Whitney Wins First Prize

Stay Curious Video Contest Winners 

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Stay Curious Video Contest! Forty-three very curious Ben Franklin Academy students submitted videos, and five will be awarded prizes. We applaud every student who chose to share his/her curiosity with us.

The prizes are as follows:

• First prize goes to Whitney ....., kindergartener, for the thoughtful and creative way she demonstrated her curiosity via Curiosity Theatre (à la Masterpiece Theatre). She queries how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop, if a tree makes a sound in the forest when it falls, how much wood a woodchuck chucks and what types of creatures live in our local lakes. Whitney will receive two tickets to a professional Colorado sporting event and an iPod Shuffle.
• Ana Julia, first grader, takes second prize for her creative video inquiring about electricity. Ana has won two tickets to a professional Colorado sporting event.
• The third prizewinners are William and Aiva Titus, third and first graders, respectively, for starring in a well-thought out video about simple machines. The Titus family wins an iPod Shuffle.
• Mina Poleschook, first grade, takes fourth prize. She and her little sister showed their curiosity in wondering about kinetic force. Mina wins an iPod Shuffle.  
• Fifth prize goes to Marissa Kersey, seventh grader, who is curious about global warming and chose to inquire about it in her Halloween costume. She also wins an iPod Shuffle.   

The prizes awarded to the top five video winners are courtesy of Matt Krohl (professional Colorado sporting event tickets) and 360 Media/Solie Swan (iPod Shuffles). Mr. Krohl and Mr. Swan are both members of the Marketing Comittee; Mr. Swan serves as the committee's chairman.  

Ben Franklin Academy students have done an incredible job Staying Curious. Keep up the good work kids! 

Memories Needed

I am going to be writing personal histories for my mom and brother, Clarence, but I want them to be as detailed and as complete as possible. I can't do that unless I get memories from anyone possible. Especially when it comes to my mom whom I only know the last decade of her life, but there is a good 30 years that I know pretty much nothing about. So I would really appreciate it if any of you could get me memories of either of them. I need them written up and some way of knowing who the memories are from and emailed to me if at all possible.

From Josh, Catie, Ben, and Brianna

Just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I hope everyone who is travelling to the reunion will be safe and that everyone who is unable to attend will still feel our love!

And I'm posting this because hearing my son read this amazing and beautiful story makes my heart melt:

News from the Wolfs

Be sure and read this post on Cherry's blog.  Exciting news for 2013. 

Katie's a champion

Katie's team won the 7th grade volleyball tournament. It was nerve wracking.  They were leading the 2nd and deciding game by 24 to 20 but ended up losing the match sending them to the tie-breaker which they eventually won by 15 to 10.  That gave them a 10-0 record for the season.

Katie made all her serves this time and had some great saves.  She's going around the house (and in the shower) singing 'We are the champions'.  Dan and Elaine were able to be at the game.

Clarence's Book

Rachel put a facebook notice up for her remembrance book but in case you missed it, here is the link.

Mom's Favorite Recipes

For quite a while I have been working on a book of my mom's favorite recipes. Rachel suggested that I get it published, that there were some websites that could do that. I have recently completed it. This is what the front and back covers of my book look like:

In the book, I have included a picture of Mom on nearly every page, a brief description of the history of how it came to be a favorite for every recipe, and a Nutrition Facts chart for every recipe.

Here are a few of example pages from the book:

 I do have a way to order them but I currently only have it on a private account. So, to order one it would have to be through that, but the price goes down with each book ordered in the order so if anyone wants a copy, I could order them, and bring to the Family Reunion if you're there. I would need to order it by December 1 to get it before the Reunion.

From 1-20 books, it ranges anywhere from $26.66-$23.61 each book.  This includes shipping to my place. The books are in full color, which is why they cost so much.