Weekly Update
A Message from Principal Simpson
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Dear Parents,
It has been another fun Spirit Week. Seeing the kids' creativity and joy makes me so happy. The week culminates tomorrow with icon day. I can't wait to see what famous people visit our building!
Thank you to all the families who participated in the Douglas County Libraries' summer reading program. They delivered a $500 check to our school this week, and Ms. Williams is excited to get some new books! Don't forget to support the book fair next week. Books make outstanding gifts, and the more books purchased, the more new books we can add to the library.
Next week, we'll hold Parent-Teacher Conferences. On Tuesday, Oct. 12, our Administration team and our Specials teachers are available in the building during conference time for people to drop in and meet with us as needed. Since all meetings on Thursday, Oct. 14, will be virtual this year, each of us has created a sign-up. We thought it might be handy for parents to have these links all together in one email.
Click on the underlined name/date below for the links to sign-up for a conference with Administration or our Specials teachers:
Administration Team:
Elementary Specials Team:
Middle School Specials Team:
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone here tomorrow morning for Goodies with Grandparents!
Have a great weekend!
Diana Simpson
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National Bullying Prevention Month |
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. This month in kindergarten through grade 5, students will begin Second Step’s Bullying Prevention Unit. This unit was designed to help students recognize bullying, respond by refusing to participate, intervene if it’s safe, and report it if necessary. It was also designed to help educators create safer school environments and sound bullying prevention policies and train everyone to respond appropriately to bullying reports.
In the Bullying Prevention Unit lessons, students learn:
- How to recognize, report, and refuse bullying;
- The difference between bullying and conflict between peers;
- That they can refuse bullying in different ways;
- That bystanders can help stop bullying and that it’s the right thing to do;
- How bystanders can be part of the bullying problem;
- The similarities and differences between cyberbullying and other types of bullying; and,
- Ways to recognize and help stop cyberbullying.
Middle School students will cover bullying in Unit 2 of Second Step’s middle school program beginning in November. The topics and goals are similar but are addressed in more applicable contexts for middle schoolers. More detailed information will be sent as we get closer to the start of the unit.
Web Resources
Second Step recommends the following resources for families to learn more about bullying prevention.
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Bullying Prevention Resources - Find activities, videos, books, research and more to help parents and educators help prevent bullying.
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StopBullying.gov - U.S. Department of Education website with information for parents, educators and policymakers on multiple aspects of bullying prevention.
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Cyberbullying Research Center - The Cyberbullying Research Center is dedicated to providing up-to-date information about the nature, extent, causes and consequences of cyberbullying.
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Common Sense Media - Common Sense Media is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology.
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Goodies with Grandparents Tomorrow
Volunteers Needed
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The Community Events Committee (CEC) can’t wait to welcome students and their grandparents to BFA’s Goodies with Grandparents, from 7-8 a.m. tomorrow, Oct. 8, at BFA! Grandparents and their grandkids will be able to spend quality time together over light morning treats and activities in the Lightening/small gym. Grandparents and students can then continue to enjoy time together with games and photo opportunities (with your own camera/phone) in the Thunder/large gym. Grandparents will receive a flower as a symbol of appreciation as they leave the event.
We ask that grandparents please arrive early, as this is a popular event. Grandparents and students may begin leaving the gym at 7:45 a.m. Students should be in their classes at the normal time (8:10 a.m.).
Gluten Free options will be available upon request. Please email the event coordinator, Marissa Patterson, with any questions.
Volunteers are Still Needed
If you are interested in volunteering, there are still many positions available. There is a very short period of time to clean both gyms, so the CEC would greatly appreciate your help! Please sign up today.
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One Day left of SPIRIT WEEK! |
Thanks to our Student Council, we've had a great Spirit Week. There is one day left, so dig through the closet or get out the storage bins to find items for Icon/Movie Day.
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Friday - Icon/Movie Day, showcase your iconic look that everyone is sure to recognize!
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BFA's BASE program is offering care during fall break this year. Childcare will be available from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. the week of Oct. 18-22, with programing similar to that of summer camp. We have organized a field trip to Miller Farms on Wednesday, Oct. 20, for the kids, so the cost will be $210 per child for the week. At least 15 families must sign up for the fall break camp for us to offer the program.
It is going to be a fantastic week with a movie and lots of other fun activities. Registration is open today, so please go to MySchoolBucks and sign up. All registrations are non-refundable, unless we do not have enough families sign up by Oct. 11. If that occurs, we will notify you and refund your payment.
Please note, a registration fee of $25 is required for BASE participants and you must be registered for the BASE program prior to registering for fall break camp. If you need the link to register, please email base@bfacademy.org and it will be emailed to you. If you have any questions, email Leigh Savoy.
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Get Involved - Attend CEC Meeting Tonight |
The Community Events Committee (CEC) invites you to their next monthly meeting at 7 p.m. tonight, Oct. 7, in the Middle School Commons. They will focus on the Veterans Day celebration, which is their biggest event of the year. This event requires “all hands on deck,” so we hope to see many of you there! Prior to the meeting, they will set up for Goodies with Grandparents. Join them at 6 p.m. in the small gym to get additional volunteer hours!
