Dear Franklin families,
Happy Labor Day! The first couple weeks of school are usually pretty intense for everyone - it takes a lot of energy to get back into all the daily routines, social interactions, and activities. I hope everyone finds time to relax and enjoy the long weekend.
This week will be a little choppy with Monday’s holiday and Wednesday’s Student Led Conferences. Thank you for your patience and willingness to invest time for our SLCs! We do not have classes on Wednesday. Students attend only for their scheduled SLC time. Please reach out to your Crew leader for any questions about your student’s scheduled time. We look forward to seeing many of you on Wednesday.
A quick update on the car line procedures - overall you all are keeping things running smoothly! If you are one of our many parents who patiently pull to the side to keep the traffic flowing, thank you! Here are the suggested times to get into the car line:
- 5th & 6th grade parents - always move directly into the two moving lines. We will keep the left lane closed until about 3 pm to allow student drivers with early release to leave campus. Starting at 3 we will use both the left and right lanes for dismissal traffic.
- 7th & 8th grade parents - pull to the side of the road until 3:15, then enter the moving traffic lane. If you arrive at 3:15 - allow the drivers who were pulled to the side to enter moving traffic first.
- High school parents - pull to the side of the road until 3:30, then enter the moving traffic lanes. If you arrive at 3:30, allow the drivers who were pulled to the side to enter moving traffic first.
- On all days, if you are picking up students in middle and high school, come for the high school dismissal time.
Take Action!
I’ll be talking a lot about attendance this year. Before the COVID pandemic, schools everywhere worried about high levels of chronic absenteeism, defined as students who miss more than 10% of the school year. In North Carolina, the chronic absenteeism rate was 15% in 2018. It rose to 31% in 2022 and was 25% in 2025. To give another perspective -students who are chronically absent miss about as much school each year as we all missed after Hurricane Helene.
Last year, 85% of FSI students who failed one course and 100% of those who failed two or more courses, were chronically absent. There is no substitute for time spent in school.
If your student is sick or cannot attend school, please submit attendance notes through the Infinite Campus Parent Portal (instructions were provided in last week’s newsletter) or email [email protected]. But let’s work together to increase attendance this year and help our students achieve incredible learning!
Thank you for choosing FSI and being a vital part of our school community. Working together we can help our students create brighter futures.
Upcoming Events
Mon, Sept 7: Labor Day Holiday - No School
Tues, Sept 8:
- 4:30 pm: MS Cross Country @ Knight Invite (Apple Valley)
- 4:30 pm: MS Volleyball @ ICI
- 4:30 pm: HS Soccer @ ICI (BCSP)
- 5:30 pm: HS Volleyball @ ICI
- 5:00 pm: School Improvement Team (at FSI)
- 6:00 pm: Board of Directors monthly meeting
Wed, Sept 9- Student Led Conferences - No Classes
Students attend ONLY for their scheduled conference.
- 3:45 pm: HS Cross Country @ Hendersonville
Thurs, Sept 10
- 5:00 pm: HS Volleyball @ Fernleaf
Fri, Sept 11
- School Pictures - Grades 5 - 8
- 4:30 pm: HS Volleyball vs Franklin Christian @ FSI
Hold the Date: Thursday, Sept 24 - FSI Blood Drive. FSI partners with The Blood Connection for on-campus blood drives. The blood drives help fill a critical need in our community while also helping us raise money for the Student Habitat for Humanity home build. Watch for sign up forms soon!
Bolts Athletics
The first week of Bolts Athletics was a busy one! MS & HS Volleyball and HS Soccer were all in action. HS Cross Country had their first race the week before.
Although the week was not victorious for the Bolts, there were many great plays and improvement after only a few practices. This week the Bolts have more opportunities as all fall sports are now in full swing. It's great to see so many student-athletes participating! We have another busy week ahead!
The Bolts Athletics team store is now open.
Click on the link to see what is new and available for purchase.
These items ship directly to you.
https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/euJxhnyCfE
Fees for Early Morning Drop Off
Our early morning drop off program (7:30 - 7:45 am) has been free these first weeks while we evaluated how many families need this service and developed a plan for staffing and cost. Fees will begin on Monday, Sept 14. To simplify the payment process, this will work like a membership. The fee is $20/month, whether you use it every day or just some days. The fee will offset but does not fully cover our costs for staffing this program. We are doing our best to provide affordable coverage for working families while also balancing our budget.
- Register in advance: Complete this form to register for early morning drop off: Early Morning Drop Off Registration
- Cost: $20 per month, paid in advance.
- How to pay: You will receive an invoice and can pay through MySchoolBucks
- Invoices will be sent after you register
- Fees begin Monday, Sept 14
Youth Paddling Club
The Franklin School of Innovation and the Nantahala Racing Club are partnering to establish a youth paddling club to teach foundational and progressive
paddling skills that allow athletes to paddle whitewater and compete in
paddlesport events in a safe and fun manner.
Program Details:
- Grades 6 - 8
- Practices: 1:30 – 3:00 pm on Wednesdays (later options are available for those interested)
- 10 Weeks
- Start Date: September 16
- End Date: November 18
1-2 River trips offered on the weekends, but not
- mandatory
- Equipment Available
- Cost: $200 plus $50 to join the Nantahala Racing Club
This program is run by Nantahala Racing Club. Please use this form to register:
NC Governor’s School Opportunity
The Governor’s School of North Carolina is a four-week summer residential program for gifted and talented 10th and 11th grade students, integrating academic disciplines, the arts, and unique courses. Students explore, ask questions, and discover new possibilities that complement their high school instruction. Learning does not involve credit, tests, or grades. Students interested in attending must first go through a school nomination process, with selected nominees then considered at the state level.
Contact Gretchen Kehrberg ([email protected]) for the 2027 student application. Applications need to be submitted by Monday, October 26, 2026. Please note that while the application process goes through the school, parents are responsible for the cost of this program. Governor’s School has a scholarship program outside of FSI.
Student Eligibility and Nomination Areas
Governor's School Family Overview
Governor’s School Family Overview Spanish
Yearbooks Are On Sale — Don't Wait, Prices Go Up!
Order your 2026-2027 yearbook today and lock in the best price before it increases. Prices go up on the following dates, so the earlier you order, the more you save:
- $45 — now through Sept. 11th
- $50 — Sept. 12th to Oct. 16th
- $55 — Oct. 17th to Nov. 20th
- $60 — Nov. 21st through May 1st (lMay 1st is the last day to guarantee a copy!)
Order your yearbook: jostensyearbooks.com
Want to purchase a yearbook ad or shoutout for your 8th grade or 12th grade student? Order here
Yearbooks are printed in limited quantities based on early orders — after 6/1, we can't guarantee a copy will be available, so don't wait!
Reminders
A Few Spots for 5th Grade!
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!
Substitute Teachers & Bus Drivers
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].
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…