Dear Franklin families,
I hope everyone had a great first week of school! I’m sure everyone was ready for the weekend - the return to school, the morning hustle, car lines, and routine can be hard after the summer break. Thankfully, we have a holiday weekend ahead for some final summer fun and relaxation!
Our Student Led (Listening) Conferences are Wednesday, September 9. If you are new to FSI this year, Student Led Conferences (SLCs) are an important part of our work to put students at the center of their own learning. These first conferences are relaxed - an opportunity for students to share their goals and how they like to learn and how we as adults can support them. We do not have classes on SLC days. Students attend only for their scheduled SLC time. Crew leaders will schedule appointments with families, so please watch for their emails this week. We know that a day out of school is disruptive but we believe the investment in communication and centering our students is worth it.
A huge thank you to everyone for your patience in the car line this week! The first week is always hard, as all the schools in the area return and traffic gets busy. It got a little better each day. Wednesday will still be a little tricky, so here are a few tips for Wednesday dismissal:
- All middle school (5 - 8) students are released at 12:45. If you are picking up 7th and 8th graders, you do not need to pull to the side on Wednesday. Just join in the two moving lines.
- High school students are dismissed at 1:00. If you are picking up high school students, try to arrive around 1. This allows the middle school traffic to move through our line.
- On all days, if you are picking up students in middle and high school, come for the high school dismissal time. You have the option to go through the line twice (once for middle and again for the later high school time) but we don’t require that.
Remember that regular morning drop off begins at 7:45. Early drop off (fee based) is from 7:30 - 7:45 am. We do not have staff available to open the building before 7:30 am. Students who arrive before 7:30 am are not supervised by the school.
Take Action!
We have a few spots open for 5th, 11th and 12th grades. We would love to serve as many students as we can! Full enrollment helps us as we work hard to provide an excellent educational experience for students despite North Carolina’s lack of funding for public schools. If your student loves FSI - help us spread the word!
We are also looking for substitute teachers and for bus drivers. Our bus driver positions pay better than the County - we will pay for driver education - and our bus routes are easier to drive. Serving as a substitute allows our teachers to take time off without worrying about what happens in their classrooms. If you are or you know someone interested in working as a substitute or a driver, please have them email us at [email protected].
Thank you for choosing FSI and joining our school community. We’re looking forward to a terrific year!
Upcoming Events
Tues, Sept 1
- 3:45 pm: MS Flag Football Try-outs on front field
- 4:30 pm: MS & HS Cross Country @ ICI
- 4:30 pm: HS Soccer vs ICI @ FSI
- 4:30 pm: MS Volleyball vs ICI @ FSI
- 5:30 pm: HS Volleyball vs ICI @ FSI
Wed, Sept 2: Wednesday Dismissal
- Middle School 12:45
- High School 1:00
Thurs, Sept 3
- 8:15 - 9:30 am: Parent Coffee Social @ The Dripolator
- 3:45 pm: MS Flag Football Try-Outs on front field
- 4:30 pm: MS Volleyball vs Haywood Christian @ FSI
- 5:00 pm: HS Soccer vs Asheville School @ FSI
- 5:30 pm: HS Volleyball vs Haywood Christian @ FSI
Mon,Sept 7: Labor Day Holiday - No School
Wed, Sept 9: Fall Student Led Listening Conferences - students will not attend school this day. They will come ONLY for their conference time. Times will be scheduled with Crew leaders
Bolts Athletics
Sports teams kick off their first competitions this week with home games for volleyball and soccer, while cross country heads to IC Imagine for their first meet. We look forward to seeing people at the games!
Home game admission: $5 adults, $3 students, under age 5 is free - cash & cards accepted
MS Flag Football:
Tuesday, Sept 1: Try-Outs on the front field at 3:45pm
Thursday, Sept 3: MS Flag Football Try-Outs on the front field at 3:45pm
Email Coach Freeman with any questions [email protected]
REMINDER: All required paperwork must be submitted prior to first practice/try-outs.
NO EXCEPTIONS
For information about our athletics program, email Athletic Director Kim Burke, [email protected]. Our first events are coming up Tuesday, Sept 8 - soccer and volleyball vs. IC Imagine. Save the date!
Parent Crew
Parent Crew is your organization! It’s similar to a PTO or PTA, and it’s a great way to get involved, be engaged, and meet other FSI families. Weekly information from Parent Crew will be included in the Sunday newsletters under this section.
Join us for the Parent Coffee Social, this Thursday Sept 3, 8:15 am at The Dripolator!
Attendance Matters!
