September 2017

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THE GEAR MONTHLY PARENT NEWSLETTER ISSUE 68 SEPTEMBER 2017

BOSCO TECH’S FUTURE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2021—

WELCOME, FRESHMEN!

A MESSAGE FROM OUR PARENT COUNCIL PRESIDENT Hello fellow Bosco Tech families, My name is Josephina Lira and I have the honor of being the president of your 2017-2018 Bosco Tech Parent Council. I hope you had a great summer break and are ready to begin a wonderful new school year!

On behalf of our current families and the student body of Bosco Tech, I would like to give a warm welcome to our new freshman parents, the Techmen Class of 2021, and to all our transfer students. I look forward to working together as a family for the benefit of our young men.

It is the mission of the Parent Council to serve as the main liaison of information and support for the parents, families, and students of Bosco Tech. In this endeavor, it is our duty and pleasure to reach out to the parents and make them feel they are an integral part of our school community. By way of events the Parent Council holds, we network with parents and faculty to establish a sense of family and a sound foundation of trust and open communication.

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce our Bosco Tech Parent Council Executive Board Members: Norma Robles - Vice-President; Pola Florez - Recording Secretary; Elizabeth Harrell - Treasurer; Norma Camero - Emeritus Position; Council Members - Sandra Rollerson, Raul Martinez, Stephanie Gallardo, David Valdivia, Shannon McConnell, Deadra Toribio, and Mike Minter. Cathy Rivera, who is the assistant to the principal, is our Parent Liaison.

The Parent Council meetings are working meetings during which events and fundraisers are planned and coordinated. The Parent Council is made up of volunteer parents who apply to serve at the start of each academic year. For more information, please contact Mrs. Cathy Rivera at (626) 940-2006 or crivera@boscotech.edu.

A look ahead at our upcoming events: Back-to-School Night - Thursday, August 31, with dinner beginning at 5:30 p.m. in Tech Hall Freshman Mothers Mass and Luncheon - Sunday, September 24 at 10 a.m. in Multi-Purpose Room Holiday Boutique – Sunday, December 3 at 10 a.m. in Tech Hall Father and Son Mass and Breakfast - Sunday, April 15 at 10 a.m. in Tech Hall.

We look forward to meeting each of you and to another successful year that benefits each of our sons.

Warm Regards, Josefina Lira President, Bosco Tech Parent Council “With the blessings of St. John Bosco and the teaching of the Salesians, we will lead by example and shall remain united, in Christ, Family and Education.”

Below: This summer’s Parent Council-sponsored used textbook sale drew huge crowds.

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SUMMER INTERNS GAIN HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE & SKILLS Congratulations to our many students who completed prestigious summer internships at wellknown organizations throughout Los Angeles.

The eager students worked under the mentorship of engineers, architects, scientists and healthcare professionals to gain practical experience in professional and STEM fields.

Additionally, graduates Shant Loussararian (CSEE) and Frank Lora (CSEE), who interned at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) last summer, were invited to return to the NASA organization again this past summer. Each of these young men gained invaluable professional experience that will compliment their coursework.

On right: 2017 summer interns (Not pictured are Gabriel Espejel, Gavin Yam, Yehya Nasser)

Interning Companies And Students Amity Law Firm (Graphic Design) Gabriel Espejel (MAT) The Boeing Company (Aerospace Engin.)

Gabriel Benitez (CSEE) Anthony Caballes (CSEE) Fabrizio Castaneda (IDEA) Will Cosso (MSET) Yehya Nasser (CSEE) Aaron Sarmiento (IDEA)

IRS Demo (Green Tech./Construct.)

Anthony Longoria (ACE) Patrick Kakooza (ACE)

Kaiser Permanente (Medical) Anthony Torres (MSET) Kenneth Chua (MSET)

JMD Plan./Engin. Mgmt. (Civil Engin.)

Jordy Parades-Geddes (ACE) Daniel Hosseini (ACE)

KCS West Const. (Civil Engin,) Herson Cruz (ACE)

JPL (Elect. Engin.)

