Benton Weekly Update

Welcome back to school! It's a pleasure to welcome back old friends and exciting to meet new students and new staff! Benton has grown this year and we have many new faces on campus. If you see someone new, be sure to introduce yourself and give them a warm Wolverine Welcome.

This is our first full week of school and students will follow our regular bell schedule. In the mornings, our gates open at 8:05am and classes start at 8:35. Students are dismissed from school at 3:00pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday; on Wednesdays, we have early dismissal at 1:45pm.

All students should have received their iPad (if your student was absent or didn't receive their iPad, our Tech Guy Art in Room 50 can get them an iPad). I strongly encourage parents to sign up for the optional insurance and I recommend that you write your student's name on the charger brick so that it doesn't get mixed up with someone else's.

Students will be taking Fall Pictures and getting their ID cards during their P.E. period on Thursday and Friday. Look for a flyer with information on ordering pictures coming home Monday. Hopefully all students are present, but make-up picture day is scheduled for 9/23.

Did you order P.E. clothes online? They will be distributed at the end of this week. If you haven't yet purchased P.E. clothes, they may be purchased in the school office. Items and prices are linked here. Did you purchase a lock but haven't received it yet? Our lock shipment has arrived! and students can pick up locks in the quad at break on Monday. Students will not be dressing out for P.E. until the week of 8/26.

Look for this newsletter in your email each Sunday evening. We use this newsletter to communicate with students and families about what's happening at school. Email is my primary method of communication, so make sure this newsletter and other emails are not going into your junk/spam folders. We're on Facebook, additionally, please follow us on Instagram @BentonWolverines.

Make it a great week!

This week Benton students will be learning about P.R.I.D.E., our acronym for the qualities we want all Wolverines to exhibit, Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Determination, and Excellence. We will be discussing these in class this week and teaching students what it means to demonstrate these qualities. Students have an opportunity to earn PRIDE tickets when they exhibit these qualities, and students of the month are selected based on their Wolverine P.R.I.D.E.

If you click on the image to the left, you will find a helpful video on navigating school pick ups and drops offs. By following the guidelines in this video, traffic will move efficiently and the parking lot can be cleared out within 10 minutes. We encourage all parents to exercise a little patience, follow the guidelines, be respectful of traffic rules and our neighbors' driveways, and help us to keep students safe.

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

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 are two vacant positions for parents/community members on the Benton School Site Council (SSC). Each position serves for two years. The SSC meets approximately once a month from 3:30pm-5pm during the school year and makes decisions regarding the School Plan for Student Achievement, the budget, and the School Safety Plan.

Nominations for SSC now accepted through Friday, August 31st, elections will be held the following week. You can nominate yourself or another at this link: https://forms.gle/JK7LJ5ovhoQWe5n97

• Students will attend periods 1A – 4A on Wednesday. This Wednesday, like all Wednesdays, dismissal is at 1:45pm.

All students will be taking pictures and receiving their student ID cards during their P.E. period on Thursday or Friday. Look for the flyer coming home Monday with information on ordering fall pictures. Get ready for that close up!

Join me virtually with your favorite morning beverage for "Coffee with the Principal". This is an opportunity for parents to ask me questions and get to know more about Benton. Feel free to join in over zoom at this link https://nlmusd.zoom.us/j/9065349882 on Monday, 8/26 at 9am.

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.

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

Instagram: @BentonWolverines