2/6 BFA Elementary Newsletter

Dear Parents,

Our elementary students recently reached an exciting milestone—100 days of school! To celebrate, classrooms were filled with fun activities, creative projects, and hands-on learning experiences centered around the number 100. From dressing up as 100-year-olds to building projects with 100 items, students showcased their creativity and enthusiasm. This special day not only marked their hard work and growth but also reminded us of the friendships, knowledge, and memories they’ve built along the way.

Reaching 100 days of school is a meaningful milestone for our students, and we love seeing how much they have grown in such a short time! From building confidence in their learning to forming new friendships, these first 100 days have been filled with incredible progress and memorable moments. It’s amazing to witness their curiosity, resilience, and enthusiasm each day.

Sincerely,

Mr. Peterson

Ms. Crowe is in her second year teaching first grade at BFA, where she brings a passion for education and an enthusiasm for shaping young minds. Every year, she anticipates meeting her new class, embracing both the challenges and rewards that come with teaching. She feels fortunate to have a job that she loves, where each day offers new opportunities for growth and discovery.

Originally from Houston, Texas, Ms. Crowe holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Abilene Christian University. With eight years of teaching experience, she is also trained in working with English language learners, gifted and talented students, and those with dyslexia.

In 2014, Ms. Crowe relocated to Colorado. She is married, the proud mom of three BFA students, and their Boxer, Luna. When she's not in the classroom, Ms. Crowe enjoys spending time in her garden, listening to audiobooks, and cherishing moments with her family.

Click here to see her favorites.

Mr. Hill joined Ben Franklin Academy this year as a full-time 3rd-grade Instructional Assistant. Known as "Mr. Curtis" by students, he is a familiar and friendly presence in the hallways, offering guidance and support with student's work. On the playground, he actively engages students in fun, energetic games, fostering teamwork, physical activity, and a positive school environment.

He and his family have lived in Highlands Ranch since 2009. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, he moved to Colorado in 8th grade and, aside from brief moves and college, has called it home since. Mr. Hill earned a double BA in Music Education and Linguistics at the University of Wyoming. He student-taught at a nearby middle school and later taught Orchestra, Semantics, and Outdoor Education at his high school. For 25 years, he has worked in Optometry and Ophthalmology, where he met his wife, an optometrist. His 4th-grade son attends Ben Franklin Academy, and Mr. Hill appreciates the school's dedicated staff. As the Community Relations Officer on BFA’s Community Events Committee, he enjoys engaging with the parent community and giving back to the school.

When not at BFA, Curtis is a movie enthusiast who enjoys watching films with his family and is a devoted Star Trek and Star Wars fan. He frequently attends performances at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and is deeply involved in his son's extracurriculars. A proud nerd, Renaissance man and annual ComicCon attendee, he is eager to learn and discuss any topic. For him, discovering something new is the best part of every day.

Click here to view his favorites.

Each year, our Kindergarteners embark on a creative project called "100 Items," where they design a poster filled with 100 objects that come together to tell a unique story. Using a blank poster as their canvas, students craft vibrant and imaginative scenes, ranging from gum-ball machines to fish swimming in a bowl. The result is a delightful array of colorful, one-of-a-kind posters that showcase their creativity and storytelling skills, leaving us in awe of their boundless imagination!

Our 1st Graders will go on a field trip on February 6. See teachers' emails for details and visit MySchoolBucks to register.

There will be no cost for each student, but parents must register in MSB by February 6, as this is the parent's permission for the field trip.

Please remember that students must wear their formal uniforms for field trips.

Our first graders celebrated 100 days of school by writing imaginative paragraphs about what they would do when they are 100 years old. Paired with enhanced photos that showed what they would look like, their stories were full of creativity and humor, bringing laughter to everyone. From traveling the world to inventing new gadgets, their visions of the future were both witty and heartwarming, showcasing their limitless imaginations and unique perspectives on aging.

