February 2015

THE GEAR MONTHLY PARENT NEWSLETTER ISSUE 44 FEBRUARY 2015

BOSCO TECH’S 2014-2015 ASB/STUDENT COUNCIL (ASB PRESIDENT JOSEPH BUSTAMANTE IS NOT PICTURED)

FROM THE SALESIAN DIRECTOR Hello Bosco Tech Family and Friends!

I hope this message finds each of you in good spirits. We have just celebrated the feast of Don Bosco with the entire local Salesian family! It was a truly memorable day of community and family.

What can we learn from the example set by Don Bosco? He lived his daily life in a manner that was simple, generous and free; this is a deliberate lifestyle choice that testifies to a strong experience of God in one’s life. Might God be inviting us to do the same as we remember and honor the memory of St. John Bosco? God is calling each of us to make room in our lives for acceptance and dialogue, which can heal wounds of the past through mercy and tenderness.

Let us stay focused, then, so while we raise our hands in prayer we are also working to restore dignity to those who are most excluded and abandoned. This process of praying and acting will help us to be faithful to God’s call in 2015. This, my friend, is a true conversion of the mind and heart. When we are at the crossroads of such a conversion, we will be able to freely answer the call of His great love, a love that is satisfying and filling. There is no need for fear in living out His plan for our life, because it is the calling of each of us as true servants. Jesus calls us. In responding, we can in turn multiply His kingdom through sharing His good news of forgiveness and liberty.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s words on achieving true greatness seem especially appropriate: “All you need is a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love and you can be that great servant, too.”

May the blessing of God be upon all of you and give you peace, Fr. Chinh Nguyen, SDB

IMPORTANT NOTES FOR SPRING OPEN HOUSE •

March 1, 2015—Spring Open House is Sunday, March 1, from 12 noon to 3 p.m. This is considered a school day for all students and attendance is mandatory. Please note that this is a change from the date listed on the calendar in your son’s planner. The Open House was moved to March 1 to better accommodate the Math Competition and other campus events. We appreciate your help in seeing that your son is on campus for the event.

•

Freshman Tie Presentation—Please join us for Mass at 10 a.m. on that day, prior to Open House, when our freshman class will be presented with their class ties. Attendance at the ceremony is mandatory for all freshman (and parents will want to take photos of this memorable time.) At the conclusion of Mass, freshmen will be honored at a reception and are free to leave the campus for the day with their families.

•

Tech Scholar Applications Available That Day—If you know a sixth or seventh grade boy who is interested in becoming a Tech Scholar this summer, applications will be available for the first time at Spring Open House. Prospective scholars should pick up and complete an application early to be assured a spot in the popular program.

•

Explore & Create Workshops—Sign up your seventh and eighth grader now to participate in an Explore & Create Workshop, a hands-on experience in our technology labs. The workshops take place during the afternoon Open House festivities and are often standing-room only. Contact admissions@boscotech.edu to reserve a spot now.

2

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS FEATURED IN LOS ANGELES TIMES Did you see the recent Los Angeles Times story about international students that featured Bosco Tech seniors Amir Kamgar, Ali Valamanesh and Erfan Samaei and Head Basketball Coach Dominic Sermeno?

The three basketball players, who are all scholar athletes hailing from Iran, are among a growing group of foreign students making their high school home in Southern California.

When asked how he found Bosco Tech and its students, Kamgar said, "Ever since I walked on campus, there's no difference between me and them. I feel like I'm still back home." And of his time in the U.S., "I totally love it," he said.

Read the full story on Bosco Tech’s website blog (click on this photo on the homepage photo carousel.)

GET THE GEAR ELECTRONICALLY Would you like the convenience of receiving The Gear electronically? Please contact Bosco Tech Communications Officer Karen Krynen at (626) 940-2148 or kkrynen@boscotech.edu to be added to the electronic mailing list.

3

FOLLOW UP—FRESHMEN SELECT TECHNOLOGY MAJOR Congratulations to our freshman class on the selection of their technology majors that will be their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) emphasis during their remaining years at Bosco Tech. The formal selection process took place on Saturday, January 10.

