This is How We Crew It FSI Fundraising Campaign
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Good morning Franklin families,
Well we got their attention! On Friday afternoon we heard from the Capitol in Raleigh. They had received over 900 emails from our “@thefsi.us” domain and they were worried that we were somehow threatening them or that our domain had been hacked. They also found a couple student emails to be a bit “odd”, in their words. Well, welcome to the world of middle school. I’ve read through a number of our student emails and while some didn’t follow the outline we provided, they were definitely not threatening. Heartfelt, a bit tragic, a few spelling or grammar errors – nothing any middle school teacher doesn’t see a thousand times a week. Maybe some folks need to leave the safety of the Capitol and serve as substitute teachers for a few weeks. I bet they would increase the budget in a heartbeat if they had a little lived experience!
Thank you to all who participated in our day of action. As I’ve increased my activism (meaning, as I become a bit of a bore, speaking about the funding crisis to everyone in my path), I’m surprised how often people are surprised to learn that North Carolina is 50th in education funding. We need to keep spreading the word! Business leaders and community members need to know how low we’ve fallen. Here are just a couple of facts to sprinkle into your conversations with any willing listener:
- Since 2008 (the lifetime of many of our children), North Carolina has slipped from 25th in spending to 50th. Our state, once a leader in the south, is now dead last.
- North Carolina is 46th for teacher salaries, creating a serious challenge for recruiting and retaining excellent teachers.
- If FSI was funded at the national average – we would have $7,000 more to invest in each and every student. That’s $5.2 million – enough to give every employee a $32,000 raise and STILL have $2 million to invest in other parts of our budget like facilities, supplies, curriculum, afterschool programs, buses, and more. This one is a gut punch – average funding would be transformative for our school and our staff.
It’s part of my job to create and manage the school budget. I’m required to present a budget to our Board by early June. Yet the General Assembly has not yet passed a budget for this year and they haven’t put forward any proposed budgets for next year. This leaves school leaders in the position of creating imaginary budgets with no idea of what to actually expect. We’re fortunate to have a history of thrifty budgeting, leaving us in good financial position for the time. But without significant change every single school in the state will be forced to make impossible decisions.
Let’s keep up the pressure and demand a better future for our students! A pay raise is the single best way to show our appreciation for our hard working school staff.
Which brings us to – Staff Appreciation Week! Our tireless Parent Crew has a wonderful week of appreciation planned. Please help them make it special for the FSI Staff. You can help by volunteering or sending in items.
- Sunday, May 3, 4:00 – 5:00 pm: Chalk the Walk-Join the Parent Crew in drawing pictures and messages for staff in chalk on the walkway into the school
- Tuesday, May 5: Pasta Day: We will ask that you bring in pasta and sauces for for staff to enjoy.
- Wednesday, May 6: Catered lunch for Staff-cost covered by Parent Crew funds
- Thursday, May 7: Trail Mix Bar
- Friday May 8: Breakfast for Staff provided by school parents
We also need gift cards to give away each morning during announcements.
If you bring an item or gift card in, please label it clearly for **Staff Appreciation Week** and add Micah Usher’s name. Please drop off at the front desk.
Sign up and get more information here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090848A5AA22ABFF2-63351932-staff
Finally, good luck to our AP students as they begin their exams! They’ve worked hard all year and now it’s time to show what they’ve learned. Go Bolts!
As always, thank you for choosing Franklin and for partnering with us to prepare students for the futures they create. Our school is stronger with your participation.
Upcoming Events
Sun, May 3
- 4:00 pm: Chalk the Walk with Parent Crew! Kick off Staff Appreciation Week with creative messages of thanks! See the Parent Crew Section below for all Staff Appreciation Events & sign up to help.
Tues, May 5
- 12:00 – 3:00 pm: AP Gov Exam @ AB Tech
- 4:15 pm: MS Soccer vs Francine Delaney @ FSI
- 4:30 pm: HS Girls Soccer vs IC Imagine @ Memorial Stadium – 1st round state tournament
Wed, May 6
- 8:00 – 11:00 am: AP English Exam @ Western (Biltmore Park)
Thurs, May 7
- 4:15 pm: MS Soccer vs Mountain Community @ FSI
Mark Your Calendars
Wed, May 14, 5:30 – 8:00 pm: Spring Music Concert
Keep up with all our school events!
FSI Community Calendar – add our events to your google calendar
2025-2026 Yearlong Calendar – updated
Bolts Athletics
HS Ultimate went 1-0 on the week defeating the Homeschool Team 15-14. It was a fun, back and forth game with the Bolts scoring the final two points to secure the win!
