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Ben Franklin Academy NewsletterVol. 3, Iss. 1
January 2013
In This Issue
:: Broncos Friday | Board Elections | Upcoming Holidays/School Closures | Cold and Flu Season
:: Jump Rope for Heart | BFF Social | Father/Daughter Dance
:: BENefit Bash Volunteers | January Volunteer of the Month | Box Tops Update
:: Middle School and Preschool Newsletters | Important Dates
Dear Parents, 

  

Happy New Year! I hope you all had a relaxing break. I sure enjoyed my time off, but I was ready to get back to school and do what we do best - educate our students. A couple of exciting changes took place during the break. First, the library was remodeled. All of the old bookshelves were replaced with new bookshelves and new furniture also was installed. There are some cute kid chairs for the younger students and caf�-style tables and chairs for the older students. The art room also now has new cabinets and counter space, and a new gaga pit was installed outside on the playground. Gaga ball is a variation of dodge ball - a much milder version of dodge ball. The kids have been enjoying this new addition to the playground.

   

We Need Your Help  

For Lunchroom and Car Pool 

 

We are not getting enough volunteers to safely conduct car pool and assist with lunch. Please make an effort to volunteer with car pool or the lunchroom - it will fulfill part of your volunteer requirements and give you a chance to provide a valuable service to the school. The bottom line is that we need your help!

Let's Go Broncos!
Broncos

I have designated this Friday as Broncos Friday. Students can wear Broncos clothes (no hats) or Broncos colors this Friday, Jan. 11. Students who choose to participate in Broncos Friday still need to wear uniform bottoms; students who choose not to participate must dress in their uniforms. 
Upcoming Holidays/School Closures
Closed Sign

Don't forget: Friday, Jan. 18, is a teacher work day (no students), and on Monday, Jan. 21, the school is closed in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  

Jump Rope For Heart  Jump Rope For Heart

Jump Rope For Heart envelopes will be coming home in your child's Thursday folder today.  This year, our Jump Rope For Heart event will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 6, and Thursday, Feb. 7.

Last year, Ben Franklin Academy raised $8,795 and was given the Outstanding Achievement Rookie School of the Year award. We would love to continue the tradition of being a top school.

Each class has been introduced to the Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser and what it means. Please talk to your child(ren) about what s/he learned. A portion of the money raised by Ben Franklin Academy does come back to our school.

For more information, schedules and volunteer opportunities, please visit Mrs. Bauer's website and click on the Jump Rope For Heart tab.  

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. on Tuesday, Jan. 15, at the Target Starbucks in Town Center. 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.

Father/Daughter Dance
Dance
The Father/Daughter Dance will be held at 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 2, in the Ben Franklin Academy gym. Tickets will be available through the online store. Ticket prices include drinks, snacks and photos from the event. This will be a great night for our dads to help our daughters know they are special!

We also are in need of volunteers to help with the Father/Daughter Dance. If you'd like to help, the next volunteer meeting will be at 6 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 23, at The Corner Bakery in Town Center. For questions, please contact Melissae Andersen.    
The PTO Needs You!
With Upcoming Silent Auction
BENefit Bash
We are looking for volunteers to help organize our upcoming BENefit Bash Silent Auction and Dinner to be held from 5:30-11 p.m.,  Saturday, April 27, at the Denver Marriott Tech Center. This fun and important event cannot happen without the contributions of our parent community. Please consider joining our team. For a list of available volunteer positions, please click here for details.

The next volunteer meeting will be held at
6 p.m.,  Monday, Jan. 14, at the Target Starbucks in Town Center. If you are unable to attend, but would like to help, please email [email protected] for more information.

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

Board Elections
Vote Button

Board Elections are coming up. Seat 3 (voted on by the Voting Parent Group) currently held by Matt Matherly, and Seat 4 (appointed by a majority of directors in office at the May 2013 meeting) currently held by Jason Sunahara will be open. If you are interested in running for one of the Board of Directors' seats, please take a minute to review the Board Documents and reach out to a Board member. More information will be forthcoming after the Tuesday, Feb. 12, Board meeting.

