Benton Weekly Update

This is parent conference week, and school is out each day, including Wednesday, at 1:15pm.

Congratulations to our Students of the Month! There are a lot of them; we did not have our regular homerooms in January or February, so we we had to catch up with recognitions for our December, January, and February Students of the Month at our Homeroom Assembly last week. Although there were MANY students recognized for Perfect Attendance and for Students of the Month, we want to acknowledge that each of these students was chosen by their teachers as demonstrating our PRIDE characteristics of Perseverance, Respect, Integrity, Determination, and Excellence. These are values to strive for, well done Wolverines!

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 from 3/17/25 through 4/11/25. Support in mathematics and reading and writing is provided each day. Students will be provided with snacks at each session.

I was thinking about what families discuss at dinner each night (please tell me you do NOT allow them to bring their phones to the dinner table!) Have you asked your 8th Grader about the counselor from CSU Long Beach who spoke to them at last week's Homeroom Assembly? What did your 8th Grader learn?

We have Career Day coming up this week on Wednesday. Be sure to ask your student which speakers they heard. What careers sound interesting to them?

What is your family's position on PDA (Public Displays of Affection)? Have you discussed this with your student? At Benton, students are permitted to hold hands. We see many couples doing this as they walk to classes or at break or lunch. Students are NOT permitted to kiss each other on campus. Students may give one another a hug, but it must be brief, just 1-2-3 seconds and release. Is your student in a romantic relationship? Please encourage them to adhere to Benton's boundaries regarding PDA.

This week we have Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences 3/10-3/14. We will be on a minimum day schedule with dismissal at 1:15 each day. Spring Conferences are intended to provide an opportunity for parents to meet with teachers if your child is earning a D or F in any classes. Here's a link to teacher emails to schedule a conference. Check out this resource below from our Counselors, and

Make it a great week!

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!
• Tickets are on sale NOW through March 15 for Disneyland. You can purchase your ticket after school on Tuesdays & Thursdays, or online with Zelle. See the flyer below for more information. Don't miss out on the 8th Grade Disney trip!
• 8th Grade parent interested in volunteering? Click on this link for ways to help out with end-of-year activities.

This past weekend I traveled to Monterey, CA to accept the Schools to Watch Award for Benton. I was proud to be joined by Dr. Jessica Medrano, Asst. Superintendent for Secondary Education, Ms. Cramer, Ms. Divine, Ms. Nitschke, and Ms. Singh (Ms. Hodge and Ms. McMath were unable to join us). The STW program identifies model middle schools that are academically engaging, developmentally responsive, socially equitable, and have a culture of collaborative leadership. The California STW program is led by the California League of Middle Schools and supported by the California Department of Education. Norwalk-La Mirada received recognition as a district and Benton was formally recognized as both a California and a National School to Watch.

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?

Our Parent Conferences in Spring are intended for students who are earning Ds or Fs in their classes. Please reach out to your student's teachers to schedule a conference. We will be on a Minimum Day schedule with dismissal at 1:15pm every day this week.

We will be on a Minimum Day schedule with dismissal at 1:15pm every day this week including Wednesday! Please be sure to make arrangements to pick up your student on time.

Students will attend periods 5B – 8B on Wednesday. Due to Parent Conferences and being on a minimum day schedule, this Wednesday students will be dismissed at 1:15pm.

Do you need to make up an absence or get caught up on school work? Be sure to attend Saturday School on 3/15 from 8:00am-12:15pm. There are only 2 more Saturday Schools left this year! Permission Slips are available in the office and linked below.

The NLM Middle Schools Basketball & Soccer Tournament has been rescheduled to Monday, March 17th at Benton.

Go Wolverines!

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

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

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.

For families needing support during this time due to fires or other factors, please see the flyer below for resources. Norwalk-La Mirada Unified is here for all of our students; let us know how we can help!

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