A message from Haley Maglieri, at-large director, BFA Board of Directors...

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 2022, 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 2023.

As we notified you earlier this month, beginning in January, most communications from BFA will be sent through School Messenger.

Parents should ensure contact preferences within their IC Parent Portal account are updated and confirm that the appropriate boxes are checked to receive General, Attendance and Emergency notifications. NOTE: You can choose to have communications via the following: (1) a phone call, (2) text message and/or (3) email. We will send important communications using 'General' notifications in School Messenger so we recommend you select all three (phone, text and email) so you don’t miss critical messages in the event of a lightning delay, early release, etc.

To verify that your profile is set up correctly, simply login to IC, select the ‘User Menu’ (the person icon on the upper, right side of the screen), select ‘Contact Preferences’ and indicate your preferences, then click 'Save.' You should also create personal contacts using the phone numbers below on your own phone so you know who is calling/texting:

·      DCSD Emergency phones calls: 855-695-9448

·      DCSD General phone calls: 877-279-4061

When we switch to this tool, only parents/guardians will receive direct communications from BFA; however, links to the Principal Newsletter will continue to be available on the website under Parents/Principal Newsletters; and, general news can be found on the website homepage under Latest News.

In January, we’ll send most general messages via Messenger AND through our current messaging system so parents can adjust to the change. If you have questions about how to update your contact information in IC, contact Colleen Bobbin, BFA's director of admissions and records.

Volunteer opportunities in the BFA library are opening up for January through May. We kindly request that you only sign up for a few (2-3) slots to give others a chance to volunteer. If there are additional opportunities in a week or so, you are welcome to sign up for more.

If you can’t make your volunteer slot due to an illness or scheduling conflict, please delete your sign up. If you need to cancel at the last minute, please send Ms. Williams an email or call the front office to get a message to Ms. Williams. After two no shows/no notifications, any future volunteer slots you’ve signed up for will be deleted. Thanks again for your support of our BFA library! You can sign up HERE.

We're grateful to have so many amazing PTO sponsors this year supporting our school! They are current and former BFA families, and local small businesses who want to support our kids in getting a fantastic education. We would like to return the favor and show them some support too. 

If you're looking for gifts, want to achieve a new goal next year (financial, real estate, business, health/wellness, etc.), or just want to check out fun and interesting local businesses, please click on the logos linked in this short newsletter to learn more, shop (with discounts and promotions!), and support our wonderful sponsors.

Happy Holidays from the PTO!

The January CEC meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 9, at Main Event (64 Centennial Blvd). This will be a fun, post-holiday 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 Thursday, Jan. 5, so a final count can be submitted. Thank you!

The 2022-23 yearbooks are on sale! Be sure to order yours soon for the best pricing! Right now, yearbooks cost $30 per book, but the price will go up to $35 after Winter Break, and $45 after Spring Break. For details on pricing and how to order, check out the attached flier.

You may also order a yearbook dedication (ad) for your student. Dedications are $15 for 1/16 of page and $30 for 1/8 of a page. What a fun way to help commemorate a great school year!

Order and pay for your 2022-23 yearbook and dedication today!

Make plans to stop by for dinner and some fun to support the BFA PTO at the Main Event Spirit Night from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19. Main Event will give back 20 percent of all purchases (excluding alcohol) to the BFA PTO. Be sure to mention the Ben Franklin fundraiser so that the school gets credit for your purchase!



We earned $1,343.50 from our last three spirit nights: $175 from Zell’s Creperie, $696.50 from Skate City, and $472 from Krispy Kreme. Thank you to everyone who supported our spirit nights. Let's see if we can make the Main Event Spirit Night even better! We appreciate your continued support.

All BFA girls and their father or special adult are invited to attend this year’s Sweetheart Ball, Diamonds and Denim, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28, at BFA. Mark your calendars! Tickets will go on sale after Winter Break.

If you have questions, please contact Christina Dilley and Kelly Dees, PTO Sweetheart Ball committee managers.

Parents who accepted a first round offer from BFA by the Dec. 19 deadline will receive an email with the Enrollment Packet by 4 p.m., TODAY, Dec. 21, from BFA's Director of Admissions and Records, Colleen Bobbin.

• **Enrollment Packets must be submitted via email no later than 8 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023.**
• Incomplete or late Packets will not be accepted and enrollment offers may be withdrawn.

As a reminder, if your child did not receive an offer during the first round, your student will remain on the wait list and, beginning Jan. 23, you can contact Colleen Bobbin to inquire as to your child's general waitlist status. In the meantime, when there are new openings, EVERY new enrollment offer will be via email ONLY. The deadline to reply to offers is usually 24-36 hours after the offer is made. Those who accept an offer will need to submit the Enrollment Packet by a specified deadline.

Please note: Winter Break is Dec. 22 through Jan. 4; Mrs. Bobbin will not be available for questions during the break. When she returns to work on Jan. 5, she will begin the process of reviewing packets and will follow up with parents in regard to the status of their child's packet.

Current BFA families can express interest in the preschool program for the three-year-old and four-year-old classes via the Intent to Enroll form found HERE or on the preschool webpage. The Intent to Enroll form for the 2023-24 school year is NOW OPEN.

Preschool enrollment for new BFA families is on a first come, first served basis, so it’s a good idea to complete the Intent to Enroll form early.

If you are interested in the Ben Franklin Academy Preschool program, please click here for more information—including important information about the Universal Preschool program. And, don't forget to look at the website for the preschool class schedule and tuition information for next school year.