This is How We Crew It FSI Fundraising Campaign
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Good morning Franklin families,
Well winter has done a number on our school calendar and on everyone’s routines this year. When we finally got back to school Friday, I was struck by how many adults were so excited to be back. None of us thrive when our routines are interrupted! I was also reminded that being in a building with over 700 teenagers for 40+ hours a week is a choice. You either love it or you don’t – and if you don’t, you won’t last long. We are so lucky to have a wonderful dedicated group of humans who show up for this every day, most often with a smile on their face. It’s remarkable!
And now begins the fun job of rescheduling everything! We appreciate your patience as we try to get everything back on track and moving forward. First up, we are planning some changes to our school calendar.
When we create or change the calendar, we’re balancing a lot. Our top priority is always student learning and well-being. A close second – and strongly connected to that priority – is the well-being of our faculty and staff members. The needs of our working families add more critical factors, including how our calendar intersects with other schools in our area. And of course we have to make sure we meet state requirements.
With all these factors in mind, we are planning some significant changes to our calendar. I will propose these changes to our Board of Directors on Wednesday evening this week, so please note that these changes are not final until approved.
The short version is – we’re extending Quarter 3 by two weeks, and we’re using two of the scheduled “weather make up” days. We currently have enough instructional time in our calendar that we may be able to return one of those make-up days later this spring, but we’re also not through the winter yet!
Here are the proposed changes to our calendar:
- Friday Feb 13 will be a regular school day. This was scheduled as a weather make-up day.
- Monday Feb 16 will still be a day off for our staff and students. We know people may have made plans around the potential 4-day weekend.
- March 12 and 13 will be regular school days. These were scheduled as a teacher work day for the end of Q3 and a weather make-up day.
- March 17 and 18 is our EL Education site visit – these are normal Tuesday and Wednesday schedules for our students. We look forward to welcoming the EL Education team to visit our school and meet our community!
- Student Led Conferences and the Senior Word presentations will be held March 25 as scheduled. Students attend only for their scheduled SLC or presentation. 8th and 10th grade students will be remote on this day.
- March 26 will be the last day of Q3.
- March 27 will be a teacher work day to finalize grades.
- 8th & 10th Grade Passages will be held April 1 as scheduled. Students in grades 8 and 10 will attend for their scheduled presentations; all other students will be remote this day to allow for these important presentations to occur.
These changes will help us balance out the remaining time in our school year and allow us to get back into a more normal and productive schedule. We recognize that these shifts can impact family plans and schedules, so we’re getting them to you as soon as possible.
We also recognize that the remote days these past weeks created some stress and pressure at home. Thank you for helping students stay on top of their work and facilitating student learning. Remote days are not ideal but they do maintain some continuity through weather disruptions. We appreciate your partnership as we all work together to support our students to become the leaders of tomorrow!
There is a lot of new information in this week’s newsletter! Please take time to read about all the cool things going on and ways to get involved with our school. I’m looking ahead at a forecast that shows sunshine and 60 degrees this week (and I’m trying to ignore those little snowflakes on Friday). Here’s to a great week of learning and fun!
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, Feb 10
- 4:15 pm: MS Basketball (JV) vs. Rainbow @ FSI
- 6:00 pm: TedX Youth FSI presents “Time” at NC Stage. This is the only TedX Youth event in Asheville! Tickets available here: tedxyouthfsi.com
Wednesday, Feb 11
- 6:00 pm: Monthly Board of Directors meeting (rescheduled due to TedX event)
Thursday, Feb 12
- 4:15 pm: MS Basketball (JV) vs Odyssey @ FSI
- 6:30 pm: High School Info Session for Rising 9th Grade Families (rescheduled)
Friday, Feb 13 – Regular School Day
Monday, Feb 16 – No School
Mark Your Calendars!
Friday, Feb 20
- Dental Clinic @ FSI – all day
- 6:00 pm: MS Drama Presents “The Post Office” @ The Wesley Grant Center
Sat, Feb 21
- 2:00 pm: MS Drama Presents “The Post Office” @ The Wesley Grant Center
Sat, Feb 28
- 6:00 – 7:30 pm: Middle School Franklin Flurries Dance (rescheduled)
Keep up with all our school events!
FSI Community Calendar – add our events to your google calendar
2025-2026 Yearlong Calendar – year at a glance (changes will be made following Wednesday Board meeting)
Bolts Athletics
Sadly we didn’t get to play any games last week! Stay tuned as games are rescheduled.
