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Weekly Update
A Message from Board President Haley Maglieri
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BFA Board of Director Meeting Summary - March 2024
In partnership with Principal Simpson, the BFA Board of Directors is proud to work for the students, parents and patrons of BFA in promoting the mission and vision of the school. The following summarizes action taken during our March Board meeting.
BOD Updates:
Board Succession
Voting for the Board elections starts next week! Members of the parent voting group will receive access to an electronic ballot on Monday, April 1, and will have until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 12, to cast their vote. The BFA community will elect (or re-elect) one (1) director and the current BFA Board will appoint one (1) director to serve on the volunteer seven-director Board. Results of the election will be announced and the appointment will be made on Tuesday, April 16, at the regularly-scheduled board meeting.
Be on the lookout for your ballot next week! If you have any questions or would like additional information, please contact Adam Lucero at adaml@bfacademy.org or Keri Street at keri@bfacademy.org.
Student Survey
The SAC has prepared this year’s Student Survey which the Board reviewed. As always, the survey is modified by grade level, as appropriate. It will look very similar to last year’s survey. It is expected that students will receive the survey in April.
Spring Parent Survey Results
The results of the Spring Parent Survey will be reviewed at the April Board meeting. The data received from this survey is important to SAC, the Administration, our staff, and our Board. It was unfortunate, however, to hear that there were only 87 responses. By comparison, last year we had more than 300 responses. If you would like to share feedback regarding the Spring Survey, and/or why you chose not to participate, please email Haley Maglieri at haleym@bfacademy.org.
CMAS Testing
CMAS testing begins next week. As emphasized by Principal Simpson, your child’s participation in this process not only provides a benchmark for their academic growth, the results play a critical role in evaluating our school’s overall performance. Given our data-driven approach to education, we value your child(rens) participating in this important process. Last year, we had reduced participation across our grade levels. Let’s work hard to increase that number this year so that we are able to accurately and appropriately measure student achievement.
Charter Renewal
We are now in the process of reviewing the first draft of our charter contract. We are on target for finalizing our new five-year contract or before June 30, 2024.
Financial Oversight:
Treasurer Sarah Nisbet provided the financial focus during the meeting. February financials were reviewed and recommended for approval by our Finance Committee. We remain focused on our financial health, including appropriate spending and wise investments. A draft of the proposed 2024/25 budget was reviewed and will be finalized in the coming months.
As always, financial documents are made available on the Financial Transparency page of the BFA website.
Policy Governance:
The Board did not review any policies during the March meeting, but recommendations were made by Principal Simpson related to the Homework and Student Attendance Policies.
The current homework policy regarding student, parent and teacher guidelines is suggested to be expanded. For students, the focus will be on advocacy and communication with teachers pertaining to missed work. For parents, the suggestions involve encouraging students to self-advocate. For staff, suggestions pertained to expanding what feedback to students looks like, including rubrics, graded work google classroom comments.
Suggestions pertained to providing potential alternate assignments where a student misses classwork that cannot be duplicated upon the student’s return. Additionally, language was recommended regarding long term assignments and tests, including that due dates remain the same if assigned more than seven (7) days prior to the absence. It was also suggested that test dates remain the same if the test was announced more than seven (7) days prior to the absence.
Based on this information, the Homework and Student Attendance policies will be reviewed by the Board in April.
Board BOLTS:
The Board and Principal Simpson recognize that there are BFA students who go above and beyond and achieve excellence in academics, character, effort and/or service. We are proud of these students and the characteristics they exemplify. Our Board BOLTS for March are:
- Talia Seibel (2nd)
- Nora Klingel (3rd)
- Ayush Saboo (3rd)
- Ryla Royal (3rd)
- Keenan Majors (5th)
- Campbell Pettersen (5th)
- Tony Valencia (5th)
- Sophie Farho (5th)
- Matthew Rodriguez (7th)
If you would like to nominate a student to be recognized as one of our Board BOLTS in April, please use this nomination form.
March Board Meeting:
The next BFA Board of Director meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 16, in the Middle School Commons.
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Board of Directors Nominees | |
Learn More about our 2024 Board Nominees | |
The election for the BFA Board of Directors will open on Monday, April 1. As announced earlier this month, following are the 2024 Ben Franklin Academy (BFA) Board of Director nominees:
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Mette Castor, current BFA Board Director will be seeking re-election.
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Haley Maglieri, current BFA Board Director will be seeking re-election.
