Give to our Annual Fund Today!
Good morning Franklin families,
First, congratulations to our Modern Orchestra students and Sandi Wilson for a wonderful performance Friday evening! Thank you to all the family members who came to support our students. Special thanks to those who joined me on their feet – our program is growing!
We are in the final countdown to the end of Semester 1. It’s hard to keep everyone focused on school as we head into winter break, but it’s still important learning time. Take time today to check how your student is doing. If you haven’t learned how to use Canvas yet – now’s the time! Check out the tutorial and link below. You will need to sit down with your student to pair your account:
- Canvas: PDF tutorial — how to set up the Canvas Parent app, together with your student
- Canvas: URL to login as an observer https://fsi.instructure.com/login/canvas
As we track student performance this year we are continuing to see high levels of student absences. One-third (33%) of our students have missed enough school to be considered “chronically absent” and absences are higher in our lower grades than in high school. It’s easy to underestimate the risk of chronic absenteeism. Just one absence a month adds up! When students improve their attendance – they become more likely to graduate from high school and have a better quality of life as adults. If your student has missed four or more days of school this year, they may be at risk. Let’s work together to help our students succeed! If you are having a hard time getting your student to school please reach out. We want to work with you.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the Staff Holiday Fund! The Parent Crew has set a goal to provide each of the 94 full time staff members with a holiday bonus, our goal being a $100 gift to each staff member. In addition the Parent Crew will provide each staff member with a holiday gift bag full of goodies such as hand lotion, hot chocolate, and tea. Any additional funds raised will help support the Staff Holiday Party.
Click on the link below to donate and remember to include a message to the staff with your donation! This is not a school-sponsored fundraiser – all funds go directly to school staff.
https://franklinschoolofinnovation.networkforgood.com/projects/213472-holiday-giving-pool-2023
This is a busy and fun week on campus. MIddle School Student Council is sponsoring Spirit Games this week and will announce a Spirit Victor on Dec 15. How do you get to be the Spirit Victor? Show your school spirit all week!
- Monday: School Spirit Day – wear your Bolts gear or school colors and come to the basketball games!
- Tuesday: Sports Day – wear your favorite sports team gear
- Wednesday: Pajama Day (isn’t every day pajama day???)
- Thursday: Barbie Day: Dress like Barbie, Ken, or just wear pink
- Friday: Holiday Day! Rock your favorite ugly holiday sweater, hats, or socks. High School Student Council is joining the Ugly Sweater Day – so let’s see who wears it best!
Finally, we are looking for someone to help teach a high school Business/Entrepreneurship class. The class will meet during 1st period (8:25 – 9:20) four days a week and is designed to introduce students to the ins and outs of starting and running a business. If you have business experience and are interested, please email mvruwink@thefsi.us or ptromba@thefsi.us. The class will begin when we return from winter break. A teaching certificate is not required.
A few important calendar updates and reminders:
Tuesday, December 19 is an early release day. This was not noted on our school calendar and we apologize for any inconvenience. The early release allows teachers to have time to complete grading before a much-needed winter break! We will follow a Wednesday schedule – middle school will be released at 12:45 and high school students will be released at 1:00. We will provide Beyond the Bell after school program until 4:00 pm. For Beyond the Bell parents, please remember that Beyond the Bell will NOT be available on Dec 13. We are hosting our annual Holiday Staff Appreciation party on Dec 13 and we want all staff to be able to attend. Please see the note under Parent Crew News about how you can contribute to the Holiday Staff Appreciation Fund!
- Wed, Dec 13: No Beyond the Bell program – please pick up students at dismissal
- Tues, Dec 19: Early Release (12:45/1:00) – Beyond the Bell program till 4 pm
- Wed, Dec 20 – Wed, Jan 3: Winter Break – no school. Teachers return for a work day on Jan 3.
Creating a Culture of Kindness Family Resources:
As promised, I’m keeping the links to lessons on kindness and respect here and I encourage all families to talk with your students about how they contribute to a culture of kindness in our school. It’s one of the most important ways you can support our teachers and our staff. Use these resources to help define what respect looks like in your home. Creating a culture of kindness starts with each of us!
Thank you for choosing Franklin and creating a great school together.
Calendar Events
Mon, Dec 11 – our 1st home basketball games! Go Bolts!
- 3:15 pm: Middle School Student Council will meet to make posters for the MS basketball game.
- 4:30 pm: MS (V) Basketball vs IC Imagine
- 6:00 pm: HS Basketball vs IC Imagine
Tues, Dec 12
- 4:15 pm: MS (JV) Basketball vs TNCA
- 6:00 pm: Board of Directors meeting
Wed, Dec 13 – No Beyond the Bell (staff holiday party)
Thurs, Dec 14
- 6:30 pm: Virtual Info Session for Prospective Families
Fri, Dec 15: Ugly Sweater Day and Pizza Day!
