Committee News December 17

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Important Committee Events

December 19 - STEM Committee Meeting (via Zoom)

December 20 - K - 5 Grade Winter Parties

The CEC will hold their January meeting and post holiday celebration at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8th at Black+Haus Tavern in downtown Littleton. This will be a fun event to celebrate anyone who has volunteered with the CEC this school year or anyone excited to join in planning the spring events. Please RSVP by Dec. 30 so a final headcount can be submitted. Thank you!

For the months of December and January, the Dawson family has been selected as the Ben Franklin Academy Volunteers of the Month. They were nominated by Principal Simpson and the office staff and are being recognized for the hard work and hours their whole family have put in at BFA. They have set themselves apart and set an excellent example of outstanding volunteerism! For all of their efforts, we'd like to say thank you and recognize Joe and Sara Dawson and their family.

Joe and Sara are proud parents of three children attending Ben Franklin Academy: Isabella (3rd grade), Amelia (1st grade), and Enzo (Pre-K). They have been part of the BFA community since 2018. Joe works as a realtor, while Sara is in Healthcare IT. The family values giving back and volunteers at the school whenever possible. Even Grandma often helps out in the art room with Mrs. Hinkle!

Their commitment to BFA stems from the strong sense of community among families, the dedication of the Board, and the passion of the teachers and administration. They appreciate BFA’s academically rigorous program, which aligns with their values of fostering well-read, scientifically curious children.

Congratulations, again, to the Dawson family. And, thank you for all you do for BFA!

If you know someone who should be considered for volunteer of the month for outstanding volunteerism, please email Janelle Nichols, PTO President.

Each month, a volunteer will be randomly chosen through a drawing to win a fun, surprise gift. All you have to do to be eligible to win, is log at least ONE hour of volunteer service in the month prior to the drawing.

This month, Mary Ann Ahlstrom is the winner of our drawing for her volunteer time in November, and has won a gift card to Gelato and Co. Congratulations, Mary Ann! And, thank you again for helping out around school!

All BFA girls and their fathers or special adult are invited to attend this year's Sweetheart Ball, Hollywood Red Carpet, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Saturday February 1, at BFA. Suggested dress for the event is formal attire, and be ready to strike a pose for the photographers on the red carpet! Dessert and drinks will be served. Tickets will go on sale starting January 6. Mark your calendars!

If you have any questions, please contact Katie Graham, Sweetheart Ball committee manager.

The 2024-2025 yearbooks are on sale now and cost $50 per book. You may also order a yearbook dedication (parent tribute ad) for your student. Dedications are $40 for 1/8 of page if you order by December 31.

After that, the price for dedications will go up to $45 from 1/1 until the last day to order, 1/26. These ads are a fun way to help commemorate a great school year!

This year, we will again be using Jostens for our yearbooks. You can order and pay for your 2024 - 2025 yearbook here, and your dedication here!

Elementary (K-5) Holiday classroom parties will take place from 1:45-2:45 p.m. this Friday, December 20. Party volunteers will be limited to a max of four per classroom (three volunteers, plus the party planner). Carpool begins at 3 p.m., so volunteers should be off campus by that time.

As much as we love welcoming our families into the school, we also ask that no additional siblings come with you if you are volunteering in one of our classroom parties.

If you have any questions about the elementary party coordination, please reach out to Amy Marks, PTO room parent coordinator.

If you are a King Soopers shopper, you can help earn money for BFA by signing up for King Soopers Community Rewards. For details on how to sign up for King Soopers Community Rewards visit their webpage or click here for instructions.

Please contact Erin Wiley, PTO Fundraising Coordinator with any questions. Thank you, again, for your support of BFA and the PTO!

The BENefit Bash is the PTO's primary fundraiser this school year. It's a BFA tradition parents look forward to, so we hope you'll save the date! This year’s Bash will be “A Night in Tuscany” held on Saturday, March 8, at Cielo at Castle Pines.

