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Vol. 9, Iss. 32
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November 14, 2019
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Dear Parents,
I have heard so many compliments from our community about the Veterans Day celebration. From the Boy Scouts respectfully carrying out their color guard duties, the Daisy Scouts escorting veterans into the assembly, our fourth graders who did a fantastic job singing the military anthems, the beautiful bagpipe music by
Andy Machaud, and the kiddos who came up on stage to introduce their favorite veterans--it was truly a moving celebration of our veterans and service members. Special thanks to our speakers,
Major General Michael A. Loh and
Command Sergeant Major William D. Woods.
The
CEC Board (
Mindy Pooler,
Becky Mayka, Amy Urbach and
Nikki Busto) and their volunteers did an amazing job planning and decorating; and
Julie Roper did a fantastic job with the video again this year. We
sincerely appreciate all the veterans who were able to attend (even on a snowy morning!), and the parents who came out to support the event.
Thank you for helping us demonstrate the importance of honoring our veterans.
We recently received some exciting news about the spring performance of "Beauty and the Beast, Jr."--we were nominated for six awards by National Youth Arts and won two (see below)! This is the second year in a row that we've been recognized by the National Youth Arts and it's a testament to our wonderful staff--
Jamie Johnson, Brenda Bauer, Ali Hinkle, Laura Tickle and LaCretia Gelley (from Audience of One)--who put so much energy into each production, as well as the
dedicated, talented students who are part of our theater program. And we have to give a shout out to
Dylan Gregory who makes them all look good with his beautiful and creative sets. We don't plan to attend the banquet this year as it's in Arizona, but I want to offer
congratulations to the entire cast and crew!
Another proud moment this week was watching our boys basketball teams play at home, with our wonderful cheer team and tons of fans here to support them. Both A and B teams won and everyone had a blast! If you were there, you may have noticed that we now have a mascot!
Plan to attend our next home game at 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19, in BFA's Thunder Gym, and see THE BOLT in action.
Have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Diana Simpson
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AR DRESS OF CHOICE DAY TOMORROW
If your student in
grade 1-5 has met their Accelerated Reader goal for the trimester per his/her teacher, he/she may wear Dress of Choice tomorrow, Nov. 15.
Congratulations readers!
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BFA RECOGNIZED FOR "BEAUTY AND THE BEAST"
Congratulations to the directors and cast of last school year's production of "Beauty and the Beast, Jr.!" The show was nominated by
National Youth Arts for
SIX awards, and
WON TWO awards!
We are all very proud of our directors, performers and crew who entertained us with a fantastic rendition of "Beauty and the Beast, Jr."
Ms. Johnson commented, "I'm so happy that all of your hard work and dedication was recognized! The cast and crew came together as a family and a team, which was evident to everyone who saw the production. Each and every member played a part in winning outstanding ensemble--congratulations to you all!"
Awards:
Lead Performance (Junior Division):
Marin Disbrow as Belle in "Beauty and the Beast, Jr."
Outstanding Ensemble (Junior Division): "
Beauty and the Beast, Jr."
Nominations:
Lead Performance (Junior Division):
Aaditya Bahl as Beast in "Beauty and the Beast, Jr."
Supporting Performance (Junior Division):
Austin Hibpshman as Gaston in "Beauty and the Beast, Jr."
Supporting Performance (Junior Division):
Josephine Shuler as Mrs. Potts in "Beauty and the Beast, Jr."
Costume Design:
Ms. Jaime Johnson, Ben Franklin Academy
The National Youth Arts originated in San Diego as a resource for youth theatre, and has become a national resource for a variety of arts, including music, dance, film, and writing. This year, as part of their efforts to honor outstanding work by youth in the arts, they considered more than
700 productions in 17 states and the United Kingdom.
Last year, BFA was recognized by the National Youth Arts for the spring 2018 production of "Seussical, Jr." Our talented BFA students just began rehearsals of "Mulan, Jr." so save the date to see their show on
Feb. 21 or 22.
Congratulations to all the nominees and award recipients!
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REPORT CARDS AVAILABLE TODAY
It's hard to believe, but we're already in the second trimester
! Our middle school kids are enjoying new electives, and our elementary kiddos are establishing new goals.
Grades will be available through
Gradelink
today, Nov. 14.
