Dear Franklin families,
This cool weather certainly puts me in a fall mood. The third week of school always feels like the real start to the year and this fall weather somehow makes that feeling even stronger this year. Our fall athletic season gets into full gear this week with action every single day! Don’t miss the FIRST event ever on our new turf field this Thursday! Our high school soccer team plays the inaugural home game against Mt. Pisgah. The game starts at 6 pm and we want to pack the field. Cross country and volleyball are also busy this week. Come out to support our student athletes!
We also are getting down to business in our classrooms. On Monday and Tuesday students in grades 5 – 9 will take the NWEA MAP assessments. These tests give us good information about what students know and can do at the beginning of the year. We’ll use the information to track student growth and make sure they are getting the support and challenge they need. Please make sure students arrive on time but no other preparation is needed.
Mark your calendars and make plans for next Wednesday, September 17, our fall Student Led Conference (SLC) day. Students will not attend classes on the 17th. They will only attend school for their SLC. Student Led Conferences are an important part of putting students at the center of their own learning. Our role as adults is to listen and learn how we can help them achieve their goals. The fall SLCS are “listening conferences”. In the spring, students will prepare portfolios and presentations to show us what they have accomplished during the year. Your student’s Crew leader will schedule their SLC. If you have questions, reach out to their Crew leader.
Did you know….
Charter schools offer great opportunities for parent/guardian involvement and engagement. In addition to participating in our Parent Crew, you can join our School Improvement Team or our Board of Directors. If serving on the Board feels like too much to take on – you can join a Board committee and learn more about what it takes to be an active Board member! We’re currently recruiting Board members. While we are always looking for people with some specific skills (lawyers, financial advisors, community leaders), we also need parents who bring different perspectives and are willing to engage and contribute! For more information, reach out to Board Chair Al Glicksberg, aglicksberg@thefsi.us.
Thank you for choosing Franklin and helping us grow as a school community.
Upcoming Events
Monday, September 8
- MS & HS Cross Country at Conference Preview Meet hosted by Shining Rock at Smoky Mountain Event Center
4:30: MS girls
5:00: MS boys
5:30: HS boys & girls
Tuesday, September 9
- 5:00 pm: HS Volleyball at Reynolds Mountain – Season Opener
- 6:00 pm: Board of Directors Monthly Meeting
Wednesday, September 10
- 4:30 pm: MS Volleyball at Shining Rock
Thursday, September 11
- 6:00 pm: HS Soccer vs Mount Pisgah Academy – Season opener and first home game on our new field! (See flyer attached)
Friday, September 12
- 5:00 pm: HS Volleyball vs Bethel Christian – Home opener and first Friday evening game!
Saturday, September 13
- 11:00 am: MS Cross Country at AC Reynolds Rocket Relay
Save the Date:
Wed, Sept 17: Fall Student Led Listening Conferences – students will not attend school this day. They will come ONLY for their conference time. Times will be scheduled with Crew leaders
Bolts Athletics
Bolts Athletics kick off the season with lots of action this week! Don’t miss the 1st home game on our new turf field this Thursday at 6 pm! See the calendar for information on all the games and meets this week. Go Bolts!
Parent Crew
Parent Crew is your organization! It’s similar to a PTO or PTA, and it’s a great way to get involved, be engaged, and meet other FSI families. Fill out this form for more information and to get involved!
Upcoming Events
Parent coffee social and Parent Crew Meetup
Thursday Sept.18th 8:30am-9:30am
Meet upstairs in room 261 after drop off! There will be coffee and light noshes, along with a social to meet other parents, build community, and learn more about the parent crew as well!
Sept 25: Parent Crew Dine Out for Franklin
Thursday, Sept 25 – dine out or order online with the code MODGIVES20 at Mod Pizza on Merrimon Ave and MOD Pizza will donate 20% to the school! Make sure to mention the fundraiser if dining at the restaurant!
Parent Crew Meetings
Thursday, October 16th at 6pm, Virtual Meeting
Thursday November 20th at 8:30am In-Person Meeting
TEDx Youth – You Can Do a TED Talk!
Would you like to do a TED talk? The theme for FSI’s TEDX Youth 2026 event is Time. This word can evoke many emotions through its association with both hope for the future and grief of the past. We invite speakers to explore the idea of change across time, and the lessons that come with those experiences. Similarly, they can look at the concept of time itself and how the ways that we use it have changed in recent years. If you’re interested, please contact tedxyouthfsi@gmail.com!
FSI is proud to sponsor the only student-led TEDX event in Asheville. Come see what student leadership looks like!
Student Clubs
We are getting organized for our fall afterschool Student Clubs. All clubs run through Beyond the Bell. Many of our clubs are started by students! Your first step in forming a new club is to find a faculty advisor to sponsor your club. They will need to be present at meetings and events, so make sure they know the time requirements of what they are signing up for. Once you have a faculty advisor, they can submit a form to start a club.
If you need help getting started or want to make sure your application is as good as possible, reach out to Ron Scott at rscott@thefsi.us to get feedback or support!
We will share more information, including registration and payment, soon! We expect some clubs to start mid-September.
