Good morning Franklin families,
On Thursday I had the pleasure of visiting many of our classrooms during one of our walk-throughs. In a walk-through, a team (generally principals, coaches, teachers, and our EL Education school consultant) visit as many classrooms as possible. In these short visits we are looking for specific classroom practices and student behaviors that are related to our annual school goals. We’re focusing this year on student engagement – starting with some pretty basic but really hard things like limiting student use of cell phones during class time and creating consistent structures and routines across classrooms to get students focused and engaged. These sound like simple things but in reality they require significant teacher skill and resilience. I know it gets old to talk about the difference in classrooms post-pandemic, but they are real. Students missed out on important social learning which leads to more disruptive or off-task behavior in classrooms. Teaching is harder than ever.
And here’s the good news! We saw so much growth in classrooms across all grades and subjects. Teachers have put strong structures in place in their classrooms. Cell phones are largely absent during class time. Teachers are designing creative lessons and we saw lots of love and joy in classrooms. These teacher moves are leading to stronger student engagement. I’m really proud of our teachers and staff for their hard and effective work. Well done team! It’s no secret that it’s a hard time to be in education. It’s important to pause and celebrate great work.
So when you see our staff members this week – take a minute to thank them for their hard work. Spend some time in the car or at the dinner table talking with your student about how important education is and why you chose Franklin as their school. Positive support and reinforcement from home truly makes a difference in student behavior and attitudes in school.
There are a few new student clubs and activities coming up – be sure to check them out! We are starting a new Middle School Student Council, sponsored by our terrific school nurse Courtney Kozloski. Students can attend the Interest Meeting Tuesday at 3:14. The student council will meet monthly to plan events such as dances and activities to boost school spirit and community. All are welcome! Middle School theatre auditions are also coming up this week on Tuesday and Thursday after school. Students only need to attend one of the auditions. Open to all middle school students – sign up on Ms. Lexa’s door. And MS basketball tryouts are this week – a busy week for middle school activities! Do what you love or try something new – middle school is time for exploration!
Want to support the new student-led Banned Book Club? Check out their Book Wish List. Book donations are welcomed – simply purchase a book and have it delivered to the school, care of the Y-Par (Youth Participatory Action Research) Banned Book Club.
Remember that there is no school Friday as we pause and celebrate Veterans Day. Thank you to all those who have served our country in the pursuit of liberty and freedom!
Thank you for choosing Franklin and for working with us to create a great school.
Calendar Events
Mon, Nov 6
- 3:45 – 5:15 pm: MS Basketball Tryouts
Tues, Nov 7
- 3:15 pm: MS Student Council Interest Meeting
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- 3:30 – 4:30 pm: MS Theatre Auditions (Ms. Lexa’s room)
- 3:45 – 5:15 pm: MS Basketball Tryouts
Thurs, Nov 9
- 3:30 – 4:30 pm: MS Theatre Auditions (Ms. Lexa’s room)
- 6:00 – 7:00 pm: FAFSA Night
Fri, Nov 10: Veterans Day Holiday – NO SCHOOL
Keep up with all our events!
FSI Yearlong Academic Calendar
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Athletics News
The MS Flag Football team concluded their season with a fun and competitive game at Evergreen that ended in a 21-21 tie! Congrats to the team and coaches on a successful season.
MS Basketball try-outs will take place on Monday, November 6 and Tuesday, November, 7 from 3:45-5:15pm. Must attend both days to be considered for the teams. All required paperwork must be submitted(sports physical and concussion form).
Go Bolts!
Parent Crew News
The Mod Pizza Dine Out for Franklin Event has a rescheduled date! Thank you to everyone who came out previously and supported the event. Mod credited us for all the sales we made before they closed due to electrical issues, and rescheduled us for Thursday 11/16!!! Please join us! Funds raised will be used towards staff support and gifts, as well as parent crew-supported school events!
The next Parent Crew meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 28 from 6:00 pm-7:00 pm at The Franklin School of Innovation. We would like to invite you to attend and help us support FSI. Note that Nov 28 is Giving Tuesday! Stay tuned to learn more about how you can support Franklin on our annual day of giving.
FSI High Boltage Theatre Presents “Hearts Like Planets” Nov 17 & 18
Don’t miss this new play that orbits all around and through what it is to be human. Through an entertainingly cosmic mix of genres (Noir, drama, comedy, crime-fighting), the show illustrates how love, good and bad choices, big risks, and new beginnings define our species.
When: November 17 and 18 at 7:00 pm
Where: The Kittredge Theatre at Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa, NC
General Admission Tickets – $10 each online* or at the door. Online sales will begin by Nov. 3rd. The link will be on the FSI website and emailed to students. This show is suitable for ages 8 and up.
*Please note that online sales will close on Friday, Nov. 17th at noon.
Middle School Theatre Auditions
Middle school students! Ms. Lexa will be holding auditions for Help Desk, a one-act comedy on Tuesday November 7th and Thursday November 9th from 3:30-4:30. Students only need to attend one day of auditions.All middle school students are welcome to attend! Put your name on the sign-up sheet in Ms. Lexa’s room if you would like to attend.
Rehearsals for the production will take place primarily on Tuesdays and Thursdays after school and the play will be performed in early March. All middle school students are welcome to attend! Put your name on the sign-up sheet in Ms. Lexa’s room if you would like to attend.
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:
Reminders
College Corner: FAFSA Workshop, Nov 9
FSI will be hosting an FAFSA info session on November 9th from 6-7.
A representative from the A-B Tech Financial Aid Office will discuss the many major changes to the FAFSA for the 2024-2025 academic year. There will be an opportunity for questions, and families will also be able to receive assistance with the FAFSA at A-B Tech after the application opens in December 2023
Pizza Days
Our pizza sales have changed this year. Pizza Fridays are a fundraiser for our athletic program. Due to scheduling issues, pizza sales are only on “B” days (based on the high school schedule). For the rest of this calendar year – we will have Pizza Fridays on the following dates:
- Dec 1
- Dec 15
Student Clubs – Get Involved!
Clubs open to all grades
New! 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
New! Majorette Dance Club – Do you like to dance? Want to learn more about Majorette Dance? This is an informal student club that will meet during 6th grade recess on Fridays, beginning October 6. We’ll meet in Room 163.
Faculty Advisors: Michelle Vruwink, mvruwink@thefsi.us and nurse Courtney Kozloski.
Meeting information: Fridays during 6th grade recess, Room 163
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
