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| Vol. 6, Iss. 29 |
Oct. 27, 2016
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I sincerely appreciate your involvement in the PTO BFA Fun Run, our major fundraiser of this school year! The run today wraps up two weeks of leadership lessons, fun and fitness for our students, but they can still collect pledges online through tomorrow Friday, Oct. 28, at 11 a.m. As of this morning, we were at 73 percent of our goal.
Your generous donations will go toward enhancements for the Playground and STEAM Lab. If your students will be collecting cash or checks to fulfill their pledges, look for a collection envelope to come home tomorrow. Pledges are to be returned to school by next Wednesday, Nov. 2. Checks should be made out to BFA PTO.
Thanks again for supporting your student's education. Your contributions make a real difference for our kids and will have a lasting impact for years to come.
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ON YOUR MARKS, GET SET, READ!
The Reading and Language Arts component of the Fun Run wraps up tomorrow. Students can earn an extra prize for completing the following goals:
- Kindergarten: Complete the required 40 minutes of Lexia for the week of Oct. 24
- Grades 1 - 6: Earn 75 percent of the first trimester AR goal by Oct. 28
- Grade 7: No missing Language Arts assignments for the week of Oct. 24
- Grade 8: Book interviews completed for the week of Oct. 24
If you have questions, email Serena Grissom and Rachael Hamburger, PTO fundraising coordinators.
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Are you one of BFA's many artistic parents? If you have an interest in painting, photography, creative writing, graphic design, dancing, sculpting, jewelry making, singing, playing an instrument, acting, scene design or any other area of the arts--we need you!
Consider helping out with the new BFA Arts Committee. The Committee is collecting names of parents to help with future projects by area of interest. You are not expected to make a volunteer commitment now, rather your name will be on a list of interested families to contact when projects arise. For example,
if you indicate interest in scene design, we will invite you to help build sets for our musicals. The options are almost endless, so let us know your passion! If you want to support the arts at BFA, but don't feel a particular interest in one area, please email us today to sign up for our general team. Thank you for supporting the arts at BFA!
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VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION OPPORTUNITIES
Veterans Donation Drive Coming Soon
Save all that Halloween candy you don't want to eat. Starting on Monday, Nov. 7, we will be collecting candy, cards, and dental care items to send to active service members through Operation Gratitude. They ask that we please do not purchase candy to send, but rather donate only unopened Halloween candy (no pixy stix, please). If you are in the position to purchase something for service members, we also will be collecting individually wrapped toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss and mouthwash for our troops. Operation Gratitude encourages students to write letters or cards to the troops. These notes will be included with the candy and dental hygiene items in care packages. Please send in cards and letters for our service members. There will be donation boxes placed outside the front office.
Veterans Wall of Honor- Deadline Next Thursday
Each year in the school's main hallway, we display pictures and stories of veterans to create the BFA Veterans Wall of Honor. Families can download the form from the BFA website, fill it out at home, and send it to school with students to be added to the Wall. Click here to download the flyer. Please do not send original pictures. Forms will not be returned. All flyers need to be at school by Thursday, Nov. 3. Don't wait--send them in today!
Assembly Programs and Veterans Reception
The culmination of our Veterans Day activities are the assemblies where we celebrate and recognize our Veterans. BFA parents, grandparents and, most importantly, local Veterans, are encouraged to join us at our Veterans Day assembly programs on Friday, Nov. 11:
- Grades K-4 will begin at 9 a.m.
- Grades 5-8 will begin at 1:30 p.m.
A special reception will be held for veterans 30 minutes prior to each program in the Sanders Science Lab. Please invite the veterans in your life to come, be honored, and celebrate those who serve our country!
Veterans Day Volunteers
Veterans Day is the perfect time to volunteer, and there are still slots available! Please take a look at the wide variety of opportunities and sign up here and here.
Veterans Day will be amazing at BFA - don't miss the chance to join in the celebration!
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WANT YOUR VERY OWN PARKING SPACE?
The PTO would like to recognize families who have met their 30-hour family (15-hour single-parent household) volunteer requirement. Each month, the PTO will enter all families who have met their volunteer requirement into a drawing for a monthly reserved parking spot. The earlier in the year you complete your requirement--the better your chances of winning a parking spot for the month!
