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Ben Franklin Academy NewsletterVol. 6, Iss. 9
February 2016
In This Issue
:: Don't Forget! | Battle of the Books | BFA in the News | BFA Board Candidate Forum | Featured Special: Music
:: Class Photos | Lost and Found | Important Lunch Reminders | Upcoming DI Tournament
:: Mother/Son Event | Register for Summer Camp NOW | Coldstone Spirit Night | Moms' Night Out
:: Registration Dates | Dance Recap | Ultramarathon | Box Tops | Birthday Bags | DCEF Events | Sponsors | Calendar
Music Dear Parents, 

STEAM Power!      
 
The votes have been tallied, and the Academy Award goes to the entire cast, staff and volunteers who made BFA's recent theater performance such a success.
 
One important component of any school's STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) program is the arts. BFA has an amazing arts program led by a cadre of staff who work diligently with the students to produce a wonderful final performance. The behind-the-scenes effort that goes into producing the grade levels performances is daunting, but so worth the sweat equity. Personally, I am so proud of all of our students as I am watching them perform for family and friends.
 
Last Friday, I had another opportunity to see our students in action and they really brought their talent to a new level. Last Friday (Feb. 26), BFA students put on a production of Into The Woods Jr. as part of the The Broadway Junior Collection. Amazing, brilliant, outstanding, great, inspiring - I cannot use enough positive adjectives to describe the talent and dedication of our students. More than 36 students performed in the show and another 14 served as the tech crew. The performance was flawless and looked like a performance that you could see at any community theater where you would have to pay. Our students really are that good.
 
Finally, a huge shout out to Ms. Johnson and Mrs. Bauer for their time commitment and dedication to working with the kids and bringing out their best. BFA truly has the best teachers! I also want to thank the parents who volunteered their time with the countless behind-the-scenes work that was needed to make this show happen.
Reminder
Don't Forget!
  • Report Cards: Available TODAY, Thursday, March 3, via Gradelink
  • AR Dress of Choice Day: TOMORROW, Friday, March 4
  • Additional Formal Uniform Day/Class Photos: Thursday, March 10
  • Spirit Day: Friday, March 11
  • Spring Break/School Closed: March 21-25
Newspaper BFA in the News    

If you missed the Channel 7 interview with student
Allie Barwind last week on BFA's efforts in the Friends of Rachel (Scott) (FOR) club, don't worry! You can watch it by clicking here
BFA Board Candidate Forum     
 
Please join us at the BFA Board Candidate Forum at
5 p.m.Tuesday, March 8, in the library. This year, there are two open director seats on the BFA Board, which will be filled according to the Board of Directors Election Policy. Each seat is for a three-year term. One director will be elected by the Parent Voting Group, and the other director will be appointed by the BFA Board. All Board nominees are encouraged to be there for the March 8 forum/Q&A session.  
 
Please click here for more details on the appointment/ election process and qualifications.
classpicture
Class Photos/Additional Formal Uniform Day 
 
Class pictures are scheduled for Thursday, March 10, and will be a Formal Uniform Day.

If you want to order class photos online, click here and logging in with the following passcode: BFAGR2016. Fill out all student information. Have your child bring the receipt in the envelope provided to school and give to the photographer on March 10. 
Lost and Found Lost and Found    

Please check the Lost and Found, as it continues to grow daily. We have lots of items that would love to have the rightful owner claim them. All unclaimed items will be donated to a local charity after school on Friday, March 18.
Lunch bag Important Lunch Reminders
 
Douglas County Nutritional Services can put special alerts on your child's lunch account. Don't want your student to buy eight juices in one day at 75� each? Would you rather your student not buy a cookie on Mondays? Simply contact Kelcy Porizky, our BFA Kitchen Manager, via email with your requests. Any questions? Contact Kelcy or Jodi Watson, PTO Lunch Coordinator, via email. 
mother-son-hug.jpg Mother/Son Event
 
Save the date! The Mother/Son Event will take place on Saturday, April 16, time and location TBD.  If you are interested in volunteering for this event, our next committee meeting will be held at 7 p.m., TONIGHT, Thursday, March 3, at Starbucks near Whole Foods (located at 9360 S. Colorado Blvd., Highlands Ranch, 80126). We hope you will join us! Questions? Contact Amber Clendening or Mindy Pooler via email.
BFA Summer Camp BFA Summer Camp 2016   

BFA is offering an exciting Summer Camp program again this year. The initial registration is NOW open! Click here to register. The detailed daily activity schedule is in the
works. We will post it when finalized. 

