The Gear--January 2021

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Mඈඇඍඁඅඒ Pൺඋൾඇඍ Nൾඐඌඅൾඍඍൾඋ Iඌඌඎൾ 104 Jൺඇඎൺඋඒ 2021

Virtual Open House Spotlights Best of the Tech

Mൾඌඌൺ඀ൾ ൿඋඈආ ඍඁൾ Pඋංඇർංඉൺඅ Hello Tech family— I hope that you and your family had a wonderful, albeit different, Christmas this year. I know that you’ll understand when I say that I have high hopes for 2021. Although conditions won’t completely change come January, it is my prayer that the months ahead will bring renewal, peace, and blessings to everyone in our Tech community!

I’m happy to share that even in the distance learning mode, our students finished final exams strong, successfully completing the first semester of the 2020-21 academic year. Because of their perseverance, hard work, and outstanding performance, I’m happy to report that more than 65 percent of these young men made either the Principal’s or President’s List for academic achievement! My hat is off to them, to their equally hard-working instructors who skillfully continue to adapt coursework to an entirely different teaching/ learning mode, and to you, the parents, who make it all happen on the home front. I know what it takes to create an environment conducive to learning and thriving at home and I appreciate your commitment to keep our students on track!

Congratulations to our freshman, the class of 2024, who made their technology selection in December and will begin in-depth studies in their chosen major as school resumes on January 5. To quote a favorite old movie, “...you have chosen wisely!” (“Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” in case you haven’t seen it.)

As we begin the second semester, let’s all take a deep breath, give ourselves and our young people a welldeserved pat on the back, and look eagerly toward the coming months, as life begins a slow return to ‘normal.’ Please continue to join me in prayer for our students—that they may be healthy, continue to thrive, understand the sense of community that supports them, and retain the adaptability skills they have developed during these months!

Please be assured that we will continue to carefully monitor local and state health conditions and will keep you informed about determinations for the instructional setting. As always, the health and safety of our Tech community is our top priority.

Here’s to 2021, Mr. Jeff Krynen (BT ’81) Principal

Cඁൺඋൺർඍൾඋ Aඌඌൾආൻඅඒ—Tඁൾ Wඈඋඅൽ Nൾൾൽඌ Uඌ ඍඈ Bൾ Sൺංඇඍඌ Special thanks to Bosco Tech's Character Assembly student committee, Mr. Brad Stolz, and Mr. Rudy Herrera, for creating an inspiring assembly for students and faculty on December 9. "The World Needs Us to Be Saints," encouraged each of us to be beacons of hope in our homes and our world, helping others by using the gifts God has given us! Great job, gentlemen!

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Eඇൽඈඐආൾඇඍ Eඌඍൺൻඅංඌඁൾൽ ංඇ Aඅඎආඇඎඌ’ Nൺආൾ Rൾඌඍ ංඇ Pൾൺർൾ, Dඋ. Fඋൺඇ඄ L. Aർඈඌඍൺ Jඋ. (MS ‘94) —O਎ਅ ਏਆ U.S.’ Tਏਐ Nਅਕ਒ਏਓਕ਒ਇਅਏ਎ਓ T਒ਁਇਉਃਁ਌਌ਙ Tਁ਋ਅ਎ Bosco Tech was incredibly saddened to learn of the tragic and sudden passing of alumnus Dr. Frank L. Acosta (MS ’94). Frank lost his life in a scuba diving accident off the coast of Catalina Island on Nov. 21, 2020.

Dr. Acosta, an Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery at the USC Spine Center at the Keck Hospital of USC, was considered one of the country’s top neurosurgeons.

“With his focus on spine deformity and complex reconstructive spine surgery, it’s fair to say, that there are people today, who have mobility they didn’t have before, or less pain, or maybe even are pain free, because of Frank’s discipline, focus and precision,” his obituary eloquently stated.

A 1994 graduate of Bosco Tech’s Materials Science technology, Dr. Acosta earned his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his neurosurgery residency at the University of California, San Francisco. He also completed a complex and reconstructive spine surgery fellowship at Northwestern University of Chicago.

