Dear Parents-

Schools are community centers. Ben Franklin Academy serves various community groups by letting them use our facilities. We host the Highlands Ranch Sons of the American Revolution, Girl Scout troops, sporting groups, and outside music and theatre programs, to name a few. We enjoy showing off our fantastic school and supporting our community in this way. Next week, we will host two safety training sessions with the DC Sheriff's Department and neighboring school districts.

While there is no school on Monday, January 20th, we will host the first training. If you are in the area, you may see some activity on campus that day. We will host a more extensive training next Thursday, the 23rd, at 4:30 pm. Law enforcement will be on-site, and the trainers will use fake weapons as part of this training. Please do not be concerned with the increased presence and activities taking place. These exercises ensure that we do all we can to keep our students and staff safe.

Speaking of safety, I must address the concerning behavior we have witnessed during carpool. Drivers are coming east on Plaza, cutting around the cars waiting to get on property, and then cutting into both A and B lanes from the outside lane on Plaza. This has happened numerous times, and there have been several near-miss accidents. The rules and protocols apply to everyone for everyone's safety. This behavior has escalated this year and will be addressed directly with irresponsible drivers if they can be identified. I encourage you to report reckless driving to the scanners (license plate numbers are helpful, but car descriptions and time stamps will work), and we will contact those drivers. Please make carpool safe for all of our families and students.

I hope you enjoy the chilly long weekend ahead! Stay warm!

Diana Simpson

Please visit to get the most updated events or other activities going on.

Important Upcoming Dates

🏫January 17 - School In Session

🎂 January 17 - Ben Franklin's Birthday

👕 January 17 - Dress of Choice/BFA Spirit Wear & Crazy Sock Day

☕ January 20 - MLK Day (No School)

🏫 January 21 - Board of Directors Meeting

🐝 January 22 - Grades 4- 8 Spelling Bee Finals

🏫 January 23 - STEM Committee Meeting

🏫 January 23 - Ben's Brigade Meeting

👕 January 24 - BFA Spirit Wear & Crazy Sock Day

🏫 January 26 through February 1 - National School Choice Week

👕 January 29 - EXTRA BFA Spirit Wear

🍕 January 29 - PTO Spirit Night at High Society Pizza!

🦻 January 29 & 30 - Hearing and Vision Testing

👕 January 31 - Denver Nuggets Spirit/BFA Spirit Wear & Crazy Sock Day

Please visit our Bi-Monthly Newsletter dated January 9 for Grades K - 4.

Please visit our Bi-Monthly Newsletter dated January 16 for Grades 5 - 8.

Please visit our Weekly Newsletter dated January 16 for our Pre-K 3s and 4s.

Please see all the wonderful things our School Committees are doing in this week's Committee Newsletter. This includes, Community Events Committee (CEC), Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), School Accountability Committee (SAC) and STEM Committee.

This Year’s Sweetheart Ball – Hollywood Red Carpet

All BFA girls (Pre-K to Grade 8) and their fathers or special adult are invited to attend this year's Sweetheart Ball, Hollywood Red Carpet, from 6:00 to 8:00 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 are on sale now through January 24, and can be purchased online through MySchoolBucks. Tickets are $35 per couple, and $15 for each additional student. Get yours today, as tickets will not be sold at the dance!

The PTO needs your help to make this event a success. If you are interested in volunteering to help at the event (decorating, crafts, games, etc.), you can sign up here. If you’d like to donate desserts for the ball, sign up here.

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

Ms. Russell brings years of experience and a wealth of skills to Speech Therapy at Ben Franklin Academy. With a strong background in working with students of all ages and a deep understanding of various communication challenges, she provides tailored support to help students reach their full potential. Her expertise includes not only direct therapy but also collaborating with families and other professionals to create comprehensive strategies for student success.

Ms. Russell is an accomplished Speech Language Pathologist whose interest began while volunteering at a special needs camp. She holds degrees from Miami University of Ohio (BS Speech Pathology and Audiology) and the University of Colorado (MA Speech Pathology) and is certified in Clinical Competence and Autism Diagnostic Scale administration.

After a professional break to start her family, Ms. Russell has spent the last 11 years at Ben Franklin Academy where she is currently licensed as a Special Services Provider through the state of Colorado. The best part of her job is helping students achieve their goals and improve their communication skills! She loves being part of the Student Support Team and BFA community.

When Ms. Russell is not at BFA, she enjoys spending time with her husband, three teenagers and dog! Most frequently throughout the year, she can be found at basketball games or cheerleading competitions, volunteering for booster clubs, reading or baking. During the summer, the Russell family takes an annual trip to visit extended family in Michigan and spends time on their boat at Chatfield Lake.

Click here to view her favorites.