Whatever your situation - if you need full-time day care for the summer; looking to get a break from your children a few days; or if you're kids want to connect with other BFA kids and enjoy fun, summer social time - our Summer Camp program is sure to keep your kids safe and entertained. Our camp is staffed by people you know and trust.

Program Details
  • Hours: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Dates: June 1 - Aug. 12 (Closed July 4-8)
  • Days: Monday through Friday
  • Summer Camp is open to any currently enrolled BFA student 5 years old and above and in kindergarten. 
  • Registration Cost: $35 per child/one-time registration fee (all registered campers will receive a camp T-shirt and day pack)
  • Daily Tuition Cost: $35 per day per child for non-field trip days; $50 per day per child for field trip days
Cold Sone Creamery Spirit Night 
 
Spring is in the air, and we'd love to celebrate with ice cream! Our next Spirit Night will be held from 5-8 p.m., Monday, March 14, at the Aspen Grove Cold Stone Creamery (located at 7301 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton, 80120). In addition, the Tattered Cover bookstore in Aspen Grove is hosting a scavenger hunt and fundraiser for BFA all day on March 14. Come hang out with other BFA families, eat some ice cream and buy a book or two to read over Spring Break!
MomsNightOut ALL BFA Moms Welcome to Attend Moms' Night Out  
 
BFA is hosting Moms' Night Out from 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, March 29, at the Fox & Hound in Lone Tree (located at 9239 Park Meadows Drive, Lone Tree, 80124). We look forward to seeing you for some great social time with all of our awesome BFA moms at this Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)-sponsored event! Please RSVP via email so we know you'll be there!
Father/Daughter Dance Recap
 
Thanks to everyone who helped make the Father/Daughter dance a wonderful evening for the fathers and daughters of our BFA community!  A special thanks to Nathan Bobbin,
Tina Glatte Caputo, Robin Sindt Campbell,
Elizabeth Billups, Cheri Anderson, Mindy Pooler, Vanessa Sanchez, Christi Richardson,
Serena Grissom
and Lisa Watanabe. Thanks for all of your time and effort to making this a special night!  
Box Tops Logo Box Tops
 
Thanks to all who sent in Box Tops! We should get another nice check in April.

Congratulations to the winning classrooms:
  • Mr. Knudsen's Fifth Grade - 450 Box Tops
  • Mrs. Molnar's Seventh Grade - 206 Box Tops

Previous winning classrooms included Mrs. McGinty's first grade and Mrs. Gibson's seventh grade classes. All of these classrooms will receive a prize for their efforts. Keep clipping and sending on those Box Tops!

DCEF Upcoming DCEF Events   

The Douglas County Educational Foundation (DCEF) has scheduled all of its special events for 2016. To purchase tickets, click here and scroll down to the "What's Coming Up Next" section. For a list of all of the events, click here. Highlights include a Rockies game in May. 
thankyou_basket_hdr.jpg BFA Sponsors
 
Thank you to our BFA Sponsors for the 2015-16 school year! 
BattleofBooks Battle of the Books     

The Battle of the Books teams finished their regular season last week, both battling Coyote Creek. The third/fourth (3/4) grade team won; unfortunately, the fifth/sixth (5/6) team lost. Even so, BOTH teams made it to the Branch Quarterfinals, which were held yesterday. Both teams fought hard, but the 5/6 team lost to the undefeated Cougar Run team. They had an incredible Battle season, and Mrs. Murphy is very proud of all the hard work the team put in this year.
 
