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| Vol. 7, Iss. 1 |
Jan 5, 2017
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Dear Parents,
Thank you to all teachers, staff, room parents, and especially our students for contributing to the Community Event's Committee's (CEC) Holiday One Act of Kindness (OAK) parties. Kindergarten and first grade made cards that were distributed to Wind Crest residents. Grades 2-5 made blankets that the Douglas County Sheriff's Department will use in various ways through Social Services and the Battered Family Shelter. The middle school also made blankets that were distributed to The Children's Hospital in Highlands Ranch and will be used by many children to comfort them in a time of need.
Your gifts were very much appreciated! These items brightened people's day and demonstrated our commitment to community partners, while teaching children that giving time can be as important as giving money. My thanks to the CEC for organizing the event and all of you for taking a portion of YOUR time to show our community that BFA cares.
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BFA STUDENTS AND PARENTS DELIVER
Thanks again to the 14 students and five parents who helped deliver food and hand out books at Crawford Elementary before their winter break. The BFA Community, led by our student council, made a real difference in the lives of the kids at Crawford, and in turn, they had a huge impact on us. Special thanks to Ms. Denham, student council teacher liaison, and Mary Hansen, BFA parent and volunteer for Be About Bliss, a local nonprofit dedicated helping children in Colorado, especially the kids at Crawford Elementary.
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PARENTS NIGHT OUT - JAN. 20
Craving a night out, but want to make sure your kids have a fun evening too? We have your solution--sign up for the Parents Night Out from 6:30 - 9 p.m. on Jan. 20. For only $5 per child, volunteers will watch your kids while you enjoy an evening out. Kids are welcome to come in their favorite pajamas. In addition to offering games coordinated by middle school students, we'll show a movie and provide popcorn and water. Additional concessions will be available for sale at check-in, but please feed your child dinner before they come. We can only accept BFA students (including preschoolers). The proceeds benefit students going on the Disneyland Choir trip. Sign up today!
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Want to learn more about what is going on at BFA? Attend a Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. For your convenience, we've scheduled two meetings--the first is from 8:30 until 10 a.m., and the second is from 7:30 - 9 p.m. Both meetings will be held in the BFA Gym. Complementary childcare will be available for BFA students during the evening session. Stay tuned for additional details.
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YEARBOOK DEDICATION DEADLINE TOMORROW
The deadline to purchase a yearbook dedication for your student is tomorrow, Jan. 6. To place your dedication order, please go to the Walsworth
website and select, "Buy a Personal Ad", then "Have my School Design my Ad." Next, select your student's grade and create your dedication. Please
email
Katie Devlin with questions.
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SAVE THE DATE - DAYBREAK WITH DADS
Dads are our real superheroes! Mark your calendar today to celebrate your special Dad at Daybreak with Dads from 7 - 8 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 27.
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR WINTER FUN
Join us for Winter Fest on Saturday, Jan. 28, from 4-7 p.m. at Ben Franklin Academy. There will be food, activities (including everyone's favorite, the Cake Walk), and the new expansion will be open for tours.
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CAKES AND BAKED GOODS NEEDED
Earn volunteer hours from home by providing cakes and goodies for Winter Fest. They should be dropped off at school before Winter Fest, Jan. 28, between noon and 3 p.m.
Sign up today!
Email
the BFA Baking Committee with questions.
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JOIN BEN'S BRIGADE AT THEIR UPCOMING EVENTS
The next Ben's Brigade meeting will take place at
8 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19, at the Starbucks inside the Highlands Ranch Target
(1265 Sergeant John Stiles Dr.).
A Financial Seminar/Ben's Night Out will be offered from 7 - 9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 2. This will be an informative and fun-filled evening with pool, pizza, drinks, classic cars, and more. Stay tuned for more info!
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This the time of year when many parents resolve to get more involved in their child's school, and one way to do that is by participating in one of BFA's committees. BFA has a rich tradition of volunteerism because, volunteering not only supports your child(ren)'s education, but it also is a great way to meet other families who truly care about the success of the school and is a personally rewarding experience.
