It is always gratifying for an educator to hear from a former student. Hearing that students are doing well and are successful, makes our jobs worthwhile. Hearing that they learned something from us, that the hard work was worth every second, is what motivates us to come to work each day. Every person at Ben Franklin Academy wants to make a difference in the lives of our students--that's why we are here! Last weekend, I received an email from a former student and I asked her permission to share it with you:

 

Dear Mrs. Simpson,

 

Thank you so much for everything. I have learned so much from going to this school for five years. At first I did not like all of the rules and dress codes. Now I see why that is so important. I also did not like all of the homework, but that actually helped, because when we have quite a bit of homework now I know what it's like and I know how to handle it. You taught us how to have time management and that does help with many things. I remember you talking to our class about social media. I thought it was not that big of a deal and it was. The thirteen virtues have taught me to be a better person. All of the work that I had to do over the years paid off. Hard Work + Dreams + Dedication = Success. High school has been great already it is so exciting what my future will look like in the next four years. Thank you! Hope you have a great year. 

 

Sincerely,

Naomi

 

I thought it was important to share her message before parent/teacher conferences next week. Everything we do at BFA is meant to help your students grow and learn, which also is why we feel it is important to teach character and life skills in addition to our already rigorous curriculum. We are proud that when our students leave BFA and head to the high school of their choice, they are well prepared to face any challenge they come across . 

OPEN ENROLLMENT OPEN FOR CURRENT FAMILIES

 

BFA is now accepting enrollment applications for the 2018-19 school year. If you are an existing family and wish to enroll a sibling of a currently enrolled student (grades K-8), please do the following:

• Submit an Enrollment Application form online by clicking here.
• Email Rachelle Patterson BFA registrar, by Tuesday, Oct. 31.

Important note: Applications received AFTER this deadline may not receive priority enrollment. Additionally, there also is a chance you may lose your spot all together. 

DIRECTORY ON TAP - BFA'S ONLINE DIRECTORY

 

Now that school is underway, it is time to update and add new families to the BFA directory! 

 

The PTO will be using Directory On Tap again this school year for our online school directory. It's an incredibly handy resource, with names, addresses and phone numbers for BFA families. This year's directory will be available the week of October 5.

 

If you would like to update your family's information for the directory or opt out, you need to take action today! You have until TOMORROW, Sept. 29, to do the following:

 

1.   If your child goes by a nickname or shortened name, please email us that information.

2.   If you have recently moved or changed an email/cell number, update your information in the Douglas County School District database AND email the school registrar. 

3.  Go to the following site and complete the online form if you DO NOT want any or all of your personal information listed in the directory.  You may OPT OUT completely or partially by filling out this form. If you take no action, your information will be included in the BFA Directory.

 

Please contact the PTO with questions. 

STEAM EXPO SCHEDULE 

 

The STEAM Expo is tomorrow, Sept. 29, and we're excited to see your kids participate in many different science, technology, engineering, arts, and math activities! Please send your child with a small bag on Friday for some takeaways from the expo. 

 

Parents are welcome to drop by while their student is visiting the Expo. (Please bring your Driver's License to enter the building). Below is the schedule for the day:

 

9:30-10:30 a.m.	Full day and morning Kindergartners, First Grade
10:30-11:30 a.m.	Grades 4 and 5
11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m.	Expo closed for lunch
12:15-1:15 p.m.	Grades 2 and 3
1:15-2:15 p.m.	Afternoon Kindergarten and Grade 6
2:15-3:15 p.m.	Grades 7 and 8

  There are volunteer spots still available. Please consider signing up TODAY  

LOOKING FOR A WAY TO PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS AND SUPPORT BFA?

 

PLAYGROUND INSTALLATION 2.0

 

THINK PINK

 

HOST A SPECTACULAR SOCIAL - ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT TO SIGN UP!  

 

Help make the 2017 BENefit Bash a success by donating a Spectacular Social.

 

What's a Spectacular Social? 

You sponsor a fun party/social event, invite as many people as you want, set a per-person fee to attend the event, and donate all the proceeds to BFA.

 

Why host a Spectacular Social?

• Help raise money to benefit your kids at BFA, and
• Have fun hanging out with friends and make new ones within the BFA community.

Need ideas? 

Host a BBQ in your back yard, cooking class in your kitchen, brewery tour, play date, movie night, dinner party or fitness class. The possibilities are endless!

 

Sign up by Thursday, Oct. 5, to host or sponsor an event.  If you have questions, please email Sabina Boeckman .