Congratulations to the 3/4 team, who won against Stone Mountain! The 3/4 team will now compete in the Branch Semifinals against Cougar Run.
Music
Music: Featured BFA Special of the Week 
     
Each week in this newsletter,
we highlight one of BFA's Specials and what each grade in the school is learning in that particular Special. This week, we are focusing on Music. (You can always find information about BFA's Specials by clicking here.)

Kindergarten: Students have just performed their musical, Barnyard Moosical, and they did a great job!
 
First Grade: Students are learning to hear and read when notes go up or down. They are playing boomwhackers and xylophones.

Second Grade: Students are rehearsing for their musical, Let's Eat. They are working on memorizing their lines and adding choreography.
 
Third Grade: Students have started learning the recorder! They are learning to play the notes B, A and G.

Fourth Grade: Students have been learning about improvising. They have been improvising basic rhythms and rhyming lyrics.

Fifth Grade: Students are starting to learn their musical, Summer Camp.

Electives: In Choir, students just started this week. They are learning sight reading and singing skills and will perform in a concert and sing at graduation.
In Musical Theatre, students auditioned for the musical The Grunch about a middle schooler who tries to destroy the school musical by stealing all the sets, costumes and props.
 
Congratulations to the cast and crew of Into the Woods. They had a fabulous performance. Thank you to everyone who came to watch them perform!
DI 2016 Upcoming DI Tournament      

The BFA Destination ImagiNation (DI) teams are presenting at the South Metro tournament this Saturday, March 5, at Littleton High School (located at 199 E. Littleton Blvd., Littleton, 80121).

BFA
 has seven elementary and middle school teams competing throughout the day. Our teams will be showing off their problem solving skills in the following categories:
  • Fine Arts: Get A Clue
    • 8 a.m. - BFA Believers 
  • Structural: Musical Mashup 
    • 8:40 a.m. - Awesome is Our Middle Name 
  • Scientific: In Plain Sight
    • 9 a.m. - The Evil Bacon Cats
    • 11:40 a.m. - Just Deal With It Aqua Marines
    • 2 p.m. - Connect The Dots
  • Rising Stars: Change in Direction (non-competitive)
    • 1:40 p.m. - Mighty Banana Chickens
  • Technical: Pace of Change
    • 4:42 p.m. - Koala Cars Firing Pineapples
The teams would enjoy your support, and everyone is welcome! The entire tournament schedule is available by clicking here.

Thank you to the parent manager volunteers and team members for your time and dedication to this year's participation in DI. We know the students have put in countless hours to devising creative solutions for the specific challenges they chose earlier in the school year and their team managers who have helped guide them along the way. The teams are as follows:

Awesome is Our Middle Name: Sophia Bettis,
Kaitlyn Blum, Mary Kodenkandath,
Sahithi Mathukumilli, Sreehitha Sajja
and
Emma Thiessen
. Team Manager: Sarah Bettis
 
BFA Believers: Jackie Fustich, Evan McDermott,
Mina Poleschook, Tyler Sunahara, Siva Sundaresh, Anson Washeck
and Brynna West. Team Managers: Amy Sunahara and Missy Washeck
 
Connect the Dots: Shrey Seth, Austin Singleton,
Arya Shinde
and Shreya Sundaresh. Team Manager: Nandini Sundaresh
 
The Evil Bacon Cats: Ashlyn Hayden,
Nathaniel Mulinex, Anika Parus, Lane Taylor
and Rowan White. Team Managers: Casey White and
Sara Robertson
 
Just Deal with it Aqua Marines: Tristan Bettis,
Cassidy Curtis, Lilly Hanson, Natalie Heckwolf
and Kaleb Weaver. Team Managers: Tejal Weaver and Sarah Heckwolf
 
Koala Cats Firing Pineapples: Terry Hanson,
Carra Midavaine, Seamus McNally, MacKenzie Parus
and Jason Richard. Team Managers: Cristy McNally and Kelly Hanson
 
Mighty Banana Chickens: Madeline Blum, Kaia Watson and Nate Watson. Team Manager: Jodi Watson

Good luck to all of BFA's DI teams!

