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Ben Franklin Academy NewsletterVol. 3, Iss. 24
September 2013
In This Issue
:: Late Arrivals | Board Appoints New Director | Office Closed During Car Pool | Teacher Pages on BFA Website
:: Student Appreciation | Weather Bug | Art Club | Join the Band! | High School | BFF Social
:: Social Media | Harvest Festival | Ben's Brigade | Avoid the Lost and Found Table
:: Original Works | Silent Auction Team | Street Smarts at SouthGlenn | Give with Target | Important Dates
Dear Parents,
 

Identify, Plan and Implement

 

These are just three words, but at Ben Franklin Academy, they are so important. Identify, implement and plan directly correlate to BFA being a data driven institute. Students are tested throughout the year with various assessments that measure a wide array of skills and concepts. These tests are not given to substitute for valuable educational time; rather, they are given to identify the needs of all of our students. The teachers and administration looks at the data from these tests to identify areas of strengths and areas of opportunities.

 

Once we identify the strengths and areas of opportunities with the students, we make a plan on how to best meet their needs. Teachers, administration and reading/math specialists meet to review the data and discuss ideas to assist the student.

 

Lastly, we implement the plan. Resources are then allocated to provide the best education possible for your child. Depending on the data received, your child may be given the opportunity to work with one of BFA's reading specialists or our math specialist. They may be placed in an ability group that allows them to work above grade level or have their instructional pacing modified. Potentially, students could be referred to extra testing or be placed on a 504.

 

The process does not end here. We continually re-evaluate the data and the progress of students and make adjustments accordingly. The important thing to understand is that we always strive to provide and be the best education possible. 

Late ArrivalsClock

Don't forget: School starts promptly at 8:15 a.m. Be mindful of your student's late arrival, as this tends to cause disruption to the class and causes your student to miss out on valuable instruction. 

Office Closed During Car Pool

This is a gentle reminder that the front office is closed at 3 p.m. to assist with car pool. Please remember to arrange with the office for early departures before 3 p.m., or kindly wait for car pool to be finished.

If you are a car pool volunteer, you are welcome to wait the entryway just outside of the office area after check-in. It is difficult to prepare for car pool when we have people waiting in the main office area.
Teacher Pages on BFA Website

 

We are aware of the issue that occurs when viewing teacher pages on the BFA website via an iPhone. We are working to correct the problem. Thank you for your patience while we work out the issue. Please note: The teacher sites are viewable from all other internet devices.

Student Appreciation

 

Student Appreciation The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) has created a new committee this year called Student Appreciation. The purpose of the committee is to recognize BFA students for displaying the 13 virtues and/or excellent behavior throughout the school year.  

 

The committee will be giving each teacher "Ben Bucks" to give to their students for showing exemplary actions that go above and beyond expectations. These exemplary deeds can relate to the 13 virtues or for any action a teacher feels deserves a reward. Please note: Only teachers are to hand out Ben Bucks to students, not parent volunteers.   

 

On Friday, Nov. 15, 2013, and Friday, April 11, 2014, the Student Appreciation Committee will have a table where students can bring their Ben Bucks to "buy" fun items the PTO has purchased. The more Ben Bucks they have earned will result in bigger prizes.

High School

Graduation  

Yes, I said high school. The 2013-2014 school year marks a first for BFA, as we will graduate our first group of eighth grade students and send them to high school. For some parents, this will be their first experience with high school and will be cause for excitement, as well as anxiety. Everything we do in eighth grade is to prepare our students for a successful transition to high school.  


Because the Douglas County School District allows students to open enroll at a high school outside of their feeder area, we are not yet sure where our students will choose to attend high school. Mr. Cochrane has started contacting the high schools to make sure that BFA is on their radar. We want to make sure parents know who to contact to set up shadow opportunities, how to enroll in honors classes and how the enrollment process works at the various high schools. The process can be quite different from school-to-school, and we want to make this transition as easy as possible.
Connect with BFA via Social Media

Social media has been a success! Compared to this time last year, we have seen more than a 100 percent jump in views of Facebook posts by those who "like" BFA! As of Tuesday, we were up to 471 "likes" of our BFA Facebook page. Let's get it to 500!

