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

Attention all Benson Tech supporters....mark your calendars!

Tech Show 103 is fast approaching! It is happening April 16-17, from 6-9pm.

Explore the building, meet up with old friends, support our student programs and clubs.

There will be student made projects, food, games...so much to do!

Tell all of your middle school friends and neighbors!

Information sessions for prospective families at 7pm in the auditorium.

See you then!

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.

Quarter 3 Report Cards

Quarter 3 ended on April 2nd. Report cards will be available through ParentVue/StudentVue by April 8th. Please reach out to our counseling secretary Eva Martinez Mercado emartinezmercado@pps.net if you have any questions about viewing the report card.

Sara Callies (she/her/hers)

Vice Principal

Benson Polytechnic High School

503-916-5100

Greetings Benson Tech fams and fans!

TECH SHOW: That's Our Jam!

TechBoosters will be selling Benson jams at Tech Show. Stop by to support our student programs and pick up a limited run jar or two. Great for gifting to the biggest Benson fans in your life or treat yo self! NGL, these marionberry & apricot jams are tasty!

SEEKING NEW LEADERSHIP

Finally, TechBoosters is seeking a new president for next school year. If you are interested in helping guide and sustain the work that supports Benson students, faculty, and staff, then we encourage you to reach out to learn more: bensontechboosters@gmail.com.

Go Astros! Go Tech!

Kelly Janes, President

Benson TechBoosters

Contest Schedule This Week

Tuesday, 4/7

• Softball vs Lincoln (Delta Park), 3:45 PM

• Baseball vs Sunset (Buckman Field), 4:00 PM

• Girls golf at JV 9 hole tournament (Colwood), 1:30 PM

• Boys golf at JV 9 hole tournament (Colwood), 3:00 PM

Wednesday, 4/8

• Track and field at McDaniel HS, 4:00 PM

• Girls tennis vs Liberty (Portland Tennis Center), 3:45 PM

• Boys tennis at Liberty HS, 4:00 PM

Thursday, 4/9

• Softball at McDaniel (Glenhaven Park), 4:00 PM

• Baseball vs Southridge (Buckman Field), 4:00 PM

• Girls golf at qualifying match (RedTail), 1:00 PM

• Boys golf at qualifying match (Rose City), 1:00 PM

Friday, 4/10

• Baseball vs Glencoe (Buckman Field), 4:00 PM

• Boys tennis vs Milwaukie (Irving Park), 4:15 PM

Saturday, 4/11

• Track and field (varsity only) at Need for Speed Invitational (Sherwood HS), 12:00 PM

Dear Benson Tech Community,

We’re thrilled to announce our upcoming Health Sciences trip to The Dominican Republic in Summer 2027, and your student is invited! We’re holding a one-time informational meeting to share everything you need to know—and spots on this trip are limited:

Find meeting info and RSVP here: https://rsvp.eftours.com/exshp23

Thanks for considering,

Meredith McClanen

"Do you bike, bus, walk, or carpool to school? Come join us to celebrate eco-friendly transportation with a professional bike repair! On the 2nd Thursday of every month, the SEED Club will be hosting a bike repair at 7:45 to 8:30 in the CTE courtyard with complementary bagels. The first event will be this Thursday, April 9th."

Greetings Benson Tech Families,

As the final quarter of the school year begins, a reminder that report cards are no longer mailed home unless specifically requested and can be viewed through ParentVue. Final quarter grades will be posted later this week. Remember it is semester grades in January and June that are added to a student's transcript (except for quarter long classes).

The third quarter is traditionally when the lowest grades of the school year are seen and is often a wake up call to the students. Make sure you're talking with your student about where they are in their classes and strategize on improvement. Ask them how they are using their FLEX time and as always encourage good attendance.

YTD attendance Percentage for Benson Students: 86.55% (including excused absences)

Regular Attenders by Grade Level (90% or better attendance)

9th - 66%

10th - 60.4%

11th - 50.3%

12th - 35.6%

Joe Mitacek he/him

Vice Principal

Benson Polytechnic High School

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.

Colleen Johnston (Colleen the Dean)

Benson Polytechnic High School

Dean of Students & School Climate Coach

Office phone: 503-916-5100 ext. 88208‪

(pronouns: she/her/hers)

Dear Benson Tech Community,

Please find our latest mental health newsletter linked below. It includes: NAMIwalk May 16, Neurodiversity Celebration Week/Autism Acceptance Month, Community Transition Program Plant Sale 4/4 & 4/18, 5/2 & 5/9, Healing Stories, World Bipolar Day (MAR 30), Transgender Awareness Day (MAR 31), Community Resources/Crisis Support, and more!