Our second graders had a hands-on learning experience by creating and running their own businesses! They started by brainstorming ideas, then put pen to paper to design items to sell at the "Friday Math Store." Throughout the week, students earned "play money" for doing great things in class, such as showing kindness and completing tasks. On Friday, they eagerly went around the class, using their hard-earned play money to buy the items they wanted. Some students spent all their money, while others were savvy enough to triple their earnings, making it an exciting and educational lesson in entrepreneurship and money management!

Second grade celebrated 100 days of school in a unique and fun way by dressing up in costumes that represented what they might look like when they are 100 years old. The students got creative with their outfits—some brought canes or walkers, while others colored their hair, wore wigs, and applied makeup to enhance wrinkles and make themselves look older. The students really embraced the theme, adding a personal touch to their costumes with funny details and thoughtful accessories. Throughout the day, they participated in activities and games that celebrated the milestone, sharing stories, taking photos, and laughing together. It was a wonderful and lighthearted way to honor the 100-day achievement, showcasing both their imagination and excitement for this special moment in their school year!

This month, our third graders are diving into the fascinating world of weather! They are learning how weather works, exploring the various factors that influence it, and discovering how to track and predict weather patterns. Through hands-on activities and experiments, students are gaining a deeper understanding of the science behind the weather that affects our daily lives. It's an exciting and informative unit that’s sure to spark curiosity and wonder about the world around them!

On the 101st day of school, our third graders took a creative twist on the traditional 100 Days of School celebration by dressing up as characters from 101 Dalmatians. This fun and unique way of marking milestones at BFA added an extra layer of excitement and delight to the day. While it was still a regular day of learning, the students couldn't resist bringing some extra energy to the halls, classrooms, and playground, where they could be heard "woofing" with joy. Their enthusiasm was contagious, and they certainly had a howling good time celebrating the special occasion!

3rd Grade will go on a field trip on February 7. See teachers’ emails for details and visit MySchoolBucks to register.

There will be no cost for each student, but parents must register in MSB by February 7, as this is the parent's permission for the field trip.

Please remember that students must wear their formal uniforms for field trips.

Our fourth graders are hard at work mastering long division, tackling problems ranging from dividing by 2 to handling 100-digit numbers. They’re practicing this crucial skill whenever they can, showing real dedication. To make learning even more engaging, the students have desks with a special film on top, allowing them to use dry erase markers to solve problems—making math both fun and mess-free! This hands-on approach is helping our students build confidence and enjoy their math journey.

One standout moment came when Isaac Deutsch created his own complex division problem, demonstrating his problem-solving process for the class.

Our fourth graders had an exciting and educational field trip to the Colorado Historical Museum and the Colorado State Capitol! This experience brought their learning to life, allowing them to connect everything they’ve studied since August to real-world history and government. From exploring Colorado’s rich past at the museum to stepping inside the halls of state government, students gained a deeper understanding of their state's history and civic processes. It was an unforgettable day filled with hands-on learning and discovery!

At the Capitol, one of our groups had an incredible stroke of luck—they were invited onto the Colorado House of Representatives floor! The chaperone was probably more excited than the kids, but it was a thrilling experience for all. Although our representative, Bob Miller, was not present, Representative Cecelia Espenoza (4th District—North and Northwestern Denver) warmly welcomed the group and even took a photo with the students at the front of the House floor, making the visit even more memorable. A thank-you email was sent to Representative Espenoza for her hospitality and for making the visit so special.

Coincidentally, or perhaps thanks to some great planning, the visit took place on School Choice Advocacy Day, adding extra significance to the trip.

Our second graders are diving into the fascinating world of life cycles, exploring how both animals and plants follow similar patterns of growth. To make learning even more interactive, Snapology visited our Tech special to show students how they can use Legos to build models, including life cycles. The students eagerly created their own versions, constructing everything from plant growth to the development of animals, demonstrating how hands-on activities can make learning about life cycles not only educational but also incredibly fun. It was a fantastic way to bring this scientific concept to life!

