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| Vol. 7, Iss. 15 |
April 20, 2017
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A Message from BFA's Student Council...
During the week of April 24, BFA will be holding its very first Wish Week with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The students had an assembly this Wednesday about Wish Week. Wish Week is a series of events through the course of a week that raises money for a child facing a degenerating disease.
BFA is proud to announce that we will be sponsoring Brayden!
Brayden's wish is to be a cowboy. His favorite things include the color green, tomato basil soup and horses. If you have any questions, please
email
Caitlin Leonard, vice president of the Student Council, or
Bethany Vaught, representative at-large of Student Council, care of
Mrs. Denham.
The events are as follows:
Monday, April 24
through Friday, April 28 -
Penny Wars
Donate your change and bills. Each teacher will have a jar in their classroom for your contributions. Pennies and bills count positively toward grade level totals, silver coins lower them (put your silver coins in another grade level's jars to lower their totals).
The grade with the most change at the end of the week will get an ice cream or popsicle party after their field day.
Monday, April 24 - Green Day
Let's start Wish Week in Brayden's favorite color--green! Student's green attire must be the main color of the t-shirt and/or pants. Drawings, hair dye, and masks/costumes are not permitted. If your clothing does not follow the guidelines, dress code violations will be given.
Thursday, April 27, 4:15 - 6 p.m. - Volleyball Tournament
Boys and Girls teams will play; then the winner will play the staff. Tickets are $5.00; but watching the competition is priceless.
Dress as a cowboy or cowgirl to support Brayden's wish of becoming a cowboy, no charge.
Saturday, April 29, 9 a.m. - Noon - Breakfast and Car Wash
Bring your car up to the school for a good washing! The car wash is free, but we suggest a donation of $5-10. While your car is being washed by student and adult volunteers, you can buy a bagel with cream cheese and juice or coffee for $2.50 (
cash only please
).
Let's make Brayden's wish become reality!
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NO SCHOOL TOMORROW, APRIL 21
There is a teacher planning day tomorrow, April 21, so there is no school for students. Parents - enjoy your long weekend!
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SUPPORT BFA AT SATURDAY'S DI STATE COMPETITION
Congratulations to the two BFA teams who are competing at the Destination ImagiNation (DI) State Competition!
Join the teams and show your support this Saturday, April 22, at the Auraria Higher Education Center Campus (located at 777 Lawrence St., Denver, 80204). For more information, check out the
DI Colorado website.
The BFA teams are as follows:
Pictured: BFA Believers DI team members and managers pictured with medals and trophy after South Metro Regional Competition.
Team Name: BFA Believers
Performance Time: 10:02 a.m.
Performance Location: Arts Building, Room 295
Challenge: Top Secret, Elementary Level
Team Members: Evan McDermott, Mina Poleschook, Tyler Sunahara, Siva Sundaresh, Anson Washeck and Brynna West
Team Managers: Amy Sunahara and Missy Washeck
Pictured: Kitty Litter DI team members prepare for the South Metro Regional competition while DI appraisers look at their solution.
Performance Time: 4:15 p.m.
Performance Location: PE Gym, West Side
Challenge: Show and Tech, Elementary Level
Team Members: Tristan Bettis, Matthew Thiessen, Rosan Mansingh and Anthony Ligrani
Team Manager: Sarah Bettis
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BFA DADS SPRING PICNIC THIS WEEKEND
Ben's Brigade will hold its
First Annual Park/Picnic Outing for Dads and their currently enrolled BFA student(s) from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. on SUNDAY, April 23, at Redstone Park
(3280 Redstone Park Cir, Littleton) at Creekside Shelter #2. Burgers and hot dogs for grilling, as well as water and juice, will be provided; feel free to bring sides or snacks. This event is for Dads and their BFA students. All BFA Dads welcome--you do not need to be a Ben's Brigade member to attend.
Please RSVP today.
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HELP MAKE MOMAPALOOZA A SUCCESS!
We need all the help we can get to make Momapalooza rock!
