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Ben Franklin Academy NewsletterVol. 3, Iss. 30
November 2013
In This Issue
:: Where Is Ben? | Veterans Day | BFA Thanksgiving Feast | Lucent Station Community Meeting
:: Green Schools Summit | Break a World Record? | NJHS and House of Hope | 5-A-Day Challenge
:: BFA Goes Pink | BFA Facebook Page | High School Open Houses | Timbuk Toys FUNdraiser
:: Ben's Brigade | Pinterest Night | Street Smarts at SouthGlenn | PTO Gives Back | Important Dates
missionstatement

Dear Parents,  

 

You can find it on the Ben Franklin Academy website, you can see it when you enter the school. It drives everything we do at BFA. What is "it" I am referring to? Is it the welcoming environment that we have created here, or is it the sense that all of our students really enjoy coming to school and learning? While those are very evident at BFA, they are incorrect answers. I am referring to BFA's mission and vision.

 

A mission statement is important to any organization, especially a school. This statement provides a brief description of BFA's fundamental purpose and answers the question, "Why do we exist?" The mission statement articulates BFA's purpose both for those within the organization and for the public.

BFA's mission statement is as follows:  

 

Our mission is to develop young adults with character like America's founding Renaissance man, Benjamin Franklin: well-read, scientifically curious, and civically engaged.

 

Our goal at Ben Franklin Academy is to provide an outstanding education to all students. We teach and reinforce the school's 13 virtues; emphasize science, technology, literacy and math; and provide many opportunities for students to give back to the school or community. We encourage students to "stay curious" and continually ask questions. Kids' minds are like sponges, and we want to fill their minds with valuable information and encourage them to become lifelong learners.

  

A vision statement is sometimes called a picture of an organization, but it's so much more than that. A vision statement is our inspiration, the framework for all our strategic planning.  BFA's vision statement articulates our dreams and hopes for the school and your child. It reminds you of what you are trying to build.  BFA's vision is as follows:

 

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.

 

There is so much in BFA's vision statement, and we strive every day to implement it with fidelity. The Core Knowledge Sequence provides the challenging and sequenced curriculum. We set high expectations for all of our students and provide the tools and resources for all students to achieve these expectations. All teachers and staff at BFA truly believe that all students can achieve at a high level. To accomplish this, teachers look at the many assessment data points that they receive on each student. This information is used to guide instruction and to differentiate instruction for all of our students. Accountability is key as well.  The bottom line of why BFA exists is to educate and academically grow kids to the best of our ability. We provide ongoing training opportunities for the staff. They are trained on best practices and provided time to meet with colleagues to discuss what may be working or not working in a particular grade. The administration team observes and evaluates teachers to make sure they are staying true to the mission and vision of the school. We have excellent teachers at BFA; our goal is to make them even better. Finally, a child's educational experience is not complete without art, music, PE, technology and character education.   

 

It is extremely important for us to stay true to our mission and vision. Everything from BFA's strategic plan to the curriculum we use at school follows our mission and vision. Doing this will ensure that we continually provide the best education possible for your child.  

Where is Ben? Where is Ben

 

Don't forget to upload those great pictures from Fall Break of your excursions with Ben. You may upload via the BFA website here

 

Contest entries must be received by TODAY, Friday, Nov. 1. All pictures will be posted on the BFA Facebook page and BFA website. Contest winner(s) will get a gift certificate to AMC and some great BFA gear.  

 

Remember, curiosity can be inspired at any location, far or near, show us how you Stay Curious!