Frank Lora ‘2017( CSEE) Shant Lousararian ‘2017 (CSEE)

Pasadena Heritage Foundation (Arch.

Preserv/Social Media) Gavin Yam (CSEE)

WELCOME TO THE FUTURE GRADUATING CLASS OF 2021 The entire Bosco Tech community welcomes the future graduating class of 2021, our incoming ninth graders who have just completed the rigorous Freshman Summer Program (FSP), a five-week course of study designed specifically to introduce students to the five applied science and engineering fields they will be studying during their remaining years at Bosco Tech. (See page 6 for the next steps for these young men.)

Members of the incoming class are carefully selected from more than 60 elementary and middle schools in nearly 30 cities across the Los Angeles area.

We’re confident these young men will enjoy the coming four years at Bosco Tech and pray that their time here will be memorable and beneficial.

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NEWS FROM COUNSELING CENTER —BY SOPHOMORE AND JUNIOR ACADEMIC COUNSELOR PAUL ORTIZ

New Seniors (Class of 2018) The web page portals for seniors to apply to University of California campuses; and all colleges/universities who accept the Common Application are now open and accessible. Students can access the appropriate websites as follows: http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/ www.commonapp.org Seniors should particularly work on completing the required college essays from the group of questions asked of them on each application. Please contact Mr. Chavez (rchavez@boscotech.edu) in the Counseling Center if you have any questions.

SAT and ACT test dates Either the SAT or ACT test is required by four-year universities and colleges as part of the admission process.

Please review the list below for upcoming test dates and registration deadlines for either test.

SAT TEST DATE

DEADLINE TO REGISTER

October 7, 2017

September 8, 2017

EXPECTED RESULTS DATE October 26, 2017

November 4, 2017 December 2, 2017

October 5, 2017 November 2, 2017

November 23,2017 December 21,2017

ACT TEST DATE

DEADLINE TO REGISTER

September 9, 2017 October 28, 2017 December 9, 2017

August 4, 2017 September 22, 2017 November 3, 2017

EXPECTED RESULTS DATE September 19, 2017 November 14, 2017 December 19, 2017

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

Recommenders for college applications and scholarships Students should make contact with faculty, counselors and/or administrators who they plan to utilize as recommenders for their respective college and scholarship applications. Please contact Mr. Chavez if you have any questions regarding this matter.

SENIOR PARENTS The “College Information Night” for senior parents will be conducted Monday, September 11, beginning at (5:45 p.m. for last names ending in A-L; and 7:00 p.m. for last names ending in M-Z) in the Counseling Center (school library). All senior parents should plan on attending this meeting so they may receive the most current college admissions information pertaining to their student.

(Continued on next page)

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NEWS FROM COUNSELING CENTER (Continued from previous page)

The following counseling events are scheduled for parents for the month of September (Note: These events are on the 2017-2018 Bosco Tech general calendar): 1. Event: 12th Grade College Information Session (for parents of Tech seniors) Date: Monday, Sept. 11, 2017 Place: Bosco Tech Library Time: a.) Senior parents with last names beginning with the letters A - L: 5:45 - 6:45 p.m. b.) Senior parents with last names beginning with the letters M - Z: 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

2. Event: 9th Grade College Information Session (for parents of 9th grade students) Date: Wednesday, September 20, 2017 Place: Bosco Tech Library Time: 5:45 - 6:45 p.m.

Note: a.) While the aforementioned events are geared primarily for parents, students also may attend. b.) Parents who attend may receive a maximum of one hour toward the Bosco Tech parent service requirement.

BOSCO TECH COLLEGE FAIR Don’t miss Bosco Tech’s College Fair on Tuesday, October 10, when representatives from over 50 colleges and universities from across the country will gather on campus to provide information and answer questions about their respective schools.

This annual event, which runs from 6 to 8 p.m., is mandatory for all Bosco Tech students. Families and students from other schools are welcome to attend. This is a great opportunity to compare schools and have your questions answered.

For more information about the fair, contact Mr. Raymond Chavez, Director of Counseling, at rchavez@boscotech.edu or (626) 940-2084.

SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT REMINDER As summer draws to a close, keep in mind that the first day of school is only a few days away! This means that, among other things, students need to finish summer assignments. Hopefully, students have already taken care of the basics, like buying any books necessary for summer assignments. All students entering grades 10–12 can find their summer assignments in the “Current Students” section of our web page (https://www.boscotech.edu/current-students/). All summer assignments are due on (or in a few cases, before) the first day of school. We hope the last few days of summer are both relaxing and productive!

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FRESHMAN TECHNOLOGY SELECTION PROCESS Now that Bosco Tech’s freshman class has successfully completed the five-week Freshman Summer Program (FSP), they are gearing up for the official academic year.

During the first semester, class members will spend their technology time rotating through three introductory programs of their choosing. These overview courses will inform students of the varied classes, exciting projects, and college and career opportunities associated with that technology major.

Every six weeks, parents and guardians are required to attend a special meeting with teachers, called the Technology Information Session (TIS):  TIS #1 Thursday, 9/21, 7 p.m.  TIS #2 Sunday, 11/5 (Open House) 11:30 a.m.  TIS #3 Wednesday, 12/13, 6 p.m.

These important meetings provide information about each program so the final decision in selecting a technology major involves both the parent and student.

On Saturday, January 6, each freshman and at least one parent or guardian must attend Technology Selection Day during which students are scheduled, in order of their GPA, to be interviewed before determining their final technology choice. This important day results in the student being placed into the technology program that he will study for the next three and a half years at Bosco Tech. Questions regarding the technology programs offered at Bosco Tech should be directed to technology chairs or Mr. Eric Tom, Dean of STEM Studies at etom@boscotech.edu.

B-I-N-G-O! Did you know Bosco Tech’s hugely popular Bingo program raised $450,000 last school year? This year’s goal is $500,000. The program is run by a dedicated team of parent volunteers who need your help. If you are available this Saturday or any Saturday night from 4 to 10:30 p.m., please contact Paul Garcia at pgarcia@boscotech.edu or 626-940-2147. He will help get you signed up! No experience is necessary—just wear comfortable shoes and plan for a fun evening with other Tech family members!

Thank you for supporting Bosco Tech Bingo!

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TECH INSTRUCTOR SELECTED BY COLLEGE BOARD —AP HISTORY EXAM SCORER Bosco Tech History instructor Erick Williams had another busy summer! He was selected by the College Board to serve as an Advanced Placement exam reader. The organization flew him to Tampa, Florida, where he spent a week in early June working alongside teachers from across the country, undergoing extensive instruction and training before reviewing and evaluating student U.S. History exams.

Past official AP readers testify that the annual AP reading offers a rare and enriching professional development experience by providing them with the opportunity to develop teaching approaches and ideas through close interactions with a diverse group of professional colleagues.

TECH STUDENTS NAMED ADVANCED PLACEMENT SCHOLARS Congratulations to the following current students and recent graduates who earned recognition from the College Board for their superior performance on the Advanced Placement exams taken in the spring. Nine Bosco Tech students were named AP Scholars, seven earned the AP Scholar with Honor title, and three were awarded the coveted AP Scholar with Distinction designation. Congratulations to these hard working young men: Shane Beshlian Ran Cao Kenneth Chua

AP Scholars Devin Cornair Sebastian Rojas John-Paul Gomez-Reed Luis Saucedo

Diego Vargas Fang Ziyi

AP Scholars With Honor Diego Barbosa Anthony Garcia

Joel Medina Mario Mijangos

Timothy Thai Jun Lin Zeng

Hang Ming Zhang

AP Scholars With Distinction Matthew Lewis

William Ramos

Lorenzo Zamora

GET INVOLVED! Welcome, parents! Participation in Bosco Tech’s parent service program is a great opportunity for you to meet other parents while setting a good example for your son about the value of giving back. Events will be advertised throughout the school year.

The deadline for the completion of parent volunteer hours for grades 9-12 is April 30, 2018. Also, by December 31, 2017, all parents will be required to have at least half their hours completed. Failure to fulfill volunteer hours and/or assigned bingo evenings will result in a charge to your tuition account of $50 per hour per enrolled student.