Did you know that student attendance during the first month of school can predict their academic success? As early as 5th grade, students who are absent during the first month of school have lower high school graduation rates. Let’s take action and build strong school attendance right away. This is one of the most important steps parents can take to help their students succeed.
If your student is sick and needs to miss school, please let us know. Here’s how!
Use the Infinite Campus Parent Portal
Log into your portal, click “more” and then select “attendance request”
You can also email us at [email protected].
Lost & Found - Already!
Our Lost & Found is already overflowing. Please have your students look for lost items this week. We will be cleaning it out this Friday, Sept 4 - all items left in Lost & Found on Friday will be donated to a local nonprofit.
Reminders
Infinite Campus and Student Schedules
Infinite Campus is North Carolina's statewide student information system. We have shared lots of information to help parents get into the Parent Portals. You will need access to the Parent Portal throughout the year to see schedules, grades, attendance info, and more. Please look for emails from Erinn Otten and follow the directions carefully. If you are still having problems getting into the Portal, fill out this FORM to request support. We will get to you as quickly as possible. Do not email individual staff members - you will get help more quickly by using the form.
New Website and App!
We are excited to reveal our new website and app. You received an invitation and a password reset request from Edlio, our website host. It might look a little suspect because you haven't activated your account yet - but it's fine to click through and create your account. The email you provided us (or for students, your school email) is the email that will be connected with our app! If you don't see the email in your inbox, check your spam folder. This new app will make it easier to keep up with events and find the resources you need. There are features specific for parents, students and our staff - so you may see different functions available. We are in the process of implementing some of the features, so some of them may not be fully functional quite yet - but just hang tight, there is a lot more coming to this!
To download the app, go to your app store, search for Edlio and download the app - you will see an option for The Franklin School of Innovation - click that and the app will relaunch as FSI's and log in!
Who Do I Go To When….
Whether you are new to FSI or returning, we know you have questions and want to help you find the best answers! This handy guide can help you connect. We do our best to respond to questions within 24 hours. We do not expect school staff to respond outside of school hours. It may take longer right now or when the email load is especially heavy. Click here to access the guide: Who do I go to when…
Required Forms
Emergency Medical Authorization
All students are required to have a Student Health Form on file. These forms are extremely important; in the case of an emergency and treatment may be delayed if we do not have this form on hand. These forms were sent via email from Erinn Otten. Please complete the form and return it to school as soon as possible.
Medications at School
If your student will require medication of any type during the school day, please remember to complete and submit the appropriate medical forms. You will find forms for diabetes, asthma, allergies, medication, and self-medication on our website, or your doctor’s office should have school forms available. Under North Carolina regulations, students are not permitted to take any medications at school, including over-the-counter medications, unless the school has a current copy of a medication form on record. These forms require physician signature.
Immunizations
Students new to public school must provide proof of immunizations. You can read more about required immunizations here: http://www.immunize.nc.gov/schools/k-12.htm
Students entering 7th grade have new immunization requirements:
- Tdap – Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough)
- Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV)
You (or your doctor) can fax proof of immunizations to us at 828-318-8125, email to our nurse ([email protected]) or mail or drop off to the office.
Sports Physicals, Concussion Form, and Medical Waivers
If your student will participate in our athletics program, all three forms must be completed and returned prior to participation. The physical must have a doctor’s signature. Forms are available on our website: https://www.franklinschoolofinnovation.org/parents/forms/
Bus Rider & Carpool Information
It’s great to see action happening on the carpool page! No matter where you live, you’ll find FSI families nearby. You need to join the Franklin Carpool Facebook page. Find your carpool friends here: Franklin Carpool Facebook Page
Deeana Bennett has previously shared bus rider information. At this time there is a wait list for all buses. Last year we were able to accommodate all riders but it took several weeks. There is a lot of demand for bus transportation and drivers are limited! We are recruiting for bus drivers, help spread the word! We will pay for training and our pay is competitive.
Free & Reduced Lunch
Did you know that Franklin participates in the federal school lunch program? We are so pleased to provide this service for our families. Our kitchen staff have been trying out some new recipes and treating us all this summer - we can vouch for the delicious meals! You can sign up here: Free and reduced lunch application
Beyond the Bell (BTB) After School Program
3:15 pm-6:00 pm: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, and 1:00-6:00 pm Wednesdays
This is a fee-based program. Financial aid is available for qualifying households, upon completion of application. More information is available on our website, Beyond the Bell Program. Contact Ron Scott, [email protected], for more information.
Please note that all afterschool clubs also run through Beyond the Bell. More information about afterschool clubs will be available soon. Most clubs start mid to late September.