Please sign up to volunteer today. Volunteers are welcome to sign up for more than one shift as long as they don't overlap.
Remember - if you've met your volunteer requirement, you can take your BFA family to PTO's Night at Pirates Cove on June 16, for FREE!
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GET YOUR TICKETS TO MOMAPALOOZA
Join us at
Momapalooza which will be held from 5:30 - 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, at BFA. You won't want to miss out on this exciting Mother Son event with dinner, dancing, obstacle course and more. Tickets are $20 for a mother/son pair, and $10 for each additional child.
Order your tickets today. They will only be available until April 25.
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VOLLEYBALL SUMMER CAMP FOR BFA ATHLETES
Mark your summer calendar! BFA will be hosting a week-long volleyball skills camp July 10-14 in the BFA Gym in preparation for the 2017 fall season. The morning session will be for incoming fifth through eighth grade beginner players, and the afternoon session will be for incoming sixth through eighth grade experienced players. There also will be evening individual skill clinics focusing on specific volleyball skills. If you would like to represent BFA on the volleyball court, you are strongly encouraged to attend.
Registration will be open soon. If you have any questions, please email coach Kristen Haufschild.
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PTO ELECTIONS BEGIN TOMORROW
The PTO is an integral part of the BFA community. The mission of the PTO is to seek resources to strengthen, enhance, and encourage the educational and social experience at Ben Franklin Academy. Each year, the parent community is asked to vote for open executive officer and committee chair positions. Y
our vote is important, so please look for a constant contact message tomorrow with more information about the candidates and the link to place your vote. Voting continues through Sunday, April 30, at 11:59 p.m. MST. Each family unit is permitted to cast one vote per position, and election results will be announced in the BFA Principal Newsletter on Thursday, May 4.
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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR LEADERSHIP POSITIONS IN THE STEM COMMITTEE
The STEM Committee has a wonderful base of technical members, but we are looking for five specific positions to be filled for next year. These positions are largely coordinating/planning positions and are appropriate for those with or without technical expertise in STEM subjects. STEM is hosting a "mixer" on Wednesday, May 3, for folks wanting to learn more about the BFA STEM program; details to come.
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MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENTS - MARK YOUR CALENDAR AND TAKE ACTION NOW FOR FIELD DAY!
The middle school field day will be held on
Wednesday, May 24, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Redstone Park. The students will leave Ben Franklin around 8:30 a.m. and walk to the park with their advisory teacher; they will walk home after field day ends at 1 p.m.
We have partnered with TRAINOC again to help design the middle school events. They will have a 25-piece obstacle course and a 10-station field day game competition for 400 students. It is going to be an exciting day for our middle school kids,
so be sure to complete the necessary information via the Field Trip link, as well as sign up through TRAINOC. Additionally, please be sure to read the middle school newsletter for important reminders from Mr. Macias.
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LET'S GET READY FOR "A NIGHT AT THE SPEAKEASY"
The 2017 Benefit Bash, "A Night at the Speakeasy," is BFA's major fundraiser for the 2017-18 school year. It will take place on
Nov. 11, 2017, with preparations happening now until event night. See the attached
flyer to find out how you can help.
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MAKE PLANS TO ATTEND THE MIDDLE SCHOOL SPANISH FESTIVAL
The middle school students at BFA are proud to present a festival of Spanish dances, songs and food beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 12, in the small gym. Friends and family are welcome to come see their favorite C and D middle school Spanish students will participate in the festival. Spanish students in 'C-day' begin their program at 6 p.m.; and students in 'D-day' begin at 6:45 p.m.
There will be amazing food for sale as well beginning at 5:30 p.m.! We will have 2 vendors; one of the vendors, "
Tapas de Jerez," will sell food typical of Spain, and "
Maria Empanadas," who was featured on the Food Network, will offer food typical of Venezuela. Admission is free, so please plan to come and support our students as well as enjoy wonderful food and entertainment.