We have three great sources to get news out to everyone involved with BFA. They are:

"Ben's" Brigade

 

Are you a dad/grandpa/uncle who's ready to join
"Ben's" Brigade?

 

This new group is a way to provide volunteer opportunities that appeal to men while having a positive impact in their children's academic lives and for those looking to become more involved in the BFA community.

 

For more information or if you are interested in joining "Ben's" Brigade, email the MCO.

Original Works Fundraiser

 

Original Works

Our third annual fundraiser for the Art Department is underway and projects will be coming home soon.

 

We are hoping to raise money to purchase a kiln.

For more information, please go to Mrs. Hinkle's website or visit OriginalWorks.com

Silent Auction

BENefit Bash
The PTO is gearing up for next year's silent auction. If you are interested in leading a committee, such as donation procurement, or helping in general, please email the PTO. Our first meeting will be in mid- to late October.

Street Smarts at SouthGlenn

southglenfundraising


Do you like to shop the Streets at SouthGlenn? Now when you shop, go to Guest Services located in the Concierge Lobby in the building next to the parking structure, and get your receipts validated for BFA. Let them know you want your receipts to go towards points for BFA. At the end of the school year, BFA can earn up to $2,500! Flyers went home in last week's Thursday folders.

Board Appoints New Director

Warder

At the Sept. 10 BFA Board of Directors meeting, the Board appointed Matt Warder as the New At-Large Director.

"I am excited to have accepted the Board-elected Director seat (recently vacated by Jason Sanders)," Matt said. "Currently, I have four children in attendance at Ben
Franklin Academy - Payton (eighth grade), Kennady (sixth grade), Aubrey (fifth grade) and Pierce in (second grade). My desire is to not only compliment and assist with the amazing work that precedes me, but also keep the perspective of our middle school students and families in mind for any and all future decisions of the Board. I truly treasure this opportunity and will work extremely hard in support of both current and future families who are fortunate enough to have children attend Ben Franklin Academy."

Matt holds a bachelor of science degree from Widener University in Chester, Pa., and a master's degree in telecommunications from the University of Denver. Matt has been employed with tw telecom since August 2000, serving the company in multiple management positions inclusive of leading local, multi-city and regional teams.  He is passionate about being a voice for children that are afraid to otherwise speak for themselves and supports Sungate Kids, as well as the National Child Protection Training Center (NCPTC.org).

Congratulations!

To read minutes from any BFA Board of Directors meeting, please click here. Minutes from the Sept. 10 meeting will be posted soon. Board minutes will now be available directly from this newsletter (see box at bottom of newsletter).
Weather Bug
weatherbug

BFA is an official weather bug location. The weather equipment has been installed on our roof allowing us accurate, up- to-the-second weather data. 
 
More information will be coming soon about BFA's Weather Bug.
Art Club is Back artclub

 

Art Club is up and running, but there are still a few spaces open. Art Club (for K-5 grades) immediately follows car pool until 5 p.m., every Tuesday. The cost is $10 and includes a snack and all of the materials. For more information,
please click here and select Art Club.  

Joint the Band! insturment

 

It's not too late to sign up for band! Ms. Johnson is teaching band classes from 3:30-4 p.m. once a week after school. (Band is open to grades 4-8.) There are classes available for students just starting and those who already play. Instruments include flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone and percussion. The cost is $40 for the semester. To join, fill out the appropriate form and return to Ms. Johnson in the music room:

BFF Social  
 
Do you want to get to know other BFA parents? The Marketing and Community Outreach Committee (MCO) will be hosting a Ben
Franklin Friends (BFF) Social after drop off until 10 a.m., Monday, Sept. 16, at the Super Target Starbucks caf� (Lucent and Highlands Ranch Parkway).

