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| Vol. 7, Iss. 32 |
November 2, 2017
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Every spring, students and parents are asked to complete surveys so all of us here at Ben Franklin Academy can see how we are doing. As a charter school, we are held more accountable to our community members to make sure we are fulfilling our mission and vision.
The School Accountability Committee (SAC) designs and coordinates the administration of both the student and parent surveys. In addition, they review and analyze the results, then present them to BFA's Governing Board and administration for use in facilitating conversations around school improvement. After the parent survey last spring, the board has identified technology, social-emotional programming, and consistency among grade levels as areas where you'd like to see further improvement. We will address what we are doing in each of these areas in upcoming newsletters.
After our student survey last year, we also discussed offering the student survey earlier in the year, so we'd be able to address areas of need, if any, in a timely fashion. As such, our students completed their surveys during the past few weeks. The results of this survey will be shared with the board during their November meeting.
We are always eager to get feedback, so if you have comments, concerns, questions or rave reviews, please don't wait for the survey next spring! We would love to hear from you. You can share these with your teachers, our staff or the administration at any time.
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Tomorrow is a teacher professional development day so there will be no school for students. Thank you to all our teachers who work so hard to educate our kids!
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Fellas and Flappers, Guys and Dolls, grab your pearls, and get ready to raise some scratch for BFA at this swell event next Saturday, Nov. 11. Head to the Vehicle Vault
(
18301 Lincoln Meadows Pkwy, Parker, CO 80134
) at 5 p.m. as that is when doors open and the silent auction begins. Not only can you get a head start on scoping out all the amazing items and start placing bids, but the first 100 guests will get a free signature speakeasy cocktail!
Details, Details, Details
There is plenty of parking in the free lot at the Vehicle Vault. Appetizers will be offered, and dinner and dessert will be served with iced tea and coffee. Soft drinks and additional beverages will be available at the bar, which accepts cash or major credit card.
Want to Come, But Don't Have a Sitter?
The PTO is excited to share that Kidstown will be providing childcare at a special rate for BFA families on Nov. 11! BFA families pay $5 per hour for the first child and $4 per hour for each additional child, plus they will waive new family registration fees. For more information about rates and the special party theme, please call Kidstown at 720-344-2500.
Questions?
Never been to a Bash? If you have questions about what your ticket price covers and what we are raising money for, please see our questions and answers document or email the PTO.
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Join the men of
Ben's Brigade from 6 - 8 p.m. tonight at Bowlero Lanes in Lone Tree. This PTO sponsored event will include bowling and appetizers. There are twenty spaces available; click
here to sign up for the event. We hope to see you there!
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FUN VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
The PTO could use your help as we wrap up the final details for the 2017 Benefit Bash. The basket assembly team is meeting this week.
If you'd like to help out, please sign up TODAY! If you're unable to help with wrapping, we can use basket assembly supplies such as cellophane, basket filler and ribbons. There is a collection box in the front office.
Whether you're attending the event or not,
we need many helpers on the day of the event. There are all sorts of volunteer opportunities throughout the day:
- Decorating and display,
- Item retrieval, and
- Tear down and clean up.
If you have questions, please feel free to
email
Serena Grissom and
Rachael Hamburger, Fundraising Coordinators. We truly appreciate the time and energy our volunteers have dedicated to this event so far--we could not do it without all of you!
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Donation Drive for Operation Gratitude
We are currently collecting candy, cards, and dental care items to send to active service members overseas through Operation Gratitude. They ask that we please DO NOT purchase candy to send, but rather donate only unused Halloween candy (no pixy stix, please). If you are in the position to purchase something for service members, we are also collecting individually wrapped toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, and mouthwash for our troops. Operation Gratitude encourages students to write letters/cards to the troops that they can include with the candy and dental hygiene items in care packages. Please send in cards and letters for our service members! There will be donation boxes placed outside the front office.
Veterans Day Assemblies and Reception
Please consider attending our Veterans Day Assemblies! The kids have been practicing songs for the event, and it means so much to our veterans when you attend the assemblies and show your support for their sacrifices.
Veterans and BFA parents are invited to join us at our Veterans Day assembly programs on Friday, Nov. 10:
- 8:30 a.m., Grades K-4
- 10:20 a.m., Grades 5-8
A reception for veterans will be held from 9:30 - 10:20 a.m. in the hallway outside the Lightning Gym.
This year our featured keynote speaker will be Jesse Miller, an active duty Army Captain who has served combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. The assemblies also will include songs performed by students and a video/slide show honoring BFA's veterans. Students are welcome to wear boy scout our girl scout uniforms to school that day.
We hope to see you there!
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AUTHOR VISIT NEXT WEEK FOR GRADES K-2
We're excited to announce that author/illustrator
Ashley Evanson will visit BFA the afternoon of
Wednesday, Nov. 8, in the Lightning Gym.
Evanson will speak to kids in grades K-2 about her journey to becoming an author. In addition, she'll read students her new book, "
This Book is Magic," and work on an interactive art project with them.
