FPHS Parent and Student Memo
April 5, 2021
Franklin Pierce High School
FPS District Equity Statement
AREAS OF FOCUS AND IMPROVEMENT:
- Equity and Social Justice
- Improved Instruction
- Family and Community Engagement
Our Equity Team would like to partner with our parents and students to fulfill our mission to support our students, staff, and families by identifying and dismantling systems that perpetuate, exacerbate, or produce inequities based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, etc. If you would like to collaborate with us, please let us know HERE. If you want to learn more about our commitment to EQUITY and ANTI-RACISM, feel free to contact any of our FPHS Equity Team members: Hartley, Marzano, Wright, Laban, Hackney, Apelu, Brist, Call, Chapman, Detweiler, Fineman, Goodrum, Inman, Kaunda, B. Lee, Martin, Plaskett, Quill, Roscoe, Scroger, Shoopman, Washam, and C. Lee.
Dear Parents and Students,
Spring Break: Parents/Students will continue to receive the Health Surveys/Attestations (Qualtrics) during Spring Break. You can disregard the surveys during this time. Have a wonderful Spring Break!
Parents, if you would like to request a cohort change or a change in the method of instruction (in-person vs. remote), please use the link below. Note: only PARENTS can complete this form, not students. We will only honor requests as long as the reason for the request is reasonable and we can continue to maintain balanced cohorts and social distancing for all students and staff. Use this LINK to make your request. Please, give us at least a week to initiate any changes. The deadline to submit a change request is Tuesday, April 16.
HEADPHONES: Students, please bring a pair of inexpensive headphones daily. There may be occasions as directed by teachers to use headphones in classes to not disturb other students.
Students, are you interested in Running Start? Please, see HERE for info about an info meeting on Wednesday, March 31 at 6pm on Zoom.
Make sure you're following us on Social Media: FPHS Facebook page; FPHS Twitter page; FPHS Instagram page.
Visit HERE to view previous Parent and Student Memos.
Please, make sure you have all the info below. We miss you and wish you all the very best. Stay safe and be well!
Schedule:
Hey, Freshmen!
Hey, Seniors!
- Graduation Info: Find Senior Info and Grad Info HERE.
- Distinguished Portfolio Essays due: April 19
- Graduation Eligibility Walk List: May 3 (updated weekly)
- Senior Exit Interviews due: May 19
- Last day for on-track Seniors: June 11
- Senior Awards Night: June 14
- Graduation Rehearsal (required): June 15, 9am, WA State Fairgrounds
- Graduation Parade: June 15, 10:30am
- Graduation: June 17, 6pm, WA State Fairgrounds
ALL DATES AND EVENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON GUIDELINES FROM THE TPC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
April Culture Calendar
April is ...
AUTISM AND DISABILITIES AWARENESS MONTH: Learn more HERE.
4/4: EASTER: Learn more HERE.
- 4/12: RAMADAN STARTS: Learn more HERE.
- 4/13 KHMER, THAI, CAMBODIAN, LAOS NEW YEAR: Learn more HERE.
- 4/21 HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY: Learn more HERE.
- 4/30 CHILDREN'S DAY (DIA DEL NINO): Learn more HERE.
New Schedule for High Schools in 2021-22!
Dear Franklin Pierce Students and Families:
As we work through challenges and opportunities related to the 2020-2021 school year, we continue to plan for the future and consider different ways to promote student achievement. After considering the requirements of the state’s Core 24 model, consulting with other districts, and gathering input from teachers and building and district leaders over the past few years, our two comprehensive high schools (FPHS and WHS) will transition our current 6-period schedule to a 4x8 block schedule (4 class periods/day and 8 courses/semester) beginning in the Fall of 2021.
Through this transition, we hope to take advantage of the following opportunities:
- Build on the momentum of the block schedule that we implemented through remote and hybrid learning during the 2020-2021 school year.
- Create additional capacity to make up for this year’s lost learning opportunities as a result of COVID-19.
- Provide greater opportunities for more students to access our core curriculum.
- Provide students with more opportunities to explore a greater variety of subjects that advance their personal and professional aspirations.
There will be many details to work out in the weeks and months ahead, but we wanted to take this opportunity to share this information with you. Know that this decision was not taken lightly and that we are committed to working with staff, students, and families on a successful transition.
LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL:
Family and Community Engagement
The Franklin Pierce High School Food & Hygiene Pantry is available for all students and their families.
Use this LINK to view our current food & hygiene pantry options. Please mark the items you need and staff will put together a bag or box. We will contact you when your bag is ready for pick up or delivery.
Additional ways to request items: You can request a paper copy of this form by contacting Bonita Lee at blee@fpschools.org or call 253-298-3837 to request items via phone.
