Benton Weekly Update

Congratulations to the Benton Cross Country Team! Benton students dominated and once again came in first among NLM Middle Schools. Thank you to Coach Estes, great job, Wolverines!

Students on the Volleyball and Football teams have practice after school on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 3-4pm. Cast members of Silver's Secret also have rehearsals after school, please refer to the rehearsal calendar for specific call times.

Coming up, we have our Fall Parent Conferences from Monday, October 14-Friday, October 18th. School is on a minimum day schedule during that week with dismissal at 1:15pm each day including Wednesday. Teachers are available for conferences from 1:15-3:00pm each day. Most teachers are using Calendly to schedule conferences. Links to schedule individual conferences can be found here.

In Advanced Media Arts, Ms. McMath's students are designing water bottles incorporating unique patterns and form using Adobe Illustrator. As a part of the reflective process, students participated in a "Sticker Critique" where they evaluated their peers' designs making observations and reflections for interesting form, use of color, pattern and strong design board layouts. Great job designers!

The PTSA Reflections contest is open to all students and this year's theme is “Accepting Imperfection”. Entry forms will be available in the front office. Students must attach and artist statement with submission. Please contact Reflections Chair Ms. Joo Min with any questions at Bentonptsa@gmail.com.

There are endless possibilities for artistic expression across the PTA Reflections arts categories:

• Dance Choreography: A dancer might choreograph a piece that highlights moments of imbalance or missteps, weaving these “mistakes” into the performance to show that they are expressions of humanity and growth.

• Music Composition: Musicians can explore imperfection by embracing the natural variability in performances. A piece doesn’t need to be flawless to be powerful; often, it’s the slight deviations and emotional nuances that make it memorable.

• Photography: Photographs can capture the beauty of candid, unposed moments or highlight unique flaws—wrinkles, scars or everyday messiness—which can tell a more compelling story than a picture-perfect image.

• Literature: Writers can explore imperfection through storytelling about a character who finds strength in their flaws or through an acrostic poem that uses each line to celebrate a different, personal imperfection.

• Visual Arts: Drawings, paintings and sculptures can elevate imperfections as the true standard of beauty, contrasting them with traditionally “perfect” elements to emphasize the value of the imperfect.

• Film Production: Film makers can capture and edit day-to-day footage to create a narrative that showcases the beauty of everyday life, using cinematic techniques to explore how the world would look if ordinary people, not Hollywood, defined perfection.

Benton Cheerleaders are participating in Secret Sisters as a way to bond, get to know each other, and build team spirit. You can see happy faces below at the first gift exchange!

Practice for both teams will be after school on Tuesday & Thursday from 3:00-4:00pm.

The NLM Middle Schools Football & Volleyball Tournament will be at Benton on Wednesday, November 13th from 9:30am-3:00pm (approx.) Spectators (no students) will be able to enter the campus from the big sliding gate after 9:15am. No pets* allowed on campus.

*except registered service animals

Students will attend periods 1A – 4A on Wednesday. This Wednesday, like all Wednesdays, dismissal is at 1:45pm.

This week our Counseling Team will present a lesson to 7th Graders in their P.E. classes on Suicide Prevention & Awareness. Benton and NLMUSD provides support to students and families, many resources are available on our district's Mental Health and Wellness webpage.

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 Carpentry, making wooden benches with Mr. Estes, Gardening with Ms. Robertson, Film Critique with Ms. Divine, P.E., Mock Trial with Mr. Udeobong, History Day preparation with Mr. Muñoz, and Study Skills with Ms. Ruiz. The next Saturday School will be on October 12th. All students are welcome. Please turn in the permission slip to the office. Both breakfast and lunch are available.

We are on Minimum Day schedule all week with dismissal at 1:15pm for Parent/Teacher Conferences. Parents should reach out to teachers directly to schedule a conference between the hours of 1:15-3:00pm Monday through Friday. Teacher emails are located here: https://benton.nlmusd.org/academics

6th Grade campers meet in the MPR Monday morning at 8am with duffel bag, bed roll/sleeping bag, and any medications in a ziplock bag with your student's first & last name on it. Buses plan to depart at 8:45am.

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