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Ben Franklin Academy NewsletterVol. 4, Iss. 27
October 2014
In This Issue
:: Spirit Day | Apex Fun Run | Board Corner | Open Enrollment | Breast Cancer Awareness | Yearbooks on Sale
:: MS Halloween Party | Veterans Day Celebration | SouthGlenn Spooky Streets | Punkin' Chunkin' | NJHS Update
:: Ben's Brigade Social | Download Flyers to Smartphone | BFA Directory App | Volunteer of the Month | Lunch Safety
:: Spirit Wear | Fall Break/No School | DCSD Night at Rapids | Fire Safety | Calendar
Cleanliness
Dear Parents,

October Virtues of the Month

The virtues of the month for October are order and cleanliness. Teaching about the virtues and using them in daily interactions is something the staff at BFA tries to do consistently in order for all students to understand and appreciate the virtues. Many of BFA's teachers do some amazing things to accomplish this goal, such as the following: 
  • Middle school students cleaned out their lockers and organized their binders.
  • Ms. Goldin's elective class has created animations using the software Frames - they can be viewed by clicking here.  
  • Mrs. Gibson's seventh grade advisory class is helping Mrs. Van Wyk's fourth grade class by showing their character crests that they made. They will then assist the fourth grade students in creating their own character crests. Each character crest must include three virtues that exemplify their own character. 
  • Ms. Rodda's fifth grade class is having parents give short presentations about the monthly virtue. The students then try to implement that virtue in their daily classroom experience. It has been impactful for the students to see parents explain the virtues and demonstrated at home as well. One parent spoke on cleanliness and captured the students' interest with entertaining examples of hygienic standards throughout history. Another parent led a class discussion where students concluded that cleanliness would help them organize and achieve their personal best - both at home and school. 
  • Finally, as another way of showcasing our virtue of the month, we have installed a new sign that displays that month's virtue in front of the school. It is attached to the light pole and will always display the current virtue of the month.

Lucky Number Seven?

What comes to mind when I say (or write) the number seven? It may be your lucky number, or it may be the number of months until summer break. Yesterday, for me, the number seven was the number of drivers I saw on cell phones during car pool. I cannot state this more emphatically; there is NEVER a reason you should be on your cell phone while in car pool. It is not safe. It is a proven fact that drivers on cell phones are distracted and more likely to cause an accident. It only takes a second for a distracted driver to hit a car or kid. Kids will be kids and may not always be as focused as best they can. As a parent, it is your responsibility to be fully aware during car pool. We are doing this for the protection of all students, including your own. Thank you for partnering with us and being committed to staying off your phone during car pool. Let's have the number seven represent the number of smiling faces on car pool volunteers as we see zero people on their phones (or any other device that can be distracting).  

Megaphone
Spirit Day
     
Spirit Day is tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 24. Students are allowed to wear a spirit wear T-shirt (includes former Field Day T-shirts) along with their uniform bottoms of choice. If your child chooses not to wear a spirit wear T-shirt, s/he must be in full uniform. 
bills_coins.jpg
Board Corner
 
The following message is from Kent Barwind, at-large director, BFA Board of Directors.

BFA has recently completed its financial audit, and we are pleased to report that the school continues to maintain a strong financial position. One of the biggest challenges for new schools is the ability to reach and maintain a strong financial position to facilitate continued investment in its students. With the work of the administration, teachers and the entire BFA community, we have put BFA on a solid financial path. It is important to note that this would not be possible without all of the support from the committees and parents, including those who volunteer substantial time and contribute financially. On behalf of the Board, we want to thank our community for helping BFA achieve financial stability and continuing to provide a great education 
for our children.  
Open Enrollment  

  

BFA is now accepting open enrollment applications for the 2015-16 school year. If you are planning on enrolling a sibling of a currently enrolled student, please fill out the Intent to Enroll form by clicking here AND notify Kari Beers, registrar, via email by Friday, Nov. 7. If you notify the registrar after Nov. 7, you will be placed after the lottery is held and may not receive a spot. For more information about BFA's open enrollment or the lottery in general, please click here.   