This important decision was made after several months of preparation that began last July in the Freshman Summer Program (FSP), a five-week introduction to engineering and applied sciences that exposes students to Bosco Tech’s five technology majors. Upon completion of the FSP, the students spent the fall semester rotating through three of the five majors to receive a more in-depth experience in those technologies. Based upon a positive recommendation from instructors, good grades and parent attendance at Technology Information Sessions, the students made their selection.

“The process is an important step in allowing the students and parents to make an informed and careful educational decision,” said Mr. Jeff Krynen, Assistant Principal, Curriculum and Instruction. “Congratulations to each freshman on the informed and well thought-out selection of his major.”

FOURTH ANNUAL YURAK MEMORIAL 5K RUN IS FEB. 14 Join us at the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area on Saturday, Feb. 14, as we race in honor of Coach Bill Yurak In addition to the 5K, the event will feature a kids-only race and live entertainment.

All proceeds from the run will benefit Bosco Tech’s Yurak Athletic Center (YAC), the school’s sports training facility and home of its nine competitive sports teams. The center is named after long-time athletic director and football coach Bill Yurak.

Race registration is $35 and $30 for school groups of 10 or more up to the day of race. Bosco Tech students will receive a discounted price of $25 each and eight Christian Service hours for their participation. (Student runners must have Athletic Director Chris Shockley sign their service hours form within two weeks after the race to receive full credit.) Registration includes racing fees, chip timing, finisher medal, commemorative t-shirt, and goody bag. Visit www.boscotech.edu/events to register.

Parking at the facility is $10 per car and is not included in the registration fee.

In addition to medals, plaques will be awarded to the top five male and female runners and to the fastest runner under 18 years of age.

Check in starts at 8:00 a.m. and the race begins at 9:00 a.m. The kids’ 1K Fun Run begins at 10:00 a.m. The Santa Fe Dam is located at 15501 East Arrow Highway in Irwindale. For more information about the run, call Coach Shockley at (626) 940-2101.

42

FINANCIAL OPTIONS FOR TUITION PAYMENT Bosco Tech is introducing two tuition loan companies to help parents conveniently make and manage their son’s tuition payments. The benefits of tuition loans are additional payment options for families, low rates, quick loan approval, and personalized customer service. If you are interested, please contact the companies directly through their websites: Your Tuition SolutionSM—www.yourtuitionsolution.com For more than nine years, families at over 2,400 schools have turned to Your Tuition Solution as a reliable source for convenient tuition loans. To get started, families simply need to complete the registration at www.yourtuitionsolution.com. The lender will review registration requests to make sure they fall within the approved guidelines and let prospective borrowers know the next steps within 2448 hours. Payment to the school of the full loan amount occurs within two days of receiving the signed loan documents from families.

What others have said about Your Tuition Solution: Easier Option for Families - Low fixed rates, quick loan application and decision, convenient one-page loan document, and concierge customer care are some of the many benefits your families will appreciate.

Sallie Mae Loans—www.salliemae.com/k12 To get started, families simply need to apply for the K-12 Family Education Loans through the Sallie Mae Online Loan Application process at www.salliemae.com/k12. The website also provides a checklist that clearly explains the details of the loans. Sallie Mae has assigned the following school code for Bosco Tech: 606986-00.

OpenNet is Sallie Mae’s web loan delivery system. It allows you to view, update, and certify your school loans online. You will also be able to generate reports that will help you manage your loan status and other information.

5

BOSCO TECH MUSIC NEWS —BY MR. RICHARD RANGEL, BAND BOOSTER Open House, Heritage Festival and More— 2014 ended on a positive ‘note’ for the Bosco Tech music program. The annual Winter Concert took place on December 16 and was a great success. The Music Appreciation group, comprised of Mr. Almanza’s sophomore students, gave an excellent performance. This year’s ensemble is the largest Music Appreciation class in recent years and their coordination and level of musicality was impressive.

Let’s hope that many of these students will continue to participate in the program!

