Benton Weekly Update

Welcome back from Thanksgiving Break! I hope everyone was able to relax and enjoy the week with loved ones. I think Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday as it is a time to get together with my sisters and our families, reminisce about our childhood here in La Mirada, catch up on what's new, cook up old family recipes, break bread together, and appreciate our love and family as we give thanks and celebrate old traditions even as we make new ones. Here's a photo of my family on our front porch before we head out to our post-Thanksgiving dinner and a movie on Friday.

As I packed away my Thanksgiving cornucopia and other decorations today and got my house ready for Christmas, I brought out this little brick snowman on my front porch. Many years ago when I taught 5th grade at Sanchez Elementary, Alyssa, one of my students, gifted me this for Christmas. His hat may be missing and his scarf a little faded, but I give thanks to see that student all grown up and to have her son who is now a 6th grader here at Benton. It makes me appreciate our extended family here in NLMUSD and at Benton, and warms my heart.

We have other heart warming events coming up at Benton over the next few weeks. Please join us on Wednesday as our PTSA hosts a cookie decorating party in the MPR. Make sure to RSVP so we have enough cookies for all!

Our Cheer Team will be participating in the LMHS Cheer Showcase on Thursday. Wish them luck as they strut their stuff!

Is your 8th Grader considering John Glenn High School or Southeast Academy? Be sure to visit their Showcase on Thursday night. Open Enrollment in NLMUSD officially opens on Monday. If your 8th Grader (or 5th Grader!) is thinking about attending a school that is not your school of residence, make sure you complete the Open Enrollment Application to attend the NLMUSD school of choice!

Advanced music ensembles will be performing in the Winter Concert on Friday, 12/5 at 6pm in the historic Excelsior Auditorium in Norwalk. Tickets are available on https://bentonms.booktix.com/. Next week, our Beginning ensembles will perform on Wednesday 12/10 at Benton.

Have you heard? Our Spring Musical will be Mary Poppins, Jr.! All students are able to submit auditions to be in the musical. Auditions are due on December 31st. See the blurb below to find out more about auditioning for this show.

Our Mock Trial Team has finished their competition season and we want to congratulate them and Coach Mora for a job well done. Of special note, Nai'a Larson was Benton's Courtroom Artist and Won First Place for her rendering of our winning Prosecution Team at trial. Congratulations Nai'a for winning the L.A. County Mock Trial Courtroom Artist competition!

Saturday School is coming up this week and this is a good time for students to catch up on school work and get support for their classes. We have just 3 weeks before Winter Break and the end of the semester, and we want all students to do their best and finish strong! If your student needs additional support, please don't hesitate to reach out to our counselors, Ms. Aguilar-Solis and Dr. Sweney-Black for help; they and all of us here at Benton are here for your students!

Make it a great week!

Open Enrollment in NLMUSD officially opens on Monday. 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.

Do you know a student who would be interested in attending a nationally recognized award winning arts school? Be sure to tell them about Benton's Showcase on Wednesday, January 14! Prospective students and families can tour our campus, see our programs, and learn more about Benton's exceptional Visual & Performing Arts classes!

As part of our ongoing efforts to gather input for the Norwalk-La Mirada USD Facilities Master Plan, we are asking parents and community members to complete this School Community Survey.

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.

Saturday School will be on 12/6 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 next semester on 1/10, 1/24, 2/21, 3/7, & 3/21.

Students will have 2 weeks for Winter Break. The last day of school, Friday 12/19 is a minimum day with dismissal at 1:15pm. Students will return to school on Tuesday, January 6.

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.

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.

Don't forget to enroll on the 2026 East Coast Trip.

Click the link below to enroll:

https://enroll.efexploreamerica.com/2782313XM

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