Benton Weekly Update

We are expecting clear skies Monday and the NLM Middle Schools Soccer/Basketball Tournament will take place at Benton. The games will likely commence by 9:30am, spectators will be able to enter the campus by 8:45 through the side gates. Students who are not participating in the tournament are expected to attend class.

Our Spring Musical, Matilda Jr. opens this week on Thursday night. Be sure to get your tickets at bentonms.booktix.com Performances begin at 6pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday this week, and Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday next week. Nights are selling out quickly, don't miss out on this great show!

Our Advanced Guitar students participated in a festival last week at Biola University and earned a ranking of Superior with Distinction, meaning both judges scored us above 95/100. Congratulations to Ms. Lin and our Advanced Guitar students, Bravo!

Our Band students also had a festival this past week and did very well. The judges were tough, but the students are looking forward to their next festival in April.

Congratulations to the following winners in the City of Norwalk’s Artastic! event. Once again, Benton students swept top awards.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Hana Kim, 1st place, Caitlyn Trapp, 2nd, Kaitlyn Suzuki 3rd.

DRAWING

Sig Borja, 2nd Place, Alice Lee 3rd Place

SCULPTURE

Nina Nguyen 1st Place, Mia Bernal 2nd, Isabella Garay 3rd.

DIGITAL ART

Piper Tolleson 2nd Place, Isabella Banuelos 3rd

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.

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.

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

Go Wolverines!

• Monday, Tuesday, and Friday (17th, 18th, and 21st).
• 3:15-4:15(ish)
• Bring your glove.
• Tournament is on the following Monday, 3/24; so you need to be at all practices.
• Coach Martinez says, "For those who need the Friday progress check, please make sure you are handling your business!"

Students will attend periods 1A– 4A 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

Do you need to make up an absence or get caught up on school work? Be sure to attend Saturday School on 3/22 from 8:00am-12:15pm. This is the last Saturday Schools this year! Permission Slips are available in the office and linked below.

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

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

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.

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