• Link to Newsletter: https://app.smore.com/n/v7wn2-benson-mental-health-support

Wishing you wellness, Benson Mental Health Team

2) Students for Mental Health Club - our 3rd year of participation! - Please join us for the NAMIWalks event on May 16.

Walk Day Details

Join us on Saturday, May 16th

Location: Peninsula Park, 700 N Rosa Parks Way, Portland OR
Route Length: 1/2 mile loop
Registration & Resource Fair Opens: 11:00 AM
Opening Ceremony: 1:00 PM
Walk Begins: 1:15 PM
Event Ends: 2:00 PM

Link to donate to the Benson Team and/or register and join us! Our goal is $250 raised, and we have already raised $100! https://www.namiwalks.org/team/82217

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.)

Late Arrivals & Early Dismissals

• 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.

Important
Students are not allowed to excuse their own absence, late arrival, or early release. All attendance notifications must be submitted by a parent or guardian.

Eva Martinez Mercado

Administrative Assistant II-Counseling

Benson Polytechnic High School

(503) 916-5100 ext. 88413

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

Here is a link to our College Info Night presentation which took place on March 3rd: College Info Night

Seniors - Oregon State University, Portland State University, University of Portland, and PCC are still accepting applications. Reach out to Kathleen Reid or Katie Clark if you would like support applying or have questions.

------

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

Stay Healthy This Flu Season!
As we head into the peak of flu season, we want to ensure our school remains a healthy place for everyone to learn and work. Influenza (the flu) can spread quickly in a school environment, but a few simple habits can make a huge difference.

Top Tips for Prevention:

• Wash Your Hands Often: Use soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds. If soap isn't available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  
• Practice Good Etiquette: Always cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your inner elbow.
  
• Stay Home When Sick: If you have a fever or flu-like symptoms, please stay home until you are fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medication.
  
• Get Vaccinated: Health officials recommend the annual flu shot as the best way to reduce the risk of severe illness.

Is it a Cold or the Flu?
The flu usually hits harder and faster than a standard cold. Keep an eye out for these common symptoms:

• High Fever: Often comes on suddenly.
  
• Body Aches: Intense muscle or joint pain.
  
• Chills and Fatigue: Feeling "wiped out" or exhausted.
  
• Dry Cough: Often accompanied by a sore throat.
  
• Headache: Persistent and sharp.
  

Please refer to the guidelines to determine if it is okay to return to the school community.

-----------------------

Please add the attachments as well.

Thank you so much!

--

Jessica Steiner, RN, BSN (she/her)

Building Nurse for Benson & Alliance High School

Cell phone (preferred): (971) 610-1552

Benson: (503) 916-5100

Alliance: (503) 916- 5747

jsteiner@mesd.k12.or.us

jsteiner@pps.net

Multnomah Education Service District

Educate • Inspire • Empower

www.MultnomahESD.org

11611 NE Ainsworth Cir

Portland, OR 97220

Our Mission - Educating, Engaging, Inspiring and Empowering through systems of support.

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).

Colleen Johnston (Colleen the Dean)

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

ACTIVITIES UPDATES!

-CLASS OF 2026 PARENTS: We need you! If you are interested in volunteering this year to help put on events for our senior class, please email me at toking@pps.net. If you would like to make a donation to that School Pay fund, you can do that here: https://schoolpay.com/pay/for/Benson-Class-of-2026-/Sb8kM9V

Have a wonderful week,

Torin King (she/her)

Benson Polytechnic High School

Leadership, AP Art History, & Art Teacher

Activities Director

Student Government Advisor

Regarding Fees and Donations:

ATHLETIC "PAY TO PLAY FEE" For athletes trying out for Basketball, it is fine to wait to pay the fee until team roster decisions are made. For other winter sports, please make your payments at this time. 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 any questions, please contact the bookkeeper, Sheli Bryan.

ASB STICKER Purchase a $25 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.

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

Career News: Please check out Benson Tech's Career Opportunities board for an updated list of current opportunities for all grade levels. If you have any questions or need help applying, please connect with Jzalana Bethune-Summers, Career Coordinator, in the College and Career Center or email jbethunesummers@pps.net.

Thank you

Jzalana Bethune-Summers (She, Her)

Career Coordinator

Benson Polytechnic High School

Call/Text: (971) 471-9189