 

Not a party person, but have an item to give? 

We are still looking for all sorts of donations, including trips, condos and event tickets. If you'd like to make a donation, email Shele Steel, BENEfit Bash Procurement Committee Manager. 

BEN'S BRIGADE MEETING TONIGHT

 

Ben's Brigade will meet at  8 p.m. tonight, Sept. 28, at the Starbucks inside Super Target  (1265 Sergeant Jon Stiles Dr, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129). Stop by to network, learn more about their activities, and get involved. Also, look for the Ben's Brigade members volunteering at carpool tomorrow, Sept. 29. If you'd like to learn more, but are unable to attend the meeting, please email  Tom Devlin, Ben's Brigade Committee Manager.  

SMALL DONATION = BIG REWARD

 

Help make this year's BENefit Bash a success by contributing funds toward your child's themed classroom or middle school basket!  A suggested donation of $10+ per child is recommend to make the classroom baskets a success.

 

The classroom baskets are a huge hit at the BENefit Bash and have a lower price point that makes helping the school even easier. We have a lot of fun themes this year that are sure to sell fast--Legos, Night on the Town, Fitness, Broncos, Star Wars and many, many more!   

LAST CALL FOR SPIRIT WEAR--GET YOUR BFA SWEATSHIRTS AND CALENDARS NOW!

 

The PTO will be selling spirit wear, including the desktop calendars, from 4-8 p.m. on both evenings of parent teacher conferences. After Oct. 31, the online store will be closed until the spring. So...this is the last call for spirit wear! Please note we can only accept cash or check payments in person but can accept credit cards through the BFA online store.  

THANKS FROM THE CEC 

 

The CEC would like to thank all of the students and grandparents that joined us for Goodies with Grandparents. More than 380 students and grandparents joined us for snacks and fun. Like all events, this one would not be possible without all the parent volunteers and the assistance of all the teachers and staff. THANK YOU!

FINAL DAYS TO SIGN UP FOR FALL BASE CAMP 

 

 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!

COUPON BOOKS AVAILABLE AT CONFERENCES

 

Get them while you still can--the eighth grade students still have coupon books available! They are $35 each and contain coupons to many local restaurants and businesses. 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, please look for students selling them in the main hallway at parent teacher conferences, or email Erin Fierro, D.C. Fundraising Committee Manager. 

 

Hurry and get these valuable coupon books today before they're all gone!

PUT AWAY THE CROCKPOT AND JOIN US FOR DINNER

 

Make dinner a selfless act, and join us for a fundraiser to support Ben Franklin Academy. The BFA PTO's next Spirit Night will be held from 5 - 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 17, at Chipotle (2209 W Wildcat Reserve Pkwy Unit E1A in Highlands Ranch). With your help, this will be an incredible fundraiser as Chipotle will donate 50 percent of the proceeds to BFA! 

BFA MOMS NIGHT OUT

 

All BFA Moms are cordially invited to attend the PTO-hosted  Mom's Night Out from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct.18, at C.B. & Potts (43 West Centennial Blvd., Highlands Ranch, CO 80126). Bring a friend and join us for an evening 'off' to relax and enjoy amazing company. Appetizers will be provided by the PTO.  Please RSVP to let us know you're coming.

SPREAD THE WORD - PROSPECTIVE PARENTS TOUR BFA 

 

Parents interested in joining the BFA family are welcome to tour the school Wednesdays in 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.  

TIME TO DIG OUT THOSE PIGGY BANKS!

 

The Middle School Social committee is hosting a  bake sale from 7:30 - 8:10 a.m. and at afternoon recess 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 send in those quarters (goodies will be priced from 50 cents to $2) and support their efforts next Thursday, Oct. 5.

Want to lend a hand? Volunteers are needed to help run the bake sale. If you're interested, please email Lynsey Humphries, Middle School Social Committee Chair. 

DESTINATION IMAGINATION DEADLINE THIS WEEKEND 

 

If you were unable to attend the Destination Imagination meeting earlier this month, 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. 

 

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.

 

The books are available in the BFA library for students to preview. 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.

YEARBOOKS AVAILABLE AT INTRODUCTORY PRICE  

 

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!  

 

If you have questions, contact Alissa Motazedi, PTO Yearbook Committee Chair. 

DOUGLAS COUNTY EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION 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 has several discounted opportunities available from now through December for our community.

 

The Community Night with the Denver Nuggets is Saturday, November 11.

Top selling schools will participate in special game day experiences. There will also be two alternate nights available at a discounted ticket price.

 

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.