While all parents are required to complete 30 volunteer hours throughout the school year, parents with two or more enrolled sons simply complete an additional 10 hours per year for each subsequent student.

Bingo volunteers—Did you know Bosco Tech’s popular Bingo program raised $450,000 last school year? This year’s goal is $500,000. Thank you to our bingo volunteers for your part in this successful effort. If you are currently enrolled in the Bingo Program Option A, you will volunteer 25 hours with the bingo program. Bingo parents are assigned dates and teams and this information is sent via mail. Contact Mr. Paul Garcia at pgarcia@boscotech.edu or 626-940-2147 with any questions regarding your bingo sessions.

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SCHOOL PICTURE DAY Don’t forget, Wednesday, August 31, is school picture day. It is a formal dress day for all students as indicated on both the website and in the handbook. Flyers with photo package information will be passed out to students on the first day of class (ask your son) and are available at mylifetouch.com. LifeTouch customer service can be reached at 626-577-7012. Picture make-up day is Mon., Sept. 25.

Reminder to senior parents: graduation portraits should have been taken during the month of August. If you have not made arrangements for your son’s senior portrait, please contact Lifetouch (626-577-7012) to schedule his sitting as soon as possible! Questions about senior portraits? Email DBTIclassof2018@gmail.com.

ELIMINATE STRESS—CARPOOL Are you interested in carpooling with other Bosco Tech families? If so, please see Mrs. Espie Rocha at the front desk for carpooling forms that must be completed and returned. These forms provide authorization to share your contact information with other school families who are also interested in carpooling. Families within the same zip code will be notified, allowing parents to make ride-sharing arrangements among themselves.

TELL FRIENDS & FAMILY— BOSCO TECH HOSTS GEAR UP FOR HIGH SCHOOL NIGHT ON SEPT. 27 Please tell friends and family members—Bosco Tech will again host “Gear Up for High School” for elementary and middle school students and their parents, teachers, and administrators on Wednesday, September 27, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

During the free event, representatives from local Catholic private and archdiocesan high schools will provide information and answer questions about each school’s admissions process, curriculum, and academic and extracurricular programs.

“As a convenience to families in our community, we’re gathering local private high schools in one place,” said Bosco Tech Principal Xavier Jimenez. “Gear Up for High School is a great opportunity for younger students to learn more about the many quality Catholic secondary schools in our area and plan ahead.”

Call (626) 940-2009 with questions and to register. , 6-8 p.m.

27 September

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IMPORTANT CAMPUS POLICY REMINDERS As we move into the new school year, please review these important guidelines. For a full description, please see the 2017-2018 Parent-Student Handbook.

Attendance In the event of an absence, please call the Attendance Office at (626) 940-2002 and leave a message on the answering service by 9 a.m. The parent/guardian calling must state the following: a) student's name, year, and ID # b) reason for the student's absence c) phone number where the parent/guardian may be reached during the day.

Upon returning to campus, the student must present a signed note to the attendance office stating the dates and reason for the absence. If the student was treated by a physician, he must bring a note from the doctor and present it to the school nurse. The note must state: a) the date the student is permitted to return to school and b) any restrictions regarding participation in school activities such as PE, sports or technology.

Tardies A student is tardy to school if he is not in his assigned place when the first period bell rings. If tardy, he must obtain a late slip from the Attendance Office. A note from a parent/guardian should always be presented explaining the reason for tardiness, although this does not assure the student an excused tardy. Disciplinary action will be taken if the reason for the tardy is not recognized as valid.

Students are given four verbal warnings before detentions are issued. They will begin to serve after-school detention once they have accumulated their fifth tardy and serve Saturday detentions after their eighth tardy. After the eighth tardy, parents will be contacted and a parent conference will be required to develop a plan that will assist the student in being punctual to class. Fifteen tardies per semester are the maximum allowed before credit for the course becomes null.

