February 2018

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THE GEAR MONTHLY PARENT NEWSLETTER ISSUE 74 FEBRUARY 2018

SPRING SEMESTER BEGINS —BRO. JAMES NGUYEN ENJOYS A PICK-UP GAME WITH STUDENTS

ASM STUDENT CHAPTER HOSTS SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER MSET’s ASM student chapter welcomed a very special guest to their Christmas party just before winter break. Mr. Ben Abbott is a two -time winner of the History Channel’s “Forged in Fire” and now one of the shows judges. He is also an electrical engineer at Cal Tech.

Mr. Abbott spoke to the group about the need to persevere, even through possible failure, and about the possibility of parleying an enjoyable pastime into a Mr. Ben Abbot (center) poses with Bosco Tech ASM students after his talk career—all great messages for our students. The students loved Mr. Abbott’s talk and even asked for his autograph afterwards!

JUNIORS PREPARE FOR VALUABLE SUMMER INTERNSHIPS Each summer, the Tech sends out members of the junior class to summer internships that provide valuable experience in STEM-related fields. Among the many companies where our students have worked are such notable giants as JPL, The Boeing Company and Kaiser Permanente.

In the months leading up to this summer opportunity, each participating student undergoes rigorous training in career-building areas like resume creation, interviewing how-tos, and proper workplace etiquette. The thorough preparation process is already underway this year. If your company has internship opportunities, you can help our students by contacting Mrs. Anne Sigoloff at asigoloff@boscotech.edu.

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT JUAN DIAZ (BT ‘82) —ALUMNUS, PARENT, PRESIDENT/CEO OF JMDIAZ, INC. Juan M. Diaz (BT ’82), founded JMD Engineering in 2001 to provide full service planning, engineering and management services for transportation and land development projects across Southern California.

Incorporated as JMDiaz, Inc. (dba JMD) in 2005, the company has developed a reputation for providing responsive and effective solutions and has experienced tremendous growth, expanding to three locations and employing 26 people.

JMD’s success and well-earned reputation is directly attributable to its high level of expertise, client care and honesty. President and CEO Juan M. Diaz, MBA, PE, emphasizes the company’s Christ-centered focus (with the cross as its logo), servant leadership style and foundational core values of integrity, humility, and service. Those values were exemplified by the Salesians during Juan’s formation at the Tech. He attributes his alma mater with instilling in him a sense of discipline--intrinsic to running a successful business and developing good technical skills—and a strong grasp of the spiritual side of life.

“Bosco Tech formed me to be able to handle the challenges of running a business and dealing with career issues,” he said. “Spiritually, I didn’t know it was happening at the time, but somewhere along the way, I feel I’ve been touched by the power of God, through St. John Bosco’s spirit, ultimately receiving my ‘mission’ to serve youth and founding “Pescadores de Jovenes,” a charismatic youth group, at my home parish of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in East Los Angeles.”

Juan’s own son, Jesus, is a senior in the Tech’s IDEA technology program. “I looked at his growth and realized he was inclined toward a technical career and thought about how Bosco Tech would be perfect for him,” said Juan.

In addition to running JMD, Juan teaches Railroad Engineering at his alma mater, Cal Poly, Pomona. The class provides an overview of practical engineering related to the railroad industry. In addition to covering technical principles of the class, Juan tries to inspire each student to focus on character development, following a code of ethics, career path advice (something he really appreciates having received at Bosco Tech) and being true to others, whether in business or life in general.

In teaching and in providing valuable summer internships for Bosco Tech students, Juan’s mission is straightforward. “The primary focus is on careers. That’s critical for formation at this stage,” he said. “We want young people to always remember that God and family are key foundations that will help you get through life.” Juan has been preaching for decades to young people in East LA that everything is possible even if you lack resources or grow up in a tough neighborhood.

Juan was born and raised in Boyle Heights and orphaned at an early age. With very limited resources, he recognized God’s caring hand and his mother’s loving sacrifice in everything he achieved. Consequently, he has a special place in his heart for orphans and widows, while striving to help young people who are interested in the field and want to learn, by motivating them to believe in what God can do in them and focusing on their God-given gifts.

Bosco Tech is proud of our many alumni and will be featuring our graduates in issues of The Gear.

