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Ben Franklin Academy NewsletterVol. 4, Iss. 5
February 2014
In This Issue
:: MS Science Fair Winners | MS Dance | Dress of Choice Day | Lunch Update | SAC Parent Survey
:: Free Dental Care | Scholastic Book Fair | Yearbooks on Sale | Free Movie Day | BENefit Bash
:: Restaurant Nights | BFA Service Day | Mother/Son Event | Student Art Contest | MCO Knows
:: Father/Daughter Dance Success | Volunteer of the Month | PTO Gives Back | Calendar
Communication
Dear Parents,

Communication is key to any organization, and Ben Franklin Academy (BFA) is no different. We have multiple communication channels, which could cause some confusion at times. To assist parents with the various communication methods BFA uses, we have created the following chart to assist you:

 

How We Communicate with Parents

To be sure your questions are answered and get the information you need, BFA leverages multiple communications channels. If you still have outstanding questions, please don't hesitate to contact your teacher or the front office. 

 

Communication Vehicle

When/Where It Is Shared

What Information It Contains

BFA Website 

Updated continuously

School news, celebrations, calendar/events, staff, parent and student resources, registration, child care, etc.

Principal (Thursday) Newsletters 

Emailed to parents on Thursday afternoon

Timely news, upcoming events, reminders, celebrations, messages from the principal.

Thursday Folder (paper)

Sent home in child's backpack each Thursday

Homework, completed assignments, permission slips, reminders and other classroom news.

Make A Payment 

Updated as needed

To make payments for electives, field trips, tuition/student fees, BASE, preschool, donations, carpool tags and middle school sports.

Gradelink 

Updated each Friday

After logging into Gradelink, parents and students can check grades and for missing work.

Classroom Websites/Emails

Teachers can update classroom site or distribute emails as often as they desire

Classroom information, teacher's biography and email.

BFA's Facebook Page 

Updated as needed

Shares school news, reminders, events, celebrations and key activities.

Douglas County School District (DCSD) Website 

As needed; updated regularly

School delays/closures; district policies and programs.

DCSD Website, Email Blast, Text and Teacher Phone Calls

As needed

Early dismissals due to weather/other issues.

Middle School Science Fair Winners
6th Grade Winners
Sixth Grade Winners
 

The Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Committee is pleased to announce the Middle School Science Fair winners. Once again, we had amazing and imaginative projects this year. The STEM Committee selected 22 students to attend the Regional Science Fair on Wednesday, March 5. The winners are as follows:
7th Grade Winners
Seventh Grade Winners 
  • Sixth Grade: Alexis Akins, Sasha Amiscary, Emily Estes, Samuel Pierson, Megan Sell and Aditya Vepa
  • Seventh Grade: Halle Cunningham, Lauren Jost, Andre Knapp, Theron Kramer, Mathew McCoy, Katie McKinnon, Zander Robinett, Zach Worthing and Beau Yaccino
    8th Grade Winners
    Eighth Grade Winners
  • Eighth Grade: Anna Clay, Inge Delius Cordova, Madison Duffy, Aubrey Gerkin, Kaitlin Smith, Sophia Whitaker and Josie Wiss
The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) covered the entry fees for all of the BFA attendees. The STEM Committee would like to acknowledge BFA's amazing science teachers Marty Denham and Brianna Burroughs. Thank you to Dawn Cseh, STEM Committee chair, for organizing such a successful event. (Click here to read the article online and view larger photos.)

Congratulations! 
Free Dental Care 
On Give Kids a Smile Day
  
Give Kids a Smile Day is a national program that provides kids with free dental treatment and education. This is an event to help children without access to dental care.

Children without dental insurance from families who cannot afford dental care are invited to attend Give Kids a Smile Day, tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 7, at the University of Colorado (CU) School of Dental Medicine (13065 E. 17th Ave., Aurora, 80045). For additional information, click here.
Yearbook Yearbooks on Sale
 
Yearbook Sales
BFA yearbooks are available for purchase at $25 each until Tuesday, April 1.
If ordering three or more yearbooks, the price is $23 each.

April 1 is the absolute last day to purchase a yearbook - NO EXCEPTIONS.

Yearbook Dedications
You also may purchase yearbook dedications until Saturday, March 1

Dedications Info:
  • Kindergarten through Seventh Grade: $10 each, 150 character limit, no pictures
  • Eighth Grade: $15 each, 150 character limit, picture can be included
To purchase yearbooks and dedications, click here. Email dedications and pictures (if applicable) here. Please indicate your child(ren)'s grade level when submitting the dedication/picture.
Wanted: Unique BENefit Bash Experiences/Items and Advertisers     
BENefit Bash 2014    
Are you looking for ways to help with the BENefit Bash but aren't sure how?

