Share the link to our Hurricane Recovery Fund with your friends & family!
Donate to FSI Hurricane Recovery Fund
Good morning Franklin families,
Thank you to everyone who has taken time to make calls! The North Carolina General Assembly is in session right now and they are making decisions that will have a huge impact on our community, our schools, our staff, and our children. We need to keep up the pressure to let them know that public education matters! North Carolina is at great risk of falling to the very bottom of state funding for public schools. Sadly, that’s not a far fall for us, but it is embarrassing. Our state was once the shining star of the South for the strength of our public schools. Our current strength as a business-friendly state is built on past investments in schools and communities. We’re teetering on the edge of collapse of underfunded and overstretched public schools. Let’s turn that around! I’ll keep the Education Call List in the newsletter and continue to encourage everyone to take a few minutes to make calls. It’s ok to call more than once! Let them know that school funding matters.
Take Action! Education Call List
Thanks also to everyone who came out to enjoy our Middle School drama club performances! Bravo to our students, director Beth Lexa, and the parent volunteers who helped make this a great success. Our high school musical is coming up in just a couple short weeks! Mark your calendars for March 14, 15, and 16 for a fun production of “The Prom”. This performance will be at the Asheville Masonic Temple Theatre. More information is below. The arts are thriving at Franklin!
We’re excited to send a delegation of high school students to the Model UN this week. Under the leadership of Mr. Reynolds, students will travel to Appalachian State University for a full day of discussion, collaboration, and diplomacy. It’s a terrific day of real world learning. Students come back with deeper insights into what it takes to change the world. Thank you for Mr. Reynolds for creating this learning opportunity for our students every year.
Coming Soon: Outward Bound Expeditions for HS Students
We are excited to continue a partnership with North Carolina Outward Bound, and even more excited to announce that FSI high school students (aged 14 – 18) may be eligible for scholarships to participate in life-changing Outward Bound expeditions. You can learn more about the program here: https://www.ncobs.org/expeditions/classic-high/
Stay tuned for more information on how to apply and how FSI will help students complete their applications. My daughter had the opportunity to participate in an Outward Bound expedition while she was an FSI student. She was challenged to her limits and came out of it stronger! These scholarships are available to our students because we are an EL Education school.
As we head into March, it’s time for a big push to invite great families and students to join our school community. Did you know that we have not yet reached our full enrollment potential? We have grown steadily every year since we opened but we still have room each year in 5th grade and in our upper high school grades as smaller classes move up. We’re excited to watch our junior and senior classes grow each year. If you know families looking for an excellent choice, make sure you tell them about Franklin! Open Enrollment for new families ends March 31. Direct your friends to our website or encourage them to reach out to Micah Usher, musher@thefsi.us, to learn more about our school.
Thank you all for choosing Franklin and for your continued support through a challenging year. We are stronger together.
Upcoming Events
Mon, Mar 3
- 4 – 7 pm: Dine out at Chipotle on Brevard Road! Make sure you mention FSI and 25% of profits will go to our school.
- 4:15 – 5:30 pm: Final HS girls soccer tryout @ BCSP
Mark Your Calendars!
Wed, Mar 12
- 6:00 pm: Free Parent Education Workshop via Zoom: Drug, Alcohol & Vaping Prevention Tools. Register HERE
Fri, Mar 14 & Sat, Mar 15
- 7:00 pm: HS Theatre & FSI Music Department present “The Prom”, a musical. Tickets are available online: https://franklinschoolofinnovation.networkforgood.com/events/83662-the-prom-school-edition
Sun, Mar 16
- 2:00 pm: HS Theatre & FSI Music Department present “The Prom”, a musical
Mon, Mar 17: No School
Tues, Mar 18: No School – Teacher Work Day
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
Athletics Update
HS Girls Soccer
FInal Try-Out opportunity will be held on Monday, March 3 from 4:15-5:30pm at BCSP Field #5. Please email Coach Demko with any questions or for more information.
mdemko@thefsi.us
MS Soccer (Mixed Gender)
Try-Outs will be held on March 10 & 11 on the front field after school from 3:30pm- 4:45pm. All required paperwork must be up to date and submitted (sports physical & concussion form). Practices will be held the week of March 17th and games begin on March 25th. Please email Coach Wilson with any questions or for more information.
kwilson@thefsi.us
HS Ultimate Frisbee (Mixed Gender)
There will be an interest meeting for any HS student interested in playing Ultimate Frisbee on Wednesday, March 5th during Smart Period in Mr. Chad’s room.
Please email Coach Chad with any questions or for more information.
cgerber@thefsi.us
Parent Crew
Chipotle Dine Out Event: Monday, March 3 from 3 – 7pm – pick up dinner or afterschool snacks from Chipotle Brevard Road! Make sure you mention the FSI fundraiser and we will receive 25% of sales. If you order online for pickup use the code GJP2NFQ. Online orders only apply to the fundraiser if they are for pickup. Parent Crew uses funds raised to support Staff Appreciation and Events.
Parent Crew is hosting a parent/family coffee meetup at the school on April 3 at 8:30AM. This is a great time to get to know fellow Franklin Families. Please join us, everyone is welcome.
Mark your calendars for upcoming Parent Crew meetings!
- Monday, Mar 3: 4 – 7 pm: Chipotle Brevard Road Dine Out – mention FSI fundraiser!