HS Girls Soccer Try-Out Information
Tuesday, February 17 4:00-5:30pm
Wednesday, February 18 1:00-2:30pm
Thursday, February 19 4:00-5:30pm
*All required paperwork must be submitted to try out.
Please contact Coach Ryan with any questions – jryan@thefsi.us
A new Team Store is now open featuring Franklin School of Innovation and Bolts gear! Place your order and it ships directly to you! Thanks for supporting Bolts Athletics!
Team store: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/JrpXhakCmL. Access code: JrpXhakCmL
Sponsorship Banners to Support Bolts Athletics
Do you have a business or know of a business that would be interested in purchasing a sponsorship package that supports the Athletics Program? It is great advertisement for a business as the business name and logo will be displayed on banners in the gym and/or field depending on what package is purchased.
Sponsorship Levels:
Thunder ($500)
1 Banner displayed in either the gym or field area (your choice)
Lightning ($800)
2 Banners. One banner displayed in the gym and one in the field area.
Bolt ($1,000)
Includes everything in the Lightning package plus logo displayed on printed materials (game programs and possibly team gear (practice and travel gear).
Banners are 72×24 inches and will be displayed for one full year with an opportunity to renew. Please contact Coach Burke (Athletic Director) for more information or questions. kburke@thefsi.us
Parent Crew
Staff Soup, Chili and Stew Lunch
The Parent Crew is organizing a staff soup, chili, and stew lunch for February 18-Wednesday. This is part of a Staff Wellness Day – including onsite chair massages, the Parent Crew Lunch, and a free afternoon for staff to use as they need! We would love your help in showing the FSI staff just how much we appreciate them. Sign up and read all the details about when/where in the link below.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090848A5AA22ABFF2-61658457-soup
The Middle School play, The Post Office, is taking place at the Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center at 285 Livingston Street Asheville, NC 28801, on Friday, February 20, and Saturday, February 21. Parent Crew is seeking assistance to help bring this performance to life!
How You Can Help
- Transportation Needed: On Wednesday, February 18, we particularly need individuals with large vehicles to transport items between the school and the Southside Grant Center, and back to the school on Saturday, February 21.
- Support During Rehearsals and Shows: Additional help is needed during rehearsals and performances, including signing in and out of student performers, directing the audience to their seats, and handling ticket sales.
Any assistance you can offer to support our fantastic Theater program would be greatly appreciated! Please use the link to sign up:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090848A5AA22ABFF2-61973221-msplay
Breakfast & Lunch Menus
We apologize! With all the weather disruptions we’re still working out the menus.
You can find our menus online: https://www.franklinschoolofinnovation.org/parents/nutrition/
Middle School Drama Club Performance
The FSI Middle School Drama Club will present The Post Office by Melissa Leiani Larson on Friday February 20th at 6:00 PM and Saturday February 21st at 2:00 PM. General admission tickets are $10.00 and can be purchased at the door. The play will be performed at the Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center located at 285 Livingston St, Asheville, NC 28801.
Career Discovery Fair: Community Help Needed!
Our 10th grade has a new expedition this year, “Charting the Future – Careers, College, and Life After High School” This expedition helps students explore careers, prepare for the workforce, and plan for college or training programs.
To kick off the expedition, the grade level is holding a Career Discovery Fair Wednesday 02/18 from 10:25-11:30 and they are requesting parent and community volunteers come discuss their professions with 10th graders to learn more about them! What kind of path does it take to get where you are? What kinds of programs, degrees or training is needed? What is it really like to work in your profession? Help the kids learn what’s possible and plan ahead for their next steps!
Would you, a relative, or a representative of the business you work at be interested in coming to talk about your profession? Register here
Businesses with current available job opportunities for teens are also welcome.
Beary Sweet Valentine’s Raffle
Tis’ the season for celebrating those we care about! FSI Prom Committee is raffling off TWO cute and cuddly Valentine’s bears. Each 3-foot bear comes with a heart-shaped box of chocolates. Tickets sold during all lunches February 9th-13th. 1 ticket for $1, 5 tickets for $3, 10 tickets for $5. Winners (one high school and one middle school) will be announced in the afternoon on Friday, February 13th. Give the bear to someone you care about – or keep for yourself, we won’t tell! Questions? Contact Gretchen Kehrberg, gkehrberg@thefsi.us
Make Your Voices Heard! Let’s Get Some Sidewalks!
