Weekly Update
A Message from Principal Simpson
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Dear Parents,
Happy spring! I hope this week's cold weather will be our last winter blast; however, since I grew up in Colorado, I realize that’s probably wishful thinking and we should expect unpredictable weather for at least the next month. Please remember, students will go outside for recess if the temperature is above 20 degrees unless it is exceptionally snowy, icy or rainy. Please be sure to check your favorite weather app and send your student to school dressed appropriately for the weather.
I want to thank our six Board candidates for their time at the Board Forum on Tuesday. Hearing each candidate's passion for BFA's success was inspiring. If you couldn't watch the candidate question and answer session live, you can view the video here. I also want to thank the many staff members who attended the meeting in person or via Zoom; this is another way they show their dedication to the school and our students.
This month's virtue is tranquility: Keep yourself from reacting poorly to others. People are not perfect, and the world is not fair. Learn to deal with both despite imperfections. Be patient. This spring, there are many fun events and activities coming up so being patient with each other will be imperative. I heard several of the Board candidates speak of wanting to bring our community together. One of the best ways to connect is to remember what we have in common—we’re all here because we care about kids and want each student to have the very best educational experience possible. An important way to achieve that goal is by being patient and listening to one another.
I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Mrs. Simpson
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Putting it all together: Problem Solving, Managing Relationships and Resolving Conflict |
It’s the time of year when we’re amazed by what our students have accomplished in the last twenty-seven weeks of school, and realize that three-quarters of the school year is already behind us! With nine weeks left, elementary and middle school classrooms are moving into the final unit of Second Step.
Grades K-5: Problem Solving
In Unit 4, students learn interpersonal problem-solving skills. In this unit, children learn skills to make and keep friends, solve problems, play fairly, and take responsibility.
In kindergarten and first grade, students are taught to identify and neutrally state a problem and learn how to make amends if they cause an accident. In second grade, students focus on generating and evaluating solutions to interpersonal problems. In Grades 3 through 5, students learn and practice a step-by-step problem-solving process that builds on the emotion-management and perspective-taking skills developed in the other units.
Students learn to help themselves by applying their emotion-management skills to feel calm and then follow the STEP problem-solving process: S: Say the problem, T: Think of solutions, E: Explore the outcomes, and P: Pick a solution.
Children with problem-solving skills are less likely to be impulsive or aggressive. They tend to be more socially skilled and are better liked by their peers.
Grades 6-8: Managing Relationships and Social Conflict
Middle school students learn strategies for developing and maintaining healthy relationships, perspective-taking and dealing with conflict. This unit’s content helps students learn to honor and understand differences based on varied personal, familial, and cultural backgrounds.
The goals of the sixth grade unit include students being able to:
- Recognize when a social conflict is escalating and identify what actions contribute to the escalation;
- Describe the different perspectives of the people involved in a conflict;
- Apply the four-step conflict resolution process; and,
- Take responsibility for their actions and make things as right as possible.
The goals of the seventh grade unit include students being able to:
- Recognize when a social conflict is escalating and identify what actions contribute to the escalation;
- Describe the different perspectives of the people involved in a conflict;
- Apply the four-step conflict resolution process; and,
- Take responsibility for their actions and make things as right as possible.
The goals of the eighth grade unit include students being able to:
- Choose healthy relationships;
- Treat others with respect despite differing values and opinions; and
- Use conflict-management strategies to manage conflicts (including those within close relationships) when values and perspectives differ.
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Calendar Reminders/Updates |
Next Thursday, March 31, is an EXTRA Dress of Choice day to celebrate your generosity to the PTO's direct giving campaign.
Also, next Friday, April 1, is a comp day for teachers and will be a day off for all students.
CMAS testing for grades 3-8 is from April 4 - 13. Please make every effort to be on time, and give your kiddo(s) a nutritious breakfast on test day. The testing schedules vary by grade, so please check the BFA calendar for specific details or look for an email from your student's teacher(s).