Evanson has published a number of books, in her
Hello, World series. She describes her style as whimsical and nostalgic. Her latest book is interactive and allows kids to preform all sorts of magic tricks!
You can get your very own copy of this or any of Evanson's books using this
order form or you can order
online; if you order online be sure to include 'BFA' in the notes section AND let us know if you'd like to pick up the book at school.
Evanson is staying around after her discussion to meet kids and sign their books--so be sure to get yours today!
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PLEASE READ THESE CARPOOL REMINDERS
We've noticed many parents on their phones recently during carpool. Please help us ensure the safety of students by staying off your cell phone during the carpool process (this includes Bluetooth devices). Also, please note that carpool ends by 3:55 p.m. and students not picked up on time will be checked into BASE. We'd also like to remind you to be kind to the volunteers and staff who work carpool and BASE as they are working hard to keep your child(ren) safe.
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PLEASE SUBMIT YOUR PICTURES FOR THE 2017-18 YEARBOOK!
We need your help with pictures for the yearbook! We
need more candid pictures, especially of elementary students--including past events such as Harvest Festival, after school activities, middle school sports, field trips etc.
Earn some volunteer time and click here to upload photos. The code is 'yearbook2018.'
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LOOK FOR YOUR ORIGINAL WORKS FLIER TODAY
Look for your student's Original Works personalized flier that was sent home in their Thursday folder last month. Original Works is an elementary school program that allows parents to order gifts featuring their student's artwork.
Use the codes located on the flier and order by Wednesday, Nov. 15, to receive your orders before the winter holiday season. A portion of every order goes back to the art department.
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BOX TOPS DUE NEXT WEDNESDAY
Please send your student to school with your clipped Box Tops in a sealed bag labeled with their name/classroom next Wednesday, Nov. 8. Our parents are doing an incredible job cutting and clipping Box Tops this year--we just turned in $600 in Box Tops this week! Thank you and please keep clipping.
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SAVE THE DATE TO EAT MORE 'CHIKIN'
Mark your calendars for the
Chick-fil-A spirit night from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15, at the Chick-fil-A in Highlands Ranch Town Center (950 Cpl. Max Donahue Lane).
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Wednesday,
Nov. 15, is the Nutrition Services Thanksgiving Feast
! Students can elect to purchase lunch that day and will be treated to roasted turkey breast, mashed potatoes and gravy, steamed green beans, dinner roll, a gingerbread cookie and the harvest bar. I
f you plan on joining your student for lunch, please let their teacher know and/or email Kelcy Porizky, Kitchen Manager, by 8:30 a.m. the morning of the feast.
The cost to all guests is $4 (students are charged the normal rate for the feast).
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If your K-8 student enjoys chess, sign them up to
Rock the Castle on
Saturday, Dec. 2, at Castle Rock Middle School. Click
here to find out more about this chess event and sign up today, as the cost goes up after Friday.
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SUBSTANCE ABUSE RESOURCE FAIR
The Substance Abuse Resource fair is open to parents throughout DCSD so they can learn the signs of substance use and abuse. The event will be held from
6-9 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 14, at ThunderRidge High School. Click
here to find out more information.
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SAVE MONEY AND SUPPORT OUR EIGHTH GRADERS
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,
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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SPREAD THE WORD - PROSPECTIVE PARENTS TOUR BFA
Parents interested in joining the BFA family are welcome to
tour the school Wednesdays in November. Tours begin at 9 a.m. each Wednesday (except 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.
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DOUGLAS COUNTY EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION EVENTS
Community Events with the Denver Center for the Performing Arts
has several discounted opportunities available from now through December for our community.
Top selling schools will participate in special game day experiences. Keep in mind, this is the same night as the BENefit Bash, but there will also be two alternate nights, Nov. 17 and 30, available at a discounted ticket price.
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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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Join the men of
Ben's Brigade from 6 - 8 p.m. tonight at Bowlero Lanes in Lone Tree. Click
here to sign up for the event.
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Friday, Nov. 3, is a teacher professional development day so there will be no school for students.
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The Community Events Committee (CEC) is meeting from 6 - 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7, in the Dana Library.
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Please send your student to school with your clipped Box Tops in a sealed bag labeled with their name/classroom on Wednesday, Nov. 8.
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FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
The Finance Committee will meeting from 5 - 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9, in the Dana Library.
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Veterans and BFA parents are invited to join us at our Veterans Day assembly programs on Friday, Nov. 10:
- 8:30 a.m., Grades K-4
- 10:20 a.m., Grades 5-8
A reception for veterans will be held from 9:30 - 10:20 a.m. in the hallway outside the Lightning Gym.
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2017 BENEFIT BASH, A NIGHT AT THE SPEAKEASY
The BENefit Bash will begin at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Vehicle Vault
(
18301 Lincoln Meadows Pkwy, Parker, CO 80134).
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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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