Weekly Update
A Message from Principal Simpson
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Dear Parents,
It was wonderful to see so many grandparents last Friday! This is a very special morning for students and their grandparents—as evidenced by the smiles all around at this fun event. Thank you to the CEC for organizing this special time together—we know it’s a huge undertaking to welcome, feed and provide activities for 600 students and grandparents. (See below for a few pictures from the event.)
Last week, I mentioned that a group of teachers worked on our Virtues Framework during the summer. This team took everything that we do at each grade level to emphasize our 13 Virtues and created one over-arching document. The Virtues Framework can be found here (see the tabs at the bottom for grade specific information).
If you had a student in grades 3-8 last school year, you should have received your student’s CMAS scores in the mail. Overall, our school did very well. I’m happy to report that we exceeded expectations in achievement and met expectations in growth for both elementary and middle school. We outscored the state in every measure and exceeded or met the district's scores. However, one factor impacted our overall data, and I'm afraid we didn't get all the information we need for a thorough and complete evaluation in every class. Our overall participation rate was only 73 percent. This participation rate is extremely low as we strive for (and have previously met) a 95 percent participation rate. We will share in the coming months why participating in these tests is so essential for our school. We would like to see much higher participation next spring!
Thank you to all of the parents who have returned their accountability forms. We are still missing forms, especially in middle school where we only had about 50 percent of responses this past Monday. For your convenience, the middle school form can be found here. Please return these by next Tuesday, Sept. 19. We will start emailing on Wednesday for missing forms.
Please don't hesitate to contact me with questions or concerns. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Simpson
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Goodies with Grandparents | |
BFA loves its volunteers, and we want to show our appreciation for all of your work. The PTO recognizes two volunteers each month. A volunteer will be chosen as the Volunteer of the Month, and will get exclusive use of the dedicated, reserved Volunteer of the Month spot in the parking lot for their respective month.
In addition, each month a volunteer will be randomly chosen through a 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.
Thanks to all our volunteers for your continued support of BFA!
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Congratulations Street Family! |
For the month of September, Keri and Jason Street have been selected as the Ben Franklin Academy Volunteers of the Month. They are being recognized for their volunteer commitment to BFA, especially the time and labor they generously gave to improve the stairway railings throughout the building this summer. This was a major project and a significant time and financial contribution to the school. They brought in a team to take off the stair rails throughout the building, prepped and powder coated them, and welded the railings back into place. In addition, Keri dedicates a considerable amount of time to the school through her service on the BFA Board of Directors and the Curriculum Committee. The Street family has set an excellent example of dedication to the BFA community and outstanding volunteerism. Thank you Keri and Jason!
The Streets have been part of the BFA family since 2014 when their now seventh grader, Brayden, was just a teeny tiny 3-year-old in the preschool program.
When asked what they love about BFA, they said:
We chose Ben Franklin Academy because of its rigorous and sequenced curriculum, smaller class sizes, and the amount of parent involvement that we knew set it apart from our neighborhood schools. Moreover, our values as a family aligned with the vision and mission of the school and we still feel the same way ten years later.
Ben Franklin Academy and its community truly hold a special place in our hearts. We are forever grateful to the teachers, aids, support staff, administration, and front office who not only work tirelessly to uphold the vision and mission of this school, but also for playing a crucial role in molding our kids into bright, successful, and productive young adults.
Congratulations, Keri and Jason. And, thank you for all you do for BFA!
If you know someone who should be considered for volunteer of the month for outstanding volunteerism, please email Janelle Nichols, PTO president.
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Thank You Laurel Solomon! |
Laurel Solomon is the winner of the PTO's September drawing for her volunteer time in August and has won a Starbucks gift card.
Laurel - Congratulations and thank you again for helping out around school!
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Dress of Choice Day Next Thursday | Thursday, Sept. 21, is a Dress of Choice (DOC) Day for all students (unless they have received two uniform violations). Clothes worn by all students on DOC days shall be modest, in good condition, and neat in appearance. See the uniform policy for additional information. | | |
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There is NO SCHOOL for students NEXT Friday, Sept. 22, as it is a Professional Development Day for teachers. | | |
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Attention Parents: Photographer Needed |
We’re looking for an experienced photographer to do BFA’s middle school sports photos this school year. It will require the volunteer to be on site from approximately 3:15 – 4:15 p.m. around three to four times per year to take team sports pictures, then share the electronic version of the pictures with BFA so we can display them and share them with parents. (These are not action shots - just group photos.)
