FPHS Parent and Student Memo
March 8, 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,
We are very excited to finally be able to announce our return to in-person learning date of March 22! Please, read below to make sure you're informed about what it will look like and what you need to know to help us make our return to in-person learning successful.
All families received an email to complete a survey to decide whether or not your child will return to in-person learning or remain fully remote. Parents, if you haven't completed the survey yet, check your emails or use these links to complete your survey asap: ENGLISH or SPANISH. THIS IS FOR PARENTS ONLY! DUPLICATE ENTRIES WILL COMPLICATE COHORT BALANCING. We need that survey info back asap so that we can create evenly balanced cohorts to maintain social distancing.
March 26: No school! (This was a snow make-up day.)
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!
Spring Student Conferences!
Return to In-Person Learning: Frequently Asked Questions ... (newest on top)
- If I choose to remain fully remote, can I change my mind later (or vice versa)? Yes.
- Will we have any lessons on what to expect? Yes, on March 11 and 12, teachers will deliver mini-lessons in all classes about what to expect for in-person learning. We will also have a video on what to expect in the next memo.
- What about PE classes?
- All PE students need to come to school in athletic shoes/clothes that they can work out in.
- Students will NOT have access to the locker rooms and therefore will NOT be changing into PE clothes this Spring. It is important to note that students will still be working out, or/walking, jogging during class, and need to be prepared for activity.
- PE classes will go outside as much as possible weather permitting, so students should have a jacket or cold weather clothing. (Certain classes ie: Walking Fitness should plan for outdoor everyday.)
- Students will be required to keep their masks on inside or outside. Masks are required for all PE activities.
- Students should bring a water bottle to class as drinking fountains will not be used.
- Do I need to bring my laptop to school? Yes, all in-person students must bring their fully-charged laptop and charger to school every day.
- What if I'm feeling sick? If you're feeling sick at home, stay home, and contact your health care provider for next steps. If you're feeling sick at school, let your teacher know right away. You'll be removed from your classes and isolated from others until your parent can come pick you up to take you home.
- What time can I come to school? Students cannot arrive on campus or be dropped off until 7:55am. Classes start at 8:15am.
- What will the end of the day look like? All students must leave campus immediately at the end of the day. Students waiting for a ride, must wait at the front of the school near the flagpole. Students with sports or clubs must go directly to their meeting location to be supervised by their coach or club advisor. If your sport does not meet right after school, students must leave campus and come back when your practice begins.
- What if I'm a Pierce County Skills Center student? Your PCSC schedule was shared with you by Ms. Ledbetter. You will attend the Skills Center for a full day on Wednesdays only.
- When do we start? March 22nd!
- What will it look like? To maintain social distancing, we can only have half the students on campus at a time. Cohort A will attend in-person classes on Monday (periods 1, 2, 3) and Thursday (periods 4, 5, 6). Cohort B will attend in-person classes on Tuesday (periods 1, 2, 3) and Friday (periods 4, 5, 6). Wednesdays will remain asynchronous (independent work time).
- What's the schedule? See the schedule below.
- What do I do on my non in-person days? You will Zoom into your class like you're doing now. The difference will be that while you're half of the class is Zooming in, the other half of the class will be in-person on campus receiving the same instruction.
- Will I have the same teachers? Yes.
- Can I choose to remain fully remote? Yes. You would just continue to Zoom into classes like you are now while your classmates are receiving the same instruction in-person. You would have the same classes and the same teachers.
- Will breakfasts be served on campus? No, to help maintain social distancing, breakfasts will not be served or eaten on campus. Free breakfast grab bags will be made available for all students to take home. Breakfasts should be eaten at home before coming to school. Breakfast should not be eaten on the bus.
- Will lunch be served on campus? Yes, we will have 3 lunches in order to help maintain social distancing. See the schedule below. Lunch is free for all students. Lunches will be in prepackaged grab bags (not buffet/cafeteria style). Students must remain seated in the cafeteria or commons while eating. All seats are positioned to maintain social distancing. Of course, masks may be removed while eating but must be worn again as soon as students are finished eating. The courtyard is available for students who want some fresh air and a chance to walk and stretch. Masks must still be worn while outside in the courtyard (except while eating).
- Are drinking fountains available? No, drinking fountains are not available. All students are encouraged to bring their own water bottles and not share water bottles. Water bottle refill stations are available in the commons and gym foyer.
- What are the Covid safety guidelines? The standard guidelines are 1) All students and staff must wear masks properly throughout the entire day; 2) All students and staff must maintain social distancing; 3) All students and staff must wash/sanitize their hands frequently throughout the day; 4) All students and staff must stay home if you're not feeling well or showing any Covid symptoms. There are many additional safeguards that we'll continue to share (ex: daily cleaning protocols), but those are the 4 major guidelines from the Health Department.
- What if a student refuses to follow the safety guidelines? If a student repeatedly refuses or fails to follow our Covid safety guidelines, the student will be assigned to fully remote learning.