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PTO RECOGNIZES VOLUNTEERS
Since Volunteer Appreciation Week is in April, it's the perfect time to let you know that the PTO is rewarding families who have met their volunteer requirement with
FREE admission to BFA's Pirates Cove Night on Friday, June 16. You still have time to fulfill your 30-hour requirement (15 hours for single parent households). Click
here for a list of volunteer opportunities. As always, please continue to log your hours above your 30-hour minimum, as they help BFA earn grants to support the school.
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ALL WELCOME TO ATTEND TONIGHT'S PTO MEETING
The PTO meets tonight, April 20, at 6:30 p.m. in the Sanders Science Lab. If you'd like to know more about what the PTO does, including updates on the elections and appointed positions, please join them.
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BEN'S BRIGADE MEETING NEXT WEEK
Ben's Brigade will hold its monthly meeting
at 8 p.m.
next Thursday, April 27, at the Target Starbucks (1265 Sergeant Jon Stiles Dr.). BFA Dads - they would love to see you there!
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PARENT SATISFACTION SURVEY RESULTS AVAILABLE
The 2017 Parent Survey Results are in! Thank you to all the parents who participated. The School Accountability Committee (SAC), Board of Directors and Administration value your feedback. Results can be found on this
Power Point Presentation.
SAC is currently looking for new members for the 2017-18 school year. If you want to impact current policies, know how our students are scoring academically, and want to shape BFA's academic plan, then SAC is the place for you! Our next meeting is at 4:10 p.m. on Thursday, April 20, in the BFA Conference Room. Email the SAC for more details.
Drumroll please....the following lucky families won a participation prize: Archer, Battista, Billups, Burke, Gimbel, Kimball, Lidstone, Kristi Morris, and the Roper family. Please email
SAC to choose your $25 gift card.
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HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT SENATE BILL 61?
Recently there has been some press about
Senate Bill 61, which "requires a
school district to distribute revenue it receives from ongoing local property tax mill levies equally, on a per-student basis." If you are interested in learning more about this bill and advocating on behalf of your student(s), make plans to attend a meeting this month and get engaged in the discussion. The next meeting will be held from 6 - 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26, at the CR Bank Room West in the Philip S. Miller Library (100 S. Wilcox St.). Speakers include Dan Schaller, director of Governmental Affairs with the Colorado League of Charter Schools, and Ross Izard, Senior Education Policy Analyst with the Independence Institute. Click here for a flier with more information.
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REGISTER FOR SUMMER CAMP TODAY
It is hard to believe, but it's
already time to start thinking about Summer Camp! Ben Franklin Academy is happy to announce that we will offer an exciting Summer Camp program again this year.
Do you need full-time daycare for the summer? Or perhaps you want to schedule something fun for your kids once a week while you run errands. Maybe your kids would like to connect with other Ben Franklin Academy kids and enjoy fun, summer social time? Whatever your situation, our Summer Camp is sure to keep your kids safe and entertained. And, the best part is--the program is staffed by people you know and trust!
Program Details
Dates: May 31 - Aug. 11; Closed July 3-7
Hours:
7 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Days: Monday through Friday
Summer Camp is open to any currently enrolled BFA student age 5-years-old and above. Your child must be five on or before May 31 to participate.
Program Costs
Registration: There is a $35/per child one-time registration fee. All registered campers will receive a camp T-shirt and daypack.
Daily Tuition: The cost of the camp is $35/day/child for non-field trip days and $50/day/child for field trip days.
Detailed daily activity schedules available below:
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GET YOUR DCSD DISCOUNTED TICKETS
Denver Center for the Performing Arts
April 21 - May 7
1101 13th St, Denver, CO 80204
$35 tickets (Promo code DCSD)
Limited tickets available!
Community Night with the Colorado Mammoth (vs. Saskatchewan Rush)
Friday, April 28, at 7:30 p.m.
