Benton Weekly Update

This week our Benton Girls' and Boys' Basketball and Soccer teams compete against Waite Middle School here at Benton on Wednesday. Games will begin after 3:15pm. Come cheer Benton on; parents and spectators may enter campus through the sliding gate in the parking lot after 2:30pm. This is the first of the 4 games Benton will play against the other NLM middle schools. Teams with the most wins will go head-to-head at the championship game on 2/25 at Norwalk High School.

Although the 2nd Semester has just started, our students are already planning for next year! Last week, 8th Graders had an assembly on the various Pathways at La Mirada High School. On Thursday this week, counselors from La Mirada HS will meet with 8th Graders to review and collect the LMHS course request forms. 8th Graders should have received a pink course request form from their Science teachers last week and should bring the completed, signed course request form with them on Thursday.

Speaking of next year, Open Enrollment ends this week. If your 5th Grader or 8th Grader plans to attend a school that is NOT your school of residence, you must submit your Open Enrollment application by Friday.

Do you have a 6th Grader? All in-coming 7th Grade students must have a TDAP vaccination. Start scheduling those doctor appointments now so your 6th Grader is prepared for 7th Grade!

Coming up, our PTSA will host an 8th Grade Parent Meeting on Monday, 2/2 at 6pm to help plan the end-of-year activities. Mark your calendars!

Do you need a new hoodie? Our PTSA is selling hoodies with Benton's "Old School" Wolverine logo. Check out the post below for a preview, hoodies may be purchased in the Benton office. Get your new, old school Benton hoodies!

Make it a great week!

Open Enrollment in NLMUSD continues through January 31st. If you have a 5th Grader and Benton is not your school of residence, make sure you complete the Open Enrollment Application to attend Benton.

You can now purchase the 25-26 Benton Yearbook on our Webstore. The Yearbook is produced by Benton students and is delivered the last week of school. It's important to purchase your yearbook in advance, as we only print the number of books we sell in advance. Don't miss out, secure your yearbook now!

The Benton Yearbook needs your photos! Do you have any Back to School photos you would be willing to share with us? This includes photos you may have taken at home holding "1st Day of Middle School" type signs. If you would email a digital copy to me at rridgeway@nlmusd.org, that would be appreciated. We hope to create a collage of Back to School photos in our yearbook.

To include your 8th Grader's baby picture in the yearbook:

• Must be a digital copy
• Must be received by 3/27
• "8th Grade Baby Picture" in the subject line
• Student's First and Last Name in the body of the email

Email photo to Ms. Degener at edegener@nlmusd.org

Mary Poppins Jr. Program Fundraiser! Every year we give out hundreds of programs to everyone who attends the Spring Musical and offer friends and families the chance to purchase ad space (for a company or tribute to a cast member), sponsorships, or shout outs. All three can be purchased on https://bentonms.booktix.com, or by filling out the attached page and returning to the front office by February 25th.

Mary Poppins Jr. Rehearsals are now in full swing! Attached are the rehearsal calendars for all 65 actors in the show.

Please note the times and locations of the different activities. The hours vary from one activity to another. All students must sign in each day for attendance using the QR code.

Students will attend periods 5B – 8B on Wednesday. This Wednesday, like all Wednesdays, students are out at 1:45pm.

Valentine's Day See's Candy Fundraiser! The online storefront is now open, and orders are due by January 31st. Everything will be shipped directly to you, and all proceeds go towards Benton VAPA Boosters and the Spring Musical, Mary Poppins Jr. (hold down on the qr code for the link to the storefront:

On Wednesday, February 4th from 8:40-9:30am we will have our Semester 1 Awards Ceremony. Students will be recognized for Honor Roll 3.5-3.99 GPA, Principal's Honor Roll 4.0 & above GPA, and Perfect Attendance for the first semester. As well, we will be awarding our Movers & Shakers, students who have significantly improved their GPA from last semester. The list of students receiving an award is posted here. The Awards Ceremony will be held on the back patio and will be recorded and a link posted within a day or two. Parents are welcome to attend the Awards Ceremony and may enter campus through the sliding gate in the parking lot after 8:35am.

The Benton ASB will be hosting a Winter Dance on Friday, February 6th from 4pm-6pm. The theme is "Night Under the Paris Stars", ooh la la! Students must have satisfactory citizenship to attend, more information coming soon!

There will be no school in honor of President Lincoln's Birthday on Monday, February 9th. Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States and is honored for his integrity and strength in leading the United States through the Civil War and preserving our union. Elected in 1861, he was assassinated just 42 days into his second term in office in 1865.

Mark your calendars and plan to join us at Barnes & Noble in Fullerton from 5pm-7:30 as students showcase their talents on an open mic. Benton receives a percentage of all purchases made that night!

There will be no school in honor of President Washington's Birthday, as well as the federal Presidents' Holiday on Monday, February 16th. George Washington was the first President of the United States. He was a general in the Revolutionary War which brought independence from England, and he presided over the Constitutional Convention. Washington wrote, "The power under the Constitution will always be in the people".

The next Saturday School will be on 2/21 from 8:00am-12:15pm. Breakfast and lunch available, students can make up an absence by attending Saturday School, get caught up on schoolwork, and have fun. Permission slips are in the office, or print out the one linked below. Please let us know you're coming and Sign up for Saturday School at this link. Upcoming Saturday Schools will be on 2/21, 3/7, & 3/21.

8th Grade Students and Families, we have a newsletter curated just for you! The 8th Grade newsletter contains information specific to you, 8th Grade Students and Families, to help you make the most of 8th Grade, and to plan for the end of the year.

Our retro sweatshirts are available for purchase in the Benton office.

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 by scanning the QR code below.

Parents, please help us by checking your student's outfit before they leave for school. If students are out of dress code, the students will be asked to change into P.E. clothes or a loaner shirt or shorts.

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.

Benton Middle School is a nationally recognized, award winning Visual & Performing Arts Magnet school. Follow us on Instagram @Bentonwolverines.

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

Instagram: @BentonWolverines