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Donate to FSI Hurricane Recovery Fund
Good morning Franklin families,
Another busy week is in the rear view mirror! Thank you to everyone who came out for all the events last week – an amazing TedX Youth show on Tuesday, 8th and 10th Grade Passages on Wednesday, and our first-ever school-hosted mini Model UN conference Saturday. It was a terrific week to hear and see student leadership and learning in action. A special thank you to everyone who also came out on Thursday to donate blood – once again we made it to our goal of 30 donors. These Blood Drives provide a needed resource for our community and help us raise funds to support a student-led Habitat for Humanity home build. I personally am a reluctant blood donor due to a naturally low heart rate and blood pressure, but recent events seem to have cured me of those conditions. I actually enjoyed the quiet camaraderie of the Blood Mobile. I’m proud to see our students really step up for this opportunity.
There is one week left till spring break! If you have ever worked in a school you know the value of spring break. The adults at school need a little down time. You can help us make it through this week with our sense of joy and purpose (and sanity) intact by reminding students to keep things in check. Just a gentle word or two on their way out of the car in the morning can make a big difference!
We’ve got a busy week of Bolts athletics this week with middle and high school soccer games and the HS Ultimate team kicking off their season. We come back from Spring Break and roll right into our first ever Pickleball Tournament! The tournament is Saturday, April 26, 11 am – 1 pm, with middle, high school, adult, and staff divisions. Registration is $20 per team. Find a partner and register your team today!
Thank you for choosing Franklin and supporting us through this crazy year. Finding joy and purpose wherever we can feels more important than ever. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with this community and these students through this rollercoaster of a year.
Upcoming Events
Mon, April 7
- 5:00 pm: HS Girls Soccer @ Mt Pisgah Academy, 21 Academy Dr, Candler
- 5:30 pm: HS Ultimate @ Brevard, 1078 Ecusta Rd, Brevard
Tues, April 8
- 10th grade PreACT; 11th grade remote learning day
- 6:00 pm: Board of Directors Monthly Meeting @ FSI
Wed, April 9
- 4:00 pm: HS GIrls Soccer vs ICI @ BCSP
Thurs, April 10
- 4:15 pm: MS Soccer @ Evergreen, 50 Bell Rd Asheville
Calendar Change: Thursday, June 5 – Weather Make Up Day
Thursday, June 5 is a weather make up day. Wed, June 4 will be a full day (no early release) and June 5 will now be our last day of school and an early release day.
Keep up with our Community Calendar: FSI Community Calendar
Need to see the year at a glance? FSI 2024-25 Academic Calendar
Bolts Athletics
Busy week ahead for the Bolts! All teams are in action this week with 2 HS girls soccer matches, a middle school soccer match, and the start of our Ultimate season.
Register today for the first annual Pickleball Tournament Saturday, April 26th from 11am ~ 1pm! There will be middle school, high school, adult and staff divisions, and we’ll try to match teams up by skill level, so everyone can play! Teams are made up of two people and registration is $20/team – so get out of the “kitchen”, grab your partner and register your team today!
Go Bolts!
Parent Crew
The Parent Crew needs volunteers for the upcoming Spring Fair (Saturday 04/26)! Please use the SignUp Genius below to help make a great day for our students.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090848A5AA22ABFF2-56092973-spring
Grade Level Baskets
Parent Crew is collecting new item donations and gift cards for themed grade-level baskets. A drawing will be held for these baskets on Monday, April 28, tickets for the drawing will be available for a $5 donation in early April.
- 5th/12th- Foodie Basket- Cards to restaurants or stores, jams, jellies, snacks, candies, drinks, cooking items anything a foodie would love.
- 6th/11th-828 Basket-local restaurant and store gift cards, items from the area, items that represent Asheville, anything 828.
- 7th/10th Outdoor basket- Gift Cards, gardening supplies, outdoor, sports, outdoors, hiking, anything related to outdoor activities
- 8th/9th Art Lover-art supplies, gift cards, adult coloring books, beads, paintings, jewelry, art, and anything related to art.
If you have an item to donate that doesn’t fit your grade level theme, and would go better with another basket, please send it in any way. We will find a space for it in another basket! Please bring the items to the school front desk by Wednesday 04/02 clearly labeled with the grade level, theme, your name, and contact information. We appreciate all of your generosity, help, and support!
Mark your calendars for upcoming Parent Crew meetings!
- Thursday, Apr 24: 8:30 am school-more details about place closer to date
- Thursday, May 29: 6 pm online- check the school calendar for Google Meet details
Career Opportunities! Earn While You Learn!
A representative from the Electrical Training Alliance will be at FSI on April 23 @ 10:30 (during smart period) for students who would like additional information on the electrical apprenticeship program. This is a great opportunity for students who aren’t sure what they want to do after high school. Free education and the chance to earn while you learn the skills for a high-demand career!