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Justin Mayhall, current BFA parent, will be seeking election.
Some parents have asked why current Board members who hold officer positions are running for the Board. According to the Board Election Policy, a Board member is allowed to serve one three-year term and then must run for their seat again (regardless of what position they hold) if they choose to seek a second and final three-year term. Also of note, the School Voting Group votes for a nominee to fill the seat, rather than a specific position/role.
If you have ANY questions, please contact Adam Lucero at adaml@bfacademy.org or Keri Street at keri@bfacademy.org.
To learn more about the candidates prior to the election, please see the Board Elections webpage or click on the links below. If you missed the Board Forum this week, you can also click on this Candidate Q&A Zoom link to listen to the session.
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Mette Castor
Click here to read Mette's responses to the candidate questionnaire.
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Haley Maglieri
Click here to read Haley's responses to the candidate questionnaire.
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Justin Mayhall
Click here to read Justin's responses to the candidate questionnaire.
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Calendar Reminders and Updates | |
Calendar Reminders:
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Tomorrow, March 29, is a Dress of Choice Day and middle school Dodgeball for Dollars.
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Wednesday, April 3, is a Formal Uniform Day.
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Friday, April 5, is a Rockies Spirit Day.
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Seventh Grade Families - Learn about the Eighth Grade Trip to Washington, D.C. | |
Seventh grade families—it’s time to learn more about the once-in-a-lifetime eighth grade trip to Washington, D.C. Click here for the flier and attend the meeting at 6 p.m. TONIGHT, March 28, via Zoom ONLY to learn more about this exciting opportunity.
Students are welcome to join the meeting. And, if you want to learn more but cannot make the meeting, please contact Mrs. Simpson via email at dsimpson@bfacademy.org for additional information.
Zoom Meeting Details:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81974079005?pwd=ZytyM3ZLUTVLeDRVaVpHKzlvWkozdz09
Meeting ID: 819 7407 9005
Passcode: 484430
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Colorado Children's Book Award Winners | |
This winter Ms. Williams and several volunteers read all of the books nominated for the Colorado Children's Book Award to elementary students, who then selected their favorites. Their votes were sent in, and added to the opinions of other students across the state. After all the votes were tallied, the Colorado Children’s Book Award winners were:
First Place: "Creepy Crayon"
Second Place: "Knight Owl"
Our students' preferences aligned with their peers, as BFA students selected "Creepy Crayon" as their top choice and "Night Owl" as their third favorite!
Thanks to Ms. Williams and the volunteers who spent time reading these books to students--this is a fun way to engage our kids and encourage them to enjoy reading.
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"Creepy Crayon" by Aaron Reynolds and pictures by Peter Brown | |  |
"Knight Owl" by Christopher Denise | | | |
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Summer Camp Weekly Registrations Open Friday | |
Weekly registrations for the 2024 Summer Camp program will open tomorrow, March 29, in MySchoolBucks.
Prior to registering for the weeks needed, you must first pay the initial registration fee of $35 per child. As a reminder, this registration fee includes one summer camp t-shirt and one day pack.
After you complete the initial registration for each student, you will be able to sign up for the weeks you need. The rate this year is $250 per week, per child. We do not offer drop-in care or partial week registrations.
The activity and field trip calendars have been sent out to parents who have paid the initial registration fee. If you would like a copy of the calendars or have any questions, please email Leigh Savoy at summercamp@bfacademy.org.
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The members of the PTO are looking forward to a fun evening of pampering, mixing, mingling, and dinner at Moms’ Night Out from 5 – 7 p.m. TONIGHT, March 28, at Purity Skin Studio.
There will be a raffle for 16 skin treatments, with the opportunity to sign up for additional treatments. The general sign-up for the event is currently full (you are welcome to check back for cancellations), but there are still a few spots available for paid treatments. For those signed up, please remove your name from the sign up if you decide you can't make it, so another mom can take your spot.
Please email the PTO Welcoming Committee Manager, Adalene Keller, at adalene.keller@gmail.com with any questions.
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Say Thanks - Staff Appreciation with RaiseRight | |
The BFA PTO will use RaiseRight for end of year staff gifting again this year. Collections will take place April 8-14 with gift cards being distributed during Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week (May 6-10).
Each family makes one payment through MySchoolBucks for all of their teacher and staff gifts. At the end of collections, each staff member will receive an email with the total collected on their behalf and is able to select gift cards they would like to receive.