Student drop offs Parents are asked not to drop off or pick up students in the front administration parking lot because of the inherent danger this causes students on foot; instead, parents are asked to use the south parking lot to drop off/pick up students before/after school. Please observe the ‘no parking’ areas in front of the school, including the bus stop and designated emergency vehicle zones. Parents’ vehicles are not allowed on campus at any time unless by specific permission.

Closed campus For the safety of our school community, Bosco Tech is a closed campus between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:05 p.m. Visitors must sign in in the front lobby and be escorted to their requested location on campus. Upon completing business on campus, visitors must check out as they leave.

Lunch drop offs Dropping off lunch or lunch money after 8 a.m. is strongly discouraged as this requires a dean to deliver such items to a specific student. If you have pre-arranged with your son to drop off lunch/money, the student should pick it up in the front lobby during his lunch hour. Delivery of drop offs cannot be guaranteed. All lunches left unclaimed after 3:05 p.m. will be disposed of.

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

WELCOME The Don Bosco Technical Institute Music Program would like to welcome you to the 2017-2018 School Year.

It’s been a busy summer for leaders of the DBTI band, having attended several leadership camps that will help them lead the way for another successful, music-filled school year.

California Leadership Academy—This summer, the Music Program sent Stanley Quiros, Daniel Hosseini, Daniel Arteaga, Henry Rosas, Yungjoon Kim, Yifan Zhang and Nicolas Gutierrez to the California Leadership Academy (CLA). The CLA has been providing leadership training to band leaders across Southern California for over 25 years. "Directors confirm that the CLA approach to band leadership training has had very positive effects on their programs, and that their student leaders return to school with enthusiasm, positive attitudes, and the knowledge to lead their peers effectively.”

System Blue Leadership Camp—The Music Program sent Daniel Hosseini, Anthony Reyes, Michael Garcia, and Ethan Truong to the System Blue Leadership Camp this summer. The camp provides the band leaders the opportunity to refine their leadership and teaching skills to help make this coming school year a success.

MARCHING BAND REGISTRATION—In preparation for marching band camp, the band leaders will be having their leadership training on August 15 and 16. This is followed by the New Musician Workshop, on August 17 and 18, where students are first exposed to the DBTI music program. If your son likes music, wants to be exposed to leadership opportunities or would simply like to be part of the DBTI band family, please consider joining us at the Marching Band Registration day that is scheduled for Saturday, August 19. You’ll learn about the wonderful experiences the band members have had while in the music program.

MARCHING BAND CAMP—The marching band’s summer “Band Camp” is scheduled for the week of August 21, 2017. During this time, band members learn the basics of marching and prepare themselves for the upcoming marching band season. Band leaders will be going over plans for the year, developing new projects that would help the Music Program achieve its goals. The camp ends with a family BBQ on August 24, showcasing the band’s first performance of the year.

LEADERSHIP SPOTLIGHT—The 2017 DBTI Royal Techmen Marching Band leaders are Drum Major Daniel Hosseini, Assistant Drum Major Michael Garcia, Brass Section Leader Stanley Quiros, Woodwinds Section Leader Ethan Truong, Percussion Section Leader Anthony Reyes, Librarian Yifan Zhang, Officers Yungjoon Kim, Henry Rosas, Rai Torrez and Nicolas Gutierrez, and Senior Class Representative Daniel Arteaga.

The Bosco Tech music program is more than just the marching band!

After football season, many band members transition to the Concert Band for the winter months, and finally to the Jazz Band in the spring.

Students who join one of the school's band programs learn valuable lessons about leadership and working together as a group. And extracurricular activity such as music will look great on any college application.

Parents are invited to check out the band's YouTube channel, DBTI (continued on next page)

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BOSCO TECH MUSIC NEWS (CONTINUED) 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.

“Beginnings are usually scary and endings are usually sad, but it’s everything in between that makes it all worth living.” —Bob Marley

c raphi Helping Your Son Succeed g & info w e n Need ALL JUNIORS TO COMPLETE PRINCETON

REVIEW

All juniors will once again complete an in-depth SAT exam prep course on campus administered by The Princeton Review; this means that they need not enroll in an outside program. The course, offered at no additional charge to our families, runs over the span of a little more than one month, including three Saturdays and 12 late dismissal days. On those scheduled dates, dismissal for the juniors will be postponed by 40 minutes to accommodate the amount of material covered. The program and the Saturday practice test dates are mandatory for all juniors.

