Ben Franklin Academy property is to be used for all drop-off and pickup of students and for parking for school events.

Morning drop-off (K-8th grades): 7:45 a.m. – 8:10 a.m. *
Afternoon pickup (K-8th grades): 3:30 p.m. – 3:55 p.m.
Morning kindergarten pickup: 11:15 a.m. – 11:25 a.m.
Afternoon kindergarten drop-off: 12:20 p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
*Students not in their seats by 8:15 a.m. will receive tardy slips.

Preschool
Morning drop-off: 8:10 a.m. – 8:20 a.m.
Morning pickup ( 3s ): 11:20a.m. – 11:30a.m.
Morning pickup ( 4s ): 12:20p.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Afternoon drop-off: 12:10 p.m. – 12:20 p.m.
Afternoon pickup: 3:20 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Student Drop-Off and Pickup

BFA is committed to managing traffic and parking in a safe and effective manner for the benefit of its students and the community. Thus, BFA has prepared a Traffic and Parking Management Plan and Procedures. Click here to view these procedures.

As a matter of school policy, no electronic devices of any kind, including Bluetooth or other hands-free devices, may be used by drivers in the areas designated in BFA’s Traffic and Parking Management Plan and Procedures. Further, to ensure the safety of all, a vehicle may not exceed 10 mph on school property at any time for any reason.

BFA will have two designated loading zones for kindergarten through eighth grade student use during pickup at the dismissal of school. BFA also will maintain a separate area designated for pre-kindergarten loading and unloading. Traffic Carpool Map.

Volunteer for Carpool

To ensure the safety of its students, BFA will have an adequate number of carpool attendants onsite. BFA requests that families volunteer to assist with drop-off and pickup.

We are asking parents to sign up for one carpool shift per month, on a repeating schedule. For example, you could sign up to staff a shift on the first Monday morning of each month. If you aren’t able to commit to a repeating shift, then you may just drop in, unscheduled, at the school office and offer to help. Please arrive by 7:30 a.m. for morning carpool or 2:55 p.m. for afternoon carpool.

While we are managing all volunteer carpool sign ups and cancellations through Sign Up Genius, you still need to log your hours via HelpCounter.

Click here to watch the carpool volunteer video.

Thank you for supporting a safe and efficient student carpool process! 

Parking

Please do not park in BFA’s Reserved Spots
We’ve noticed that some parents have been parking in reserved spots. Please be respectful of the parents, teachers and administration that paid for or earned those spots with their hard work and refrain from parking in any of the reserved slots.

Special Event Parking

BFA’s Traffic and Parking Management Plan and procedures includes parking for special events at the school. BFA will make reasonable efforts to provide for adequate back-up parking in the event the special event parking is unavailable and communicate any such plans in advance of a special event. To view the Special Event Parking Map, click here.

Delayed Start

BFA Schedule on 90-Minute Delayed Start

BASE: Before school care opens at 8:15 a.m. Please do not drop off your child earlier than 8:15 a.m. for before care, as no one will be at BFA to supervise your child
Carpool: Carpool on a delayed start day begins at 9:15 a.m.
School: School starts at 9:45 a.m.
Half-Day Kindergarten: Morning kindergarten starts at 9:45 a.m. and ends at the normal time. Afternoon kindergarten times do not change – normal start/end times apply.
Preschool: BFA preschool will open at 9:40 a.m. and dismiss at the normal time. Afternoon times do not change – normal start/end times apply.
Buses: The buses will be at the bus stops 90 minutes later than their usual pick up times to bring students to school. Afternoon times will remain the same.

***You always have the option of keeping your child home if you feel that the roads are unsafe – even if BFA is open. This will be listed as an excused absence.

School Closure/Delayed Start Due to Weather

BFA follows the direction of the Douglas County School District (DCSD) regarding school closures/delays due to weather. If the DCSD decides to close school for the day, then BFA will be closed as well. Sometimes, the weather is not severe enough for a closure, but may be significant enough to have a delayed school start. If the district calls for a delayed start, school at BFA will start 90 minutes later than normal. This means school will start at 9:45 a.m. Carpool on a delayed start day begins at 9:15 a.m. and before school care will open at 8:15 a.m. Please do not drop off your child earlier than 8:15 a.m. for before care, as no one will be here to supervise your child.
 
All school closures can be seen on most of the local TV channels in the morning. You also may call the DCSD weather line at 303-387-SNOW (7669) to hear the latest updates on school closures or delayed starts. We also will send out an announcement via Constant Contact and the BFA app regarding closures or delays.
 
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. If you see on the TV or hear on the weather line that Douglas County is listed as closed or delayed start that means all of the schools are closed or delayed. If you see or hear that the Parker area is closed or delayed that means that Highlands Ranch and Castle Rock are open.
 
You always have the option of keeping your child home if you feel that the roads are unsafe even if the school is open. This will be listed as an excused absence.
 

Severe Weather Carpool Delay

When the weather conditions prohibit a normal release of students during carpool, we will initiate a severe weather dismissal for carpool and will not allow students outside until the weather conditions are safe. During severe weather dismissal, your options are:

  1. Park your car in the parking lot and physically come into the school with your carpool tag to sign your child(ren) out. Please do not leave your car while in the carpool line.
  2. Enter, stay, and move with the carpool line until your child(ren) are released directly to you at the front of the school.
  3. Wait it out wherever you are until the weather passes and walkers are released.

Please understand that while this procedure will take longer than a regular dismissal, it will ensure the overall safety of our students. Thank you in advance for your support and understanding in the event of a severe weather dismissal.

  • A decision to do a “Severe Weather Dismissal” won’t be made until 3:25 p.m. This gives us as much time as possible to see if the severe weather passes.
  • Severe weather includes: lightning in the area; heavy rain, hail or snow; or tornado-like conditions.
  • We will halt all carpool operations when lightning is within 6 miles of the school, in accordance with DCSD procedures. 
  • Please do not make a call to your child’s cell phone asking him/her to exit the building. Your physical presence or that of another approved adult friend/family member, in the building or in carpool is required to release your child.

We will communicate to parents that a severe weather dismissal is in effect. We will try to do this between 3:25 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Please make sure that the school, as well as your student’s homeroom teacher, has your current contact information.

  • Please talk to your child about a contingency plan that will come into play if and when a severe weather dismissal occurs.
  • Please know that your child will always be safe by waiting at school until you arrive.

Please be patient during weather delays. We know that they are inconvenient and that many families have other places to be after school. Your child’s safety is important to us and we will always err on the safe side.