 

BFA will host prospective parent information meetings/tours on the following dates:

  • 6:30 p.m, Tuesday, Oct. 28
  • 9:30 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 20
Help Wanted Middle School Halloween Party

  

Halloween is nearly here! Our party planning elective has helped us plan a super awesome Fear Factor Halloween party, but we need your help! To sign up for (some weird) donations, click here. Label the donations "Karen Kopp," and bring them to the Halloween box in the Commons by Wednesday, Oct. 29.

 

If you have questions or would like to help, please contact Karen Kopp. This is bound to be fun! 

VeteransDay

Veterans Day Celebration 


BFA has many ways for you to participate in this year's Veterans Day celebration:

 

Veterans Wall of Honor

Each year we display the military service branch flags along the hallway between the main doors and the gymnasium. We also like to display pictures and stories from students about veterans close to their hearts as the BFA Veterans Wall of Honor. This year, to keep our school green, families can download the form directly from the BFA website rather than receiving a paper copy in Thursday folders. Click here to download the flyer. All flyers need to be returned to the school by Friday, Nov. 7.

 

Veterans Slide Show

We will be collecting digital pictures of veterans for use at this year's assemblies. You may upload these pictures on the BFA website by clicking here. Please upload your photos by Sunday, Nov. 2, to be included in the slide show. 

 

Donations on Behalf of Military Families
During the week of Nov. 3-7, we will be collecting candy to send to active service members overseas. We also will be collecting new toys to be given to soldiers' families within Colorado and Wyoming. Additional information about these donation drives and our charity partners will be provided next week.

 

Veterans Celebration Community Service Day

From 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Nov. 8, BFA will be open to provide BFA families opportunities to be involved with our Veterans Day festivities. We will be decorating the school, placing flags along the car pool lanes and making paracord survival bracelets for active military members. Service activities will be offered in one-hour blocks of time and are open to all families. To sign up, click here. Let's fill the school with BFA families who are ready to honor those who serve our country!

 

Assembly Programs and Veterans Reception

Veterans and BFA parents are welcome to join us at our Veterans Day assembly programs on Tuesday, Nov. 11:

  • 9 a.m., Grades K-4
  • 1:30 p.m., Grades 5-8

We will be featuring Chief Warrant Officer 4 Kyle Sylvester of the U.S. Army who will speak about his 20-plus year career as a helicopter and jet plane pilot. A special reception will be held for veterans 30 minutes prior to each program.

 

Veterans Day Volunteers

To help with our donation drives, assistance with the veterans' special receptions or during the Veterans' Day Assemblies, please sign up here.

 

Please plan to join us in our largest community service celebration of the year! 

BensBrigade
Ben's Brigade Social  

Calling all BFA dads, granddads, uncles and male role models, join Ben's Brigade for the 

Denver Broncos vs. Oakland Raiders game at 2:05 p.m. kickoff, Sunday, Nov. 9, at Lil' Ricci's Pizza (44 W. Centennial, Highlands Ranch, 80129). Reserve your spot by clicking here.  

 

Win for you: Watching the game live, lots of big screen TVs, and waitress won't tell you to get it yourself when you ask for a beverage and some food.

 

Win for your family: You will be meeting other BFA dads and people who influence your child's life. Also, you can take home a pizza after the game and you have dinner covered for the night.

 

Win for BFA: Percentage of all sales go back to BFA's PTO.

cellphone
Download Flyers to Your Smartphone
 
PTO flyers for events will now have QR codes on the flyer.  Scan the flyer with your smartphone, and it will add the event  to your calendar automatically. No need to keep track of the flyer - AND your calendar will alert you that day! It's just another way to help you organize, so download a QR code app today!

The following are suggested free apps to scan QR codes:
  • iPhone: QRReader, RedLaser and Shop Savvy QR Code Reader and Scanner 
  • Android phones: QR Droid Code Scanner or i-nigma Barcode Scanner 
saftey matters
Lunch Safety
     

As much as the lunch staff appreciates help at lunch, we cannot allow young children who do not attend BFA in the lunch room. It could be a potentially dangerous environment, especially during setup and cleanup. Thank you for helping us keep your little ones safe! 

Climbing Wall Waiver    Climbing Wall
   

In October, BFA students will begin using the climbing wall during P.E. this month. K-2 students will use the bouldering section of the wall. Students in grades 3-5 will will use the bouldering and vertical sections. When students use the vertical section, they will be in a harness and belayed by a certified BFA staff member.   

