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Ben Franklin Academy NewsletterVol. 2, Iss. 35
December 2012
In This Issue
:: Teacher Evaluation Survey | Car Pool and Lunch Volunteers Needed | Spirit Day | Lost and Found
:: Volunteer Appreciation Reception | Educational Outfitters | BFF Social | Community Outreach
:: PTO: Holiday Shopping, Father/Daughter Dance Volunteers, Box Tops Update, Vote Once a Day for BFA
:: Middle School and Preschool Newsletters | Important Dates
Red School Calendar
Dear Parents, 

 

2013-14 School Calendar 
Board of Directors Approve School Calendar on Tuesday

The votes from the school calendar survey are in, and they are evenly split 50/50. Instead of upsetting half of the school's population simply by choosing one start date over the other, the Board of Directors decided to make a compromise between the two dates. Thus, the 2013-14 school year will begin on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2013, and commence on Friday, May 23, 2014. This calendar also includes a full week off each for Fall Break and Thanksgiving Break. In addition, Ben Franklin Academy will offer a BASE program from Monday, Aug. 12, 2013, until the first day of school for parents and students who need daycare options. The program would begin at 6:45 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. It will be staffed by Ben Franklin Academy employees. Click on the following link to view the new calendar:  2013-14 Approved School Calendar  
Teacher Evaluation Survey

 

Please note: The Teacher Evaluation Survey is only available for one more day - until 10 p.m., tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 14.

 

If you have already completed the survey, thank you for your time and input.  If you have not yet completed the survey, you can do so by clicking   here.  

 

Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey. Your input is extremely valuable to the future success of Ben Franklin Academy.

Spirit Day

Megaphone
Spirit Day is this Friday, Dec. 14. Don't forget your student's Lightning Bolt T-shirt! 

(Students are allowed to wear a spirit wear T-shirt along with their uniform bottoms of choice.
Spirit wear includes the white BFA spirit T-shirts, red Lightning Bolt logo T-shirts or last year's Field Day T-shirts. Students who choose not to wear spirit wear must still dress in their uniforms.) 
Lost and Found
Lost and Found
Please check the lost and found often and early, as all items will be donated to a local charity the afternoon of Friday, Dec. 21. 
Educational Outfitters

10 Percent Off Sale    

 

Educational Outfitters is running a 10 percent off sale for the month of December. Click here for details.

BFF Social

Want to get to know other Ben Franklin Academy parents? The Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) will be hosting a Ben Franklin Friends (BFF) Social right after drop-off until 10 a.m., Monday, Dec. 17, at the Corner Bakery Caf� at Lucent and Highlands Ranch Parkway. The PAC's BFF Social is intended for parents to meet one another, ask policy questions and voice feedback about their experiences at Ben Franklin Academy. Hope you can join us, and children are welcome! Please email the PAC with any questions. 
Holiday Gifts

Check off the special people on your holiday gift list while helping Ben Franklin Academy at the same time! There are several programs in which you can participate, including the BFA Cookbook - available through the BFA Store for $15. To order a copy, click here. For details on the additional Ben Franklin Academy shopping programs, click here.

Newsletters
Middle School and Preschool

If you are a parent of a Ben Franklin Academy student in middle school or preschool, you can get more in-depth information by clicking on the links or icons below.
BFA web banner
Click here for the Middle School Newsletter
Preschool Newsletter Image
Click here for the Preschool Newsletter

Help Wanted!
Volunteers Needed for Car Pool and Lunch

We currently have two areas where we are having a difficult time finding volunteers: Car pool and lunch. As a reminder, there is a 10-hour volunteer requirement for Ben Franklin Academy parents to fulfill between either car pool or lunch. The reason for this is simple - we need your help in order to have a safe car pool for students and to provide a safe and orderly lunch.  

 

When we do not have enough volunteers for car pool, we close down Zone B. Unfortunately, we had to do this last week. The result was cars backing up on to Plaza Drive. This was not ideal but unavoidable. Car pool that day was only extended by about 10 minutes, but the backup was frustrating. 

Lunch time becomes a bit more problematic. We certainly cannot shut down lunch, but we do need volunteers to help us. If your schedule permits, please take a moment to sign up and help during lunch. I am sure your kids would love to see you. 

Volunteers are important to Ben Franklin Academy (see article below), and we need your help. For all of the parents who have volunteered for car pool and lunch, I cannot thank you enough. For those who have not had the opportunity to volunteer, please make this a priority. To sign up for car pool and/or lunch, go to helpcounterweb.com.

Volunteer Appreciation Reception

Last Thursday, the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) held a Volunteer Appreciation Reception as a way of saying thanks to the parent community. Ben Franklin Academy truly would not be what it is without the hard work and dedication of our volunteers.  

 

To date, Ben Franklin Academy has logged more than 9,840 volunteer hours. Our collective volunteer hours makes Ben Franklin Academy eligible for various school grants and funding opportunities, so we appreciate your continued support. Thank you!

Community Outreach

Developmental Pathways

Please send in your donations for Developmental Pathways by Monday, Dec. 17. Contact your child's teacher or Room Parent for details on what to donate.

Father/Daughter Dance
Volunteers Needed

The PTO is looking for volunteers for the Father/ Daughter Dance, which will be held on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013. The first meeting will be at 5 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 19, at Starbucks inside the Target Town Center. Please contact Melissae Anderson if you would like to volunteer or have any questions.
Box Tops Update
America's Sweetest School Contest

Box Tops Logo
Wouldn't $25,000 be grand for Ben Franklin Academy?! Help us win America's Sweetest School Contest from Box Tops! The school that has the greatest percentage increase over last year will win.  Last year was our first year collecting, so we could stand a great chance of winning. Keep clipping, and don't forget: Box Tops are due this month on Wednesday, Dec. 19.   
Once a Day for BFA!
Vote Button

Ben Franklin Academy has been entered into a contest with Clorox to win $50,000. We are currently ranked No. 88. You can vote once a day via email here or by texting 118pbf to 95248 until Friday, Dec. 21. Click here for more details.

Important Dates
Calendar Clip Art
  • Spirit Day: Friday, Dec. 14
  • BFF Social: 8:30-10:30 a.m., Monday, Dec. 17, Corner Bakery Caf�  
  • Box Tops Collection: Wednesday, Dec. 19
  • Dress of Choice Day: Friday, Dec. 21
  • Winter Break: Dec. 24 - Jan. 4   

Upcoming Meetings 

  • PAC: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 13, Library    
Middle School Athletics
  • Girls' Basketball:  
    • 4 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 13, at BFA vs. SkyView Academy
    • 4 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 18, at BFA vs. Aspen Academy
  • Boys' Basketball:  
    • 4 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 18, at Aspen Academy vs. Aspen Academy
    • 4 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 20, at BFA vs. Platte River Academy 

Ben Franklin Academy Calendars

Sincerely,
 

Bob Barber
Principal
Ben Franklin Academy
Contact Us!
Ben Franklin Academy

2270 Plaza Drive, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

Main Office: (720) 383-4519 or [email protected]

Attendance: (720) 432-9239 or [email protected]

Web: http://www.bfacademy.org/

Fax:  (303) 974-1738  

Ben Franklin Academy's 13 Virtues: Temperance, Silence, Order, Resolution, Frugality, Industry, Sincerity, Justice, Moderation, Cleanliness, Tranquility, Purity and Humility.