HS Soccer went 0-2 on the week with tough matches versus Carolina Day and IC Imagine. E. Cruz-Macey scored the lone goal vs CDS and E. Telford scored versus ICI in the 1-2 loss. The team gets another chance at ICI in the first round of the CAASC State Championships on Tuesday, May 5th at 4:00pm at Memorial Stadium. Come support and cheer on the team!
A new Bolts Team Store is now open through May 13th. Lots of great options for Bolts gear and some soccer logo specific items. Place your order and it ships directly to you. Orders usually arrive within a week. It’s easy and fast!
Use this link to order: https://bsnteamsports.com/shop/fe6UjqHUNZ
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
Parent Crew is excited to raffle off front row tickets to the Spring Musical Performance (May 13). While the performance does not cost to attend, for $5 you can enter to win four front row seats-so no coming early or worrying about where you will be sitting, you will be up front! All money raised will go towards the music department!
Use the link below:
Parent Crew will also have a limited amount of beautiful bouquets for sale again this performance! We are also selling concessions. Please help us by volunteering to help sell these items during the performance.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090848A5AA22ABFF2-63821387-spring
Breakfast & Lunch Menus
You can find our menus online: https://www.franklinschoolofinnovation.org/parents/nutrition/
Middle School Student Council
Executive Committee will meet every Wednesday during lunch and recess
Next full Student Council meeting is Wednesday, May 13, 12:50 – 1:50. We will plan our upcoming Student Council Lock In and participate in a campus clean up service activity. The Lock In is scheduled for Friday, May 29, from dismissal – 8:30 pm. Students must attend 3 Student Council meetings to be eligible to participate in the Lock In.
Host an International Student
NC 4-H International Is seeking host families for summer month-long or year-long high school exchange students.
They have 16 youth delegates from Japan (and one from Taiwan), ages 12-17, who need host families for 3.5 weeks this summer! They are also seeking families for year-long high school exchange students! Find out more by joining an information session on Zoom:
Summer Inbound Month-Long Program Information Session – Thursday, April 30, 7:00pm (rescheduled from April 23)- Register here: https://ncsu.zoom.us/meeting/register/ZveOkEB_RCWGJ-o4LhUKEg
Academic Year-Long Program Information Session – Tuesday, April 28, 7:00pm – Register here: https://ncsu.zoom.us/meeting/register/9BD8-iJsSjG_5tlZfPLNug
Contact for questions: Caitlin Clineff, NC4-Hinternationalprogram@ncsu.edu, or contact FSI parent and host Tara Shields, 615-500-3370,shields.tara@gmail.com
We Have a Few Spots for 5th Grade!
Do you know a wonderful family with a rising 5th grader? We have a few spots available for the 2026-2027 school year. Filling these spots helps us offset the terrible state budget situation. We also love bringing students in for our 5th grade year – our team does a terrific job of onboarding students and helping them learn what it means to be an FSI Bolt. Help us serve as many students as we can! We can also accept a few more students for 11th and 12th grade. This can be a great opportunity for students who are looking for more support as they begin planning for college. With a full-time College & Career Counselor and support through Crew and our teachers, our students have access to strong post-secondary support. We are full with wait lists for all other grades at this time.
Reminders
Bolts Summer Sports Camps
We are excited to announce our summer sports camps! Featuring multi-sports training with amazing facilities and coaches. Learn and experience a variety of sports and have fun! Directed by Coach Burke and Coach Ron Scott
5th-8th grades
- June 15-19 and/or June 22-26
- 9:00am-1:00pm
- $125 per week
Email for more information:
Register Here: Bolts Summer Sports Camps
Summer Driver Education Class
We are pleased to announce that we will host a summer driver education class at FSI. The class is provided by an instructor from Mountain Professionals Driving School. Our role is to provide the space and to share the information with our families.
The class is scheduled for the following days: July 9 and July 13-17, 9-3 pm The class is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The following are requirements and rules from Mountain Professionals. There are no exceptions:
- Students must attend all 5 days for the full time (9 – 3 pm)
- Students must be aged 14 1/2 (and under age 18) to attend
- There are no refunds once you have registered – no exceptions for vacations or illness or change of plans
- This is the education portion of the class. Students will schedule the driving portion with Mountain Professionals after they have passed this portion of the class
Register here: https://www.mtnpro.com/fsiform.
Substitute Teachers Needed!
As we enter Quarter 4, we have a true need for substitute teachers. Many of our teachers are entitled to days off but are reluctant to take them if they don’t have good coverage lined up! Substitute teachers are increasingly difficult to find. Across the state, schools are filling temporary positions or vacancies with people who used to serve as substitutes. You do not need a teaching certificate. You do need a love for students and a flexible open mindset! Cover letter and resume to jobs@thefsi.us
We are posting positions for the 2026-2027 school year on our website. If you know an excellent teacher who would be a good fit for our school, let us know! We will reach out and invite them to apply if we have a position available.
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!
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
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…
