Welcome! This is the Principal Newsletter that is sent to families every Thursday throughout the school year. It's important to you because it contains information about summer activities, uniforms, opportunities to get involved at BFA, and tasks to complete this summer in preparation for next school year.

In addition, we’ve created a webpage especially for you to help answer some of the questions you may have about BFA. You can go to the Getting Started at BFA: Helpful Information for New Families webpage now, or find the webpage later by going to the BFA website and looking under the Parents tab.

If you are enrolled for next school year and have not attended a BFA tour, we are happy to provide one additional opportunity before we break for the summer. Join us at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10, in the Thunder gym. Doors will open at 5:45 p.m., then we'll divide into groups and start the tours promptly at 6 p.m. This tour is the same one we’ve offered prospective parents all school year, and will likely last 45-60 minutes.

The tour can be lengthy for younger children, but if you decide to bring them, we kindly ask that you leave strollers at home. We anticipate a large group and that will help us move from floor-to-floor more quickly.

We'll be providing a lot of information during the next few months, but if you have any questions in the meantime, please contact us at info@bfacademy.org.

There is no school for students tomorrow, April 21, as it is a professional work day for teachers.

Morning BASE will not be available on Friday, April 28, due to the CEC Breakfast with Bros event.

April’s Virtues are Temperance and Industry. Ben Franklin defined Temperance as: Eat not to dullness, drink not to elevation. BFA’s interpretation of Temperance reminds us that Control is the key to improvement. Keep your words, actions, and temper in control. Coupled with that, Ben Franklin’s definition of Industry encourages us to Lose no time, be always employ’d in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions. BFA’s definition of Industry is, Keep on task. There is a time for work and a time for play – do both with a good attitude.”

While it may seem odd to provide our community with the actual wording of Ben Franklin’s virtues, it’s meant as a reminder for us to always seek primary sources as a foundation for our understanding and learning. With Industry, we want to encourage our students to have a good attitude while working toward something beneficial and not to waste effort. Ben Franklin’s definition of Temperance, is a little trickier because it refers specifically to more adult concepts. But the lesson is the same for us all--learn to live with temptations and distractions that are a part of life so they don’t affect our industriousness and ability to maintain control of, or temper, ourselves as we continue to learn, to grow and be industrious.

There are many opportunities to demonstrate Temperance and Industry, for us and our students! As we round-out the year in these last two activity-packed months, let us all enjoy the chaos while keeping focused on finishing strong. 

The PTO is an integral part of the BFA community, whose mission is to seek resources to strengthen, enhance, and encourage the educational and social experience at Ben Franklin Academy. Since it began serving BFA, the PTO has raised funds to provide all manner of items for the school, including playground equipment, library books, a climbing wall, the outdoor classroom, and the MakerSpace as well as tools and resources needed by the teachers, staff and the administration. In addition, the PTO organizes multiple social events to bring together the entire BFA community.

Each year, the parent community is asked to vote for open executive officer and committee chair positions. Your vote is important. Voting will be open from Sunday, April 23, through Saturday, April 29. Each family unit is permitted to cast one vote per position. Election results will be announced at the PTO meeting on Sunday, May 7.

Thank you to everyone who accepted a nomination. We have a great slate of candidates! To view the candidate bios, please visit the PTO webpage, and click on PTO Elections at the top.

Thinking about volunteering for the PTO? There’s still time! The following positions are currently open for next year:

Restaurant/Spirit Night Committee Chair

Baking Committee Manager

Franklin Fest Committee Manager

Spring Social Committee Manager

Sweetheart Ball Committee Manager

If you or anyone you know would be a good fit for these positions, please contact Erin Crowe, PTO Secretary.

Calling all BFA moms and their sons! The mother-son social event will be held from 3-8 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, at Path Movement! Tickets are on sale now, but don’t as wait sales close at 10 a.m. tomorrow, April 21. 

Tickets are $25 per couple and $5 for each additional participant (with a maximum of $35 per family). Dinner is included. 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. Boys may bring their own nerf guns; ammo will be provided. 

Families will receive an email the week of April 23 with their exact Nerf play time.

Please contact PTO Social Coordinator, Ewelina Chrzanowski, with any questions.

Make plans to support one of our wonderful PTO sponsors at the next BFA spirit day/night from 12-6 p.m. this Saturday, April 22, at Robeks in Parker (12235 Pine Bluffs Way, 80134).

They will give back 20 percent to the school for those who mention BFA in their order, so we hope you’ll stop by Robeks to enjoy their smoothies, juices, toasts, and more!

You're welcome to print out this flier with all the details.

Please save the date for the CEC end-of-year celebration! The CEC had another successful year and we are excited to celebrate the hard work of our volunteers! Our celebration will be held from 7 - 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 2, at Postino in Highlands Ranch. Please RSVP by Wednesday, April 26, to reserve your spot!

The School Accountability Committee (SAC) is accepting nominations for the 2023-24 school year. To nominate yourself or someone you know, please complete the 2023 BFA SAC Nomination Form starting today, April 13, through Wednesday, April 26, and make plans to attend the next SAC meeting on Thursday, May 4.