Do you like rock climbing and volunteering? We would love your help. Saturday, January 18, Mrs. Nichols will have the BFA annual "Rock Wall" training. We are looking for 5 - 6 volunteers who can come get trained and volunteer throughout the school year. Training will be 8:30 a.m to around 3:30 p.m

If this sounds like the opportunity you have been waiting for, email Ms. Nichols for more information.

The Baking Committee can use your help!

If you like to bake treats 🧁, you can help out the Sweetheart Dance on February 1. Sweetheart Ball baked goods on 2/1

You can help provide dinner 🥖🥣🍜 for our staff on February 13. Spring Conference dinner on 2/13

We are half way through our school year and it is time sign up to volunteer for library. We are requesting that ONLY families who have NOT met their 15/30 hours sign up.

The library is one of the best places to volunteer at BFA! It’s a vibrant hub where students discover new worlds through books and develop a lifelong love of reading. Volunteers can help with shelving books, organizing displays, assisting with library events, or even reading with students. Join us in fostering a love of learning—become a library volunteer today!

We have partnered with the Colorado Rapids to reward and incentivize attendance here at Ben Franklin Academy by giving students who have not missed more than 2 days, from January 20 - February 21, a complimentary ticket to a Colorado Rapids match with the purchase of an adult ticket.

Students who qualify will receive a ticket link voucher via email to redeem their complimentary ticket with purchase of additional discounted tickets. Vouchers will be redeemable for qualifying Spring 2025 games.

The top two finalists from each grade level, Grades 4 to 8, will take the stage to compete in our school's annual spelling bee! These talented students have demonstrated hard work, determination, and exceptional spelling skills to earn their spot in this exciting competition. Cheered on by their classmates, our finalists will showcase their knowledge and strive for the championship title. It’s sure to be a thrilling event filled with suspense, encouragement, and school spirit!

Parents of our finalists have been notified via email with an invitation to join us on this day.

The BENefit Bash is the PTO’s primary fundraiser this year. It’s a BFA tradition parents look forward to, so we hope you’ll PURCHASE your tickets TODAY! The Bash will be held from 5 – 10 p.m. at Cielo in Castle Pines. Early bird pricing is available through January 31st.

We are still in need of silent and live auction items! We are looking for a variety of things: sports items, timeshares, lodging, gift basket items etc. Please consider how you can help!

If you have something you would like to donate, or if you’d like to volunteer, please reach out to Erin Wiley, PTO Fundraising Coordinator.

Our January PTO Spirit Day/Night fundraiser is January 29 at High Society Pizza (2229 W. Wildcat Reserve Pkwy Unit A1, Highlands Ranch). From 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., High Society will donate 15% back on orders placed to the BFA PTO!

Please tell the cashier that you are there for the BFA fundraiser in order for the PTO to receive credit for your order. Please spread the word and hope to see you there!

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, Becky Glaze is the winner of our drawing for her volunteer time in December, and has won a gift card to Gelato and Co. Congratulations, Becky! And, thank you again for helping out around school!

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.

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.

We have a new link for our Board Bolt Nominations. This is a great way to give accolades to our students. Did you know that you can nominate staff and teachers also?!

Nomination form is always open. Nominate a well deserved student or staff member TODAY!

We offer many before and after school Fine Arts clubs throughout the year. We update our webpage frequently, so look often.

Arts

Music

February 28 and March 1 at 7:00 p.m. will be our middle school musical, Mary Poppins. Free for everyone, we hope to see everyone there.

Mary Poppins is a delightful stage adaptation of the classic tale, bringing all the charm and magic of the original story to a younger audience. This beloved musical follows the enchanting Mary Poppins as she transforms the lives of the Banks family with her wit, wisdom, and a touch of magic. Featuring memorable songs like "A Spoonful of Sugar" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," this production captures the imagination with its lively choreography, colorful costumes, and heartwarming messages about family, kindness, and believing in the impossible. It's a timeless story brought to life in a way that will leave audiences of all ages singing and smiling.

Winter Sports are gearing up. Our game schedules will be posted in our Monthly Calendar for all our upcoming sports. Visit our Athletics Page for more information about our Athletics Programs at BFA.

Girls Basketball Game Schedule is available. Hope to see you at our first home game on January 21st at 4:15 p.m.

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.

Students should come prepared with layers, gloves, snowboots and coats for the variable Colorado weather. If students wear snow boots to school, they need to bring shoes that conform to the dress code to wear in the classroom.

Don't forget to label items, which helps us get these items back to our students. It can be 19 degrees at 10 a.m. and 55 degrees at 2 p.m. and items can be left on the playground.

BFA follows the direction of the Douglas County School District (DCSD) regarding school closures/delays due to weather so if DCSD decides to close school for the day, then BFA will be closed as well. The Douglas County School District has been divided into three areas: Highlands Ranch, Parker and Castle Rock. It is possible for the district to close or delay school in only one of the areas. This is rare, but it is possible.

