Vol. 7, Iss. 26
September 14, 2017

Dear Parents,
 
Ben Franklin Academy is a data-driven institution as stated in the school's vision. In the last couple of weeks, parents of third through eighth grade students received their child's PARCC test scores in the mail. This is one important piece of data that we use for evaluation purposes, but it is not the only piece.
 
Students have been spending time over the last few weeks taking assessments to help teachers appropriately place them in the correct ability groups. We use many different data points to help determine the best programming for each student, such as STAR scores, NWEA scores, CoGAT scores, achievement on class assignments, as well as the PARCC score. Teachers go through special training on how to analyze different data points. They take a lot of time to pour over the data and ensure students are placed in groups where they will be successful. These groups are fluid and can change from time to time depending on how the student is doing. 
 
Parent-teacher conferences are coming up the first week in October. Conferences are held from 4:15 - 8 p.m. on Tuesday Oct. 3, and Thursday, Oct. 5. Teachers will use this time to share how your child is doing and also will share your student's assessment information. Keep an eye out for a sign-up from your homeroom teacher (grades K-4) by Sept. 26. Grades 5-8 will hold "drop-in" conferences both evenings so you can visit with as many, or as few of your child's teachers as needed. Please plan on attending these important conferences to learn more about how your child is doing in school. 
 
Sincerely,

Diana Simpson 

7TH ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL THIS SATURDAY!
 
We hope to see you from 4 - 7 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 16, for food and fun! Festival activities include: carnival games, face painting, balloon twisting, inflatables, outdoor field games, and of course, the cake walk!
 
Popcorn, baked goods and refreshments are included with your admission fee, and food trucks including: The Rolling Italian, Mikes 2 Kitchen, Costa Vida, and Kona Ice will be on site offering food for sale.
 
Tickets at the door are $10 per child. Adults and children under three are FREE! 
   
If you're interested in volunteering or bringing baked goods, there are still slots that need to be filled. Please sign up to volunteer TODAY. If you are a baker--please click here if you'd like to bring baked goods or a cake for the cake walk. Remember, this is a GREAT way to earn volunteer hours.  

WANT TO MAKE THIS YEAR'S EVENT GREAT? DONATE!  
 
The BENefit Bash Procurement team is in need of all sorts of donations. Is there a business you frequent, do you have friends in high places, or do YOU have something cool to offer? Help the school and potentially get a tax write off too--w ithin IRS guidelines, the value of your donated items may be considered tax deductible.
 
Some items that traditionally do well at auctions are: holiday gifts, unique experiences, electronics, sports memorabilia and  condos for beach or mountain getaways . And, don't fret if you have something small to contribute--often those items can be combined with other donations. We also need wine for the Wine Wall (bottles valued at $15 and up), and clean growlers, new or used, for the Growler Grab.
 
If you have something that you'd like to donate, please  email Shele Steel , BENefit Bash Procurement Committee Manager.

july-fourth-sparkler.jpg
FINAL DAYS OF SPIRIT WEEK 
 
It's been a great week so far, and we have one more Spirit Day to go!  
Students are encouraged to participate, and arrive at school dressed according to the theme assigned to each day; however, if a student chooses not to participate, s/he must come dressed in his/her school uniform. Following is the last BFA Spirit Week theme:
  • Friday, Sept. 15:  Movie Day - Dress as your favorite movie character.
We look forward to our final Spirit Week celebration tomorrow!

classpicture
PICTURE RETAKES, SEPT. 19 
 
Picture re-takes are from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. next Tuesday, Sept. 19. Parent volunteers may stop by during this time to take a picture for their volunteer badge. As always, parents should bring a Driver's License to enter the building. Orders can be placed online, with order code CG877012Y1. If you would rather use a traditional order form and pay with check or cash, forms can be picked up in the front office.

I SCREAM, YOU SCREAM, WE ALL SCREAM FOR 
ICE CREAM...
 
...Especially when it is scooped by our favorite teachers! Next week is Cold Stone Spirit Night and you're invited to enjoy delicious ice cream, scooped by our wonderful BFA teachers from 4:30-7:30 p.m. next Wednesday, Sept. 20, at the Cold Stone Creamery in the Highlands Ranch Town Center  (9338 Dorchester St., Suite A-101).  

Battle of the Books
 
BATTLE OF THE BOOKS 
 
Every year Ben Franklin Academy participates in the Douglas County Library "Battle of the Books" program. There are two teams, third/fourth grades are coached by Mrs. Lewicki and fifth/sixth grades are coached by Mrs. Murphy. Each team consists of five members with two alternates. In preparation for the battles (which begin the week of Jan. 29), each age group must read 10 books selected by the district and be able to answer questions pertaining to those books. Please visit the Douglas County Library's website for book titles and authors for each age group.
 
