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Vol. 9, Iss. 22
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August 29, 2019
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It was so nice to see so many of you at the K-4 Back to School Night last night. I wanted to apologize for the technical issues during my short presentation--believe it or not, everything was working before you all got there. I was disappointed that I could not show you the presentation, but I hope that you did get some introductory information about Second Step. We are excited about implementing this program and hope families are excited about it as well. If you would like to see the video that wouldn't work last night, please click below:
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| Social-Emotional Learning: What Is SEL and Why SEL Matters |
I also shared a few reminders about carpool last night. Both morning and afternoon carpool are moving much more efficiently. For morning carpool, please make sure that your students are ready to hop out of their car as soon as the car stops. Also, please close any gaps in the line so that we can fit more cars on property to avoid backing up on to Plaza. Lastly, if your student needs to get out on the passenger side of the car, please remember to have them walk around the front of your vehicle instead of walking behind your car. The car behind you might not see them and parents don't expect students to be getting out anywhere but curbside.
The main reminder I have for afternoon carpool is to please stay off of your phones. I have been monitoring our traffic on Plaza each afternoon and have noticed more and more people looking down at their phones instead of paying attention to traffic. This does cause problems as it causes big gaps in the lines as well as delays. It's also very concerning to me because once you are on property, there are staff, volunteers, and students who could be injured if full attention is not given to what is happening around your vehicle. Please put your phones away while in carpool.
I am looking forward to seeing the fifth through eighth grade parents at Back to School Night tonight.
Sincerely,
Diana Simpson
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Students who have not received two uniform violations since the beginning of this school year will be able to wear
Dress of Choice tomorrow, Aug. 30.
Please keep in mind what the
policy says regarding Dress of Choice (DOC) days, "
Clothes worn by all the students during the DOC days shall be modest, in good condition, and neat in appearance. Students are not allowed to wear pajama items or clothing that contains wording or images that could be interpreted as racial, vulgar, or offensive in any way. Revealing clothes are not acceptable (i.e. tank tops, midriffs, sleeveless, etc.)"
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There will be no school on Monday, Sept. 2, in observance of Labor Day. Enjoy the long weekend!
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BRONCOS SPIRIT DAY NEXT FRIDAY
Friday,
Sept. 6, students get to celebrate the beginning of the Bronco football season by
wearing their favorite Bronco T-shirt or jersey. Students also can elect to wear a different football team's T-shirt/jersey.
If your student prefers, he/she may also
wear a Spirit Day shirt. Regardless of whether your student wears a Bronco shirt or a Spirit Day shirt, your student should wear regular uniform bottoms.
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WANT TO POSITIVELY IMPACT CARPOOL? VOLUNTEER!
Attention eighth grade families-PLEASE HELP IN CARPOOL THIS SEPTEMBER!
To help fill crucial carpool volunteer roles, we're asking parents in each grade level to make a special effort to volunteer one month of the school year. In September, we'd like our eighth grade families to sign up for open volunteer spots in carpool.
Carpool volunteers are critical, and we need your support. Even if you don't have an eighth grader, we still need you so please consider signing up today. Just log into HelpCounter and click on 'Check for Upcoming Opportunities.'
If you are a new family and have not logged into HelpCounter yet, or want to volunteer but simply can't help with carpool, see our Volunteer Management webpage. Get ready Kindergarten parents, as we'll be asking you to help with carpool in October.
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WAYS TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD
BFA's teachers and administration are always happy to hear from parents and welcome your questions and feedback. If you have a classroom issue, your first step is to contact your student's teacher.
Mr. Gomez is our assistant principal for students in K-4; and
Mr. Rau is our assistant principal for students in grades 5-8. To reach out to
Principal Simpson or anyone on our administration team, simply
go to the administration webpage for contact information.