It takes a lot of support to host the Bash--so whether you're new to auctions/events or a veteran Bash volunteer--we could sure use your help!

In addition, we are in need of silent and live auction items! We are looking for a variety of things:

• Physical merchandise or gift certificates for products and/or services
• Tickets for sporting events
• Timeshares / Vacation Rentals
• Special experiences / tours
• Wine / Liquor
• Monetary Donations

Or, if you are connected to any business or person that may be a potential donor, an introduction to them would be amazing as well! Your generosity can make a significant impact on the lives of our students, as the funds raised from these auctions are used directly for improvements at BFA.

If you have something you would like to donate, know of a potential donor, or to volunteer, please reach out to the PTO Fundraising Coordinator, Erin Wiley. Thank you in advance for your support!

In the upcoming newsletters, we are going to recognize all of our 2024-25 BFA PTO Sponsors. We are incredibly grateful for their support and excited to give each one a spotlight.

This week, we’re highlighting our sponsors in the SILVER category, our fifth highest level of sponsorship. We’re very thankful for their exceptional support and hope you’ll take a few minutes out of your day to learn about their businesses.

Visit our PTO Sponsors webpage to learn more about our sponsors.

Please join us on January 7 at 4:30 p.m. for our SAC monthly meeting. Join us online. Zoom information is on the top of every agenda. You can find the agenda and minutes on our webpage.

We are still looking for parents to join our SAC committee. It is a great way to help and leave a footprint at BFA. Email our SAC Chair, Karen Ramon if you are interested.

Please join us on December 19 at 4:30 p.m. for our SAC monthly meeting. Join us online. Zoom information is on the top of every agenda. You can find the agenda and minutes on our webpage.

Excited about creating fun experiments? Love tinkering with technology? Join the BFA Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Committee! We generally meet via Zoom on evenings of the 3rd Thursday of the month. Earn volunteer hours by participating from your phone or computer! Inspire the innovator in you and your child!

Check out the flyer or the STEM webpage for more information.

The Ben Franklin Academy (BFA) Board of Directors (Board) generally holds its regular meetings at 5:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of the month 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 school website calendar. If you would like to be proactively notified about all regular and special board meetings, please email BFA’s Board Secretary to be added to our “sunshine” distribution list.

Agendas are posted below 24 hours prior to a meeting. If you would like to appear before the Board, please email the Board President. We’d love to see you at these meetings.

Visit our Board of Directors page for information on agendas and minutes from the meetings.

Please join us tonight, December 17, 2024 for the last board meeting of 2024. You can find the agenda on the Board Transparency webpage.

The Ben Franklin Academy (BFA) community is seeking leaders who are passionate about and committed to BFA’s mission and vision to serve on the BFA Board of Directors (Board). In the spring of 2025, the BFA community will elect (or re-elect) one (1) director and the BFA Board will appoint one (1) director in accordance with the Board of Directors Election Policy to serve on the volunteer, seven-director BFA Board. We hope to receive a record number of nominations with a desire of having a diverse, talented and dedicated pool of candidates to draw from for BFA’s Board.

A critical element to the success of any charter school is its ability to advocate for its educational philosophy, successfully fulfill legal requirements and carry out its mission and vision. Serving on the BFA Board is an opportunity for you to ensure that BFA is and remains “The Core Knowledge STEAM School of Choice.” Board directors use their backgrounds, experience and skills to focus on oversight and matters of strategic importance which can help improve BFA’s educational programs. In addition to helping teachers, staff and administrators lay a solid foundation in education for future generations and instill a love of learning in BFA students. The Board provides individuals a chance to grow personally and professionally, further develop skills, gain unique experience and make lasting connections with a team of other passionate and motivated individuals.

The Board encourages all individuals with a passion to serve the BFA community to get involved in the nomination and election process this spring. More details on the election/appointment process, director qualifications and Board needs will be communicated in early 2025.

If you have any questions please reach out to Adam Lucero or Justin Mayhall.

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.