Good morning Franklin families,
Happy Fall! Join us today for an energetic kick-off to the new season with the 7th Annual Filthy Franklin Mud Run! We’re excited to host our biggest Mud Run ever. It’s not too late to register to run or just come for the fun. Races start at 2:30 pm with categories for kids, teens, and adults. I look forward to seeing everyone and celebrating on this glorious mountain Fall afternoon. Tickets can be purchased here.
Thank you to everyone who attended Student Led Conferences this past Wednesday. I’ve heard so much positive feedback from our teachers! They loved the chance to meet families and listen to our students. Thank you for taking the time and showing your students how much you value their education! Your involvement matters for student achievement and growth.
Thank you also to everyone who voted for us in the Best of Asheville awards! We’re blushing just a little – FSI swept the education awards, taking the gold medal as Best Charter School, Best High School, and Best Middle School. We’ll work hard all year to earn this honor again next year!
Did you know….We are just over halfway through our 1st quarter:
- 6th grade students who miss 3 or more days (excused or unexcused) during the 1st quarter of the school year are 3 times more likely to drop out than other students. The same is true for 9th grade students
- 9th grade students who have a D or an F in math or ELA are 3 times more likely to drop out. Those with an overall grade point average below 3.0 by the end of the 1st quarter are 5 times more likely to drop out.
This is a really important week to check in with students, especially for all our parents of 9th grade students. We’re tracking three things that strongly impact student success: attendance, behavior, and grades. Last week I attended the kick-off day of learning for “Schools that Lead”, a nonprofit organization that supports schools in relentless pursuit of improvement. We’re excited to join a cohort for a three-year learning and improvement process. I was really excited to learn how directly their work and research supports our focus this year – looking at these three things (attendance, behavior, and grades). “Schools that Lead” focuses on the exact same measures and supports schools to identify students who have risk factors, and then to test specific interventions to get students back on track. If your student has missed two or more days of school this year, they are considered “at risk”. What seems like a really small thing – just a day or two – adds up. Checking in early can make a big difference. We’re identifying students now and will be reaching out to parents to collaborate.
This Friday is a teacher work day. Teachers will be using the day to plan and design their grade level Learning Expeditions. We hope the long weekend gives families some time to get outdoors and enjoy our beautiful mountains.
Here’s to a great week!
Calendar Events
Today: Filthy Franklin Mud Run! First race is at 2:30. Park across the road at IFB.
Tues, Sept 26: Go BOLTS!
- 4:15 pm: MS Flag Football vs ArtSpace @ FSI
- 4:30 pm: MS Volleyball @ Carolina Day
- 4:30 pm: HS Soccer @ Carolina Day
- 5:00 pm: HS Volleyball vs Bethel Christian @ FSI (tickets $5 adults/$3 students)
Thurs, Sept 28
- 4:15 pm: MS Flag Football @ Rainbow Community School
- 4:30 pm: HS Volleyball @ Shining Rock
- 5:00 pm: HS Soccer @ Trailblazers (Biltmore Church Arden Campus)
Friday, Sept 29: Teacher Work Day – No School
Keep up with all our events!
FSI Yearlong Academic Calendar
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Get Involved: Parent Crew Updates
Dine Out at Mod! October 26
The Franklin School of Innovation Parent Crew will receive 20% of
fundraiser sales if you eat at Mod on Merrimon Avenue on October 26, 2023. To participate, all you have to do is order online using the code MODGIVES20 or by visiting the Merrimon Avenue Mod Location and mention the Fundraiser at Checkout. Funds collected will be used towards Parent Crew events, staff appreciation and staff needs.
Open Mic @ Doc Browns! Oct 30, 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Calling all musicians, for a Halloween open mic!
That’s right! Open mics are back. Join us for our first open mic at Doc Brown’s BBQ Monday, October 30 5:30 to 7:30pm. Come in costume and celebrate the holiday with us musically and with a lot of GREAT food. Anyone is welcome to perform all you have to do is show up! We would love to have as many people perform as possible! Also, Doc Brown’s is generously donating 10% of all proceeds during the time we are there to our music department. Please reach out to Sandi Wilson at swilson@thefsi.us with any questions. We look forward to seeing you there!
New! Lacrosse in Beyond the Bell
We are excited to bring this opportunity to FSI! Please click here to learn more and sign up for the chance to learn/play lacrosse on Wednesday afternoons as part of our Beyond the Bell program. Questions? Contact Ron Scott, rscott@thefsi.us. Learn more/sign up here: Lacrosse Sign Up
Reminders
Mobile Dental Clinic Oct 5
The dentist is coming on October 5th! Forms went out to students for dental cleanings on 9/8. The nurse has extra forms in her office! Reach out to Courtney with any questions at: ckozloski@thefsi.us
NC Digital Learning Survey
Please take a few minutes to complete this survey: Digital Learning Survey for North Carolina. All schools are required to complete this survey to help identify gaps in digital access in our state. If your student does not have access to a device or internet at home, please reach out to our Tech Director, Matt Mikulski, mmikulski@thefsi.us.
Fall School Picture Day
SMILE! – Underclassman and Senior Pictures will be on October 17th and Make-up pictures will be on November 13th.
Innovation Fest
We invite you to join us on Saturday, October 14, from noon to 4 pm for InnovationFest, a celebration and a call to action. Together, let’s celebrate, innovate, and weave a tapestry of inclusivity and excellence. Learn more and get your (free) tickets today!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/innovationfest-tickets-706175950277
Student Clubs – Get Involved!
Clubs open to all grades
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. (Starts mid-October)
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!
Faculty Advisor: Jessica Bragdon, jbragdon@thefsi.us if you have any questions.
Meeting Information: Room 272 from 3:30-4:15 every other Friday. Next meeting Fri, Sept 22 will meet MS at base of stairs to take them upstairs
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
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
World Dance Club – Learn a variety of dances from around the world! Hip hop, Kpop, Latin Dance, Jpop and more! Instructed by Ms Sheila Dillingham, a local dance teacher.
Cost is $10/class – paid monthly.
Faculty Advisor: Micah Usher, musher@thefsi.us
Instructor: Sheila Dillingham, lunafields@hotmail.com or 828 772 5937
Meeting Information: Wednesdays 1:15 – 3:30 pm Starts Wednesday 09/06
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
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