Social Justice, Equity, and Anti-Racist Resources:
- In FLOAT, a father discovers that his son is different from other kids in the most unusual way. To keep them both safe from judgement, Dad covers him and keeps him out of sight— but when his son’s ability becomes public, Dad must decide whether to run and hide or to accept his son as he is. It is written, directed and produced by a parent of an Autistic child, and he uses the film to give us a glimpse into his and his son’s story. ‘Float’, a seven-minute animated short, has been created by Pixar animator Bobby Rubio, who has worked on features including ‘Toy Story’, ‘Incredibles 2’ and ‘Inside Out’. Watch the short film below and learn more about its message HERE.
The first step in ALLYSHIP is LISTENING.
The second step is BELIEVING.
The third step is ACTION. Get involved and create the positive change you want to see in the world.
FPHS Sports
FPHS Athletes and Families,
Season 2 is here! In a year where everything is just a bit different we have just started our season 2 sports. These include what would traditionally be the spring sports programs (Track, Boys Soccer, Girls tennis, Softball, and Baseball) For the week of spring break all of these programs will begin their first week of competition and you can keep up to date on their schedule and results by visiting fphscards.com.
Season 1 is not quite wrapped up as we have our Helmet Bowl this evening! Over the next few weeks we should begin to hear the great news on which of our athletes earned all-league honors in their respective sports for season 1.
Fans
If you plan on attending any FPHS baseball, softball or tennis events we ask that you abide by social distancing guidelines and wear a mask. If you arrive and there is no space for you to sit with social distancing in what would traditionally be considered fan seating then please space out and watch from an area that is safe and respects the guidelines set forth in regard to social distancing.
All stadium events including soccer and track will have regulated fan attendance that will be communicated prior to the event or upon entry to the event.
From Last Week
The creation of Pierce County Girls Flag Football Club in partnership with Nike, the Seattle Seahawks and the Tacoma and Bethel Schools. The teams will include (Foss, Wilson, Mt. Tahoma, Lincoln, Stadium, Franklin Pierce, Washington, Spanaway Lake, Bethel and Graham-Kapowsin.) The season will start on April 26th and go until June 13th. Nike is sponsoring 25 uniform sets for each school.
Spring Sports
There is still time to participate in spring sports. The process is the same as before. Be sure to have a registered in FamilyID and be certain to have physical which was completed within the last two years. Below is the link for registration for spring sports.
https://www.familyid.com/organizations/franklin-pierce-high-school
Listed below are our spring track and field coaches as well as their contact information. Please reach out to them if you have any questions about the upcoming spring sports season.
- Track and Field (Boys and Girls
- Coach Howard Lutton & Coach Amy Utecht
- Hlutton@fpschools.org & Autecht@fpschools.org
- Baseball
- Coach Nick Aloisio
- Naloisio@fpschools.org
- Softball
- Coach Jen Bruce
- Jbruce@fpschools.org
- Soccer (Boys)
- Coach Brandon Henry
- Bhenry@fpschools.org
- Tennis (Boys)
- Coach Tyler Parsons
- Tparsons@fpschools.org
Final Recap of Season 1 Sports
(Update) - Boys and Girls Golf
The boys and girls golf team competed at Eagle’s Pride in Lacey this last week in the SPSL 2A League Tournament. For the girls Jeannie Yoon finished 6th overall which in a normal season would have earned her a bid to the state golf championships. Grace Scothorne finished 7th overall and Anabella Wren finished 13th overall. The boys top finisher was Trevor Drummond Jackson who finished 11th overall. In exciting news for the golf coaching staff! Head Girls Coach Jeff Melvard earned 2021 Girls Coach of Year honors for the 2A SPSL and Head Boys Coach Colin Horak earned 2021 Boys Coach of the Year honors for the 2A SPSL League.
(Update) - Cross Country (Boys and Girls)
The Varsity girls and boys cross country team finalized their season last weekend at Fort Steilacoom Park. The race saw a large majority of the team run their personal best times for the season. Hattie Lindow finished 10th overall and earned 2nd Team All-League Honors with her performance.
(Update) - Football
Tonight the Cardinals are the away team in the annual Helmet Bowl versus Washington High School. This will be the final week of the 2021 season and there is no better way to do it than the Cardinals vs. Patriots! Fan attendance has been predetermined for this game by athletes selecting who their guests will be.
Girls Soccer
The girls soccer program wrapped up its season last evening in an SPLS playoff game vs Steilacoom HS. The team finished the season with some notable games including a tough fought matchup that ended in a tied vs. Eatonville. A big win vs. Washington High School and a win against Clover Park.
Girls Swim
The girls swim program did have their first home swim meet against Fife this week and it was a great experience for all of the girls. The girls also had their senior night and recognized senior swimmers Dylynne Howser and Bree Reinitz. The league swim meet has become a reality and it will be hosted on Saturday, March 27th at Mount Tahoma HS. Please reach out to the head coach for updates on this potential swim meet as all updates will be relayed through the coach moving forward.