Late dismissal Test Prep dates and Saturday practice exam dates are already posted on the school’s website, in the general calendar. Please contact Mr. Krynen (jkrynen@boscotech.edu) with any questions.

ALL STUDENTS TO BUILD COLLEGE TEST PREPARATION SKILLS Each fall, Bosco Tech students participate in a campus-wide effort to prepare for standardized testing and the college application process. While all juniors are currently completing a full Princeton Review preparatory course on campus, other students are also benefitting from advanced preparation for upcoming tests and future college admissions.

All freshmen and sophomores will be guided through test preparation materials to prepare for the PSAT test.

The material will address preparation in the areas of reading, mathematics and writing. Additionally, teachers will use the time periods to focus on developing the critical reading and writing skills fundamental to college admissions and, later on, for college success.

“Strong critical reading and effective writing skills are two of the most important predictors of success as students enter their university careers,” said Mr. Jeff Krynen, Assistant Principal of Curriculum and Instruction.

“Bosco Tech is strongly committed to building these skills, beyond the standard college preparatory curriculum, to help ensure our students not only succeed, but excel as they transition into the undergraduate phase of their educations, after they graduate from our school.”

Seniors are participating in a series of college admissions sessions that will cover several important topics including financial aid, scholarships, the Cal State and UC applications, and the Common Application process. In addition, representatives from several universities will meet with the senior class. If you have questions regarding the senior sessions, please contact the Mr. Ray Chavez, Director of Counseling, at (626-940-2084 and rchavez@boscotech.edu)

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TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME...

Join us for Bosco Tech Night Fundraiser with the Dodgers vs. the Colorado Rockies Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017 6:10 p.m. game time

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icJoin us in the Coca-Cola Right Field Pavilion for a great time with raphour g & Tech family and all-you-can-eat grub! Tickets are $50 each*; a o w inf limited number of tickets is available.

Contact Mrs. Viki Battaglia, Director of Alumni Relations & Special Events at vbattaglia@boscotech.edu or (626) 940-2070 to secure your tickets today. * $50 ticket cost includes $8 donation to Bosco Tech Fund.

FR. HAROLD’S SPECIAL THANKS TO ANONYMOUS DONOR Bosco Tech’s own Fr. Harold Danielson, SDB, recently let us know that he received a new three-wheel bicycle from a generous anonymous giver. His own bike, that he used to get around the large campus for his extensive recycling work, recently had gone missing near the Salesian residence, on the community patio (renovation and increased security is planned for this area in the future.)

Fr. Harold is extremely grateful for his new bike and asked that this message be shared to convey his appreciation to the giver’s kindness Dear Friends— When I first arrived at Bosco Tech in August 2014, among the first things I did was acquire a three-wheeled cycle for transport around our large campus. I used it for 2 1/2 years and everyone recognized me for it.

A couple of months ago, that blue three-wheeler was taken from the Salesian residence community patio. I had been negligent in locking it up when not in use.

A few weeks ago, our receptionist Espie Rocha called me to the front lobby. When I arrived (lo and behold!), a bright red three-wheeler was parked in the center of the lobby. Mr. Jimenez was there, as well as Cathy Rivera, Doris Longoria and Espie and several other staff members.

It was a gift from an anonymous person. I was totally flabbergasted. And embarrassed. Throughout my life, I have blushed, turning red very easily. I do not know what color my face was at that moment.

I am so, so grateful for this marvelous gift. You may know I have a situation with my feet. So just getting around has become simple again. I also inherited a wheel chair from Br. Tony Freitas, SDB, and others in between. Going around pushing the recycle bin is so much less distressing than before. So I am known by our students for my tricycle and my wheel char! We send a lot of money to the missions with the California Cash Refund program, besides what is collected in each Tech.

Many, many thanks!

