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Ben Franklin Academy NewsletterVol. 3, Iss. 8
February 2013
In This Issue
:: Part-Time Positions Available | TCAP Schedule | Formal Uniform Day | Staff Appreciation Week
:: Yearbooks/School Picture Retakes | PAC's Got Your Back | Lunch Survey | PTO Elections
:: Middle School Social | BFF Policy Q&A Forum | PAC Open Positions | Mother/Son Event
:: The BENefit Bash | Middle School Newsletter | Volunteer of the Month | Important Dates
Dear Parents, 

   Clock

We are seeing a trend with an increased number of students arriving to school tardy. On a given day, there are 15 to 20 students tardy - this is too many. Students need to be in the building no later than 8:10 a.m. or they may be counted tardy. Having kids arrive to the classroom late is a distraction to all and can affect their learning. We do extend the tardy window on days with inclement weather or if we hear there is an accident affecting traffic. We also extend the tardy window if the drop-off line backs up. Unfortunately, most of the tardies we see are people simply arriving to school too late. Please help us reduce the number of tardy students by arriving at the school on time.

Two Part-Time Positions Available Resume2

Ben Franklin Academy will be hiring two lunch/recess aides for the remainder of the school year. The position is two hours per day (11 a.m. - 1 p.m.), five days per week. The primary jobs for these positions are to assist in set-up/break down of lunch, serve food/beverages as needed, assist in overall clean up of the lunch room and to provide recess supervision outside. Please refer to the attached job description or click here for specific details. The pay for this position is $10 per hour.  If interested, please email a copy of your resume and cover letter to [email protected]. Please list the position you are applying for in the subject line. For any questions about the positions, please email Burgandy Hodge

Formal Uniform Day

Formal uniform day is next Wednesday, March 6. Students are expected to wear their navy blue polos with the Ben Franklin Academy logo and khaki bottoms.     

Staff Appreciation Week

Let's honor our awesome staff! Staff Appreciation Week will be held March 11-15. If you would like to contribute, please have your student bring in $3 to your classroom between March 4-7. Click here for more details.  
Yearbooks/School Picture Retakes Yearbook
 

Only ONE more day to get your yearbook! Orders must be received by midnight, tomorrow, 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.   

  

If you were unable to have your student's school pictures taken this year, DR Photo is hosting a retake day from 2:30-4:30 p.m., Thursday, March 7. Please contact DR Photo directly at (303) 346-2772 to schedule a time.     

  

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.      

Lunch Survey     
Lunch bag

 

The school would love your feedback on its hot lunch program. Click here to fill out a brief parent survey. The survey ends tomorrow, Friday, March 1

Middle School Social
Jump Street

The middle school will
be having a social from 6:30-8:30 p.m., tomorrow, Friday, March 1, at JumpStreet. Click here for details.
BFF Policy Q&A Forum

Please join the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) for a Ben Franklin Friends (BFF) Policy Q&A Forum from 9-10 a.m., Friday, March 8, in the school library. Bring your favorite early morning beverage, and join other Ben Franklin Academy parents for this social. The Baking Committee will provide snacks.  

 

Principal Barber and Ben Franklin Academy Board Members Paige Brock and Matt Matherly will be on hand to answer questions. Hope you can join us, and children are welcome! Please email the PAC with any questions.

Mother/Son Event
 
The PTO is hosting a Mother/Son Event starting at 6 p.m., Saturday, March 9, at Fun City in Littleton. Tickets are $10 per person at the door and include laser tag, mini-golf, bumper cars and arcade games. Dessert and drinks will be provided. Look for a flyer in Thursday folders next week!
The BENefit Bash
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. Click here for details on the event.

Sponsorship packages and catalog advertising options are available for the BENefit Bash. 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, or enter your item directly into the Auction Catalog.

Tickets are now available for purchase online. If we sell 200 tickets by Friday, March 15, 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.     
  • Middle School Newsletter

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

    TCAP Schedule   
    Test
     
    Students will be taking TCAPs throughout the building over the next two weeks. Third through seventh grade students will be testing March 5-7 and March 12-14. Make-up tests will take place the week of March 18. Please see the chart below for specific testing times for each grade level. If at all possible, please schedule appointments outside of these testing times.