Athletics video below about fans at games and competitions:
FPHS Club Info:
- ESports Team: Do you play CS:GO, Overwatch, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros, Rainbow Six: Siege, Hearthstone, NBA 2K21, Minecraft, Valorant, 10 Minute Chess, Call of Duty? Join our ESports Team. Contact Mr. Lindsey at jlindsey@fpschools.org for more info.
- Black Student Union: The BSU Meets every other Wednesday from 2:00pm-3:00pm. We are currently meeting on Zoom. If students are interested in joining a meeting, please email Blee@fpschools.org
- Latin@s Unid@s: Culture, resources, support, friends; Cultura, recursos, apoyo, amistad. We meet on Mondays at 1:55pm in room 404 or on Zoom. For more info, contact Mr. Call at dcall@fpschools.org.
- KPOP Club: FP Korean Club was formed so students at the high school can gather and have the opportunity to take part in learning the Korean language, Korean culture and KPOP dances. We will start meeting in person every Thursday starting April 1 in room 902 at 2:15pm.
- Pacific Islander Club (PIC): Welcome back! We will be meeting on Mondays from 2 - 4 pm in the Cafeteria. All are welcome, and we look forward to seeing you there.
Yearbooks!
Homework Center: Free Tutoring Daily
Hours:
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 11am to 12pm and 2pm - 4pm.
- Wednesdays: 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm.
HW Center LINK.
Assessment Center!
Assessment Updates:
State Testing
Washington State is currently working with the Biden administration to seek a waiver to "skip" state testing this year. If this does not get approved at the federal level, we will conduct the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) in Math and ELA as well as the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS). If this is the case, state assessments will be administered this Spring. We've also learned that assessments will have fewer questions and prompts than previous non-Covid years. More information to come.
College Board Testing
These exams include PSAT, SAT, and AP exams. In Fall, FPS decided not to offer PSAT or SAT due to Covid restrictions and College Board requirements. Recently, our region has moved to the moderate Covid phase which allows us to bring more students back in a variety of settings. We are reviewing our current safety protocols and testing guidelines to see how we can provide opportunities for students to access these assessments this Spring.
At this time, you can expect that students enrolled in AP courses will be taking the AP exam in Spring. Testing may take place remotely or in person. We are currently in the planning stage and will notify families as soon as our plan is set.
For all College Board exams, preparation materials and resources can be found on their website. https://www.collegeboard.org
Update on AP testing!!!
If you haven’t heard, we’re going digital, and students get the option to choose their testing location. Students can either test at home or on campus no matter which cohort they are in. Please use the link below to select your choice. For students who wish to change their previous selection, please email Mrs. Plaskett- Rosario at lplaskett@fpschools.org. The deadline to make your selection is April 15. For students who do not complete the survey, you will automatically be assigned in-school testing.
Beginning April 8, students can preview College Board’s digital testing application and practice multiple-choice and free-response questions. Be sure to check it out through your College Board accounts.
SAT
On April 27, 2021 Junior and Senior students will have the opportunity to take the SAT exam on campus. While we usually offer this test for all Juniors, this year we are asking students to opt-in. Testing will take place during the school day, and Covid safety measures will be followed. Please follow this LINK to sign-up for testing.
If your student is a senior, they may consider taking the SAT if they have not yet met standard for the state test in English or Math. If you are unsure of your students’ graduation status, please contact their counselor.
Resources
School Resources:
- District Website: https://www.fpschools.org/
- Franklin Pierce HS Website
- FPS Remote Learning Website
- IT Help Desk for Students and Parents: 253-298-4647, 7:30AM to 4PM.
- Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
- FPS Breakfast and Lunch Program: www.fpschools.org/meals
- FPS Education Resources: https://www.fpschools.org/exended-closure-resources-and-information/closure-educational-resources
- Want to add Canvas to your phone? Android or iOS. Once you download the app, search "fpschools" to find our district.
- FPHS Facebook page.
- FPHS Twitter page.
- FPHS Instagram page.
- Information about GRADES and GRADING.
- Information about BUSES.
- District CALENDAR.
- Information about ATTENDANCE.
- How to access and use DORA.
- Zoom Tutorial HERE.
COVID- 19 Resources:
- District Website: https://www.fpschools.org/
- Gov. Inslee's COVID-19 updates web page: https://www.governor.wa.gov/tags/covid-19-coronavirus
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Community Resources:
- District resources and partners: https://www.fpschools.org/departments/family-engagement-office/community-resources
- Check with your phone and internet provider: many providers are offering free and/or unlimited data, internet etc. during the Stay Home, Stay Healthy order.
- Financial Resources: https://dfi.wa.gov/coronavirus/financial-resources