BFA Elementary Newsletter
October 10, 2024
A Word from Mr. Peterson
Reading to your students for 20 minutes each day can have a profound impact on their learning and development. This consistent practice not only enhances their vocabulary and language skills but also fosters a love for reading. It helps students improve their listening abilities, focus, and comprehension, setting a foundation for better academic performance. The shared experience of reading aloud also strengthens the teacher-student relationship, encouraging curiosity and dialogue.
Here are some key statistics:
Exposure to words: Children who read 20 minutes a night are exposed to about 1.8 million words per year, compared to only 8,000 words for those who read just 1 minute per day.
Academic achievement: Students who read 20 minutes daily score in the 90th percentile on standardized tests, while those who read less tend to score lower (e.g., 1 minute a day correlates with scoring in the 10th percentile).
Reading volume: In a single school year, reading 20 minutes each night equates to approximately 3,600 minutes of reading, or 1,800,000 words read. This creates a strong foundation for fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary growth.
Lifelong benefits: Research shows that students who read daily are more likely to develop stronger writing, communication, and problem-solving skills, and they are more likely to continue these habits into adulthood.
Whether exploring new topics or revisiting familiar stories, those 20 minutes create a space for imagination, critical thinking, and lifelong learning habits. Thank you for partnering with your teachers and reading every day.
Mr. Michael Peterson
Assistant Principal
K - 4
In addition to reading 20 minutes a night, we have invested in our students by giving access to K - 5 students with Lexia online.
Built on the science of reading, Lexia® Core5® Reading is a research-proven program that accelerates the development of literacy skills for students of all abilities, helping them make the critical shift from learning to read to reading to learn.
Once our student completes a level, they receive a certificate hand delivered by one of our Reading Specialists or teacher. The students are so proud of themselves which encourages them to progressing.
To access Lexia, use your student's bfacademy.org email address and username. If it asks for your teacher's email address, you can find it here.
Mrs. Murray
BFA continues to offer half-day kindergarten, with Mrs. Murray leading those classes. She plays a vital role in the early development of children and setting the foundation for our Kindies' educational journey. Mrs. Murray not only teaches basic academic skills like counting, the alphabet, and early reading, but also help children develop social skills, emotional regulation, and a love for learning. She create a nurturing and stimulating environment where children feel safe, supported, and encouraged to explore their curiosity. Her impact is profound, as she help shape the minds and hearts of children during their most formative years.
Mrs. Murray will be beginning her 16th year of teaching kindergarten this year. A Colorado native, she attended schools in the Douglas County School District. She graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in Elementary Education where she played for the women’s soccer team for four years on an athletic scholarship. She received her master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix.
She lives in Lakewood with her husband Jay, her son Joel, daughter Blair, and two dogs. Two kids keep her very busy at home, but she loves every minute of it. Mrs. Murray enjoys spending time with family, watching her son and daughter grow each day, running, traveling, playing soccer, and watching movies. She has been teaching at Ben Franklin Academy since it opened and she feels so fortunate to be a part of the BFA family.
Mrs. Hooley
Mrs. Hooley is an Instructional Aide for 3rd Grade. She provides additional guidance and support to help create a more inclusive learning environment, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to succeed. She assistance teachers by helping work with small groups or one-on-one to reinforce lessons or manage classroom dynamics. Her dedication enhances the educational experience for students and helps maintain a smooth, productive classroom environment.
Kindergarten
Our Kindergarteners will go on their first field trip of the year.
See teachers' emails for details and visit MySchoolBucks to register.
The trip will open in MySchoolBucks on 9/24/24 and will close 10/24/24. There will be no cost for each student, but parents must register as this is the parent permission for the field trip.
Please remember students must wear their Formal Uniforms for Field Trips.
First Grade
Field Trip November 7
Our 1st will go on a field trip. See teachers’ emails for details and visit MySchoolBucks to register.
The trip will open in MSB on 10/7/24 and will close 11/7/24. There will be no cost for each student, but parents must register as this is the parent permission for the field trip.
Please remember students must wear their Formal Uniforms for Field Trips.
Second Grade
Field Trip October 22 and 23
Our 2nd Graders will go on their first field trip of the year.
See teachers' emails for details and visit MySchoolBucks to register.
The trip will open in MySchoolBucks on 9/22/24 and will close 10/22/24. There will be no cost for each student. We did use funds toward this trip.. There will be no cost for each student, but parents must register as this is the parent permission for the field trip.
Please remember students must wear their Formal Uniforms for Field Trips.
Mrs. Hildebrand's class is learning about the math concept of arrays. She is introducing students to the foundational idea of multiplication in an accessible and visual way. An array is a set of objects or numbers arranged in rows and columns, helping children understand repeated addition. For example, an array of 3 rows with 4 objects in each row demonstrates that 3 groups of 4 is the same as adding 4 three times. This hands-on approach allows students to grasp the concept of grouping and patterns in numbers, building a strong basis for future multiplication and division skills. Working with arrays also enhances their ability to recognize structure in numbers and apply logical thinking when solving math problems.
And designing their own Arrray City is a great way to display those concepts.
Third Grade
Our 3rd graders are expected to write a paper every other week. The topic is up to the student but needs to have writing strategies in their work: Planning, Rough Draft, Rainbow Editing and Publish Copy.
These are strategies where writers generate ideas and explore topics before starting; planning and organizing, deciding on the topic and the order of ideas; and drafting, where the initial version of the text is created, focusing on getting ideas down rather than perfection. The next strategy is rainbow editing, where writers refine their work, improving clarity, coherence, and detail while focusing on correcting grammar, punctuation, and style. Lastly, publishing involves sharing the final product, whether it’s submitting a paper and sometimes presenting it to others. Together, these strategies guide writers from idea to polished piece, ensuring thoughtful and effective communication.
Each classroom has its own flair for what this is called.
- Mrs. Loehr's class writes the Sparkle-Arkle.
- Mrs. McMahon's class writes the Flamazing Tale.
- Mrs. White's class writes the On Point Writing.
- Mrs. Wilson's class writes the Rumble in the Jungle.
Fourth Grade
Field Trip November 4
Our 4th will go on their first field trip of the year. See teachers’ emails for details and visit MySchoolBucks to register.
The trip will open in MySchoolBucks on 10/04/24 and will close 11/04/24. There will be no cost for each student, but parents must register as this is the parent permission for the field trip.
Please remember students must wear their Formal Uniforms for Field Trips.
Calling all Volunteers!
Library is one of the best places to volunteer your time. Please read all instructions before signing up and limit to signing up for a couple of spots at first so everyone has a chance. If there are still open spots in a couple of weeks, please go back and fill up those spots.
Check your student(s)' teacher's pages to find out what day their class comes.
Sign up on Sign Up Genius and check back often. Thanks for all your help.
Musicals
We have several musicals coming to our school.