In addition,
BFA's Board of Directors also has a process for accepting open comments from the parent community. Parents can go to a Board meeting and
make a short comment in person during the Open Comment time period; or,
submit a comment electronically using the Open Comment form by noon the day of the Board meeting. If you want to submit a comment online, please look for 'Our School' on the main navigation bar of the BFA website, then go to the '
Board Transparency' page, scroll down to 'agendas' and look for 'Board of Directors Meeting Open Comments Form.' Open comment forms received by the deadline will be read aloud during the open comment period of the Board meeting.
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CMAS RESULTS MAILED THIS WEEK
If you had a student at BFA in grade 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and/or 8 last year, you will receive that student's confidential student performance report next week. The reports will give details about how your student performed on the Colorado Measures of Academic Success (CMAS) tests. For more information on the CMAS assessment program, visit their website.
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ROCK CANYON SENIORS VOLUNTEER AT BFA
Rock Canyon High School students and BFA teachers have partnered together to help each other out this school year. Currently there are nine Rock Canyon High School seniors who elected to complete their Senior Studies volunteer hours at BFA. These seniors will be volunteering more than 50 hours of their time this semester to help out BFA teachers and students in their classroom. It's a partnership that is helping all involved! If you see a Rock Canyon student, make sure to welcome them into the BFA family.
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KNOW A FAMILY INTERESTED IN BFA?
Do you know any families interested in sending their student(s) to BFA? If so, we'd love to show them our amazing facility!
Tours for prospective K-8 families will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays from Sept. 3 through April 7
(with no tours during breaks: Oct. 15, Nov. 26, Dec. 24 and 31, as well as March 17).
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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Directory on Tap is an
app-based online directory the PTO offers to BFA parents. The FREE app is available for download through the App Store and Google Play, simply search for: "Directory on Tap (DoT)." Once this year's directory is ready in late September, you will receive an email from DoT with your one-time password.
If you would like to
update your family's information for the directory or opt out, you need to act today. You have until Tuesday, Sept. 24, to do the following:
2. If you have recently
moved or changed an email address or 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 PTO vice president Natalie Lucero with questions.
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INTERESTED IN HELPING THE CEC MAINTAIN BFA TRADITIONS?
The Community Events Committee (CEC) is an integral part of the BFA Community and is responsible for coordinating several of BFA's longstanding traditions such as
Goodies with Grandparents, our Veteran's Day celebration, Donuts with Dad and Muffins with Mom. If you would like to learn more about the committee, have an interest in a specific event, or want to meet some new faces at BFA, please plan on attending a meeting this year!
Our first CEC meeting will be held at
6:30 p.m. on Tuesday,
Sept. 3, at the Starbucks at Central Park in Highlands Ranch. (Please note the location changed due to construction at the Super Target Starbucks.) We hope to see you there!
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ATTENTION VOLUNTEERS - LOG YOUR HOURS FOR A CHANCE TO BE REWARDED
BFA loves its volunteers, and we want to show our appreciation for all of your work. Again, this year,
the PTO will be recognizing TWO volunteers each month. One volunteer will be chosen as the '
Volunteer of the Month,' and will get exclusive use of the dedicated 'Volunteer' spot in the parking lot for their month.
Another volunteer will be
chosen through a monthly drawing to win a fun surprise gift. All you have to do to be eligible to win is log at least one hour of volunteer service in the month prior to the drawing.
So, please keep
logging your hours, and don't stop logging them once you have reached 30 hours.
Remember, reaching your 30-hour volunteer quota can also earn you free tickets to the Harvest Festival (please log your hours by Friday, September 6), and priority in signing up for parent teacher conferences!
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YOUR'RE INVITED TO THE STEM COMMITTEE MEETING
Do you love
S
cience,
T
echnology,
E
ngineering and/or
M
ath (STEM)? If so, join us for the first STEM committee meeting of the year on Tuesday, Sept. 3, in the Sanders Science lab at 5:30 p.m. The goal of the Committee is to broaden the STEM related educational experience of students through:
- Improving the attainment in, interaction with, and experiences of STEM subjects among students;
- Enriching, enhancing, and extending STEM-related curriculum and staff professional development;
- Improving collaboration between BFA, industry, government and academia; and
- Encouraging students to continue their education in STEM subjects.