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IT'S BFA SPIRIT NIGHT AT PARRY'S TONIGHT
Parry's Pizzeria and Bar (9567 S University Blvd., 80126) will be hosting a
BFA Spirit Night from 4:30 - 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov.14. Parry's will donate 20 percent of the purchases back to BFA--so, make plans for a pizza night and help BFA!
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VETERANS DAY THANKS
TOMORROW LAST DAY FOR OUTREACH PROJECT
The Community Events Committee (CEC) would like to thank the volunteers involved in the Veterans Day Program for helping to create a wonderful event for the veterans of our community as well as the students and families of Ben Franklin Academy. The annual BFA Veterans Day Event requires the assistance of
students, parents, teachers, administration and BFA staff alike to make it a success. We want to
thank
everyone who participated for their
time and effort. It would not have been the success it was without ALL the support!
If you still want to participate in the veterans outreach project--
the LAST DAY to donate is tomorrow, Nov. 15. We're still hoping for additional donations of gloves/mittens, scarves, fleece blankets and hand/toe warmers for the VA Hospital. Students should bring in donations TOMORROW and place them in the designated boxes in the front hallway;
please label donations with your student's name and grade. Thank you for your support!
And, the Community Events Committee has a few more FUN events planned for this year so come to our next meeting from
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at the Starbucks inside the Highlands Ranch Super Target.
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CARPOOL RUNS BETTER WITH VOLUNTEERS!
We need parent involvement in BFA's carpool; while most of the BFA staff help with carpool in some manner, we need a few parent volunteers each day to ensure both morning and afternoon carpool run smoothly.
Please consider volunteering! This month, we're sending out a special request to all SEVENTH GRADE FAMILIES - we'd appreciate your help in carpool in November. Carpool volunteers are critical so
sign up or show up today.
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CALLING ALL PARENT PHOTOGRAPHERS
We need your help with
pictures for the yearbook! Do you have pictures of class parties and activities, after school activities, middle school sports, or field trips? Earn some volunteer time too; simply click
here t
o upload your photos.
There are separate links for each grade once you click on the link, so you can select the appropriate grade and upload your photos!
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IT'S TIME TO SEND IN YOUR BOXTOPS
The next
Box Tops collection day is Wednesday, Nov. 20, so gather up your Box Tops and send them into school! Please put them in a sealed plastic baggie. Happy clipping!
Don't forget to scan your receipts with the Box Tops app to collect any new Box Tops earnings. Thanks to your efforts, we have earned over $700 so far this year.
Questions? E-mail Alaina Tinney, Box Tops committee chair.
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PTO UNIFORM CONSIGNMENT SALE
Have your kids had a growth spurt or are you ready to get new uniforms for next year? If so, mark your calendars for the upcoming
Uniform Consignment Sale from 9 - 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7, in the Lightning Gym.
If you would like to sell your uniforms, please be sure your items are tagged properly and brought to the front office with the inventory form between 8:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, through Thursday, Dec. 5, as uniforms will not be accepted outside of this window. Please follow the
tagging instructions and complete the
inventory form. Any unsold items will need to be picked up between 12-1 p.m. after the sale on December 7. Note that items will not be held after December 7.
If you would like to shop at the uniform sale,
please note that the PTO only accepts cash or check. They have uniforms in all sizes and genders, so be sure to check it out!
If you would like to volunteer to help with the sale, please visit the SignUp Genius
link
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KNOW A FAMILY INTERESTED IN BFA?
ONLY ONE TOUR LEFT THIS YEAR!
Do you know any families interested in sending their student(s) to BFA? If so, we'd love to show them our amazing facility!
This Tuesday, Nov. 19, is the last tour until they start again from January 21 - March 31.
Tours for prospective K-8 families will be held at 9 a.m.
We look forward to showing prospective parents around the school so they can see firsthand why we are the STEAM School of Choice in Douglas County. Anyone going on a tour should bring a Driver's License and arrive ten minutes early so we can scan their license before the tour begins. There is no need to RSVP, and tours last around 45 minutes.
If you have a friend interested in our preschool program, they should
contact
Kristen Goldberg, preschool director.
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Moms and ladies of BFA--it's your turn! Please join members of the PTO at
7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at Smokin' Fins in Highlands Ranch. This fun Moms Night Out will take place following the PTO meeting. Light appetizers will be provided. Please
RSVP so they have an accurate count for the restaurant.
