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| Vol. 7, Iss. 2 |
Jan 12, 2017
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ATTENTION ALL
BFA
PARENTS AND INTERESTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS,
YOU'RE INVITED!
BFA's STEAM Expansion is virtually complete and our toes are on the finish line. The expansion area looks incredible and we'd like for you to share in our excitement and see what has been accomplished. We added a larger gym complete with bleachers and movable basketball hoops, an amazing performance area, two new science labs, an art room full of natural light and a (soon to be installed) kiln, a music room, and two technology labs.
All of this is done in order to enhance our STEAM programming. I am most proud of the fact that all BFA students will benefit from the expansion project, and it supports BFA's mission and vision.
Do you want to learn more about this project and the other exciting things going on at BFA? Attend a Town Hall Meeting and hear directly from the board and administration about BFA. There will be time for questions and answers and we'll talk about the past, present and future of BFA. We are hoping to allow parents the ability to call in and listen to the Town Hall Meeting and send questions via email in case you cannot attend in person. (Specific details will be sent in a separate communication.)
Celebrate the opening of BFA's STEAM expansion by attending the
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony from 6:30 - 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 17, at BFA. Tours will be available to explore the new area after the ceremony.
Make plans to participate in one of the following Town Hall Meetings:
- Tuesday, Jan. 17, from 7 - 8:30 p.m. (following the ribbon cutting and tours) in New BFA Gym; or
- Thursday, Jan. 19, from 8:30 - 10 a.m. in New BFA Gym.
Complementary childcare will be available for BFA students during the evening Town Hall session. Please make every effort to attend one of the Town Hall Meetings. The next chapter of BFA begins with YOU!
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NO SCHOOL MONDAY, JAN. 16
There will be no school on Monday, Jan. 16, to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Enjoy the long weekend!
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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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We will celebrate Benjamin Franklin's birthday on
Tuesday Jan. 17. The PTO needs a few volunteers to help distribute goodies from 10:50 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. during lunch. Please
email
Brooke Svanda, PTO social coordinator,
if you are interested.
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CONGRATULATIONS HEATHER HOLMES ON YOUR JANUARY PARKING SPOT
Did you know volunteering in carpool or the lunchroom could earn you a monthly parking spot?
Since volunteerism is one of the things that makes our school great, the PTO is recognizing families who have met their annual 30-hour volunteer quota (15-hours for single family households) with an entry each month into a drawing for a reserved parking spot. Regardless of meeting the volunteer quota, the PTO also includes families who volunteered in the lunchroom or carpool during the month prior to the drawing, as those volunteer opportunities have the most need each month.
Thank you Heather Holmes for spending time in the lunchroom in December... it earned you the parking spot for January.
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SIGN UP FOR A CARPOOL SHIFT TODAY
Keep those New Years resolutions to stay active and volunteer more by helping out with carpool! We still have plenty of openings. Click here and scroll down for the carpool online sign ups. There is one sign up for each day of the week.
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SAVE THE DATE FOR THE 'KNEAD DOUGH' FUNDRAISER DAY
Plan to dine at Kneaders Bakery and Cafe (1105 Sergeant Jon Stiles Dr.) in Highlands Ranch on Tuesday, Jan. 24, for an all-day fundraiser. Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner--they are all delicious at Kneaders! Proceeds benefit all BFA students.
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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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WINTER FEST DETAILS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Please join
us for an afternoon filled with tons of games and activities for the whole family to enjoy from 4-7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan 28. Pizza will be available for purchase from 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., and the building expansion will be open for tours. Pre-sale tickets are available now through the BFA Store. Parents, middle school students and older siblings - we need your help to make this event a success! Sign up to volunteer at the event or to bake cakes and goodies. We look forward to seeing you all at BFA's first Winter Fest.
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YEARBOOK PURCHASE DEADLINE QUICKLY APPROACHING
Be sure to order your 2016-17 yearbook by Tuesday, Jan. 31, as there will only be limited copies available after that date. Please
email
Katie Devlin with questions.