BFA Thanksgiving Feast  
Please join us for a Thanksgiving feast on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at BFA in the lunch room. Non-student meal tickets must be purchased before Thursday, Nov. 7. This includes any person who is joining his/her student(s) for lunch and planning to have a turkey meal. Students do not need to pre-pay. Please fill out the bottom portion of the enclosed flyer and return it to the cafeteria, front office or your student's teacher by Nov. 7 with cash or check (made out to Nutrition Services). Tickets are $4 each, and will be delivered to your youngest and/or only student. To ensure everyone has an enjoyable time and to ease the speed of the lunch lines, all guests must have their lunch ticket when they enter the cafeteria. We cannot accept payment at the cash register for non-student meals, and student accounts cannot be used to purchase guest meals. We look forward to seeing you there! 
Green Schools Summit 2013 Green Schools Summit
BFA Students to Present at Upcoming Conference

Academic Director Jason Cochrane, a group of BFA middle school Student Council members and the BFA Green Team will speak from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., Friday, Nov. 8, at the Green Schools Summit, located at the University of Denver. Their presentation, entitled 4 Steps to Successfully Implementing Sustainability Initiatives, will discuss how 
campus administrators and students journey through a four-phase process to successfully integrate resource efficient initiatives on campus and achieve goals for creating a better environment.
 BFA will be the only presentation with students.
 
Full-time employees of BFA and the Douglas County School District may attend the summit for free. For more information and to register for the summit, click here. Additionally, there are four spots available for parents who would like to attend. Contact Tiffany Beffel, BFA Green Team, via email if you are interested.  
NJHS and House of Hope
NJHS
BFA's NJHS chapter visits House of Hope.

BFA's National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) chapter recently visited House of Hope, a shelter for women and children. It houses up to 13 families for periods up to three months while they regroup and look for work.  

 

BFA students prepared, provided and served all of the food for a special pancake breakfast and compassionately let the mothers and children at the shelter know they are special even when going through a hard time. The students' participation demonstrates BFA's 13 virtues, as they acted with humility, resolution, industry, sincerity and justice. The mothers and children who were served showed much graciousness for the extra attention. 


To read more about BFA's NJHS work at the House of Hope and upcoming service projects, please click here
BFA Goes Pink

 

Thank you to all the wonderful students, staff and teachers that joined us last week for BFA Goes Pink. We had amazing participation for a wonderful cause. Check out more photos here
High School Open Houses
       

Valor HS Valor Open House      
Join us and hear how a Valor education is impacting the lives of high school students at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 7, in the Athletic Building. You can tour the campus, meet student ambassadors, faculty and staff; experience a sample teaching session; sign-up for a Shadow Day with a current students; talk to coaches and athletic staff; and apply! For more information, click here

TRHS ThunderRidge Showcase
Eighth grade prospective families are invited to ThunderRidge High School (TRHS) for an Academic Showcase from 6-8 p.m., Monday, Dec. 9, in the TRHS main gym. Teachers, students, parents and administration will provide valuable information aimed at empowering parents as they select the best academic environment for their high school students. The evening will include detailed sessions covering the following: 
  • Academic Pathways at TRHS
  • IB - International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
  • AP - Advanced Placement courses
  • Career and Technical Education courses 
  • Academic Intervention programs
  • Learning Support Services
For more information, click here or contact Irene Apostolopoulos, TRHS, at (303) 387-2205.
Ben's Brigade is a Win-Win-Win Uncle Sam
      
Calling all BFA dads, granddads, uncles and male role models, join Ben's Brigade for the Denver Broncos vs. San Diego Chargers game:
  • Kickoff: 2:25 p.m.
  • Sunday, Nov. 10
  • Bar Louie at Streets of SouthGlenn

Win for you: 13 big screen TVs, drink specials and most appetizers are half price.

 

Win for your family: You will be meeting other BFA dads and people who influence your child's life. Also, your cheering won't be waking anyone during nap time.

Win for BFA: BFA will receive double points through the Street Smarts program for all receipts from Bar Louie.
 