The Committee also organizes
STEM related clubs for students after school, as well as the annual
STEAM Expo and Fair at BFA. We need your help and welcome your ideas!
Email the STEM Committee for more information.
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GET YOUR TICKETS FOR THE 9TH ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL
Join us for a night of family fun at
BFA's 9th Annual Harvest Festival, from 4 - 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14, at BFA.
Festival activities include: carnival games, face painting, balloon twisting, inflatables, and of course, the cake walk!
Tickets are on sale NOW through MySchoolBucks. Tickets are $10 per child, with a maximum of $25 for a family (siblings only), with advance purchase. Adults and children under 3 are FREE! Tickets at the door will be $10 per child; the family discount will not be available. Purchase your advance tickets now through September 10. Wristbands for those who pre-pay will be sent home with the oldest child before the event.
Families who have completed and logged their 30 hours of volunteer service (15 hours for single family households) for the current school year before Sept. 6 will be given FREE admittance to the event! Qualifying families will be notified on Sept. 7 by email.
You can purchase dinner and a refreshing treat at the Harvest Festival this year, too.
The 'Tacos Tequila Whiskey' food truck, run by a BFA family, will be selling delicious food, and Kona Ice will be on site with their irresistible shaved ice!
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FUN WEEKEND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
It takes a village to put on the Harvest Festival and we can't do it without you. Volunteers are needed to make this event happen. We hope you'll consider volunteering! You can volunteer for an hour here or there, throughout the event, or for all four hours.
Additionally, this is a great
volunteer opportunity for your NJHS student or responsible high school student needing volunteer hours.
Please consider running a game o
r supervising a station (a
dults supervisors only, please).
Also, please consider donating goodies for the event, or cakes for the cake walk.
Thank you in advance for your help in making the Harvest Festival a success!
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LIGHTS, CAMERA, AUCTION: A NIGHT AT THE ACADEMY AWARDS
What is it? The BENefit Bash is the PTO's primary fundraising event for the school year. New this year, the BENefit Bash will include online, mobile, and live auctions. The online auction will take place during the week prior to the event (Sun.-Thurs.) and will be open to anyone who registers on PTAPal.com. Individuals who purchase a ticket to the main event will be able to bid in the mobile and live auctions during the event. Additionally, there will be even more, fabulous mobile auction items available only at the after party. Teacher experiences and spectacular socials will only be available during the mobile auction at the main event.
When is it? Oct. 26. Main event begins at 5 p.m. After party begins at 9 p.m.
Where is it? The main event is at Palazzo Verdi; and the after party is at Max Taps.
How can you get tickets? Tickets go on sale Friday, Sept. 6, through MySchoolBucks. Event tickets start at $20 per person. Overnight packages are available for $230+ per couple.
Oh yeah - There will also be a costume contest. Groups of four or more who dress alike as their favorite Hollywood stars (new or old) or Hollywood characters (real or fictional) can compete for a chance to win. Start planning now to earn bragging rights and a special award!
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SMALL DONATION = BIG REWARD
The BENefit Bash procurement team has been working hard since the spring. They've got a great start on procurement but are still
looking for donations including events, ski tickets and mountain accommodations. If you or your company has one of these or another unique service or item you'd like to donate to the BENefit Bash, we'd love to hear from you!
Please email Rachelle Calahan and Courtney Chesy, co-procurement committee managers, for more information.
The wine wall is growing this year and will include spirits. We are seeking donations of new, sealed wine and spirits ($15+ value) and will be collecting them at the following times/locations: BFA front office, Harvest Festival (outside the main entrance). If you would like to make a donation outside of those times/locations, please contact Anne Giusti.
Lastly, we will not be doing class baskets for the BENefit Bash as we've done in previous years. Instead of coordinating class baskets through room parents, the PTO has set up an Amazon wish list with various items that will be used to build fantastic auction items for the Bash. Simply add any of the items to your cart and check out. Please make sure the shipping address for any BENefit Bash wish list items is set to the school's address.
