Good morning Franklin families,
There are 5 ½ weeks of school remaining in this school year and it is always a sprint to the end. How is your student doing? This is a really important time to check in and be sure your student is on track with grades and assignments, attending school every day unless they are sick, and maintaining mental health. Managing deadlines, fun events, and periods of stress are normal parts of life and some increased anxiety when things get busy is ok, but for some students all the activity is overwhelming. As adults we can help by modeling healthy living. Are you taking time to get outdoors, fit in some movement, and prioritizing your own well-being? When schedules get busy it is hard to fit things in!Try taking a short family walk, cooking a meal together, or just setting aside 5 – 10 minutes as a family where you put your phones and devices away and just hang out. Even these small steps can make a big difference.
Staff appreciation week is coming up next week, May 6th through 10th. The FSI Parent Crew has been organizing activities to show our teachers and staff how much they are valued. They are asking for appreciation notes from students, parents and other staff!! Is there a teacher, counselor, administrator, bus driver, facilities person or other staff member that makes a difference in your life or brightens your day? Send them a note. These will be shared publicly among staff members the week of May 6th – 10th!
- Middle School Staff Appreciation Notes – Middle School Staff Appreciation Notes (google.com)
- High School Staff Appreciation Notes – High School Staff Appreciation Notes (google.com)
Additionally, you can write them a handwritten note, or have your student write one and give it directly to the staff member! The day to bring notes is Monday, May 6th.
The parent crew has a signup genius to contribute physical goods to Staff Appreciation here – Parents: FSI Teacher Appreciation (signupgenius.com)
Buy a $10 coupon booklet for pizza with a $150 value and help raise funds for staff appreciation via the Parent Crew (or make a donation without the free pizza)! – Parent Crew Fundraiser for Staff Appreciation (networkforgood.com)
On Sunday, May 5, at 4 pm, Parent Crew will be “Chalking the Walk” with appreciation messages to staff, and we would love to have lots of student participation. If you enjoy garden work, come at 3 for a spring garden clean up & stay to help “Chalk the Walk”! Read all the important details of other opportunities to donate and volunteer in the sign-up genius. Contact the parentcrew@thefsi.us with any questions.
Next Sunday is also the 1st ever NICA Mountain Bike Race in Western North Carolina and a great chance to see our Mountain Bike team in action! The 5 String Stampede takes place in Fletcher at the intersection of Jackson Road and Cadbury Way. Races begin at 9 am through 2:45 pm; (FSI students will be racing between 9 am and 1:10. Head over for some serious fun!
Thank you for choosing Franklin, choosing EL Education, and working with us to empower students to make the world a better place!
Calendar Events
Mon, April 29
- 5:00 pm: HS Ultimate vs NB @ Carrier Park
- 6:00 pm: Open Mic @ Doc Brown’s BBQ! All welcome!
Tues, April 30
- 5:00 pm: HS Girls Soccer @ Hendersonville High School
Thurs, May 2
- 5:00 pm: HS Girls Soccer @ Trailblazers
Sat, May 4
- 7:00 pm: Junior/Senior Prom! @ Haiku
Sun, May 5
- 9 am – 2 pm: 5 Strings Stampede Mountain Bike Race, Fletcher
- 3:00 – 5:00 pm: FSI Garden Work Day (bring tools, gloves, and plants to donate!)
- 4:00 pm: Parent Crew “Chalk the Walk” Staff Appreciation Event
FSI Yearlong Academic Calendar
Bolts Athletic Updates
MS Soccer goes 2-0 for the week defeating Mountain Community School 3-1 and Francine Delany 2-1. Well done, Bolts!
HS Soccer goes 1-1 on the week by defeating IC Imagine 4-0 and falling to Veritas 1-6. All Bolts goals were scored by Emily Cruz-Macey. The team is getting better with every match, even the tough ones!
HS Ultimate fell to AC Reynolds in a competitive game, 9-13.
Basketball Open Gym continues on Thursday, May 2nd from 3:30-5:15 pm in the gym.
Parent Crew Updates & Leadership Opportunities
Get involved with all the Staff Appreciation events! See the start of the newsletter for details. And then join the Parent Crew for their next meeting on Tuesday, May 14, 8:30 am. Everyone is welcome! Parent Crew would love to see some new faces – it’s not too late to get involved!
School Online Store: Need some Franklin gear? Get it here! https://apparelnow.com/the-franklin-school-of-innovation-apparel?
Spring Arts Week! May 6 – 10
Next week we will celebrate the creative genius and skill of our students! From May 6 – 10, student art will be on display. Friday, May 10 is our annual Night of the Arts. From 6 – 8 pm, join us for a Spring Concert, Visual Art gallery show, and Fine Art Awards. All events will be held in the Community Room and courtyard.
Open Mic Nights April 29 and May 20
Calling all musicians, for our last two open mics of the year!