Plan Ahead!
- Tues, Dec 19: Early Release (BtB from 1 – 4 pm only)
Keep up with all our events!
FSI Yearlong Academic Calendar
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Bolts Athletic News
Middle School (V) basketball defeated Carolina Day 31-17 in their first game of the season! The Bolts were led in scoring by Gates Stone and Sawyer Bragdon.
The high school basketball team dropped a tough game to Mount Pisgah 58-45. The Bolts were led by Tyler Pruitt with 22 points. Gabe Kirsch and Shemar Wilson were the leading rebounders.
Lots of basketball action coming up this week! Big doubleheader on Monday vs ICI at home. Middle school (V) tips at 4:30pm and high school tips at 6:00pm.
$5 for adults and $3 for students.
The middle school (JV) team will play their first game of the season at home on Tuesday vs New Classical Academy. Tip is 4:15pm. Go Bolts!
Teens, Screens, & Drugs – Free Community Event this Wed
Are you concerned about any of the following?
- Fentanyl, THC, & Delta “concentrates”
- Social Media apps
- Boundaries around screen time use
- How to talk to teens and kids about these issues
In this moderated conversation between Beth Hockman, M.S. and Kriya Lendzion, LCMHC, LCAS, CPS, we will explore:
- How screens affect child and teen health
- The realities of today’s drug scene
- How to have impactful conversations with your family about these issues
This discussion will take place on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, from 6:00-7:00 pm at Wrong Way’s River Lodge. There is no cost for attending; however, space will be limited. Please RSVP via this link. This event will be broadcast virtually for free via our Facebook and YouTube platforms (no need to RSVP if you are joining virtually).
Reminders
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 best prices:
Current sale: $50 until Nov. 10
Next Sale: $55 from Nov. 11- Jan. 26th
Final Sale: $60 from Jan. 27-May 26th
And here is the link:
Student Clubs – Get Involved!
Middle School Student Council
Middle School Student Council Updates!
- Next Meeting: Join student council after school Monday to make posters and stay to cheer on MS basketball team together!
- Final Holiday Hot Cocoa Bar is this Wed, Dec 13 before school. Prices range from $2-$4!
- Join in Spirit Week this week and be crowned the Spirit Victor! spirit week to get us excited for the holiday break! Dates are 12/11-12/15.
Faculty Advisor: Nurse Courtne, ckozloski@thefsi.us
Meets: Thursdays as announced in the newsletter
Clubs open to all grades
Skate Club: Come meet other skaters, learn new tricks, and share your love of this growing sport! Thursdays, 3:30 – 4:30 pm, in room 161. Students must bring their own skateboards. Helmets and shoes are required, other safety gear is encouraged.
Faculty advisors: Mr. Abbot and Mr. Stahlke.
Skate Club meets: Thursdays, 3:30 – 4:30 pm, room 161
Math Club – A great opportunity for students to explore the beauty and application of Math outside their classrooms. Math is a subject full of creativity and opportunity that many students enjoy. Besides the academic benefits, math club is also a great way to meet new people and develop teamwork skills–not to mention, our snack pantries are always full. Students also get the opportunity to participate in local, regional, and national math competitions.
Faculty Advisor: Teshale Byan – tbyan@thefsi.us
Math Club meets: Tuesdays from 3:30 – 5:00 PM room #224.
Outdoor Club – The outdoor club learns and practices outdoor skills for camping, hiking, fishing and exploring. We meet after school to plan trips and practice skills, and head out about one weekend a month for adventures.
Faculty Advisors: JP Bowers, Donnie Stahlke – jpotter-bowers@thefsi.us , Dstahlke@thefsi.us
Outdoor Club meets: Tuesdays from 3:45 – 4:45 PM, Adventure Ed – room 272 Started 8/29
Science Olympiad – Do you geek out on all things science? Are you a competitive person who wants a medal hanging around your neck to prove science prowess? This is a science competition against other area schools, with a potential to move on to state and national levels! We are still looking for more team members! It’s not too late to join.
Faculty Advisor: Jessica Bragdon, jbragdon@thefsi.us if you have any questions.
Meeting Information: Room 272 afterschool every Friday until 4:15.
Girls Who Code – Girls Who Code is on a mission to close the gender gap in technology and to change the image of what a programmer looks like and does. We work on personal coding projects and learn skills together.
Faculty Advisors: Jessica Fine and Brittany Davenport, jfine@thefsi.us, bdavenport@thefsi.us
Meeting Information: Every other Monday in room 163 3:15 – 4:15 pm Starts 9/11
Mountain Biking – Grades 6 -12 – Members learn mountain biking skills and gain community among others who also enjoy this sport! Contact the advisor for more information.
Advisor: Bevin McGahey, bevinmcgahey@gmail.com
Meeting Information: Practices start in November and compete mostly in the spring.