We will have the books available in the BFA library on Monday, Sept. 18. Teams will be selected in November. If your child loves reading and likes a challenge, we hope you will encourage and support him/her in this endeavor. If you have any questions regarding the program, please email our librarians, Mrs. Lewicki or Mrs. Murphy.

Destination ImagiNation
DESTINATION IMAGINATION: WHERE CREATIVITY AND TEAM BUILDING COME TOGETHER 
 
We had a great turnout at the informational Destination Imagination (DI) meeting! If you were unable to attend the meeting, but are still interested in finding out more information and/or participating, please click on the following: Destination Imagination Parent Guide and BFA DI FAQ.  
 
If you are interested in participating in DI, please fill out the following form: BFA DI Interest Form and email it to  Jason Sunahara, BFA DI Coordinator, by  Sunday, Oct. 1. You also are welcome to contact Jason with any additional questions.
 
While DI is a BFA-sponsored program, it relies solely on parent volunteers to serve as team managers (and appraisers for competitions and South Metro's Instant Challenge Day). While the BFA DI coordinators are happy to create a team for interested students, teams can't come to fruition without the support of a parent volunteer(s) to serve as a Team Manager(s). There is no guarantee that your child will be placed on a team simply by filling out the interest form. In addition, once your child is officially part of a BFA DI team, there is a registration fee of $50 per participant ($25 for Rising Stars! which are our non-competitive participants). More information on the registration fee will come from your Team Manager/BFA DI Coordinators at a later date.
 
DI's vision is "to teach students the creative process and empower them with the skills needed to succeed in an ever changing world." Annually, DI offers seven new academic challenges in the fields of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), fine arts, service learning and early learning. In solving a challenge, students learn the creative process from imagination to innovation and the skills needed to thrive in school, their careers and beyond. 

STEM
STEAM EXPO - VOLUNTEER SIGN UP AND MATERIALS COLLECTION
 
BFA's annual  STEAM Expo is coming up on Friday, Sept. 29, in the Lightning Gym. Students look forward to this event each year, as they get to experience exciting activities and demonstrations related to science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. 
 
Please Consider Participating
One thing that makes the event such a success is the parents (and grandparents, cousins, favorite aunts) that participate, so please consider joining us that day as a volunteer. It's a great way to see the kids and get in your volunteer hours. Morning and afternoon shifts are available so sign up today!   
 
Donate materials 
We're collecting some materials to be upcycled for the Expo! Please look for collection bins in the lobby soon for:
  • Two-liter plastic bottles, rinsed (for our water bottle rockets).
  • Any (clean) paper items, magazines, scraps of construction paper, wrapping paper, fabric, ribbon, or thread (for creating upcycled inspiration collages).
Email the STEM Committee with any questions.

Boy Scouts Logo
INFORMATIONAL MEETING ABOUT SCOUTING AT BFA 
 
Interested in Scouting at BFA? There is an informational meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 19, in Mr. Knudsen's room (Rm 166). Anyone interested in Scouting is welcome to attend.    

BensBrigade
SPREAD THE WORD - PROSPECTIVE PARENTS TOUR BFA 
 
Parents interested in joining the BFA family are welcome to tour the school Wednesdays in September, October and November. Tours begin at 9 a.m. each Wednesday (except Oct. 11 and Nov. 22) and will be lead by Principal Simpson. New families--all adults should bring your driver's license and check in a few minutes before the tour is scheduled to begin.  

GoodiesGrandparents
SAVE THE DATE FOR GOODIES WITH GRANDPARENTS
 
BFA is honored to host students and their grandparents from 7-8 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 27, in the Lightning Gym for juice and light morning treats. This event is popular so please arrive early and park in the upper/overflow lot as to not disrupt carpool. Classes for students will begin at the usual time, so students should be in their classrooms by 8:10 a.m. Grandparents must remain with their grandchildren in the gym until at least 7:45 a.m. At that time, grandparents may walk their grandchildren to their classroom for a quick visit.
 
If you are able to help with greeting grandparents, photography, or serving coffee/treats, please sign up today!

3_piggy_banks.jpg
TIME TO DIG OUT THOSE PIGGY BANKS!
 
The Middle School Social committee is hosting a  bake sale from 7:30 - 8:10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 5. The Middle School Social committee plans parties for the entire middle school student body and this is their only fundraising opportunity for the year. Please support their efforts.