Also, since the lunchroom and carpool have such a significant need for volunteers, we will add an entry for each family who volunteers for those positions during the month prior to the drawing. That's a possibility of three entries per month! Please make sure to log all of your volunteer hours in Help Counter by the twenty-fifth day of each month to be eligible for the next month's drawing. Please
email Christi Richardson, PTO vice president, with any questions.
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NEED ANOTHER EVENING OUT?
Thanks for a successful Parents Night Out last Friday. Mark your calendars for the next Parent's Night Out childcare on Friday, Nov. 18, to benefit the eighth graders going to Washington, D.C. Next month's theme is pajama party! Let your children wear pajamas and bring a pillow, blanket, or stuffed animal. In addition to showing The Peanuts Movie (rated G) and providing popcorn and water, there will be a couple of stations set up to entertain kiddos (i.e. coloring, drawing, games). Concessions will be available for purchase when signing in children. We will offer Sour Patch Kids, Mini M&Ms, and granola bars.
Childcare will run from 6:30-9 p.m. and is just $5 per child. Volunteers will watch your child(ren) while you grab a bite to eat or do some shopping. We can only accept BFA students (including preschool students).
We must sign up at least 30 children by Thursday, Nov. 10, to host the event. Sign up early to help ensure the event is not cancelled. Please sign up each child individually, and please be sure to feed your child(ren) dinner before they come.
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PERSONALIZED YEARBOOK DEDICATIONS
Our yearbook vendor offers the opportunity to create a personalized ad/dedication for the yearbook. If you are interested in writing a short note to your Kindergarten - seventh grader, it costs $10. If you'd like to write your eighth grader a note and include a picture, it is $15. The deadline for all dedications is Jan. 6, 2017. Log on to the yearbook website to get started today!
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MOM'S NIGHT OUT IS ALMOST HERE!
The PTO is hosting a night out for ALL Ben Franklin moms on
Thursday, Nov. 3, from
6-8 p.m.
at The Rock Wood Fired Kitchen (53 Centennial Blvd Littleton CO 80129). Appetizers and pizza will be provided. Join us for a fun-filled evening of socializing! Please
RSVP
to let us know you'll be there!
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TIME TO CHECK THE LOST AND FOUND!
The Lost and Found is filling up again! There are many great water bottles, sweaters and jackets waiting to be claimed. Please be sure to have your student check the Lost and Found before Friday, Nov. 18, when all remaining items will be donated.
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THINGS ARE GETTING SPOOKY - HALLOWEEN PARTIES TOMORROW
Halloween parties will take place on Friday, Oct. 28. Students in grades K-5 will have a costume parade at the beginning of the parties, which start at 1:45 p.m. The students' parade will follow an established route. Parties will commence immediately following the parade and last until 2:45 p.m. Volunteers will begin cleaning up at 2:45 p.m. so all party goers have time to leave before carpool preparation begins.
The Middle School's Halloween party is from 2-3 p.m. (They will not be participating in the parade.)
Costume guidelines: All students should come to school in their regular uniform, and can change into their costume at the appropriate time. No weapons, blood, gore or make-up. Costumes should be conservative in style. Masks are permitted as long as they follow the guidelines.
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NEED CARPOOL VOLUNTEERS
More than 100 parents committed to staff carpool for at least one repeating shift per month! Thanks to all these amazing volunteers who help ensure kids are safe and that carpool runs smoothly and efficiently. There are still a considerable number of shifts available for the remainder of the year. Click here to find the links to sign up.
You can select the same shift each month or just sign up for the shifts that work for you. You'll receive a reminder via email four days prior to your shift. Email questions, to Elizabeth Billups.
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PROSPECTIVE FAMILY TOURS CONTINUE IN NOVEMBER
November is the last month for tours before enrollment deadlines. Every Wednesday in November (except Nov. 23) families are welcome to
tour the school
. Tours begin at 9 a.m. and will be led by a member of BFA's administrative team. New families--please remember to bring your driver's license and check in a few minutes before the tour is scheduled to begin.