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DO YOU WANT A PRIME PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE TIME SLOT?
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held Feb. 15-16. All families who have met their annual 30-hour volunteer quota (15-hours for single family households) by Wednesday, Jan. 25, will receive their teachers' sign-ups early to get first dibs on their preferred time slots. Take advantage of volunteer opportunities now and be sure to record all your hours by midnight on Jan. 25!
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BOX TOP COLLECTION DAY NEXT WEEK
T
hank you for your Box Top donations to date.
Your efforts make a difference for our teachers and students so pl
ease keep clipping and be sure to check the Box Top app for bonus opportunities.
The next Box Top collection date is Wednesday, Jan. 18.
Does your family eat Tyson chicken? Tyson has an A+ Education program. Save the A+ tag on the back of boxes and bags, and we can submit them to Tyson and earn money for the school. Visit their website for more information.
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A NOTE AND A REQUEST FROM YOUR SPECIALS TEACHERS
A note from your Specials Teachers...
We wanted to thank you all so much for the goodies, gift cards, and notes we received before winter break! We are all so fortunate to work in such an amazing community. We love working with your children every day. Thank you for your generosity!
A fun volunteer opportunity...
Volunteers are needed to help with the third, fourth and fifth grade classes on days when they are using the climbing wall. Please click here to sign up.
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VISION AND HEARING SCREENINGS
The 2017 Vision and Hearing Screenings are just around the corner. They'll be held on Monday, Feb. 6, and Tuesday, Feb 7. Screenings are conducted for all students in state-mandated grade levels, K - 3, 5, and 7, as well as new and special education students in other grades. Please mark these important screening dates on your calendar and ensure that your student wears their contacts or glasses on those days. For more information, click here to read the flier. If you have questions about your student's vision and/or hearing, email the health assistant.
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PRESCHOOL ENROLLMENT FOR 2017/18 OPEN NOW
Preschool enrollment for Ben Franklin Academy is open now! If you know a family who is interested in one of our preschool programs, please direct them to the website to submit their registration.
Spots will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. For more information about BFA's preschool program and available classes, please visit our
website.
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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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APPLE AWARD NOMINATION WINDOW CLOSING TOMORROW
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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Please remember that the front office closes promptly at 3 p.m. each day and does not reopen until after carpool ends. This allows staff to focus on assisting with the carpool process to ensure it runs smoothly. If you need to pick up a student or have other business with the front office, please plan on coming in well before 3 p.m.
In addition, please keep in mind 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.
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DO YOU HAVE TOO MUCH STUFF?
Feeling over-stuffed or ready to declutter? We have your solution:
WHAT: Eighth graders will be collecting donations for ARC. In return, you'll get a receipt for tax purposes when you drop off your donation.
WHEN:
Feb. 6: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-7:30 p.m.
Feb 7: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-6 p.m.
Feb 8: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-5:30 p.m.
Feb 9: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Drop off your donations at 9260 Lark Sparrow Trail, Highlands Ranch, 80126. If you can't drop off, let us know. We have parent volunteers that will be happy to pick up your items.
WHY: To support the eighth-grade Washington, D.C. trip. We will receive $1 for each bag donated.
Please bag your donation items in Target/Walmart size bags (please, no King Soopers bags because they are a bit smaller and break easily). Items can be placed in a box if needed. Items that aren't accepted include, furniture, TVs, computers, car seats, mattresses, and large items that require more than one person to carry.
Email
Tiffanie Vaught, Washington, D.C., fundraising committee manager, for more information, or to schedule a pick-up of your items. Start your new year off with some spring cleaning and bag your unwanted items for donation!
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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
between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays 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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Douglas County Community Events is offering a variety of discounted tickets. Take advantage of these great prices today!
Happening now through January 22: Get discounted tickets for the
National Western Stock Show Days. A variety of exciting events are available. For a calendar and information on purchasing tickets, click
here.
Saturday, January 21 at 7 p.m
.: 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! Two alternate games also available $40/$16 with a portion of sales going back to your school.