Participation in the RaiseRight program is completely voluntary. You are welcome to participate with any amount, or alternatively gift the teachers and staff on your own.
Questions? Visit the PTO webpage or email Rebecca Mullenix, RaiseRight committee manager, at bfascrip@bfacademy.org.
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LED Mini-Golf Mother-Son Spring Social
Tickets On Sale NOW!
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Calling all BFA moms and their sons! The mother-son social event will be held from 3-8 p.m. on Saturday, April 20, at Ben Franklin Academy.
This year, we will have a 9-hole LED mini golf course set up at the school. Tickets are on sale NOW through Sunday, April 14, on MySchoolBucks. Tickets are $25 per couple and $5 for each additional participant (with a maximum of $35 per family), and includes dinner. Please note that ticket sales are time specific based on the age of your child. Times may be adjusted based on total participants in order to accommodate everyone. New this year, PRESCHOOLERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND!
There is limited availability, so be sure to get your tickets early!
Volunteers Needed
The PTO needs your help to make this event a success. If you are interested in volunteering at the event you can sign up to help.
Please contact PTO Social Coordinator, Ewelina Chrzanowski, at ptosocial@bfacademy.org with any questions.
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Sign up for the Rescheduled Engineering Night | |
This is a reminder that the BFA STEM Committee is hosting a family fun engineering night from 5 - 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3, at BFA. We are so excited to host our eggtastic egg drop! Snacks and refreshments will be provided for participants.
If you have not registered with the NEW egg drop sign up link reflecting the new event date of April 3, please do so now (and include the number of family members who will be in attendance). If you hadn’t previously signed up, now is your chance--don’t miss out on this brain-tingling, family fun night!
We appreciate everyone’s flexibility and are so excited to see everyone’s ingenious egg drop designs. If you have any questions please reach out to the STEM Coordinator, Kyle Nolting at knolting@bfacademy.org.
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Get Ready to Bid - Online Auction Opens April 1 | |
The PTO’s online fundraising auction will be next week, April 3-7! Auction items include:
- VIP seating for 2024-25 grade level musicals
- VIP seating for the 2025 middle school musical
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Ride into school with Deputy Jensen
- Monthly parking spots for next school year
- Annual parking spots for next school year
- 2024 Eighth grade graduation VIP seating
Look for more details via email on April 1.
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All Welcome at April CEC Meeting! | The April CEC meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, at Living the Dream Brewery’s NEW LOCATION (9150 Commerce Center Circle, 80129). We will be discussing the last few community events for the school year. Interested in helping or simply learning more about the CEC? We would love to have you join us! Don't forget, you earn volunteer hours for attending! Please RSVP by Sunday, March 31, if you plan on attending so we can plan appropriately. Thank you! | | | |
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Skate City Spirit Night Next Tuesday | |
Make plans to join us for the Skate City Spirit Night from 4-6 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, at the Littleton location (5801 S. Lowell Way, 80123).
This is a private event for our school community. The more skaters we have in attendance, the more money we will earn for the BFA PTO. View the Beach Skate Party flier for additional information. Hope to see you there!
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PTO Volunteer Appreciation Event | |
Did you know that the PTO hosts a volunteer appreciation event at Pirate’s Cove to show our thanks to all families who complete their family’s volunteer recommendation (30 hours per family or 15 hours per single-parent household)?
This year, the event will be held from 6- 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 8. This is always a fun evening, so be sure to log those volunteer hours as you complete them!
Thank you to all the families who have volunteered this year. We sincerely appreciate all that you do for BFA!
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Tdap Vaccine Required for Sixth Grade | |
Please see the letters below regarding the Colorado requirement for the Tdap vaccine for the sixth grade. If you have any questions or would like to submit documentation, please email our Health Room at health@bfacademy.org.
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Support BFA While You Shop! | |
If you are a King Soopers shopper, you can help earn money for BFA by signing up for King Soopers Community Rewards. For details on how to sign up for King Soopers Community Rewards visit their webpage or click here for instructions.
It's CRAZY how quickly this program adds up and how much our school can earn. From July - Oct. of 2023, BFA earned $5,341 back from this program!
Please contact Andreya Flanigan, PTO fundraising coordinator, with any questions. Thank you, again, for your support of BFA and the PTO!
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Lost and Found Donated Tomorrow | Please ask your student(s) to check the Lost and Found as items will be donated at 1 p.m. tomorrow, March 29. | | |
Items currently in Lost and Found. | | |
Items currently in Lost and Found. | | |
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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