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MS Dance this Weekend - Get Tickets NOW! |
Student Council is hosting a fall dance for students in grades 6-8 from 5:30-8 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9, at BFA. The cost of admission is $5 each and includes pizza, beverages, and snacks. Get your tickets on MySchoolBucks today. Ticket sales end tomorrow and there will be no tickets sold at the door. Please note, all students are required to wear a mask.
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Volunteer Opportunity for Middle School Parents |
Student Council would appreciate your help decorating for the middle school dance this Saturday, Oct. 9! We’d like to make the school look spectacular for our kiddos, so please sign up to volunteer. We’ll decorate from noon until 2 p.m., so plan on arriving by noon so you can be let into the school.
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One Week Left to Secure Your Sponsorship |
The new school year means another opportunity to promote your business while supporting BFA. Each year, PTO sponsorships allow BFA to continue to grow and to meet the needs of our school, as well as our teachers, staff and students. Sponsorships are on sale NOW! They are limited in quantity, and will be offered on a first come, first served basis. The last day to claim/pay for a sponsorship is next Thursday, Oct. 14.
For details on the various sponsorship options and pricing, click here. There also is information on the PTO Sponsorship webpage (click Sponsors at the top of the page).
If you are interested in a sponsorship opportunity, please contact Anne Giusti-Chacon, PTO sponsor committee manager.
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We’re excited to announce the Scholastic Book Fair will be held from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11, through Thursday, Oct. 14. The fair will end promptly at 3 p.m. each day so we can prepare for carpool.
Students in grades K-4 will make a wish list to show parents. All students in grades K-8 will have an opportunity to browse and purchase books during their allotted time period. Parents can come between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. but may not bring other kiddos; parents are welcome to check with their child's teacher to see what time and day your student's class is scheduled to attend. To make shopping easy, parents can set up eWallet via the Scholastic Homepage. Watch the short video to learn the basics of this cashless shopping experience. We’ll also accept credit cards and checks.
Click below for a preview of the books available by grade level:
We still need volunteers, so please sign up to help!
And, for all our avid readers--you can shop the book fair EARLY online! Go to the Scholastic Homepage on today, to start shopping.
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Trunk or Treat Halloween Fun! |
In lieu of the costume parade, the PTO is hosting TRUNK OR TREAT again this year on Friday, Oct. 29! It's going to be a FUN day for ALL preschool through eighth grade BFA students! Students can wear their costumes to school all day-- but remember, costumes should be appropriate for school (no revealing/offensive clothing, full face masks/face paint, costumes with pretend blood/gore, or pretend weapons). Throughout the day, classes will be invited to step outside with their class and participate in Trunk or Treat where volunteers will be distributing trinkets, candy, popcorn and/or fruit snacks from the trunk of their own vehicle parked in an assigned spot. This year ALL parents are invited to come and watch your children at Trunk or Treat!
We need parent support for the individually wrapped snacks and candy. We're requesting bulk items from Sam's Club or Costco as well as standard sized items from Wal-Mart/Target or the grocery store. Please see the SignUpGenius and consider supporting by donating treats for our students! All donations can be dropped off in the BFA front office. We are also looking for volunteers to help organize all of the give-a-way items and distribute items at Trunk or Treat. If you’re interested in helping organize or distribute items, please see the volunteer SignUpGenius.
The K-5 Halloween Classroom Parties will take place from 2-3 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 29. To limit exposure, party volunteers will be limited to a max of three per classroom. As much as we love welcoming our families into the school, we also ask that no additional siblings come with you if you are volunteering in one of our classroom parties. (Please consider attending the Trunk or Treat instead.) More details to follow!
If you have any questions about the elementary party, please email Erin Crowe, PTO Room Parent coordinator.
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Order Spirit Wear Before Store Closes |
The PTO's online store for spirit wear and spirit items is open now, but will close on Sunday, Oct. 10, so be sure to order your spirit items today! You can shop for all your BFA gear including logo t-shirts, hoodies, baseball caps, masks and gaiters in youth and adult sizes, desktop calendars, and more! Make sure your kids have sweatshirts for chilly classrooms and fleece jackets or vests for recess.
Find all your items at MySchoolBucks. Please note, out of stock items are on order and should be back in stock soon. Orders will be delivered and sent home through your child's classroom. Masks and gaiters are not returnable.
Spirit wear will be sold in-person at parent teacher conferences on Oct. 12 and 14, for your convenience.
If you have questions, please contact Jacqui Condon, PTO Spirit Wear chair.
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Send in Pictures of Your Favorite Veterans |
The Community Events Committee (CEC) is collecting digital pictures of veterans and current service members for our annual BFA Veterans Day video. If you have any photos of veterans or current service members from your family that you would like included, please email digital pictures to Julie Roper and include the veteran’s name, branch of military and years served. The deadline for submitting digital pictures is Thursday, Oct. 14. Thank you in advance for your assistance!