Saturday, March 3 at 7 p.m
.: Colorado Mammoth Community Night vs. Calgary Roughnecks. Tickets are $15/$23. Event flyer and ticket ordering info will be available soon.
Denver Center for the Performing Arts presents, '
The Secret Garden.' For discounts on all performances between April 21 - May 7, Click
here and enter promo code DCSDFUND. Promo code is good for price levels A, B, & C.
On Friday, June 2, Saturday, June 3, or Sunday, June 4, the DCSD community can enjoy a fun-filled day of rides and attractions at Elitch Gardens for only $27.99 (reg. $49.99). If you purchase tickets before May 31, you will receive a free return ticket to the park, valid mid-August through mid-October. Ticket ordering info will be available soon on the DCSD website.
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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 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.
The Arts Committee meets the third Wednesday of the Month at 5 p.m. in the BFA Art Room.
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.
The CEC meets at 6 p.m. the first Tuesday of every month in the BFA Library.
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.
The PTO meets at 6:30 p.m. the third Thursday of every month in the Sanders Science Lab.
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.
The SAC meets at 4:10 p.m. the third Thursday of every month in the BFA Conference Room.
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! The STEM Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of every month in the Sanders Science Lab.
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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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The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) highlights one (or more) volunteer(s) each month who has gone above and beyond in his/her contributions to the school. This volunteer receives recognition in this newsletter and on the school website. S/he also has the privilege to park in one of our reserved parking spaces.
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For January, the PTO has chosen Jodi Watson. Jodi is originally from Spokane, Washington, and has lived in Colorado since 1999, except for a two-year break in New Orleans for graduate school. She and her husband, Tim, have two kids, Nate (third grade), and Kaia (first grade). Prior to having children, Jodi was an Epidemiologist for Jefferson County Health Department, and now works at BFA as a Douglas County Nutrition Services Lunch Lady (hoagies and grinders!). She enjoys camping, swimming, sewing, science, and Star Wars. She loves having the opportunity to volunteer at school, and in addition to being the PTO lunch coordinator, Jodi also spends her time in the lunchroom, her kids' classrooms, the elementary science lab, and with Destination Imagination team 'The Pink Fluffy Unicorns Dancing on Rainbows.' Jodi says, "BFA has been a wonderful choice for my kids, and I truly enjoy all the cute kiddos I get to see every day in the lunch room!"
BFA is lucky to have dedicated volunteers like Jodi. Thanks for all you do!
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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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NO SCHOOL
There is no school on
Monday, Jan. 16, to celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
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BEN FRANKLIN'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
The PTO plans to distribute treats to celebrate Ben Franklin's Birthday. Franklin's birthday was on Jan. 17, 1706.
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RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY
Celebrate the opening of BFA's STEAM expansion by attending the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony from
6:30 - 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 17, at BFA.
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TOWN HALL MEETING
Please join us for a Town Hall Meeting from
7 - 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 17, (following the ribbon cutting and tours) in New BFA Gym. Complimentary childcare is provided.
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FIRST GRADE MUSICAL
First grade students will be performing 'The Day the Crayons Quit'
at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 18.
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ARTS COMMITTEE MEETING
The Arts Committee
will meet at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 18, in the BFA Art Room. Their next meeting is Feb. 15.
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MORNING TOWN HALL MEETING
Please attend the Town Hall Meeting from 8:30 - 10 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19, in New BFA Gym.
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PTO MEETING
There will be a PTO meeting at
6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19, in the Sanders Science Lab. The next PTO meeting is scheduled for Feb. 16
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SAC MEETING
The School Accountability Meeting will be held at
4:10 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19
, in the BFA Conference Room. Their next meeting is Feb. 16.
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BEN'S BRIGADE MEETING
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.).
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PARENTS NIGHT OUT
There is a Parents Night Out from 6:30 - 9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 20. For only $5 per child, volunteers will watch your kids while you enjoy an evening out.
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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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