A Letter from the Principal

I am pleased to share exciting updates from the Benson Digital Learning Center (BDLC). Our enrollment continues to grow, with 44 students attending BDLC and 56 enrolled with BDLCO. I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the district for supporting the hiring of an additional staff member. This support came at a crucial time, and our small but dedicated team is incredibly appreciative.

We are also thrilled to welcome new team members. Alicia Reynolds has returned to BUSD as the BDLC secretary and has been a fantastic addition, quickly becoming an integral part of our community. Additionally, Molly Whitaker joined us and already seems like a perfect fit. This transition has allowed Monica Cash to move into a supportive role with BDLCO, where she is excelling.

We are proud to celebrate the early graduation of the following students: Amara Fink, Alec Holmes, Alexander Ellis, Esther Sabin, Dani Lee, Jazelle Britton-Morris & Haylie Todd, and Vincent Jurey. While we will miss them, their departure allowed us to welcome new students from our waitlist.

Our Pathways program had a successful semester, with 27 students participating in college courses. Every student passed their class, collectively earning 117 credits, and two students completed their HVAC certification program. This accomplishment reflects the dedication of our students and staff.

Additionally, I would like to recognize students who exemplify our On Track Character Traits:

November (Community-Minded): Maverick Carillo
Mrs. Moyers nominated Maverick for his willingness to help others and his outstanding leadership as FBLA Secretary. His dedication ensures that all events are well-planned and executed. Great job, Maverick!
December (Kind): Tristan Snyder
Mr. Webb highlighted Tristan’s remarkable ability to connect with everyone. His kindness and positive attitude make BDLC a welcoming environment. Keep being a light, Tristan!
January (Trustworthy): Francisco Quezada
Mrs. Moyers and Mr. Webb commended Francisco for his respect and consideration toward everyone. His reliability and leadership make BDLC a better place. Well done, Francisco!
February (Respectful): Jessie Pierce
Nominated by Mr. Webb and Ms. Reynolds, Jessie exemplifies respect in all interactions. He listens attentively, speaks thoughtfully, and sets a strong example for his peers. Congratulations, Jessie!

Finally, we want to recognize our Pathways Students of the Month:

Scarlett Cluff (Culinary Arts) – Earned her ServeSafe certification and appreciates the independence and support offered by the program.
Jared Riker (Automotive Technology) – Loves working on cars in a hands-on learning environment and aspires to build custom cars professionally.

We are incredibly proud of our students and grateful for the ongoing support from the district, staff, and community. Thank you for your commitment to student success.

Sincerely,
Shannon Sherman
Principal, Benson Digital Learning Center

BDLC Secretary News – February & March Updates

📆 February Reminders:

Some students are approaching or have exceeded 10 absences per semester. Attendance is mandatory in Arizona, so please encourage your student to attend regularly!
February 26 is a half-day Wednesday.
February 24-28 – Benchmark Testing for all in-person students.

📆 March Highlights:

March 5, 6, & 7 – Half days leading up to Spring Break.
March 10-21 – BDLC Office closed for Spring Break. If you need assistance, leave a voicemail at 520-720-6726 or email areynolds@bensonusd.org.
March 26 – Mandatory Arizona State Testing for all Juniors in the BUSD Board Room (8 AM - 12 PM). Testing schedules have been emailed to parents.
March 27 – Dual Credit Student/Parent Registration Night at BDLC Campus Classroom (6-7 PM) for students interested in taking Cochise College courses.

💻 Online Students: Don’t forget—supplemental logs are due every Sunday!

Let’s stay on top of attendance, testing, and coursework as we head into Spring Break! 🚀

District Calendar

March Dates

March 5th-7th

Early Release

March 6th

Conferences

March 10th-21st

Spring Break

March 24th

Welcome Back

March 26th

AZ Science

11th graders

8:00 am

district office

Pathways Registration

6:00 pm

BDLC

STAR Testing

ALL GRADES

online

April Dates

April 2nd

Early Release

April 2nd

AASA Writing

8th grade

8:00

Boardroom

April 3⋅

AASA-ELA

8:00am

Boardroom

April 7

AASA Math

8:00 am

Boardroom

April 8th

ACT Testing

All Juniors

8:00 am

Boardroom

April 9th

8th Grade AZ Sci

10:00 - 12:00 am

Boardroom

April 18th

No School

April 22nd

ACT Aspire Part 1

9th graders

8:00 am

BDLC

April 23rd

ACT Aspire Part 2

9th Graders

8:00 am

BDLC

April 23rd

Early Release

May Dates

May 1

Cap and Gown Parade

May 14th-16th

Early Release

May 14th

BDLC Graduation

MORE MAY DATES AND DETAILS TO COME!

BDLC Digital Classroom Update

📢 Stay on Track with Edgenuity!

Parents and guardians, please check in with your students and review their Edgenuity progress! Students should use the BDLC Progress Report to stay aware of due dates for all their classes. The Course Report is also a valuable tool to help them track daily assignments and stay on pace.

Encourage your student to stay organized and finish the quarter strong! 💻📚

Math Updates

In math, we’ve been diving deep into the world of trigonometry in both Algebra 2 and Geometry. Students have engaged in hands-on projects and in-class assignments exploring circles, trigonometric functions, logarithmic bases, and much more. Their hard work and curiosity have been evident, and we are feeling confident as we prepare for the upcoming Q3 benchmark!

Business Management Updates

📊 Business Management 1
This quarter, students gained a strong foundation in financial literacy—exploring credit, its impact, and strategies for building and maintaining good credit. They then dove into the world of investing, analyzing stocks and different investment types to better understand the value of money. As we wrap up the quarter, students will research various types of insurance and how it helps protect individuals, families, and assets.

💼 Business Management 2
Students kicked off the quarter by developing marketing plans for specific products, applying real-world strategies. They then explored Project Management, using its five key functions to plan our CTE assembly. To close out the quarter, we’ll focus on human resources and prepare for the CTE Technical Skills Assessment.

Exciting learning experiences continue as we prepare for the final stretch of the year! 🚀

BDLC Online Updates

We’re excited to welcome Monica Cash back to our online team! She’s settling in well and has been an incredible resource for students, providing support with day-to-day questions.

📚 Current Enrollment: 59 students (11 middle school, 48 high school)
🎓 Many high school students are excelling in college-level courses at Cochise.
📅 We’re wrapping up quarter classes and looking forward to Spring Break!
📖 After the break, we’ll be preparing for state testing and a strong finish to the last quarter.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue supporting student success!

Pathways

The college classes fill quickly! We will be having a registration night on Thursday, March 27th at 6:00 pm. It is so important that you are there with all of your completed paperwork and ready to pay your portion of fees.

Pathways Website