      

    March 5-7 Schedule

    Grade | Timing for Tests

    • 3rd grade | 9-10 a.m.
    • 4th grade | 8:30-9:30 a.m. and 10:30-
      11:30 a.m.
    • 5th grade | 9-10 a.m. and 10:30-
      11:30 a.m.
    • 6th and 7th grades | 8:30-9:30 a.m. and 10-11 a.m.

      

    March 12-14 Schedule

    Grade | Timing for Tests

    • 3rd grade | 9-10 a.m.
    • 4th grade | 8:30-9:30 a.m.
    • 5th grade | 9-10 a.m. and 10:30-
      11:30 a.m.
    • 6th and 7th grades | 8:30-9:30 a.m.

    Be aware that some testing starts at 8:30 a.m. Students who are tardy on these testing days will not be able to test with their class.

     

    Please encourage you child to do his/her best on the test and not to stress about it. This is a great way for us to see just how much they are learning and will provide us valuable feedback that we use to make instructional decisions.

    PAC's Got Your Back
    Question mark

     

    Q: Because of our family's schedule, volunteering during school hours is difficult.  Can we purchase or have someone else do our volunteer hours?  

     

    A: Volunteer hours must be performed by parents, step-parents, a parent's domestic partner, grandparents and legal guardians. Volunteer hours cannot be purchased or traded. The sole exception is the BENefit Bash Silent Auction where a limited amount of volunteer hour coupons may be auctioned. There are many volunteer choices throughout the year, and some can be performed outside of the school day. Please check with your child's teacher for these opportunities. 

     

    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.
    PTO Elections

    Want to get more involved in school? Join the Parent Teacher Organization (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 today, Thursday, Feb. 28. Click here to nominate yourself or someone else. No prior experience is necessary. The positions of president, fundraising coordinator, school lunch coordinator and treasurer are up for election on the Executive Officer Board. For a list of all available positions, please click here.     
    PAC Open Positions Vote Button

    The PAC is looking for responsible, dedicated parents to help serve Ben Franklin Academy during the 2013-14 school year.   
    The PAC is responsible for ensuring all parents understand the policies created by the Board for the school, creates a sense of community by organizing social events and helps students support the local community by developing and coordinating various community outreach programs. To be considered for a position on the PAC, please review the job descriptions.

    If you are interested in a leadership position within the PAC, the Board is looking for organized parents with good management skills who work well with others to fill the Chair and Vice Chair positions. These positions are selected by the Board in March. If you are interested, please send a statement of interest to the PAC by today, Thursday, Feb. 28.

    The PAC also is looking for friendly, energetic parents to fill the following committee 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 as an officer or parent representative, please contact the PAC by tomorrow, Friday, March 1, and you will be sent a short interest questionnaire to complete. If you have questions about any of the open positions, please contact the PAC.  
    Volunteer of the Month
    Sunahara  

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

     

    For March, we have chosen Amy Sunahara. Amy has helped the school in so many ways. She is a founding family, and her husband Jason serves on our Board of Directors. Amy heads the preschool fundraising program and helps with our weekly newsletter. Amy is always seen in the school, helping with last-minute projects and always doing so with a smile on her face. Thank you, Amy for all that you do!  

     

    When asked what she likes about Ben Franklin Academy, Amy said, "My dad has always told me 'ordinary people working as a team achieve extraordinary things.' Doesn't that just define BFA? It is incredible to see the school - which literally was an idea on paper in 2010 - come to fruition to what it is today.  

     

    "I have never met such a dedicated group of people - from the amazing teachers, staff and administrators to our fantastic volunteers - who make BFA a success on a daily basis. Our kids are getting an invaluable experience and education at BFA, and I am so grateful for everyone who is involved in making that happen." 


    Congratulations Amy! For more information about volunteering, click here.
    Important Dates
    Calendar Clip Art
    • PTO Nominations: Now through Thursday, Feb. 28
    • Regional Science Fair: Feb. 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
    • Second Grade Musical: 7 p.m., Tuesday, March 5, Gym
    • Formal Uniform Day: Wednesday, March 6
    • PAC Policy Q&A Forum: 9 a.m., Friday, March 8, Library 
    • Mother/Son Event: 6 p.m., Saturday, March 9, Fun City 
    • Volunteer Meeting for BENefit Bash: 6:30 p.m., Monday,
      March 11, Target Starbucks Town Center 
        

    Upcoming Meetings 

    • 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
    • Grant Committee: 9 p.m., Monday, March 11, Teleconference
    • Board of Directors: 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 12, Library
    • PAC: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 14, Library
    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  

    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.