Chess Club – All levels and grades are welcome! Looking for a great way to strengthen your focus and elevate your creativity? Join the Chess Club! We meet once a week to learn the finer points of the game, and to practice strategy and concentration. Club members have the opportunity to participate in a variety of local tournaments. Cost for this club is $50 a semester.
Advisor: Bruce Roth, brucerothchess@gmail.com
Meeting Information: We meet Tuesdays 4:00- 5:00 pm Starts Sept 12th
Film Club – This allows students to grow confidence in their ideas while facing an audience, feeling comfortable in their own skin and to showcase art without fear of backlash or bigotry.
Student Advisor: Michaela Mamone-Peeples michaelamamone-peeples@thefsi.us
Meeting Information: Held in Ms. Julia Adam’s room every other Thursday 345 – 445 pm starting 8/31
Middle School Clubs
MS Creative Writing Club – Are you a fan of writing, reading and sharing books you love with others? Then the MS Creative Writing Club is the place for you! Students are challenged weekly with new ideas to help enhance and support their love of writing. Using prompts, journalling and group collaboration, students will have the opportunity to write for poetry and prose competitions, individual work or collaborative pieces for classes. Bring your journal and join the fun! KOTLC fans will find that there are often discussions about the awesomeness of Shannon Messenger’s book series during club time!
Faculty Advisor: Ashley O’Dell, aodell@thefsi.us
Meeting Information: Starts September 8th – Meets alternating Mondays and Fridays
MS Drama Club – Are you interested in theatre? Do you love to act? Do you want a way to get to know other students while having a lot of fun with drama? Well, Drama Club may be the club for you!
Faculty Advisor: Elizabeth Lexa, elexa@thefsi.us
Meeting Information: Starts Sept 19th – Oct. 24th Meets Tuesdays 3:30 – 4:30 pm
Middle School Gay-Straight Alliance (MS GSA) (gender and sexuality alliance) –
We welcome everyone and work to empower LGBTQ+ lives.
Faculty Advisors: Ms. Wallace and Riddle at zwallace@thefsi.us or rriddle@thefsi.us
Meeting Information: Middle School GSA begins meeting Wednesday 8/30 during lunch room 142 – Meets Wednesdays 11:15-11:55 room 142
Robotics Team – The robotics team is for students in grades 5-8. Students will compete in a competition to showcase their robotics and problem solving skills.
Faculty Advisor: Brittany Davenport, bdavenport@thefsi.us
Meeting Information: Thursdays 3:20-4:30 in room 163 (Interest meeting Thursday, 8/31 at 3:25 – 4:15 pm)
High School Clubs
New! Banned Books Club: Open to all high schoolers and staff – the club will meet Wednesdays at 1:05 in Dr. Hawkins room. Come discuss your favorite banned books!
TEDxYouth @FSI – TEDxYouth is an opportunity for students to truly be leaders in their own learning. From selecting the theme to finding speakers and running the actual event, this is a youth-led event through and through.
Faculty Advisor: Lora Hawkins, lhawkins@thefsi.us
Meeting Information: Meets monthly until January, and then we meet weekly (or a bit more often) until the conference in March. Room 269. Starts end of Q1, auditions in November
High School Genders and Sexualities Alliances (HS GSA) – This student-run club, supported by faculty members, meets weekly. The club’s purpose is to provide a safe space for students to discuss LGBTQ+ issues, both personally and within the larger societal context. In addition, students will have a space to educate and advocate to their wider community.
Faculty Advisor: Mary Kinsey Hyche at mkhyche@thefsi.us
High School Drama Club (High Boltage Theatre) – In this club we work on a theatre production! You will either be either on stage or backstage, and it is such a unique opportunity to be creative, build strong friendships, and develop new skills all while having big fun. This year, we plan to perform our fall and spring plays in the theatre at Warren Wilson. We’ll get to be on a real stage and work with some college theatre tech students! In addition to the two full length productions, we are plotting a couple of other fun projects/activities. You don’t need experience to get involved!
Faculty Advisor: Julie Wharton, Jwharton@thefsi.us
HS Drama Club meets: meets two days a week during rehearsals – dates TBD by members – generally Mon, Tues, or Thurs from 3:45 – 6:45.
Habitat for Humanity Leadership – This club fundraises to support a Habitat for Humanity Student build. 5 area high schools sponsor and build a Habitat House every other year.
Faculty Advisor: Mary Smith, msmith@thefsi.us
Meeting Information: Likely Room 226, Tuesdays at lunch starting in September
Arts Quarterly – The Arts Quarterly is open to high school students wanting to make a zine style publication that is published quarterly, all grade level work is considered. The Zine will feature upcoming events throughout the quarter and exceptional student art and writing work.
Faculty Advisor: Micah Usher, musher@thefsi.us
Meeting Information: Once a week for a month before each quarter or as needed, room 144
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
