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Ben Franklin Academy NewsletterVol. 3, Iss. 34
December 2013
In This Issue
:: Lunch Menu | Holiday Outreach Project | Extra Holiday Decor? | Used Uniform Sale | Additional Bus Stop
:: Teacher Appreciation Week | Lost and Found | Restaurant WEEK Out | Winter Bake Sale | Volunteer Appreciation
:: Online Directory | Breakfast with Santa | Box Tops | Veterans Day Follow-Up | BENefit Bash Art Contest
:: Girls Basketball | Nuggets Community Night | Preschool Enrollment | Important Dates

Dear Parents,

 

It's awards week at BFA! Mrs. Simpson and Mr. Cochrane have been busy recognizing students for their attendance, character and academic achievements. The following awards were presented:

 

In kindergarten and first and second grades, awards are distributed for perfect attendance. Perfect attendance is awarded for not being absent or having any tardies during the trimester. Each classroom also received a class award. These awards are presented in the classroom.

 

In third grade, students are recognized for perfect attendance and displaying our core virtues. Third grade also gives out a Principal's Award. Each classroom nominates a student they feel demonstrates our 13 virtues and also has high academic achievements. Out of the four nominees, one student is chosen as the Principal's Award winner. Third grade had an assembly for distributing their awards during specials.

 

In fourth and fifth grades, awards are presented for perfect attendance, displaying high character and the Principal's Award. Fourth and fifth graders are also recognized for Honor Roll and High Honor Roll. Honor Roll is for students who achieved a 3.5-3.75 Grade Point Average (GPA), and High Honor Roll is for students who achieved a 3.76-4.0 GPA during the first trimester.

 

In middle school, there are three academic awards in which students are recognized: Honor Roll, High Honor Roll and an Academic Achievement Award, which is for GPAs of 3.0-3.49. Seventh and eighth graders also can qualify for National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). To do so, students must have had a 3.33 (accumulative) GPA for the prior school year and commit to completing 10 hours of community service.

 

We are so proud of our students at BFA! They work hard and deserve recognition for their achievements.

Lunch Menu Has New Food ItemsHot Lunch

New items have been added to the lunch menu! Please make sure you review the menu with your child(ren). Every three months (or so), the lunch menu will be slightly modified. This time around, a specialty pizza is being offered on Mondays in addition to other selections. Cheese and pepperoni pizza will still be offered on Thursdays. Hamburgers and cheeseburgers will be served only every other Wednesday. If you have any questions, feel free to email Lisa Scronce, our Kitchen Manager. 
Extra Holiday Decor? 
 
Ms. Johnson is looking for holiday decorations for upcoming performances. Donate or lend some of your Christmas decorations with which to decorate the stage. Bring to the music room or office anytime.
Additional Highlands Ranch Bus StopSchool Bus
 
There will be an additional bus stop added to Bus Route 52/Horse. The stop is at Toeper Park, and the bus will pick up at 7:55 a.m. and approximately drop off at 3:45 p.m. The new stop is effective Monday, Dec. 9. Please have your student at the stop five minutes before pick up in the morning.

For a complete list of bus stop times, click here. If you have any questions, please contact Kathleen Orndorff at (303) 387-6156 or via email.
Teacher Appreciation Week

Teacher Appreciation Week is next week, Dec. 9-13. The PTO will provide lunches for the staff. Students can bring in thank you cards and/or treats to show their appreciation. Classrooms will be collecting donations for a holiday gift for their teachers with a small portion of those donations going towards gifts for the Specials teachers.
Wahoo's Restaurant WEEK Out
 

BFA's next Restaurant Fundraiser Event takes place all next week, Dec. 9-15, at Wahoo's Fish Taco in the Highlands Ranch Town Center. Wahoo's will donate 25 percent of incremental sales back to BFA. The more friends and family who come, the more BFA will get back!   

Online Directory Now Available Directory
  

BFA's school directory is now available on the BFA website by clicking here. The password is bfa.rocks$. 

Box Tops Update Box Tops Logo

The next Box Tops collection date is Wednesday, Dec. 18.

Veterans Day Follow-Up memorial_day12.jpg

The MCO was recently contacted by a veteran who came to the BFA Nov. 11 Veterans Day Celebration. He was overwhelmed with emotion as he shared that he never has been honored for his service the same way as he was honored by BFA. Thank you again for your wonderful support of our veterans! 

The BENefit Bash Wants You!
BENefit Bash
 

Student Art Contest

Do you have an artist at home? Students may participate in an art contest where winners creations will be placed in BFA's silent auction catalog. For more information and contest rules, click here. Artwork is due Friday, Jan. 31

 

Display Team
The BENefit Bash Display Team is looking for baskets, boxes, trunks, cellophane and basket filler. If you have these items in your basement or happen to receive any for the holidays, please donate them to the BENefit Bash today! We are currently starting our collection of these items and appreciate any assistance you can provide. For any questions or to say, "Hey, I have stuff I want to donate," please email Kimberly Kent.

Procurement Team

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 email Tiffani Titus
if you are interested, and we will get this party started! 
Preschool Enrollment  
 
Did you know BFA has a preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds? Enrollment for current BFA families is currently open;enrollment opens to the public on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014. If interested, please contact Kristen Goldberg, preschool director. 
Holiday Outreach Project   
Children's Hospital
South Campus
 

Thank you for your amazing and generous donations to the BFA 2014 Holiday Outreach to help our newest neighbor, Children's Hospital South Campus! We will continue to accept new arts/craft supplies through tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 6. The classroom that brings in the most items will receive the BFA Community Service trophy and donuts (including gluten free). 

