Benton Weekly Update

Week 8: October 5-9, 2020

It's October, already!

The end of the first quarter is Friday, and hopefully cooler weather is just around the corner! It's hard to get excited about Fall when it still feels like Summer!


Progress reports will be mailed home late next week and information will be coming soon about how to schedule a virtual conference with your student's teachers. Keep in mind that progress reports are just that, a report on progress so far. Your student is at the half-way point to the semester report card; this is a great time to see what's working well for students and what changes need to be made to do better. We need to encourage our students but not forget that these are unprecedented times. With Distance Learning, students are not only learning regular 6th, 7th, and 8th grade subjects, they are having to do it while learning a whole new way of how to learn.


Distance Learning is HARD, but these outstanding students are getting it right! This week we celebrate our September Students of the Month, our Visual & Performing Arts Students of the Month, and our students demonstrating superior Digital Citizenship.

Hispanic Heritage Month September 15-October 15

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Lin-Manuel Miranda ~ Composer, lyricist, actor

Lin-Manuel Miranda ~ Composer, lyricist, actor

Lin-Manuel Miranda ~ Composer, lyricist, actor
This week's artist of Hispanic Heritage is Lin-Manuel Miranda, a Pulitzer Prize winning, a Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award-winning composer, lyricist, and actor of Puerto Rican descent. He is the creator and original star of Broadway's Hamilton and In the Heights, and the recipient of the 2015 MacArthur Foundation Award and 2018 Kennedy Center Honors. He has been an active supporter of relief efforts in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria devastated the island in 2017, and in May of this year, Miranda launched Raise Up, a digital fundraising campaign supporting the Hispanic Federation Emergency Assistance Fund which helps immigrant communities disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. But back to Hamilton; If you haven't seen Hamilton performed on stage or on Disney Plus, you can watch this excellent documentary, PBS Great Performances Hamilton's America. You might view history a little differently, and appreciate Miranda's creative take on humanity, casting, rap, and American history.
Lin-Manuel Miranda performs "Alexander Hamilton" at The White House

What's up this week?

Coffee with the Administrator

Coffee with the Administrator

Coffee with the Administrator
Tuesdays, 8:00-8:30am.



Chat with the principal, Mr. Webster, via zoom!


Click here

Wednesday this week is Period 8B 9am-10am.

Wednesday this week is Period 8B 9am-10am.

Wednesday this week is Period 8B 9am-10am.
Log into your period 8B Zoom 9-10, then work on other assignments, projects, homework, reading from 10am-3pm.

Coming Up Next Week:

Indigenous People's Day/Columbus Day

Indigenous People's Day/Columbus Day

Indigenous People's Day/Columbus Day
NO School Monday, October 12


THE SCHOOL OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED


Tuesday, Oct. 13 will be a B Day.

East Coast Trip for 8th Graders

East Coast Trip for 8th Graders

East Coast Trip for 8th Graders

We will be holding a virtual East Coast Interest Meeting on Tuesday, October 13th at 6pm for all interested 8th graders and parents. Click here for the Zoom link.

Coming Up in 2 Weeks:

Parent Conferences

Parent Conferences

Parent Conferences

October 19-23

Via Zoom. More info coming soon!

Make-Up Picture Day

Make-Up Picture Day

Make-Up Picture Day

Wednesday, October 21

10:30am-12:30pm

In the MPR


Wear a mask, and practice Social Distancing.

Reginald M. Benton Middle School, Olive Branch Drive, La Mirada, CA, USA
Weekly Wellness

Weekly Wellness

Weekly Wellness

Hello Students, it's Ms. Allie here!


Do you know of any techniques that can help you feel better when you're upset, frustrated, or overwhelmed? For example, the breathing technique is easy and makes me feel better every time I do it. Here's how:

You breathe in through your nose and hold it for about 4 seconds.

Then exhale through your mouth, and with your lips making the "whoosh" sound for about 6 seconds. And you repeat it about 5 times.

Do you have other techniques you want to share? Click here to tell me what you do.

Hope you have a great week!

Art Contest 6th Grade Students Only

Please click this link for more details.
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Join the Benton Dance Club!

Join the Benton Dance Club!

Join the Benton Dance Club!
Dance Instructor Miss Toni will be offering dance instruction Monday-Thursday from 2:30 to 3:30 via zoom. We know many students' regular activities have been cancelled in this time of COVID-19 and the school wanted to offer some additional recreation to students in the afternoon. All students are welcome to join and it is completely free for the students. If you are interested in joining the Benton Dance Club, please use this link.

Distance Learning Support

Family Support Portal


These links might be helpful.


They can be found under the new tab on our website, bentonms.org


THREE-WAY VIRTUAL PLEDGE (Click here)

2020 – 2021


To ensure that our students and teachers have a safe learning environment conducive to learning, the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District has instituted a Three-Way Virtual Pledge. This pledge represents a commitment where all stakeholders work together to ensure a successful school year while in Distance Learning.

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About Us

About Us

About Us
Benton Middle School is a Visual & Performing Arts Magnet school
15709 E. Olive Branch Drive, La Mirada, CA 90638 rridgeway@nlmusd.org (562) 210-2500 bentonms.org