The Ben Franklin Preschool extends our deepest gratitude for the enchanting visit from the Tooth Fairy this past week! The children were captivated by her presence and the invaluable lessons she shared about dental hygiene during National Children’s Dental Health Month. (We hope our preschoolers came home enthusiastic to take good care of their teeth!)

The Tooth Fairy is a member of the team at Blue Sky Pediatric Dentistry, where they're dedicated to educating our youngest minds about oral health. We appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with a practice that goes above and beyond to make dental care engaging and accessible for children.

Special thanks to Marra Bellinger, a BFA parent and dental assistant at Blue Sky, for orchestrating this memorable experience and ensuring its success. Marra is terrific with the kids and added a touch of magic to the day!

Dr. Jennifer Thompson at Blue Sky Pediatric Dentistry has been partnering with the BFA preschool for years. We sincerely appreciate Dr. Jenn's expertise, her commitment to service, and the way she treats the BFA community like family. Dr. Jenn is also a BFA PTO Platinum sponsor this year.

Once again, thanks to Dr. Jenn, Marra Bellinger and the rest of the team at Blue Sky Pediatric Dentistry for their generosity in enriching the lives of our students with this wonderful (and fun!) educational experience.

Do you know a leader who is committed to BFA's mission, vision, and long-term strategic plan? If so, please consider nominating that individual for the BFA Board of Directors.

To nominate someone (including yourself) for the BFA Board, click here to complete the nomination form. Nominations from the BFA School Voting Group must be submitted online before 11:59 p.m. (MST) on March 1, 2024.

To see the qualifications to serve on the Board and for more detailed information, including FAQs, see the the Elections webpage and/or the article on our website.

If you are interested in learning more, please email Keri Street (keri@bfacademy.org), Adam Lucero (adaml@bfacademy.org), or any of our Board members. Thank you!

Nutrition Services notified us of a NEW menu change for Friday, Feb. 23. Students will be able to choose burgers (hamburgers, cheeseburgers or an impossible burger) with fries, OR a bistro box with a cocoa butter crustless sandwich and yogurt. You can see the updated BFA lunch menu on the Nutrition Services website.

The final night of parent-teacher conferences is tonight, Feb. 15. 

There is no school tomorrow, Feb. 16, as it is a comp day for teachers. Additionally, there is no school on Monday, Feb. 19, because it's Presidents Day.

All welcome to attend the FREE middle school performance of Roald Dahl's "Matilda" at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 1, and Saturday, March 2, at BFA. Our BFA performing arts students and tech crew would love to show off all their hard work!

Thanks to the SCFD grant we received again this year, we’re able to host the Cherry Arts Mobile Art Gallery at BFA! We’re thrilled to have these fabulous pieces of art displayed around the school. Members of National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) are serving as docents for the gallery by explaining the various art pieces and providing information about the artists to each class.

 

*Pictured here is "Bacon and Eggs" by artist Dakota Pratt.

Hearing and vision impact learning, so it’s essential to conduct screenings and, if necessary, re-screenings. On Wednesday, Feb. 28, we will re-screen students for hearing; in addition, we'll conduct initial screenings for students who missed the previous hearing and vision tests.

Vision Screenings Make-ups: 

If your student was absent for the initial screenings, please have them wear their prescription glasses or contacts on Feb. 28. You will receive a letter with instructions ONLY if your student does not pass the vision screening.

Volunteers Needed:

We would appreciate six volunteers to help during this time. To sign up to help, click HERE.

Ben's Brigade will host a Guys Night Out from 7 - 10 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22, at Main Event in Highlands Ranch. Come enjoy billiards, laser tag, bowling, arcade games and a buffet. And, hang out with other BFA guys! Space is limited, so please RSVP to let us know if you plan to attend.



Contact Curtis Anderson and Justin Mayhall, Ben’s Brigade co-committee managers to learn more.

It’s time to start considering where you are going to register your children for summer care and, most importantly, summer FUN!

BFA will offer summer camp again this year. We’re excited to offer this popular program as the kids love spending the day with their friends doing fun activities, and parents appreciate the peace of mind of knowing who is caring for their child. Registration is NOW OPEN and is $35 per child. The registration fee includes one summer camp t-shirt and one day pack.

This registration does not guarantee your child a weekly spot—you’ll sign up for those later; however, it helps us know how many kids plan on attending so we can formalize staffing.

For questions about summer camp, please email Leigh Savoy, BASE director.

The PTO will host a Used Uniform Sale from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24, in the Lightning Gym. All uniform pieces will be $5 at the sale, or 5 pieces for $20. The PTO's goal is to continue to support our children, staff and families by offering affordable uniform options while simultaneously funding the PTO. Important Note: If parents bring their student(s) to the sale, they MUST stay with the parent at all times and not roam the halls. 



Uniform Donations:

If you have gently used uniforms that you would like to donate to the PTO, you can leave them, as well as any uniform accessories, in the front office vestibule donation box NOW through Wednesday, Feb. 21. Donations also can be dropped off today during Parent-Teacher Conferences. (Please wash and fold the clothing before donating.)

Volunteer Opportunities:

Looking for volunteer hours? To help, sign up HERE or contact Jessica Kostelecky, PTO uniform buy back committee chair. Clothes will need to be sorted and organized prior to the sale, which can be done at home.

Mark your calendar for the PTO’s February Spirit Night! It’s from 3:30-8 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 23, at Tiger Den Tea House (44 Springer Drive, Highlands Ranch). Tiger Den will donate 20 percent of all orders placed to the BFA PTO!

Be sure to tell the cashier that you are there for the BFA fundraiser. Or, if you order via the Clover app, let the cashier know when you pick your order up. Please spread the word.

We hope to see you there!

Landsharks offers a non-competitive youth program to introduce running to young athletes in a safe and fun environment. The focus is on self-improvement, being an encouraging teammate, and making new friends. The Spring Track series is a fun-based program open to students in Kindergarten through sixth grade. Practices consist of running games and track workouts with a strong focus on fun. Practices start on Tuesday, April 9. See this flier for all the details!

Plan your summer in one day at the Macaroni KID Summer Camp Fair and Kids' Activities Expo! There will be games, hands-on activities, raffles, giveaways and prizes galore. Bring an item for the Foundation for Douglas County Schools Lend-a-Hand School Supply drive or a nonperishable food item for Backpack Society and receive a special treat (while supplies last). The FREE event is from 2:30 - 6 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 25, at DCSD Legacy Campus (10035 S. Peoria St., Lone Tree). Pre-registration is encouraged. Sign up HERE.

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.

It's CRAZY how quickly this program adds up and how much our school can earn. From July - Oct. of 2023, BFA earned $5,341 back from this program!

Please contact Andreya Flanigan, PTO fundraising coordinator, with any questions. Thank you, again, for your support of BFA and the PTO!