- Thursday, Mar 20: 6 pm at school-more details about place closer to date
- Thursday, Apr 3: 8:30 am at school
- 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 detail
Help (and Trucks!) Needed
The high school musical is a couple of weeks away and we are looking for a few people with trucks that might be available and willing to help us transport set items to our venue (Asheville Masonic Temple) and back. Below are some details on the help we need. If you are able to help us, we will happily give you some comp tickets to the show (see details in this weekend’s newsletter).
Wednesday, March 12 at 1:30 pm
- 3 trucks or vans to carry our set pieces (we have six 3 sided 6’2″ X 2′ ‘periaktoi’ and a bunch of wooden cubes of various sizes)
Sunday, March 16th at 4:45
- 3 trucks or vans to carry our set pieces, back to FSI
Thank you so much for considering! Contact Julie Wharton (jwharton@thefsi.us) to volunteer.
High School Musical: “The Prom” Mar 14, 15 & 16
FSI’s High Boltage Theatre and FSI Music Department Present the VERY Fun Musical,
The Prom, School Edition
The Story:
Four eccentric Broadway stars are in desperate need of a new stage. So when they hear that trouble is brewing around a small-town prom, they know that it’s time to put a spotlight on the issue…and themselves. The town’s parents want to keep the high school dance on the straight and narrow—but when one student just wants to bring her girlfriend to prom, the entire town has a date with destiny. On a mission to transform lives, Broadway’s brassiest join forces with a courageous girl and the town’s citizens and the result is love that brings them all together. Winner of the Drama Desk Award for Best Musical, THE PROM expertly captures all the humor and heart of a classic musical comedy with a message that resonates with audiences now more than ever. (Rated PG 13 for some language and story content)
Performance dates:
March 14 and 15 at 7:00 PM
March 16 at 2:00 PM
Venue:
Asheville Masonic Temple Theatre – 80 Broadway St
Tickets:
$5 for students under 18
$10 for adults
$20 for sponsors (reserved seating)
Tickets available online: https://franklinschoolofinnovation.networkforgood.com/events/83662-the-prom-school-edition
Free Parent Education Workshops March 12, 6 pm
Prevention Resources and Education for Caregivers:
Do you feel ready to talk to your child about drugs, alcohol, and vaping? Do you know the warning signs that may indicate your child is experimenting with substances? What steps can you take now to help prevent risky behaviors in the future?
Join Caron’s Education Alliance for an informative workshop on current youth drug trends, including vaping, and learn effective communication strategies to talk with your child about substance use. We’ll also discuss key resiliency factors that help protect youth. Register today to gain valuable tools for supporting your child’s well-being! Register HERE for the upcoming VIRTUAL parent workshop taking place virtually on Wednesday, March 12th from 6pm – 7pm via ZOOM. Link to join will be emailed following registration. Presented by Caron’s Education Alliance.
Recursos de Prevención y Educación Cuidadores
¿Se siente cómodo hablando sobre el uso de sustancias y sus riesgos? ¿Puedes reconocer las señales de advertencia?
El 31 de marzo de 2025 a las 12:00 p.m., únase a nosotros para una próxima presentación virtual para padres de estudiantes de secundaria y preparatoria. Esta presentación en vivo de una hora brinda a los padres y cuidadores de estudiantes de secundaria y preparatoria información que, según muestran las investigaciones, puede ayudar a reducir las posibilidades de que su adolescente consuma sustancias. Haga clic AQUI para registrarse.
Cooke Foundation Scholarship for 7th Grade Students Application Workshops Beginning March 5
The Cooke Young Scholars Program is a selective five-year, pre-college scholarship for promising 7th grade students with financial need. It provides comprehensive academic and college advising, as well as financial support for school, Cooke-sponsored summer programs, internships, and other learning enrichment opportunities. Students can click here to apply. Application workshops are available online beginning March 5.
Reminders
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.
Apply for Free/Reduced Lunch
It was a long journey but we’ve made it! Our school nutrition program has been approved for funding through the National School Lunch Program. While this is an important step to help us continue providing nutritious meals for our students – we need your help!
Families must complete the application for free/reduced lunch every year. We cannot provide fee or reduced price meals to students who have not yet been approved. We are reaching out to families we believe are eligible – but if you don’t let us know we can’t help you. You can apply for the free and reduced meal program at www.myschoolbucks.com or under the quick links through your My School Bucks app. If you have any issues, contact Tammey Harper at tharper@thefsi.us.
College & Career Corner: Summer Opportunities for HS Students
You are invited to the College Admission Workshop: Summer Opportunities on March 18 at 7 pm. This presentation will explore the summer opportunities that are available to high school students. Students should pursue summer activities that are based on their interests and values and that reflect their interests. You will learn why it is important to do something over the summer and where those summer activities show up in your college applications. Over the summer, a high school student may want to work, take classes, do research, volunteer, learn new skills, or perfect already acquired skills or talents. Do Something!
Presenter: Veena Rao, The Summit College Counseling, LLC
Share the details and the registration link with your students and families!
Click here to register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hYlDMt1XQq2-_KJmDy7gaQ
Looking for more free or low cost summer opportunities for your high school student? Check out this link! https://www.appily.com/guidance/counselors/college-greenlight/free-pre-college-summer-programs
Yearbook Sales & Senior Ads!
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.