- Can I change my cohort? Yes, a PARENT can request a cohort change. However, our first cohort designations will be based on last names alphabetically so that we can create balanced cohorts. We won't be able to create these cohorts until we see how many and which students will be choosing full remote learning in the surveys. We will honor cohort change requests ONLY if we can maintain balanced cohorts. This is critical in order for us to maintain social distancing while in-person.
- When will I know about my bus route and number? The Transportation Department will have that information ready for families by March 15. You can find your bus route and times using this LINK and the username "guest" and password "guest".
- Will I have to check in at school on my in-person days? Yes, all students must complete an online health screening (attestation) on your phone or computer before arriving at school. When arriving, all students must report to the courtyard immediately and enter the Commons to show your health screening (green check) and receive a stamp before proceeding directly to your first class of the day.
- Where can I get more information? For district information on reopening schools, visit HERE . For state guidelines for reopening schools visit HERE. For the most current info regarding Pierce County Covid case numbers, visit HERE.
Hybrid Schedule starting March 22!
Hey, Freshmen!
FPHS Virtual 5K!
Register now for the FPHS Virtual 5K, for March 26-28, 2021. Click HERE for all of the details and to sign up (sign up now to guarantee a shirt)! All are welcome!
Registration/Course Selection Forms are still available:
March Culture Calendar
March is ...
WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH: Learn more HERE.
3/8: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY: Learn more HERE.
- 3/17: ST. PATRICK’S DAY: Learn more HERE.
- 3/21: INTL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION: Learn more HERE.
- 3/26: PRINCE KUHIO DAY: Learn more HERE.
- 3/28: PALM SUNDAY AND PASSOVER: Learn more HERE.
- 3/29: NATIONAL VIETNAM WAR VETERANS DAY: Learn more HERE.
- 3/31: CESAR CHAVEZ DAY: Learn more HERE.
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.
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 the video below, watch a brief history of women's rights in 3 minutes.
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.
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
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!
FPHS Sports
Parents and Athletes,
Here are the following guidelines in regard to fan attendance this season.
Fans
- Each suited up athlete will have the ability to invite up to two guests per home game.
- Each guest fan will be required to complete attestation form upon arrival.
- No food will be permitted.
- Masks are required with no exceptions.
- No visiting or away fans/Home fans only
- Number of fans per sport:
- Volleyball – 2 tickets per athlete on roster
- Soccer – 2 Tickets per athlete on roster
- Football – 1 ticket per athlete on roster (Due to Covid capacity guidelines and size of football teams we are only permitted to allow one guest per suited up athlete for the sport of football)
Schedules and Competitions
Competitions will be starting next week! If you are looking for sports schedules for your child’s athletic programs please visit FPHSCards.com. This is the new website for Franklin Pierce High school athletics and all schedules will be uploaded and shared to families from there. You can also subscribe to your particular team and get any importuning notifications about changes or cancellations as they occur.
We want to emphasize that this year all of our programs are conducting practices in a closed environment. This means that we will not have any person attending practice outside of the coaches and the registered athlete for that team. We are currently working on guidelines for fan attendance during competitions and will communicate those out as soon as we complete those items.
GIRLS SWIM
Practice is beginning on Monday, February 22nd at the Lakewood YMCA! Email Coach Morton with any questions you may have.
Location: Lakewood YMCA, 9715 Lakewood Dr SW, Lakewood, WA 98499 (self-transport is required, there will be no transportation provided by the district)
Schedule: Monday-Thursday from 6:30-8:30pm, Friday TBD will be a dryland day in a virtual or in-person format depending on space/availability
FALL SPORTS
If you would still like to join one of our fall sports programs there is still time! Those sports include (Volleyball, Cross Country, Girls Soccer, Girls Swim, Boys Golf, Girls Golf, and Cheer/Dance). If you wish to participate, then you will need to register in familyID and be certain you have a current physical submitted to the athletic office. You can turn a copy of your physical into the main office at Franklin Pierce HS or you can scan and upload a copy of the physical into familyID during the registration process. Here is the link to registration if you have not yet registered.
Link to athletics registration – Franklin Pierce High School
https://www.familyid.com/organizations/franklin-pierce-high-school
Here is also a list of our fall sports coaches! Reach out to them to get the most recent information on their program.
Fall Sports Coach Contacts (FPHS)
Football – Trevor Hanson - Thanson@fpschools.org
Cross Country (Boys and Girls) – Jesse McNeil jmcneil@fpschools.org
Golf (Boys) – Colin Horak - Chorak@fpschools.org
Golf (Girls) – Jeff Melvard - jmelvard@fpschools.org
Soccer (Girls) – Kyle Wynkoop - kwynkoop@fpschools.org
Volleyball (Girls) – Tiffany Disney – Tdisney@fpschools.org
Swim (Girls) – Jordan Morton – Jmorton@fpschools.org
New Athletics video below about fans at games and competitions:
Yearbook SENIOR Grad Ads!
Hello Seniors!
The deadline for Senior Grad Ads is 3/12/21. Below are instructions on how to upload them online (do not send photos via email). Please, remember this is for seniors only. Underclassmen who want to submit photos will have the opportunity to do so at a later date. Thanks!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