Buncombe County is looking at ways to make walking easier and safer in unincorporated parts of the County. Did you see that the County Commissioners just approved $2 million for sidewalks in Swannanoa! That’s great news – and there are lots of communities that need this kind of investment! Imagine how cool it would be if our students could safely walk to the library just down the road? Community meetings are being scheduled, but you can complete the survey today.
- Online Surveyhttps://app.maptionnaire.com/q/buncombe-county-ped-plan
- Website updates: https://engage.buncombecounty.org/pedestrianplan
TedX Youth Presents “Time” This Tuesday at NC Stage!
RESCHEDULED: Now Tuesday, February 10
Franklin School of Innovation is having its 5th TEDx event at NC Stage this Tuesday at 6 pm. The theme for this year is Time, and the speeches will range all the way from time management, to why society values time in the first place, to how media shapes our perception of time. You can find more information at tedxyouthfsi.com, we hope to see you there!
Get Ready to Dance – it’s Flurries Time!
RESCHEDULED – Franklin Flurries – Now Feb 28th
Literal flurries have gotten in the way of Franklin Flurries! The annual Franklin Flurries middle school dance has been rescheduled to Saturday, February 28th. Same time, 6:00-7:30pm. Tickets are $7 in advance and $10 at the door and will be sold Feb 23-27 during lunch (cash or check made out to FSI). Drinks, snacks, and pizza will be available for purchase at the dance (cash only).
Questions? Contact Gretchen Kehrberg, gkehrberg@thefsi.us.
FSI Blood Drive Rescheduled – Tuesday, Feb 24
Our Blood Drive has been rescheduled to Tuesday, Feb 24, from 9:30 am – 2:30 pm. We fell a little short of our goal last time so we really want to reach 30 donors this time! It’s a win-win-win. 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.
Students age 16 and up can donate. Students ages 16 and 17 must have parent consent.
- Schedule your appointment!: https://donate.thebloodconnection.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/295088
- Parent Consent Forms: https://epcf.thebloodconnection.org/
- Health Questionnaire: https://thebloodconnection.org/complete-your-health-history-questionnaire-online/
High School Summer Opportunities
Have you made plans for the summer? Students and families are beginning to consider the options. Here are some links to some pre-college programs in our area. You can use the Teen Life site to search for summer opportunities across the country and beyond.
UNC-Chapel Hill Project Uplift
Student Club News
Middle School Student Council Executive Committee this Wednesday
Our Executive Committee will meet this Wednesday during lunch and recess (11:10 am – 12:00 noon). We’ll plan our next event. Bring your lunch!
General Club Information
You can find more information about clubs on our website, or contact Ron Scott, rscott@thefsi.us. We’ve got some new and returning clubs coming up!
Reminders
FSI Business Directory – submit your business to be included!
We are compiling a directory of our family owned businesses. If you would like to be included in the directory, submit your business information here. The directory will be available on our website and in the newsletter. Let’s keep it local!
Open Enrollment – Help Us Serve Our Community!
How to help us keep growing our community!
- SHARE our social media posts. It’s great to like them – but sharing them really expands our reach! If you add a simple personal message (check out what my kid’s school is doing!) – it’s even more powerful
- Talk with friends, coworkers, colleagues about the positive experiences your student is having at FSI
- Invite people to attend our Info Sessions and Tours – information is available on our website
We have room to grow especially in 5th grade and our upper grades (11 – 12).
Open Enrollment Reminders
If you are new to FSI, or maybe just need a reminder, please review how this works. It can be confusing.
- All current FSI students have a guaranteed spot for next year. Do not re-apply through Open Enrollment and the lottery. You will complete a separate re-enrollment process – coming in February.
- All new students – including siblings – must apply through Open Enrollment. Open Enrollment runs from January 1 – March 31, 2025. Applications are online. Just go to our website and click the link. If you plan to enroll a sibling for next year make sure to check the box. Siblings get priority for enrollment.
- Help us grow! If you have friends or family members with students in grades 5 – 12, make sure they know about Open Enrollment. We would love to fill every slot with great students and families! The link to apply is right at the top of our website: https://www.franklinschoolofinnovation.org/
Prom Dress Exchange March 6 – 8
Do you have a prom dress, suit or tux to pass along? Looking for something new for our prom? Maybe you have some sewing skills to help create a magical night for a local teen? Prom Dress Exchange 3/6-8 at Groce UMC.