The Silent Auction team is looking for unique experiences and items to be auctioned off at the BENefit Bash. Please contact Tiffani Titus if you:
  • Know a pro athlete, civic leader and/or politician who would be willing to provide a meet-and-greet and/or lunch; donate one hour of instruction and/or behind-the scenes look at his/her profession; provide a private tour to sport venues, breweries or other interesting locales; or any other unique experience.
  • Personally are interested in hosting an experience (e.g. golf day for dads, BFA family barbecue, etc.).
In addition, the Silent Auction team is looking for advertisers for the BENefit Bash catalog. Advertising in the catalog is a great way to market to our parent community and show your support to BFA. For more information, contact Tiffani Titus
   
The next Silent Auction Committee meeting is at 6:30 p.m., Monday, Feb. 17
Mother/Son Event
 
BFA's annual Mother/Son Event is coming up soon. This year will be a fun hoedown with lasso lessons, line dancing and a mechanical bull! So, put on your cowboy gear and mosey on down to BFA's gym from 5:30-9:30 p.m., Saturday, March 8.

Tickets must be purchased in advance through the BFA Store (sales end Wednesday, March 5). Cost is $20 per "couple" and $8 for each additional son. Price include
s all events, a BBQ dinner and a trip to the photo booth.

Volunteers are needed to make this event a success. Specifically, we need some men to help set up and take down the mechanical bull. Please view the SignUp Genius here

Father/Daughter Dance Success
 

The Father/Daughter Dance had a great turnout, and everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves. A special thank you to Kara Tefft and photographers Cheri Anderson and Lori Kraft.

Volunteer of the Month
Volunteer of the Month 

The
 Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) highlights one volunteer each month who has gone above and beyond in his/her contributions to the school. This volunteer receives recognition in this newsletter and on the school website. S/he also has the privilege to park in one 
of our reserved parking spaces.


For February, we have chosen Kevin Koslov. You may have seen him in Zone B helping with car pool in the mornings. Kevin makes the car pool experience fun for the children with his great hat collection. He is always making sure the kids get out safely and helps the younger ones with the car door and their backpacks.   

When asked what he likes most about BFA, Kevin responded, "
From the first day our daughter Kaelynn entered Ben Franklin Academy for preschool, my wife, Gail, and I knew what a truly special place it is.  Everyone in BFA makes it their mission not just to educate each child but to inspire, care for and motivate them, enriching their lives. The commitment of everyone at BFA is simply outstanding, and it has made such a difference to each child lucky enough to attend. It is such a joy to play a small part to help such a wonderful school.  We are truly blessed to have our daughter at BFA."


Thank you, Kevin, for all that you do!  For more information about volunteering, please click here.

Middle School Dance Middle School Dance  

BFA's first Middle School dance - Neon Bash - is from 7-10 p.m.,
tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 7. Cost is $5 per person (middle school students only). Prizes will be awarded for the best neon costumes, and additional trinkets will be available for purchase at the dance.  
Dress of Choice Day  

Next Thursday, Feb. 13, is dress of choice day.
Lunch Update lunch bag
  

When signing up to volunteer for lunch, please go to Help Counter and click on "Check the Calendar for Upcoming Opportunities to Volunteer."  

 

Also, there is an open position for a Kitchen Manager at BFA on the Douglas County School District (DCSD) website (click here, choose "Current Employees" or "External Candidates" and type in "Ben Franklin Academy" in the keyword search box) and a Lunch/Recess Assistant position posted on the BFA website (click here to view). 

SAC Parent Survey Survey
 

It is Parent Survey time again! Help make BFA an even better school by filling out the School Accountability Committee's (SAC) survey.  

 

Please complete one Parent Satisfaction Survey per family expressing your thoughts and opinions regarding the current BFA academic year. The survey should take five to 10 minutes to complete. Click here to access the survey. Please complete it by Monday, Feb. 17.

 

Four families who complete the survey will be randomly selected for a $50 gift card to local Highlands Ranch restaurants. Please note: You must include your BFA family number on the survey to be eligible for the drawing.

Thank you so much for your participation and valuable input! 

Scholastic Book Fair Book Fair
 

BFA is hosting its Winter/Spring Book Fair Feb. 11-13. Hope to see you there!

  • 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 11
  • 11 a.m. - 4 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 12
  • 11 a.m. - 8 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 13

Please note: Though the Book Fair will be open, entry into the building will not be allowed between 
3-4 p.m. because of car pool. Re-entry will be allowed immediately following "all call," which is at approximately 4 p.m.

Free Movie Day 
movie-ticket.jpg
      

To show our appreciation for the parent community, BFA's Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is hosting a FREE movie at 10 a.m., Valentine's Day, Friday, Feb. 14, at the Elvis Theatre in Littleton (6014 S. Kipling Pkwy., 80127).

 

The family movie (either G or PG) will be announced on Wednesday, Feb. 12. To RSVP for tickets, click here and include the number of attendees.  

 

Please note: The movie is for BFA families only. Tickets are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.  

