Vol. 6, Iss. 21

Aug. 25, 2016

Dear Parents,

My challenge to you!

At Ben Franklin Academy, we depend on the wealth of talent our parent community has to offer the school, the staff, and, more importantly, the students. Research has shown that students may achieve at a higher academic level if their parent(s) are involved in their child's education. There are so many opportunities that we offer parents that it should not be difficult to get involved and, at the same time, fulfill your volunteer requirement.

As a reminder, Ben Franklin Academy requires all families to perform 30 approved hours (15 hours for single parents) of volunteer service for the Academy. More information can be found in the Volunteer & Visitor Policy. Volunteer hours are approved by the principal and tracked online by the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO). To volunteer, you must register on Help Counter. From this website, you can sign up for volunteer opportunities and interests, and track your volunteer service. All volunteer service must be logged within 48 hours of performing the service or such hours will be deemed unearned. It is recommended that each parent/guardian make a separate account. Your family's hours will link together through your BFA Family Number. For questions, please email Michelle Bynum, our Volunteer Coordinator.

For a moment, let's forget that volunteering is a requirement. Please focus on the fact that it is a great way for you to get involved with the school and your child's education. The amazing culture that we have established at Ben Franklin Academy has so much to do with the countless volunteers that give their time and energy to the school.

Now, back to my challenge. I do not recall a charter school that had 100% of their families participate in volunteer activities. Let's be the first charter school that accomplishes this goal. Let's have 100% of BFA families log at least one hour of volunteer service to the school.

I know you can do it!

Sincerely,

Bob Barber

PLEASE SIGN UP TODAY TO HELP WITH CARPOOL!

Last school year, there was an almost constant shortage of carpool volunteers, so this year we hope that parents will consider signing up for one carpool shift per month, on a repeating schedule. For example, you can sign up to staff a shift on the first Monday morning of each month or the fourth Thursday afternoon of each month. You will get a reminder of your upcoming commitment via SignUpGenius. If you have not already signed up or signed the hard copy form at registration, please use the links below to indicate your interest. Click here for additional details.

Morning/Drop-Off Carpool Volunteer SignUp
Afternoon/Pick-Up Carpool Volunteer SignUp
Substitute List Volunteer SignUp

Thanks for your help and patience as we move to this new process! Your participation helps ensure the safety of our kids, other volunteers and BFA staff. If you have questions or comments, please email Elizabeth Billups, the PTO Carpool Staffing Coordinator.

GET THE NEW BFA APP

This school year there is a new way for you to stay connected to BFA from your mobile device--the Ben Franklin Academy app! Download the new BFA app for instant access to BFA contacts, the latest news, calendars, menus and more! If you enable push notifications, you'll receive important announcements immediately after publication. You can also use the app for attendance reporting and connecting with Infinite Campus. This free app is available on IOS and Android devices--get it NOW on the App Store or Google Play.

NEW AND RETURNING FAMILIES--DON'T FORGET YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE!

Please remember your Driver's License the first time you come to the school to volunteer or attend a meeting. For safety reasons, every person who enters the school needs to have their Driver's License scanned each school year. Please keep in mind, this is also a requirement for any friends or relatives who would like to enter the school.

REMINDER TO WALKERS

We have received updates that some of our parents have been parking in the surrounding neighborhoods to meet their students after school. Please help us maintain a positive relationship with the neighboring community by not parking in front of their mailboxes, encouraging students to stay on the sidewalks, and avoiding U-turns when leaving the area. Also, if your student is an intermittent walker and plans to walk home, please email the office by 1:30 p.m.

2016/2017 PTO PARKING SPACE AND PRIOIRTY SEATING AUCTION

Visit the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) auction website today to bid on parking rights for five premium parking spaces in front of the school and reserved seating for select performances. There are four parking spots that BFA families can bid on to use for specified time periods this year and next, as well as one monthly spot up for grabs. You can also bid on reserved seating for grade level (K-5) musical performances and 8^th Grade Graduation. The auction closes this Sunday, Aug. 28. Please note, the auction for all parking spaces will end at 9:45 p.m. and the priority seating auction will end at 10 p.m. If you have questions, email Serena Grissom and Rachel Hamburger the PTO Fundraising Coordinators.

