Benton Weekly Update

We have a cold, rainy week in the forecast, all of our schools will remain open, and students should dress warmly and try to stay dry.

This past weekend, Benton Thespians attended the California Jr. Thespian Festival and earned several awards. See the full story below!

This upcoming week, 6th & 7th Graders will receive their course request forms for next year and will be completing them, entering their choices in PowerSchool, and turning in the forms by the end of the week. The forms are also linked on our webpage under the Students tab. If you have a 5th grader who will be attending Benton next year, the course request forms are being distributed this week at their elementary schools; if your student did not receive one, check with their teacher or download the (incoming) 6th Grade Course Request Form from our webpage.

8th Grade Events Parent Planning Meeting on Tuesday, 2/6 at 6pm in the MPR. This is for 8th Grade Parents who are interested in helping to plan and organize the 8th Grade End of the Year Events such as Disneyland, the Dance, Breakfast, and Barbeque.

8th Graders: On Wednesday next week (2/14) we will be taking your Promotion Portraits and the 8th Grade Panoramic photo. There are no make up picture days, so plan to be here! Check out the new 8th Grade webpage for more upcoming 8th grade events! Check out the new tab on our website with information and news just for 8th grade students and their families.

College and Career anyone? Benton is hosting a Career Day on March 6. Students will be able to attend 3 different presentations from individuals working in an array of jobs and trades. Sessions will run from 9:00am-10:30am; speakers will give three 30-minute presentations to different groups of students. If you would like to be a presenter and can commit to being available on 3/6/24, please contact Mr. Bob Easton at beaston@nlmusd.org for more information.

Make it a great week!

19 Benton Students attended and competed in the California Jr. Thespian Festival on Saturday, February 3rd at OCSA. Lucia Churchill received a Superior Rating for her Musical Theatre Solo "Close Every Door" and was the judge's choice to perform for the entire festival at the awards ceremony! A Superior Rating was awarded to the Benton theatre ensemble for their performance of Newsies Jr. In addition, Excellent Ratings were given for Musical Theatre Duets to Marisol Christie and Nina Nguyen, and Jeremiah Berry and Landon Caringella. Everyone had an incredible time competing, participating in theatre workshops, watching performances, and getting to know middle school theatre students from all over California. Benton Thespians can't wait to go again next year!

If you've been on our campus, you may have seen the evolution and development of our Restoration Garden. Mr. Estes has been working with several students to build cold frames (recycling the Covid-era plexiglass shields), planter boxes, and benches. He has worked with students to design and build these features for our garden teaching students basic wood-working and construction principles.

8th Grade Parents: each year in the yearbook, we feature a page with baby pictures of our 8th grade students. Now is the time to send a digital baby photo of your 8th grader to edegener@nlmusd.org. You only have a few weeks to submit those photos, do it now and be sure to include your student's name.

Tuesday, 2/6 at 6pm in the Benton MPR. This meeting is for parents only to help plan and coordinate the end of the year 8th grade events and activities.

Students will attend periods 5B-8B on Wednesday. This Wednesday, like all Wednesdays, dismissal is at 1:45pm.

There will be no school Monday, February 12 in honor of Lincoln's Birthday.

The NLM Middle Schools Basketball and Soccer Tournament will be held at Benton on Friday, 2/16. Spectators may enter through the sliding gate after 8:45am. No pets allowed on campus.

There will be no school Monday, February 19 in honor of Washington's Birthday and Presidents' Day.

Saturday School for students to recover an absence, get support with school work, and get caught up on assignments. Please turn in the permission slip to the office. Both breakfast and lunch are available.

The 23-24 Benton Yearbook is on sale now for $35 in the front office only, our webstore link is temporarily unavailable. You can purchase your copy now, Yearbooks will be distributed during the last week of school.

ENGLISH LEARNERS ADVISORY COUNCIL (ELAC)

Parents of students identified as English Learners are invited to participate on the ELAC. The ELAC provides advice to the School Site Council on the development of Benton's Single Plan for Student Achievement, the plan for improving the performance of English Language Learners.If you would like to serve on this body, please contact me or Ms. Alcala lalcala@nlmusd.org.

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 .

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 Visual & Performing Arts Magnet school. Follow us on Instagram @Bentonwolverines.

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