'Tis the Cold and Flu Season
Flu

 

If you are in the majority, your family most likely has been hit by a cold or the flu. We do as much as we can to prevent the spread of germs by disinfecting common surfaces as much as possible. In the event you have a sick child, please keep him/her home so they can recover and not spread germs at school. Ben Franklin Academy follows these guidelines for all students:

 

New Guidelines per Tri-County Health for Determining Student Attendance
A student should be sent home if they exhibit any of the following:
  • Skin eruptions/rashes
  • Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea
  • Severe abdominal pain
  • Fever of 100 degrees or higher
  • Eye drainage

Other conditions that are indicators of illness and are considered when determining illness are:

  • Decreased activity - droopy, tired appearance  
  • Irritable behavior
  • Sore throat/swollen glands
  • Runny nose/cough

When Can a Child Return to School?

  • After 24 hours of medication for the following conditions:
    • Strep throat
    • Conjunctivitis
    • Infected skin eruptions
    • Other conditions requiring antibiotics
  • The student has been free of the following conditions for at least 24 hours:
    • Fever
    • Eye drainage
  • The student has been free of the following conditions for at least 48 hours:
    • Diarrhea  
    • Vomiting
January Volunteer of the Month

Tiffanie Vaught
Volunteer of
the Month

Tiffanie Vaught

The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)  highlights one volunteer each month who has gone above and beyond in his/her contributions to the school. The volunteer receives recognition in this newsletter and has the privilege to park in one of our reserved parking spaces in the parking lot.  

 

For January, we have chosen Tiffanie Vaught. Tiffanie began volunteering before the school was even built. She currently serves as vice president of the PTO and is a Founding Family for Ben Franklin Academy. The PTO could not do what they do without her contributions. Tiffanie created the Volunteer Recognition Program and helps our parents understand the value of their volunteer work. She has donated countless hours and always makes herself available for last-minute needs at the school. 

 

When asked what she likes most about Ben Franklin Academy, Tiffanie responded, "There are many wonderful things I love about BFA. I love the fabulous teachers who advocate for our children, a supportive administration, the parents who are truly invested in their children's education by giving of their time and wonderful friendships made. I feel blessed to contribute to the school and be a part of a wonderful community."   

 

Congratulations Tiffanie! For more information about volunteering, please click here

Box Tops Update Box Tops

There was some tight competition between the first and second grade classes last month. In the end, the winning classroom was Mrs. Maas-Baldwin's first graders with 417 Box Tops. Thanks to all those who contributed - we collected more than $500 worth in December!  

 

Look for double Box Tops on many products, coming soon. Also, WalMart is offering four Box Tops on select items. The next Box Tops collection date is Wednesday, Jan. 16.

Important Dates
Calendar Clip Art
  • Broncos Friday: Tomorrow, Friday, Jan. 11
  • Volunteer Meeting for BENefit Bash: 6 p.m., Monday, Jan. 14, Target Starbucks Town Center
  • BFF Social: After drop off-10 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 15, Target Starbucks Town Center
  • Box Tops Collection: Wednesday, Jan. 16  
  • Volunteer Meeting for Father/Daughter Dance: 6 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 23, The Corner Bakery Town Center 
  • Benjamin Franklin's Birthday: Thursday, Jan. 17
  • Dress of Choice Day: Thursday, Jan. 17
  • Teacher Work Day (no students): Friday, Jan. 18
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (school closed): Monday, Jan. 21
  • Father/Daughter Dance: 6 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 2, Gym 
  • Jump Rope for Heart: Wednesday, Feb. 6, and Thursday, Feb. 7 

Upcoming Meetings 

  • PAC: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 10, Library
  • PTO: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 10, Middle School Commons Area 
  • Marketing Committee: 6 p.m., Monday, Jan. 14, Conference Room  
  • STEM: 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 6, Library 
  • SAC: Thursday, Feb. 7, Conference Room 
  • Finance Committee: 5 p.m., Monday, Feb. 11, Library
  • Board of Directors: 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 12, Library 
Middle School Athletics
  • Girls' Basketball:  
    • 4 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 10, at BFA vs. North Star Academy  
    • 4 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 15, at BFA vs. Sky View Academy
    • 4 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 17, at Aspen Academy  
  • Boys' Basketball:  
    • 4 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 10, at North Star Academy
    • 4 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 15, at Sky View Academy
    • 4 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 17, at BFA vs. Aspen 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.