Dear Franklin families,
It finally feels like fall! I hope everyone is enjoying this cool weekend after what felt like an endless summer. Today is a beautiful day to get outdoors and into the woods. Make time for some beauty if you can.
Tomorrow is a teacher work day to finish grading for Quarter 1. Despite the work day, our volleyball team will be in action at home in the first round of the State tournament, and both middle and high school cross country teams will compete at the BRAC conference meet. High school soccer advances to the next round with an away game on Tuesday. Good luck to all our student athletes as they finish up the fall season! Basketball tryouts are coming up, see the Athletics section for more information.
Thank you to everyone who offered to help us set up our tiny greenhouse! We’re excited to have added horticulture to our high school elective offerings this year. The new little greenhouse will be used by our horticulture classes to learn how to extend the growing season. Thanks also to our high school soccer team for offering to help install the greenhouse. Hopefully you’ll be able to see some progress by Tuesday.
A special thank you to Taylor at Kendall’s Gravel Service for grading and preparing the gravel base for us. He put in some serious hard work Friday! Be sure to check out his business for your next driveway or gravel project. Website: https://www.kendallsgravelservice.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587781472482
Multiplication Challenge Results
Our math department is challenging students to improve their basic math skills through a fun school-wide monthly multiplication challenge. September results show growth across the board. Special shout out to 5th grade for the greatest growth! Parents - join the fun with some multiplication challenges of your own and let’s see our growth continue! Why does this matter? When students spend time and brain energy solving basic skills, it slows down their capacity for the more complex parts of math problems. It’s like anything else you try to learn. You need solid basic foundational skills in place before you can advance. Keep up the great work students!
Multiplication Times Tables Leaderboard September Results
Take Action
Did you know that our Parent Engagement and Partnership Policy asks all families to contribute volunteer hours to help our school? We know that our families have different levels of time and resources and we understand that not all families can actively volunteer at school. And we also know how important parent involvement is! When parents are actively involved with school, students achieve at higher levels. Parent involvement can look like so many different things. You can take action as a parent by attending SLCs, logging into your Parent Portal and talking with your student about their goals and grades, or by supporting a routine at home that includes time for homework, healthy meals, and a good night’s sleep (with no devices!).
You can also take action by joining our Parent Crew! On Wednesday, Parent Crew is hosting an Apple Nacho Bar for our staff. Parent Crew is our version of a PTO or PTA and it’s a great way for parents to get involved in school. The Parent Crew has been a huge help in taking on a lot of our staff appreciation efforts over the past few years, helping with fun meals and snacks, raising funds to provide a holiday cash gift to all staff members, and showing up to help with school events like dances, theatre and music performances, and more. This helps more than you might know! All this work helps support the feeling of “Crew” in our school - we’re all working together for the success of our children.
In our School Improvement Team, parents raised the idea of other ways for parents to get involved. We discussed the idea of setting up “satellite” get-togethers across our service area. These might be organized around the 10 Million Book Challenge, or a community service activity. If this is something that interests you - come to the next Parent Crew meeting and see how you can help make it happen!
Thank you for choosing FSI and taking action to help our students thrive and succeed. When we work together, we can help our students create the futures they imagine!
Upcoming Events
Mon, Oct 19: Teacher Work Day - NO SCHOOL
- 4:30 pm: HS Volleyball vs Bethel Christian - 1st Round
- 4:30 pm: MS & HS Cross Country BRAC Conference Meet - Smoky Mountain Event Center
Tues, Oct 20
- 4:00 pm: HS Soccer @ Pine Springs Prep - CAASC Quarter Finals
- 4:15 pm: MS Flag Football vs ICI @ FSI
Wed, Oct 21
- 12:45 - 1:45 pm: MS Student Council Full Meeting - All MS Students Welcome!
Thurs, Oct 22
- 4:15 pm: MS Flag Football vs Learning Community @ FSI
Bolts Athletics
Highlights from the Week:
MS Flag Football went 1-1 on the week. Close defeat to PEAK Academy in overtime and victorious vs Rainbow. Key plays by K. Jeffries, K. Stump, J. Reardon, and C. Hernandez.