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Lil' Ricci's Restaurant Nights
  
BFA's next Restaurant Nights are from Thursday, Feb. 20, through Saturday, Feb. 22. Lil' Ricci's will donate a percentage of all receipts back to BFA, so mark your calendars!
serviceday BFA Service Day      
   

Looking for a great family opportunity to serve?

The Marketing and Community Outreach (MCO) Committee and Ben's Brigade have just the event for you!

 

Please have you and your family join us from
9-11 a.m., Saturday, March 1
, at BFA.
The service projects we will be working on include preparing sandwiches for the Coalition for the Homeless,

decorating grocery store bags for Earth Day and cleaning up the outside of the school.

 

Ben's Brigade is calling all dads to bring their tools and know-how to help work on things around the

school that need a little TLC. Ben's Brigade will be working in shifts from 9-11 a.m. and 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

 

With this being a family service event, parents must remain with their children at all times. To sign up, click here.

Student Art Contest

Thank you for all of the art submissions! The Parent Teacher Organization will be reviewing them and choosing a winner to be announced soon.
MCO Knows Question mark
  
Q: When is the BFA Board of Directors meeting and who can attend this meeting?

 

A: The BFA Board of Directors (Board) holds its regular meetings on the second Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at BFA. Board meetings are open to the public and are conducted in compliance with Colorado Open Meetings Requirements.  All are welcome to attend. The time and location of all Board meetings are posted on the BFA website calendar.  

 

Because BFA recognizes that community members may be unable to attend the Board meetings in person, the meeting is being "broadcast" on a trial basis by listen-only teleconference. Call-in information will be listed on the top of the agenda for each meeting. To access past and current Board agendas, click here.  


Each week, the Marketing and Community Outreach (MCO) Committee will have a Q&A in this newsletter regarding policies or procedures at BFA. If you have questions you need answered related to BFA policies or procedures, please email the MCO. Your question will be answered via email and possibly used in a future Q&A.
PTO Gives Back PTO Logo
 

One of the goals of BFA's Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is to provide funding for extra projects at school that enhance the learning experience of students.

 

The PTO has chosen to sponsor BFA students participating in the Destination ImagiNation (DI) tournament this spring. DI is an international program to encourage critical and creative thinking. You can find information on the program by clicking here. We are proud to support our students and encourage their learning opportunities outside the classroom. All of this is made possible by your generous donations to the PTO events, like the BENefit Bash  and ongoing programs.  

Important Dates / Calendar of EventsCalendar Clip Art
  • Middle School Winter Dance: 7-10 p.m., Friday, Feb. 7   
  • Give Kids a Smile Day: Friday, Feb. 7, CU School of Dental Medicine (13065 E. 17th Ave., Aurora, 80045)   
  • Parent/Teacher Conferences: 4-8 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 11, and Thursday, Feb. 13
  • TCAP (Third Grade Reading): Tuesday, Feb. 11, through Wednesday, Feb. 12
  • Scholastic Book Fair: Tuesday, Feb. 11, through Thursday, Feb. 13 
  • Box Tops Collection: Wednesday, Feb. 12
  • Valentine's Day Parties: Thursday, Feb. 13
  • Dress of Choice Day: Thursday, Feb. 13 
  • Teacher Work Day (No School for Students): Friday, Feb. 14
  • Free Movie Day: 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 14, Elvis Theater (6014 S. Kipling Pkwy., Littleton)
  • Presidents' Day Holiday (No School): Monday, Feb. 17
  • SAC Parent Survey Due: Monday, Feb. 17 
  • Jump Rope for Heart: Wednesday, Feb. 19, and Thursday, Feb. 20  
  • Lil' Ricci's Restaurant Nights: Thursday, Feb. 20, through Saturday, Feb. 22 
  • Deadline for MCO Committee Chair Nominations: Midnight, Saturday, March 1 
  • Mother/Son Event Ticket Sales Deadline: Wednesday, March 5 
  • Mother/Son Event: 5:30-9:30 p.m., Saturday, March 8, Gym      
  • Yearbook Sales Deadline: Tuesday, April 1  
Upcoming Meetings        
  • School Accountability Committee (SAC): 4 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 6, Conference Room
  • Parent Teacher Organization (PTO): 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 6, Library 
  • Finance Committee: 5 p.m., Monday, Feb. 10, Library  
  • Board of Directors: 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 11, Library
    • Find the latest BFA Board of Directors minutes by clicking here.    
  • Green Team Committee: 4:15 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 12   
  • Grant Committee: 9 p.m., Monday, Feb. 17, Teleconference
  • Marketing and Community Outreach (MCO) Committee: 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 4, Library
  • Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Committee: Wednesday, March 5, Sanders Science Lab (room 145)

Middle School Athletics     

  • Girls' Basketball:  
    • 4 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 6, at Legacy   
    • 4 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 12, at BFA vs. SkyView Academy   
    • 4 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 18, at Aspen Academy
    • 4 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 20, at BFA vs. Platte River 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.