Dec. 3, 2020
Weekly Update
A message from Principal Simpson...
Simpson
Dear Parents,

I hope you all enjoyed Thanksgiving with your families! I have a feeling the next couple weeks will fly by and we’ll be on Winter Break before we know it.
 
Each year the Foundation for Douglas County Schools asks parents and students throughout the district to nominate teachers and support staff for the coveted Apple Awards. Nominees receive a certificate and recognition at the school level. Then, we choose two of the nominees to represent the school at the District awards ceremony, where they have the opportunity to win Teacher of the Year, Classified Staff of the Year or Administrator of the Year.
 
This is a great way to honor our wonderful teachers and staff, while highlighting the innovative work they do to challenge and inspire students. Again this year, your nominations will be submitted as a video or written testimonial that will be posted publicly on a customized webpage for our school. Anyone over the age of 18 can nominate, as well as students age 13 or older if they have your permission.
 
We hope you'll click on this link (scroll down for BFA) before the nomination window closes on Dec. 20, and nominate your favorite BFA teachers and staff for these prestigious awards.
 
With all of the adjustments we have had to make due to COVID, we weren't able to have our traditional fall Spirit Week. We all miss the fun and community building that this themed week brings, so we have decided to have a "Winter Spirit Week" December 14-18. Below are the themes for each day:
 
  • Monday, Dec. 14 - Show your sparkle: Dress your best day!
  • Tuesday, Dec. 15 - Warm and Cozy day: Dress in your favorite warm and fuzzy PJ's!
  • Wednesday, Dec. 16 - Mele Kalikimaka Day: Dress for holidays at the beach!
  • Thursday, Dec. 17 - Dress of choice ;) Teachers have a special theme for this day! 
  • Friday, Dec. 18 - Deck the Halls, Tacky Christmas style: Wear ugly sweaters, mismatched plaid...whatever makes you feel festive!
 
We're excited for a week of fun dressing up and building community spirit.

Please reach out to me if there is anything you need to discuss. I hope you enjoy the rest of the week and have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Simpson
BFA News
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Remote Learning
Our next remote learning day for all students is on Wednesday, Dec. 9. Please keep in mind, the following week (Dec. 14-18) we will NOT have a remote learning day for all students, rather students learning in person will come to school every day that week.
Enroll
Preschool Enrollment for BFA Families
Preschool enrollment is now open for families that have another K-8 student currently enrolled at BFA. Please complete this form to express your interest in our program.

Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment into the preschool as it is determined on a first come, first serve basis. You will receive an email confirming the spot requested or that you have been placed on the wait list. 

Please email the Preschool Director, Lori Hafner, with any questions.
NEW Spirit Rock
Good news--the PTO ordered a NEW SPIRIT ROCK for the BFA Community! It arrived Tuesday morning and it’s massive! (It’s roughly 5 ft. tall by 3 ft. wide, and 1 ft. thick; and, it weighs 1.75 tons.) Unfortunately, it is so big that Pioneer Rock Yard wasn’t able to install it with their equipment. So, our landscaper, Metropolitan Total Property, is coming to the rescue and will get it installed safely and properly later this week, assuming the weather cooperates. 
 
In the meantime, the old rock has been temporarily moved back and is available for renting and painting. You can reserve your dates on the BFA Spirit Rock SignUpGenius. The new rock is on the ground next to the current spirit rock, so please BE CAREFUL around it until it’s installed. 
 
The PTO was hoping to surprise parents with the beautiful new rock, and they appreciate your patience while they work through all the logistics of getting a rock of this size delivered and set up. We’ll share any updates via the newsletter on “Rockgate 2020” as they become available.
PTO's Online Auction
Want your own reserved parking space at BFA? How about front and center seats to eighth grade graduation? Now’s your chance! These items are up for grabs at the PTO's online auction going on NOW! But don’t wait – the auction only runs through tomorrow, Dec. 4! Click here to login to the auction where you’ll be able to bid on six reserved seats to eighth grade graduation as well as the five reserved parking spots (4 annual and 1 monthly). Parking spot reservations will be for January 2021 through June 2022. That's reserved parking for 18 months!
 
You can also purchase Pathway to Learning commemorative bricks during the online auction. These commemorative bricks are a great way to leave a lasting memory of your time at BFA. They will be placed in front of the school alongside the existing bricks. Bricks purchased at last year's BENefit Bash are being installed now. 
 
Visit the online auction website to register, buy a brick, and place your bids! Please contact Brooke Mitisek, PTO fundraising coordinator with questions or for more information.
Say Thanks - Holiday Gift Giving with SCRIP
If you’re participating in SCRIP gifting, you have until 10 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, to place your orders for holiday staff and teacher gifts!
 