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THANK A STAFF MEMBER WITH SCRIP
SCRIP is the staff gifting program that we introduced two years ago to facilitate convenient group gift-giving. Through this program, each family makes one payment for all of their teacher and staff gifts. Then, each teacher/staff member receives an email with the total amount collected, and selects which gift cards they would like to receive. By consolidating donations, we are able to provide teachers and staff with meaningful gifts.
This program allows the PTO to purchase the requested gift cards at discounts ranging from 2 - 21 percent, depending on the retailer. That discounted amount comes back to BFA from SCRIP, and will be used for PTO funded programs at school.
Families will be able to place SCRIP orders via MySchoolBucks and pay by credit card. You may designate how much you would like to give to each teacher/staff member in one-dollar increments. Collections will take place Dec. 2-6.
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.
The gifts will be given to the staff the week before Winter Break, and will be in lieu of any other class gift/collection. Look for more information in future newsletters regarding details on how to contribute to your teacher's gift!
Questions? Visit the PTO webpage or contact Rachael Hamburger, SCRIP coordinator.
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Have a birthday coming up? Is your child celebrating something special? Or, do you just want to cheer on the Bolts? Rent the rock and shout out your news! The spirit rock is an opportunity to share exciting events with our school community by painting your own message. The daily rate to rent the rock is $15.
ALL proceeds directly benefit the PTO's grant account, that will be used to support BFA's small group fundraising.
Want to rent the Rock? Here's how
:
Step 1: Reserve the date you want by visiting the 'Rent the Rock' SignUpGenius. Rock reservations are on a first come, first serve basis, so make your reservations NOW!
Step 2: Pay for your reservation through MySchoolBucks
.
Payment is due when the reservation is made.
Have questions? You can find answers to frequently asked questions on the PTO webpage, or contact Sara Hope, Spirit Rock committee manager.
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FREE TICKETS FOR DENVER YOUNG ARTISTS ORCHESTRA
November is an exciting month for Denver Young Artists Orchestra (DYAO), and they have invited BFA families to be a part of the fun! DYAO is excited to offer free ticket vouchers to students and up to two (2) of their family members for some of their season concerts! In addition, teachers can attend our concerts for free!
Their upcoming concert will be
Autumn Overtures, which will take place at 4 p.m. on Nov. 17, in the Newman Center for the Performing Arts. This concert will feature the Conservatory Orchestra and the String Ensemble, as well as pianist Lori Sims and works by Clara Schumann, Jean Sibelius, and Felix Mendelssohn to name a few. The following weekend, they are presenting
Taste of Tango, featuring the Young Artists Orchestra and special guests from Tango Colorado. This voucher is only valid for the performance taking place on Nov. 23 at the Plymouth First Congregational Church.
The attached
voucher has more details about their exciting season, as well as instructions on how to pick up your free tickets.
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PLEASE CHECK LOST AND FOUND
Please ask your student(s) to
check the Lost and Found if they are missing a sweater, BFA sweatshirt, coat/jacket, lunch box or water bottle.
Items will be donated on Friday, Nov. 22.
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT...ROUND ONE OF DCSD OPEN ENROLLMENT HAS STARTED
DCSD's online Open Enrollment has started for the 2020-21 school year. Parents of ALL NEW K-8 BFA students for the 2020-21 school year need to take action by completing the Open Enrollment process. Even if you have a student who currently attends kindergarten through eighth grade at BFA, you will need to complete DCSD Open Enrollment for any NEW or incoming K-8 students.
Note: If you are a current BFA family and plan to Open Enroll a student in BFA's 2020-21 kindergarten class, please complete this Preference Form and submit it to Colleen Bobbin by Monday, Nov. 11.
First Round of Open Enrollment
FIRST ROUND: Runs through 3:59 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2, 2019. All families are highly encouraged to complete Open Enrollment during the First Round.
- Parents will use their DCSD EngagED Parent Portal to login and access the Open Enrollment tool. (Hint: You used your EngagED Parent Portal to complete Express Check-In in August.)
- If you do not know your username and password, please email BFA's registrar, Colleen Bobbin, BEFORE Thanksgiving Break.
- Parents without a DCSD EngagED Parent Portal account will be able to create one once First Round opens on Nov. 1.
- For Kindergarten, your child MUST turn five on or before Oct. 1, 2020 to be eligible for 2020-21 kindergarten.
