell phones. Board voted to ban cell phone use in schools for all PPS students and Governor Kotek’s Executive Order 25-09 prohibiting the use of personal electronic devices in all K-12 schools during the instructional day.

At Benson Polytechnic High School, we recognize that cell phones are an important part of our students' lives and can be used for various purposes such as communication, education, entertainment, and safety. However, we also believe that cell phone use in the classroom can be a source of distraction, disruption, and disrespect and cell phones can sometimes interfere with our students’ learning process and our school climate. We have had our current cell policy in place since the beginning of the last school year and as we head into the beginning of this current school year we want to begin to prepare our students for being able to navigate the school day without the use of cell phones starting this school year.

1. Students cannot/should not/will not use their personal electronic devices from 8:30 am - 3:34.

This includes not using their non-PPS devices in:

• Hallways

• Bathrooms

• Lunch

• Stairwells

• Classrooms

• Courtyards during school hours

2. What's considered a Personal Electronic Device?

• Tablets

• Cell phones

• Personal laptops

• Smart Glasses and Smart Watches or other Smart Devices

• Wireless Earbuds and Wireless Headphones
  

• If it’s not a PPS Supplied Electronic Device -- it can’t be used

3. We ask that parents call the school office at (503) 916-5100 if there is an emergency and they need to reach their child. The office staff will relay the message to the student or the teacher as soon as possible. Please do not call or text your child directly throughout the school day as this may disrupt the learning environment.

If a Student Violates the Benson Tech Cell Phone Policy:

1. 1st Time In the Entire School Year:

2. 2nd Time In the Entire School Year:

3. 3rd Time In the Entire School Year:

4. Progressive consequences will continue to follow if the behavior continues throughout the school year.

Please note that due to some extenuating circumstances there will be a few exceptions to this policy. We appreciate your cooperation and support in enforcing this cell phone policy. We believe that this policy will help us create a positive and productive learning environment for all our students and staff as we continue to move forward with the Governor’s Executive Order of “Off and Away All Day.”

While we recognize that technology has made communication between families and their children more convenient, an essential part of education is helping students develop independence, self-discipline, and the skills they need to succeed without constant access to technology.

We understand that limiting student access to technology may at times feel inconvenient for families. However, this policy is intentional and grounded in our commitment to the academic growth and success of every student. We ask our entire community to be patient, supportive, and consistent as we implement these expectations. Together, we can create an environment where students are focused, engaged, and empowered to take responsibility for their own learning.

We are aware that families use their personal devices to be in frequent contact with each other throughout the day and that this will be a hard transition for some students and parents/guardians. We will support students as they work to gain self-sufficiency and independence, and we will do our best to facilitate student-family communication when it is necessary.

I strongly encourage families to begin having conversations with their students about this policy change so that they know what to expect when school begins on Wednesday August 26th for our 9th grade students and for all students starting on Thursday August 27th.

Please:

• Review the expectations and guidelines with your student.

• Do not call/text students during class time. Should you need to get a hold of your student during the school day, please contact the main office directly at 503-916-5100. We can send a note to your student or pull them from class to take your phone call.

Please remember that children tend to mirror their adults' reactions. It is important for guardians to talk to their children about this expectation in positive terms. Highlight the mental health, social, and academic benefits of taking a break from electronics during the school day. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me via email.

Curtis Wilson Jr.

Principal of Benson Polytechnic High School

Research:

Teens spend 9 hours a day on devices (Dodgen-Magee, 2018).

Students earned an average letter grade and a half higher in the absence of mobile devices (Kuznekoff & Titsworth, 2013).

There are correlations between time spent looking at phones and reports of teen depression (Twenge, 2017)

https://www.nea.org/advocating-for-change/new-from-nea/cellphone-bans-school-are-back-how-far-will-they-go

https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/23/surgeon-general-issues-new-advisory-about-effects-social-media-use-has-youth-mental-health.html