To place your SCRIP order and pay with credit card, visit MySchoolBucks.com. Staff are grouped by grade or category. Select the appropriate grade or category to open the group window. Use the drop down menu to select the staff member you’re gifting and enter your gift amount in the “Amount to Pay” box. You may designate how much you would like to give to each teacher/staff member in whole-dollar increments. (You may also elect to have your student's name only, not gift amount, shared with the recipient when you place your order.) Repeat as many times as needed until all of your staff gift orders have been placed. And, don’t forget to check out when you’re all done!
 
Due to the extensive time needed to calculate all gift amounts, place the order, and coordinate distribution, we cannot accept orders after Dec. 6. The gifts will be given to the staff the week before Winter Break, and will be in lieu of any other class gift/collection.
 
Participation in the SCRIP program is completely voluntary. You are welcome to participate with any amount, or alternatively gift the teachers and staff on your own.
 
To help you get started, the PTO created a Parent Worksheet which includes a list of all staff. You can also print this flier.

Questions? Visit the PTO webpage or contact Natalie Lucero, SCRIP coordinator.
Community Events
A Message from the CEC
The Community Events Committee (CEC) meeting will be cancelled on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Please join us after the new year at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 20, for our next meeting (specifics TBD). We hope everyone has a safe and healthy holiday!
 
Thank you to all the families that donated items for the Veterans Hospital. Ben Franklin Academy donated:

  • 189 pairs socks
  • 35 fleece blankets
  • 47 pairs of gloves
  • 7 hats
  • 25 tubes of toothpaste 
  • 33 toe warmers
  • 270 hand warmers
 
Thanks again for your generosity!
NJHS Application Deadline Extended
Applications are now being accepted until Dec. 18 for National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). To give remote and quarantined students additional time, Mrs. Murphy has extended the deadline. All seventh and eighth grade students interested in joining NJHS need to fill out paperwork and return it to the basket outside of Mrs. Murphy’s classroom by Dec. 18.

New members need to complete the application packet and the policy form, and returning members only need to complete the BFA NJHS policy form. (Both the application packet and policy forms also can be found on the NJHS website located under the middle school tab.) If you do not have a printer at home, please email Mrs. Murphy and she will deliver a copy to your child’s homeroom teacher. Please have your student contact Mrs. Murphy with any NJHS questions that are not answered on the NJHS policy form or the BFA NJHS website.
Moms Night Out
Moms and ladies of BFA--it's your turn! Please join members of the PTO at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 12, for a virtual Moms Night Out with Canvas and Cocktails. The PTO is hosting a virtual private party at Canvas and Cocktails. All of your supplies for the class will be provided. Space is limited. Please RSVP so we have an accurate count and can reserve your spot in the party.

After you RSVP, all you have to do is pick the supplies up at the Southglenn studio and join in for the fun from the comfort of your own home.
Terrific Opportunity for Performing Arts Lessons at School
Harper Arts continues to offer lessons and coaching for our students during the school day and has a few openings beginning January 2021. This school year, students will have the option to have piano, guitar, ukulele, voice, acting and audition coaching.
 
Students are approved to participate in this opportunity during DEAR, recess, specials, electives (middle school) and advisory (middle school). There also will still be a number of spaces available before and after school.
 
Space for this program is EXTREMELY LIMITED! Click here to register now. Priority shall be given on a first come, first served basis!
MICI Handcrafted Italian Spirit Night
Come enjoy a delicious dinner and support BFA! Mici Handcrafted Italian (9245 S. Broadway, Highlands Ranch) will generously donate 20 percent of all dine-in, delivery, and carry-out purchases between 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 15. Just be sure to mention BFA!
 
Help us make this evening a success by sharing this great opportunity with your family, friends and colleagues!
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2021-22 Kindergarten Enrollment
If you completed 2021-22 Open Enrollment for a prospective kindergarten student who is a sibling of a current K-8 BFA student, that student will have priority status for next school year. Families with priority status who would like to complete the Registration Packet ahead of Winter Break, please email Colleen Bobbin, registrar, by Monday, Dec. 7. She will forward a detailed list of required documents to complete and submit.

Note: A copy of your child's birth certificate and immunization record are required components of the packet. As these items aren't always easily available, please make arrangements to locate them.

As specified from the DCSD Open Enrollment site, any First Round enrollment offers can been seen from the parent's EngagED Parent Portal account beginning at 8 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 11. To accept an offer and move on to the enrollment step, the parent must accept via their EngagED Parent Portal by 4 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 18. Please mark these important dates on your calendar.

Let our registrar, Colleen Bobbin, know if you have any questions.
Upcoming Events
BFA's Guiding Principles
Mission:
Our mission is to create young adults with character like America's founding Renaissance man, Benjamin Franklin: well-read, scientifically curious, and civically engaged.

Vision:
Our students will excel academically through a challenging, sequenced curriculum that emphasizes math, science, the arts, 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 social emotional development, character, sports, and nature.

13 Virtues:
Temperance, Silence, Order, Resolution, Frugality, Industry, Sincerity, Justice, Moderation, Cleanliness, Tranquility, Purity and Humility.