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| Vol. 8, Iss. 1 |
January 11, 2018
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Welcome Back!
I'm so excited to kick off the second half of this school year. Last Sunday, my husband asked me if I was sad that winter break was over. I told him nope...not at all, and I was being honest. I had a wonderful break relaxing with my family and getting refreshed, but I love my job and I was ready to get back to work and see my "other" family. This blessing--that I love what I get to do every day--is not lost on me. Not everyone can say that they love to come to work, but I do. I hear that same sentiment from many of our staff as well. We were all excited to get back and see your awesome children!
During break, our community was hit by tragedy when
Zackari Parrish, a DCSO deputy, was killed in the line of duty. This struck close to home for many of us, but especially here at school since we are blessed that School Resource Officers visit our building at least twice a day and patrol our hallways and building perimeter to help keep us safe. To show our appreciation for all officers, we created a big thank you cards that all the students signed. And, our preschoolers made goodie bags and signs to give to local officers. In addition, we are creating 'thank you' treat bags for the officers who come to our school every day.
I was especially impressed by the reaction from our students.
Ally and Morgann Stadler, BFA students, spent part of their weekend hanging up blue ribbon around our fence to show our support.
Kole and Kiefer Bale, fourth graders, also showed their character during this tough time by donating their allowance to the Fallen Officer's Fund and the Parrish Family during break. I am so proud of how our students continue to stand up and make a difference in our community.
The next five months are going to fly by and I am excited to see what our students accomplish before this year ends. It's going to be an amazing year here at BFA!
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Tomorrow, Jan. 12, is a
Dress of Choice Day for students who have not received two uniform violations since the last Dress of Choice Day.
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NO SCHOOL MONDAY TO HONOR
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
We will be off school on Monday, Jan. 15, to recognize the legacy of
Martin Luther King, Jr. Enjoy your three-day weekend!
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Esther Colas has been a valued member of the Special Education Team at Ben Franklin Academy since the school opened! She came to BFA with experience in educating her own children as well as supporting the students of DCSD. Esther is a SPED paraprofessional and has worked with BFA students across all grade levels. Her patience is unmatched and her dedication to helping students learn is inspiring. Esther is fortunate enough to be moving on to use her wonderful skills and good heart for the benefit of her grandchildren. She will be caring for, and teaching, her granddaughter Pippa, and a new baby to arrive this summer. She also will be teaching two-year-old and four-year-old twins, as well as caring for her two other grandchildren occasionally. Esther is going to be busy and those children are going to be in the best of hands.
Tomorrow is her last day. We wish Esther well and thank her for her many contributions to BFA!
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It's that time of year again. We will be celebrating Ben Franklin's Birthday on Wednesday, Jan. 17. The PTO will be providing cookies as well as some alternative yummy treats during lunchtime.
We are in need of a few parent volunteers to help distribute these goodies from 10:50 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Please email Katie Devlin and Kim Byers, PTO Social Officers, if you are interested in helping.
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HELP NEEDED FOR FATHER/DAUGHTER DANCE
The Father Daughter Dance will be held from
6 - 8 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3, at BFA. We hope all BFA girls and the special men in their lives (dads, stepdads, grandpas) will make plans to join us down the rabbit hole for dancing, refreshments, and fun activities!
Tickets are $20 per couple, and $5 for each additional child, and will be available online through the BFA store.
Please purchase your tickets by Friday, Jan. 26.
We need volunteers to help make this event a success, so
please consider signing up to volunteer for the day of the event. Thanks in advance for your help.
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FINAL DAYS FOR SENDING IN CLEANING SUPPLIES;
KEEP COLLECTING THOSE POP-TOPS
The BFA middle school Student Council is excited to support
Ronald McDonald House Charities as their philanthropy project for the fall/winter. Ronald McDonald House provides a loving and low cost 'home away from home' for families needing to be near their seriously ill or injured children while they are being treated at one of our area hospitals.
Student Council's project has two parts:
- Collection of cleaning and kitchen supplies (now through TOMORROW, Jan. 12), and
- A soda can pop-tab collection competition between homerooms/advisory classes (now through Feb. 23).
Please see this
flier for specific product needs and collection details.
Please show your support for the Student Council's efforts in helping this worthy charity! Collection boxes are located in the lobby.
