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Ben Franklin Academy NewsletterVol. 3, Iss. 12
April 2013
In This Issue
:: Fundraising at BFA | Detailed Summer Camp Schedule Available | Roxborough Bus Stop Update
:: Mother/Son Event Saturday | BFF Social Rescheduled | 2nd Annual BFA Food Drive
:: PTO Elections | Board Elections Timeline | PAC's Got Your Back | Talent Show Date Change
:: Field Day T-shirt Sponsors | Volunteer Thank You | Middle School Newsletter | Important Dates
:: EVERYTHING About the BENefit Bash: *NEW* Items for Mother's Day, Ladies Night Out and Babysitting
Dear Parents, 

 

This newsletter is chock full of information. Please be sure to scroll to the end or click on the links above to read all of the information.

All A-Twitter
Ben Franklin Academy students and parents - get interactive!
We have numerous ways to keep you informed about news regarding Ben Franklin Academy. Along with our website and Facebook page, we recently launched our new Twitter page. Please follow @BF_Academy (there is an underscore between BF and Academy) to get daily updates and news regarding your school and exemplary students. Follow today, and look for Principal Barber's first tweet!
Fundraising at BFA

Have an idea for a fundraiser to benefit Ben Franklin Academy? We'd love to hear it! Please contact the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) or attend a monthly meeting (the first Thursday of each month) with your ideas. We are grateful for the support of our parent community, but please contact the PTO or Principal Barber before speaking with a business about a potential fundraiser. Our parent volunteers are actively pursuing donations through PTO programs, and we do not want to overwhelm our business community. 
Detailed Summer Camp Schedule Now Available Summer Camp

Registration for our Summer Camp is filling up fast. Click here for the detailed activity schedule. Please note: We are still in the process of confirming a few activities and all are subject to change (due to weather, etc).

 

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: 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
Daily registration will open early next week. You must register your child by clicking here and complete your enrollment paperwork before you will be able to register for the daily camp slots.  Registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a maximum registration of 30 per day with a wait-list. If you have any questions, please contact us via email. Looking forward to a fun summer! 
Roxborough Bus Stop Update

Beginning today, Thursday, April 4, the stop at Roxborough Community Park will be MOVED to the crosswalk right before the park entrance. We are no longer able to use the parking lot at the Community Park.

 

As always, please have your student at the bus stop five minutes early and remind your student to stay back from the bus until it is completely stopped.

 

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

If you have any questions, please contact Kathleen Orndorff at (303) 387-6156 or Julie Roy at (303) 387-6155.

Mother/Son Event Saturday
 
Don't forget! The Mother/Son Event starts at 6 p.m., this 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.
BFF Social Rescheduled

The BFF social scheduled for Monday, April 8, has been rescheduled since we have many Ben Franklin Academy meetings and activities this month, including the BENefit Bash. Please plan to join us for the next social scheduled for Thursday, May 2. Additional details to follow in a few weeks.

2nd Annual Food Drive Next Week

Ben Franklin Academy and the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) are proud to sponsor our 2nd annual Food Drive to support Coloradoans in need. Every day, families and individuals struggle to put food on their table, but you can help. By donating to the food drive you will be contributing to the Douglas/Elbert Task Force,  which helps more than 15,600 Coloradoans yearly. Let's help our neighbors and donate today.

 

Each class will have a donation box outside their classrooms next week, April 8-12. The class that collects the most cans/donations at the end of the week wins a pizza party and a trophy. Let's beat last year's donations of 3,500 items!

 

Please contact the PAC with any questions or to make large quantity or monetary donation arrangements.

PTO Elections

PTO elections will take place April 8-19. Information about voting, the candidates and positions for which they are running will be forthcoming. 
Board Elections Timeline
Vote Button

The following dates are in regard to the upcoming Board of Directors elections:

 

  • 5:30-6 p.m., Tuesday, April 9, Board Forum: Before the Board meeting, each candidate will receive five minutes to explain why s/he is a good choice for the Ben Franklin Academy Board of Directors. After every candidate has spoken, there will be a Q&A period. The Board encourages you to attend this event so you can see and hear from each candidate to make an informed decision.
  • April 29 - May 3, Vote: Staci Ferguson, Board secretary, will email each member of the Parent Voting Group information on how to vote. You can cast your vote from Monday, April 29, until 6 p.m., Friday, May 3. 
  • 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 14, Monthly Board Meeting: Staci will announce the results of the election.
Talent Show Date Change  
 

Because of scheduled middle school field trips, the Ben Franklin Academy Talent Show has moved to Thursday, April 11. The results of the auditions are posted on the music room door.

Field Day T-shirt Sponsors Field day

We are currently accepting sponsors for our Field Day, which will be held in May. It is our hope that through the funds raised, we can cover the cost of the T-shirts so every student will receive one for free. This is a great and low-cost way for your business to support the school while receiving recognition on the student T-shirts. Click here for details.  
Volunteer Thank You Gifts

Over the last several weeks, the PTO has been sending thank you gifts for volunteer hours completed. This will take several weeks for us to organize and send home with your student, so please be patient. We will continue to send these home throughout the rest of the school year. As you volunteer more, we will continued to send incentives home. This is based on hours per family number.


