BFA web banner
Ben Franklin Academy NewsletterVol. 3, Iss. 22
August 2013
In This Issue
:: Formal Uniform Day | Picture Makeup Day | Board of Directors Open Seat | BASE Program
:: Got Lunch ID? | Join BFA Choir | Stay Connected with BFA | Harvest Festival
:: Preschool Update | Vote for BFA! | BFA Job Opportunity | Room Parents | Important Dates
Dear Parents,
 
Tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 30, is our first Spirit Day of the school year. Students are allowed to wear a spirit wear T-shirt (this includes former Field Day T-shirts) along with their uniform bottoms of choice. If your child chooses not to wear a spirit wear T-shirt, they must be in full uniform. Also, the school will be closed on Monday, Sept. 2, in observance of Labor Day.

Jason Sanders A Fond Farewell 

Science Lab Dedicated in Honor of Jason Sanders

 

Although Jason Sanders will be missed from Ben Franklin Academy, he won't be forgotten. Principal Barber and the BFA Board of Directors recently dedicated the elementary science lab in Jason Sanders' honor.

 

Jason led the efforts in the winter and spring of 2010 as local parents came together to create a vision of the school we now know as Ben Franklin Academy. He served as BFA's Founding Board president and president of the Board of Directors since 2011. Besides providing a well-rounded education, one of his chief priorities was ensuring that science was a main focus at BFA - especially because he felt science education was lacking in neighborhood schools. As such, it is fitting that he will now be remembered for his extraordinary service to BFA and each time BFA's students enter the elementary science lab - now named the Jason Sanders Science Lab.

Formal Uniform Day               

Don't forget! Formal uniform day is next Wednesday,
Sept. 4
. Students are expected to wear their navy blue polos with the Ben Franklin Academy logo and khaki bottoms.
Board of Directors Open Seat

The Ben Franklin Academy Board of Directors has an open seat. The individual will be appointed by the Board at the Tuesday, Sept. 10,  Board meeting. The individual will serve as an At-Large Director, and the term will end in May of 2014.        
The nomination form is available on the BFA website.To nominate someone (including yourself) for consideration by the Board for this seat, please click here for the nomination form.  

Nominations will be accepted through
midnight, Tuesday, Sept. 3. Only nominations submitted online will be considered. BFA will post the nominees and their nomination forms on the BFA website by 5 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 5. As this is a Board-appointed position, nominations are for consideration by the Board, and the Board reserves all rights to fill the vacancy.

For more information or if you have questions, please contact Staci Ferguson, Board Secretary.
Got Lunch ID?               

Please have your child(ren) memorize their lunch ID. It helps the line move much faster. 
Sing, Sing, Sing with the BFA Choir 

Are you interested in singing? The BFA Choir is open to all third through eighth graders and has many fun events planned this year, including a winter concert, caroling around Highlands Ranch and performing at the Children's Hospital South Campus opening. Rehearsals are from 3:30-4:15 p.m., every Wednesday, beginning Sept. 4.

 

The cost is $30 for the semester. To sign up, return the choir contract to Ms. Johnson by Sept. 4 with a check made out to BFA. For more information, contact Ms. Johnson

Harvest Festival          

The Harvest Festival will be from 5-8:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 21, at BFA. Tickets are $5 per person or $20 per family if you order online in advance. Look for information in this week's Thursday folders. If you would like to volunteer, email the PTO
Preschool Update and Openings                
Preschool has gotten off to a great start! We are learning about our classroom procedures and meeting new friends. The best part is all of the smiling faces eager to learn each day!

If you missed the enrollment period, we still have some openings in both our 3- and 4-year-old programs. For more information, contact Kristen Goldberg, BFA Preschool director.
Room Parents: We Want You!                Uncle Sam

The Room Parent Committee has a few more classrooms that need a room parent! This is a FUN and rewarding way to earn your hours.  

   

If your child is in
Ms. Poleschook's third grade
or Ms. Harrison's fifth grade
classes, and you're looking for a great way to be involved in your child's classroom this year, please contact the Room Parent Committee

Picture Makeup Day           Camera

For those who were unable to attend Registration Days/Meet and Greets, picture makeup day is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. - noon, Thursday, Sept. 5, at BFA.  