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WANT AN EXTRA DRESS OF CHOICE DAY?
Send your student to school with a dollar bill on
Friday, Jan. 19, and they can wear Dress of Choice (unless they have a field trip scheduled that day). This fundraiser supports the eighth grade trip to Washington, D.C. If your family chooses not to participate, please send your kiddo(s) to school in their regular uniform.
The eighth graders appreciate your support!
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TAKE THIS ONE QUESTION CEC SURVEY
Each year the Community Events Committee works with Mr. Redford to offer parents a informational seminar. They'd appreciate your help in determining the focus of this year's program. Please take a few seconds and answer this one question survey to help them decide where to focus their efforts. And, stay tuned for the date/time of the seminar.
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PARENTS, NEED A NIGHT OUT?
Bring your kids to our beach-themed Parents Night Out from 6 - 9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19, and let our volunteers watch them while your grab a bite to eat or hang out with friends. We'll be showing the movie 'Rio' (rated G), playing games, and will have some crafts. Popcorn and water will be provided; pizza and snacks will be available for purchase. The event is open to all BFA registered students, even preschoolers, and is $10 per child. Proceeds benefit the eighth-grade trip to Washington, D.C.
Sign up today!
We need at least 30 kids to make this event a success.
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KNEADERS SPIRIT NIGHT, JAN. 23
Enjoy great food and support BFA on
Tuesday, Jan. 23, at Kneaders (1105 Sgt. Jon Stiles Drive). Kneaders offers a delicious breakfast, lunch or dinner, so stop by Kneaders anytime between
7 a.m. to 9 p.m. to have your purchase count towards our Knead Dough Fundraiser.
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BASE USING AUTOMATIC PAYMENTS
As communicated previously, we have moved to an automated payment system for BASE.
BASE billing will continue to be processed on a weekly basis. The balance due on your account for the prior week's attendance will be automatically pulled from the account you specified. You are able to view your account details through MyProcare at any time.
Please note, any accounts that do not have an ACH authorization form on file will be charged an administrative fee of $25 each weekly BASE billing cycle.
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FINAL WEEKS FOR YEARBOOK PURCHASE
There's still time to order your 2017-18 yearbook at the lowest price
. To guarantee your copy at the lowest price this season, order by Wednesday, Jan. 31. After that date, the price will rise incrementally until March 31, which is the final deadline for purchase.
While you're ordering, don't forget to submit a yearbook dedication for your student. The cost is nominal, and while several 1/8- and 1/16-page spots are still available, space is limited. This is a great way to recognize a graduating eighth grader or any other special student in your life. Please
email
Alissa Motazedi
with any questions
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COUPON BOOKS STILL AVAILABLE, AND GOOD THROUGH AUGUST
Buy yourself something the entire family will enjoy--a coupon book containing discounts for some of our favorite places, including: Pierre Michele French Bakery, Indulge, Mici's, Cuba Cuba, Cold Stone, Honey Baked Ham, Gigi's, Timbuk Toys, Arts on Fire, Pirates Cove, Dart Warz and Junglequest.
Coupon books are only $35 each and is a gift that you or a loved one can use all year! The paper coupons can be used once, and with the app, you get the discount AGAIN with duplicate coupons. Also, this year your purchase includes a small card good for multiple uses at five businesses.
To purchase,
email Erin Fierro, D.C. Fundraising Committee Manager.
Hurry and get these valuable coupon books today before they're all gone!
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DCEF DISCOUNT EVENT TICKETS
Interested in the
National Western Stock Show? The Foundation for Douglas County Schools has your discount tickets! BFA families can click on the Stock Show
link and use the promo code DOUGCO.
Hockey fans--get tickets to see the Colorado Avalanche vs. Nashville Predators at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 4. Tickets start at $25, and a portion of every ticket will be donated to school of your choice. There is also a back-up option at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 16. Click on the flier to find out more.
If Lacrosse is your sport, check out the Colorado Mammoth Lacrosse for just $10 per ticket! The Foundation for Douglas County Schools is sponsoring a community night at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 2, at the Pepsi Center. Click on the flier for more information.
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WANT YOUR KIDDO TO HAVE THE BEST BIRTHDAY EVER?
Send them a Birthday Bag!