To sign up and reserve your spot, click here.
PTO Gives Back PTO Logo
        

One of the goals of BFA's PTO is to provide funding for extra projects at school that enhance the learning experience of our students. Here are some of the highlights from this month:
  • Teacher Resource Library 
  • PA system to be used for choir, musicals and other programs in the gym
  • Gaga ball pit for the playground
  • Sink for the art room
  • Phonics and sound activities for the kindergarten classes
  • Additional equipment for the playground
Veterans Day american-flag-wavy.jpg   
 
BFA's Nov. 11 Veterans Day Celebration is right around the corner!
  

Veterans Wall of Honor

Pictures from all of the flyers turned in will be scanned for inclusion in a video presentation displayed at the Veterans Day assemblies.  

 

Honor Flight: One Last Mission

Join us right before car pool from 3-3:25 p.m., next week - Tuesday, Nov. 5, through Thursday, Nov. 7 - to help raise funds for Honor Flight. MCO volunteers will be walking the car pool lines to collect your donations. For every $1 raised, a flag will be placed along the BFA car pool lanes to guide our special veteran guests to the assembly programs on Nov. 11. Honor Flight Network is a non-profit organization created solely to honor America's veterans for all their sacrifices. They transport our heroes to Washington, D.C., to visit and reflect at their memorials. It costs $850 to send one veteran on this trip. As a community, we would like to do our part to make this happen for one of our nation's veterans. For more information about this program, email the MCO. To read about Honor Flight, click here.   

 

Assembly Programs and Veterans Reception

Veterans and parents are welcome to join us at
9 a.m. (K-3 grades) or 1:30 p.m. (4-8 grades), on Veterans Day, Monday, Nov. 11. A special reception will be held for Veterans in the BASE room 30 minutes before each program.

 

Volunteers

With any large event, we are in need of volunteers.  If you are available, please sign up here. Adult, student and family opportunities are available.

Lucent Station Community Meeting Lightrail

The next community meeting for the Lucent Boulevard Station Area Master Plan (STAMP) is scheduled from 6:30-8:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 5, at the Highlands Ranch Library, Shea A Room (9292 S. Ridgeline Blvd.). The STAMP will identify future land uses to create a Transit Oriented Development (e.g., RTD light rail station) near BFA. The meeting will address traffic and pedestrian concerns and improvements. Please click here for more information.

Want to Break a World Record?  BASE logo


There is going to be a fun Speed Stacking Contest on Thursday, Nov. 14, during BASE. We will be taking part in attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the "Most People Sport Stacking at Multiple Locations in One Day" - World's Largest Sport Stacking Event.

 

BASE is looking for 28 students who would like to participate. We will start speed stacking at 4:30 p.m. and end at 5 p.m. If your child is interested, please e-mail Leigh Savoy. First come, first served.   

5-A-Day challenge 5-A-Day Challenge 

 

The Fruits and Veggies Challenge is underway! Tuesday was the official kickoff for the event where BFA students were treated to a variety of prepared fruits and veggies, as well as cider, from Douglas County School District (DCSD) Chef Jason Morse, CEC. BFA was chosen as one of the kickoff schools and was mentioned Tuesday morning on Good Day Colorado. Check out the BFA Facebook page in the upcoming days for a link the piece.

 

If you're looking for a way to encourage great nutrition fundamentals for your kids and help BFA, consider taking the "Put-Away-5-A-Day" challenge now through Thursday, Dec. 12. Kids fill out the attached form and start tracking their vegetables for a chance to win various individual prizes and an elementary-wide all-expense paid gourmet luncheon.

DCSD Chef Jason MorseJunior Chefs
DCSD Chef Jason Morse and BFA junior chefs kickoff the 5-A-Day Challenge at BFA. 
BFA Facebook Page

The BFA official Facebook page is nine "Likes" away from our goal of 500. If you haven't already liked the page, come join us today (click here) for official news from BFA. 

The BENefit Bash Wants You!BENefit Bash
    
Do you have an uncanny knack for obtaining something for nothing? Were you blessed with the gift of gab? Do you think outside the box? Are you lacking in volunteer hours and want a fun way to earn them? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, then we want you!