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Have your kids had a growth spurt? Do you need a few extra uniforms? If so, visit the Uniform Consignment Sale from 10 a.m. - noon this Saturday, March 26, in the outdoor courtyard between the gyms. (If the weather isn’t cooperating, we’ll be in the small gym.) We’ll have uniforms in all sizes and styles, so come check it out!
If you have items in the sale, please pick up any unsold items between 1-2 p.m. on March 26. Unsold consignment items that are not picked up will be placed with the PTO donations.
Looking for some volunteer hours? If you would like to volunteer to help with the sale, please visit the SignUpGenius.
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New College-style Sweatshirts; Store Remaining Open through March 25 |
The PTO store will be closing for the year after tomorrow night, March 25, so shop now for new spirit wear and spirit items. Make sure your kids have sweatshirts, including the new college-style sweatshirts, for chilly classrooms and fleece jackets or vests for recess. They also have water bottles, wireless phone chargers, car magnets and decals, and more! Shop MySchoolBucks TODAY before the store closes.
Orders will be delivered and sent home through your child's classroom. Masks and gaiters are not returnable. Questions? Contact Jacqui Condon, PTO Spirit Wear Chair.
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So Many Reasons to Join the PTO Team - Nomination Window Extended to April 1 |
Are you interested in serving on the BFA PTO next school year? We’re currently looking for individuals to fill a wide variety of volunteer roles on our 2022-23 PTO team. There are so many reasons to volunteer with the PTO; the right position is waiting for you! Nominations are now being accepted through NEXT FRIDAY, April 1, and PTO elections will be held April 26 - 30. To nominate yourself, or someone you know who'd be a good fit in the PTO, please complete the 2022 BFA PTO Nominations form by April 1.
This year, the offices of Vice President, Fundraising Coordinator, and Secretary and Social Coordinator are up for election by the school community. For a full list of available positions and for more information on the PTO, please visit our webpage or contact one of the current PTO Executive Officers (listed below). Thank you for your help in continuing to make BFA an amazing place!
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Ben's Brigade Offers Dads an Opportunity to get Involved! |
Ben's Brigade is a PTO group open to all BFA dads that provides a place for dads to get to know each other, as well as opportunities for unique ways to give back to the school and earn volunteer hours. Ben’s Brigade handles work projects around the school, provides volunteers for school functions, and hosts a number of social events throughout the year - some just for dads and some events with kids as well.
They’ll soon be working on spring school projects, as well as hosting an end-of-year picnic and they would love to have more dads get involved!
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2022 Summer Camp Registration Open |
It may be hard to believe, but it’s time to start thinking about summer camp! Ben Franklin Academy will offer another exciting Summer Camp program this year.
Do you need full-time day care for the summer? Or perhaps you are just looking to get a break a few days per week. Maybe your kids would like to connect with other Ben Franklin Academy kids and enjoy fun activities and social time. Whatever your situation, our Summer Camp program is sure to keep your kids safe and entertained. And, the best part is that our Summer Camp is staffed by people you know and trust!
Please note: If you have never signed up for BFA’s Before/After School Enrichment (BASE) program, you will be required to do so before you are able to register for summer camp. If you need the link, please email [email protected] and it will be sent to you.
Program Details
Dates: June 1 - Aug. 17; camp will be closed July 4-8
Hours: 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Days: Monday through Friday
Summer Camp is open to any currently enrolled BFA student age 5 and older. Your child must be 5 on or before Wednesday, June 1, to participate.
Costs
One-time Registration Fee: $25 per child; All registered campers will receive a camp t-shirt and daypack.
Tuition: $200/week/child
In February, the BASE program was awarded a grant from the state of Colorado. With the funds we received, we lowered the registration fee to $25 per student. In addition, we've lowered the weekly fee to $200, and will not be charging more for the field trips and other special activities we are planning for this summer.
Registration is OPEN NOW though MySchoolBucks! Watch for the summer camp activities/field trip calendar to be available in April. Please send any questions to: [email protected].