- Open Enrollment submissions during the FIRST ROUND ONLY will have priority based on the following:
- Children in the household of Founding Families;
- Siblings of current students. Siblings that share the same birth date (ie. twins or triplets) shall receive automatic enrollment; and
- Children of full-time teachers;
- BFA preschool students, as detailed in the Enrollment Policy.
IMPORTANT: Parents with students who have the above priorities who miss First Round of Open Enrollment will NOT receive priority in the Second Round of enrollment. If you want to leverage your priority status, please plan to complete Open Enrollment during First Round.
- To accept an Open Enrollment offer, parents MUST accept via the EngagED Parent Portal before 4 p.m. on Dec. 16.
- If a parent does not accept an offer by the deadline, the student automatically will be placed on the Second Round Open Enrollment wait-list.
- Parents who accept an offer will receive enrollment requirements and deadlines via email from the BFA registrar. Get a head start on some of these requirements by ensuring you have the following information handy: copy of your student's birth certificate, updated immunization records and proof of residency. One of the following will be required for proof of residency:
- Lease Agreement
- Purchase Agreement
- Tax Notice
- Warranty Deed
- Deed of Trust
SECOND ROUND: Runs Jan. 22 - Aug. 3, 2020
- Open Enrollment during Second Round is "first come, first served." Parents requesting open enrollment for their child in the Second Round are placed on the wait-list behind those that are currently on the wait-list from first round. Priorities will NOT be considered.
Second Round Offers:
- As space becomes available, offers during Second Round will be made via the email address parents submitted during Open Enrollment. (Offers during this round will not be visible from the Open Enrollment tool, rather parents should look for an email from the school's registrar.) Parents who accept an offer will receive enrollment requirements and deadlines via email from the BFA registrar. Unfortunately, if parents miss the deadlines outlined in the registrar's email, the enrollment offer will be withdrawn and another student on the list will be given an opportunity to enroll.
The DCSD
Open Enrollment webpage provides the most up-to-date information and specific details about the process, as well as answers to commonly-asked questions. Please visit this
site well before Open Enrollment begins on November 1. If you have questions about enrollment, please
email our registrar or call 720-383-4519 x3104 to reach the regi
strar.
CURRENT BFA STUDENTS:
Current K-8 students intending to return to BFA next school year DO NOT need to take any action. If your student will not return to BFA next year, please let the registrar know via
email.
PRESCHOOL STUDENTS:
Preschool Enrollment for the three-year-old and four-year-old classes will take place via the preschool
webpage on the BFA website. Preschool enrollment for current BFA families will begin at 9 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 2. Preschool enrollment for the general public will begin at 9 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 13.
If you are interested in the Ben Franklin Academy Preschool program, please click
here for more information.
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YOU GET PIZZA, PARRY'S GIVES BACK!
Parry's Pizzeria and Bar (9567 S University Blvd., 80126) will be hosting a
BFA Spirit Night from 4:30 - 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov.14. Hope to see you there!
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FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
Thursday,
Nov. 14, the BFA Finance Committee will meet from 6-8 p.m. in the BFA Conference Room. Parents are welcome to attend.
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ACCELERATED READER DRESS OF CHOICE DAY
If your student in
grade 1-5 has met their Accelerated Reader goal for the trimester per their teacher, he/she may wear Dress of Choice on Friday, Nov. 15. Congratulations readers!
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Tours for prospective K-8 families will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays through November 19.
Anyone going on a tour should bring a Driver's License and arrive a few minutes early so we can scan their license before the tour begins.
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The next Board meeting is from 5:30 - 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 19, in the Dana Library.
Parents are welcome to attend the Board meetings, or use the call-in number listed on the agenda to listen to the meeting.
The agenda will be available via the BFA website 24 hours prior to the meeting.
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The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is meeting at
6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20, in the Sanders Science Lab. Come to the meeting, then head to Moms Night Out!
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Join members of the PTO at
7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at Smokin' Fins in Highlands Ranch. Please
RSVP
so they have an accurate count for the restaurant.
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The School Accountability Committee (SAC) is meeting at
4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21, in the BFA Conference Room. All BFA parents are welcome to attend!
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Friday,
Nov. 22, is a Dress of Choice Day for students who have not received two uniform violations since the last regular Dress of Choice Day. Students should follow the guidelines outlined in the Dress of Choice policy.
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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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