 

Join us at 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 7, at the new Children's Hospital Community Open House where the MCO will deliver the art/craft supplies that you have generously donated. A picture of BFA students with the donation will be taken at 9:45 a.m. Please have your child(ren) wear his/her formal uniform and join us for this delivery while also taking an inside look at the new hospital. The BFA Choir also will be in attendance, singing to participants.
 
Used Uniform Sale clothing-boutique-sale.jpg
 

Stock up for winter while participating in BFA's Used Uniform Sale from 9-11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, in the Middle School Commons.  

 
Consignors need to bring clothing and their Item Sheet to the office by Friday, Dec. 6. Unsold items can be picked up at noon the day of the sale (Saturday, Dec. 14). Any items not picked up at this time will be sent home with students the following week. Proceeds will be mailed to consignors via check the following week.  

  • For Uniform Sale instructions, click here.
  • For the Item Sheet, click here.
Lost and Found
 
Please check the Lost and Found frequently - it has grown a lot over the last few days. There are a lot of lonely coats that would appreciate their owners keeping them company. All remaining items will be donated to a local charity before Winter Break, so be sure to check for any missing items by noon, Friday, Dec. 20. 
Winter Bake Sale 
 
Calling All Bakers: The Winter Bake Sale to benefit the middle school is set for Wednesday, Dec. 11, during lunch. Details to come.  
Volunteer Appreciation Reception thankyou_paper_hdr.jpg
 
The PTO is hosting a Volunteer Appreciation Reception at 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 12, to thank volunteers for giving of their time. Please RSVP to the PTO if you will attend. 
Breakfast with Santa  Santa
 

BFA is pleased to announce its First Annual Pancake Breakfast with Santa. All funds raised this year will help support the eigth grade students who are going on an exciting trip to Washington, D.C., in May.

 

The Annual Pancake Breakfast with Santa is an open house format from 8:30-11:30 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, at the North Pole (BFA's Gym). The event is to kick-off the holidays with a wonderful, magical family experience brought to you by BFA eighth graders. Enjoy a hot pancake breakfast served by Santa's elves, listen to holiday music, make decorations and don't forget your list! Santa will arrive during each seating to have the children tell him all their wishes.
 
la carte pricing is as follows:
  

  • Breakfast and crafts only: $10 per adult, $8 per child
  • Photos with Santa: $5 each
  • Family Pack (four or more): $35

Tickets will be available soon through the PTO website or at the door the day of the event.

Basketball Register for Girls Basketball   
      
Registration is now open for middle school girls basketball. For general information about Middle School Athletics and link to the girls basketball online registration, click here. You also will need to go to the Forms tab from the Middle School Athletics page to fill out two additional forms that are required for practice. If you turned in a medical form for the 2013-14 school year for a different sport, we still have it on file. You do not need to fill it out again. You must turn in a new vehicle authorization form, however, as the form is specific to each sport. Practice begins Monday, Jan. 6, 2014. 
Denver Nuggets Community Night
Denver Nuggets

The Douglas County Educational Foundation is sponsoring a Douglas County School District (DCSD) Denver Nuggets Community Night for the Nuggets vs. Indiana Pacers game at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.), Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, at the Pepsi Center. Discounted ticket prices are $19 each, and as a special incentive, $4 of every ticket sold benefits the DCSD school of your choice. To purchase tickets, click here.
  Important Dates Calendar Clip Art
  • Preschool Enrollment: Open to current BFA Families; opens to general public on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2014    
  • Donations for Holiday Outreach Project: Now through Friday, Dec. 6
  • Used Uniform Sale Clothing and Item Sheet Due: Friday, Dec. 6    
  • Children's Hospital South Campus Community Open House: Photo: 9:45 a.m.; Donation: 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 7
  • Teacher Appreciation Week: Dec. 9-13  
  • Restaurant Week Out: Dec. 9-15, Wahoo's Fish Taco, Highlands Ranch Town Center 
  • ThunderRidge High School Showcase: 6-8 p.m., Monday, Dec. 9, TRHS Main Gym
  • Winter Bake Sale: Lunch, Wednesday, Dec. 11  
  • A Holiday Moosical (3rd grade): 7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 11, Gym 
  • Volunteer Appreciation Reception: 6 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 12      
  • Spirit Day: Friday, Dec. 13  
  • National Geography Bee: 1:15 p.m., Friday, Dec. 13, Gym 
  • Pancake Breakfast with Santa: 8:30-11:30 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, Gym
  • Used Uniform Sale: 9-11 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, Middle School Commons
  • Box Tops Collection: Wednesday, Dec. 18    
  • Dress of Choice Day: Friday, Dec. 20  
  • Classroom Holiday Parties: Friday, Dec. 20 
  • Lost and Found Items Donated to Local Charity: Noon, Friday, Dec. 20  
  • Denver Nuggets Community Night: Doors open at 6 p.m. (game starts at 7 p.m.), Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, Pepsi Center, Nuggets vs. Pacers   
  • Silent Auction Student Art Contest Artwork Due: Friday, Jan. 31, 2014 
  • Middle School Winter Dance: Friday, Jan. 31, 2014   
Upcoming Meetings        
  • Finance Committee: 5 p.m., Monday, Dec. 9, Library
  • Grant Committee: 9 p.m., Monday, Dec. 9, Teleconference  
  • Board of Directors: 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 10, Sanders Science Lab (room 145) 
    • Find the latest BFA Board of Directors minutes by clicking here.
  • Green Team Committee: 4:15 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 11
  • Parent Teacher Organization (PTO): 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 12, Library  
  • Marketing and Community Outreach (MCO) Committee: 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014, Library  

Middle School Athletics    

  • Boys' Basketball:     
    • 4 p.m., Tuesday,  Dec. 10, at BFA vs. Platte River Academy
    • 4 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 11, at BFA vs. Southeast Christian  
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.