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April PTO Meeting and Moms Night Out |
We hope you’ll join us for the April PTO meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20, in the Sanders Science Lab. Please note the date change from April 13, and the time change (6:00 p.m.) to accommodate the Moms Night Out event following the meeting. All BFA community members are welcome to attend! As a reminder, attendance at PTO meetings counts toward your family’s volunteer hours.
Also, the PTO’s Moms Night Out event has been moved to April 20, immediately following the April PTO meeting. Save the date, and look for more information about this fun event in future newsletters.
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Donuts with Dads Rescheduled |
The Community Events Committee (CEC) has rescheduled Donuts with Dads. Please save the date for the event which will take place from 7 – 8 a.m. on Friday, April 29. Look for additional details in upcoming Principal Newsletters, as well as volunteer opportunities.
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Make plans to stop by for dinner and some fun to support BFA at the Main Event Spirit Night from 4-7 p.m. next Wednesday, March 30. Main Event will give back 20 percent of all purchases (excluding alcohol); but be sure to give your paper receipt to the BFA PTO representative at the event so that the BFA PTO gets credit for your purchases!
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Say Thanks - Staff Appreciation with SCRIP |
BFA will use SCRIP for end of year staff gifting again this year. This convenient, online program replaces room parent collections and facilitates convenient group gifting. Each family makes one payment through MySchoolBucks for all of their teacher and staff gifts. At the end of collections, each staff member will receive an email with the total collected on their behalf and is able to select gift cards they would like to receive.
Participation in the SCRIP program is completely voluntary. You are welcome to participate with any amount, or alternatively gift the teachers and staff on your own.
A form for preschool-only families will be available online by April 2. The completed preschool form and a check need to be dropped off in the PTO lockbox located in BFA's front office by April 8.
Families with students in grades K-8 will be able to place SCRIP orders via MySchoolBucks and pay by credit card. You may designate how much you would like to give to each teacher/staff member in one-dollar increments. Collections will take place April 2-10 with gift cards being distributed during Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week (May 2-May 6).
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Sign up for King Soopers Rewards or Amzaon Smile Today! |
If you are a King Soopers or Amazon shopper, you can help earn money for BFA by signing up for King Soopers Community Rewards and Amazon Smile. Here's how!
To sign up for King Soopers Community Rewards:
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Sign in to your digital account at King Soopers Community Rewards. If you haven't already set up an account, set up your account and link your King Soopers card or phone number to your account.
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Click on Community Rewards, Enroll Now and search for Ben Franklin Parent Teacher Organization or enter our code XN773. Click Save.
- Next time you check out at King Sooper or City Market, scan your card (or enter your alternate ID), and BFA will get money back from your purchase.
This program adds up quickly, so please consider participating.
To sign up for Amazon Smile:
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Go to: smile.amazon.com, and click Get Started
- Enter ‘Ben Franklin Academy Parent-Teacher Organization’ in the search box, and select BFA PTO as the organization that you want to support
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Once you have signed up for Amazon Smile online, you can enable Amazon Smile through the Amazon app, by selecting Gifting and Charity from the menu in the lower right-hand corner, then Amazon Smile.
You can find out more information about the AmazonSmile program including how to link your Amazon account to BFA, click here.
Please email [email protected] with any questions. Thank you, again, for your support of BFA and the PTO!
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Attention Library Volunteers |
We kindly ask our library volunteers to be on time and notify Ms. Williams AND cancel their sign-up if they cannot show up for their scheduled volunteer time slot. Unfortunately, we’ve had a number of volunteers not show up recently; therefore, we’ve had to make the difficult choice to cancel future sign ups for parents who failed to show for two volunteer slots without notifying us in advance.
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Landsharks Registration Open NOW |
Landsharks is offering a spring track series! They offer a non-competitive youth program to introduce running to young athletes in a safe and fun environment. Their focus is on self-improvement, being an encouraging teammate, and making new friends. The Spring Track series is a fun-based program led by Alyson Henbest and is open to students in kindergarten through sixth grade. See the flier for more information and register today!
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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.
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Ben Franklin Academy
2270 Plaza Drive
Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
www.bfacademy.org
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Main Office Phone: 720-383-4519
Attendance Phone: 720-432-9239
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