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Ben Franklin Academy NewsletterVol. 3, Iss. 36
December 2013
In This Issue
:: Spreading Holiday Cheer | Lost and Found | Drop and Shop | Stay Active Over Break
:: Sign Up for Choir | BENefit Bash | Student Art Contest | Register for Girls Basketball | Important Dates
Winter snowflake
Dear Parents,

Happy holidays! I hope you, your families and loved ones have a great winter vacation and enjoy the time off together. I cannot believe just how quickly this year is going by. I am so happy to see BFA in such great standing in the community and, more importantly, to see just how good the students are performing. Every day, I am greeted by so many students with big smiles on their faces and who tell me just how much they like coming to school. I hope you all have a safe and wonderful holiday!

Don't forget: Tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 20, is dress of choice day. Winter Break is from Dec. 23 through Jan. 3, and the school will be closed during that time. 
Holiday Cheer
 
BFA National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) students recently spread holiday cheer at Porter Place, a senior living community connected to Porter Adventist Hospital. Many of the elderly residents have few, if any, holiday visitors, and they were very excited to see our well-spoken and enthusiastic youth.

Students played the piano, sang carols, visited with residents and gave everyone a handmade 
holiday card from our first and second graders, made in Mrs. Hinkle's art class.Our students not only experienced the joy of giving is better than receiving, but also the virtue of humility.  

All were humbled by the wonderful and funny people we met who so appreciated our reaching out and wishing them a happy holiday.
Sign Up for Winter/Spring Choir Music Notes

The Winter/Spring session of choir starts Wednesday, Jan. 8. Choir is open to all students in grades 3-8. Rehearsals are every Wednesday from 3:30-4:15 p.m. This year, the choir will go to their first festival at Elitch Gardens and sing for judges. We also will have a spring concert at BFA. To sign up, return the attached form to the music room with a check made out to BFA.
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.
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. 
Lost and Found
 
Please check the Lost and Found frequently. 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. 
Drop and Shop
 

The middle school is hosting a babysitting night on Saturday, Dec. 21, so parents can finish last-minute shopping. Additional information was provided in last week's Thursday folders.

Stay Active Over Break
 
Mrs. Bauer needs you to send in any pictures of ways your family stays active over Winter Break. In PE, classes are taught how important it is to stay active while spending time with family.

There is a bulletin board in the gym that discusses the many ways to stay active in the winter in Colorado. Examples on the board include skiing, cross country skiing, sledding, ice skating, snowshoeing, building a snowman and snowboarding. Mrs. Bauer would love to add pictures to the bulletin board of BFA families doing these activities over break. You can have your child bring in a 4x6 (or smaller) photo after break to Mrs. Bauer. Please make sure you label the picture if you want it back. You also are welcome to email Mrs. Bauer your photo. 
The BENefit Bash Wants You!
BENefit Bash
 
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! 
  Important Dates Calendar Clip Art
  • 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
  • Drop and Shop: Saturday, Dec. 21 
  • Winter Break: Dec. 23-Jan. 3   
  • Denver Nuggets Community Night: Doors open at 6 p.m. (game starts at 7 p.m.), Saturday, Jan. 25, Pepsi Center, Nuggets vs. Pacers   
  • Silent Auction Student Art Contest Artwork Due: Friday, Jan. 31 
  • Middle School Winter Dance: Friday, Jan. 31 
  • Father/Daughter Dance: Saturday, Feb. 1   
Upcoming Meetings        
  • Grant Committee: 9 p.m., Monday, Jan. 6, Teleconference  
  • Marketing and Community Outreach (MCO) Committee: 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 7
  • Green Team Committee: 4:15 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 8 
  • Finance Committee: 5 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 9, Conference Room
  • Parent Teacher Organization (PTO): 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 9, Library 
  • Board of Directors: 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 14, Library  
    • Find the latest BFA Board of Directors minutes by clicking here.
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.