FSI Junior/Senior Prom 2025 – Old Hollywood
Step into the glamour and elegance of the golden age of cinema at this year’s prom! Join us for a night of red carpet moments, dazzling lights, and timeless Hollywood charm. Get ready for an unforgettable evening of music, dancing, and star-studded memories! Prom is Saturday, May 3 from 7-10pm at The Venue. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online starting March 31. Use this link to purchase tickets online. Tickets are also available for purchase in person at school. After April 25 tickets are $45 and available only in person. Tickets will be available at the door on prom night for $45. If you would like to invite a non-FSI student please complete this form and return to Ms Gretchen before April 28. Questions? Contact gkehrberg@thefsi.us.
Student Written & Published Poetry
Julia Wharton’s high school poetry class has begun work on a student-made poetry book, in which all high school students are invited to submit their poems for publication. Students may submit up to two poems via the Google Form. They are also looking for students to submit their original artwork to be featured in the book alongside the poetry, which can be given directly to Julia Wharton. Submission for both is completely free. The deadline to submit all poems and art is April 10, and only grades 9-12 may submit. Also, Julia Wharton’s poetry class has begun fundraising for their book. Until May 2, students can pre-order a copy for a 10% discount at $4.50. Students can also donate directly to the book’s publication. All pre-orders and donations must be given to Mrs. Wharton. All copies will be available on May 21st.
T-STEP Program
T-STEP (TEACCH School Transition to Employment and Post-secondary Education) is a free program available to autistic students aged 16 – 21. Classes will be offered at AB Tech Community College this fall, with class starting on September 9th! More information is available at teacch.com/tstep. Learn more by registering for the April 8th info session: register for the T-STEP Virtual Info Session on April 8th at 7 pm!
Reminders
Pickleball Tournament and Spring Fair, Sat April 26
Get ready to serve, volley and smash your way to victory in our FIRST annual pickleball tournament Saturday, April 26th from 11am ~ 1pm! There will be middle school, high school, adult and staff divisions, and we’ll try to match teams up by skill level, so everyone can play! Teams are made up of two people and registration is $20/team – so get out of the “kitchen”, grab your partner and register your team today!
Student Division – MS Division (5th-8th grades) and HS Division (9th-12th grades)
Adult Division – 18 and Up
Staff Division – For FSI Staff
Registrations need to be submitted by Friday, April 25th so that we can construct the brackets for each division. There will be no on site team registrations. The only surefire way to “bagel” at this tournament is to not register ahead of time.
The Parent Crew is organizing a spring fair the same date as the pickleball tournament to help raise funds for staff appreciation. There will be craft and market vendors made up of FSI students, parents and staff in the community room and courtyard, along with activities like face painting, temporary tattoos, carnival style games to play and basket raffles! Proceeds raised from the basket raffles will go towards staff appreciation.
Enjoy live music by Dinah’s Daydream, a gypsy jazz band put together by one of our FSI families (11AM – noon) + Funkgettaboutit, a funk and groove trio organized by our school’s technology director (Noon – 1PM)!
This event is for the entire FSI community, to help support their community. Come, check out the crafts and some FSI family-owned businesses, have fun with the games and activities, or watch some pickleball! If you’re here for the tournament and you have some time between rounds, go explore. This will be a super fun day with a lot to do.
Bring on the spring!
Have questions about pickleball? Contact Coach Burke at kburke@thefsi.us
Have questions about the fair? Contact Micah Usher at musher@thefsi.us
Public School Advocacy – Keep Calling!
It is budget season in North Carolina. We must let our elected leaders know that public school funding matters! Over 80% of all students in North Carolina and 85% of students with learning differences attend public schools. This isn’t a partisan issue – public schools have an impact on everyone. What does North Carolina’s terrible public school funding (seriously – 48 out of 50 is embarrassing!) mean for parents and students? Here are just a few ways that inadequate funding impacts parents and students:
- Higher teacher turnover as teachers leave the profession or the state for financial stability
- Less experienced teachers in classrooms
- Fewer school staff overall, so no one has time to do their job well
- Teachers and other school staff with second and third jobs, leaving them with less time and energy for their chosen profession
What can you do? Contact our elected officials! Call, email, write letters, drive to Raleigh if you are able! And get everyone you know to do the same. Let’s make our voices heard! Here’s the link again to the Education Call List.
DV Awareness Workshop: April 24 @ FSI
We are excited to host an important workshop in collaboration with Our VOICE and Verbal Purple! Our VOICE Inc. is a non-profit crisis intervention and prevention agency that has been serving survivors of sexual violence, ages 13 through adult, in Buncombe County for over 45 years. Our VOICE also works to provide primary prevention education to stop sexual violence before it occurs.
