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Ben Franklin Academy NewsletterVol. 3, Iss. 10
March 2013
In This Issue
:: Student Accomplishes Extraordinary Goal | Spirit Day FRIDAY | Office Hours | Calendar Update
:: Bash Benefits | The BENefit Bash | Bash Bronze Sponsor
:: PTO Nominations | Cheerfit | Rescheduled Mother/Son Event | Ladies Night Out
Dear Parents, 

   Survey

Thank you to everyone who took the time to participate in our Parent Satisfaction Survey. It is through your participation in this survey that we, as an administration and Board of Directors, learn the level of satisfaction with our school. Overall, the results of the survey suggest that satisfaction is high.

Last year, the survey results indicated the following areas of concern: communication, extracurricular activities, face time with teachers and PTO Manager. We are delighted to report that in each of these areas we saw improvement in overall satisfaction. The survey also measured satisfaction of curriculum, ability grouping, parental involvement, ease of signing up for activities and dissemination of information to parents.

While we are pleased with the results of this survey, we hoped the level of participation would be much higher. We value the feedback of our students' parents and hope each of you will participate in next year's survey.
BFA Student Accomplishes Extraordinary Goal 
BSA
Scout earns all 106 Belt Loops and Pins

Congratulations to fifth-grader Trey Sieradski! As a Cub Scout, he earned all 106 Sports and Activity Belt Loops and Pins.

 

When he was 7 years old, Trey saw a Cub Scout on television being honored for earning all the belt loops and pins available. He said, "I'm going to do that, Mom." And he did.  

 

The Denver Area Council of Boy Scouts confirmed to Mark Bochert, Trey's Cubmaster for the past four years in Pack 872, that out of 14,000 active Cub Scouts in the Denver metro area, Trey is the only one to accomplish this extraordinary goal.

 

Trey got an unusual start in Scouting as a Tiger Cub (age 6, first grade) in Pack 3060 in New Delhi, India. (His father's job brought the family to India.) His fellow Cub Scouts were from all over the world, and some of his first outings included visiting the ancient ruins in Lodhi Gardens, the Sariska Tiger Reserve and the changing of the guards at the Rashtrapati Bhavan or Presidential Palace.

 

Trey plays baseball and football, skis and actively participates in his church. He also loves music, dancing and laughing with his friends. He made the high honor roll at school this past semester, but his favorite subject is recess, according to his mom, Cynthia Sieradski.

 

On Feb. 23, Trey officially completed his time as a Cub Scout by crossing over at a formal ceremony to become a Boy Scout. To read more about Trey's achievement, please click here. 

Bash Benefits

Don't just book a regular hotel room for your summer mountain vacation, come to the BENefit Bash to bid on the following, and your family will be relaxing in a wonderful mountain condo/house:  

  • Two nights in Keystone
  • Four nights in Steamboat Springs
  • Four nights in Winter Park
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.

Tickets are now available for purchase online. If we sell 200 tickets by Thursday, April 4, Principal Barber will buy doughnuts for the entire school! Ticket prices increase to $50 per ticket starting Friday, April 5. 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  

For a list of available volunteer positions, click here or sign up directly here. Please email the committee with any questions.

Our next planning meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m., Monday, April 8, at the Denver Marriott Tech Center. 
BENefit Bash Bronze Sponsor

Thanks to Ben Franklin Academy family Dr. Prutsman from the Sound Relief Center for becoming a Bronze Sponsor for the BENefit Bash! We appreciate your support!  
Spirit Day FRIDAY Megaphone

Don't forget! Spirit Day is tomorrow, Friday, March 15. Students are allowed to wear a spirit wear T-shirt along with their uniform bottoms of choice.   
Office Hours
Closed Sign

This is a g
entle reminder that the office is closed from 3-4 p.m. every day.

We realize there are occasionally special circumstances that require a different arrangement. If you are picking up your student from school early, please do so before 3 p.m. or kindly wait until after "all call." If an emergency should arise, please request the pick up of your student at the northwest doors, door three with your carpool tag after 3:30 p.m. Please do not use the main entrance for early pick up during the closed hours.

Calendar Update
Calendar Clip Art

It was brought to our attention that the academic calendar posted on our website had conflicting information. To be clear, Friday, May 10, is a regular school day (not a teacher in-service). The calendar is located here.

PTO Nominations

Want to get more involved in school? Join the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)! Make new friends and give back to your school community. Click here to find out how.

The nomination process for the 2013-14 school year will end Friday, March 22. 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. Elections will be held April 18-19.      
Cheerfit: New After School Program Cheer

Ben Franklin Academy is excited to announce a new after school enrichment program. Cheerfit will be offered on Wednesdays after school starting Wednesday, April 3. For more information and instructions on how to sign up, please click here.

Mother/Son Event
 
The Mother/Son Event has been rescheduled to 6 p.m., Saturday, April 6, 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. Click here for details.
Ladies Night Out
 

The PTO is hosting a Ladies Night Out from 7-9 p.m., Thursday, April 18, at Charming Charlie's in the Streets of Southglenn. Moms will get a preview of some of the hot auction items while eating cupcakes ad shopping for bling for the big event! Charming Charlie's will donate 10 percent of all purchased back to Ben Franklin Academy. Come join us for this fun night with fellow moms while supporting the school.

Important Dates
Calendar Clip Art
  • Spirit Day: TOMORROW, Friday, March 15
  • Box Tops Collection: Wednesday, March 20
  • Dress of Choice Day: Friday, March 22
  • PTO Nominations Due: Friday, March 22 
  • Spring Break: March 25-29      
  • Formal Uniform Day: Wednesday, April 3
  • Mother/Son Event: 6 p.m., Saturday, April 6, Fun City
  • Ladies Night Out: 7-9 p.m., Thursday, April 18, Charming Charlie's, Streets of Southglenn 
  • PTO Elections: April 18-19     

Upcoming Meetings 

  • Marketing Committee: 6 p.m., Monday, April 1, Conference Room
  • STEM Committee: 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 3, Library 
  • PTO: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, April 4, Library
  • SAC: Thursday, March 7, Rm. 144
  • Finance Committee: 5 p.m., Monday, April 8, Library
  • BENefit Bash Volunteers: 6:30 p.m., Monday, April 8, Denver Marriott Tech Center
  • Grant Committee: 9 p.m., Monday, April 8, Teleconference
  • Board of Directors: 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 9, Library
  • PAC: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, April 11, 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.