Blessings and peace in Don Bosco and Mary, our help, Fr. Harold Danielson, SDB

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2017 FRESHMAN SALESIAN EXPERIENCE —BY ASSISTANT CAMPUS MINISTER BRAD STOLZ

On July 21, during the middle of summer school, as our freshmen approached the school’s back gate on their way to their first morning class, they spied something unusual: they saw two rows of white t-shirt clad upperclassmen. They could see that they had to pass through the 50 hic older p a r g students to get onto the fo &campus. Each of n i w the older students had “Big Brother” ed ne e N printed on the back of his t-shirt. If this were some kind of initiation, the freshmen realized that they could not run away because their arms were full of textbooks, sleeping bags, pillows, boogie boards, and other items. As each freshman reached the gate, their fear lessened as a Big Brother walked toward each one and offered to help carry some of the freshman’s items. Their fears disappeared when they began walking between the two rows of the now loudly applauding upperclassmen.

This was the start of the traditional Bosco Tech welcoming experience and two-day retreat put on by the Youth Ministry Core Team and Big Brothers under the direction of Mr. Rudy Herrera (Mr. H), with the aid of many parent volunteers. This retreat was the end result of two months of preparation, culminating in a Thursday overnight retreat in which the leaders sought God’s help in putting on a positive experience for the freshmen over the next two days.

The retreat itself began with a shared lunch with their Big Brothers. After classes, they were welcomed in the chapel by Mr. H. Afterwards, they began bonding with each other and the Big Brothers through a series of icebreakers. The most popular ice breaker on that warm day was the last. It started off as a water toss with a partner, but ended in a giant free-for-all battle using 1,400 water balloons, igloos, and anything else that could hold water. No one was too wet or tired to eat dinner, which was followed by an hour-long scavenger hunt. As it became dark, a reconciliation service began and the opportunity to make an individual confession presented itself. The day ended with the traditional Salesian Good Night as practiced by St. John Bosco. After that, some actually did get a few hours of sleep.

Early Saturday morning, the retreat and the bonding with each other and with God continued in a different environment at Huntington State Beach. After a safety talk by a lifeguard, everyone was in the cool water, which was certainly warmed by their enthusiasm. In addition to enjoying the water, other popular activities were building sand castles, playing volleyball and soccer, burying classmates, and tossing Frisbees.

Lunch and dinner, cooked by some of their hard-working parents, were also extremely popular.

The retreat ended back at Bosco with the traditional Salesian Good Night, but this time they were joined by their parents. The boys ended this great start to their four years by serenading their pleasantly surprised parents with the “Don Bosco” song.

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CROSS COUNTRY PREPARES FOR SUCCESSFUL SEASON —BY ASSISTANT CROSS COUNTRY COACH BRAD STOLZ

To be successful at anything in life requires many factors. Two that are usually essential are planning and effort. This is true in sports, and cross country is no exception. Bosco Tech’s cross country team started its planning and effort for the 2017 season the week before summer school began.

The team members came each day for two hours of work in the weight room. These workouts started their conditioning by strengthening p theiricbody core. This ra hbonding. g also initiated the team members’ & infoof their preparation started during w The second phase e n Needsix week summer school. Workouts began at Bosco’s the refreshing hour of 6 a.m. each day (6:30 on Saturdays) and lasted until 7:30 a.m. for those taking summer classes, and until 8:30 or 9:00 a.m. for the rest.

Each workout consisted of about 20 minutes of warmups, followed by a run. The team members were grouped for the runs according to their ability and experience, starting with two miles a day for the new runners, up to six miles for the top runners. When they would acquire better running skills, they would increase the distance they ran, until the slowest runners were running 4-5 miles a day, while the best were going daily about 8-10 miles.

During this time, cross country held two fundraisTop: alumni runners raced the current Cross Country team; bottom: Head ing car wash events. The first, at the end of July, Coach Blayze Fimbres instructs the runners during training camp. was an enjoyable experience with the Bosco cheerleaders. The second one, on August 12, was a combination cross country alumni race versus the current team members, car wash, and barbeque. The winner was junior and team captain Aaron Dominguez with a time of 11:55 for the two-mile race around Bosco, followed by sophomore Joey Rivas and junior Joseph Cisneros. The best the alumni could do was a fifth place finish by Chris Grimmett (CS’10). The most exciting finish was the seventh place battle between Diego Arias (MS 15) sneaking up from behind to beat current Head Coach Blayze Fimbres (CS’10) by a photo finish. Rudy Andrade (GC’91)was the oldest alumnus to attend. The morning ended with the great job done by the boys at the car wash and the great barbeque put on by their talented parents.