NEWS FROM COUNSELING CENTER Seniors (Class of 2018) Several Tech seniors have already received early notifications of college acceptances. The following is a partial list of the colleges that have sent seniors early acceptances to date: Arizona State University Azusa Pacific University Grand Canyon University Marquette University New Mex. Inst. of Min. & Tech

North Dakota State University Northern Arizona University Regis University Santa Clara University University of Reno, Nevada

University of Nevada, Las Vegas University of New Mexico University of Portland Whittier College Woodbury University

Senior College Applications: Several universities and colleges continue to accept applications for Fall 2018 admissions. Please access the Common Application at www.commonapp.org, or stop by the Counseling Center to obtain college information from any of the Bosco Tech counselors.

9th, 10th and 11th Grade Parents: Please plan to attend the parent meeting on February, 1, 2018, in the Bosco Tech library. At this meeting, the results of your student’s PSAT test scores will be distributed and explained by members of the counseling staff.

Freshmen parents will meet at 5:45 p.m.; sophomore and junior parents will meet at 7 p.m.

College Week: This year’s Bosco Tech “College Week” is planned for the week of February 12. Guest speakers from several universities will present students with insight into college readiness, school choices, and the process of submitting a well-prepared application. Mr. Ed Ceja, Director of the Princeton Review, will be the keynote speaker at the week’s opening day.

SAT and ACT Test Dates: Please review and note the list below for upcoming SAT or ACT test dates and registration deadlines. Test fee waivers are available for families who qualify. Please contact Mr. Ray Chavez at rchavez@boscotech.edu for more information.

SAT TEST DATE March 10, 2018 May 5, 2018 June 2, 2018

DEADLINE TO REGISTER February 9, 2018 April 6, 2018 May 3, 2018

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NEWS FROM COUNSELING CENTER (CONTINUED) ACT TEST DATE February 10, 2018 April 14, 2018 June 9, 2018 July 14, 2018

DEADLINE TO REGISTER <cancelled> March 9, 2018 May 4, 2018 June 15, 2018

NOTE: Access Khan Academy (www.khanacademy.org) for test preparation resources including practice tests, sample questions and test-taking strategies.

BOSCO TECH MUSIC NEWS —BY BAND BOOSTER MR. JUN REYES

BAND PERFORMANCES Congratulations to band members Patrick Kakooza, Yehya Nasser, Yifan Zhang, Michael Garcia, Ethan Truong, Daniel Arteaga, Stanley Quiros, Daniel Hosseini, Nicolas Gutierrez, Henry Rosas, Anthony Reyes and Rai Torres for being accepted to the 2018 California State University LA High School Honor Band.

This program provides the opportunity for outstanding musicians from high schools across Southern California to come together for a weekend of music. Participants will receive instruction from Cal State LA faculty, rehearse with their fellow musicians and perform a final concert for friends and family. The program is scheduled for the weekend of February 11, 2018.

The Bosco Tech Concert Band is gearing up for the next Heritage Festival. This year, the band will be competing in Chicago, IL, on April 12 through April 15, 2018. Information regarding an opportunity to help the band raise funds for their trip will be coming soon.

We appreciate all the support!

“That's the miracle of music. No one can reinterpret a Picasso, but a song can be remixed and covered and interpreted in an infinite number of ways. It's a living thing.”

—Chris Cornell

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BOARD APPOINTS PARENT REPRESENTATIVE SPOT The Bosco Tech Board of Trustees welcomes Parent Council Member Shannon McConnell. Shannon has been appointed to fill the board of trustees’ newly created parent representative position.

Shannon is well qualified for the position. She has been introducing students to the excitement of space exploration for 20 years through her work at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She has led the Galileo Outreach Team, the Cassini Formal Education Team, and the Deep Space Network Education and Public Outreach Office. Before that, Shannon worked mission planning and design for the Cassini Spacecraft, Sequence design and execution for the Galileo Mission, and Data Analysis for the Magellan Mission. Shannon also has experience working payload operations for two Space Shuttle Flights managed by JPL. In addition to her work at JPL, Shannon and her husband Scott own a home renovation business in Pasadena.

She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Astronomy and Environmental Engineering from the University of Southern California. In her spare time, she is a Committee Chair for the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, and a member of the National Association of Interpretation, National Science Teachers Association, and National Council for the Teachers of Mathematics.

Her youngest son, Ian, is currently a junior in ACE at Bosco Tech. He is actively involved in the school band and lacrosse team. He is also a member of Young Actors’ Studio in North Hollywood, a professional acting conservatory. Shannon’s older son, Brian, is a Citrus College student and will be studying Sports Psychology at University of Utah in Fall 2018 while hoping to continue his baseball career.

