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Ben Franklin Academy Newsletter | Vol. 3, Iss. 6 February 2013 | |
Dear Parents,
Say the word "bullying," and you will likely elicit a wide range of reactions. These reactions range from bullying is not a big deal to it is a pervasive problem. While some people may want to say that bullying does not exist, others recognize that bullying, unfortunately, does exist. Bullying is taken seriously at Ben Franklin Academy, and the goal of this article is to introduce you to Ben Franklin Academy's stance on bullying.
Ben Franklin Academy is committed to providing a caring, friendly school environment for all of our students so they can learn in a safe and secure learning atmosphere. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at Ben Franklin Academy. If bullying does occur, all students should be able to speak up and know that their bullying incident report will be dealt with promptly and effectively. We are a telling school - this means that anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell a staff member.
Bullying is the use of aggression with the intention of hurting another person. Bullying results in pain and distress to the victim. Bullying can be:
- Emotional - Being unfriendly, excluding, tormenting (hiding books or backpacks, threatening gestures)
- Physical - Pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violence
- Racist - Racial taunts, graffiti, gestures
- Sexual - Unwanted physical contact or comments
- Verbal - Name-calling, spreading rumors, teasing
- Cyber - All areas of the internet such as email, threats by text messaging and calls, misuse of technology
Any child can be bullied. It is important not to blame or look for faults in children who are bullied because nobody deserves to be abused by their peers. It is important to understand the characteristics common of children who are bullied. Research indicates that children who are bullied tend to be socially more isolated than other children. These children may seem to be easy targets for bullying because they have few friends to help protect them. They also may be shy, sensitive or insecure. Again, no child deserves to be bullied.
All reports of bullying will be taken seriously and dealt with as soon as possible after it is reported. It is important to note that the result of the incident may not be bullying, rather it may be normal peer conflict. A conflict differs from bullying in that there is not a true imbalance of power. Peer conflict involves a balance of power: Children are of equal size, age or status. All involved in the peer conflict have an equal interest or stake in the outcome.
In the coming weeks, students will continue to learn about the anti-bullying initiative that Ben Franklin Academy will be strengthening. Our goal is to empower students to tell when they are bullied or if they see bullying occurring. We want students to know that bullying is not tolerated and people are here to help.
I have prepared a parent presentation entitled, Take a Stand Against Bullying, that will be offered one night after Spring Break. My goal is to educate and inform parents on what Ben Franklin Academy does to minimize bullying at school. Please be on the look out for the specific date for this presentation.
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PAC's Got Your Back
Each week, the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) will have a Q&A in this newsletter regarding policies or procedures at Ben Franklin Academy. If you have questions you need answered, please feel free to contact the PAC, and we will answer your question via email. Q: Why does Ben Franklin Academy require volunteer hours? A: Volunteer hours are required because Ben Franklin Academy believes that the success of our school is a shared responsibility between students, parents, teachers and staff. Families are required to volunteer 30 approved volunteer hours each school year. Families with a single parent are required to volunteer 15 approved volunteer hours each school year. It is mandatory that 10 hours of each family's volunteer time be served in either car pool and/or the lunchroom. For single parent families, the car pool and/or lunch requirement is five hours. |
Survey Says
PAC and Lunch Surveys
PAC
The PAC wants your feedback on the social events we host, such as summer socials, monthly BFF socials, policy Q&As, and Donuts with Dads/ Muffins with Moms. Please take a few minutes to complete our brief five-question survey. Even if you haven't attended any of these events, we'd like to hear from you. We would appreciate your feedback on how we're doing and your ideas for building the Ben Franklin Academy parent community. Thank you for taking the time to share your opinions. To take the survey, please click here.
Lunch
The school would love your feedback on its hot lunch program. Click here to fill out a brief parent survey.
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The BENefit Bash
The BENefit Bash Silent Auction and Dinner will 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.
The BENefit Bash has sponsorship packages and catalog advertising options available. Be sure to ask your company if it would like to contribute. Click here for details on sponsorship; click here for information on catalog advertising. If you have an item or service you can contribute to the event, please contact Julia Porterfield, donation team lead.
Tickets are now available for purchase online. If we sell 200 tickets by Friday, March 1, Principal Barber will buy doughnuts for the entire school!
We are still in need of volunteers to help organize this great event. For a list of available volunteer positions, click here or email
us. Our next planning meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m., Monday, March 11, at the Target Starbucks in Town Center.
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Used Uniform Sale
Get ready for spring weather with our uniform sale that will be held from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 23, in Middle School Commons Area. Click here for details on how to sell your clothes. All clothes must have an inventory list - click here for a copy. We are still looking for volunteers, so if you are available to help, click here to sign up. Volunteers get to preview the items and shop early!
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Yearbooks
Yearbook/Dedication Sales
There are only a few weeks left to order your yearbook. Orders must be received by Friday, March 1. No late orders or extra yearbooks will be ordered. They are available for purchase through the online store. Yearbooks will be distributed in May at school.
Middle School Pictures
The Yearbook Committee is in need of pictures to represent the middle school in the yearbook. If you have photos, please email them to Liesel Donaldson. High resolution pictures are best.
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Middle School Social
The middle school will be having a social from 6:30-8:30 p.m., Friday, March 1, at JumpStreet. Click here for details.