Now is the time to consider becoming involved! Parents are always welcome at BFA Committee Meetings, so check the school calendar and drop into a meeting soon to see if there is a committee or project that interests you. And, you don't have to join a group to participate--many of our committees have activities you can help with on a formal or informal basis. Following are short descriptions of several BFA committees:
ARTS - The
Arts Committee is dedicated to helping our students gain awareness and expertise in a wide variety of visual and performing arts. Specifically, they strive to: integrate the arts into our curriculum and extra-curricular activities; help our arts teachers by recruiting and coordinating volunteers; and increase awareness, involvement and recognition of our arts activities.
CEC - The mission of the
Community Events Committee (CEC) is to promote interaction between students, staff, administration, parents and the surrounding community with emphasis on community service and outreach. The Committee also connects parents and students with the BFA internal and external community through annual service projects.
PTO - The mission of the BFA
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is to seek resources to strengthen, enhance and encourage the educational and social experience at BFA. The resources primarily will be directed toward educationally focused goals. The committee also works to cultivate a strong sense of community and school spirit and support the school by encouraging a strong volunteer network. The PTO also supports Ben's Brigade, which is a group of BFA Dads (as well as grandpas and favorite uncles) who complete various projects for the school.
SAC - The state of Colorado requires each school to have a
School Accountability Committee (SAC) consisting of parents, teachers, and community members charged with advising the administration on the improvement of the school. The SAC is tasked with informing, encouraging, and providing opportunities for parent and community members to be involved in the planning and evaluation of the school's instructional program and quality improvement processes.
STEM - The Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Committee organizes several events and activities throughout the year to enrich science, technology, engineering, and math education for students. Specifically they coordinate the STEM Expo, Fruit Toss After-school Club, Science Fair, Destination Imagination, Earth Day, and National Space Day. However, you don't need to be a rocket scientist to participate!
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PRIVATE VOICE AND ACTING LESSONS AT BFA
BFA now offers private voice and/or acting lessons on campus. Lessons are after school on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. in the Music Room. The pricing is $30 for 30 minutes and $60 for an hour.
The instructor is Sydney Harper a performer and teacher from Denver.
She has soloed with esteemed organizations such as the Colorado Symphony and the Denver Philharmonic. She has been directing professional and amateur children's theatre for 11 years and has a private studio of more than 50 students. She holds a BA in Music Theatre.
For more information, contact Ms. Johnson or email Sydney Harper.
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Need to clean out after the Holidays? Here's an opportunity to get a jump on spring cleaning while benefiting others--it's another ARC fundraiser benefiting the DC trip.
We will be collecting Target/Walmart size bags for donation in early February. Look for more information next week.
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PRESCHOOL ENROLLMENT FOR 2017/2018
Preschool enrollment for current Ben Franklin Academy families is open now! If you are a current family who is interested in one of our preschool programs, please
email
Kristen Goldberg, preschool director, with the following information:
- Child's name
- Date of birth
- Class preference (in priority order)
Parents looking for a class for their three-/four-year-old can indicate their preference between a Tuesday/Thursday class or a Monday/Wednesday/Friday class. If your student is a four-/five-year-old, there are additional options, including morning, afternoon and full-day programs.
Spots will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Spots for current families are not guaranteed and classes will fill up, so please be sure to email Mrs. Goldberg soon. After the enrollment period, you will be notified which class is available for your student. Enrollment will open to the public on Monday, Jan. 9, 2017. For more information about BFA's preschool program and available classes, please visit our
website.
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IMPORTANT PARKING REMINDER
This is a friendly reminder that you may only park in a reserved spot if that spot is assigned to you, and we ask all parents to park in marked, or designated parking spots when coming into the school for an event or to volunteer.