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CONSIDER BEING A BFA PTO SPONSOR
The new school year means another opportunity to promote your business while supporting BFA. Each year, sponsorships allow BFA to continue to grow and to meet the needs of our school, as well as our teachers, staff and students.
Sponsorships will go on sale next Friday, Sept. 6, and are limited in quantity. If you are interested in a sponsorship opportunity, please
visit the PTO webpage for details (look for the 'sponsors' tab) or contact
Denise Battista, sponsor committee manager.
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AFTER SCHOOL ZUMBA FITNESS DANCE PARTY
Zumba is designed for EVERY BODY! We take the work out of working out by mixing high and low intensity moves for an interval style dance fitness party. Zumba combines all elements of fitness, cardio, muscle conditioning, balance and flexibility.
Students in grades 4-8 are invited to come join the party!
Classes will be held from 3:30 - 4:15 on Tuesdays from Sept. 10 - Oct. 29. The
Sept./Oct. session is $20 per student; payments will be due via cash or check (made out to
Kelly Whelan) on the first day of class.
Register TODAY!
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ELEMENTARY SPANISH BEFORE/AFTER SCHOOL OPTIONS
Is your elementary student interested in learning Spanish? If so, our middle school Spanish teacher,
Señora Connell, is offering a Spanish class for elementary students
. You can sign up for classes by the month. The cost for this activity is $50 per month, per student; and, payments should be made via Zelle or check (made out to Patricia Connell).
Morning classes:
Kids in grades K-5
will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 to 8 a.m. in the Spanish classroom (#276)
Afternoon classes:
Kindergarten through second grade will meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30 - 4 p.m. in the Spanish classroom (#276). Third grade through fifth grade will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:30 - 4 p.m. in the Spanish room (#276).
You can sign up for one month at a time
. Classes follow the regular BFA school calendar for breaks/days off, and continue until the end of May. Sign up today as classes begin SEPT. 3! Please contact Señora Connell for registration, payment information and questions.
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CALLING ALL KINDERGARTEN GIRLS!
Parents are welcome to attend an informational meeting from 6-7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 12, in the Sanders Science Lab (room 145) to learn about our new Daisy Troop at BFA! As a Daisy, your Kindergartener will gain new friends as a part of a troop, earn new petals and badges by embracing the Girl Scout Promise and Law, make a difference in her community, and explore nature and the outdoors! We'll be sharing details about the troop, meeting dates and signup information.
Send questions
to
Katie Duncan
or
Jackie Wuchter
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AFTER SCHOOL PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMS
If your student enjoys the performing arts, musical theatre, choir, would like to play an instrument, or learn how to tap dance, please check out all the options available through
Ms. Johnson's After School Performing Arts programs.
Descriptions are available on her catalogue, and registration is NOW OPEN for many of the programs.
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It's time for STEM club! This year,
Mrs. Lewicki is offering two after school sessions, one for students in grades 2-4, and another for kids in grades 5 and 6. Both clubs will meet from
4 - 5 p.m. on select Thursdays, to focus on the
Engineering Design Process and explore the concepts of structural engineering. Students will experiment with different geometric shapes used in structural designs and determine how design choices affect the height and strength of structures, such as skyscrapers and bridges.
The cost is $75 per club session, and is due the first day via cash or check (made out to Jennifer Lewicki). (There is also a drop in option if your student is only able to come on one of the dates. For drop in classes, $20 per session due on that date.)
Session 1: Thursdays Sept. 12, 19, 26, and Oct. 3;
Register students in grades 2-4
Session 2: Thursdays Oct. 24, 31, and Nov. 7, 14;
Register students in grades 5 and 6
Please
email
Mrs. Lewicki with any questions.
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NATIONAL JUNIOR HONOR SOCIETY APPLICATIONS DUE
Applications are now being accepted for National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). All seventh and eighth grade students interested in joining NJHS need to fill out paperwork and return it to Mrs. Murphy no later than Sept. 23. New members need to complete the application packet, and returning members need to complete the BFA NJHS policy form. Both the application packet and policy forms can be found on the NJHS website located under the middle school tab and in Mrs. Murphy's classroom. Please have your student contact Mrs. Murphy with any NJHS questions.