To recognize his memory and contributions, Frank’s grieving family has graciously established a scholarship endowment in his honor to help deserving Bosco Tech students. The Dr. Frank Lugo Acosta Endowed Scholarship will help hardworking, in-need students from East Los Angeles’ St. Alphonsus Elementary School, or from its surrounding neighborhood. At his recent memorial services, Frank’s family very kindly requested donations be sent to Bosco Tech in lieu of flowers.

“Bosco Tech helped prepare me for my work by instilling in me compassion and altruism, while also providing a rigorous academic environment that prepared me for my studies before, during, and after medical school,” Frank said in a 2018 alumnus profile. “What has stayed with me from my Bosco Tech days is the solid foundation of scientific and technological knowledge that are still valuable to my practice to this day. In addition, I still recall the sincere interest that my teachers took in my education and strive to do the same to the current residents and fellows that I work with today.”

“Frank’s Tech family is heartbroken at his unexpected passing,” said President Memo Gutierrez. “His death is a great loss, not only to his family and loved ones, but to those whom his skill as a neurosurgeon would have helped in the future. And our hearts go out especially to his daughter—please join us in praying for her and for the entire Acosta family.”

Classmates and friends interested in contributing to the Dr. Frank Lugo Acosta Endowed Scholarship can do so by visiting the school’s website at boscotech.edu/giving/endowments/ To read the full obituary, visit https://www.guerragutierrez.com/obits.

Our heartfelt thanks to the Acosta family for their kindness. Rest in peace, Dr. Acosta.

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Tඎංඍංඈඇ Aඌඌංඌඍൺඇർൾ & Rൾൾඇඋඈඅඅආൾඇඍ ൿඈඋ 2021-2022 Sർඁඈඈඅ Yൾൺඋ The online tuition assistance application for the school year 2021-2022 for FACTS Grant & Aid became accessible through your Family Portal in the Financial tab on December 4, 2020.

Parents must apply annually online through FACTS Grant & Aid for Tuition Assistance located through your family portal. Tuition Assistance awards are valid for the year of application only. Assurance of an award is not guaranteed on an annual basis and depends on many factors, including available funding and application timing. We encourage families in need base only on Tuition Assistance to apply by the suggested dates. For Merit scholarships only, please do not apply through FACTS Grant & Aid; if your son qualifies, Mr. Nolasco will email you a Merit Scholarship application. The deadline to submit an online Tuition Assistance application through FACTS Grant & Aid is: December 4, 2020, thru February 5, 2021- No exception will be made after the deadline. Please follow the steps below: Returning Students- It is required first to fill out your Reenrollment Packet located through your Family Portal. Go to Apply/Enroll; select Reenrollment, select Open Enrollment packet, select Start Enrollment Packet, complete and submit. Tuition Assistance applications without a submitted Reenrollment Packet will not be reviewed.

1.To apply to the online Tuition Assistance through FACTS Grant & Aid, you will need to login to your family portal. Select the Financial tab, and then select Apply for FACTS Grant & Aid; sign in with your family portal email and password. FACTS Grant & Aid processing fee is $35.00.

2. Click on Start Tuition Assistance Application.

3. Select the appropriate school year.

4. Complete the steps as prompted.

Applicants will not be reviewed until all documentation is received and the fee paid. Please note that if your account is past due, your Tuition Assistance Application may be denied. The Tuition Assistance Program is designed to provide funds to eligible students from institutional and private funding sources.

Reenrollment for the school year 2021-2022 will be available on December 5, 2020, through your family portal with a deadline of January 31, 2021.

Login to your family portal under the Apply/Enroll tab, select Enrollment/Reenrollment tab, select click here to open enrollment, and then click on the start enrollment packet. Enrollment Packets are prepopulated; please update information or confirm the data by submitting your enrollment packet back to us by January 31, 2021. As stated in the Enrollment Contract, a $650.00 Enrollment fee is charged to your FACTS payment plan and due on February 26, 2021, with an automatic withdrawal from your account. Following charges are the Student Service Fees of $750.00 in two payments of $375.00 on March 26, 2021, and April 23, 2021.

Please contact Mrs. Doris Longoria at dlongoria@boscotech.edu with any questions.

