Don Bosco Technical Institute


Don Bosco Technical Institute is an all-male, private, Catholic high school in Rosemead, California, combining college-preparatory academic courses and technological education. The academic curriculum allows students to meet or go beyond the admission requirements of the Universities of California, the California State Universities and most other four-year colleges and universities throughout the country.

General Information

Bosco Tech offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities as well as sports. The school is based on Catholic values. Students of any faith or religious persuasion may attend.
The school is located in the San Gabriel Valley, 10 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, just north of the Pomona Freeway in the city of Rosemead, California. It occupies approximately thirty acres.

History and Overview

Don Bosco Technical Institute was established as a high school in 1954 through the cooperative efforts of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the Salesian Society, as well as industrial and business leaders of the Greater Los Angeles Area.

Academics

Academically, the school sees other local schools as peers, though none have the technology education offered by the Tech.
Don Bosco Technical Institute is also close in proximity to two other Salesian-based high schools, Salesian in Boyle Heights and St. John Bosco in Bellflower. Its students hail from all over the Greater Los Angeles area, with some students traveling more than an hour's commute each day to the school.
Bosco Tech offers 6 Honors and 16 Advanced Placement classes from freshman to senior year.
Advanced Placement courses at Bosco Tech include:
*
Honors courses at Bosco Tech include:
In addition to the academic program, all students are required to participate in the school's pre-engineering/technology program and declare a major in one of six technology fields:
All entering freshmen are required to attend a mandatory summer program prior to their ninth-grade year. This program includes a five-week Principles of Engineering class and an intensive math, English and study skills seminar. The seminar is similar to the summer bridge program offered at most universities and prepares students for the rigors of Bosco Tech's math and science curriculum.
In the fall semester, the freshmen enroll in three, six-week introductory technology courses chosen from the school's six technology departments. After their first semester of study, freshman students will select a technology major. They will remain in that major for the duration of their ninth-grade year and for the proceeding three years. It is important to note, the sequential nature of the technology coursework makes it difficulty for transfer students after the tenth grade and will require all transfer students to complete summer coursework.

Athletics

The athletic teams participate in the Camino Real League and the Del Rey League. The school's rivals are Mary Star of the Sea, Cantwell Sacred Heart of Mary, and La Salle High School.
The Athletic Program at Bosco Tech consists of:

Original

"Where the rolling hills of San Gabriel,

Crown the old Camino Real.

Dream of Centuries, thou has risen

Lofty goal of mind and heart.

Bosco Tech, today we hail thee,

E'er thy memories treasured shall be."

Amended

"Where the rolling hills of San Gabriel,

Crown the old Camino Real.

Golden dreams and hopes bounding,

Guide our way with kindly light.

Bosco Tech, today we hail thee,

E'er thy memories treasured shall be."

Student life

Clubs and Organizations

Since the opening of the school, it has offered a variety of diverse student organizations and clubs, including:
AmbassadorsLetterman SocietyNational Honor Society
National Hispanic Honor SocietyASB / Student CouncilASM / ASNT Student Chapter
Chess ClubCycling ClubInternational Club
Manager's GuildJapanese ClubFRC / FTC Robotics
Spanish ClubRoyal Techmen Band

The school has been recognized for its renowned debate team, which has competed and placed successfully in local and national debate tournaments, even though mainly composed of underclassmen. For the first time in the school's history, it sent a Public Forum Debate Team to the National Championships held in June 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. This team was composed of junior classmen Evan Godfrey and Aris Govjian.
The school also has a special relationship with its "sister schools": Ramona Convent in Alhambra; San Gabriel Mission High School in San Gabriel; and Alverno in Sierra Madre; The school participates with its sister schools in several activities and organizations:
The music program at Bosco Tech consists of:
Music education was emphasized as one of the main focuses of Don Bosco's educational approach. Therefore, since the school's birth in 1955, the "Bosco Tech Royal Techmen Marching Band" became the school's first and oldest extracurricular activity. Bosco Tech's music program was founded in 1957. Its most famous band director was Brother Eugene Burns, who directed the band from 1957-1978. In the 1970-1971 season, the auxiliary units were formed by San Gabriel Mission High School only until 1991, when girls from Ramona Convent Secondary School joined the units. The band had marched 70+ members in the 1970s, but, in recent years, band membership has averaged 35–40 members. Despite its relatively small size, the marching band and the auxiliary units have scored high points in their division and have even received sweepstakes.
The marching band is known throughout the state as "the band with the cannon". Its trademark cannon, made on the school premises, was fired and pulled by two students in front of the band during band reviews and parades in various Southern California cities, such as Arcadia, Temple City, Long Beach, Montebello, Azusa and San Francisco. The band has also appeared in the Los Angeles County Fair, a University of Southern California football game, the California 500 Speedway in Ontario, Disneyland's "America on Parade", Dodger Stadium, San Francisco's Columbus Day Parade, the Hawaii Invitational Music Festival, the Kennedy Space Center, Sea World San Diego and Universal Studios Florida.
During the Winter of the 2017-18 school year, the band's membership grew to 48 members. During this time there were more students involved in the band than the football team.
The next year, in the 2018-19 school year, the band opened its registration to its sister schools:San Gabriel Mission High School and Ramona Convent Secondary School, as those schools did not have proper music programs. For the first time in 61 years, the Bosco Tech Music Program features players of both genders.

Culture

Twice a school year, during fall and spring, the students participate in the Salesian Spirit Games. In these games the 6 technologies compete against each other in different sports. Each grade level is given a sport to compete in:
The winner of the Salesian Spirit Games is awarded the Salesian Cup. In addition to sports, the 6 technologies compete for spirit. The Tech with the most spirit displayed throughout the games wins the Spirit Cup.

Notable alumni