BATTLE OF THE BOOKS

It's almost that time of the year again! We are going to start putting together our Battle of the Books teams for the 2016/2017 school year. Please email Mrs. Poleschook if you have a 3^rdor 4^th grader interested in trying out for a team, or email Mrs. Murphy if you have a 5^th or 6^th grader interested in trying out. Book titles for this year's competition will be released on Tuesday, Sept. 6, and you'll want to make sure you have plenty of time to meet the deadline.

CUB SCOUTS SIGN UP NIGHT

Parents of boys in grades 1-4 interested in joining the BFA Cub Scouts (Pack 785), please join us for an informational meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1, at school. Free rockets will be given to all boys who sign up that evening and district leaders will be present to answer questions and take applications. Since our current leaders have Cub Scouts who are advancing to Boy Scouts this year, we are looking for adults to help with leadership roles in Pack 785. If you have questions but can't attend the meeting, you can email Arapahoe District Executive, Rachel Joslyn, with the Boy Scouts of America.

GOT STUFF?

Do you have too much stuff or is your house feeling over-stuffed? The BFA Middle School has your solution! Next month, 8th graders will be hosting a fundraiser for their DC trip, and will collect Target-sized bags full of items for donation to ARC. They will receive $1 for each bag donated. Please consider donating items during one of these donation dates:

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and 4:30 - 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, September 6
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. - 6 p.m., Wednesday, September 7
8:30 a.m. - noon, Thursday, September 8

Click here for a flier with additional details. For more information or to schedule pick-up of items, email Tiffanie Vaught, PTO Middle School Fundraising Chair.

CODING CLUB

Does your son or daughter love playing video games? If so, we have the perfect after school activity--join the Coding Club today! Students will learn to code with javascript and will use a variety of coding tools to make animations, stories and maybe even a giant, virtual robot! The after school club is open to students in grades 2-8, and the coding will be tailored to each student's ability and interests. It will be lead by Ms. Konesky from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. beginning Wednesday, Aug. 31, at BFA. Click here for more details. Sign up today!

STEM FRUIT TOSS CLUB

It's not every day that you get to launch fruit from a trebuchet--that is, unless you join the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Fruit Toss Club! This new after school club will meet from 4:15 - 5:30 p.m. every Tuesday in September at BFA. It is open to students in grades 4 - 8 and the cost is only $15 for a 4-week session. Participants will get hands-on experience building a modern-day trebuchet and will learn about arc, angles, force and torque while chucking fruit! Click here for more details. Sign up today or email Matt Keillor with questions or to volunteer.

MOVE OVER STEVEN SPIELBERG!

Is your student constantly exceeding the storage capacity on your electronics with their home movies? Then, we have the club for you! Sign your 4^th - 6^th grade student up for Mini Movie Makers, a new after school club sponsored by Ms. Goldin. The club will meet for ten weeks on Thursdays from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. beginning Thursday, Sept. 8, at BFA. Click here for more details. Register today or email Ms. Goldin for additional information.

TONIGHT, Aug. 25

5TH - 8TH GRADE BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT

Back to School Night is designed to help parents become better acquainted with the school, staff and information specific to their child's grade level. Tonight, 5th grade parents have new family orientation in the gym at 6 p.m. and the first class presentation begins at 6:15 in the gym.

Parents of students in grades 6-8 should go to the Middle School Commons from 6 - 6:15 p.m. to retrieve their student's schedule. Click here for more information.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Friday, Sept. 2

DRESS OF CHOICE DAY FOR ALL STUDENTS

Monday, Sept. 5

LABOR DAY - NO SCHOOL

Wednesday, Sept. 7

FORMAL UNIFORM DAY

Additional Upcoming Events: BFA Calendar
Middle School: Blog | Athletics

CONTACT US:

Ben Franklin Academy
2270 Plaza Drive
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129

Main Office: (720) 383-4519 info@bfacademy.org

Attendance: (720) 432-9239 attendance@bfacademy.org

Web: http://www.bfacademy.org/

Fax: (303) 974-1738

Our mission is to create young adults with character like America's founding Renaissance man, Benjamin Franklin: well-read, scientifically curious, and civically engaged.

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.

Temperance, Silence, Order, Resolution, Frugality, Industry, Sincerity, Justice, Moderation, Cleanliness, Tranquility, Purity and Humility.