Benton Weekly Update

Just 8 Weeks to Go! The final weeks of school always pass so quickly, as there is a lot going on in a relatively short period of time. Make sure to read our Wellness Center's Monthly Message for April on Self Care and Stress Awareness that is posted below. Although there are many activities and distractions, it is important that students remain focused on their primary purpose, to come to school each day ready to learn and do their personal best.

On Monday, our 7th Grade girls and 8th Grade boys will be screened for Scoliosis. Families should have received a letter about this screening a week ago.

Our Music Ensembles will perform in their final Festival this week, and host their first Festival at Excelsior on Wednesday and Thursday.

In Social Science classes this week, students will be learning about the Say Something Anonymous Reporting program. This program teaches students, teachers, and administrators how to recognize warning signals and threats, on social media, in school, or in their community, of individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and to Say Something to a trusted adult OR use its anonymous reporting system.

This is the final week of our SBAC Academy on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. If your child received an invitation but hasn't attended due to play rehearsals or sports practice, it's not too late to attend.

Benton will begin SBAC testing on Monday, April 22. We want all students to do their personal best; please ensure your child is well rested, has a good breakfast, and is present each day on time. To secure the test environment, students will power off their phones and smartwatches and store them securely in the classroom. If your student does not need to bring them to school, please consider keeping their phone or smartwatch at home during testing. More information on the tests is linked below under the "Events Coming Up" section of this newsletter.

Shout out to the Benton PTSA and our Parent Volunteers!! for a great 8th Grade Movie Night last Friday. Students were able to hang out with friends and enjoy Spiderverse. On Friday this week, the Benton PTSA will be hosting the 8th Grade Dance at the La Mirada Activity Center from 6-9pm. To attend, students must have satisfactory citizenship, and should have already purchased their tickets, see the flyer below.

If your student is interested in trying out for next year's Cheer Team, our first informational meeting and cheer clinic begins this Wednesday after school from 2-3:30pm in the Dance Room. Cheer clinics will continue through May with tryouts on 5/22.

The Green Team is planning for its Community Swap to be held on 5/4. At this event, people may bring items in good condition to swap. The goal is to find a new home or purpose for items you no longer want or use instead of throwing them away. See the flyer below.

Our Kaleidoscope VAPA Festival returns this year on Friday, May 17th. Mark your calendars for this community event celebrating the arts and artists - performing and visual - at Benton. As we like to say, it's like Coachella but at Benton! There will be performances, exhibits, and food available for purchase. For a limited time, students, families, and staff can purchase their own Kaleidoscope t-shirt at this link.

Benton will be having Summer School this year for incoming 6th, 7th, and 8th Graders. There is limited space available, and classes fill up fast. You can sign up for Summer School at this link.

Payments for the Disneyland trip can be made in the school office (cash or checks payable to Benton PTSA) or on zelle, rbentonms@gmail.com. Please be sure to reference your student's name and the activity. There are a limited number of tickets left for Disneyland, buy yours now! If your student has a pass, you only pay $10 for the bus, but you must make a reservation, take a screenshot of it, and present it to the office staff to receive a permission slip.

Check out our 8th Grade Webpage with information and news just for 8th grade students and their families.

For your reference, here is the Promotion Contract (which students already signed and returned) with criteria to participate in the Promotion Ceremony. Students received this contract in the Fall and most have returned it to the office. Letters regarding your student's current eligibility status for Promotion are going out this week.

Current 6th & 7th Grade students need to enter their course requests in PowerSchool AND turn the course request forms into the office.

6th Grade Students will need to get a TDAP vaccination before entering 7th Grade. Start scheduling those appointments now! For your convenience, the District is providing TDAP Clinics at its middle schools, the clinics will be at Los Alisos 4/20, Corvallis 5/4, Waite 5/11, and the final clinic at Benton on 5/18. See the Benton flyer below.

Please join our zoom with your favorite morning beverage for conversation or Q&A with Benton Principal Ms. Ridgeway. We are seeking input from parents on Proposition 28 Arts Funding, suggestions for improving school attendance and achievement, and any issues on your mind.

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

On Wednesday, April 17th, Benton's Symphonic Band, Festival Band, and Orchestra will perform and be evaluated by a panel of music educators in the areas of Tone Quality, Intonation, Blend, Balance, Fundamentals, Musicianship, and Sight Reading.

On Thursday, April 18th, Benton will host nearly twenty high school and middle school ensembles from throughout Southern California as they do the same.

The Benton School Site Council will meet Thursday, 4/18 at 3:30pm in the Benton Conference Room. The agenda is posted here: 4/11 SSC Agenda

All students will be testing in their ELA and Math classes. 8th graders (only) will have a 3rd week of testing in their Science Classes. You can see an overview of the testing in this SBAC Slideshow presented to students in their homerooms 3/27.

The 23-24 Benton Yearbook is on sale now for $35 in the front office only. You can purchase your copy now, after May 1, price will go up to $40. Yearbooks will be distributed during the last week of school.

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.

You can now purchase Ads or Well Wishes in the Benton Yearbook! Prices are as follows and are payable (cash or check) in the school office.

• Full Page: 7 in. horizontal x 10 in. vertical @ $100
• Half Page: 7 in. horizontal x 5 in. vertical @ $70
• Quarter Page: 3.5 in. horizontal x 4.75 in. vertical @ $40
• Eighth Page: 3.25 in. horizontal x 2.25 in. vertical @ $30

Full design supplied by parent to above specifications as either a PDF or JPG file with a high resolution enough to ensure quality at the size desired. The deadline to purchase/submit artwork is April 19th.

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