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Original Works Coming in November |
If you’re looking for unique, personalized gifts for the upcoming holiday season, we have the answer for you—Original Works! Original Works puts your student’s artwork on fun (and oftentimes useful) items for you or a loved one. Purchasing Original Works gifts is a win-win, you get a one-of-a-kind item featuring your child's art, and 33 percent of each order goes back to BFA's art program! More details to follow soon, but if you want to see the products offered this November by Original Works, check out their website.
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Get your burger and shake on while helping raise funds for BFA! The October spirit night at Shake Shack (1509 Park Central Drive) will be from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 26. Shake Shack will donate 25 percent of the proceeds back to the BFA PTO. If you’re dining in-person, be sure to mention BFA. For online or app orders, use the code DONATION25.
Our August spirit night at Gelato & Co. raised $250 for the BFA PTO. Thanks to everyone who came out and supported our spirit night. Let's see if we can make the Shake Shack spirit night even better! We appreciate your continued support.
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Celebrate Your Student - Rent the Rock! |
The Spirit Rock is an opportunity to share exciting events with our school community by painting your own message. Parents, students, and staff may “Rent the Rock” to recognize a student’s birthday, show school spirit, wish a team good luck, thank a teacher, announce an event, etc. It is a great way to spread positive messages and increase excitement! The rate to rent the Rock is $20 per day. All proceeds benefit Ben Franklin Academy!
Want to rent the Rock? Here’s how: First, reserve the date you want by visiting the ‘Rent the Rock’ SignUpGenius. Then, pay for your reservation through MySchoolBucks.
Have questions? You can find answers to frequently asked questions on the PTO webpage, or contact Subashri Sadasivan, Spirit Rock committee manager.
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If you missed the Destination Imagination (DI) meeting on Sept. 29 but are interested in finding out more information, please click on the following links:
If you are interested in participating in DI, please fill out the following form:
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BFA DI Interest Form
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Then, email the form to Jason Sunahara, BFA DI Coordinator, by Friday, Oct. 15; contact Jason with questions.
Please note:
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DI is a BFA-sponsored program, but it relies on parent volunteers to serve as team managers (and appraisers for competitions and South Metro's Instant Challenge Day). The BFA DI coordinators can create a team for interested students, but teams MUST have a parent volunteer(s) to serve as a team manager(s). DI volunteer hours count toward your BFA volunteer hours.
- There is no guarantee that your child will be placed on a team simply by filling out the interest form. Once your child is officially part of a BFA DI team, there is a registration fee of $65 per participant ($30 for Rising Stars! which are DI’s non-competitive participants). More information on the registration fee will come from your team manager/BFA DI coordinators at a later date.
Since its inception at BFA in 2012, 51 DI teams have competed at the regional level and 21 teams have competed at the state level; from 2016-19, BFA has had a total of nine teams qualify and represent the school at DI’s international level of competition, Global Finals.
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Reminder: DCSD Open Enrollment Starts Nov. 1 |
Will you have a K-8 student you’re hoping will attend BFA for the 2022-23 school year? Do you have a relative, neighbor or friend who will?
DCSD's online Open Enrollment starts Monday, Nov. 1, so it’s about time to take action!
Parents of ALL prospective K-8 students, including siblings of current BFA K-8 students and BFA preschool students who will be eligible for kindergarten for the 2022-23 school year, must complete Open Enrollment during First Round (Nov. 1 - Dec. 1, 2021) to earn a priority status.
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 BFA students. Siblings that share the same birth date (ie. twins or triplets) shall receive automatic enrollment;
- Children of full-time teachers; and
- 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 and complete it during Second Round will NOT receive priority enrollment. To leverage priority status, please complete Open Enrollment during First Round.
Visit the DCSD Open Enrollment webpage before November for the most up-to-date information, step-by-step instructions, and answers to commonly-asked questions. After reviewing this information, if you have questions about enrollment, please email our registrar, Colleen Bobbin.
Current K-7 BFA Students
No action is needed for current 2021-22 BFA K-7 students intending to return to BFA for the 2022-23 school year. If your student will not return to BFA next year, please let the registrar know via email.
2022-23 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. 6. Preschool enrollment for the general public will begin at 9 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 10.
If you are interested in the Ben Franklin Academy Preschool program, please click here for more information
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Tours for Prospective Families |
Do you know any families interested in sending their K-8 student(s) to BFA? If so, we'd love to show them our amazing facility! Please direct interested parents to our website or directly to the SignUpGenius. |
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Eighth Grade Parents Requesting Records |
If your eighth grader plans to choice into a high school, then he/she may need to obtain records from BFA. To request transcripts and/or other records, please email our registrar, Colleen Bobbin, and let her know exactly what the high school requires. (Not all have the same requirements. Please make sure to email the exact requirements to eliminate delays in processing.) Please note: If the high school requires a first trimester grade report, but your preference is to submit your child's records earlier, please follow up with Mrs. Bobbin to request an updated transcript after first trimester grades are finalized.
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 documents are ready, the registrar will email the documents to the requesting parent.
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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.
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Ben Franklin Academy
2270 Plaza Drive
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
www.bfacademy.org
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Main Office Phone: 720-383-4519
Email: info@bfacademy.org
Attendance Phone: 720-432-9239
Email: attendance@bfacademy.org
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