Concert attendees were treated to a surprise performance by Mr. Almanza on ukulele and his wife Mariana on flute and vocals, who led the audience in a sing-along before the main performance by the Concert Band. The Concert Band is made up of the school’s most experienced musicians, and they performed several holiday favorites before closing with their traditional rendition of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,’ with narration by Mr. Alberto Pimentel. The concert was a superb demonstration of the quality of our school’s music program. Congratulations to all of our music students and their proud parents.

The next Bosco Tech Open House will take place on Sunday, March 1. The Marching Band will once again perform, and the band members will be available throughout the day to answer questions about the music program. If you know of prospective families who may be considering Bosco Tech, please spread the word.

The big music event for 2015 is our annual WorldStrides Heritage Festival trip. This is a competition that includes high schools from across the country. Last year’s Bosco Tech ensemble brought home a Gold 1st Place award for their performance at the San Diego festival.

This year’s event will take place in April in Colorado Springs. The first official fundraiser for this trip will be a Flapjack Breakfast at Applebee’s in Montebello. Details will follow. With everyone’s support, the band is looking to bring home another award!

Finally, happy New Year from the Bosco Tech music family! With 2015 upon us, senior parents are already making plans for graduation. Each year, the program loses veteran members who move on to college. We want to encourage new students and parents to join us in the music program! Check out the band's YouTube channel, DBTI Music at www.youtube.com/dbtimusic. For more information about the band program, contact music director Daniel Almanza at dalmanza@boscotech.edu or dbtimusic@gmail.com.

6

NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK TO BE CELEBRATED ON CAMPUS Bosco Tech knows how to celebrate National Engineering Week! With an estimated 64 percent of our alumni working in STEM- or engineering-related professions, the school has a vast resource upon which to draw. On Thursday, Feb. 19, students will be treated to presentations by alumni who work at some of the most highly respected international engineering companies. The alumni will provide insights into their diverse professions and their companies, in particular. Be sure to ask your son about the presentations he attends and the alumni he has the opportunity to meet on that day. Special thanks to the many alumni who make this day a huge success each year!

NHHS VOLUNTEERS AT ROSE PARADE —BY MSET JUNIOR EVERSON CRUZ (Editor’s note: Did you see the recent Whittier Daily News article about Everson who recently achieved Eagle Scout ranking? If not, visit www.boscotech.edu and click on ‘Bosco Tech News’ for the full story. Kudos to this impressive young man!)

There was no better way to end the year than with service to the community. Representing Bosco Tech’s Spanish Club and National Hispanic Honor Society (NHHS) made the act of service even more special. On December 30, nine students, Mrs. Elenes and Mrs. Zazueta helped decorate the City of Hope float in Pasadena.

With the clock ticking closer to the start of the world-recognized Rose Parade on January 1, every hand made its mark. Without a doubt, our own Bosco Tech team made a difference.

I happened to be one of the fortunate students there and I had the pleasure of working alongside classmates. I personally was put to the task of gluing yellow flowers to one of the float’s three hot air balloons. My workspace was ‘on the camera side’ and that made my job especially critical. While the float was being judged at the end of our shift, I was still on the float, furiously placing flowers.

I feel that we contributed something special and made a positive impact on the lives of the people who rode on the float. It was an awesome feeling to see the completed float on New Year’s day and observe the inspirational float riders. I encourage everyone to take the time this coming year to volunteer, make a difference and inspire others.

The NHHS float-decorating volunteers were: Jesus Alvarado Everson Cruz Alfonso Magallon Christian Apanecatl Christian De La Mora Alan Mason Edward Castro Edwin Flores Erick Mendoza

7

BOSCO TECH BLACK & GOLD GALA CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE Tickets are now on sale for Bosco Tech’s 2015 Black & Gold Gala, the kickoff to our 60th anniversary celebration and festivities. The Gala, which will feature dinner, dancing and fabulous auction items, is Saturday, March 28, 2015, at Montebello’s beautiful Quiet Cannon Country Club. Tickets are $75 each.

Enter now for a chance to win a ‘free pass’ on service hours. The parent with the winning raffle ticket, announced at the Gala, will be exempt from service hours for the 2015-2016 school year. The value of this prize is $1,500. Drawing tickets are $25 each or five for $100.