 

For your child(ren) to participate on the climbing wall, you must click here to complete the online waiver for each of your children at BFA. (You do not need to print out the Google form, just fill it out online. If you haven't filled it out already, please do so as soon as possible.)    

 

If you have any questions, email Mrs. Bauer

Apex Fun Run Apex Fun Run
 
Let's get excited for BFA's major fundraiser of the year, the Apex Fun Run! The kids are excited, so let's support them and our teachers, and pledge today! The Apex Fun Run will be held Thursday, Oct. 30

Information came home Oct. 21 in your child's lanyard. Please log onto the Apex Fun Run website by clicking here, enter your child's personalized access code, get registered and pledge. There is NO BENefit Bash (dinner and silent auction) this year, so think about what you would have spent on tickets, babysitting and auction items, and consider pledging that amount. Plus, please ask grandparents, aunts/uncles, friends, etc., to sponsor your child by making a pledge. The more that is pledged, the better for BFA.

BFA students will have lots of fun running on Oct. 30. Please join us - by volunteering or cheering on the kids! For more information, click here to read Principal Barber and the PTO's letter. To volunteer, click here.

All of the following fun runs take place on Thursday, Oct. 30:
  • 8:30 a.m.: Fun Run 1 (2nd and 3rd grades)
  • 9:30 a.m.: Fun Run 2 (Morning kindies, morning preschool, full day kindies, 1st grade)
  • 10:30 a.m.: Fun Run 3 (4th and 5th grades)
  • 12:40 p.m.: Fun Run 4 (Afternoon kindies and afternoon preschool)
  • 1:30 p.m.: Fun Run 5 (6th-8th grades)
Breast cancer awareness Breast Cancer Awareness Month
 
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and BFA staff and students can show their support starting the week of Oct. 27. All students are permitted to wear pink accessories in a show of support for breast cancer awareness. Accessories can be socks, shoelaces, belts, hair ribbons or scarves.  If you have a question about a particular item, please check with your child's homeroom teacher. The rest of the uniform must be in compliance with the dress code.
 
Yearbook
Yearbooks Now on Sale 

 

Yearbook sales kick off Monday, Oct. 27! Our theme this year is "Time To Be Great." There will be a LIMITED amount of books to purchase after Jan. 31,  so order your yearbooks EARLY! There will be NO "late" orders available after our last yearbook is sold. To order and pay for your 2014-15 BFA yearbook, click here
 
Pricing Info/Deadlines
Spooky Streets

Spooky Streets

 

Join other BFA families and friends from 4:30-7:30 p.m., tomorrow, Friday, Oct. 24, at the Streets of SouthGlenn for its annual Spooky Streets. Enjoy safe trick or treating at the Streets of SouthGlenn. Meet Jack and friends from the Nightmare Before Christmas, magicians, face painters and balloon artists, as well as a spooky DJ with music and dancing. Be sure to sign in at Guest Services when you arrive, and you can earn 1,000 points for each person in your party. This is a great, safe Halloween event to bring the entire family to and also one in which you can earn points for BFA!

 

In addition, don't forget to keep turning in your paper receipts from the Streets at SouthGlenn in the envelope in the BFA main office or by dropping them in the BFA box at Guest Services at the Streets at SouthGlenn. You also can email electronic receipts by clicking here.  

 

If you have any questions about the upcoming Spooky Streets event or about the Streets at SouthGlenn collaboration with BFA, email Vanessa Leonard.

Punkin

Punkin' Chunkin'

 
Halloween is just around the corner and so is the BFA

inaugural Punkin' Chunkin' event for sixth through eighth grade students! We need parent volunteers to assist in this exciting event scheduled for Friday, Nov. 14. Middle school students in elective classes have been busy learning about and building table top catapults in class. Our plan is to build at least one 6- to 8-foot trebuchet for the event (maybe more). If you are interested in helping with the design and/or building of the trebuchets - or have materials to loan or donate (e.g., wood, power tools, cart, nuts, bolts, weight bar and weights) - email Matt Keillor on the STEM Committee. 