Join us for our last two open mics of the year at Doc Brown’s BBQ Monday, April 29th 6:00-8:00 pm and Monday May 20th 6:00-8:00 pm. Come perform and enjoy some incredible music and a lot of GREAT food. Anyone is welcome to perform all you have to do is show up! We would love to have as many people perform as possible! Also, Doc Brown’s is generously donating 10% of all proceeds during the time we are there to our music department. Please reach out to Sandi Wilson at swilson@thefsi.us with any questions. We look forward to seeing you there!
Anything that Rolls Parade May 10
Starting a new tradition! On May 10 at 1 pm high school student Crews will compete in the 1st Annual “Anything that Rolls” Parade! Crews will compete for bragging rights and fantastical trophies in seven categories. The parade starts promptly at 1pm and ends with a pep rally in the gym to honor all the coaches and student athletes this year.
ACT and SAT Weekend Boot Camp
The ACT and SAT exams are two of the most important factors colleges use in determining admissions and scholarships. For students who would like help preparing for the ACT and SAT exams, Asheville Christian Academy will be partnering with Tutors Across America to provide a discounted ACT/SAT Weekend Boot Camp. Students of all ages are welcome to attend.
Schedule for the 3-Day (20-hour) ACT/SAT Weekend Boot Camp
Wednesday, July 31st 1:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Thursday, August 1st 9:00 am – 6:00 pm (lunch break from 1:00 – 2:00)
Friday, August 2nd 9:00 am – 6:00 pm (lunch break from 1:00 – 2:00)
The boot camps are averaging 3–7 point improvements on the ACT and 100–200 point improvements on the SAT, which can help with college admissions and scholarships.
Regular Cost: $399
Discounted Cost: $199
Use coupon code GOLIONS at checkout
The Dentist is Returning!
The dentist is returning! The Mobile Dentist will be here on 5/13 and 5/14 for those who sign up. Permission slips are available both online and on paper. Please see the link here to get more information and to sign up: https://mobiledentists.com/
Reminders
NAMI Mental Health Education Series
NAMI is hosting a series of free education events. The first one is happening on Thursday April 25th from 5-7pm at AmeriHealth Caritas (216 Asheland Avenue in Asheville). This one is specifically for parents (and caregivers) of teens/young adults who have recently been diagnosed with a mental health condition or who appear to be headed down that path.
FSI Prom 2024: Masquerade
Who: 11th and 12th grade students
Date: Saturday, May 4
Time: 7 – 10pm
Location: Haiku, Asheville
Get ready to dance the night away at The Franklin School of Innovation’s 2024 Prom! This year, we’re transforming the venue into a mesmerizing masquerade ball.
Use this link to purchase tickets online.
Tickets are $30 each until April 27. After that they are available to purchase in person for $40.
If you would like to invite a non-FSI high school student please complete this form and return to Mr Tromba before May 3.
Questions? Contact gkehrberg@thefsi.us
Parent Leadership Opportunities
The Board of Directors is seeking prospective Board members and Committee members. The Board has some specific needs, including an attorney and people with fundraising experience. The Board is also seeking people who represent our community. Parents are welcome but it is not a requirement! What does a Board member do? Board members should be prepared to contribute time and other resources (such as your expertise) to support the School, attend monthly Board meetings and actively participate on a Board committee. Looking to learn more about what the Board does, but not ready to commit fully? You can join a Board committee without joining the Board. Email Al Glicksberg (aglicksberg@thefsi.us) or Michelle Vruwink (mvruwink@thefsi.us) to connect with a Board member and learn more.
Job Opportunities
We are beginning to recruit for the coming school year! Positions will be posted on our website: https://www.franklinschoolofinnovation.org/our-story/careers/
Free YouTube Workshop on Teens & Vaping
Kriya Lendzion, who has led many workshops for FSI families on teens and substance use and abuse, has released a new video with SmartSocial on the risks of youth vaping nicotine and THC. Watch at your own time and interest: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QpCR-mtHrc
MANNA Packs for Kids
MANNA Packs for Kids is a take-home food program that provides a weekly bag of food to students. Bags will contain items such as proteins, fruits, vegetables, snacks and/or breakfast items.The “MANNA Packs for Kids” program’s mission is to serve those families with children who are experiencing economic difficulty and could use assistance in providing food when school meals are not an option. To join the program, please fill out the Manna Packs google form here.
Buy Your Yearbook Today!
Our Yearbook Class is hard at work designing our school yearbook! Order yours now for the Final Sale: $60 from Jan. 27-May 26th
And here is the link:
Club Updates
Middle School Student Council Updates
The next middle school student council meeting will be held on 4/18/24 from 3:30-4:30pm. We hope to see you there!
Find our list of clubs on our website: https://www.franklinschoolofinnovation.org/student-life/clubs/
Who do I go to when….
Whether you are new or returning to Franklin, we know you will have questions, and we want to help you find the best person to answer them, quickly and efficiently. We hope this little guide will help you navigate! Click here to access the guide: Who do I go to when…
Teaching Teams
Need to contact a teacher? Find them quickly with this link to our Teaching Teams for 2023-2024