The gifts/number of hours volunteered are as follows:

  • 15 hours: Reusable BFA bag
  • 30 hours: Lightning bolt car magnet
  • 50 hours: BFA Bucks to be used at the online store for spirit wear
  • 100 hours: BFA insulated tumbler

Thank you for all of your volunteer time!

Mmm...Doughnuts

You may have seen some dancing doughnuts in the car pool lane this week. Principal Barber is offering to buy doughnuts for the entire school if we sell 200 tickets to the BENefit Bash by TODAY, April 4. Please consider buying tickets to this great event today by clicking here. Ticket prices increase to $50 per person starting tomorrow, Friday, April 5.
Bash Benefits

Mother's Day is just around the corner, and we have some great items at the BENefit Bash to make mom happy:
  • Diamond pendant from Trice Jewelers
  • Spa packages
  • Beautiful necklace from Stella and Dot 
  • Haircut and color with make-up application/lesson from Matthew Morris Salon
  • Massage, facial and manicure gift certificates
  • One-month unlimited tanning
  • Hotel stays in Denver, Frisco or Durango
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 available for purchase online. Let's sell 200 tickets by today, Thursday, April 4, so the entire school gets a doughnut! (See above.) Ticket prices increase to $50 per ticket starting tomorrow, 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. The deadline for entering items is today, Thursday, April 4!   
 
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.   
Ladies Night Out
 

The PTO is hosting a Ladies Night Out from 7-9 p.m., Thursday, April 18, at Charming Charlie 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 will donate 10 percent of all purchases back to Ben Franklin Academy. Come join us for this fun night with fellow moms while supporting the school. For more information, click here.   

Need a Babysitter for the Bash?

The PTO has arranged a Parents Night Out from 5:30-10:30 p.m., Saturday, April 27, at Peak Athletics. Kids will play games and eat pizza with their friends.

You may register and pay over the phone by calling Peak Athletics directly at (303) 797-8082. Parents will need to sign a waiver when you drop off your child(ren). You may print out the waiver here and bring it in with you.

The fee for one student is $25; each additional sibling is $5 off ($45 for two siblings, $60 for three siblings, etc). If you are unable to pay over the phone before the Bash, you may pay by cash or check at the door. No credit or debit cards will be accepted at the door.
BENefit Bash Proceeds

Wondering where the funds raised from the BENefit Bash are going? We have earmarked some great projects for our school. A few highlights: Expansion of the sound and security system for the entire school (including a new PA system for events in the gym), level and curriculum books for the development of a Professional Resource library for our teachers, books for the library and a rock climbing wall for our gym. Great reasons to support this wonderful event!    
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!  
PAC's Got Your Back
Question mark
   
Q: What are the procedures for the school library?

A: Students in kindergarten through fifth grade go to the library as a class once a week. Middle school students have the opportunity to visit the library to check out books before school and at the end of their advisory period. Kindergarten students are allowed to check out one book at a time. First grade students and up are allowed to check out two books at a time. Each book can be checked out for two weeks before it needs to be renewed. The Ben Franklin Academy library has more than 8,200 books from which students can choose.

Q: Why are all Ben Franklin Academy students required to create a Science Fair project each year?

 

A: Ben Franklin Academy was founded as a school with an emphasis in science. The Founding Board felt a Science Fair project was an incredible opportunity for students to have a hands-on learning experience while using the scientific method.

 

By participating in the Ben Franklin Academy Science Fair from kindergarten through eighth grade, students build upon their understanding of how to conduct research, ability to think critically and analytically and practice public speaking during the judging process. In middle school, students produce a research paper to support their display boards. This paper places emphasis on the use of word processing, spreadsheets, graphs and the citation of sources students use to obtain further background information.  

 

Although the Science Fair project has an emphasis on science, it also builds upon skill sets that will strengthen our students' well-rounded academic foundation as they move to high school.

    

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. 

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 
Important Dates
Calendar Clip Art
  • Mother/Son Event: 6 p.m., Saturday, April 6, Fun City
  • Annual Food Drive: April 8-12
  • PTO Elections: April 8-19
  • Board of Directors Elections Forum: 5:30-6 p.m., Tuesday, April 9
  • Talent Show: Thursday, April 11  
  • Ladies Night Out: 7-9 p.m., Thursday, April 18, Charming Charlie, Streets of Southglenn      
  • BENefit Bash Silent Auction and Dinner: 5:30-11 p.m., Saturday, April 27, Denver Marriott Tech Center  
  • Board of Directors Elections: April 29 - May 3
  • BFF Social: 8:30-10 a.m., Thursday, May 2, Redstone Park
  • Board of Directors Elections Results Announced: 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 14 

Upcoming Meetings 

  • PTO: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, April 4, Library
  • SAC: Thursday, April 4, 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     
  • Marketing Committee: 6 p.m., Monday, May 6, Conference Room
  • STEM Committee: 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 1, 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.