Winter Formal

Come celebrate “Treasure The Night” with us at Benson’s Winter Formal January 22nd at the Treasury Ballroom.This is located at 326 SW Broadway (97205) a couple blocks away from the Abercrombie & Fitch downtown from 8pm to 11pm. Tickets are on sell starting January 14th to January 19th at Benson in main hallway by the vice principals office its $20 per single $35 per couple if you are planning to bring a date the guess passes are also in the vice principals office they are due back in there January 20th it is more than likely there will be a spot to turn them in at. If u don't attend Benson give it to your date or guess and they should know what to do with it. If you are planning to come have fun with us don't wait until the last minute the tickets are limited they are only selling 300 tickets so get them when you can if you don't have the money you can try to work something out ahead of time with student council. Hope to see you there.

-Stanley  Caples

Benson's New Counselor

Student’s have grown very fond of our new counselor, but do not know much about her. Schares attended high school in Winthrop, Iowa, and apparently was quite an athlete. She claims that although she played many sports, her best was track, at which she anchored 4x400m relay team to a state championship and placed in The Open 400m Dash.

        After graduating, Schares went to Iowa state university to pursue her career in teaching. While also competed for the varsity track team in the 400m and 800m. When she graduated from College she accepted a job teaching at a middle school but after two years, decided to move to Folosom, California to work at a book store.

At this book store she found interest in school counseling and by fall 2008 she moved to portland  to get her masters degree in education. She was working at Madison part time for the past 2 years in a variety of programs offered for students. Now that she is at Benson, she claims that she never really understood how Benson’s Career and technical program worked until this year.

“I am impressed and amazed by the work our students and staff do here” Schares states.

Mrs. Schares seems to be clearly proud of where she works and says she loves her job at the school. Talking about the school also introduced her feelings about the students.

“I have found them to be entertaining, inspiring and enjoyable. It makes me look forward to walking up those steps everyday.”

Although Mrs. Schares loves benson and all of its madness, she also states her leasr favorite.

“When I’m walking across the overpass in the morning and cars splash me by driving too fast through the puddles in the outer lane.  You end up totally sprayed, and that’s just no way to start your day.” Which apparently is something we all dislike.

Same Sign, New Message

For the past 63 years the sign on the West end of Burnside Bridge has been seen, and is known by almost everyone in Portland.  When first built by Ramsay Signs, the sign read “White Satin”, then later changed to “White Stag”, and then again to “Made in Oregon”.  In 1977 the sign became a historic landmark in Portland, especially during Christmas when the nose of the deer shines red.  White Stag completely moved out of Portland, and was bought by a company who had trouble keeping it lit.  The owner then died and the sign was in trouble of either being moved or permanently shut-off.

In 2008 the University of Oregon moved in and started to pay part of the bill to keep the sign lit.  Since they were part of the pay, the Ducks were possibly going to be incorporated into the sign.  It had a chance of reading “University of Oregon”, or display a huge “O”.  People were mad with these ideas, since the University wasn’t even in Portland.  Therefore the University stopped paying for part of the sign.

    The sign was acquired by the City of Portland in 2010 and the Portland City Council agreed to give ownership to the City of Portland and have the sign read “Portland Oregon”. An agreement was made where the sign would be donated to Portland.  In return the City of Portland would pay $2,000 a month for electricity costs and maintenance.  Art DeMuro, who is the building owner on which the sign is attached to, donated $200,000 to the city to have the lettering changed to “Portland Oregon”.  The sign was rebuilt and ready to go by November 26th, 2010 lighting the temporarily dark corner.

-Connor Buckley

Talented Teacher Joins English “Gang”

About three weeks into the second quarter, Mr. Peyton explained to his senior classes that one of them were going to have to move into a new class.  Each of the English teachers had an extra class that they were forced to give up.  In the beginning it was unknown which class was going to have to move. The teachers didn’t get to pick the classes that were to be switched.  It was announced on Wednesday, December 8th that Mr. Peyton’s fourth period class was going to get the new teacher.  That’s when the new teacher, Ms. Margolis found which classes she would be teaching.  “I knew we were going to be the class that was going to change” said Jason Ma “I hoped it wouldn’t be us though.”

Other classes from the remaining English teachers also moved in with Mrs.Margolis.  The English teachers each had an extra class which had to be given up. Even though the students were happy with the teachers they had, they were to accept the change even if it was going to be hard.  The English teachers are good teachers and this teacher is going to add that much more talent to the group.  Ms. Karen Morgolis has an MFA (Master’s in Fine Arts), has a MA (Masters in Education), has worked with Writer’s in The Schools (WITS), and has thought about, but has never got her writing published.  Writing is only one of her specialties; reading can be considered another.  When asked what three books every high school student should read in her opinion, she replied “Not every book is right for every person.  More than anything, I think it’s important that students find an author or a genre that they truly enjoy.  As long as the reading causes you to think and grow and inspires you to read more, it’s probably worthwhile.”

That is what WITS is known for; getting students interested in reading.  WITS is an organization which helps awaken the inner writer and reader in students.  They use creative ways of getting students engaged in their writing or reading.  Not every student shows their talents and this is a way for them to discover their potential.  WITS is a national program working all around the United States.  She worked with WITS for six years and taught poetry workshops at Grant, Benson, Cleveland, and Franklin.  While working for WITS, she also worked as a Creative Writing teacher with Saturday Academy.  “I sat in on her class to ease the transition; everything seemed to be just fine.  I believe that if the students give her a fair shot, they're in for great content. That's what WITS teachers are known for” Mr. Peyton explains.

This is a highly-qualified teacher who wants to spread her knowledge around Benson getting the most out of her students.  Her new students have start attending her class since Winter Break.  They are privileged to be able to experience half a year with her as their teacher.

-Connor Buckley