NC College Connect: Making College More Accessible for NC Students
The NC College Connect program offers North Carolina public high school students with a weighted GPA of 2.8 and above who meet NC College Connect requirements direct admission to select colleges and universities participating in the NC College Connect program. Imagine starting your junior or senior year with college acceptances already in hand!
Students must be on track to complete North Carolina high school graduation requirements. That high school GPA of 2.8 is important to keep in mind! It’s the pathway to dual enrollment/community college courses and college acceptance.
Click here to learn more about the College Connect program. High school students can schedule an appointment with College & Career Counselor JaneAnne Tager to learn more.
Donation Request: Used Film and Photography Equipment
This fall we are starting a photography club and a film learning lab. We are looking for film and photography equipment that would be suitable for amateur photography and film production. The following equipment, used or new, would be helpful.
- DSLR Cameras (10 years old or newer)-Many people buy these thinking they are going to get into photography and after a year or so they end up in a drawer or the back of a closet. They have a detachable lens, a removable battery and charging cable. Canon or Nikon are common brands but there are others.
- Microphones-Some cameras have a microphone port to plug in a microphone for better audio. We could also use desktop computer mics for dubbing and creating sound effects.
- Tripods-They have a small adaptor that screws into the bottom of the camera and attaches to the tripod. We could also use adjustable cell phone tripods for some purposes.
- Lightning-This can be those clip on spot lights you use in a garage to work on a car or light boxes that are held up with a stand. We can also use those round paper lamps that hang from a tripod.
Email Micah Usher (musher@thefsi.us) for more information, or bring your donations to the office!
Reminders
Traffic Reminders
All traffic on campus is one-way. There are no exceptions. Form two lines when you enter campus and stay in two lines to the school entrance. We’ll help you merge into one line to exit. Turn right at Sardis Road for safety and to keep the line moving. More information is available in our Family Orientation presentation
Do not park near the entrance and wait for your students to walk to your car. Follow the road to the pick up location (awning).
Thanks to everyone who followed the traffic expectations this week! The line went pretty smoothly and 99% of our families followed our requests. Let’s make it 100% this week!
Cellphone and Wireless Device Policy
For all students, cellphones and all other devices must be away and silent during all instructional time (the only exceptions must be in documented IEP, 504, or health plans). For middle school this means from 8 am until dismissal. High school students may have devices out during transitions and during lunch, but phones must be stored in the classroom phone pouches during the entire instructional period.
There is a lot of good research that shows that phones are a distraction from learning and create social challenges in schools. Plus – it’s the law! Parents, you can help. Review the policy and expectations with your students. Don’t call or text your student during school hours. If you need to get a message to them during the school day, call us at 828-318-8140. If students need to contact you, they can ask permission to come to the front desk or call from a classroom phone.
Be Good Neighbors
- Do not park in AAA Storage, Galactic Pizza or the gym parking lots for drop off or pick up.
- Students may not park at neighborhood businesses. Apply for parking registration at school or arrange transportation.
- If you give written permission for your students to walk to Galactic Pizza or the gas station at dismissal, please be sure your student knows your expectations for their behavior in the community. Students are not allowed to leave campus during school hours.
Infinite Campus Help
If you need help getting into the Parent Portal or other Infinite Campus problems, please complete this FORM to request support. We will get to you as quickly as possible. Do not email individual staff members – you will get help more quickly by using the form.
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. It may take longer right now or when the email load is especially heavy. Click here to access the guide: Who do I go to when…
Required Forms
Emergency Medical Authorization
All students are required to have a Student Health Form on file. These forms are extremely important; in the case of an emergency and treatment may be delayed if we do not have this form on hand. These forms were sent via email from Erinn Otten. Please complete the form and return it to school as soon as possible.
Medications at School
If your student will require medication of any type during the school day, please remember to complete and submit the appropriate medical forms. You will find forms for diabetes, asthma, allergies, medication, and self-medication on our website, or your doctor’s office should have school forms available. Under North Carolina regulations, students are not permitted to take any medications at school, including over-the-counter medications, unless the school has a current copy of a medication form on record. These forms require physician signature.
Immunizations
Students new to public school must provide proof of immunizations. You can read more about required immunizations here: http://www.immunize.nc.gov/schools/k-12.htm
Students entering 7th grade have new immunization requirements:
- Tdap – Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough)
- Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV)
You (or your doctor) can fax proof of immunizations to us at 828-318-8125, email to EOtten@thefsi.us, or mail or drop off to the office.
Bus Rider & Carpool Information
No matter where you live, you’ll find FSI families nearby. You need to join the Franklin Carpool Facebook page. Find your carpool friends here: Franklin Carpool Facebook Page
If you need information about bus routes or want to register, please contact Deeana Bennett, dbennett@thefsi.us.
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. Our kitchen staff have been trying out some new recipes and treating us all this summer – we can vouch for the delicious meals! You can sign up here: Free and reduced lunch application
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 all afterschool clubs also run through Beyond the Bell. More information about afterschool clubs will be available soon. Most clubs start mid to late September.