The next PTO Used Uniform Sale will be held on Saturday, May 6. Additional details to follow, but if you’d like to donate your previously used uniforms cleaned and in good condition (no holes, worn out knees, stains, etc.), you may begin bringing them to the school on Monday, April 24. There will be collection bins in the vestibule. 

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 - some just for dads and some with kids as well.

Want to find out more? Join them at the Ben's Brigade meeting at 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 27, at Max Taps (2680 E. County Line Road). Or, come to their end-of-year picnic from 12-2:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 7, at Redstone Park (3280 Redstone Park Circle). All dads are welcome!

Contact Curtis Anderson, Ben’s Brigade committee manager, to learn more.

The CEC is excited to host all students and their fathers (or other special adult) for a morning of fun from 6:45 - 7:45 a.m. Friday, April 28. The morning will begin in the Lightning (small) gym with burritos, donuts and refreshments. Festivities will continue in the Thunder (big) gym with games and photo opportunities. We ask that you arrive no later than 7:30 a.m. as this is a popular event. Fathers and students may begin leaving the gym at 7:45 a.m. so students can head to class. Students should be in their classrooms by the normal time (8:10 a.m.). Gluten free options will be available upon request.

Parking for the Event

Please park in the upper lot to allow our teachers and staff the opportunity to park in the lower lot. Should the upper lot fill completely, overflow parking will take place in the “B” carpool lane. "A" carpool lane will remain open for regular morning carpool drop off.

For those not attending, morning carpool will take longer so please be patient.

Volunteer Opportunties

Volunteers are needed to help make this a special event. Please see the sign-up for available volunteer positions. We thank you in advance for any assistance you are able to provide.

There will be NO BASE care the morning of April 28 due to this event.

Make plans to join us for the final spirit night of the year from 4-6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3, at Skate City in Littleton (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 BFA. Hope to see you there!

The 2023 BFA Science Fair is quickly approaching! Our third and fifth graders are beginning to work on their projects and would love for you to come see their interesting hypotheses, fascinating experiments, and sometimes surprising conclusions--all presented on a singular trifold poster board.

These wonderful demonstrations of scientific genius will be presented Monday, May 8, through Wednesday, May 10, in the Lightning Gym. Judging for the Science Fair will take place on Monday and Tuesday, May 8-9, with an opportunity for families to join us to view all of our student's amazing experiments from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9.

After carpool has finished on May 9, bring your family to the Science Fair! All students will have a chance to view the experiments on Wednesday during the day.

Mrs. Flint, our Science Specialist, and Mr. Nolting, our STEM Coordinator, are looking forward to seeing you all there!

It's time to get registered for BFA's Summer Camp and sign up for the weeks you want! The initial summer camp registration is open in MySchoolBucks (use your desktop or laptop--not the app). Please note, summer camp attendees need to register each summer before using the program. Registration costs $35, and includes a t-shirt and a day pack.

The individual weeks are starting to fill up quickly, register now to reserve your spot!

If you have a new incoming BFA student or Kindergartner to register, please reach out to summercamp@bfacademy.org to learn how you can register your child. 

The summer camp activities and field trip calendar is available; please email us to see it.

This summer, we’re able to offer parents the low weekly fee of $200 per child, per week because BASE received a grant last year from the State of Colorado. We’re very happy that we can still use the remaining funds this summer to keep costs down, but next summer, we will have to increase our fees.

Summer Camp will be open from 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. The first day of camp is Wednesday, May 31, and camp will run through Friday, Aug. 11. We will be closed July 3-7 for the holiday week. We will go on two field trips per week and have lots of other fun activities during the week.  

If you have an incoming kindergartener, Miss. McGinty will be hosting two sessions of Kindergarten Boot Camp this summer. This is a great way for your new kindie to see the school, get a glimpse of what some of the lessons will be like, and meet some of their classmates. This can make the transition in the fall much smoother. 

The sessions are four days each, Monday through Thursday, and run from 10 a.m. until noon each day. Session 1 is June 5 - 8, and Session 2 is June 12-15. Cost is $85 per child. Please sign up here.

Come join Mrs. Flint at Science Camp this summer! Incoming second through sixth graders are welcome to participate in one or more sessions. There are four different camp themes—National Parks, Chemistry, Ocean and Forensics—and each camp includes lots of terrific activities so kids will have fun and learn a little science along the way! Choose from several different weeks and two different times. Spots are limited so see the flier, and click on this form to sign up today!

Girls of all abilities are encouraged to attend the Summer Basketball Camp from 8 – 11 a.m., July 10-13 at BFA. Incoming fifth through eighth grade girls will work on furthering the development of dribbling, shooting, offensive, and defensive skills through drills, game situations, and fun activities! See the flier for more details and complete the registration form.

Boys of all abilities are encouraged to attend the Summer Basketball Camp from 9 – noon, July 31 - Aug. 3 at BFA. Incoming fifth through eighth grade girls will work on furthering the development of dribbling, shooting, offensive, and defensive skills through drills, game situations, and fun activities! See the flier for more details and complete the registration form.

