Weekly Update
A Message from Principal Simpson
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Dear Parents,
September has flown by. I don't know about you, but I am ready for cooler weather, hoodies, and all the pumpkin spice I can get!
Next week is our fall Spirit Week. We sent out descriptions for each day's theme last week and in a separate email earlier this week. You can also find the themes below.
Parent Teacher Conferences will be the week of October 11. We will have in-person conferences on the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 12, and virtual conferences on Thursday, Oct. 14. Our teachers in grades K-4 will send sign-ups out early next week.
The 5th-8th grade teachers will have drop-in conferences on Tuesday, Oct. 12, and will send invitations for the Zoom conferences to be held on Thursday, Oct. 14. If you are not invited to a Zoom conference on Oct. 14, please plan on attending drop-in conferences on Oct. 12.
This week we have seen a large increase in tardies each morning. Students must be in their classrooms and ready to work by 8:15 a.m. We usually have a pretty big lag in the carpool line between 7:50 – 8 a.m. If you can be on property by 8:05 at the very latest, your child(ren) should make it to class on time.
I hope everyone has a great weekend. Go Broncos, beat those Ravens!
Diana Simpson
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Books that Supplement Second Step at Home |
Reading never fails to bring us together. It provides a crucial human connection, whether participating in a book group among friends or reading to a child. Books are especially important for kids. Reading offers the opportunity for children to revisit concepts, themes, and situations. Books help keep kids learning and help them achieve a deeper level of understanding. Below are book lists recommended by Second Step for families, students and educators to further enhance Social-Emotional Learning and skills.
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As a reminder, there is a menu change for tomorrow, Oct. 1. Nutrition services has informed us that kids can choose from Toasted Ravioli or the GF Pepperoni Pizza Stuffwich.
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Next Week is SPIRIT WEEK! |
We are looking forward to a FUN spirit week for all students from October 4-8. Student Council decided upon the following themes and has planned some exciting events:
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Monday - PJ day, start the week off in comfort!
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Tuesday - Beach Day, good vibes only today!
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Wednesday - Wacky Wednesday, outrageous outfit? crazy hair? don't care!
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Thursday - Dress Up Day, dress to impress in your fanciest clothes! (And, send a BFA polo to school if your student is participating in picture retakes.)
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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 are organizing a field trip for the kids, so the cost will be $210 per child for the week. (More details to come regarding the field trip.) 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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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--there will be no tickets sold at the door. Please note, all students are required to wear a mask.
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Love Math? Sign Up for Math Masters Session! |
The STEM committee is organizing two virtual Math Masters Sessions at 5 p.m. next Thursday, Oct.7. One session will focus on students in grades 3-5, and the other session is for students in grades 6-8. Students can improve mathematical thinking and problem-solving skills by trying their hand at a series of age-appropriate math problems. Matthew Deutsch and Niketa Saboo are both engineers and mathematicians who will lead groups of students as they work through solutions and offer tips on improving mathematical know-how.
Sign up to participate! Links for the Zoom calls and to download the math problems are included on the SignUpGenius.
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Uniform Consignment Sale this Weekend |
Have your kids had a growth spurt, or do you need a few extra uniforms to tie you over until your order comes in? If so, visit the Uniform Consignment Sale from 10 a.m. - noon this Saturday, Oct. 2, in the outdoor courtyard between the gyms. (If the weather isn’t cooperating, we’ll be in the small gym.) We’ll have uniforms in all sizes and styles, so come check it out!
If you have items in the sale, please pick up any unsold items between 1-2 p.m. on Oct 2. Unsold consignment items that are not picked up will be placed with the PTO donations.
Looking for some volunteer hours?
If you would like to volunteer to help with the sale, please visit the SignUp Genius.
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Goodies with Grandparents Next Friday
Volunteer Slots Available
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The Community Events Committee (CEC) is excited to host students and their grandparents at BFA’s Goodies with Grandparents, from 7-8 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 8, at BFA! The festivities will begin in the Lightning/small gym with activities, coffee, juice, and light morning treats. 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 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 needs a lot of help! Please sign up today and you may sign up for more than one slot. We appreciate your help!
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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.
To make shopping easy, parents are welcome to 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 also 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 Tuesday, Oct. 5, to start shopping.
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Final Days to Sign Up for NJHS |
National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) is open to all students in seventh and eighth grade. New members need to complete and turn in a full application and the policy form. Returning members only need to complete and turn in the policy form. Forms can be downloaded from the NJHS webpage located on the BFA website, or they can be picked up from Mrs. Murphy’s classroom during advisory. All applications and policy forms need to be turned in no later than Oct. 1. There is a $35 for new members and a $25 fee for returning members. The fee will be posted in MySchoolBucks the week of October third. If you have any questions regarding NJHS, please contact Mrs. Murphy.
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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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Sponsorship Opportunities - On Sale Now |
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.
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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Our School Directory is ready! The school community directory and rosters may be found on the Directory on Tap (DOT) app. Install the latest app update on your mobile device from the App Store (for iPhone and iPad) or Google Play Store (for Android).
If you see the login screen, the first step is to RESET PASSWORD. Your account has already been set up, so there is no need to create an account. You will be prompted for a one-time code that will be e-mailed to you. Enter your email in lower case as the user ID. The password must be a minimum of 6 characters.
Click here for step-by-step detailed Instructions with screen shots.
Email directoryontap@gmail.com with any support questions. Your contact information comes from the data you entered into Infinite Campus (IC) during Express Check-In. If you have updates to your contact information, you may update it via the app (but please be sure to also update your information in IC and email the school registrar).
If you have questions, please contact Janelle Nichols, PTO vice-president.
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Get Involved - Attend CEC Meeting on Oct. 7 |
The Community Events Committee (CEC) invites you to their next monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, 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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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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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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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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Say Cheese (Again!) for Photo Retakes |
Photo retakes are scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 7. If you need a retake or missed the first photo day, this is your final opportunity to have a school picture taken. Parents can also stop by to get a picture taken for their volunteer badge (bring your Driver's License!). Photos will be taken from about 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Click here for the photo form with a hyperlink to order.
Also, MJ Thomas' code to order is not working so if you already took pictures during BFA Annual Family Check-In and want to order OR if you do not have your proof from the first picture day, please call 720-441-1936 and/or 1-800-219-0199.
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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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