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Fංඋඌඍ-Eඏൾඋ Vංඋඍඎൺඅ Oඉൾඇ Hඈඎඌൾ Dඋൺඐඌ Cඋඈඐൽඌ Bosco Tech hosted its first virtual Open House on Sunday, Dec. 13. “Overall, it was a tremendous success,” said Principal Jeff Krynen. “We were pleased to have opportunity to connect with so many families who are considering Bosco Tech as their future high school.”

The real-time question and answer chat box was kept full throughout day, with administrators and teachers on hand to directly answer questions through the text box or feed them to Coordinator of Youth Ministry Rudy Herrera, Athletic Director Vincent Nolasco and Mr. Krynen who addressed the inquiries live on camera.

Special thanks to students Jericoh Santiago, Isaiah Benitez, Elias Loya and recent graduate Alexis Mendoza for their help in putting on the impressive event! The event video is viewable on the school’s website under the Admissions tab.

Aඅඎආඇඎඌ’ Lංൿൾ Hൺർ඄ Bඈඈ඄ Nඈඐ Aඏൺංඅൺൻඅൾ Tech alumnus Eddie Loussararian (CT ‘91) has published his second book, “64 Life Hacks for Success.” Eddie’s book explains how to exude confidence, develop your communication and leadership skills, and give you a clear vision of how to get the most out of your life. Maintaining a success mindset isn’t easy, especially during a pandemic, and Eddie’s book contains practical and inspirational messages to help when life gets in the way of happiness.

His previous book, “When Bosses Go Wild,” offers ways for both managers and employees to handle a variety of challenging situations at work.

The newest book is available on www.amazon.com.

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Cඁඋංඌඍආൺඌ Cൺඋൽඌ Dൾඅංඏൾඋൾൽ ඍඈ COVID Nඎඋඌൾඌ —Tਈਁ਎਋ Yਏਕ ਆਏ਒ Yਏਕ਒ Sਕਐਐਏ਒ਔ, Tਅਃਈ Fਁ਍ਉ਌ਙ!

Many thanks to our Tech community who created cards full of encouraging messages for COVID nurses at Kaiser Downey and Baldwin Park! We are grateful for the organizational efforts of ASB and Youth Ministry, with the help of Mr. Rudy Herrera and Mr. Luis Garza, who personally delivered the cards to the hardworking and very appreciative care givers! There were lots of smiles and even tears of gratitude when the messages were delivered; the staff were especially grateful for your prayers!

Thank you to those who donated their time and effort to the 2020 Christmas Card Drive. Faculty, staff, the Salesian Community, parents and students, all participated. More than 300 cards, each expressing appreciation, love and prayers, were created and delivered.

The cards were distributed on Christmas Eve to the COVID/ICU nurses at Kaiser Downey and, because of your overwhelming support, there was a second drop off of the much-appreciated cards to Kaiser in Baldwin Park, as well.

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Gංඏංඇ඀ Hඈඉൾ, Sඁൺඋංඇ඀ Fඈඈൽ —Hඈඇඈඋ Sඈർංൾඍංൾඌ & Sൾඋඏංർൾ Oඋ඀ൺඇංඓൺඍංඈඇ Dඈඇൺඍൾ 1,000 Mൾൺඅඌ —Bਙ M਒ਓ. Tਉ਎ਁ Dਕ਎਎, Mਏਔਈਅ਒ ਏਆ B਒ਅ਎ਔਏ਎ Dਕ਎਎ (CSEE ‘22) On Saturday, Dec. 5, students from the Key Club, National Honor Society, and Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica dropped off 1,000 HOPE meals to be donated to families in the Montebello Unified School District who are under resourced and/or experiencing homelessness. These HOPE meals consisted of nonperishable, readily edible foods such as cup of noodles, macaroni and cheese, granola bars, cheese and crackers, water, and juice put in a gallon Ziploc bag so they are portable and easily accessible.

The intention is for students to have these meals over holiday breaks when school lunches are no longer available. For some students, school lunches are their main reliable source of food. These HOPE meals will help provide some food security for these students and their families.