HS Cross Country competed in the CAASC Meet in Kennersville.
The Bolts had some top 25 finishers.
Boys: B. Tokarz #16, J. Bakke #18, B. Mills #24
Girls: F. Tokarz #11
Upcoming events this Week:
MS & HS Cross Country compete in the Mountain West and BRAC Conference Meet at the Smokey Park Event Center on Monday.
HS Volleyball hosts Bethel Christian Academy in the first round of the CAASC State Tournament on Monday at 4:30pm.
HS Soccer travels to play Pine Springs Prep in the quarterfinals of the CAASC State Tournament on Tuesday at 4:00pm.
Basketball Try-Outs Information
HS Try-Outs
Monday, October 26 and Tuesday, October 27
4:00-6:00pm
* Must attend both days
MS Try-Outs
Grades 7 & 8
Monday, November 2
5:45-7:00pm
Grades 5 & 6
Wednesday, November 4
3:15- 4:45pm
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:
- 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
Mark your calendars! Mod Pizza on Merrimon will donate 205 of their sales to the FSI Parent Crew on Sunday, 11/15, if you mention the code MODGIVES20. All funds raised will go towards Staff Appreciation and student activities! Meet up with other FSI families and help us raise money!
Chess Club Interest Survey
We're gauging interest in an afterschool Chess Club for all ages and skill levels!
Are you interested to learn from the top-rated chess player in Asheville? Learn gameplay, strategy, and improve your skills! The Club would be held 3:45 -4:45pm on Tuesday's. Each session would be $25, which includes the BTB fee. We need at least 8 regular participants to make this club work. If your student is interested, please fill out this interest form!
Add your business to our community business directory!
We are building an FSI family business directory! If you have a family-owned business small or large and would like your business included in a community business directory for FSI, please fill out this form! Adding your business helps the community support each other. FSI Community Business Directory Information
Halloween Pumpkins/Tootsie Pop Ghosts Fundraiser
Support the prom committee and spread some ghoulish spirit to students, teachers, and staff. For $2 you can send a tootsie pop boogram to the student or staff member of your choice! For $5 you can send a customizable pumpkin, and for $7 you can send both! A pumpkin and/or ghostly tootsie pop will be delivered to your person on Friday October 30 during Crew & 5th period. Purchases can be made during MS and HS lunch, October 21-28 or online using this form. Thanks for supporting FSI Prom and making memorable moments for students! If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Walden ([email protected]).
- Online sales begin Oct 19
- In person sales begin Wednesday Oct 21 through Oct 28 during middle & high school lunches
Middle School Student Council Meetings this Week
Our next full Student Council meeting will be held on Wednesday, Oct 21, from 12:45 - 1:45 pm. All middle school students are invited to join our full Student Council events! We will meet in the Community Room and then head down to the Creek for some fun team building and service activities. Wear closed-toe shoes and plan to join us!
MS School Student Council Executive Committee will also meet during lunch and recess this Wednesday.
College Corner
October 19–25 is CFNC College Application Week! During this week many North Carolina colleges and universities waive their application fees, making it a great opportunity for seniors to get applications submitted and save money. Students can apply to participating schools through CFNC.org. For more information contact Gretchen Kehrberg, FSI College & Career Counselor, [email protected] / (828) 318-8141.
School Picture Make Up Days
Please mark your calendars for our upcoming picture make-up days:
- Grades 5–8: Thursday, October 29th
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:
- $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
Beyond the Bell Tutoring Club
We’re pleased to offer tutoring every Tuesday as part of our Beyond the Bell program. Mr. Readman is providing this weekly tutoring opportunity. Mr. Readman is the Math II teacher in high school and has a background in history and Social Studies as well. Tutoring is offered from 4 - 5 pm every Tuesday.
Please use this form to sign up: Tutoring Club Sign-up. Students need to be registered and checked in with Beyond the Bell before the tutoring session.
Clubs Update
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 - Mondays
- MS Football Fundamentals - Fridays
- Academic Tutoring/Homework Help - Tuesdays
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. 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
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.
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].
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…