 

Dress for pictures is uniform of choice. Parents also can attend picture makeup day to obtain the photo necessary for their volunteer badge. Picture order forms are available on Infinite Campus/Parent Portal. Remember to bring your order form with money to school that day or you can order directly online by clicking here.

 

Please note: Picture makeup day is only for those who could not attend Registration Days/Meet and Greets. Picture retakes (e.g., for those who don't like their school pictures and would prefer to retake them) will be scheduled at a later date.  

BASE Program
BASE logo
 

The BASE program is up and running. The location has changed; BASE is now in room 134. 

 

If you are new to BASE or returning for another year, you will need to fill out the BASE application and sign the parent handbook. This is required each year so all of your information is up-to-date. To download, print, fill out and return the BASE application to Leigh Savoy, BASE director, click here.  

The phone number to BASE is (720) 383-4519 ext. 134. If the front doors are ever closed when you come to pick up your child(ren), call this number.

For more information or any questions, please email Mrs. Savoy or BASE.  
Stay Connected with BFA                
 
Now that you know BFA is on Facebook (like us on 
www.facebook.com/
benfranklinacademy
)
and Twitter (follow at @BF_Academy), did you also know about the BFA Parent Forum on Facebook? Although the BFA Parent Forum is NOT the BFA Facebook page (see link above); it is a forum operated by parents of children attending BFA and does include BFA information. To join, type "BFA Parent Forum" in your Facebook search box and click the button for permission to join.

 

Please note: BFA does not own, operate or edit posts in this forum, and nothing posted in the forum is owned, supported or sanctioned by BFA. The operator(s) of this forum are free to remove users, posts and/or content. In light of the preceding, the forum does support the BFA mission and vision.

Vote for BFA! 
Give with Target

Did you know BFA can receive up to $10,000 from Target simply by you voting on Facebook? All you have to do is go to your Facebook page, type in "Give with Target" in the search box (or ensure you are logged into Facebook and click here), type in Ben Franklin Academy in the search box, select our school and submit your vote. You can vote once a week until Saturday, Sept. 21, or until $5 million has been awarded, whichever occurs first. After receiving 25 votes, each additional vote equals $1 more for up to $10,000. BFA currently has more than 270 votes. So, get out there and vote for BFA! 
BFA Job Opportunity                     Help Wanted

BFA has an opening for a front desk support person from 4-6 p.m., Monday through Friday, to check-in/out the after school programs. If you are interested, please provide your resume and cover letter via email

Important Dates
Calendar Clip Art
  • Back to School Night (grades 5-8): 6-8 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 29, BFA Gym 
  • Spirit Day: Friday, Aug. 30
  • No School (Labor Day Holiday): Monday, Sept. 2   
  • Nominations Due for Board of Directors Open Seat: Midnight, Tuesday, Sept. 3 
  • Formal Uniform Day: Wednesday, Sept. 4
  • Instrument Petting Zoo: 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 4, Middle School Commons Area 
  • Picture Makeup Day: Thursday, Sept. 5
  • Middle School Q&A: 6 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 5, Middle School Commons Area  
  • Family Movie Night: 8 p.m., Friday, Sept. 6, BFA Lawn
  • Prospective Family Information Meetings: 9-10 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 10, or 6-7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 12, BFA  
  • DCSD Community Night: FC Dallas vs. Colorado Rapids, 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 14, Dick's Sporting Goods Park
  • Harvest Festival: 5-8:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 21, BFA
  • Middle School Corn Maze Social: 7-10 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4, Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield
Upcoming Meetings
 
  • Grant Committee: 9 p.m., Monday, Sept. 2, Conference Call
  • Marketing and Community Outreach (MCO) Committee:
    6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 3, Library
  • Board of Directors: 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, September 10, Library
  • Green Team Committee: 4:15 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 11
  • School Accountability Committee (SAC): 4 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 12, Conference Room
  • Parent Teacher Organization (PTO): 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 12, Middle School Commons Area    

Middle School Athletics  

  • Girls' Volleyball:  
    • 4 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 3, at Legacy
    • 4 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 5, at BFA vs. North Star Academy
    • 4 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 10, at BFA vs. Sky View Academy
    • 4 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 12, at Aspen Academy   
  • Boys' Soccer:  
    • 4 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 3, at Legacy  
    • 4 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 5, at BFA vs. North Star Academy 
    • 4 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 10, at SkyVew Academy
    • 4 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 12, at SkyView Academy 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  

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.