The meals were delivered to Bella Vista Elementary School where they will be distributed to their needy families. A recipient reported how grateful she was and how helpful these meals are going to be. She and her children are currently living in a motel where there are no cooking facilities like a stove or oven. With a microwave, she is able to heat up water to make the meals for herself and her children. She feels very blessed to have these meals during this difficult time.

Thank you Techmen! You have made a big difference in the lives of others!

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DBTI Mඎඌංർ Pඋඈ඀උൺආ & Bൺඇൽ Nൾඐඌ Follow us on

Facebook and

Instagram at @DBTI Music today!

—Bਙ Bਁ਎਄ Bਏਏਓਔਅ਒ Jਕ਌ਉਅ Pਁਔਉ਎ਏ Happy New Year from the Don Bosco Tech Music Program and Band! We know that 2020 has been quite the year, with many challenges, including distance learning for our students, teachers and parents working from home and just a year of uncertainty as families struggle with illness, loss and isolation. Although the year 2020 turned our world upside down, it made us stronger and taught our students how to overcome adversity. But all in all, we continue to count our blessings as our Music Students continue to learn and practice their music virtually all through this Covid-19 Pandemic, and all while maintaining their grades in their academic subjects. So, here is to better times ahead for us all in 2021!

Congratulations to Mr. Almanza, band coaches and all of the Music Program students. Together they showcased a beautiful night of holiday spirit and cheer by performing an arrangement of assorted holiday favorites during their first-ever Virtual Winter Concert.

The night started off with a “Welcome” from Band Director, Mr. Daniel Almanza and the Band Booster President, Mr. Ray Barrera. Then on with the show, with virtual performances of “At the Feast of Stephan.”

“Little Drummer Boy,” “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree,” and “Blue Christmas.” The memorable night ended with a Sing-A-Long of traditional Christmas songs hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Almanza and a raffle of fabulous holiday gift baskets, all donated by the amazing band parents. Even though the band was not able to perform in person for their families, it was the next best thing. It was definitely a night to remember, especially knowing that the pandemic did not stop this tradition that has brought our Bosco Tech Community together for over 64 years. Thank you to our band families and the entire Bosco Tech Community. Together, we raised over $10,000 during this event.

lÉâ VtÇ `t~x t W|yyxÜxÇvx Since March 2020, our Music Program has been unable to fundraise due to the Pandemic. You can make a difference!

Join us in raising funds to help us continue to share the love of music with our students today and well into the future, by providing a quality music program, including access to music coaches, instruments, supplies, and technology. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today at: www.winterconcert.givesmart.com

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Tൾർඁ Iඇඌඍඋඎർඍඈඋ Cඋൾൺඍൾඌ & Sඁൺඋൾඌ Rൾඌඉඈඇඌඈඋංൺඅ Pඌൺඅආ Mඎඌංർ ൺඇൽ Gඈඌඉൾඅ Rൾൿඅൾർඍංඈඇ Jඈඎඋඇൺඅ —Oਆਆਅ਒ਓ Dਏਗ਎਌ਏਁ਄ਓ F਒ਅਅ ਏਆ Cਈਁ਒ਇਅ Mr. Claude LeBlanc (MT ‘78), Tech Theology instructor and alumnus, has created and made available two online resources. He is offering "The LeBlanc Psalms," music for all of the responsorial psalms in the three-year Catholic liturgical cycle, and “Journey with Jesus,” a reflection journal for the four gospels.

Both compilations are free of charge.

“I hope that those who sing my settings of the psalms will experience praying to God more powerfully and grow in their openness to hearing His Word and responding in love,” he said. “And it’s my hope that those who Journey with JESUS will come to know Him better, love Him more deeply, and follow Him more completely.”

Mr. LeBlanc shared that the psalm project dates back to the early 1990s when he started writing music for his choir at Whittier’s St. Gregory the Great parish. Eventually, he had handwritten music for all the responsorial psalms the Church uses in their Sunday and Holy Day liturgies. After receiving requests for the music from local musicians, he began recording and sharing them for free on YouTube and Facebook.

Since then, he’s had several hundred requests from around the world.

This past summer, a Florida choir director asked for permission to transcribe some of the psalms for his choir using a music notation software. He ended up transcribing all 174 responsorials (377 pages of music)! Mr. LeBlanc added a cover, an introduction, and several indexes and plans on releasing the collection online before 2021 at The LeBlanc Psalms Facebook group, (https://www.facebook.com/ groups/192884481166915). Although free of charge, donations are accepted to repay the choir director for his time.