Incoming students in grades 5-8 interested in learning how to make lotions, bath bombs, soaps, and other fun products, please join us for a 3-day Chemistry Camp 4 Future Entrepreneurs! The camp is from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 19 – 21** at Ben Franklin Academy.

Ms. Svensen and Mrs. Paulson will teach you how you can make your own great products and learn from an industry professional while investigating how daily hygiene products are made. Click on this link for more information and to sign up.

**Please note the new time/dates and shorter camp (due to schedule conflict, we reduce the camp dates and cost.) Sign up by May 15, and get the camp for ONLY $200. The price goes up May 16.

Any incoming middle schooler interested in playing soccer this summer, can sign up for the Soccer Kick-Arounds and join us every Tuesday morning for some friendly soccer games. Games will be from 8:30-10 a. m. on Tuesdays, May 30 - August 8. Click on the Kick Arounds link for more information and to register. 

Join us for a fun and exciting Biology Camp from 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. June 12-15 at BFA. We will learn interesting facts and then dissect various organisms, while we look at characteristics of life around our school, rivers, and oceans. The camp is hosted by Ms. Svensen and is open to all incoming 5th-8th graders. 

Join us for a fun and exciting Chemistry Camp from 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. July 10-13 at BFA. Each day will have a different theme around chemistry. If you love anything that fizz, bubbles or explodes, this is the camp for you! The camp is hosted by Ms. Svensen and is open to all incoming 4th-8th graders.

All incoming 2023 BFA 5th-8th grade BOYS and GIRLS are welcome to register for the co-ed volleyball camp held at BFA! Mrs. Murphy is hosting the day camp from July 24-28, with a morning session for beginners and an afternoon session for experienced players.

In addition, there are evening clinics on July 24, 25, and 26 for those who want to focus on specific skills. The evening clinics run from 5:30 – 7 p.m. To find out all the details, please see the flier; to register, complete this form.

2023 BFA Summer Soccer Camp run by Ms. Svensen is open to any incoming student in grades 5 – 8 for 2023-2024 school year. Soccer camp will focus on mastering soccer's essential skills, and using individual ability in 1v1, 1v2, 2v2, 2v3 small group settings essential for the building blocks of the full field game, both indoor and outdoor.

The camp is scheduled from 8:30-11 a.m. July 17-20 on the BFA turf and large gym. Whether you want to play for BFA or want to try something new, it's a great opportunity to play some soccer with other middle schoolers this summer. 

Have you ever wanted to learn how to make Amigurumi Dolls? Or just learn how to crochet? This three-day camp hosted by Mrs. Paulson and Mrs. Jones will get you started for only $100. This camp is for incoming 4th graders to outgoing 8th graders, and runs from noon to 3:30 p.m. June 12 - 14 at BFA.

During this camp, students will learn the basics of crocheting, while making cute worry worms, an Amigurumi Chick, and one additional animal that students will select at camp.

Space is limited to 25. Adults are welcome to sign up as well--this is a fun camp to do with your student(s)! The early bird discount is $75 and runs through May 15. Click here to register.

Ms. Whelan and Mrs. Harms are very excited for their Summer Cheer Camp! It’s for students headed into grades 3-8 who are interested in Cheer/Poms.The camp will be held from 9 a.m. – noon, June 26-30, at BFA. For more information and to register, see the flier. Please contact Ms. Whelan and Mrs. Harms with questions.

Ms. Konesky is offering a Photography Camp this summer to help students ages 9+ learn about shutter speed, ISO, aperture, composition and more! It’s going to be a blast with walking photography trips to Flyin’ B park, along the canal trail, and in the surrounding neighborhoods. The camp is from 9 – 11:30 a.m., June 5-9, at BFA. See the flier for all the details, and click here to register.

Help prevent some of the inevitable Summer Slide by joining Sarah Harrell, and Ellen Cain, for their 5th annual Summer Bootcamp at BFA!

They will be hosting BFA Bootcamp sessions in BFA's Outdoor Classroom for incoming Kindies as well as first, second and third graders. 

Incoming Kindies will meet for 1.5 hours per day, and all other students will meet 2 hours a day. The June and July Bootcamps will meet over 3 consecutive days.

Space is limited, so please see their sign up for additional information and to get registered.

Mrs. Tickle is offering a SUPERHERO STEAM CAMP this summer from 9-11:30 a.m., June 12-16, at BFA. The STEAM Camp is for students CURRENTLY in grades 2-4.

To find out more information, see the flier. Space is limited, so be sure to register today! 

ThunderRidge high school asked us to pass along this information about their boys basketball camps this summer.

See their flier for all the details.

If you are a King Soopers shopper, you can help earn money for the BFA PTO by signing up for King Soopers Community Rewards. Here's how!

To sign up for King Soopers Community Rewards:

1. 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.
2. Click on Community Rewards, Enroll Now and search for Ben Franklin Parent Teacher Organization or enter our code XN773. Click Save.
3. Next time you check out at King Sooper 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. From October through December of last year, BFA earned $2,566.48 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!