Welcome Back to School

It's hard to believe it's Back-to-School time already; the summer seemed to pass by too quickly. As I begin my 14th year at Benton, my 3rd year as principal, it is my honor and pleasure to officially welcome all of our students to the 24-25 school year at Benton, a Destination for the Arts!

We have been very busy this summer getting the campus and classrooms ready for students and the new school year. Benton continues to grow in enrollment and we are excited to welcome 15 new staff to our Benton family, so if you see some new faces, be sure to say hello and welcome them.

Below you will find information about starting the new school year, schedules, supply lists, the dress code, cell phone policy, and upcoming events. Our primary method of communication with parents and families is this newsletter sent out weekly, so be sure to read it for news about what's happening at Benton. You can also find out information about Benton on our website, benton.nlmusd.org.

Let's make it a great school year!

Class schedules will be emailed to parents on August 13th. Students will also receive a hard copy of their schedule on the first day of school in their Period 1A classes. As students enter the campus, there will lists posted A-Z by last name with students' Period 1A classes. Please be aware that during the first few weeks of school, schedules may change as we balance classes, add new students, check out others who have moved, etc.

The first day of school is an A day, students will attend periods 1A-4A. Friday is a B day, students attend periods 5B-8B. School hours on the first day of school are 8:35am-1:15pm. Our gates open daily at 8:05am. On Friday, we resume our regular schedule, 8:35am-3:00pm. Every Wednesday is early release and school is out at 1:45pm. Our bell schedule is linked below.

Students should bring a (refillable) water bottle to school, fancy Starbucks drinks are not allowed on campus. Although students can pack a lunch or snack, all NLMUSD students will receive free lunch, and free breakfast or snack.

Are you new to Benton? We have new student orientation as well as a parent meeting scheduled for Wednesday, August 7th. See the flyers below, and please plan to attend if you can.

Students in middle school dress out for P.E. and will need P.E. clothes which they may keep in their P.E. locker. Students may purchase P.E. Clothes in the Benton school office or online using a My School Bucks account. If purchased online, clothes will be distributed the first week of school; students will not dress out for P.E. until the second week of school.

All students will be receiving new iPads this year. 6th Graders will receive theirs at the orientation, 7th & 8th Graders (and any 6th Grade students who missed the orientation) will receive their iPads on the 2nd day of school. We strongly encourage all families to purchase the optional iPad insurance to protect against loss or theft.

Picture Day: All students will have their pictures taken on Thursday, August 22 & Friday, August 23. Please plan to be present; make up picture day will be on Monday, Sept. 23rd.

Benton's dress code is fairly simple. Please keep these guidelines in mind when back-to-school shopping. What students wear should not detract from learning. Clothing should be neat, clean, safe, and appropriate for school.

• Appropriate undergarments should be worn and should not be visible.
• Students may wear sandals or crocs with a back strap, but not flip-flops.
• Clothing and jewelry may not promote racism, sexism, ethnic or religious bigotry, profanity, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, violence, graffiti, or other activities illegal for minors.
• Hats may be worn but should be removed inside the classroom.
• Sleepwear (pajama bottoms), dance shorts, costumes or face masks may not be worn.

A few years ago, Benton adopted a no-phone use policy at school. This was done in an effort to encourage students to interact with each other in a positive, personal way, and to reduce conflicts which can develop over social media and affect students at school. The ban on phones has been successful in reducing conflicts at school and most students respect this rule. If your child chooses to bring a phone to school, please remind them that the phone should remain OFF and IN THEIR BACKPACK all day long. This is especially true in the locker rooms. For the safety and privacy of all students, if phones are out in the locker room or restrooms they will be confiscated and held for parent pick up in the office. Should students need to call or text parents, they may come to the school office to do so.

As you can see below, we have A Days and B Days. Students have periods 1A-4A on A Days, every Monday and Thursday, and periods 5B-8B on B Days, every Tuesday and Friday. On Wednesdays, we alternate between A Days and B Days. The first Wednesday of the school year, 8/21 will be an A Day.

Our 6th Grade Science Camp in Arrowhead will be October 14th-18th. The total cost (including deposit) is $425. Students can register by completing the registration form and paying a $100 deposit. Deposits can be paid in the office (cash or check to Benton ASB only) or you may do so with your My School Bucks account at this link.

You can find out more by visiting our Science Camp website at this link.

There's a lot to do as we welcome back students fully on campus. The PTSA is a huge support to students and Benton's programs, and we hope all families choose to join, support, and get involved at Benton. Join the Benton PTSA online at this link or you can scan the QR code below.

Benton Middle School is an award winning Visual & Performing Arts Magnet school

Email: rridgeway@nlmusd.org
Website: benton.nlmusd.org

Location: 15709 E. Olive Branch Drive, La Mirada, CA 90638
Phone: (562) 210-2500
Facebook: facebook.com/bentonmiddleschool
Twitter: @BentonPrincipal

Instagram: @BentonWolverines