Benton Weekly Update

It's November and we are more than halfway through Semester 1. Students, how are your grades looking? If you need support with organizing your classwork and assignments, reach out to your teachers or counselors for support.

How is your attendance looking? Consider attending Saturday School to make up attendance and/or get support on school work. One Saturday School will clear 1 full day absence. Experts say it takes three school days to catch up from one day's absence; consider how much more challenging that is with Benton's block schedule. To the extent possible, all students should be here every day, all day.

Students will meet in Homerooms this week on Wednesday. We will recognize our Students of the Month and students with Perfect Attendance in October. In addition, our Counselors will be presenting a lesson on conflict resolution. We will be discussing ways to resolve our differences civilly, and why it is unacceptable to use racial and other slurs when we are angry at others. This is a good time for families to continue these discussions at home, and to review their students' social media accounts and see how they and their friends talk online with each other.

There will be no school on Friday, November 8th and again on Monday, November 11th in observance of Veterans' Day.

Tickets are now on sale for Benton's first theatrical performance of the year, Silver's Secret. You can purchase your tickets on bentonms.booktix.com.

Benton Cheer helped kick of Dulles Elementary's Red Ribbon Week activities by performing at the Dulles assembly last Wednesday. The Dulles students were excited to see Benton Cheer perform. Thank you to Coach DeLaRosa and the entire Cheer team!

Open Enrollment is coming up in December, and our Showcase for new and prospective students will be on Wednesday, November 20th from 5:30-7:30pm. Families can tour the Benton campus, speak with our teachers, and attend a presentation by Ms. Ridgeway on Benton's programs and what makes Benton great. We appreciate the opportunity to share our unique programs with prospective families and students. Please spread the word if you have friends looking for a great middle school for next year!

Make it a great week!

This past week, Ms. Hodge's and Ms. Hernandez's Art students had works on exhibit in the Gallery. The Glow Show at Benton Middle School had glowing reviews! Viewers worked their way through a maze with black light flashlights to view Vejigante masks, a symbol of Puerto Rican Heritage, that lit up the room as they scared away the evil spirits. Optical illusions and 3D sculptures were surrounded by a spooky pumpkin patch. Students were inspired by Bridget Reilly, Yayoi Kusama, Frida Kahlo and various contemporary Hispanic artists this Fall. Students in the National Jr. Art Honor Society (NJAHS) conducted Benton students and staff through this exhibit.

Benton Dance Students under the direction of dance teacher Ms. Truesdell performed at Lunch on 10/24. Period 1A students danced to Ghostbusters, Period 2A to Somebody's Watching Me, and Period 3A to I'm In Love with a Monster. You can see their performances below.

Students will attend periods 5B – 8B on Wednesday. This Wednesday, like all Wednesdays, we have early dismissal at 1:45pm.

There will be practice for both Volleyball & Football teams after school on Tuesday this week from 3pm-4pm. The Tournament is coming up on 11/13 at 10am.

During the last School Site Council meeting, several parents requested a way to get to know other parents/guardians/caregivers, and to become more involved in Benton. The outcome of that conversation was The Caregiver Club! The first meeting will be on Wednesday, November 6 at 5:30pm. Please join us and get to know other parents and caregivers and become involved.

There is no school for students on Friday, November 8th and again on Monday, November 11th in observance of Veterans' Day.

Students may attend Saturday School to make up an absence, get caught up on school work, get support for schoolwork, have fun, and learn some new skills. We have 10 more Saturday School sessions coming up through March 2025. Upcoming Saturday School activities are Gardening with Ms. Robertson, Film Critique with Ms. Divine, Mock Trial with Mr. Udeobong, History Day preparation with Mr. Muñoz, and Study Skills with Ms. Ruiz. The next Saturday School will be on November 16th. All students are welcome. Please turn in the permission slip to the office. Both breakfast and lunch are available.

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. Click here to read the 8th Grade Newsletter.

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.

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