The BFF Social is intended for parents to meet one another, ask policy questions and voice 
feedback about their experiences at BFA. Younger siblings are welcome. Hope you can join us! Email the MCO with any questions. 
Harvest Festival          
 
The Harvest Festival is from 5-8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 21, at BFA. Tickets are $5 per person or $20 per family if you order online in advance. 

We need many volunteers to make it a fun evening for all of our families. To volunteer, click here.
If you are interested in baking goodies and/or cakes (for the cakewalk) for the Harvest Festival, click here.
Avoid the Lost and Found Table

Name Bubbles
Avoid the Lost and Found table this year and help raise money for BFA by ordering personalized, press-and-stick labels from Name Bubbles! Contrary to what the name might imply, Name Bubbles are "flat," self-adhesive labels that help you keep track of sweaters, coats, lunch boxes and water bottles.  They are high quality, waterproof, freezer friendly, as well as laundry and dishwasher safe! In addition, you can personalize your labels to reflect your child's personality. Go to NameBubbles.com to see all of the options available for your family. When you order, be sure to enter BFA2012 in the Promotional Code section, and click "Apply" to activate the code. BFA earns 20 percent of the proceeds from each set of labels you order!
Vote for BFA!

Give with Target
The Give with Target program is in the home stretch. BFA can receive up to $10,000 from Target simply by voting on Facebook. 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 525 votes. So, get out there and vote for BFA!

Board of Directors Minutes  

 

Find the latest BFA Board of Directors minutes by clicking here.

Important Dates
  • Calendar Clip Art Destination ImagiNation Kick-Off Meeting: 6-7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 12, Room 145
  • DCSD Community Night: FC Dallas vs. Colorado Rapids, 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 14, Dick's Sporting Goods Park
  • BFF Social: Drop off-10 a.m., Monday, Sept. 16, Super Target Starbucks
  • Spirit Day: Friday, Sept. 20  
  • Harvest Festival: 5-8:30 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 21, BFA
  • Flu Clinic: 2-3 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 24, BFA   
  • Middle School Restaurant Night: Lunch to close, Tuesday, Sept. 24, Pei Wei in Highlands Ranch  
  • STEM Expo: Thursday, Sept. 26, Gym
  • Dress of Choice Day: Thursday, Sept. 26
  • No School for Students (Teacher Work Day): Friday, Sept. 27 
  • Middle School Corn Maze Social: 7-10 p.m., Friday, Oct. 4, Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield
Upcoming Meetings
  • 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
  • Grant Committee: 9 p.m., Monday, Sept. 16, Conference Call  
  • Marketing Community Outreach (MCO): 6:30 p.m, Tuesday, Oct. 1, Library  
  • Finance Committee: 5 p.m., Monday, Oct. 7, Library
  • Board of Directors: 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 8, Library
  • Green Team Committee: 4:15 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 9 

Middle School Athletics  

  • Girls' Volleyball: 
    • 4 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 12, at Aspen Academy   
    • 4 p.m., Monday, Sept. 16, at BFA vs. Southeast Christian 
    • 4 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 17, at BFA vs. Platte River Academy 
    • 4 p.m., Thursday, Sept 19, at BFA vs. Legacy 
    • 4 p.m., Friday, Sept 20, at BFA  vs. Southeast Christian 
  • Boys' Soccer:    
    • 4 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 12, at Platte River Academy vs. North Star Academy 
    • 4 p.m., Tuesday, Sept 17, at Challenge to Excellence
    • 4 p.m., Thursday Sept 19, at SkyView Academy  
  • Cross Country:
    • Slaven's Meet, Friday, Sept. 13, at Harvard Gulch Park
    • Panther Invitational, Thursday, Sept. 19, at Botanic Gardens at Chatfield 
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.