UPDATE HELPCOUNTER PROFILE AND KEEP LOGGING THOSE HOURS
 
Please remember to update your profile information in HelpCounter with your child(ren)'s current grade and teacher. This can be done online. using the HelpCounter web page. Login and click "Update Profile Information." AND, don't quit recording your volunteer hours even after you hit your quota. Why? Because the school earns grant money based on the total hours recorded. Thank you to all our volunteers!

BASE logo
BASE OFFERING FALL CAMP
 
During BFA's Fall Break, Oct. 9-13, the BFA BASE program will offer Fall Break Camp. It will be similar to the summer camp program, with a field trip, activities, movies and fun the entire week! We'll be open from 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. The schedule will be released soon; costs are as follows:
  • Monday, Oct. 9, will be $50 as there will be a field trip to a pumpkin patch.
  • Tuesday, Oct. 10 - Friday, Oct. 13, will be $35.
We need at least 15 families to sign up for the program otherwise it may be cancelled.
Registrations will open on Monday, Sept. 18, and will close on Monday Oct. 2. All registrations are non-refundable unless we do not have the required number of families. Enrolled families will be notified of the status on Tuesday, Oct. 3, and refunds given if we need to cancel.
 
To register online, please go to the BFA website and choose BASE Camp. Families that have not enrolled in BASE for the current year will be contacted to do so. If you have not done so already, you will also need to pay the 2017-18 BASE registration fee of $25. To obtain the registration paperwork and read the parent handbook please click here.
 
If you have any questions please email Mrs. Savoy.

 SADDLE UP PARTNER, AND GET READY FOR THE FALL BOOK FAIR
 
BFA's Scholastic Book Fair will be held Monday, Oct. 2, through Thursday, Oct. 5, in conjunction with Parent-Teacher conferences:
 
* Monday, Oct. 2, and Wednesday, Oct. - 4 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
* Tuesday, Oct 3, and Thursday, Oct. 5 - 8:30 a.m. - 8 p.m.
 
Please remember the front office is closed from 3 - 4 p.m. each day to help with carpool. Please click here for a preview of all the exciting selections that will be offered this year. Visit the fair and enter your child's name in a drawing to be held on our return from Fall Break. We will be giving away books and miscellaneous items. We are looking forward to seeing you there!

PTO Logo
WANT TO BE 'IN THE KNOW' ABOUT FUN EVENTS?
 
Join us for the next PTO meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21 in the Sanders Science Lab. Come learn more about upcoming PTO events, including this year's BENefit Bash, connect with other parents, and earn volunteer hours. Get involved as little or as much works for you. Hope to see you there! 

Yearbook
YEARBOOKS AVAILABLE AT INTRODUCTORY PRICE  
 
Yearbook 
If you did not purchase your yearbook during registration, you can still get yours today at  Yearbook Forever  for the introductory price of $26! Hurry before the price goes up!  
 
Photographers Needed
We are in need of photographers for Harvest Fest from 4-7 p.mon Saturday, Sept. 16.
If you are interested, please email Alissa Motazedi, PTO Yearbook Committee Chair.

OverDrive
CHECKING OUT BOOKS IS EASY WITH OVERDRIVE!  
 
Ben Franklin Academy is committed to bringing unique learning opportunities to our students and we are pleased to continue a free reading service that provides digital books through OverDrive.
 
Why OverDrive?
The OverDrive collection is an extension of Ben Franklin Academy's physical library; only it's online with 24/7 access to eBooks and audiobooks. It's convenient for students to check out titles at home, on the weekends or during school breaks with no worry about misplacing a book or running up fees - these digital titles automatically return themselves at the end of the lending period!
 
OverDrive can help students of all ages read more and improve comprehension. Struggling or reluctant readers, learning-challenged, second language learners as well as gifted readers can all benefit from this service. Specifically, this benefits students by:
  • Enriching vocabulary and improving comprehension and pronunciation,
  • Introducing students to books above their reading level,
  • Teaching critical listening skills, and,
  • Helping busy kids find time to check out books and read.
How does it work?
To use OverDrive, students browse our secure, custom website, borrow with their Google Single Sign On and enjoy books anytime and anywhere--their computer, tablet, smartphone, or eReader.
 
One you click on the website, use the following information to login:
Username: Student's last name beginning with a capital letter, then first initial and middle initial
Password: Dcsd (capital D) followed by student ID number
 
Example:
Username: Smithbk
Password: Dcsd123456
 
If you have a younger student, they may benefit from using a simple login. Use the simple login 'read' for quick and easy access to elementary titles. This feature allows students to read and listen to digital titles, which are automatically returned after two hours. See this flier for additional details.