Contact Mrs. Cathy Rivera at crivera@boscotech.edu or (626) 940-2028 for Gala tickets, raffle tickets, and for event sponsorship and donation information.

PARENTS’ LENTEN RETREAT IS MARCH 8 Make plans now to enjoy a quiet day of spiritual reflection and community at Bosco Tech’s Parent Lenten Retreat, a time apart from daily responsibilities. The retreat is on Sunday, March 8, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This year’s retreat theme is family, in addition to celebrating the Lenten season. All adults, not just parents of current students, are invited to attend. Interested individuals should RSVP to Salesian Director Fr. Chinh Nguyen at cnguyen@boscotech.edu or (626) 688-2939 by March 1. There is no cost for the day, but donations will be accepted to assist with the cost of refreshments and lunch.

BOSCO TECH SPONSORS Bosco Tech would like to thank the following businesses for their support. For information about sponsorship levels and commitments, contact Mrs. Cathy Rivera at crivera@boscotech.edu or (626) 940-2006.

We are grateful to our generous sponsors!

8

ATTENTION ALL SENIORS! UPCOMING CLASS OF 2015 EVENTS IMPORTANT! All remediation courses must be cleared by Friday, May 8 at 4:00 p.m. Seniors who are making up classes must submit completed coursework and final transcripts to Mr. Currie in the Registrar’s Office. Failure to do so will result in the loss of graduation privileges.

PLEASE NOTE!!

All financial matters must be cleared by Friday, May 15 at 4:00 p.m. with the Finance Office unless previous written arrangements have been made. Failure to do so will prevent your son from participating in any Senior event, including graduation.

Mr. Dimas will e-mail all senior parents updates as they become available.

Friday, April 17 – Deadline for all service hours due to Mr. Herrera by 4:00 pm.

Friday, May 1 – Graduation Announcements available for pick-up Please see Mr. Dimas in the CCRC to pick up your graduation announcements.

Saturday, May 16 – Prom Long Beach Hyatt Hotel from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight. Cost is approximately $187/couple.

Tuesday, May 19 – Senior Awards and Luncheon The Class of 2015 will be honored in the gymnasium by the student body starting at 10:40 a.m.

This is a formal event for your son. All senior parents are invited to join us in the celebration. The Senior Luncheon will be held immediately after the awards ceremony (at approximately 11:50 a.m.). More information to follow.

Friday, May 22 – Senior day off Senior Exam Schedule—Relaxed dress code for all seniors during exam week Wednesday, May 20 Thursday, May 28 Friday, May 29 Thursday, May 28 Friday, May 29

Senior Tech Exams Senior Exams Senior Make-up Exams Senior Exams Senior Make-up Exams

May 29 is the last day for seniors to take missed exams. Failure to do so will result in loss of graduation privileges.

Tuesday, June 2 – GradNite at Disneyland Time to be determined. Cost is $95/person; limit is 90 participants.

Thursday, June 4 – Distribution of Caps, Gowns, and Graduation Tickets Seniors must report to Tech Hall by 8:00 a.m. to pick up their cap, gown, and tickets. Each graduating senior will be allotted 10 tickets for the Baccalaureate ceremony.

Attendance is MANDATORY on Thursday, June 4 from 8:00 a.m. to approximately 1:00 p.m.!

Senior Panoramic photo – 9:00 a.m.

Formal dress is required and includes: button down dress shirt, black tie, black full-length dress pants, black socks, and solid black dress shoes.

Students not complying with the dress code, as outlined in the Student Handbook, will not be allowed to participate in the senior photo.

Picture order forms will be distributed the week prior to rehearsal. Payment and order forms must be submitted on the day of the photo session. No forms will be collected at or after graduation.

Senior Lunch – Noon All seniors are invited to enjoy a delicious lunch sponsored by the Bosco Tech faculty and staff.

9

(Continued on next page)

UPCOMING CLASS OF 2015 EVENTS (CONTINUED) Graduation rehearsal Rehearsal will be conducted on the Mall immediately following the photo session.

Friday, June 5 – Baccalaureate Mass with Conferral of Diploma 5:00-7:30 p.m.—Additional information to follow.