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ATTENTION EIGHTH GRADE PARENTS
As you prepare for your eighth grader's
high school enrollment, you may need to request transcripts and/or other records. If that's the case, please
email our registrar,
Mrs.
Bobbin, and let her know exactly what the high school requires. (They should specify which records are needed, and understanding their exact requirements will eliminate delays in processing.)
It takes some time to gather all the necessary documents, so please allow three business days (72 hours) to complete the request. Once the student's packet has been completed, the registrar will email the requesting parent and leave the packet at the front desk for pick up.
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Now's the time to get your BFA spirit wear! Inventory is stocked; the PTO has great items like the navy trucker hat (pictured); and the online store is open! NEW THIS SCHOOL YEAR - You may purchase your spirit wear online at the School Store on MySchoolBucks. Purchases can be made from now through September 30. All purchases will be delivered to the classroom and sent home with your student. If you want to purchase in person, we'll be selling in October at parent teacher conferences. The online store will close Monday, Sept. 30, and remain closed until the spring. So, be sure to get your spirit wear now!
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SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE? RENT THE ROCK!
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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BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT, GRADES 5-8
Grade 5:
6:00 - 6:15 Introduction to Second Step Social Emotional Curriculum-
Thunder Gym
6:20-6:45 Go to Student's Homeroom (receive schedules/science and social) (25 mins)
6:50-7:05 AM literacy/math (15 mins)
7:10-7:25 PM literacy/math (15 mins)
7:30-7:45 PM science/social (15 mins)
Grades 6-8:
5:45 - 6:00 Retrieve schedules in the Middle School Commons, if necessary
6:00 - 6:15 Introduction to Second Step Social Emotional Curriculum- Mrs. Simpson,
Thunder Gym
6:20 - 6:30 Period 1 (Sixth Grade Specials-Middle School Commons)
6:35 - 6:45 Period 2 (Seventh Grade Specials-Middle School Commons)
6:50 - 7:00 Advisory
7:05 - 7:15 Period 3 (Eighth Grade Specials-Middle School Commons)
7:20 - 7:30 Period 4
7:35 - 7:45 Period 5
After visiting with all the teachers, there will be a presentation on social media for middle school parents in the Middle School Commons.
Mr. Macias (PE),
Mrs. Harlow (Life Skills),
Ms. Konesky (Technology), and
Mrs. Woudenberg (Mindful in the Middle) will be available during specials times in the commons to give a quick overview of their classes.
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Students who have not received two uniform violations since the beginning of this school year will be able to wear Dress of Choice on Friday, Aug. 30.
Please keep in mind what the
policy says regarding Dress of Choice (DOC) days, "
Clothes worn by all the students during the DOC days shall be modest, in good condition, and neat in appearance. Students are not allowed to wear pajama items or clothing that contains wording or images that could be interpreted as racial, vulgar, or offensive in any way. Revealing clothes are not acceptable (i.e. tank tops, midriffs, sleeveless, etc.)"
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There will be no school on Monday, Sept. 2, in observance of Labor Day. Enjoy the long weekend!
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The Community Events Committee (CEC) is meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday,
Sept. 3, at the Starbucks at Central Park in Highlands Ranch. (Please note the location changed due to construction at the Super Target Starbucks.)
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The STEM committee is meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 3, in the Sanders Science lab.
We need your help and welcome your ideas!
Email
the STEM Committee for more information.
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Wednesday, September 4, is a Formal Uniform Day. Students should wear a navy polo shirt with the BFA logo and tan pants, shorts, skirt or a skort.
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Friday, Sept. 6, students get to celebrate the beginning of the Bronco football season by wearing their favorite Bronco T-shirt or jersey. Students also can elect to wear a different football team's T-shirt/jersey.
If your student prefers, he/she may also wear a Spirit Day shirt. Regardless of whether your student wears a Bronco shirt or a Spirit Day shirt, your student should wear regular uniform bottoms.
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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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