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THE GEAR MONTHLY PARENT NEWSLETTER ISSUE 53 JANUARY 2016
MUSIC PROGRAM’S WINTER CONCERT USHERS IN CHRISTMAS SEASON Photo by Mr. Gabriel Gonzalez
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL Dear Bosco Tech Families and Friends, A very happy new year to you and your loved ones. I pray that your Christmas was festive and merry and that the start of 2016 marks the beginning of many blessings for your family. This point in the school year is always a pivotal time. As we draw to the close of the first semester, students should be preparing for final exams and are looking forward to the start of a new semester and, in some cases, the beginning of new classes. It always seems as though, as we move into January and then February, the days speed up and are full of springtime activities that will ultimately lead to the culmination of another school year and for our seniors graduation. Please encourage your son to stay the course and apply himself with as much dedication as that with which he began the academic year. These are important days for these young people, many are making crucial decisions about their future colleges and career courses of study. Our faculty and academic counseling staff continues to work diligently with each student to best prepare them and prayerfully direct them into their life’s path. Their best interests remain our primary focus! May God richly bless you and your family in year ahead, Xavier Jimenez President
HUNDREDS OF GIFT BOXES SHIPPED WORLDWIDE Hundreds of children around the world will have a brighter Christmas thanks to the hard work of sophomore Grayson Wade who orchestrated a massive Operation Christmas Child shoebox donation drive. Grayson, with the help of his Bosco Tech brothers, filled 831 boxes with gifts and treats, surpassing his goal of 800. Across the campus, Techmen filled a total of about 142 boxes and raised $1,000 for postage. Grayson and his family wish to thank the Bosco Tech community for rallying behind the efforts. Below are the boxes before they were shipped out to reach children before Christmas Day.
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IMPORTANT REMINDER: FRESHMAN TECHNOLOGY SELECTION —BY MR. JEFF KRYNEN, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION Saturday, January 9, is the Freshmen Technology Placement day when freshmen choose the technology major they will study for their remaining three and a half years at Bosco Tech. At that time, students will be interviewed and placed in the technology program of their choice, based on grades and an acceptable evaluation from the technology faculty. A few days prior to the placement day, students will be given a letter to take home that has the time they are to report to campus (the time they are assigned is based on their current GPA, calculated from a special grade collection which will occur over the Christmas break). They should be accompanied to the appointment by at least one parent. Please plan to arrive 10-15 minutes early. Students should dress neatly and expect to be at the school for 45 minutes to an hour. This will be a day to make several important decisions regarding your son’s Bosco Tech education! In preparation for their sophomore year, freshmen will also be taking placement tests for enrollment in Spanish language courses and making their Fine Arts course selection immediately after their tech placement interview. If you have any questions, please contact me at jkrynen@boscotech.edu or (626) 940-2012.
PREPARING FOR SEMESTER FINAL EXAMS Academic final exams for Bosco Tech will occur during the week of January 19 through 21 (Tuesday through Thursday). Technology exams will be conducted the week prior (Thursday and Friday, January 14 and 15). Students are urged to put extra effort into preparing for these important assessments. Not only do the exams represent the culmination of several months of instruction, they reflect a significant portion of the student’s semester grade. Bosco Tech students show their excellence by the diligent preparation they invest in these academic and technology evaluations. Parents, please note that school will be dismissed at noon during academic final exams.
JANUARY 29 IS ADMISSION DEADLINE DO YOU KNOW A YOUNG MAN INTERESTED IN ATTENDING BOSCO TECH? If you know a young man interested in applying to Bosco Tech as either a freshman or as a transfer student, the deadline is January 29. To download an application, visit www.boscotech.edu/ future-students/ Questions? Please contact Admissions Director Valeria De Luna at vdeluna@boscotech.edu or (626) 940-2009.