Pepsi Center
1000 Chopper Cir, Denver, CO 80204
$15 Upper Level and $23 Lower Level
Elitch Gardens Douglas County Community Days
Take advantage of Elitch Gardens discount tickets and pay only $27.99 per admission (ages 3 and under are free) from June 2 - 4. If you purchase tickets by May 31, you will receive a free return ticket to the park valid mid-August through mid-October. Please remember to use our school code (BFA) at checkout and $4 from each ticket purchased will be donated to our school. Go to the Elitch Gardens website for more details and to buy tickets.
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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, go to the BFA Store. If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Simpson.
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EARTH DAY CELEBRATION
Thursday, April 20, we are celebrating Earth Day, and teachers have planned multiple activities to celebrate. Mrs. Ward has different activities planned for each elementary grade, including recycling 'Cheerio' tires, making a bird feeder, cleaning up an oil spill, playing with wind power and looking into solar power. As part of our commitment to recognizing Earth Day, the sixth grade is cleaning up Fly'n B park next week.
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SAC COMMITTEE MEETING
The School Accountability Committee (SAC) is meeting from 4:10 - 5:10 on Thursday, April 20, in the Conference Room.
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PTO MEETING
Join the PTO for their meeting at 6:30 p.m. tonight, April 20, in the Sanders Science Lab.
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NO SCHOOL - TEACHER WORK DAY
There is a teacher planning day on Friday, April 21, so there is no school for students. Enjoy your long weekend!
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PTO ELECTIONS
PTO elections begin on Friday, April 21, and go through Sunday, April 30.
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DISNEY CHOIR TRIP
Students participating in the Disneyland elective are headed to California for their performance on Friday, April 21. They will spend the long weekend participating in a performance and workshop, as well as enjoy Disneyland, Universal Studios and Newport Beach.
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DI STATE COMPETITION
Join the teams and show your support this Saturday, April 22, at the Auraria Higher Education Center Campus (located at 777 Lawrence St., Denver, 80204). For more information, check out the DI Colorado website.
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BEN'S BRIGADE PICNIC OUTING
Ben's Brigade will hold its
First Annual Park/Picnic Outing for BFA Dads and their student(s)
from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. on SUNDAY, April 23, at Redstone Park
(3280 Redstone Park Cir, Littleton).
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Monday, April 24 - Friday, April 28
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MAKE-A-WISH WEEK - PENNY WARS
Donate your change and bills for Make-A-Wish Week. Each teacher will have a jar in their classroom for your contributions. Pennies and bills count positively toward grade level totals, silver coins lower them (put your silver coins in another grade level's jars to lower their totals). The grade with the most change at the end of the week will get an ice cream or popsicle party after their field day.
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MAKE-A-WISH WEEK - GREEN DAY
Let's start Wish Week on Monday, April 24, in Brayden's favorite color--green! Student's green attire must be the main color of the t-shirt and/or pants. Drawings, hair dye, and masks/costumes are not permitted. If your clothing does not follow the guidelines, dress code violations will be given.
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MAKE-A-WISH WEEK - VOLLEYBALL GAME
Join us for several exciting volleyball games at 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, April 27, when the BFA Boys and Girls teams play; then the winner will play the staff. Tickets are $5.00; but watching the competition is priceless.
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BEN'S BRIGADE MEETING
Ben's Brigade will hold its monthly meeting at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 27, at the Target Starbucks (1265 Sergeant Jon Stiles Dr.).
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MAKE-A-WISH WEEK - DRESS LIKE A COWBOY OR COWGIRL
Dress as a cowboy or cowgirl on Thursday, April 27, to support Brayden's wish of becoming a cowboy, no charge.
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CAR WASH
Bring your car up to the school for a good washing! The car wash is free, but we suggest a donation of $5-$10. While your car is being washed by student and adult volunteers, you can buy a bagel with cream cheese and juice or coffee for $2.50 (cash only please).
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MOMAPALOOZA
Momapalooza which will be held from 5:30 - 8 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, at BFA. You won't want to miss out on this exciting Mother Son event with dinner, dancing, obstacle course and more.
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EIGHTH GRADE DC TRIP
The Eighth Graders are leaving for their Eighth Grade trip to Washington, D.C. on Sunday, April 30.
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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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