Gown return All graduation gowns must be returned to Tech Hall immediately following the graduation ceremony. Please be sure to remove all pins/cords/awards from the gown. Please note that no one will be available to receive gowns after Friday evening. Failure to return the gown in a timely manner will result in a $125 fee, payable directly to Herff Jones.

Please note…

In addition to items already stated above, your son will not be permitted to participate in some or all of these events if: 1. He fails any class this semester.

Review your son’s grades on Net Classroom and/or with your son’s counselor to check his academic status.

2. He is on disciplinary probation or suspension.

All disciplinary matters must be cleared by Mr. Plantillas, Dean of Discipline.

Baccalaureate/Graduation/Tickets

Who to contact regarding:

Contact Person Xavier Jimenez

Phone 626-940-2015

Email XJimenez@boscotech.edu

Graduation Grade Eligibility

Roberto Dimas

626-940-2084

RDimas@boscotech.edu

Disciplinary Matters

Carlos Plantillas

626-940-2028

CPlantillas@boscotech.edu

Transcripts

Robert Currie

626-940-2013

RCurrie@boscotech.edu

Finances/Tuition

Finance Dept.

626-940-2008

TTeran@boscotech.edu

Caps & Gowns, Grad Announcements

Roberto Dimas

626-940-2084

RDimas@boscotech.edu

Prom, GradNite©, Panoramic Photo Service Hours

Fr. Steven Way

626-940-2090

SWay@boscotech.edu

Rudy Herrera

626-940-2037

RHerrera@boscotech.edu

ROBOTICS Congratulations to CSEE’s Robotics team, the Gearheads, who participated and won several matches at a recent FTC Los Angeles County competition, held at Palmdale Aeronautics Academy.

Before the team, moderated by Mr. Stan Shantar and Mr. Al Lopez, was allowed to compete in several ‘fields,’ their robot had to pass three checkouts: hardware, software, and field control system connectivity. Additionally, the team had to undergo a judged interview focused on an engineering notebook that the team had assembled over the entire course of the robot’s development. They passed all four tests with flying colors!

This qualified them to compete in five matches over the day. They were assigned random ‘alliance partners’ for each match from the 26 other teams that had also qualified. The team won its first two matches, then after dropping the next two, rallied back in the final match to conclude in a respectable spot in the middle of the pack for the day. The robot held up well through the competitions, needing only minor adjustments between matches.

“We learned a lot about things that we can improve in the future, and all of the boys of this year's team are already looking forward to passing along what they learned from their experience to next year's CSEE Robotics team,” said Mr. Shantar. “I can really see the Gearheads becoming a force to be reckoned with in FTC in the very near future! I'm so proud of the way the boys conducted themselves all day.”

10

SPORTS NEWS —BY ASSISTANT TRACK AND FIELD COACH BRAD STOLZ Bosco Tech Varsity Basketball Team Finishes Second in Hawaii Tournament—After much successful fundraising, the entire varsity basketball team plus coaches, traveled to Kona, Hawaii, in December for the World Joint Basketball Tournament. There, our team successfully played against teams from New Zealand, Canada and Hawaii to win second place. Appropriately, the trophy was in the shape of a surfboard.

When not playing, the team was able to tour the big island, explore lava tunnels, and snorkel at Kona Beach. This was a first time trip for many on the team, so they were able to broaden their cultural and geographic knowledge as well as their athletic skills.

Back home, they finished their preseason games with wins against Salesian and Webb. Their league opener started with an away game at Mary Star and Bosco Tech winning 47 to 33. Head Coach Dominic Sermeno said, “Rebounds and good team work were the keys to the game. Erfan (Seyederfan) Samaei really had it going with over 20 points. Amir-Ali Kamgar was huge with a double double. He scored 15 points and had 12 rebounds." An upcoming league game against St. Genevieve will be followed by a Martin Luther King Showcase game against Centennial High School at Pioneer H.S. Currently, Bosco Tech is ranked #4 in 4A basketball, and #1 by Mid Valley News.

“We expect to compete for the league title,” Coach Sermeno said. There are two 7 p.m. home games remaining (St. Genevieve on February 4, and Senior Night against Torres High School on February 12). Come support this hardworking team!

