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

PARENTS OF SENIORS!

The seniors' last day is this Thursday, May 28th and we could use your help. There will be a SENIOR BBQ celebration, followed by a field day for seniors only and will be held on the athletic field from 12:00-2:30pm on May 28th after senior check out.

We are in need of volunteers to help serve food at the BBQ and set up some field games. Please email toking@pps.net if you are able to assist us with this send-off tradition.

Torin King (she/her)

Benson Polytechnic High School

Leadership, AP Art History, & Art Teacher

Activities Director

Student Government Advisor

The Benson Leadership class is proud to announce that we raised $15,828 this school year to support local nonprofits who provide aid in relation to our mission statement:

"The Leadership students at Benson Polytechnic High School are passionate about awarding grants to nonprofits that provide aid to homeless youth in the Portland Metro Area. Data shows that the State of Oregon had 22,000 students who were classified as homeless in the 2023-2024 school year, yet this is often an unacknowledged group. Many of these young people do not have the support or power to change their situation. Our goal is to provide funding to organizations that help with resources such as education, mental health, food, and jobs. We hope to reduce the challenges that homeless youth are facing and support access to the comfort and care they deserve."

Students issued grants to P:ear, Community Transition Schools, CASA, and Milk Crate Kitchen to support their incredible work in our community.

Torin King (she/her)

Benson Polytechnic High School

Leadership, AP Art History, & Art Teacher

Activities Director

Student Government Advisor

Ms. Kennybrew's AVID 11 Class

Ms. Kennybrew's AVID 12 Class

The Class of 2026 Senior Awards Assembly will take place in the school auditorium on Thursday, May 28th, at 10 a.m. We will honor seniors receiving department awards and OSAC scholarships. This event is only for senior students; their family members are also welcome to attend.

Please check out the college newsletter for information on college applications, financial aid, our big list of scholarships, and upcoming events. We have also added a link to great summer programs and opportunities.

------

Kathleen Reid (she/her)

College Counselor/AVID Coordinator
School Counselor, Students with Last Names So-Z
Call/Text 971-238-8322
Set up a COLLEGE COUNSELING APPOINTMENT

For non-college-related appointments, click HERE

TechBoosters is currently seeking a Treasurer for the 2026–27 school year.

Our board has a vacancy in the Treasurer role. If you are interested in supporting Benson students through budgeting, fundraising, and community engagement work, we’d love to hear from you! Email bensontechboosters@gmail.com to share your interest.

TechBoosters also recently elected new board members for next school year. Alum and current Benson parent Josh Piper will serve as President, Alli Grice as Secretary, and Rachel McDonald will continue as Vice President. Lonnie Bowden will remain as interim Treasurer while we seek his replacement. Together, the incoming board will continue supporting fundraising, sponsorships, Teacher Appreciation efforts, concessions, and funding opportunities for Benson teams and student organizations.

As outgoing president, I want to sincerely thank the Benson Tech community for the opportunity to serve over the past four years. It has been an honor and a joy, which I will always remember fondly.

Hope to see you at the community gathering on August 22nd!

Benson Tech Boosters

Families of Juniors in the 2026-27 school year who wish them to take the PSAT on Wednesday October 14, 2026 must submit their name to Mr. Ustach for registration in Room 155 or email at tustach@pps.net. Only Juniors may register. If you wish your Junior to have accommodations, you must submit a request to the College Board by August 24, 2026. Here is a link to the request form Accommodations Request Form. PPS will not cover the cost of the test, so it will be at the families expense. The cost is $18.00 paid to the Benson bookkeeper by October 1, 2026.

Tom Ustach

Benson Tech

Testing Coordinator

Benson Tech Students,
As we begin to wind down this school year with less than 3-weeks of school remaining one of the concerns that we are starting to see is an uptick of Cell Phones and AirPods creeping up among students in and out of classes.

Please be aware that Cell Phones and Air Pods are banned items by Benson Tech, Portland Public Schools and the Governor’s office. Once school begins at 8:30am Cell Phones and AirPods and other electronic devices need to be out of sight and off and away all day including in the hallways and at lunchtime. If we see these items we will ask for them and you can meet with the Benson Tech Administration staff regarding the return of these banned devices back to you.

