Skip to main content
Newsletters » FSI News for Sept 13

FSI News for Sept 13

 

Dear Franklin families,

 

Thank you to everyone who attended our first Student Led Listening Conferences! It’s wonderful to see such strong turnout for SLCs. By attending, you are showing your students that their future and their education is important to you! These initial SLCs really help our Crew leaders get to know students and families and we appreciate your participation. 

 

Can you believe we’re halfway through Quarter 1? This is a great time to check in with your students and see how they are doing. You can use the Infinite Campus Parent Portal to monitor student grades. Find time to sit down with your child and log in together. Ask what classes they enjoy, where they feel successful, and how you can help them meet their goals for the year. Providing this early support and interest can establish a strong foundation for academic success! 

 

Car Line Reminders

I know we focus on the car line a lot at the beginning of the year, but the system works when everyone follows it! 

  • 5th & 6th grade parents enter the two moving lines when you arrive.
  • 7th & 8th grade parents - pull to the side of the road if you arrive before 3:15. At 3:15, cars may enter the moving traffic lines. Do not jump the line or enter before 3:15! Please allow the cars in front of you to enter the traffic first and then follow the leader. 
  • High School parents: pull to the side of the road if you arrive before 3:30. At 3:30, cars may enter the moving traffic lines. Again, please allow the cars at the front to enter first and then follow the leader. 

 

All drivers: students enter cars in the designated areas (courtyard for 5th & 6th grade, next to the awning/in front of the building for all other grades). Do not have your students walk to the entrance to meet you. Students must wait in the designated areas where we have staff monitoring and assisting. 

 

Remember that the traffic pattern is different on Wednesdays. All middle school parents enter the moving traffic lines when you arrive. High school parents pull to the side until about 1:00, depending on the traffic.

Take Action! Building Math Skills

Our math department has noticed that many students are lagging in some basic math skills. As a team, the department is tracking data on student multiplication skills. All students really should know their multiplication facts. Knowing their times tables just makes things easier. Students can focus on the more complex thinking of  math problems instead of spending time and energy solving basic math facts. 

 

This is an easy way for parents to support student success! When my kids were in early elementary grades, we kept flash cards in the car and found time for daily practice.  A quick google search will remind you of all the easy tricks for memorizing or learning multiplication facts, and you can find lots of games for practice. A good old-fashioned set of flashcards is a great investment! We’ll share the math department data as we move through the year. 

 

Thank you for choosing FSI and taking action to help our students thrive and succeed. When we work together, we can prepare our students for the futures they create! 

 

Upcoming Events

Mon, Sept 14:

  • 5:00 pm: HS Volleyball vs Macon @ FSI

 

Tues, Sept 15

  • 4:30 pm: MS & HS Cross Country @ Conference Pre-View (Smoky Mountain Event center)
  • 5:00 pm: HS Soccer vs Mt Pisgah @ FSI
  • 5:00 pm: HS Volleyball vs Mt Pisgah @ FSI

 

Wed, Sept 16: Wednesday Release (12:45 and 1:00)

  • 8:30 am  - noon: CACRAO College Fair Field Trip - 11th & 12th grade, see details below

 

Thurs, Sept 17

  • HS Student Pictures (morning)
  • 4:00 pm: MS Flag Football vs Mountain Community @ Jackson Park
  • 4:30 pm: HS Volleyball @ Bethel Christian (Spruce Pine)
  • 5:00 pm: HS Soccer 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

Highlights from the week:

MS and HS Cross Country got their season started with successful showings at their first races.  Multiple runners for both teams achieved PR’s.

The HS volleyball team got in the win column and had back to back wins vs Fern Leaf and Franklin Christian School. Winning both games in straight sets, 3-0. 

  1. Newman led the team in service points, K. Newman led in digs and C. Butler led in blocks.

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 

 

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. 

Upcoming meetings:

  • October 8, 8:30 AM at the school
  • November 12, 6:30 PM online only

 

We are looking for a few items, some helpful hands, and a LOT of apples so that FSI staff can enjoy an "apple nacho bar" on Wednesday, 10/21! Please deliver your items to the front desk by the morning of Tuesday, 10/20 labeled for Micah Usher/Parent Crew. You are welcome to deliver them to the school anytime before 10/20 as well! Please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. Thank you! 

https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/10C044FA9AC2BA5F94-65781357-apple?useFullSite=false

 

Clubs Update

It’s mid-September which means after school clubs are getting started! Please remember that high school students have designated club time during the school day. These school-based student led clubs are not part of Beyond the Bell and run independently from our afterschool programming. There is a fee for clubs that run through Beyond the Bell. This helps cover the cost of supplies and stipends for our club leaders.

 

The club listing can be found on our website under Beyond the Bell. Here are the BtB clubs that are getting started right now:

  • Outdoor club - both middle and high school, Mondays
  • D&D club - starts Monday, Sept 14
  • MS Football Fundamentals - starts Friday, Sept 18
  • Academic Tutoring/Homework Help - starts Tuesday, Sept 21

 

We are also excited to partner with Nantahala Racing Club to offer the only youth paddling clubs in our area! NRC has installed gates on our little section of Hominy Creek, and we’ve brought some kayaks out of storage to provide some basic boats to get kids out on the water. Fees for the youth paddling clubs are paid to NRC, not to FSI.

 

  • FSI Middle School Paddling Club: Wednesdays Sept 16 through Nov 18 from 1:30 - 3 pm. Register here: FSI MS Paddling Club Registration. Students are welcome to sign into BtB after the paddling club - please reach out to Ron Scott if your student will be participating in the paddling club and will attend BtB. There is no additional BtB fee beyond the paddling club cost. 
  • Open Paddling Clubs: NRC is offering additional clubs for anyone interested in learning basic paddling skills. These clubs are not limited to FSI, but FSI high school students and parents are invited to join in the fun! More info and registration here: NRC at Hominy Creek

 

Questions? Contact Jedediah Hinkley, [email protected].

 

CACRAO College Fair - Wednesday, Sept 16

FSI is taking a field trip to the CACRAO College Fair at UNCA on Wednesday, Sept 16 from 8:30am to 12:00pm. Interested 11th and 12th graders can sign up here. We are only taking one bus so spots are limited - first come first serve. Sign up closes Monday, Sept 14 at 6:00pm. Click here to see the list of colleges and universities that will be at the fair.For more information contact Gretchen Kehrberg, [email protected].

 

FSI Blood Drive Thursday, Sept. 24 - Sign Up Today! 

Our first Blood Drive of the year is coming up on Thursday, Sept. 24, from 9:30 am - 2:30 pm. If we get 30 donors, the school receives a grant of $500. We pass this donation along to Habitat for Humanity as part of the Student Home Build. Our students need to raise a little over $7,000 for every build - so these grants matter! 

Individual donors also receive $30 TBC Rewards. It’s a win-win-win!

Students age 16 and up can donate. Students ages 16 and 17 must have parental consent. 

 

Free Family Weekend Nov 6 - 8

Victory Junction is offering all families who live in a county impacted by Hurricane Helene a FREE Family Weekend, Nov. 6–8, 2026, where they can reconnect, recharge and continue staying strong together. All families living in a county impacted by the storm are welcome. Unlike Victory Junction’s traditional programs, children do not need to have a qualifying medical condition or physical need to participate.

Visit victoryjunction.org/helene to learn more and apply. This program is made possible through Hurricane Helene relief funds in the state budget.

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

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. 

 

    • 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

 

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! 

 

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

Governor’s School Video

 

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…