Soccer Team Scores—Since Christmas break, Bosco Tech’s soccer team has been prepping for the start of league play.

Head Coach Diego Back says, “The team is doing well, and with the leadership of seniors Henry Ayala, Mixcoatl Burrola, and Kevin Gutierrez.”

We had two final pre-league games, one away and one at home. Bosco Tech tied Whittier Christian 3-3 on the road. At home, we beat St. Monica 3-2, last year’s Camino Real champion. The first league game was January 13 against Cantwell.

In a hard fought game, we lost 3-2 in double overtime. Henry Ayala scored both goals. Henry, alongside Alex Honneger were the outstanding players of the game. Remaining regular games for February are: St. Genevieve, 2/4 (H), La Salle 2/6 (H), May Star, 2/9 (A), and Serra 2/11 (H) Senior Night. Come out and support our team!

Track and Field—Since December, the Track and Field team has been conditioning for the upcoming season by working out in the weight room, on the mall and on the track, building strength and endurance. It hasn’t been all hard work, though. The team recently took a team-building break to see the movie, “Unbroken.” Depicting the heroic life of a former Torrance HS track runner, the movie is an inspiring example of perseverance.

There will be several preseason meets in February and the beginning of March, with the first league meet at St. Paul on March 18.

DONOR HELP NEEDED: In order to make our season a success for the pole vaulters, there are several pieces of legally required safety equipment that we must have before they can practice. We desperately and immediately need a collar of cushion that fits around the pit to keep the athletes from hurting themselves when they land. The cost is $600. Our poles are very old; we need several new ones at a cost of $250-$350 each. We also need a cover and mat to go over the entire landing area. Currently, anyone landing after a vault is covered with dust and inhales dirt. The least expensive cover costs $3,000 to $4,000. If you can help in any way, it would be sincerely appreciated. Partial donations of one of these items would greatly help our team and would be very appreciated!

11

FEBRUARY 2015 Please note that dates and events are subject to change. Check the school’s full calendar at www.boscotech.edu (see the Upcoming Events box on the lower right side of the homepage) for the latest updates .

Monday Tuesday Thursday Saturday

2/2 2/3 2/5 2/7

First semester report cards mailed Parent Gala Committee meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Financial aid & FAFSA workshop at 6 p.m.

ACT exam (on campus) Math competition for 5th-8th grade students at 9 a.m. (check in begins at 7:45 a.m.)

Wed.-Thurs. 2/11-2/12 Science Fair Wednesday 2/11 Alumni Association meeting at 6 p.m.

Information meeting for Architecture & Engineering European trip at 6 p.m.

Friday 2/13 Dance #3 Saturday 2/14 4th Annual Yurak 5K Run Valentine’s Day Monday 2/16 President’s Day (no school) Tuesday 2/17 Campus visit of Japan’s Oki Gakuen School Wednesday 2/18 Ash Wednesday (formal dress for campus liturgy) Thursday 2/19 National Engineers Week celebration featuring alumni and other industry professionals Chinese New Year celebration Mon.-Fri. 2/23-2/27 College Week Wednesday 2/25 Visual Arts field trip Friday 2/27 Progress reports mailed Sunday 3/1 Spring Open House (12 noon to 3 p.m.) with placing of the freshman tie Tuesday 3/3 Parent Gala Committee meeting at 6:30 p.m.

Sunday 3/8 Daylight Savings begins (set clocks ahead one hour) Mon.-Wed. 3/9-3/11 Test Awareness Week Tuesday 3/10 SAT-10 testing Wednesday 3/11 Alumni Association meeting at 6 p.m.

Thursday 3/12 Youth Day 2015 at Religious Education Congress Friday 3/13 No school (faculty and staff in-service day) Saturday 3/14 SAT (off campus)

UPCOMING EVENTS Yurak 5K Run Spring Open House Black & Gold Gala Jazz Night Out Mother-Son Dance Baccalaureate & Graduation Golf Tournament

Saturday, 2/14 Sunday, 3/1 Saturday, 3/28 Friday, 4/24 Friday, 5/8 Friday, 6/5 Friday, 6/26