Benton Weekly Update

After all the rain and chilly weather, Spring has arrived and the weather is beautiful. Sometimes, the warm weather inspires students with a more relaxed attitude regarding school rules. In response, we ask your support as we step up enforcement of the school rules. Please remind your student that phones are to be kept OFF and in the backpacks while at school. If they need to call or text you during the school day, they may do so in the front office. I would also like to ask that you remind your student that gum is not allowed at school, nor are confetti eggs. A few years ago, we actually had a student get a concussion from someone breaking a confetti egg on their head, so for safety and cleanliness of the campus, leave those confetti eggs at home! Are you checking your student's outfit of the day? In addition to being a cute look, please make sure it adheres to the Benton Dress Code posted below in this newsletter. Your support is much appreciated!

The NLM Middle Schools Softball Tournament is Monday this week at Behringer Park in La Mirada. Spectators are welcome to attend, and there will be a Taco Truck and the Kona Ice truck there to provide food for purchase. (Thanks to Benton PTSA for coordinating the food trucks who donate a portion of the proceeds back to Benton.) Good luck Benton softballers!

On Tuesday this week, Benton will have a Lock Down Drill. Just as we practice evacuation with Earthquake Drills and Fire Drills, the Lock Down Drill will allow us to practice our systems for notification, communication with district officials, and processes for student attendance and safety.

Our Spring Musical, Matilda Jr. opened last week and will continue this week on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights at 6pm. Thank you to everyone who attended opening weekend. It is a great show and I would like to give special thanks to our district for supporting Benton Theatre by providing us with a new wireless mic system; the sound quality was excellent and it makes such a difference. (Special shout out to Asst. Superintendent Mr. Santillan for the funding!) Be sure to get your tickets for this final week of Matilda at bentonms.booktix.com

Benton Advanced Choir, Band, and Orchestra will perform with others from La Mirada High School and Hutchinson Middle School at the La Mirada All City Concert on Friday at the La Mirada Theatre from 6-8pm.

Last Friday, Benton students participated in World Down Syndrome Awareness Day by chalking the blacktop and wearing crazy socks. World Down Syndrome Day is on March 21st every year. It is a global awareness day whose goal is to help people better understand and support those with Down syndrome. The date of 3/21 was chosen to represent the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome. Benton students wore their brightest and silliest socks to show support for World Down Syndrome Day as socks resemble a chromosome.

The NLM Middle Schools Soccer and Basketball Tournament was held last Monday at Benton. It was a tough competition, but Benton's Girls' Basketball, Boys' Basketball, and Girls' Soccer claimed the championship. Many thanks to our volunteer coaches Mr. Elkins, Mr. Fileto, Mr. Gallo, Mr. Chartier, and Ms. Estrada, and congratulations to our student athletes!

This year we are once again having our SBAC Academy after school on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays to provide support for students as they gear up for SBAC testing. At Benton, we firmly believe in providing every student with the tools and resources they need to excel academically. With this in mind, we have tailored a comprehensive intervention program specifically aimed at helping students review essential academic skills to help them be successful on the CAASPP assessment (SBAC). Additionally, this program is not only an opportunity for your child to enhance their academic skills, but also a chance for them to approach the assessment with confidence and ease. The SBAC Academy will be from 3:05-4:00 on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays through 4/11/25. Support in mathematics and reading and writing is provided each day. Students will be provided with snacks at each session.

6th Graders:

All 6th Graders will need a Tdap vaccination to enter 7th Grade. Start scheduling those doctor's appointments now, and email twohlford@nlmusd.org your student's updated vaccination record.

7th Graders:

Sign up now for Science Camp on Catalina Island in May. Visit our Science Camp page for more details.

8th Graders:

• Get your Baby Picture in the Yearbook. Deadline 3/28. See the blurb below for more details!
• 8th Grade parent interested in volunteering? Click on this link for ways to help out with end-of-year activities.

To include your 8th Grader's baby picture in the yearbook:

• Must be a digital copy
• Must be received by 3/28
• "8th Grade Baby Picture" in the subject line
• Student's First and Last Name in the body of the email

Email photo to Ms. Degener at edegener@nlmusd.org

You can place an ad or well wishes for a student in the yearbook. Choose from a Full Page for $125, half page for $100, quarter page for $75, or eighth of a page for $50. Please provide finished artwork digitally to Ms. Pflanzer at vpflanzer@nlmusd.org and pay with cash or check payable to Benton ASB in the front office.

You can purchase your Benton Yearbook in the front office for $35. Yearbooks will be distributed during the last week of school. Don't miss out!

If you're planning to buy candy for Easter, you can shop at this link, have the candy mailed to your home and support Benton! Did someone say chocolate eggs?

The NLM Middle Schools Boys' and Girls' Softball Tournament is coming up in a few weeks at Behringer Park in La Mirada.

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

The performances of Matilda, Jr. will be at 6pm on the following dates:

Thursday, 3/20

Friday, 3/21

Saturday, 3/22

Wednesday, 3/26

Thursday, 3/27

Saturday, 3/29

The next meeting of the School Site Council will be on Thursday, April 3rd at 3:30pm in the Benton Conference Room. The agenda is at this link.

Spring Break begins Friday, April 18th through Friday, April 25th. Thursday, April 17 is a minimum day with dismissal at 1:15pm. Students return to school on Monday, April 28th.

Your support will help us offer a higher quality experience for all of our performing and visual arts students. Raising dollars for festivals, concerts, art exhibits and overall equipment both visual and performing is vital for our program. If you could please spread the word about our fundraiser by sharing it with your friends via Email, Facebook and Twitter we would greatly appreciate it!

Fundraiser Dates: 03/17/2025 - 04/14/2025

Please find an alternate spot to pick up or drop off your student; the parking lot will be closed and inaccessible to any unauthorized vehicles. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

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