We hope to have photographs during each sports season (fall, winter and spring). If you have an editing tool that allows you to write the sport/year on the picture, that would be extremely helpful as well. Please contact Mr. Macias if you’re interested in helping with our sports pictures for this school year.
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Important: Online Directory Available Soon
Take Action NOW to Update Data or Opt Out
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Now that school is underway, it is time to update and add new families to the BFA directory!
Again this year, the BFA Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) will be using DirectorySpot for the online school directory. It's an incredibly handy resource that contains each family's class roster(s) and contact information, as well as the entire BFA directory.
DirectorySpot is an app-based online directory. The free app is available for download through the App Store and Google Play, simply search for DirectorySpot. Once the directory is ready, you will receive an email from DirectorySpot 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 end-of-day on Thursday, Sept. 28, to do the following:
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If your child goes by a nickname or shortened name, contact the PTO at ptovp@bfacademy.org.
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If you have recently moved or changed an email address or cell number, update your information in the Infinite Campus database AND email Colleen Bobbin, the school's director of admissions and records, at registrar@bfacademy.org.
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If you DO NOT want any or all of your personal information listed in the directory, please contact the PTO at ptovp@bfacademy.org. You may OPT OUT completely, or partially. If you take no action, your information WILL BE INCLUDED in the directory.
If you have questions, please contact Alissa Motazedi, PTO vice-president.
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Get Your Yearbook - Order by TOMORROW for Free Icons with Personalization |
The 2023-24 yearbooks are on sale now. Be sure to order yours early for the best pricing! Right now, yearbooks cost $40 per book. And, if you order by TOMORROW, Sept. 15, you will get free icons (graphics) when you personalize the cover!
You may also order a yearbook dedication (parent tribute ad) for your student. Dedications are $35 for 1/8 of page if you order by November 13. After that, the price for dedications will go up to $38 (if ordered by 12/31) and then to $40 (from 1/1 until the last day to order, 1/31). These ads are a fun way to help commemorate a great school year!
This year, we will be using a new company, Jostens, for our yearbooks. You can order and pay for your 2023-24 yearbook here, and your dedication here! See the flier for details.
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BFA Moms - SAVE THE DATE! |
Calling all moms! The Community Events Committee (CEC) is excited to host our annual community event for students and their moms (or special adult). As a result of last year's survey feedback, the CEC is trying something new - an after school timeframe.
Save the date and mark your calendars for a Magical Night with Moms from 7 - 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 6, at BFA. Additional details to follow.
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Calling all Dads - You're Invited! |
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.
Their next meeting is at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21, at Max Taps Highlands Ranch (2680 E. County Line Road), and we would love to have more dads get involved!
Ben’s Brigade handles work projects around the school, provides volunteers for school functions, and hosts a number of social events throughout the year--some just for dads and some with kids as well.
Contact Curtis Anderson and Justin Mayhall, Ben’s Brigade co-committee managers to learn more.
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Prospective Parents Can Sign Up to Visit BFA |
Do you know anyone interested in learning more about BFA? We’ve set up our K-8 grade tour schedule for the school year, and are looking forward to meeting prospective parents. Tours are scheduled from September through April, 2024. If you know someone who is interested in BFA but cannot make a tour, please share this video link to listen to what current and former students, teachers, parents, our Principal, and our former Board president have to say about BFA!
Questions about K-8 enrollment can be directed to Colleen Bobbin, BFA's director of admissions and records. If you know parents interested in BFA's preschool, they can go to our webpage or reach out to Lori Hafner, BFA's preschool director.
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PTO Spirit Wear Sales Extended through Sunday |
The PTO’s new spirit wear store is open now, but will be closing this Sunday, Sept. 17. No orders will be accepted once the store closes, so don’t wait to order your spirit wear! Not only do we have classroom-approved sweatshirts, fleeces, and spirit day shirts, there are additional tops, shorts, hats, and more! Once the store is closed, all orders will be ready in approximately three weeks.
Show off your school spirit and support the PTO by placing an order today.
A few things to note when ordering through the new store:
- Orders are custom made. Denver Athletic does not offer any refunds, exchanges, or substitutions after store is closed.
- Inventory on the store is live. If any size or color is out of stock please check back for new availability.
- Please make sure you are ordering from the right size category for orders—youth, adult, etc.
- The PTO recommends referring to the sizing charts in the item description.
- Due to global supply issues, Denver Athletic reserves the right to change your item for something of equal or greater value. If no acceptable substitutions are available, you will be refunded.
- Logos on item may not be an exact representation of size, placement, or color.
