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Weekly Update
A Message from Principal Simpson
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Dear Parents,
BFA is off to a fantastic start to the 22-23 school year! The classrooms have been buzzing this week with activities, assessments, and expectation setting for the year. I love seeing enthusiastic students and smiling teachers building strong relationships that will be the foundation for a great year!
In my newsletter this year, I will highlight some of our school's policies. I’ll start with our Communication Policy, as it’s critical to the success of our students and our school. The Communication Policy outlines the flow of communication expected at BFA. First of all, please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher if you have a question or concern about a classroom procedure, something happened at recess or in the classroom that the teacher should be aware of, or you want to share a compliment/student success story. If you have a question or concern and it’s not resolved at the classroom level, please get in touch with your Assistant Principal (AP). (Preschool families should speak with Director Lori Hafner.) Mr. Gomez is the AP for grades K-4, and Mrs. Boland is the AP for grades 5-8. If the matter is not settled after talking to the AP, then please reach out to me. If you still have concerns after speaking with me, you can contact a member of our BFA Board of Directors.
You can direct questions or concerns about general school policy, programming, carpooling, discipline, or anything not pertaining to the classroom directly to our APs or me. However, if you reach out to the administration with a classroom-level question or concern before reaching out to the teacher, we’ll ask you to talk to the classroom teacher first so that you can receive the most accurate information and so they understand that there may be a problem/issue.
As we all know, in today's world social media plays a large part in how information is shared. Our school has a public Facebook page for that purpose, and many families have joined the parent-run Friends of Ben Facebook page as well as grade-level Facebook groups to connect socially, share pictures and plan activities. We’re very supportive of the informal BFA Facebook groups and many of us belong to them as well, but posting a question or a concern on the parent-run Facebook forums is not a suitable way to have your issue addressed by a staff member. In fact, staff members will not respond or take action on concerns or questions that are communicated through these informal channels. Please follow the flow of communication described above so that you can receive timely answers or resolutions. If you have a general question and don’t know who to ask, feel free to call our front office (720-383-4519, option 0) or email info@bfacademy.org.
Our theme this year is "Be a Bolt of Kindness." Let’s all model this for our students with interactions and communications that are polite, respectful, and reflective of the behavior we expect of others. It’s important that our students see us resolve issues with calmness and civility.
Back-to-School nights are next week! These fun evenings are your opportunity to hear directly from your child's teacher(s) about classroom procedures, curriculum, and what you can expect this year. Families with kids in grades K-4, please plan to attend the Back-to-School Night from 6 - 8 p.m. on, Tuesday, Aug. 30. Families with kids in grade 5-8, please plan to attend the Back-to-School Night from 6 – 8 p.m. on, Wednesday, Aug. 31.
- For grades K-4, we’ll host a session from 6 – 6:45 p.m. and the same presentation will be given again from 7-7:45 p.m., in case you have students in more than one grade level/classroom.
- Fifth grade parents will meet with their homeroom teacher and the homeroom teacher's fifth grade counterpart so they receive information about all the core classes.
- Middle school parents will follow their student’s schedule from 6 - 8 p.m. It would be helpful if you can print out your student’s schedule and bring it with you.
Last year, one of our students proposed Fun Sock Friday. I think this is a great way to celebrate the end of a productive school week; so beginning tomorrow, students are welcome to wear fun (but appropriate) socks each Friday.
Finally, we found a wedding ring in the parking lot last spring and still have not found the owner. If you lost your ring last spring, please come into the office to claim it.
We look forward to seeing all of you next week at Back-to-School nights!
Mrs. Simpson
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Remember Your Driver's License | Please remember your driver's license when you come to the school to pick up your student early, volunteer or attend a meeting at school. For safety reasons, every person who enters the school needs to have their Driver's License available to be scanned. Please keep in mind, this is also a requirement for any other family members who would like to enter the school. Thanks for helping us keep our kids safe! | | | |
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No Parking in Preschool Lot | |
Unless you have a preschool student and the appropriate preschool parking tag, please do not park in the preschool parking lot during carpool or drop off/pick up students from this area. (This does not include parents directed to the B Zone waiting area during afternoon carpool or approved sports pick-ups.)
In addition, please don't park in the preschool lot throughout the school day, as students use the space to play. If you park in the preschool lot during the school day, you will be asked to move your car.
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Make Plans to Attend Outdoor Movie Night | |
Today is the FINAL DAY to get your tickets for the Outdoor Movie Spirit Night. We’ll be showing 'Sing 2' this Saturday, Aug. 27, on the turf field at BFA. The gate/turf access will open at 7:30 p.m. and the movie will begin at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $15 per family and can be purchased through MySchoolBucks. Tickets will not be sold at the event, so get yours online today! Popcorn, juice, and water are included with admission.
Pack a picnic dinner and bring your favorite movie snacks, blankets and chairs, and come enjoy a fun movie night under the stars!
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BFA Dads - Ben's Brigade Meeting Tonight | |
The first Ben’s Brigade meeting of the school year is at 8 p.m. tonight, Aug. 25, at Max Taps Highlands Ranch (2680 E. County Line Road), and we would love to have more dads get involved!
Ben's Brigade is a PTO group open to all BFA dads that provides a place for dads to get to know each other, as well as opportunities for unique ways to give back to the school and earn volunteer hours. Ben’s Brigade handles work projects around the school, provides volunteers for school functions, and hosts a number of social events throughout the year.
Thank you to all the amazing Ben’s Brigade volunteers who helped with carpool last week!