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44TH ANNUAL MATHEMATICS COMPETITION IS FEB. 6 SIGN UP YOUR MIDDLE SCHOOLER TODAY! Bosco Tech will host its 44th annual mathematics competition for fifth through eighth grade students on Saturday, February 6, 2016. The event will offer awards for the highest scoring individual and teams. During the competition, a workshop will be provided for middle school teachers and interested parents that will examine problems on the test. The workshop will be led by instructional expert and mathematics textbook author Michael Hattar, a longtime Bosco Tech math teacher and professor at Rio Hondo Community College and Mount San Antonio College. Competition participants must register by Feb. 2 by visiting www.boscotech.edu/events. Space is limited. The cost is $8 per individual. Competition check in begins at 7:45 a.m. and the one-hour test starts at 9 a.m. Free activities will be offered, and food will be available for purchase. An award ceremony will begin at approximately 11 a.m., following the competition. See page 11 for more details. For more information on the competition, contact Ms. Valeria De Luna at MathCompetition@boscotech.edu.
YURAK RUN COMING HOME TO BOSCO TECH We’re bringing the Fifth Annual Yurak Memorial Run/Walk onto campus. The morning’s activities will feature a free health fair and a kids-only Fun Run. All proceeds will benefit the Yurak Athletic Center (YAC), the school’s sports training facility and home of its nine competitive sports teams. The YAC is named after long-time athletic director and football coach Bill Yurak. Sign up today at www.boscotech.edu/events. For full details, see page 12. Race registration is $30 on or before January 23 and $35 after that date. Same-day registration will be available at the check-in table on the morning of the event. Included are racing fees, chip timing, finisher medal, commemorative T-shirt, and goodie bag. Plaques will be awarded to the top five male and female runners and to the fastest runner under 18 years of age. Check in begins at 8:00 a.m. and the race starts at 9:00 a.m. The kids’ run is at 10:00 a.m. The health fair will run throughout the morning and a BBQ will follow the awards ceremony. Contact Bosco Tech Athletic Director Chris Shockley at (626) 940 -2101 or lshockley@boscotech.edu for more information.
REMINDER: TUITION ASSISTANCE DEADLINE IS JANUARY 29 The deadline for current students applying for tuition assistance for the 2016-2017 school year is January 29, 2016. Applications must be filed annually. Please submit copies of each of the following items to the Tuition Assistance Committee. Applications will not be reviewed until all documentation is received. • Completed application form • Application processing fee of $20 • Copy of 2014 Federal tax forms and corresponding supplement schedules, if applicable • Copy of either current paycheck stub showing total wages earned for 2015 or all W-2s and 1099s for 2015. Please review the financial aid application for full details. The forms are available at the Finance Office or on the school’s website.
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SALESIAN SPIRIT GAMES A long-standing Bosco Tech tradition, the Salesian Spirit Games, had students competing for their technology in sports activities simultaneously across the campus on Dec. 8. The games followed a student body Mass to celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, honoring the Virgin Mary. The games are an opportunity for the school to openly express the four cornerstones of the Salesian education model; a School, Church, Playground and Home; all in one day. Always a close competition, the results of the games had MAT and ACE tying for second place and CSEE taking home first place. ACE won first place for overall spirit. Congratulations to all of our tech teams for their efforts and their demonstration of Salesian spirit!
JAPANESE CLUB FUNDRAISER —BY MRS. CATHERINE DIAZ, DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ACADEMIC PROGRAM
Bosco Tech’s Japanese Club sponsored a fundraiser evening at BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse on Dec. 8. Mrs. Catherine Diaz and Mrs. Ritsuko Rowe were present to welcome all Bosco families to eat and enjoy the fun atmosphere. Fliers had been distributed to the students of the Japanese class, International Club members, and Bingo Club members. Restaurant managers and wait staff were most courteous in receiving the fliers from their guests and applying them to the bill. Thank you to everyone who supported the fundraiser. The Japanese Club is raising funds to offset travel and meal costs for our trip to Japan in the spring of 2016. Fresham Noah Toribio (center) and his family.
