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Ben Franklin Academy NewsletterVol. 2, Iss. 36
December 2012
In This Issue
:: Dress of Choice Day | Community Outreach | Holiday Parties and Parking | Lunch Orders Due
:: Lost and Found | Original Art Works | "Stay Curious" Contest Extended
:: EO Sale | Father/Daughter Dance Meeting | Holiday Gifts
:: Middle School and Preschool Newsletters | Important Dates
Dear Parents, 

  

I hope everyone has a safe and relaxing holiday break. Take the time to enjoy your family and friends and celebrate the holiday season.

   

School Safety  

 

I have received many emails from parents with comments/ideas about school safety. I want to assure you that safety is paramount at Ben Franklin Academy. We have procedures in place to ensure the safety of the students, staff and parents at Ben Franklin Academy. We practice various drills so everyone is prepared and knows what to do in case of an emergency. This Wednesday, we had a lockdown drill, and everyone did great. The staff and students responded exactly as they should, and the entire building was secure in less than a minute.

  

Senior level officials from the Douglas County School District (DCSD) are meeting to discuss ways to improve safety at all of the schools, including charter schools. You will see increased police patrols on school grounds and more communication from DCSD security to all schools. The district is considering a program similar to the Air Marshal program where armed police would be at various schools every day. This potential program is in the early discussion stage.

  

While I feel that Ben Franklin Academy is a safe and secure building, we are looking at ways to make it even safer. An immediate action we are taking is installing a "buzz in" system on the door to the office. Currently, we only have a "buzz in" system on the door from the office to the main hallway. We also are installing an instant lock switch on the two main doors. This will allow us to immediately lock the front door in case of an emergency or perceived emergency.

  

My promise to you is that we will never let down our guard. I will protect your kids as though they are my own, and I know the entire staff feels the same way.

Dress of Choice Day 

 

Tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 21, is a dress of choice day for all students.    

Holiday Parties and Parking

Holiday parties will be held from 1:45-2:45 p.m., tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 21. Please contact your teacher or Room Parent for details.

  

Parking

During the class parties, please make use of the designated parking spaces first, then use the overflow parking next to Zone B. Please do not park in the driveway on the north side of the building, as it is used for preschool parking. If you are parking in the overflow parking area, please make every effort to not block in your fellow parents. 
Lunch Orders Due Lunch bag

Don't forget! January lunch orders are due tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 21. 
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 tomorrow afternoon, Friday, Dec. 21. 
Original Art Works

All of the Original Art Works orders have now arrived. If you are missing any items or if there are mistakes, please let Mrs. Hinkle know as soon as possible.

 

A late order also will be sent in the week we return from break. The deadline to send in orders is Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013.

Stay Curious
Stay Curious 
 

 

The "Stay Curious" video contest has been extended. We have received some great videos and would love to receive more. If you would like to view some of these wonderful videos,

please click here. To upload your own video, go to bfa.360media.cc/.  

 

The winner of the "Stay Curious" video contest can win tickets to a Nuggets, Mammoth or Rapids game. Good luck!

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

Community Outreach
Developmental Pathways

Thank you for your outstanding support of our Developmental Pathways Outreach Program.

Developmental Pathways is a nonprofit agency that provides services to people with developmental disabilities in Arapahoe and Douglas Counties and the city of Aurora. The Ben Franklin Academy community was able to help support 22 families this holiday season! The science lab (on the main level of the school) was filled to the brim with donations, including four bicycles! Your generosity is truly a blessing to these families.

Outreach
A sampling of the BFA donations to Developmental Pathways' families.

In a letter to Ben Franklin Academy, Developmental Pathways' Juli Clay and Andrea Jessen, early intervention service coordinators, said, "Another year of holiday outreach has come to an end, leaving us with happy thoughts of how you and your school generously brought great joy to the families we serve.

 

"With your help, this year's Developmental Pathways 'Holiday Outreach' was a huge success! We were able to serve more than 118 families, and you played a huge part in this. We thank you for your help and continued support.

 

"Developmental Pathways is honored to work with the families we serve, and we are also honored to work with you - our committed community partner.

 

"Thank you again for your support - it is appreciated by so many deserving and wonderful people!" 

Educational Outfitters

10 Percent Off Sale    

 

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

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 next volunteer meeting will be at 5 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, at Starbucks inside the Target Town Center. Please contact Melissae Andersen if you would like to volunteer or have 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

Important Dates
Calendar Clip Art
  • SERA Schools Recital: 7 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 20, Gym
  • Dress of Choice Day: Friday, Dec. 21
  • Holiday Parties: Friday, Dec. 21
  • Winter Break: Dec. 24 - Jan. 4   
  • Formal Uniform Day: Wednesday, Jan. 9  

Upcoming Meetings 

  • Finance Committee: 6 p.m., Monday, Jan. 7, Library
  • Marketing Committee: 6 p.m., Monday, Jan. 7, Conference Room
  • Board of Directors: 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 8, Library      
  • PAC: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 10, Libarary
  • PTO: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 10, Middle School Commons Area 
Middle School Athletics
  • Girls' Basketball:  
    • 4 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 8, at Legacy Academy
    • 4 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 10, at BFA vs. North Star Academy 
  • Boys' Basketball:  
    • 4 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 8, at BFA vs. Legacy Academy
    • 4 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 10, at North Star 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.