CARDINAL CONNECTIONS
January 23, 2023
Franklin Pierce High School Community Newsletter
FPS District Equity Statement
DISTRICT AREAS OF FOCUS AND IMPROVEMENT:
- Equity and Social Justice
- Improved Instruction
- Family and Community Partnership
Cardinal Parents, Students, and Staff:
"If you're aiming at nothing, that's what you might get."
What are you aiming at? What's your target? What do you want? Who do you want to become? Take some time to think about these questions and create a vision for yourself and your future. You might even want to write it down or tell someone about it to hold yourself accountable. Then, start lining up the things you do each day so that they are aligned with your target, and block out the rest. Don't waste your time on things that don't point to your target. Get focused. Create a plan. Then, get to work.
Let's do this! Cardinal Strong!
- Jan 23: What gives you hope?
- Jan 24: What do you like most about your life?
- Jan 25: When was a time when you made the best out of a bad situation?
- Jan 26: Do you have siblings?
Hey, Cards!
No school for students on January 27.
Pierce County Skills Center: Registration for next year opens on Feb. 23. See below for more information.
CONGRATULATIONS! We had 54 students take the STAMP Language Proficiency Test in 9 different languages: Spanish, Khmer, Russian, Samoan, Luganda, French, Marshallese, Amharic, and Portuguese. Students were scored in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. 49 out of 54 students earned at least one World Language credit. 27 students earned 4 World Language credits, the highest number possible, which makes them eligible for the Seal of Biliteracy on their diploma.
2nd Semester Schedule Changes: January 30 is the start of 2nd semester. Be aware that your schedule for 2nd semester may change for a variety of reasons including semester-length classes, classroom space, teacher schedule changes, failed courses, and unmet graduation requirements. All students will receive a copy of their 2nd semester schedule before January 30.
Grad Ads and Yearbooks: Hey Cards and Families! Want a page dedicated to your senior cardinal in the yearbook? Buy a grad ad and have a memory that lasts forever in the yearbook! There are limited pages so reserve a spot before it's too late! Grad ads are $200. See video instructions HERE.
FPS Board of Directors Opening: The FPS Board of Directors is seeking applicants to represent our area. Applicants must be a resident of Franklin Pierce Schools District 3. Applications will be accepted through 1/31/23 at 4 pm. To learn more about this position, the District 3 boundaries and how to apply, visit www.fpschools.org/boardvacancy.
It's Finals Week! Semester 1 ends on January 26. Final Exams will be on January 23 through January 26. Be ready! PC Skills Center students will be excused from PCSC to attend their finals.
Friday, March 24 is our Snow Make-Up Day! All 8 classes will meet that day.
GENERAL INFO:
Parents, we have an FPHS Food and Hygiene Pantry available to help out families in need. Please, use this LINK to see available items.
Parent Volunteers: In order to be a volunteer, parents must complete an easy, online volunteer application HERE.
Every Monday: College and Career Day! Wear your college and career gear.
Every Friday: Cardinal Spirit Day! Wear your FPHS gear.
The schedule this week is ABAB-. View our full A/B calendar HERE.
2023 GRADUATION Info HERE. Seniors, start marking your calendar and letting people know that your graduation day is coming!
Current COVID Guidelines can be found HERE.
Student immunization requirements can be found HERE.
Interested in learning about our FPHS clubs? Look HERE.
If you ever need to see our Daily Bulletin announcements, use this LINK. Running Start and Pierce County Skills Center students, please use this link to keep up to date with FPHS announcements.
Looking for a career with Franklin Pierce Schools? We have openings for teachers, para educators, bus drivers, custodians, guest teachers, sports trainer, and more! Get started HERE.
Visit HERE to view previous Parent and Student Memos.
Staff Spotlight:
Name: Kathryn Pascal
My Role at FPHS: Pottery/Community Art teacher and Native Indigenous Culture Club Advisor
Favorite Hobbies: Yoga, Art, Hiking, Snowboarding, Paddle Boarding, Gardening, Spending time outside with family and dogs
Favorite Book: The Hunger Games. Untamed, Coyote Stories (Mourning Dove), The Dalai Lama's Cat, The Art of Happiness
Favorite Quote: So many......! "Practice Kindness. Start with yourself first, then you can begin to share with those around you." "Be mindful for our thoughts become words, and our words become action." “Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back, and reasons to stay.”
Staff Spotlight:
Name: David Conant
My Role at FPHS: SPED Teacher
Favorite Hobbies: Traveling with my Sweetheart
Favorite Book: Killer Angels by Michael Schaara
Favorite Quote: "Be sure you put your feet in the right place, then stand firm” -Lincoln
What's your "E" (Enrollment, Enlistment, or Employment) after high school?
Learn about some career options in sports. A lot of people dream about a career as a professional athlete, but less than 1% of 1% actually make that dream come true. However, there are many other career options within the sports industry. Learn more here.