“Journey with Jesus,” a year-long chronological journey through the four Gospels, as one story, with readings, reflections and prayers, is the culmination of several years of work. For some time, Mr. LeBlanc has hosted and written for many Facebook groups such as The BE (Like Jesus) ATTITUDES and most recently, A Scripture-based DAILY Examination of Conscience. Realizing that the need for posts for the latter group were going to end in late November, he kicked off a new Facebook Group this December called Journey with JESUS. Because of the lockdown, Mr. LeBlanc spent the summer writing all the posts for the year ahead.

With the posts now completed, he is offering them as a Reflection Journal for free. They can be downloaded on the group page, (https:// www.facebook.com/groups/193540114355760).

Thank you and may your work inspire many others, Mr. LeBlanc!

Fඈඅඅඈඐ Bඈඌർඈ Tൾർඁ ඈඇ Sඈർංൺඅ Mൾൽංൺ

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PSAT ൿඈඋ Sඈඉඁඈආඈඋൾඌ ඈඇ Jൺඇඎൺඋඒ 21 The administration of the PSAT, sanctioned and sponsored by the College Board, for the entire sophomore class remains scheduled for Tuesday, January 21.

Because the College Board requires that this test is proctored in an “in person” environment, a review of the COVID-19 conditions is being monitored on a week to week basis.

Bosco Tech will consider all safety measures imposed by the CDC and governmental Health department officials before a final determination is made regarding the administration of the PSAT on January 21. Parents and students will be advised of the decision to host the test by no later than January 15. Please contact Mr. Ray Chavez at rchavez@boscotech.edu with any questions.

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Jൺඇඎൺඋඒ 2021

Please note that dates, events and locations are subject to change, especially during current COVID-19 restrictions. Check the school’s full calendar at www.boscotech.edu (on the middle of the homepage) for the latest updates and for events rescheduled for later dates.

Thurs.-Fri. 12/31-1/1 Friday 1/1 Monday

1/4

Tuesday

1/5

Wednesday Wednesday Monday Tuesday Friday Sunday Mon.-Fri. Tuesday Friday Mon.-Fri. Wednesday

1/6 1/13 1/18 1/26 1/29 1/31 2/1-2/5 2/2 2/5 2/8-2/12 2/10

Thursday Friday Sunday Monday Wednesday Mon.-Fri. Thursday

2/11 2/12 2/14 2/15 2/17 2/22-2/26 2/25

School office closed Happy New Year!

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Faculty/Staff winter retreat (no classes) Second semester begins Parent Council meeting at 6 p.m.

Feast of the Epiphany Alumni Association meeting at 7 p.m.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day observed (school closed) PSAT for sophomores (on campus—pending county health guideline update) Celebration of the Feast of St. John Bosco Feast of St. John Bosco Catholic Schools Week Parent Council meeting at 6 p.m.

Tuition Assistance deadline for 2021-2022 College Week Ash Wednesday Alumni Association meeting at 7 p.m.

Parent Council Coffee with the Principal at 8 a.m.

DBTI regular admission application due St. Valentine’s Day! Presidents’ Day Holiday (school closed) Ash Wednesday National Engineers Week Registration/Enrollment for current students & the class of 2025

Iඇ Gඋൺඍංඍඎൽൾ—Cඁൺඋංඍൺൻඅൾ Gඋൺඇඍ Uඉൽൺඍൾඌ The Bosco Tech community is extremely grateful for recent grants awarded by: December  Bill Hannon Foundation $100,000 for COVID 19 relief  The Cranston Family/Philip Rinaldi Trust $ 36,000 for Salesian Youth Endowment Scholarships  The Hugh & Hazel Darling Foundation $ 10,000 for scholarships Bosco Tech truly appreciates our benefactors who share our mission to educate young people. Please let us know if you have connections to a charitable foundation, or if your employer has a grant-making program. Contact Manager of Foundation Relations Anne Sigoloff at asigoloff@boscotech.edu or (626) 940-2027.