“As the parent member of the Board of Trustees, my goal is to serve as a liaison between our parent and board communities,” she says. “As in all schools, parents play a critical role in school policy and the school environment. As a parent, I hope to serve as a voice for parents at the school in a capacity that helps shape the long term strategy and vision for Bosco Tech for years after all our boys have graduated.” Feel free to contact Shannon at shannonmcconnell@pacbell.net.

DONATIONS FOR GALA EARN DOUBLE SERVICE HOURS! Bosco Tech’s annual Black and Gold Gala is Friday, March 23. The Development team has been working extremely hard to make this the most successful fundraiser to date, with the proceeds benefitting students receiving financial assistance and we need your help!

If you own a business, will you please consider donating goods or services? We need printed materials, floral centerpieces, decorations, etc. We also need items for the silent and live auctions. Donated items may include: - Gift cards - Movie or theme park passes - Gift baskets - Sporting tickets or equipment - Store certificates - Travel certificates or time shares As you may know, donations qualify as part of the required parent service hours (excluding bingo hours). Product donations equal to a minimum of $35 will earn service hour credit.

Thank you in advance for your help in making this a successful event benefitting our students. Please contact Mrs. Viki Battaglia at vbattaglia@boscotech.edu or (626) 940–2070 if you want to help or have questions.

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CALLING ALL 5-7 GRADE STUDENTS

Visit www.boscotech.edu for details and sign-up form.

TUITION ASSISTANCE DEADLINES Please note these upcoming deadlines in applying for Tuition Assistance for the 2018-2019 school year:  

February 7, 2018 — all current students wishing to apply February 12, 2018 — incoming freshmen (regular admission applicants)

Details and forms available in Finance Office.

THANK YOU, INTERNATIONAL CLUB & BINGO PLAYERS Very special thanks to Bosco Tech’s International Club members and Bingo program participants who helped make children’s dreams come true! Because of them, every child at Our Lady of Talpa received a toy they wanted for Christmas.

The Tech students and Bingo players read letters to Santa, matched gifts to the letters and distributed them to the grateful children right before Christmas break.

Our students tell us the annual event means so much to them; they enjoy playing Santa’s helpers and seeing the happy faces of the kids.

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IMPORTANT 2018-2019 REGISTRATION NEWS Registration for 2018-2019 for Current Students When: Tues. & Wed., March 6 & 7, 5-8 p.m.

Where: MPR- Multi Purpose Room located next to the ACE building.

Description: To enroll your son for the 2018-2019 school year, a registration packet containing all necessary documents will be mailed to your home. Please fill out all documents, sign and date prior to returning them. Your son’s packet can be submitted on March 6, 7 or 8 between the hours of 5-8 p.m. or at the Finance Office from 8 a.m.–4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Registration for Class of 2022 (and for current students) When: Thursday, March 8, 5-8 p.m.

Where: MPR- Multi Purpose Room at Don Bosco Technical Institute, 1151 San Gabriel Boulevard, Rosemead, CA 91770. MPR is located next to ACE building.

Description: Freshman registration packets containing all necessary documents have been mailed to the homes of incoming freshmen. Please fill out all documents at home, sign, date and bring them in on March 8 between the hours of 5-8 p.m.. If you have questions, please email admissions@boscotech.edu.

For 2018-2019 1) 2)

FACTS accounts are mandatory for paying tuition The following charges will be deducted from FACTS accounts: a) Enrollment Fee—$600 on March 9, 2018 b) Student Service Fees—$750 (two payments of $375 on 4/13/18 and 7/13/18) c) Freshman Summer Program - $400 - May 18, 2018 c) Tuition deductions begin in June 2018

Please call the Finance Office at (626) 940-2018 with any questions or for more information.

THANK YOU, DAN MURPHY FOUNDATION! The Bosco Tech community is extremely grateful to the Dan Murphy Foundation for its most recent generous gifts to the school. The foundation has just given us $100,000 to help establish the Monsignor Jeremiah T. Murphy Scholarship Endowment and $175,000 for the renovation of the front office building’s administrative wing and Salesian residence.

When established, the scholarship endowment will help future students who have demonstrated strong academic performance, a high level of financial need and a commitment to Christian service in their community. The renovation support will be used for the installation of new plumbing upgrades and the remodeling of restrooms in the 62-year-old residence.

The Dan Murphy Foundation has been a faithful supporter and gracious benefactor of the Tech for many years. We are blessed by their generosity!

