Benton Weekly Update

The weather will be COLD for the next week and a half, as you check your student's outfit each day to ensure they are following the school dress code, make sure they are dressed warmly and bring a jacket or sweatshirt; it's not a good week to wear a tank top or shorts! Just a reminder, students may not bring blankets to school or wear pajama bottoms.

8th Graders, don't forget: Promotion Photos and Panoramic Photos will be taken tomorrow, Monday 3/3. For the Promotion Photos, students will be photographed in a blue gown. A collared shirt will be provided to boys if they do not wear one to school.

COMPLETE CHANGE OF DATE AND VENUE: The NLM Middle Schools Soccer and Basketball Tournament, scheduled for Wednesday, is being rescheduled to Monday, March 17. It will be held at Benton.

We have a dine out fundraiser this week at Corner Bakery in La Habra (Imperial & Idaho). The first 14 families/guests will be able to spin a wheel for a prize, and all Benton diners will receive a raffle ticket to win dinner for 4! Don't miss out, dine out at Corner Bakery and support Benton!

Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences are the week of 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.

Make it a great week!

During the District Robotics Competition last week, Benton Wolverines took first place. Congratulations, Wolverines!

Congratulations to Makayla Martinez and Plumeria Szeplaky for being recognized over the weekend by the 33rd District PTSA. Makayla and Plumeria previously placed 1st in the Norwalk-La Mirada PTA Reflections Contest. Makayla's entry for Dance and Plumeria's entry for Film moved on to the 33rd District PTA Reflections Contest. Plumeria was awarded Honorable Mention, and Makayla was awarded 1st Place in the 33rd District PTA. Congratulations!

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:

• Promotion Photos & Panoramic Photos on Monday, get ready for your close up!
• Get your Baby Picture in the Yearbook. 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.

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?

Each year schools and youth organizations nationwide participate in Say Something Week, a week of celebrating the importance of trusted adults and up-standers at schools! Say Something week is March 3-7, 2025. Our district and Benton will be participating with a Spirit Week. Show your commitment to saying something!

Due to the forecasted rain, we have cancelled the 8th Grade Promotion & Panoramic Photos originally scheduled for Thursday, 2/13. Photos have been rescheduled to Monday, March 3rd.

Tryouts for Boys' Softball will be Tuesday, March 3:15-4:30pm. Mr. Martinez will be coaching Boys' Softball, and Coach Kaitlyn will be coaching Girls Softball. (Practice schedule will be announced later.) The NLM Middle Schools Softball Tournament will be on March 24th at Behringer Park.

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

Due to rain in the forecast, the NLM Middle Schools Basketball & Soccer Tournament has been rescheduled to Monday, March 17th and will be at Benton

Go Wolverines!

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.

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.

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.

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

• Must be a digital copy
• "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

Benton was thrilled to host a site validation visit this past week from Schools to Watch (STW). Thank you to our students and parents and community members who met with the team to discuss their experience at Benton. 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 Educators and supported by the California Department of Education. Look for an official announcement in March!

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