In collaboration with Verbal Purple and Our VOICE, we will be facilitating SAFE, an Anti-Human Trafficking Prevention Education Workshop, informed by existing scientific evidence, that teaches on sex trafficking risk factors, recruitment dynamics, warning signs, healthy and abusive relationships, and strategies for seeking and providing help for youth.
The SAFE Anti-Human Trafficking Prevention Education Workshop includes sensitive content related to human trafficking and we understand this material may be distressing for some individuals. We also understand these conversations can bring up a wide variety of feelings and reactions, so reach out to Our VOICE if you need support or have concerns about the content.
Our VOICE website: Home – Our VOICE (ourvoicenc.org)
Crisis line: CRISIS LINE: (828) 255-7576
This workshop is intended for anyone in 6th grade through 12th grade and their parents. It is also available to the wider community, if you have friends that would like to join.
Join us on Thursday, April 24th at 6pm at the Franklin School of Innovation!
Please help us estimate attendance by filling out this short form
This form is optional but helps us prepare for how many people to expect!
Author Robert Beatty (Serafina & the Black Cloak) Coming to Pack Square
Robert Beatty, the author of Serafina and the Black Cloak, is coming to Pack Memorial Library on Saturday, May 10 at 2pm. He plans to share about his latest book, Sylvia Doe and the 100 Year Flood, and talk about the filming of his book trailer. Malaprops will have books for folks to purchase at the event and there will be a signing afterward. This program is targeted toward tweens and their families, but of course all ages are welcome. What a fun opportunity to meet an author of a book many of our students have read! And if your student hasn’t read it – maybe this is a fun way to encourage them to read.
Apply for Free/Reduced Lunch
FSI is now participating in the Federal School Lunch Program. Families must apply for the program every year. We will help you with your applications! Click to APPLY HERE!
If you need help, call the school office (318-8140), stop by the front desk for paper applications, or email Tammey Harper, tharper@thefsi.us for help.
Did you know: Now that our school is part of the National School Lunch Program, students with approved applications for free or reduced lunch may also be eligible for summer “Sun Bucks” program, offering $120 per student for summer food purchases? You can learn more here: https://www.ncdhhs.gov/sunbucks
Car Line Reminders
It seems that it is time for a reminder to be good citizens in the car line. No one loves the car line – we get it. But if we all follow the rules and work together, the line moves pretty quickly and we keep students and staff safe! Here are a few reminders:
- All traffic is one way during arrival and dismissal. There are NO exceptions. It simply isn’t safe.
- Students are to be picked up by the building – not in the driveway and especially not by the road.
- Turn right at Sardis Road.
- Watch your speed
Thank you to everyone who regularly follows these expectations!
Drivers Education – Summer Opportunity
Franklin will host a summer Driver’s Ed program July 14 – 18 from 9 am – 3 pm. Please note that we do not provide Driver’s Ed directly – all Driver’s Ed in WNC is provided by Mountain Pro. We are just the hosts. Registration is available at https://www.mtnpro.com/school-classes
Please see the attendance policy below. Again – this is not Franklin’s policy and we cannot intervene or advocate for any changes to the policy. You may want to wait until closer to the date of class to register to avoid any conflicts. Registrations are not transferable or refundable.
Attendance Policy: Students must pay a $65 fee for the classroom phase of Driver Education on or before the first day of their selected class. There will be no refunds if a student does not attend, drops out or fails The State mandates students attend 30 hours in entirety to receive credit. Voluntary medical or dental appointments and school-related activities such as tryouts, sports, field trips, concerts, etc. are not excused absences. Five Day Classes (Holiday Classes, etc.) and Summer classes: There are no makeup days for these classes. Students absent from one (1) of these classes will be listed as a Fail, and if allowed, will have to register and pay to attend another class in its entirety.
Donate Used, Broken, or Unwanted Electronics!
The Franklin School of Innovation Electronics Repair Club is accepting donations of used, broken, or unwanted electronics. Anything from small smart watches up to larger laptops (including PC, mac/apple and android devices). No printers, desktops, or monitors, please… we don’t have the space for them!
Please include the power supply(s), password(s) (if one or more things haven’t been reset) and what is believed to be wrong with the device via a bundled note. Label the donation “for ERC” and bring it to the front office. If we can’t find a second life for your donated item we will make sure personal data is securely wiped and that it is brought to an upcoming local e-waste collection event.
We may be able to repair items! If you are interested in a quote for repair, please include that in your note along with your contact information.
Yearbook Sales
Our yearbook class is busy capturing fantastic memories of this year! Get yours here.
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.
After School Clubs
We have updated our Club listing, which is also posted on our website. Many clubs are starting or resuming this week! You can check the listing and see which clubs are in session: 2024 FSI Clubs. Please remember that students need to sign in to Beyond the Bell for after school clubs.