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PSAT RESULTS MEETINGS ARE FEBRUARY 1 WHAT DO YOUR SON’S SCORES MEAN? Parents are reminded that on Thursday, February 1, PSAT results will be returned to freshman, sophomore and junior parents in the school’s library.

The meeting for freshman parents to receive their sons’ PSAT results will begin at 5:45 p.m. Sophomore and junior parents will receive their sons’ results at 7 p.m.

These brief but informative sessions include a detailed explanation of how the PSAT results should be interpreted, followed by a question and answer time

BOSCO TECH INFORMATION NIGHT IS FEB. 7 —PLEASE LET YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS KNOW Do you know a family member or friend’s son who might be interested in attending Bosco Tech? The school will host an information night for prospective students and their parents on Wednesday, February 7, from 5 to 8 p.m.

A question-and-answer panel session will feature current students, faculty and parents, and admissions materials will also be distributed. During the evening, freshmen can sign up to shadow a current student through a typical school day.

“The Information Night is a great opportunity for middle school students and their families to meet Bosco Tech’s knowledgeable and caring faculty, ask questions of our student body, and learn more about our unique university-directed, STEM-based curriculum,” said Principal Xavier Jimenez.

Interested families should email the Office of Admissions at admissions@boscotech.edu.

THE FAMILY THAT CHEERS TOGETHER...

HAS A BALL AT THE CLIPPERS GAME The Clippers' cheering section was extra spirited at a recent home game as the Bosco Tech family rooted for the home team against the Sacramento Kings.

Please make sure we have your current email address on file so we can notify you about similar upcoming events.

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BUILDING BRIDGESâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;GAINING INSIGHT Freshmen and juniors in Architecture & Construction Engineering (ACE) tested the strength of their pine beam (freshmen) or popsicle stick (juniors) bridges. The Juniors in the Bridges and Structures class designed their projects to ASCE model contest specifications. Some of our alumni, seeing these photos on social media, told us they remember this valuable and fun hands-on learning experience well and still proudly show off their bridges from back in the day!

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c Are you interested raphi in going to Europe and visiting: Berlin (Germany), g & info(Czech Republic, Krakow (Poland) and Budapest (Hungary) w e Prague n Need during Spring Break (April 2018)?

If you want more information, please contact Ms. Carolina Schmeisser at cschmeisser@boscotech.edu or Mr. Brad Stolz at bstolz@boscotech.edu

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FEBRUARY 2018 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 and for events scheduled for later dates.

Thursday

2/1

Friday Saturday Wednesday Thursday Friday Mon.-Fri. Monday Tuesday Wednesday

2/2 2/3 2/7 2/8 2/9 2/12-2/16 2/12 2/13 2/14

Monday Wednesday Thursday Friday

2/19 2/21 2/22 2/23

Thurs.-Fri. Sunday Tues.-Thurs.

Saturday

3/1-3/2 3/4 3/6-3/8 3/10

Grade 9 PSAT test results parent meeting at 5:45 p.m. in library Grade 10-11 PSAT test results parent meeting at 7 p.m. in library Christian Service fair Bosco Tech Math Competition for middle school students Admission Info Night at 5 p.m.

Vocation Day Regular Admission deadline College Week College Week assembly Oki Gakuen School visits campus Ash Wednesday Valentine’s Day Alumni Association meeting at 6 p.m.

Presidents’ Day holiday (campus closed) Engineers Day Parent Town Hall meeting 6-7:30 p.m.

Junior class retreat (relaxed dress for juniors) School dance 7-11:30 p.m.

Standardized testing (regular school hours) “Cover the Field with Lights” Techman Field fundraiser from 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

Enrollment for 2018-2019 school year SAT (off campus)

GIVE US A REVIEW Show your support for Bosco Tech by writing a review for us on Yelp.com or GreatSchools.org. We appreciate your help in spreading the good word about the Tech!

So Many Great Things Are Happening at Bosco Tech… 

SAVE



THE



DATE

     

Math Competition (grades 5-8) “Cover the Field with Lights” E-waste Fundraiser Black & Gold Gala Bosco Tech Trip to Japan Father-Son Breakfast Junior-Senior Prom Mother-Son Dance Bosco Tech Family Mass & Social

Saturday, Feb. 3 Sunday, March 4 Saturday, March 10 Friday, March 23 Thur.-Sun., Mar. 29-Apr. 8 Sunday, Apr. 22 Saturday, May 5 Friday, May 11 Sunday, May 20