This is a free 3 day event for anyone who needs free formal/semi formal wear, woman’s business wear/suits,
- Men’s suits, tuxedos – for prom, weddings, spring dances, etc.
- Free shoes, accessories, jewelry – sizes 00-4XL.
- Thousands of choices – all free!
Donations, Volunteers and Sewists needed.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0844ACAB2DA0F85-61406288-theprom#/
Free Resources for Resilience Community Events
Passing this along from our friends at Resources for Resilience!
Resources For Resilience is an Asheville-based nonprofit sharing practical tools and educational trainings to help individuals and teams manage stress and prevent burnout in themselves and others. They are currently offering FREE programming for WNC residents and professionals, now through June. Many of our offerings also include CEU professional credit through Area L AHEC! Space is limited for these no-cost opportunities, so interested participants are encouraged to register early to secure their spot.
Learn more here: https://conta.cc/3NBqYiU
NCSSM Summer Accelerator Camp – Apply Now!
Applications for North Carolina School of Science and Math Summer Accelerator are officially open.!! Camps are offered at both the Morganton and Durham campuses as well as online courses in June and July. Financial assistance is available if students register prior to the end of February.
NCSSM offers a residential program and an online program for rising 7th – 12th graders. The list of courses and registration link can be found at https://www.ncssm.edu/summer/summer-accelerator.
Girls Who Code Free Summer Learning Program
We’re passing along this opportunity from the nonprofit group Girls Who Code:
Pathways is a free, virtual program that empowers high school girls and non-binary students of all experience levels — including rising 9th graders, graduating seniors, and returning participants — to explore AI, Game Design, Cybersecurity, and more, while learning how to build tech for good. The program is entirely flexible in how participants choose to learn and requires no prior coding experience. Students complete courses at their own pace over seven weeks, from June 29 to August 14.
Beyond coding, students gain real-world insights through Partner Events with leading tech organizations, connect with peers through Girls Who Code’s private Discord community, and join optional Student Hours for live support. Participants earn a certificate for each completed course and join Girls Who Code’s lifelong alumni network, gaining access to mentorship, internships, and career opportunities in tech.
Students can apply by February 25th for priority consideration. The application closes on April 10th.
Music T-Shirts & Hoodies Now Available!
Our Modern Orchestra and Choir shirts are now available for purchase using the links below. This year we have three options of shirts, T-shirts, long sleeve shirts, and hoodies. There is also an option to get something printed on the back like a nickname, last name, etc. You can place orders up until 1/31/26. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
- Modern Orchestra- https://www.imagemarket.com/b34hdf8a
- Choir- https://www.imagemarket.com/bb8f7hc5
High School Europe Adventure
Calling all travelers! The high school Europe trip is currently being organized – Contact Deeana at dbennett@thefsi.us if you are a rising 9th or above (parent) and interested in your student joining the trip to Switzerland, Italy, France and Spain!
- 13 days traveling in Europe
- Travel from the Alps to the Mediterranean Coast!
- Zurich, Switzerland and from there travel to Lake Lucerne, Lake Cuomo, Cinque Terre, Monaco, Avignon, Provence, Barcelona, and finally Madrid.
Order Your Yearbooks & Ads
The 2025-2026 Yearbooks are on sale! They are currently $55 until November 15th. They will go up to $55 after Nov. 15th. Purchase via this link
Parents/Guardians of Seniors and 8th Grade Students can purchase ads to be featured in the back of the yearbook – just click this link to create your ad!
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. Click here to access the guide: Who do I go to when…
Free & Reduced Lunch
Did you know that Franklin participates in the federal school lunch program? We are so pleased to provide this service for our families. You can sign up here: Free and reduced lunch application. Families can sign up at any time during the school year.
Beyond the Bell (BTB) Before & After School Program
Before School: 7:15 am-7:45 am: Mon-Fri
After School: 3:15 pm-6:00 pm: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, and 1:00-6:00 pm Wednesdays
This is a fee-based program. Financial aid is available for qualifying households, upon completion of application. More information is available on our website. https://www.franklinschoolofinnovation.org/parents/beyond-the-bell-btb/ Contact Ron Scott, rscott@thefsi.us, for more information.
Please note that afterschool clubs also run through Beyond the Bell.