I know that we are getting close to the end of the school year and students are starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel for summer but I am asking you all if we could just stay the course with Benson's cell phone policy over these last few weeks and bring in the summer on a high note.

We got this!!

Principal Wilson

Countdown to Senior Clearance and Graduation
Seniors, please take care of as many of the final tasks as possible in advance so that the check out day runs smoothly and without surprises (or long lines). On May 28th, they will receive a checklist card. If items are already taken care of, it will be pre-signed. Once all items are signed off, they will receive their graduation tickets. Items include PIL fees paid, uniforms returned, library books returned or lost books paid for, and the Chromebook and charger returned, in addition to other graduation requirements. If you have any questions, please contact the bookkeeper, sbryan@pps.net.

Sheli Bryan (she/her)

Bookkeeper

Benson Polytechnic High School

546 NE 12th Ave.

Portland, OR 97232

503-916-5100 ext. 88412

Summer School Registration is now open!

Need to make up credit for a failed academic core class?

Here is Information with a list of course offerings and at which high school.

Please let your student's school counselor know by email or students can make appointments in the counseling department.

BHS counselor's contact information HERE

Christy Clement (Wheeler) she/her

School Counselor, students with last name Mc-Sn

503-916-5100 x 88419

Benson Polytechnic High School

546 NE 12th AVE

Portland, OR 97232

https://bensonhs.net/

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

TriMet is removing transportation barriers for high school students, ages 14-19, all summer long with the TriMet Summer Pass. This free transit pass empowers students throughout the Portland area with greater access to jobs, education, social opportunities and a whole lot more. All students— regardless of their economic resources— are eligible. A pass will automatically be loaded to your Portland School District student ID. Find out more at trimet.org/summerpass

Thank you,

Lena Leon (she/her)

Administrative Assistant I | Registrar

Benson Polytechnic High School

NAMIwalks 2026 was a success! Peninsula Park was the annual destination for many to arrive and celebrate mental health and those impacted by it. Our Benson Students for Mental Health Club attended and helped with the NAMI Multnomah booth. We hope to have more Benson involvement for next year - we loved the therapy dogs, llama, goats, and unicorns.

Jennifer Fields, she/her, LPSC/QMHP

Classroom Therapist, Call/Text 971-710-6501

Benson Polytechnic High School - Calming Room link, Life After Graduation link

Resources/Crisis Support - in the case of emergency, dial 911

BHS is located on the traditional land of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Stl’pulmsh (Cowlitz), Clackamas, Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla

"Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public" -Cornel West

Postseason Update

Track and field

Join me in congratulating the athletes listed below for making it to the state track and field meet this week! The meet will be at historic Hayward Field on Friday and Saturday.

• Zara Pahl Armsbury - shot put
• Lashya'h Vincent - long jump & triple jump
• Miles Gray - triple jump
• Edwin Chang - 400m

Free Sports Physical Exams from Providence

On Tuesday, June 2, Providence Medical Group is providing free physical exams for student-athletes at Benson. The flier with more information is linked here.

Summer Athletics Offerings at Benson Tech

Most of our athletic programs plan to offer activities this summer! Please click this link for more information. Is your sport not listed? Reach out to the athletic director or head coach for more information.

Jessica Russell

Athletic Director

Benson High School

Benson Tech Community Celebration

Saturday, August 22nd, 2026

Noon-3pm

546 NE 12th, 97232

Join us for an afternoon of celebrating all things Benson Tech!

This family-friendly event is an excellent opportunity for current, former, and future students and their families to (re)visit Benson Tech before the new school year gets under way.

The celebration will include:
- Tours of the school

- The opportunity to engage with members of the school community
- Food trucks
- Benson Tech gear for sale in the student store
- Class Reunions (1966, 1996, 2001, and 2006)

For more information, please visit the Benson Polytechnic High School group on Facebook, or email the BPHSAA (Alumni Association) at info@BensonTechAlumni.org

Dear Benson Tech Community,
Broadcasting students from the Portland Public School's radio station at Benson HS will be live on-air from the Portland Rose Festival City Fair this year! Sunday May 24th and Saturday May 30th from Noon to 4pm. Come meet the KBPS crew, broadcast live on-air with us on AM 1450 and KBPS.am, and score some swag. We're excited to join the magic of the Rose Festival while teaching students about live remote broadcasting, and the importance of community engagement and community service. There's more info at KBPS.am and rosefestival.org - Come join the Voice of the Portland Public Schools, AM 1450 KBPS at the Rose Festival City Fair! See you there or tune in to hear the live broadcast!