The highlight of summer practice and conditioning was their high altitude training camp at Big Bear from August 13 to 18, attended by 22 athletes, 3 coaches and 11 parents. Olympic champions from Kenya and Ethiopia use this technique to win marathons. Our purpose was not to win marathons, but to dominate our league and eventually go to CIF and finally the State Championships in Fresno. Each day there was usually an early morning and then a late afternoon run. These runs were often on steep mountain trails, and quite difficult. The distance of each of the runs was based on the individual’s ability. As their capability progressed, the team members were challenged to do more.

By the end of camp, the athletes and coaches had each run about 20 to 65 miles. All wasn’t work, however, as they went into town several times and had the middle of each day to relax. A half day was devoted to instruction in avoiding injury by proper stretching and running form by one of the parents, Mrs. Christine Valdovinos, who is a physical therapist.

The bonding that occurred through their common struggles and fun made them a more united team, one with a much higher level of skills, endurance, and confidence. The leadership qualities shown there will culminate with their election of captains. While very tired at the end, all can agree that this camp experience was quite valuable toward making their winning goals a reality.

Come, support the Bosco Tech Cross Country Team by attending our meets: Sept. 8—Rosemead HS (night); Sept. 15—Woodbridge (night); Sept. 20—1st League Meet, Southgate; Sept. 23—Dana Hills.

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SEPTEMBER 2017 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.

Monday Wednesday Thursday Friday Monday Wed.-Fri. Thursday

8/28 8/30 8/31 9/1 9/4 9/6-9/8 9/7

Friday Saturday

9/8 9/9

Monday Tuesday

9/11 9/12

Wednesday

9/13

Thursday Saturday Sunday Tuesday Wednesday

9/14 9/16 9/17 9/19 9/20

Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Tuesday

9/21 9/22 9/23 9/24 9/26

Wednesday

9/27

Thursday Tuesday

9/28 10/3

School begins for all grades; orientation for each grade in library by techs School picture day (formal dress) Back-to-School Night (Parent Council dinner at 5:30 p.m.; meeting at 6 p.m.)

Late start at 8:50 a.m.

Labor Day (no school) Triduum (assembly/reconciliations/liturgy) Test Prep #1 Athletics parent meeting in gym at 7 p.m.

Triduum liturgy (formal dress) ACT (on campus) SAT practice test #1 (mandatory all juniors) 12th grade college info night (last names A-L at 5:45 p.m.; M-Z at 7 p.m.)

Test Prep #2 Parent Council meeting at 6 p.m.

Test Prep #3 Alumni Association meeting at 6 p.m.

Test Prep #4 Women’s retreat with Bishop O’Connell Special Sunday Bingo starts at 1 p.m.

Test Prep #5 Test Prep #6 9th grade college info night at 5:45 p.m. followed by TIS #1 in techs at 7 p.m.

Test Prep #7 Dance #1 at 7 p.m.

SAT practice test #2 (mandatory all juniors) Freshman Mother’s Luncheon from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Test Prep #8 Picture make-up day Test Prep #9 Progress Report #1 grades dues High School Night for middle school students at 6 p.m.

Test Prep #10 Parent Council meeting at 6 p.m.

PARENT COUNCIL MEETING / BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT IS AUG. 31 The new school year promises to be a productive and successful one. Please plan to attend Back-to-School Night on Thursday, Aug. 31. The evening begins with a pizza dinner at 5:30 p.m. Hosted by the Bosco Tech Parent Council, dinner is $5 per person. Back-to-school informational activities begin at 6 p.m. All teachers, counselors, and school administrators will be on hand to meet parents. We look forward to seeing you there!