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MUSIC NEWS —BY BAND BOOSTER JUN REYES
Music Program Wraps Up the Year with Holiday Music The DBTI Royal Techmen Marching Band made their final performance of the year at the Fall Open House event on November 22. As they did last year, the band performed their short sets at different areas in the school, providing entertainment to the families who attended the open house. The Marching Band Drumline accompanied the Bosco Tech Cheer Team to a competition at Six Flags Magic Mountain on December 5. Congratulations to the Bosco Tech Cheer Team as they took 1st Place in their division! The Drumline performed a medley of their cadences as an exhibition for the crowd in attendance. The music department’s annual Winter Concert was December 15. It featured performances by the Music Appreciation students and the DBTI Concert Band. Family and friends enjoyed the festive event and the excellent seasonal performances. Player of the Month—The musician of the month is Kyle Shea for showing great determination to his musical talent and going beyond the expectations set before him by his peers. (Player of the Month information provided by Daniel Hosseini.) The DBTI Music Program offers several opportunities for your son to excel. Prior knowledge of an instrument is not required. The Concert Band will be well into rehearsals by the time you read this, to be followed by the Jazz Band in the spring. Please check out the band's YouTube channel, DBTI Music at www.youtube.com/dbtimusic and the program’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/dbtimusic. For more information about the band program, contact Music Director Daniel Almanza at dalmanza@boscotech.edu or dbtimusic@gmail.com. On behalf of the DBTI Music Program and the Music Boosters, we would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
“If architecture is frozen music, then music must be liquid architecture.” —Quincy Jones 6
STUDENTS SPREAD CHRISTMAS SPIRIT In many ways and through many activities, Bosco Tech students are remembering the true spirit of Christmas. We’re proud that these young men have focused on giving to others and in making the season festive for those less fortunate.
FRESHMEN SPONSOR TOY DRIVE “I believe that it is important for my classmates and me to give back because we’re aware of how fortunate we all are,” said Devyn Espino-Canche, Bosco Tech’s freshman class president. “However, there are many people who aren’t as fortunate and cannot afford toys, so we need to help fix this.” The freshmen gathered toys to distribute to local parishes and the Whittier Boys and Girls Club during the Christmas season. The generous young men elected to continue the toy drive tradition that was started by the class of 2015. Many of the same students also participated in the recent Operation Christmas Child shoebox donation drive (see page 2), recognizing that their giving will make Christmas much brighter for children both near and far.
NATIONAL HISPANIC HONOR SOCIETY FEEDS HOMELESS Members of Bosco Tech’s National Hispanic Honor Society focused their seasonal outreach on Los Angeles’ homeless population. The students, along with honor society moderator Antonia Elenes and parent chaperones purchased hamburgers, hot chocolate, churros and sopes to individuals in downtown Los Angeles. They had previously contributed and raised donations to purchase the food they handed out. “This was a blessing to both the people we met and shared with, and a good reminder to our students of how fortunate they are,” said NHHS Moderator Antonia Elenes. “I was so touched by how compassionate and sensitive these young men were to the plight of those they were helping. What a good reminder to continually reach out to others and to be thankful daily for all they have.”
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” —Matthew 25:40 (see page 8 for the International Club/Bingo’s toy drive)
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INTERNATIONAL CLUB TEAMS WITH BINGO IN TOY DRIVE —BY MRS. CATHERINE DIAZ, DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ACADEMIC PROGRAM
(continued from page 8) The new International Club has adopted Our Lady of the Rosary of Talpa Elementary School for the Adopt-a-School Program the club has instituted. This Christmas, our student ‘elves’ joined with Bosco Tech Bingo players as sponsors of Christmas gifts. Together, the players and the club members filled the requests from the letters each Talpa student wrote to Santa, gathering more than 300 toys. Adults and students wrapped the toys, returning them in time for every child to go home with a gift this Christmas. In keeping with the Salesian mission of Bosco Tech, our boys are learning to lead successful lives of distinguished service and social justice. This Santa drive is one of those opportunities to prepare the boys to be dedicated men of faith, integrity, and service. Thanks to the Bingo players for their support of this heartwarming and charitable event.
CSEE’S ROBOTICS TEAM WARMING UP FOR COMPETITION
Watch out for the Gearheads, the 2015-2016 CSEE Robotics team! The team is warming up for an active competitive season in the new year, starting with the FIRST Tech Challenge qualifying tournament on Jan. 17 in the San Fernando Valley. The Gearheads is one of Bosco Tech’s robotics team. The other team, in IDEA, focuses primarily on conceptualization and design, while CSEE’s contenders focus on the microcontroller hardware and programming in support of the technology’s curriculum. The team allows interested CSEE students to apply their theoretical knowledge to practical applications in robotics. Team members are required to be responsible, committed, and have the ability to work collaboratively. To encourage a high-quality of work, emphasize the value of others, and respect individuals and community, we adhere to the ethos of good sportsmanship known throughout First Robotics as “Gracious Professionalism.” Go, Gearheads!