School 2016-17 School Year Registration Dates

Save the date for 2016-17 registration days in August for New AND Existing Families:
  • FAMILIES with LAST NAMES A through L: Wednesday, Aug. 10; office hours: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. (closed for lunch from 1-2 p.m.)
  • FAMILIES with LAST NAMES M through Z: Thursday, Aug. 11; office hours: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. (closed for lunch from 1-2 p.m.)
  • BRAND NEW FAMILIES ONLY: Friday, Aug. 12; office hours: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Healthy Schools
BFA to Participate in Ultramarathon
 
BFA is one of 10 schools chosen to participate in the Douglas County School District's (DCSD) Healthy Schools Move Ultramarathon. BFA is challenging its students, parents and staff members to each accumulate 100 miles of movement between now and May. To sign up, click here. For more information and to register, please click here.  
Birthday Bags

Celebrating birthdays at BFA just got more fun! For $10, your child will receive the following:
  • A bag full of goodies, such as erasers, pencils, bouncy balls, etc. (no food or candy will be in the bags) delivered to their classroom by eighth graders

  • A birthday certificate for a free bake sale item at the next bake sale

  • A personalized note from you (if requested)

  • Eighth graders singing happy birthday to your child in his/her classroom while delivering the bag

Did your student already celebrate his/her birthday? Is his/her birthday in the summer? We also will deliver "unbirthday bags" for students who have already celebrated their birthday or "half-birthday bags" for summer birthdays. 

Thank you for supporting the eighth graders' trip to Washington, D.C.!

To order your birthday bags, click here. If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Simpson.          
Important Dates / Calendar of EventsCalendar Clip Art
  • Jump Rope for Heart Donation Deadline: TOMORROW, Friday, March 4
  • Principal Q&A: TOMORROW, Friday, March 4, Library
  • Destination Imagination (DI) South Metro Tournament: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday, March 5, Littleton High School (199 E. Littleton Blvd., Littleton, 80121)
  • BFA Board of Directors Candidate Forum: 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 8, Library
  • Class Photos/Formal Uniform Day: Thursday, March 10
  • Spirit Day: Friday, March 11
  • Spirit Night: 5-8 p.m., Monday, March 14, Aspen Grove Cold Stone Creamery (7301 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton, 80120)
  • Dress of Choice Day: Friday, March 18
  • Spring Break/School Closed: March 21-25
  • Moms' Night Out: 6-8 p.m., Tuesday, March 29, at the Fox & Hound in Lone Tree (9239 Park Meadows Drive, Lone Tree, 80124)
  • Parent Voting for BFA Board of Director Seat: April 4-8
  • Ben's Building Event: Noon, Saturday, April 16
  • Mother/Son Event: Saturday, April 16
  • 2016-17 Registration Day for Families with Last Names A through L: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. (closed for lunch from 1-2 p.m.), Wednesday, Aug. 10
  • 2016-17 Registration Day for Families with Last Names M through Z: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. (closed for lunch from 1-2 p.m.), Thursday, Aug. 11
  • 2016-17 Registration Day for Brand New Families ONLY: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Friday, Aug. 12
  • Middle School Blog: Updated every Monday; click here for the latest edition
Upcoming Meetings
  • Mother/Son Planning Committee: 7 p.m., TONIGHT, Thursday, March 3, at Starbucks near Whole Foods (9360 S. Colorado Blvd., Highlands Ranch, 80126).
  • Finance Committee: 5 p.m., Monday, March 7, Conference Room
  • Board of Directors: 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 8, Library; click here for the latest minutes
  • Parent Teacher Organization (PTO): 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 16, Library
  • School Accountability Committee (SAC): 4 p.m., Thursday, March 17, Conference Room
  • Community Events Committee (CEC): 6 p.m., Tuesday, April 5, Library
  • Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Committee: 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 6, Sanders Science Lab
Middle School Sports
(Click here for website.)
  • Girls' Basketball:
    • 4:30 p.m., Thursday, March 3, at Platte River Academy
    • 8 a.m. - 2 p.m., Saturday, March 5, SkyView Academy - Tournament (A Team Only)
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.