No matter what day of the week or time of day, please do not park in parking spaces that are reserved for someone else. There are more than 250 spots in our lot, so there is no need for you to park in spots assigned to the employee of the month, volunteer of the month, Volunteer Quota Award Winner, or the spots of families who paid to use a specific parking space.
Additionally, there are many parents who have been parking along the curb in the lower parking lot. When that occurs, it is difficult for staff and other parents to back out of their parking spot, and you run the risk of incurring damage to your vehicle. Parking is only allowed in marked spots.
Please be respectful of our staff, other BFA parents and our award recipients, and refrain from parking in spots not assigned to you or along the curb in the lower lot.
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DISCOUNTED DENVER NUGGETS TICKETS
Douglas County Community Events is offering discounted Denver Nuggets tickets again this year. Watch the Nuggets take on the Los Angeles Clippers at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21 at the Pepsi Center. Tickets are $51 each for the lower level and $19 each for the upper level. Families who purchase tickets in the lower level will receive a free Denver Nuggets hat or beanie. Click here for more information or to purchase tickets. Get your tickets today!
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2017 MUSICAL THEATER AND BAND
Registration is open for next year's after school music programs. Ms. Johnson will offer a Junior Musical Theater program for first and second graders on Mondays from 3:35 - 4:10 p.m. beginning Jan. 23. Students in grades 3 - 8, can sign up to participate in Musical Theater on Wednesdays beginning Jan. 18, from 3:30 - 4:15 p.m.
Spring Band starts the week of Jan. 16. Beginning Band for grades 4 - 8 is on Tuesdays from 3:30 - 4 p.m. Students in this class focus on reading music and learn how to play an instrument, such as the flute, clarinet, sax, trumpet or percussion. Intermediate Band for students in grades 4 - 8 who already play an instrument is on Thursdays from 3:30 - 4 p.m. Check out this
flier for more details about the program as well as key performance dates. Space is limited for all of these programs,
so sign up now!
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READY, SET, ACTION!
Mini Movie Makers club is back by popular demand! This after-school club teaches your student how to create an animated movie using Frames. Kids in grades 3-6 can sign up to learn how to design characters, record voices, create backgrounds and so much more! T
he new session is on Thursdays from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. and begins Jan. 5. Spots are limited, so
sign up today at the BFA Store. If you have questions, checkout this
flier or
email
Ms. Goldin.
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APPLE AWARD NOMINATION WINDOW CLOSING SOON
Who has the best teachers in the Douglas County School District? The answer is easy--Ben Franklin Academy does! BFA's teachers and staff are highly dedicated individuals who go above and beyond every day to make sure our kids are educated in a safe and caring environment where they feel comfortable and confident to take chances. Teachers have established high expectations for all students and provide all the tools necessary for the students to accomplish those expectations.
If you would like to formally recognize a BFA teacher or staff member, consider nominating them for the DCEF Apple Awards.
The Apple Awards were created in 2006 to provide the opportunity to recognize and celebrate excellent, innovative teachers, administrators and support staff. Nominations for the Apple Awards can be submitted online by staff, students, parents and members of the community. You may nominate more than one person; and nominations must be made using the online form. This year, the DCEF would like to know how your nominee advances the District's
Strategic Plan. The nomination window is open now, and goes through Jan. 13, 2017.
Nominations can be made by going to the DCSD website.
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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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SPIRIT WEAR DAY
Friday, Jan. 6 is Spirit Wear Day. Students can wear a spirit day shirt, a field day T-shirt from a previous year, or their Apex Fun Run shirt with their regular uniform pants, shorts, skort, skirt or dress.
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FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
The Finance Committee is meeting from 5 - 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 9, in the BFA Library.
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BFA BOARD MEETING
The Ben Franklin Academy Board of Directors is meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 10, in the BFA Library. Their next meeting is Feb. 13.
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FIFTH GRADE MUSICAL
Fifth grade students will be performing
Off Their Rocker
at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 11.
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DRESS OF CHOICE DAY
Dress of Choice is Jan. 13, 2017. The next Dress of Choice Day is Feb. 16.
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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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