Contact Curtis Anderson, Ben’s Brigade committee manager to learn more.
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Uniform Sale at Back-to-School Nights | The PTO will be having a used uniform sale with PTO items only during the Back-to-School nights next week. They will be selling items from 6- 8 p.m. in the Lightning Gym on Tuesday, Aug. 30, and Wednesday, Aug. 31. Please come and see us if you are in need of uniforms! | | | |
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Get Ready for Franklin Fest | |
We hope you’ll join us at the annual Franklin Fest for food and fun from 3-7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17, at BFA. There will be activities and games for all ages! Additional details coming soon. Also, we'll need many volunteers to make this event a success and will send out the SignUpGenius shortly.
Tickets go on sale tomorrow, Aug. 26, and will be available to purchase through Friday, Sept. 9, on MySchoolBucks. Tickets are $15 per child, with a maximum of $35 for a family (one child is $15, two children are $30, three or more children cost $35). Adults and siblings who do not attend BFA are free.
Families who have completed and logged their 30 hours of volunteer service (15 hours for single parent households) for the current school year by midnight on Monday, Sept. 12, will be given free admittance to the event!
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Need New Gear? BFA Store Now Open! | |
Now's the time to get your BFA spirit wear! The PTO's online store for spirit wear and spirit is open NOW and will remain open through Friday, Oct. 14. You can shop for all your BFA gear including logo t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, baseball caps, desktop calendars and more! The desktop calendars are being printed now and will be delivered to you as soon as we get them in! We also have just a few fleece jackets and vests (new inventory is coming), so don’t wait to get yours! Find all your items at MySchoolBucks.
Orders will be delivered and sent home through your child's classroom. Questions? Contact Amy Marks, PTO Spirit Wear committee manager.
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After School Caroling Choir | Students in grades 2-8 are invited to participate in after school musical choir. Students learn the basics of singing, public speaking and performing as they prepare to sing classic holiday music. The choir meets on Thursdays from 3:30 – 4:15 p.m. and the cost is $65. Click here to see the flier and get the link to register. | | | |
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After School Musical Enrichment
Band and Orchestra
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ThunderRidge Elementary Instrumental Music (TREIM) is offering a before and after school musical instrument enrichment program for BFA students in grades 4 – 8. Students can meet the band teacher and rent an instrument from 6 – 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6, at Coyote Creek Elementary. Scholarships are available—click here for the application. See below for details:
Band:
Beginning Band (begins 9/12): From 7:15 - 8:10 a.m.on
Mondays and every other Friday
Intermediate Band (begins 9/13): From 7:15 - 8:10 a.m. on Tuesdays and every other Friday
Instructor: Mr. Sevy
For more information: bensevywoodwinds@gmail.com
Orchestra:
Please click on the link and join in any classes that work: https://treim.webs.com/orchestra-classes
Get started today!
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Get Set Up TODAY to
Support BFA While You Shop
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If you are a King Soopers or Amazon shopper, you can help earn money for BFA by signing up for King Soopers Community Rewards and Amazon Smile. Here's how:
To sign up for King Soopers Community Rewards:
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Sign in to your digital account at King Soopers Community Rewards. If you haven't already set up an account, set up your account and link your King Soopers card or phone number to your account.
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Click on Community Rewards, Enroll Now and search for Ben Franklin Parent Teacher Organization OR enter our code XN773. Click Save.
- Next time you check out at King Soopers or City Market, scan your card (or enter your alternate ID), and BFA will get money back from your purchase.
It's FANTASTIC how quickly this program adds up and how much our school can earn. Last year (July 2021 - June 2022) the BFA PTO earned $9,475 back from this program! THANK YOU!
To sign up for Amazon Smile:
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Go to: smile.amazon.com, and click Get Started
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Enter Ben Franklin Academy Parent-Teacher Organization in the search box, and select BFA PTO as the organization that you want to support.
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Once you have signed up for Amazon Smile online, you can enable Amazon Smile through the Amazon app, by selecting Gifting and Charity from the menu in the lower right-hand corner, then Amazon Smile.
You can find out more information about the AmazonSmile program including how to link your Amazon account to BFA, click here.
Please email Andreya Flanigan, PTO fundraising coordinator, with any questions. Thank you, again, for your support of BFA and the PTO!
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Helpful Links for Busy Parents | |
Many of us love living in Colorado because it gives us access to outdoor family activities. As a helpful reminder for our busy parents, it's the time of year when some organizations are offering free or discounted skiing passes:
Kids in grades K-5 can go here for more information:
If you have a student in grades 3 - 6, look here for discounts.
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Introduce Your Student to Run with Landsharks | Landsharks is a non-competitive youth program to introduce running to young athletes in a safe and fun environment. The focus is on self-improvement, being an encouraging teammate, and making new friends. The Fall XC Series is a fun-based program open to students in kindergarten through sixth grade. Practices consist of running games and workouts with a strong focus on fun. Registration is open now through 5 p.m. on Sept 5, or until limits are met. See the flier for details. | | | |
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Harper Arts is thrilled to be returning again this school year to offer music lessons and coaching at BFA. Harper Arts teaches piano, guitar, ukulele, voice, acting and audition coaching during the school day and after school.
All the sessions are full at this time, but please click here to get on the waitlist!
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If your student in grade K-5 is interested in participating in a co-ed cub scout pack, please click on this flier. | | | |
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ThunderRidge Boys Basketball Program | If your student in grades 4-6 is interested in playing basketball for the ThunderRidge high school feeder program, please see this flier. | | |
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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