The BFA 4th Grade Battle of the Books team kicked off their season with an exciting victory in their first battle this week! After weeks of dedication, reading, and preparation, the team showcased their impressive knowledge and teamwork to secure the win. Their hard work and love for reading were on full display as they answered challenging questions with confidence. This achievement is a fantastic start to the season, and we can't wait to see how they continue to grow and compete in the upcoming battles. Congratulations to our incredible team! 🎉📚

Our students (Grades K - 5) have kicked off the week with finding great ways to make healthier habit choices like movement and exercise. They are learning the lasting effects can impact them, even into adulthood.

Kid's Heart Challenge continues with Ms. White's class in the lead. Don't forget to sign your student up today!

And don't forget to wear RED uniform or spirit wear top with red socks on Friday!

Each student has the opportunity to earn different ducks for reaching monetary milestones in the Kids Heart Challenge. Starting with just $5, students can earn "Pepper," a fun duck who encourages them to add color to their plates and eat healthy. The more they raise, the more ducks they can collect, each one with its own special message to inspire heart-healthy habits. Watch the video below to meet all the amazing ducks who will guide our students on their journey to learning and growing with heart-healthy habits!

Library Book Replacement & Fines

Due to special library binding, lost or damaged books must be replaced through the district-approved vendor to ensure compatibility. Parents cannot order from the vendor directly—replacements must go through the school. Books purchased from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or other retailers (even library-bound editions) do not qualify.

Important Guidelines:

• Do not send a purchased book as a replacement; it cannot be entered into our system.
• Do not send cash, checks, or charge cards with your student. Fines will be added to their MSB account and should be paid via MSB.
• If a lost book is returned in good condition within 90 days and has not yet been replaced, the fee will be removed from the student’s account.

Some students may not realize the impact of losing or damaging a book, especially if we have multiple copies. However, popular books are in high demand, and we work hard to maintain our collection. We always attempt to repair books before assessing a fine, but some damage is beyond repair. On average, over 20 books per week need repairs, and we make every effort to avoid charging students.

Unpaid fines for damaged books after six weeks may result in your student being unable to check out books.

If a book is mistakenly returned to Douglas County Library (DCL), it will be sent back to BFA within 2–3 weeks. If you suspect this has happened, please email Ms. Williams , and she will note your student’s account so they can continue checking out books.

Thank you for your understanding and support in keeping our library collection in great shape!

Our Art room is always in need of volunteers. If you are interested, just come on by the school and check in with the Front Office. No need to sign up or even let us know as Mrs. Hinkle can use your help everyday!

Did you know that your students can participate in private or semi-private music lessons during the school day? Music lessons help students develop a myriad of skills including confidence, patience, discipline, perseverance, collaboration, creativity and social skills! Not to mention, students who study music develop critical thinking skills!

We have several openings during the school day and we are ready for your students to join us today!

Click here for more information or go directly to the website to sign up now! We can’t wait to play music with you!

Just a great reminder that the weather can change fast in Colorado.

Appropriate outerwear should ALWAYS be sent with students. As outlined in our Parent Handbook, outdoor recess will be held every day unless it is raining or snowing heavily, or below "feels like" 20 degrees. We use Ambient Weather Network to determine our weather temperatures.

Please remember to label everything. A simple sharpie with the last name ensures items are returned to our students. Alternative options are finding inexpensive labels you can print at home or many companies that can print them. A friendly reminder to remove labels or put labels over names when buying used uniforms to ensure clothing and items get to the new owner.

Our Elementary Website can be found here.

It has wonderful information for parents and students. Each grade level has their own webpages also. You can find lots of information on homework, what your student is doing in class, what the upcoming week looks like and so much more.

Soon we will begin to have Parent Portals for each grade level which will replace our current webpages. While this will have the same look and feel of our webpages, it will be password protected to limit access to our sites.

Kindergarten

1st Grade - The new 1st Grade webpage is ready for parents. Look for a parent email for the password and save this new link.

2nd Grade

3rd Grade

4th Grade

February's Virtue is...

Industry – Keep on task. There is a time for work and a time for play – do both with a good attitude.

Mission:

Our mission is to create 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, the arts, 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 social emotional development, character, sports, and nature.

13 Virtues:

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