DON'T MISS OUT ON THE SAVINGS 
 
The eighth graders are selling an AMAZING coupon book this year! The books are $35 and contain coupons to many local restaurants and businesses, including: Pierre Michel French Bakery, Indulge, Mici, Cuba Cuba, Fujiyama, Lil'Ricci's, Casa Caliente, Costa Vida, Coldstone Creamery, Rita's, Anthony's Pizza, Honey Baked Ham, Gigi's Cupcakes, Rocket Fizz, Big Tool Box, Julie's Hallmark, TIMBUK TOYS, Spavia, The Palms Tanning, Floyds 99, Vogue Nails, Pirates Cove, Dart Warz, Arts on Fire, Jungle Quest, and College Drive Prep
 
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 for multiple uses at five businesses: Grease Monkey, Freddy's, Rocket Fizz, Saj, and Bowlero. (This can be used with the app as well.)
 
To purchase, contact your friendly eighth grader and ask if they are selling books, or email Erin Fierro, D.C. Fundraising Committee Manager. 

BIRTHDAY BAGS ARE BACK! 
 
Make Their Day with 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.

DCEF
DOUGLAS COUNTY EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION EVENTS  
 
Click here for a flier with upcoming DCEF events.
 
Community Night with the Colorado Rapids vs. FC Dallas 
Saturday, Oct. 7 , at 7 p.m.
Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Tickets $24 (reg. $32 - $65); Click here for a flier with more information. 
Students eighth grade and under who purchase tickets will be given the opportunity to participate in the Halftime High 5 Squad and receive a FREE Rapids T-Shirt! 
 
Community Events with the Denver Center for the Performing Arts 
Denver Center for the Performing Arts Complex
Enter promo code: DCSDFUND
The Snowy Day - September 21 through November 18; Tickets $15  
From the joys of a first snowfall and learning how to whistle to thrilling encounters delivering a precious invitation, the delightful moments of childhood are perfectly captured in this medley of simple, sweet stories. The production kicks off the new Theatre for Young Audiences program, which focuses on performances especially tailored for youth audiences. Bring your little ones to their first theatre experience and relive the moments of your childhood through their eyes.
   
Thursday, Sept. 14
business_finance_research.jpg
FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING       
   
The Finance Committee is meeting from 5 - 7 p.m. tonight, Sept. 14, in the BFA Conference Room.  
DEDICATION FOR THE SHELLY DANA LIBRARY        
   
There is a ceremony for the Library Dedication from 6:30 - 7:30 pm. tonight, Sept. 14, in the BFA Library.   
Friday, Sept. 15
Spirit Week
SPIRIT WEEK      
   
Tomorrow is the last day of Spirit Week, and the theme is Movie Day so students can dress as their favorite movie character. 
Saturday, Sept. 16
HARVEST FESTIVAL        
   
The Harvest Festival is from   4 - 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16, at BFA. Tickets will be available at the door. 
Tuesday, Sept. 19
classpicture
PICTURE RETAKES        
   
Picture re-takes are from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. next Tuesday, Sept. 19. Parent volunteers may stop by during this time to take a picture for their volunteer badge. 
BFA BOARD MEETING         
   
The BFA Board is meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 19, in the Shelly Dana Library. All are welcome to attend.
Boy Scouts Logo
 
INFORMATIONAL MEETING ABOUT SCOUTING AT BFA          
There is an informational meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 19, in Mr. Knudsen's room (Rm 166) to discuss Scouting at BFA.  
Wednesday, Sept. 20
COLD STONE SPIRIT NIGHT         
   
Join us for Cold Stone Spirit Night and enjoy delicious ice cream, scooped by our wonderful BFA teachers from 4:30-7:30 p.m. next Wednesday, Sept. 20, at the Cold Stone Creamery in the Highlands Ranch Town Center (9338 Dorchester St., Suite A-101).
Thursday, Sept. 21
PTO Logo
PTO MEETING          
   
Join us for the next PTO meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21, in the Sanders Science Lab. 
Friday, Sept. 22
No School
NO SCHOOL           
   
There is no school Friday, Sept. 22, as it is a professional development day. 
Additional Upcoming Events: BFA Calendar
Middle School:  Athletics 
CONTACT US:
Ben Franklin Academy
2270 Plaza Drive
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
Main Office: (720) 383-4519 info@bfacademy.org 
Attendance: (720) 432-9239 attendance@bfacademy.org 
Fax: (303) 974-1738
Our mission is to create young adults with character like America's founding Renaissance man, Benjamin Franklin: well-read, scientifically curious, and civically engaged.
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.
Temperance, Silence, Order, Resolution, Frugality, Industry, Sincerity, Justice, Moderation, Cleanliness, Tranquility, Purity and Humility.