Social Justice, Equity, and Anti-Racist Resources:
In the video below: Learn more about Lunar New Year from our very own Science teacher, Mr. Watkins!
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.
CARDINAL SPORTS!
Sportsmanship reminder to all sports fans: This is a reminder about good sportsmanship for our fans. If you are attending an FP sporting event, your role as a fan is to support our team. We should only be cheering for the Cardinals and never cheering against the other team, the other team’s fans, or the officials. The official statement in the SPSL 2A handbook is, “Show pride, class, spirit, and respect. Display modesty in victory and graciousness in defeat. Enjoy the game and promote good sportsmanship. Please keep your comments positive, let the players play, coaches coach, and the officials officiate.” Repeated displays of poor sportsmanship will result in exclusion from sporting events.
- FP Spirit Gear Still Available Stop by the Cashier's Office during your lunches, before school, or after school to pick up your FP spirit gear. T Shirts and Sweatshirts are still available. Also, be on the lookout for your chance to own a Franklin Pierce football jersey of your own. Football will be selling used Jerseys for fans to have and wear when supporting ALL of our teams.
Museum of Glass Field Trip!
FPHS Pottery and art students were able to go to the Museum of Glass Wednesday, Jan. 18th where they explored the museum exhibits, watched live glass blowing in the hot shop, and even created their own little art project. It was a great way to gain more appreciation for the arts and to see and learn how our city of Tacoma supports and celebrates the arts!
Cocoa and Cramming for Finals!
A huge success! Standing room only both days! Shout out to Key Clubbers and National Honor Society for running this event and to the teachers and student tutors for volunteering their time!
FPHS Monkeyshines!
Daily Bell Schedules
Title 1, Part A
- What is Title 1? Title 1, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provides financial assistance to states and school districts to meet the needs of educationally at-risk students. The goal of Title 1 is to provide extra instructional services and activities which support students identified as failing or most at risk of failing the state's challenging performance standards in mathematics, reading, and writing. The Title 1 program will provides students with extra educational assistance beyond the regular classroom. The program serves students in our five secondary schools who have demonstrated that extra assistance is needed. Learn more HERE.
- The FPHS Report Card can be found HERE.
- Learn more about state and national assessments HERE.
- Learn more about Guides and Resources for Parent and Family Engagement HERE.
- Learn how to file a Citizen Complaint HERE.
- Copies of the 2022-23 School/Parent Compact were distributed at the beginning of the year. If you missed it, you can see it HERE.
- You can find the FPHS Handbook HERE.
- You can find the FPHS Parent and Family Engagement (PFE) Plan HERE.
NEW Performing Arts Center!
We are very excited about our new Performance Arts Center! We are in eager anticipation of the day that we can fully showcase the talents of our band, orchestra, choir, drama programs, and so much more!
- Part of the "cost" for a new Performing Arts Center is going to be a little dust, a lot of change, and even a few inconveniences. Please, bear with us as we work through the "under construction" phase with an estimated completion date of the start of the 2023-24 school year.
- Student and Staff Parking: All staff and students must park together in the parking lot alongside 112th St. The section nearest the tennis courts is reserved for staff parking. The section nearest the stadium is reserved for student parking. Students and staff must drive all the way around the school to access the new student/staff parking lot. Please, do not cut through the drop-off and pick-up zone to park.
- AM student drop-off and PM student pick-up and zones. Please, do not park in the drop-off and pick-up zones between 7:30am and 3pm. The drop-off and pick-up zones will be the same for 2022-23 as they were for the end of 2021-22.
- Main Entrance: The former main entrance to the building is no longer accessible. The new main entrance is on the south end of the main building near the student pick-up and drop-off zone.
- Handicapped Parking has been relocated to the stalls in the drop-off zone nearest the new main entrance.
- Bicycle Parking has been relocated to the 1400 building (outside the band classroom).
- Pedestrians in the drop-off and pick-up zone should use the pedestrian walkway along the fence line.
- As with all construction projects, almost everything is subject to change. We appreciate your patience and understanding.
Pierce County Skills Center:
Fall Newsletter HERE!
- PCSC Main Office: 253-800-4800.
Application Questions contact Paulla Hockaday - phockaday@bethelsd.org - 253.800.4800
Application links, in English and Spanish, can be found on our website. https://www.bethelsd.org/domain/4387
Resources
School Resources:
- District Website: https://www.fpschools.org/
- Franklin Pierce HS Website
- Attendance info HERE.
- IT Help Desk for Students and Parents: 253-298-4647, 7:30AM to 4PM. IT Website.
- Transportation Department website: 253-298-3865 or email to Transportation_Vendor@fpschools.org.
- Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)
- 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.
- How to access and use DORA.
COVID- 19 Resources:
- District Health Services Website
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
FPS COVID Dashboard HERE.
Community Resources:
- Financial Resources: https://dfi.wa.gov/coronavirus/financial-resources