The BENefit Bash procurement team is looking for volunteers to help with soliciting items for the silent auction. We need people who can pound the pavement, work the phones and tap the keyboard. Please contact Tiffani Titus
if you are interested, and we will get this party started!
Timbuk Toys FUNdrasier  TimbuckToys
      
The BFA/Timbuk Toys FUNdraiser will take place Friday, Nov. 8, through Sunday, Nov. 17. Anyone who wants to participate in the fundraiser can shop at any of the Timbuk Toys locations or purchase products online. When making your purchase in a store, remember to mention BFA; when placing an order online, please type "Ben Franklin Academy FUNdraiser" in the comment box. The more people shopping that mention our school, the more funds we will raise. Get your holiday shopping done early, and support BFA!
Pinterest Night
 
Do you love pinning things on Pinterest, but never have the time to actually do any of the fun projects? You're not alone! Join us for BFA's Pinterest Night from 6:30-8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 21, in the Middle School Commons Area, where you can enjoy pizza and refreshments while working on your holiday crafts! If you would like to attend, please email the PTO with your RSVP. 
Street Smarts at SouthGlenn southglenfundraising        
When you sign up for the Street Smarts email, BFA will receive 1,000 points!

 

Visit shoppingpartnership.com, click on Shopping Centers and select The Streets at SouthGlenn. It will ask for your email address and name. After you submit your information, you will be sent an email. Please open and click on the link to confirm; once you do so, BFA gets 1,000 points!  

 

BFA is one of 20 schools in the metro area that gets to participate in the Street Smarts for Southglenn program. If BFA ends up being the school with the most points, we can earn $2,500 for the school.

 

Don't have time to turn in your receipts from shopping or dining? If you don't need the receipts returned, we now have a box you can turn in receipts in the office. It is located by the name badges.  

  Important Dates Calendar Clip Art
  • Stay Curious Photo Contest Deadline: Friday, Nov. 1
  • DCSD Gifted and Talented Discovery Program Parent Information Nights: Wednesday, Nov. 6, and Thursday, Nov. 7 
  • Deadline to Purchase Tickets for BFA Thanksgiving Feast: Thursday, Nov. 7 
  • Valor Open House: 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 7, Athletic Building
  • BFA Presentation at Green Schools Summit: 11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., Friday, Nov. 8, University of Denver 
  • Timbuk Toys FUNdraiser: Nov. 8-17 
  • Veterans Day Celebration: 9 a.m. or 1:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 11  
  • Most People Sport Stacking at Multiple Locations in One Day: 4:30-5 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 14, BASE 
  • Deadline for BFA Sibling Enrollment: Friday, Nov. 15   
  • BFA Thanksgiving Feast: Wednesday, Nov. 20 
  • Pinterest Night: 6:30-8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 21, Middle School Commons Area  
  • ThunderRidge High School Showcase: 6-8 p.m., Monday, Dec. 9, TRHS Main Gym  
Upcoming Meetings     
  • Marketing Community Outreach (MCO): 6:30 p.m, Tuesday, Nov. 5, Library
  • Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Committee: Wednesday, Nov. 6, Sanders Science Lab
  • School Accountability Committee (SAC): 4 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 7, Conference Room
  • Finance Committee: 5 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 7, Library
  • Ben's Brigade: 2:25 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 10, Broncos vs. Chargers, Bar Louie (Streets at SouthGlenn)  
  • Board of Directors: 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 12, Sanders Science Lab
    • Find the latest BFA Board of Directors minutes by clicking here.
  • Green Team Committee: 4:15 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 13
  • Parent Teacher Organization (PTO): 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 14, Library

Middle School Athletics    

  • Boys' Basketball:
    • 4 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 5, at BFA vs. North Star Academy  
    • 4 p.m,. Thursday, Nov. 7, at BFA vs. SkyView 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.