Benton Weekly Update

This is the last week of school! Hard to believe, isn't it? Parents, please support us by ensuring that your student adheres to our dress code and school rules during this last week. (You might want to check their backpack to make sure inappropriate items – silly string, bubbles, fart bombs, etc. – are not brought to school!)

Monday is a regular day this week, but we are on minimum day schedule Tuesday through Thursday with dismissal at 1:15 pm.

Yearbooks will be distributed on Monday morning in the quad.

Wednesday is 8th Grade Promotion. We are expecting over 1100 parents, friends, and family members to attend this ceremony. Traffic and parking are expected to be quite busy. Please consider dropping off your 6th or 7th grader down the street and do not enter the parking lot if at all possible.

If your student has not yet turned in their iPad or textbooks, please make sure they bring them to the library this week. If your student turned in their iPad, but still has the charger and cord, please make sure to place both items in a baggie with your student's name so they are not charged $40 for missing chargers.

The school office will be closing early at 2:30 pm on Thursday, June 6. The office will reopen Friday, June 7th at 10:00 am and remain open until 3:30 pm. Our summer hours during June are 7:00 am – 3:30 pm.

I would like to close this newsletter by saying that it has truly been a pleasure to educate your child and be part of their life this year. I speak on behalf of all of us at Benton, we love your children, we love what we do, and we hope we've had a positive influence in your child's life.

Make it a great last week of school!

If you haven't already heard, we have 3 retirements this year. Mr. Gallo, Mr. Meyers, and Dr. Kim are all retiring after nearly 100 Years (yes, that's correct) in education. Please be sure to wish them well as they embark on their new journey.

Tickets will be distributed on Monday in period 4A.

We have practice for Promotion on Tuesday, 6/4 at 8:45 am for students who are eligible to participate in the Promotion Ceremony. All students will report to their period 5B class as usual. Students will rehearse how to walk in, where to sit, how to walk across the stage to receive the Promotion Certificate - and then there will be a lunch afterwards provided by our PTSA. Following lunch, students will have a game day and fun activities until their last period of the day at 12:20 pm. Students not eligible to participate will be assigned to other classrooms.

On Promotion Day, students will report to Benton by 8:30 am and meet at the Basketball courts by the locker rooms. The big sliding gates for families to enter campus will open at 8:40 am (though many parents line up earlier). If your 8th Grader has a 6th or 7th Grade sibling who will be attending the ceremony, please bring them with you as students will NOT be dismissed from class to attend promotion. Seating is first come, first serve. Once Promotion is over, families and students are free to leave for the day.

Students who are not participating in the Promotion Ceremony may pick up their Promotion Certificates in the front office on the last day of school, Thursday, June 6th. Students who are missing textbooks, or have a balance owing on their library account will not receive their Promotion Certificate until their balance is cleared or the textbook(s) returned.

6th Grade Students will need to get a TDAP vaccination before entering 7th Grade. Start scheduling those appointments now!

All returning students must complete the online registration with the snapcode (this is different from registering for classes). If you did not receive a snapcode, please email twohlford@nlmusd.org. Students who have not completed the online registration will not receive a schedule.

Please return all hard cover textbooks, music books, iPads and chargers to the library. Students do not return My Perspectives or Math soft cover books.

Monday is a regular day, but students are dismissed early at 1:15 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Students will attend periods 5B - 8B on Wednesday. This Wednesday, we are on MINIMUM DAY SCHEDULE and students are dismissed at 1:15pm.

The 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony will be at 9am on Wednesday, June 5th. Entry will be through the sliding gates in the parking lot at 8:40 am.

The last day of school for all students is Thursday, June 6th. The office will close early this day at 2:30 pm and will reopen Friday, June 7th at 10 am.

Summer Vacation begins Friday, June 8th. The first day of school for the 24-25 School Year will be Thursday, August 15th.

Summer School for students who have already signed up begins on Tuesday, June 11 at 8:00 am.

Save the date: orientation for 6th grade students will be on Wednesday, August 7th. There will be a meeting for parents at 5:30pm that evening.

Benton hopes to expand its double-blocked Math Enrichment classes to 7th & 8th Grade next year. Would your student be interested? Although students give up one of their three electives for the double blocked Math Enrichment class, students benefit from more time and consistency with math. The Math Enrichment classes not only cover math concepts, but builds on students' growth mindsets and incorporates social-emotional learning. Students can build their confidence in math and be more prepared for high school. 100% of students who have taken Math Enrichment report the following: it raised their confidence in math and was worth losing one elective and they would recommend it to other students. Top 3 reasons for success: teaching style, more time, no homework. Please contact Ms. Ridgeway or Ms. Alcala if you would like your student in the Math Enrichment class.

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