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TRACK & FIELD UPDATE —BY ASSISTANT TRACK & FIELD COACH BRAD STOLZ
The Track & Field team will be starting its 2016 season with pre-season training as soon as students return from Christmas break. Off-season conditioning begins January 5 at 6 a.m .in the YAC. The season training will start February 1 at 3:30 p.m. on the mall. The competitive season extends from March to May (depending on CIF placement). 2015 was a very successful season for the team, with many of our athletes engaging in post-regular season CIF competition. 2016 looks even better. There is still time for athletes to join our championship team. Track & Field has 16 events to choose from including various distances in sprints, distance runs, and relay races; jumps, such as long jump, triple jump, high jump, hurdles, and pole vault; also throws, such as shot put and discus. Most do more than one event. There is something for everyone! See Coach Stolz for information and forms, or join the team at a training session.
SOCCER UPDATE To kick off the season on the right foot, the Varsity and JV soccer teams celebrated Mass and the start to another season. Then, team members took a break of sorts to square off with Tech graduates in the traditional Thanksgiving weekend alumni soccer game and BBQ. About 30 alumni participated in the popular event. The experienced alums won 4-2. After the game, past and current players bonded over a BBQ as the alumni regaled the team with stories about their time as student players and their most memorable games. The official season is fully underway. At this time, the team is 1-2. They have lost a hard fought game to St. Paul by a score of 1-0, and at Pius/St. Matthias Academy by 7-4. However, they bounced back at home against Verbum Dei with a 4-0 score. They are gearing up for the Winter Tech Classic 2015 where 12 schools from around Southern California will participate in a taxing four-day tournament.
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MATCHING GIFTS CAN DOUBLE DONATIONS Check to see if your company matches employee donations. If you make a tax-deductible gift to Bosco Tech, your employer may match that gift, dollar for dollar, doubling the financial impact. Scan the QR code or visit www.boscotech.edu/giving for more information on matching gift companies.
BOSCO TECH SPONSORS Bosco Tech would like to thank the following businesses for their support.
We are grateful to our generous sponsors! 10
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JANUARY 2016 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.
January Friday Monday Tuesday Saturday
1/1 1/4 1/5 1/9
Happy New Year School resumes Parent Council board meeting at 6 p.m. Technology Selection Day 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon Gear Up #1 for prospective incoming freshmen Wednesday 1/13 Alumni Association meeting at 6 p.m. Thurs.-Fri. 1/14-1/15 Technology exams Friday 1/15 Technology rotation #3 ends Locker cleanout for freshmen Monday 1/18 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday (no school) Tues.-Thurs. 1/19-1/21 First semester final exams (noon dismissal) Friday 1/22 Semester break (no school, but offices are open) Final exam make ups at 10 a.m. in the library Saturday 1/23 Bosco Tech music program Dodgeball Tournament SAT exam (off campus) Bosco Tech Snow Ball winter formal at Doubletree Hotel Monday 1/25 Second orientation with Mr. Plantillas (by technologies) Wednesday 1/27 Club photos Friday 1/29 Report cards mailed Admissions applications due (for incoming freshmen) Tuition assistance applications due (for current students seeking to renew assistance) Mass observing Feast of St. John Bosco at 10:40 a.m. (formal dress) Saturday 1/30 Admissions interviews for prospective incoming freshmen February Tuesday 2/2 Japanese classes field trip Parent Council board meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday 2/4 Vocation Day Saturday 2/6 ACT Bosco Tech Math Competition for 5th-8th graders Monday 2/8 Lunar New Year| Standardized test results meetings (grade 9 at 6 p.m., grades 10 & 11 at 7 p.m.) Wednesday 2/10 Ash Wednesday Thursday 2/11 Evening Open House from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday 2/12 Open House Holiday (no school) Saturday 2/13 Yurak 5K Run/Walk Monday 2/15 Presidents’ Day (no school) Wed.-Thurs. 2/17-2/18 Science Fair Please note: Given the change in the PSAT format, test results will not be returned on January 11, as originally stated in the school calendar. Instead, PSAT test results will be returned and explained to parents on Monday, Feb. 8, beginning at 6 p.m. for parents of freshmen. The second presentation, beginning at 7 p.m., will be for parents of sophomores and juniors.