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Save the Date!
The PTO will be hosting a Mother/Son Event on Saturday, March 9. Look for details early next week!
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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.
| Click here for the Middle School Newsletter |
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BFA Students Raise Money for the American Heart Association
Jump Rope for Heart
Last week all of the K-8 students participated in Jump Rope for Heart. It was a huge success. Thank you to all of the parents who volunteered their time on those days - it could not happen without you!
The middle school students had a great time participating in Dodgeball For Dollars" on Tuesday after school. More than $300 was raised for the American Heart Association. Congratulations to the Ben Franklin Academy staff for being the ultimate dodgeball champs! We cannot wait for next year!
If you wanted to donate money to the American Heart Association but did not have a chance, it is not too late. You can send in envelopes for the next two weeks and/or raise funds online until the end of March. The American Heart Association has just announced that the top online fund-raiser from each school will earn two free tickets to a Nuggets game. Click here for more information.
Thank you gifts from Jump Rope for Heart should be here the week before Spring Break. They will be sent home as soon as we receive them.
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BFA Summer Camp
Ben Franklin Academy will be offering a Summer Camp program. Do you need full-time day care for the summer? Or perhaps you are just looking to get a break from your children a few days during the summer? Maybe your kids would like to connect with other Ben Franklin Academy kids and enjoy fun, summer social time? Whatever your situation, our Summer Camp program is sure to keep your kids safe and entertained.
Program Details
- Dates: June 3 - Aug. 20
(closed the week of July 1) - Hours: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- Days: Monday through Friday
- Age Requirement: BFA Summer Camp is open to any child 5 years and older.
- Cost:
- Registration: One-time $35 per child registration fee (all registered campers will receive a camp T-shirt and day pack)
- Daily Tuition: $35 per day per child for non-field trip days and $45 per day per child for field trip days
Each week will have a unique theme with field trips and weekly activities related to that theme. The full summer schedule will be released soon. Until then, be sure to register your child(ren) now, as space is limited. To register, click here.
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BFF Social
Want to get to know other Ben Franklin Academy parents? The PAC will be hosting a Ben Franklin Friends (BFF) Social after drop off until 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 22, at the Corner Bakery Cafe 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.
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PAC and PTO Elections
PAC The PAC is looking for energetic, social and dedicated parents to help serve Ben Franklin Academy on its committee for the 2013-14 school year.
The PAC was created by, and reports to, the Ben Franklin Academy Board of Directors. PAC representatives are responsible for ensuring all parents understand the policies created by the Board for the school. Additionally, the PAC helps create a sense of community among Ben Franklin Academy parents by organizing social events that connect parents with each other and the administration. The PAC also helps students support the local community by developing and coordinating various community outreach programs.
If you would like to be considered for a position on the PAC, please review the job descriptions here. The PAC is looking to fill the following positions for the 2013-14 school year:
- Social Officer
- Communications Officer
- Parent Representative, Socials
- Parent Representative, Community Service
If you are interested in serving the school community in any of the capacities listed above, please contact Andrea Day by Friday, March 1, and you will be sent a short interest questionnaire to complete.
PTO
Want to get more involved in school? Join the PTO - make new friends and give back to your school community. The nomination process for the 2013-14 school year has begun and will end on Friday, Feb. 22. Click here to nominate yourself or someone else. No prior experience is necessary. For a list of available positions, please click here.
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Important Dates
- Teacher Work Day (no school for students): Friday, Feb. 15
- Presidents' Day Holiday (school closed): Monday, Feb. 18
- TCAP Testing (3rd grade): Feb. 19-21
- Vision/Hearing Screening: Feb. 19-21
- Spirit Day: Friday, Feb. 22
- BFF Social: 8:30-10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 22, Corner Bakery Cafe Town Center
- Blanket Drive: Now through Friday, Feb. 22
- PTO Nominations: Now through Friday, Feb. 22
- Uniform Sale: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 23
- Regional Science Fair: Feb. 27-28
- Yearbook/Dedications FINAL Deadline: Friday, March 1
- PAC Nominations: Now through Friday, March 1
- Middle School Social: 6:30-8:30 p.m., Friday, March 1, JumpStreet
- Mother/Son Event: Saturday, March 9
- Volunteer Meeting for BENefit Bash: 6:30 p.m., Monday,
March 11, Target Starbucks Town Center
Upcoming Meetings
- Grant Committee: 9 p.m., Monday, Feb. 25, Teleconference
- Marketing Committee: 6 p.m., Monday, March 4, Conference Room
- STEM: 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 6, Library
- SAC: 7 p.m., Thursday, March 7, Rm. 144
- PTO: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 7, Middle School Commons Area
- Finance Committee: 5 p.m., Monday, March 11, Library
- Board of Directors: 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 12, Library
- PAC: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 14, Library
Ben Franklin Academy Calendars
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Sincerely,
Bob Barber Principal Ben Franklin Academy |
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Contact Us!
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Mission: Our mission is to develop 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, 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 the arts, sports, nature, and character.
13 Virtues: Temperance, Silence, Order, Resolution, Frugality, Industry, Sincerity, Justice, Moderation, Cleanliness, Tranquility, Purity and Humility.
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