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

Dear Benson Tech Community,

With graduation rapidly approaching, we wanted to reach out and let you know the steps we’re taking to ensure a safe, secure, and joyful event for everyone.

Graduation season is obviously an opportunity to spotlight the growth and accomplishments of our amazing students as they trade one stage of their lives for an exciting new chapter. It’s also a chance to recognize the hard work of our dedicated staff and our wonderful families in helping our students across the finish line. It’s important that we take the time to savor this moment together.

But we also want to acknowledge that, given the on-going federal immigration enforcement activities, there might be some anxiety around large public gatherings for many in our community. The fear people are feeling is real, and we understand why many families might want extra reassurance this year.

A few things to remember:

• We have a thorough and effective off-campus event safety plan that covers every aspect of event security.

• We work hand-in-hand with the PPS Security Team, venue security personnel, and local law enforcement leading up to the event to ensure adequate coverage and active collaboration between teams.

• All PPS graduations are private, ticketed events accessible only to staff, students, and select guests.

• We do not share student information with venue staff or any outside party. This includes immigration status.

• Staff and volunteers working graduation events have received training on secure off-campus event protocols and procedures, as well as PPS’s Federal Agent Safety Plan, which prioritizes heightened awareness, care, and readiness.

• We do not anticipate the presence of federal agents at our graduation ceremony, but we are prepared to act within our rights and in accordance with Oregon law at all times. This means not assisting or providing information to aid federal immigration actions unless required by court order.

We are fully committed to hosting a safe and secure graduation ceremony that honors the incredible achievements of every member of the Class of 2026. We cannot wait to celebrate alongside you.

Warmly,

Principal Wilson

Dear Families of PPS Graduates of the Class of 2026,

Congratulations to you and your graduates on their upcoming graduation from Portland Public Schools! Please review the following information for important guidelines for students and families at your graduation.

We know that this event is a major milestone in students’ lives, and we are hopeful that it creates lasting positive memories for all involved. We are excited to be holding graduations this year at Portland State University's Viking Pavilion, located at 930 SW Hall Street in downtown Portland.

The following guidelines are meant to ensure that all families are able to celebrate safely and to make the most of this memorable event.

The Viking Pavilion Guidelines include:

• Forbidden items: Please do not bring any balloons or liquids to the ceremony. There are water fountains and bottle filling stations for those who need to hydrate.

• Bags: Please note that bags will be checked at the Pavillion entry. Please limit any bags you bring. This will help keep the entrance lines moving.

• Seating/Photographs: Please do not leave your seat during the ceremony to approach the graduates for any reason. Professional photographers will be present at all ceremonies and families will have options to purchase professional photos or take pictures before or after the ceremony.

• Gathering: Families will have space to gather in the park blocks right outside the Viking Pavilion after the ceremony. Please be sure to exit the Pavilion immediately after the ceremony.

Thank you in advance for helping all graduates and their loved ones have a peaceful and positive graduation experience!

Greetings Benson Tech Families,

This past week we held our final attendance team meeting of the year. Though we didn't spend much time speaking to specific students like we usually do, it was an interesting reflection to speak with our counselors, social worker and community partners in attendance. It was interesting to hear all of our own experiences about what brought us to school in decades past - whether in Portland, other parts of the country and around the world. There were remembrances of truancy officers enforcing compulsory education laws or arriving at a school to only find a locked door and that they couldn't attend for the day because they were late. 21st century public education looks quite different from the world that our team members grew up in.

As we confront the attendance habits of post-pandemic youth, sometimes it is tempting to look to the draconian practices of the past. For some of the students I see walking through the door sparingly as it is, I know that a 'good to see you' goes a lot further than a 'you're late and see you at lunch detention" and that putting in place rigid structures would drive them away entirely. There are many students without barriers to getting to school that then see this and receive a different message; that it is okay to sleep in, not hustle to class or to take a long lunch. Striking the balance for the needs of the 1,000 students in our building this year was difficult but also full of learning for the staff. We look forward to the school year ahead and continue to build on inclusive strategies to meet our students and make them excited about coming to Benson Tech.