Visit our Weather Webpage for all information on closures and delays. DCSD & BFA will always post notifications via email, text, website and Social Media. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram and make sure your information is updated in Infinite Campus.

We welcome visitors throughout the day, whether you're here for volunteering or meetings. All visitors must check in at the front office to obtain a badge, which should be worn at all times while on campus.

1. Have your ID ready. It can be a state issued license or ID, passport, or military ID. We also accept the MyColorado App ID.
2. Please wear the badge at all times whether it is the BFA printed badge or sticker badge.
3. Even if you are here to watch a performance, Field Day or other outdoor activities, you need to check and get a badge.

Alumni who wish to visit must first obtain permission from a teacher or staff member 24 hours before arriving to school. Please email them directly to request permission. Additionally, visits are only permitted during teacher’s non-class hours, so we kindly ask that you respect their time and schedule.

Thank you for following this process to help ensure that all our alumni can continue to enjoy visiting privileges.

1. Visitors need check in to the Front Office. Visiting hours are between 8:30 a.m and 2:45 p.m., and must be picked up before 3:00 p.m. to allow staff to prepare for afternoon carpool.
2. We ask that visitors arrive with their parent or guardian or email traffic to let us know they are coming. This helps us ensure that visitor(s) have parent/staff permission to be on campus.
3. Visitors should limit their visit to one hour unless they are volunteering.
4. Remember to bring a state issued ID, School ID or have Infinite Campus ready.
5. Remind students that they must be with a staff/teacher at all times. No roaming hallways or entering classrooms while instruction is taking place.
6. Students who become disruptive may be asked to leave.

Due to some confusion in the morning drop-off, we revised our procedures to make it easier for everyone. Starting January 6, we will be using the following procedure for morning drop-off.

1. Students should not be dropped off before 7:45 a.m. unless they have tutoring, extracurriculars, or appointments.
   
2. Morning drop-off begins once the doors are "propped" AND staff members are in the crosswalk.
3. This change is now for all Preschool to Grade 8 students and A & B Zones and Preschool. When the doors are closed, your student(s) is late and must be signed in by a parent or guardian.

We understand that weather and traffic can cause delays in our morning carpool, which is why we believe the doors "propped and not propped" are an easy visual for our community.

If the A Zone Door is open, please remind students that regardless of grade, they may enter those doors. With the cold weather here, we want our students to use all available entrances.

Setting Up dismissal for an After School Activities or Sports is a simple process. We have created this Parent Tutorial to help guide you through the process.

To change delegation, click on arrow next to your student's name.

1. Select the date you wish to change their pickup status. Then click “Change Pickup” or Click on the 3 dots on the bottom right.

2. Under “Select Date”, choose date for a one-time occurrence or even set up recurring dates.

3. Next, Select How>Select Pick Up Mode>AfterSchool>Sports/Activities.

4. You will see a Summary of your changes. Click “Confirm Change” and you are all set.

Do this for each student and you are all set.

We feel incredibly fortunate to have families who have chosen to be part of BFA. National School Choice Week (NSCW), January 26-February 1, 2025, provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate this special community with our students, staff, and families.

National School Choice Week (NSCW) is important because it highlights the value of empowering families to choose the best educational options for their children. It celebrates the diversity of learning environments, including public, charter, private, magnet, online, and homeschooling. By raising awareness, NSCW encourages conversations about improving access to quality education and ensuring every child can find a setting that meets their unique needs, strengths, and learning styles. It also recognizes the efforts of educators, parents, and communities in fostering innovation and excellence in education.

Monday: Our students will help us decorate a banner to be put up in the hallway for the rest of the week.

Tuesday: The Front Office and IAs will hand out bottle stickers to our students.

Wednesday: Extra BFA Spirit Wear Day! Wear your favorite BFA Spirit Wear and uniform bottoms to show school spirit. Parents can join in also!

Thursday: Our students will write a testimonial about why they like Ben Franklin Academy. We will showcase the letters in the school hallways and highlight a few at our February Board of Directors Meeting.

Friday: Our students will be featured in a "What Makes Ben Franklin Amazing" video. Videos will be posted on our BFA Bolt YouTube Channel and social media.

In honor of National School Choice Week, we will have an EXTRA BFA Spirit Wear Day!!! And we want parents to join in on January 29.

Any Ben Franklin-approved top that has been approved. All of our Field Day, Fun Run and Charity shirts are included. Some PTO spirit wear is also approved and can be determined by visiting the PTO Spirit Wear Store.

Students MUST wear approved Uniform bottoms. Please refer to our Uniform Standards for more information

Check out some fun activities for our students to do at home!

Our delicious lunch is provided by DCSD. Check out the menu and select the current month.

If a student has a specific dietary restriction or allergy, parents must contact DCSD Nutrition Services to arrange an allergy/restriction lunch section.

BFA does not provide breakfast at this time.

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.