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS - NO SCHOOL NOV. 4
Friday, Nov. 4, is a teacher work day so there is no school for students.
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SKATE CITY PROGRAMS ADDED TO DCEF OFFERINGS
The Douglas County Educational Foundation (DCEF) has several exciting events scheduled. Check out these discounted programs and ticket opportunities:
DCEF recently partnered with Skate City in Littleton to provide students access to great programs at a terrific price. Hockey and skating classes begin the first week of November. A portion of the registration fee goes back to our school and all first time skaters receive a free pair of skates.
C
heer on the Colorado Avalanche as they take on the Winnipeg Jets,
Friday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m.
BFA parents can purchase discounted tickets with a portion of every ticket sold going back to our school. Top selling schools are eligible for special perks and prizes. Click here for a
flier
, or
purchase
tickets now!
Tickets are selling out fast for DCPA Holiday Community Event Offerings: "A Christmas Carol", "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - the Musical" and "Finding Neverland". Don't wait to purchase discounted tickets for these great shows. Be sure to use promo code DCSDFUND. For more information click here.
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ENROLLING A SIBLING AT BFA? TAKE ACTION TODAY!
BFA is now accepting enrollment applications for the 2017-18 school year. If you wish to enroll a sibling of a student currently enrolled at BFA (grades K-8), please complete the following steps:
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Submit an Enrollment Application form online by clicking
here; and
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Email
Rachelle Patterson, registrar, by
Monday, Oct. 31.
Please note, applications received after this deadline may not receive priority enrollment. In fact, there is a chance you may lose your spot all together.
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BE A HERO FOR THE DAY--BUY A BIRTHDAY BAG
Celebrating birthdays at BFA is fun! For
$10, your child will receive the following:
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A bag full of goodies, such as erasers, pencils, bouncy balls, etc. (no food or candy will be in the bags) delivered to their classroom by eighth graders
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A personalized note from you (if requested)
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Eighth graders singing happy birthday to your child in his/her classroom while delivering the bag
Did your student already celebrate his/her birthday? Is his/her birthday in the summer? We also will deliver "unbirthday bags" for students who have already celebrated their birthday or "half-birthday bags" for summer birthdays.
Thank you for supporting the eighth graders' trip to Washington, D.C.!
To order your birthday bags, click here. If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Simpson.
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BFA APEX FUN RUN
BFA's primary fundraiser of the 2016-2017 school year is today! You can still collect pledges through tomorrow.
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Ben's Brigade is meeting on Thursday, Oct. 27, at 8 p.m. in the Target Starbucks (1265 Sergeant Jon Stiles Dr, Highlands Ranch). All BFA Dads are welcome to attend.
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HALLOWEEN CLASSROOM PARTIES
Halloween parties will be held for all grades beginning at 1:45 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 28.
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COMMUNITY EVENTS COMMITTEE MEETING
The CEC is meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 1, in the BFA Library. Their next meeting is Dec. 6.
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The first Wednesday of every month is Formal Uniform Day. Students should wear a navy polo shirt with the BFA logo and tan pants, shorts, shirt or a skort.
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Wear your Spirit Wear or an old field day t-shirt on Thursday, Nov. 3, for Spirit Wear Day.
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All BFA moms - make plans to attend the Mom's Night Out from 6-8 p.m. at The Rock Wood Fired Kitchen (53 Centennial Blvd Littleton CO 80129).
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NO SCHOOL
Friday, Nov. 4, is a teacher work day, so there is no school.
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Ben Franklin Academy
2270 Plaza Drive
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 |
Fax: (303) 974-1738
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Our mission is to create young adults with character like America's founding Renaissance man, Benjamin Franklin: well-read, scientifically curious, and civically engaged.
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Our students will excel academically through a challenging, sequenced curriculum that emphasizes math, science, and literacy. We will be a data driven institution, focusing on individual students. Our students, teachers, parents, staff, and leaders will be held accountable for the success of our school. Finally, we recognize that an education is incomplete without fostering the arts, sports, nature, and character.
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Temperance, Silence, Order, Resolution, Frugality, Industry, Sincerity, Justice, Moderation, Cleanliness, Tranquility, Purity and Humility.
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