(all data includes excused absences)

Here is a look at how Benson's attendance rate stands for this school year - 86.7%

Percent of students with 90% or better attendance - or missing less than 18 days in the school year) by grade level.

9 - 68.8%

10 - 56.5%

11 - 48.2%

12 - 34%

Joe Mitacek he/him

Vice Principal

Benson Polytechnic High School

Parents/Guardians: As a reminder, cell phones and wireless listening devices are BANNED items on campus. As the sun has been coming out more, so have banned devices. Students who bring a cell phone/wireless listening device into the building (knowing its banned and can be confiscated), should keep the item in a bag or locker (i.e. out of sight).

Also please note that tablets and Meta Glasses are considered banned items as well.

Colleen Johnston

Dean of Students

Senior 60 Day Rule in Effect

On March 30th we will be 60 school days away from the graduation ceremony.

Any Portland Public Schools student found to be in violation of the student rights and responsibilities handbook calling for serious disciplinary action may not participate in the graduation ceremony.

Sara Callies (she/her/hers)

Vice Principal

Benson Polytechnic High School

503-916-5100

Meta Glasses are considered a "Personal Electronic Device" and, as such, have been banned by the district. If a student wears them to school, the glasses will be confiscated like a cell phone or wireless listening devices would be.

Please leave the Meta Glasses at home.

-

p.s. You matter -- you really, really do.

Benson Polytechnic High School

Dean of Students & School Climate Coach

Office phone: 503-916-5100 ext. 88208‪

(pronouns: she/her/hers)

Dear Benson Tech Parents and Guardians,

We would like to share an update on how to report student attendance at Benson.
The following options can ONLY be completed by a parent or guardian:
ParentVUE
Benson Attendance Reporting Form (it can also be found on the Benson website)
Call the Attendance Office: (503) 916-5109
• Please leave a detailed voicemail if we are unable to answer your call.

When notifying the school of an absence, please include:

• Student’s full name (ID number if known)
• Your phone number
• Date(s) of absence
• Reason for absence
• If a COVID or flu test was taken: test date and result
• If the absence is due to illness, please list symptoms
  (Based on the information provided, our school nurse may contact you for follow-up.)

• Students arriving more than 15 minutes late must sign in at the Attendance Office.
• Students leaving early must sign out at the Attendance Office.
• If returning the same day, students must sign back in at the Attendance or Main Office.

Eva Martinez Mercado

Administrative Assistant II-Counseling

(503) 916-5100 ext. 88413

Parents/Guardians,

Please click on the link and attachments below to read about the Governor's/Portland Public Schools/Benson Tech Cell Phone Policy which goes into affect for the 2025-26 school year.

Students have done a great job during the 1st semester of the school year in not utilizing their cell phones when they enter the building and we want to continue on with that shift in cell phone use. Remember that we will be asking students to turn in their cell phones to the main office to be held by our Dean of Students or an Administrator if the cell phone is seen within the building during the school day.

Principal Wilson

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13jOZHqb2eYPXRSeXipBxTYU4NjmIUflA5_G6DR3sAEg/edit?usp=sharing (Cell Phone Letter to Parents/Guardians)

Cell Phone Reminder:

9th and 10th graders are expected to keep their cell phones in their lockers. Ipad's are not allowed, as they are basically large cell phones. Please keep those at home.

Additionally, wired headphones to a chromebook or CD player are okay with teacher permission on time/place. Wired headphones should NOT be connected to a cell phone (b/c it's a banned item).

Benson Polytechnic High School

Dean of Students & School Climate Coach

Office phone: 503-916-5100 ext. 88208‪

(pronouns: she/her/hers)

Benson Tech Parents/Guardians,

Picking Up Students: When needing to pick up your students from school during the day please be sure to call the attendance office ahead of time to let us know that you're coming to the school as we will need that time to locate your students class and have your student ready for you for pickup upon your arrival to the school.

Just call (503-916-5100) and you will be transferred to the attendance office.

Student Notifications: When calling to let the Attendance office know if your student will be out for a class period or more or for the whole day, PLEASE provide the reason why they will be late and/or absent. This will help us update their attendance correctly for them and you.

Thank you.

Benson Tech Attendance Office