NJHS 2014 BFA's NJHS Has Been Busy
 
Congratulations to the more than 50 members of BFA's National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) this year and to Steven Hodge, president, and Zander Robinett, vice president, of the BFA NJHS chapter! NJHS is open to seventh and eighth grade students who meet academic criteria, as well as demonstrate leadership, character and service. Members commit to 10 hours of community service each year.
   
NJHS students raise and lower the flag each day and serve as teacher aides during their elective period. NJHS students helped run games at the BFA Harvest Festival, assisted at Goodies for Grandparents and recently provided a spaghetti dinner for homeless women and children at the House of Hope shelter. The next NJHS project includes helping with recycling efforts at a DU hockey game in November.
NJHS 2014 2NJHS 2014 3 
BFA Directory App      Rooster

  

My Rooster Room - the school directory/resources app - is here and ready for you to use! You should have received an email from My Rooster Room with download instructions and a one-time secure password. If you have not received the email yet, check your spam folder. For technical support, email My Rooster Room. For your convenience, click here for a two-minute training video to demonstrate how to use the app.

Volunteer of the Month
Volunteer of the Month
   
The 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 October, we have chosen Lynsey Humphries. Lynsey has a son in third grade and has been volunteering at BFA since he started kindergarten. She currently serves as the MCO's community outreach officer.

"When I am not volunteering at the school I can be found with my nose in a book, taking pictures, being involved with my church and spending time with my family," Lynsey said.

Lynsey already has more than 70 volunteer hours this year - way to go! 
Important Dates / Calendar of EventsCalendar Clip Art
  • Spirit Day: Friday, Oct. 24
  • Spooky Streets: 4:30-7:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 24, Streets of SouthGlenn
  • Yearbook Sales Begin: Monday, Oct. 27
  • Breast Cancer Awareness: Oct. 27-31 (Students allowed to wear pink accessories)
  • BFA Prospective Parent Info Meeting/Tour: 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 28
  • Spooky Nights (Second Grade Show): 7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 29
  • BFA Apex Fun Run: Thursday, Oct. 30
  • Halloween Parties: Friday, Oct. 31
  • Veterans Slide Show Photo Submissions Deadline: Sunday, Nov. 2
  • Candy Collection for Soldiers/Toy Drive for Military Families: Nov. 3-7
  • Outdoor Education (Sixth Grade): Nov. 4-7
  • Formal Uniform Day: Wednesday, Nov. 5
  • BFF Social/Coffee Talk: Thursday, Nov. 6
  • No School for Students/Teacher Work Day: Friday, Nov. 7
  • BFA Open Enrollment Deadline for Siblings of Currently Enrolled Students: Friday, Nov. 7
  • Veterans Wall of Honor Submissions Deadline: Friday, Nov. 7
  • Restaurant Nights: Nov. 7-9, Lil' Ricci's Pizza
  • Veterans Celebration Community Service Day: 9 a.m. - noon, Saturday, Nov. 8
  • Ben's Brigade Social: Broncos vs. Raiders, 2:05 p.m. kickoff, Sunday, Nov. 9, Lil' Ricci's Pizza (44 W. Centennial, Highlands Ranch)
  • Veterans Day Assemblies: 9 a.m. (grades K-4) and 1:30 p.m. (grades 5-8), Tuesday, Nov. 11
  • Spirit Day: Friday, Nov. 14
  • Middle School Punkin' Chunkin' Event: Friday, Nov. 14
  • BFA Prospective Parent Info Meeting/Tour: 9:30 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 20
  • Spirit Day: Friday, Dec. 12

Upcoming Meetings

  • Grant Committee: 9 p.m., Monday, Nov. 3, Teleconference
  • Marketing and Community Outreach (MCO) Committee: 6 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 4, Library
  • Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Committee: 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 5, Sanders Science Lab (room 145)
  • School Accountability Committee (SAC): 4 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 6, Conference Room
  • Finance Committee: 5 p.m., Monday, Nov. 10, Library
  • Board of Directors: 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 11, Library
    • Find the latest BFA Board of Directors minutes by clicking here.
  • Parent Teacher Organization (PTO): 6:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 17, Library
Middle School Sports
  • Boys' Basketball:
    • 4 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 28, at Southeast Christian
    • 4 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 4, at BFA vs. North Star Academy
    • 4 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 6, at BFA vs. Sky View 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.