Celebrating birthdays at BFA just got more fun! Order your child a Birthday Bag for just $10, and s/he will receive:
- A bag full of goodies such as erasers, pencils, bouncy balls, etc. (no food or candy will be in the bags);
- A birthday certificate good for a free bake sale item at the next bake sale;
- A personalized note from you, if requested; and
- A 'Happy Birthday' serenade by the eighth graders who deliver the bag to your student's classroom.
Did your child already celebrate their birthday or do they have a summer birthday?
We also will deliver "Un-birthday Bags" for students who have already celebrated their birthday, and "Half-birthday Bags" for summer birthdays.
You can purchase Birthday Bags online through the BFA Store.
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The Parent Teacher Organization highlights a volunteer each month who has gone above and beyond in his/her contributions to the school. This volunteer receives recognition in the school newsletter and on the school website. S/he also has the privilege or parking in the reserved volunteer of the month parking space.
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For the month of January,
Rachelle Calahan has been selected as the volunteer of the month. Rachelle is being honored for the countless hours she puts in volunteering at BFA in so many different capacities. In December, she stepped up to launch the SCRIP gift giving program and oversaw all aspects from collections to order tracking to delivery. She managed the entire program with a positive attitude and we're happy to recognize her.
Rachelle and her husband, Scott, have three children, AnnaLivia in 2nd grade, MacIntyre in Kindergarten, and Behrick who is 3 and will start preschool at BFA in the fall. They both grew up in Nebraska and lived in California for a short time before settling in Colorado. Rachelle enjoys running, reading, and skiing and is a talented seamstress and crafter. When asked why BFA is a good fit for their family, Rachelle replied, "I love BFA for the community, wonderful, caring teachers and staff, opportunities to be involved in rigorous academic curriculum. My children and I have made so many terrific friendships and I am proud to call this our home school."
Congratulations, Rachelle! And, thank you again for all you do for our school.
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BRING IN CLEANING SUPPLIES TOMORROW AND KEEP COLLECTING POP-TOPS
The BFA middle school
Student Council is excited to support Ronald McDonald House Charities as their philanthropy project for the fall/winter. Student Council's project has two parts: collection of cleaning and kitchen supplies (
now through TOMORROW, Jan. 12), and a soda can pop-tab collection competition between homerooms/advisory classes (
now through Feb. 23).
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FATHER DAUGHTER DANCE PLANNING MEETING
The PTO Social Coordinators would like to invite you to the
2018 Father Daughter Dance Planning Committee meeting!
If you are interested in volunteering for this event, please join us at Lansdowne Arms (
9352 Dorchester St, Highlands Ranch
) at
7 p.m.
tomorrow, Jan. 11. We want to be sure there is ample seating for the meeting, so please
sign up if you plan to attend.
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Tomorrow, Jan. 12, is a
Dress of Choice Day for students who have not received two uniform violations since the last Dress of Choice Day.
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OFF SCHOOL TO HONOR MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
We will be off school on Monday, Jan. 15, to recognize the legacy of
Martin Luther King, Jr. Enjoy your three-day weekend!
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There is a BFA Board of Directors meeting from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 16, in the Dana Library. All are welcome to attend. Alternatively, you can use the call-in number on the agenda to listen to the meeting.
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LET'S CELEBRATE BEN'S BIRTHDAY!
We will be celebrating Ben Franklin's Birthday on Wednesday, Jan. 17. The PTO will be providing cookies as well as some alternative yummy treats during lunchtime.
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Join our fourth graders as they celebrate 75 years of Disney magic and sing songs from the movies of 'Peter Pan,' 'Mary Poppins,' 'The Jungle Book,' 'The Little Mermaid' and 'The Lion King.' They will perform at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, on the stage in the Thunder Gym.
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The Parent Teacher Organization is meeting from 6:30 - 8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, in the Sanders Science Lab. If you want to learn more about what's happening at school or want to get involved, please attend!
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EXTRA DRESS OF CHOICE DAY FOR A DOLLAR
Send your student to school with a dollar bill on Friday, Jan. 19, and they can wear Dress of Choice (unless they have a field trip scheduled that day). This fundraiser supports the eighth grade trip to Washington, D.C.
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Bring your kids to our beach-themed Parents Night Out from 6 - 9 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 19. The event is open to all BFA registered students, even preschoolers, and is $10 per child. Sign up today!
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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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