If you have any questions, please email Gen Townsend, PTO spirit wear committee manager.
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Scan to be directed to the Spirt Wear Store! | | |
Click here to see the Spirit Wear flier. | | |
Get Ready for Our Favorite Fall Festival! |
Franklin Fest is back! This time-honored event is a great way to connect with the entire Ben Franklin community! We hope you'll join us for activities, food and games from 3 - 7 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 30, at BFA. Bring the whole family for an afternoon of fun! There will be bounce houses and inflatables for all ages, a dunk tank, face painting, balloon artists, and the ever-popular CAKE WALK! The afternoon also will feature a signature appetizer from Urban Village Grill as well as salads and pizza (gluten-free and regular) from Parry's Pizzeria!
Tickets are on sale NOW through Friday, Sept. 22, via MySchoolBucks. Tickets are $15 per child, with a maximum of $40 for a family. Adults as well as siblings who do not attend BFA are FREE. IMPORTANT NOTE: When purchasing tickets, please enter the total number of attendees in your group so that we can ensure there is enough food for everyone.
Families who have completed and logged their recommended volunteer hours (30 hours per family or 15 hours per single parent household) for the current school year in Help Counter by midnight Monday, Sept. 22, will be given free admission to the event!
We can't make this event happen without our volunteers! Volunteers spend a little time helping, then can spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying the event with their family. We hope you’ll consider volunteering to help staff the event or donating a cake for the cake walk! Volunteering for Franklin Fest is a fantastic way to support these types of amazing community events and earn hours towards your recommended family totals.
Please contact Ewelina Chrzanowski, PTO social coordinator if you have any questions.
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Stress Management Parent Seminar Organized by the CEC | Mr. Redford, our licensed school psychologist, will host a parent seminar at 7 p.m. on Wednesday Sept. 20, in the Middle School Commons. The topic of discussion is Stress Management for our children. In the seminar, Mr. Redford will discuss how to identify stressors, what type of stressors may potentially be impacting our children (social media, post pandemic issues, suicide), coping mechanisms, as well as general mental health struggles. This is a great opportunity to become more informed, seek answers to your questions as well as connect with other parents in the BFA community. We hope to see you there! | | |
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Modern Market Spirit Day Next Tuesday |
Please join us at Modern Market (537 W Highlands Ranch Parkway, Unit 108) between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. next Tuesday, Sept. 19, for the next spirit night. Modern Market will donate 30 percent of orders placed back to the PTO!
Orders can be placed for dine in, take out, or pick up. IMPORTANT: You must tell the cashier that you are there for the Ben Franklin spirit night in order for the PTO to get credit for your order. If you order online, enter "giveback008" in the promo code box.
Please spread the word and invite friends and family!
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All Encouraged to Attend Forum | There is an important meeting hosted by the Alliance of Douglas County Charter Schools from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 5, at Parker Performing Arts Charter School. The forum will provide an opportunity to hear from director candidates for the Douglas County School Board of Education. Click here to see a copy of the Douglas County School Board Candidate Forum flier. | | |
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Opportunity for Middle and High School Female Students |
Nobel Peace Prize winner for nonviolent struggle to ensure women's safety and full participation in peace-building efforts, Leymah Gbowee, will be the keynote speaker for an upcoming fundraiser on Friday, Sept. 22, at the DCSD Legacy Campus. The event is sponsored by Global Village Academy, a DCSD-Authorized Charter School.
Gbowee, renowned as a Liberian peace activist, social worker, and women's rights advocate, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011. She will be honored during GVA's International Day Liberia celebration. At 10 a.m., Gbowee will engage with middle and high school female students in a transformational presentation at the DCSD Legacy Campus in Lone Tree.
Student tickets are available for $10 and can be purchased online here. This opportunity is open to all DCSD middle and high school female students.
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Medication Policy Reminders |
We have noticed some students have medications in their backpacks. Please contact the Health Room before sending medications into school with your student(s).
To review, below is a summary of our Medication Policy:
For elementary students (K-5), all medication, including over the counter, must be in the Health Room with the completed Medication Provider Form on file. No medication can be in the classroom or carried by the student.
Middle school students (6-8) may be able to Self Carry medication on a limited basis. (Students may carry one dose of either Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen without a form.) However, most medications, including over the counter, are administered in the Health Room with the correct medical forms on file. Students should never share medication with their peers.
All prescription medications must be provided in the original pharmacy labeled container. All over-the-counter medications must be provided in the original packaging and labeled with the student's name.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mrs. Paulson in the Health Room or Mrs. Brown, our school nurse.
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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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