CARDINAL CONNECTIONS
September 19, 2022
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:
Well, the Honeymoon Phase seems to be over.
That's to be expected. Big kudos and thanks to all students who have gotten themselves right back into the swing of things. It's been great to see and feel the school spirit at assemblies, sports, and throughout the school day. Kudos to our student athletes for representing our school well at travel games and at home. Kudos to our Skills Center students who have gotten themselves started in their specialized courses to get a jump start on their careers. Kudos to our leadership students from ASB, Link Crew, and our various clubs. Keep focusing on enhancing our community and school culture!
This is also the time of year when we really start transitioning from Welcome Back mode into Academic Excellence mode. Classes will start moving deeper into curriculum, and students will need to keep up with the pace of the courses, homework, and assessments. Remember to reach out to teachers when you need extra help and attend the HW Center for additional support after school.
Now, here are some things that are going on that we need to address:
- Tardies: Some of our students are choosing socializing and other distractions rather than getting to class on time. Remember, you get 5 "free" tardies and then consequences are assigned after that. Maximizing instructional time is the most critical contributing factor in academic excellence. BTW, on a positive note, we have 990 students with 5 or fewer tardies!
- Cell phones: We will continue to remain steadfast in our stance against cell phone use in the classroom. Students have opportunities to use their cell phones before school, during passing periods, at lunch, and after school. That's plenty of screen time. Cell phones are to be off and out of sight during class time unless a teacher specifically directs students to use the cell phone for academic purposes.
- Closed Campus: Students are not permitted to leave school during the day unless they have a scheduled early release from their parents.
- Fighting: Unfortunately, we had two students get into a physical fight this week. This is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. There are many ways to resolve a conflict, but physical fighting is never the answer. School needs to be a safe place for all of our students. Notify a staff member immediately if there is a conflict that needs to be resolved.
- Bathrooms: The student bathrooms are to be used for bathroom purposes only. The bathrooms are not a place for hanging out, socializing, or hosting rap battles (believe it or not, this is a thing). There should only be 3 students in the bathroom at a time. There should only be one student in a stall at a time. Vaping or use of any other inappropriate or illegal substances in the bathroom (or anywhere else) are not permitted. The bathrooms should be a safe place for all students. If you see or hear of any inappropriate conduct in the bathrooms, please report it to an administrator immediately.
Let's do this! Cardinal Strong!
- Sept 19: What is your biggest complaint about school?
- Sept 20: What are you most proud of?
- Sept 21: How do you want to be remembered?
- Sept 22: Which would you rather do: explore outer space or explore the depths of the sea?
- Sept 23: What is your favorite book and why?
GENERAL INFO:
Back to School Night! Hey Cardinals, Back to School, College & Career night is next Wednesday, September 21st, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM. We will have colleges, apprenticeships, military, volunteer organizations, community resources & your amazing teachers in the gym and cafeteria to help students and parents with their college and career questions. Remember students —attending this event, completing the necessary paperwork AND seeing your counselor that night will count as one of the post-secondary site visit requirements for your portfolio. For more information see Ms. Brown in the CCC.
All athletes and students joining clubs need to purchase an ASB card from the bookkeeper as soon as possible. ASB cards help us raise funds for our many school ASB programs and clubs.
- The schedule next week is BABAB. View our full A/B calendar HERE.
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, and more! Get started HERE.
Visit HERE to view previous Parent and Student Memos.
Let's end BULLYING together!
FPHS defines bullying, harassment, or intimidation as any intentional electronic, written, verbal, or physical act shown to be motivated by any characteristic such as race, creed, religion, color, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, or any other distinguishing characteristics, when the act:
- Physically harms a student or damages the student’s property;
- Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s education;
- Is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment; or
- Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school.
Students, please report any bullying, harassment, or intimidation to the main office immediately by speaking with an administrator or filling out a student incident report.
All reports of bullying, harassment, or intimidation are taken seriously and investigated. All students have the right to feel safe at school.
FPS Athletic Trainer Needed!
FPHS Gear!
Check HERE for the latest FPHS Cross Country spirit wear.
We have hoodies, t-shirts, polos, and more!
Staff Spotlight:
Name: JoDee Disney
My Role at FPHS: CTE Business Education Teacher
Favorite Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, reading, traveling, basketball
Favorite Book: The Harry Potter Series
Favorite Quote: "I’d rather regret the risks that didn’t work out than the chances I didn’t take at all." -Simone Biles
Staff Spotlight:
Name: Siri Gese
My Role at FPHS: PE/Health
Favorite Hobbies: Hiking, hanging with my kids and dogs, crafting, working out
Favorite Book: Atomic habits
Favorite Quote: Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
What's your "E" (Enrollment, Enlistment, or Employment) after high school?
This video is about the various type of nursing specialties that NURSES can work in! This video lists over 70 different types of Nursing specialties.
Social Justice, Equity, and Anti-Racist Resources:
In the video below: Video message by António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on the International Day of Peace.
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!
Daily Bell Schedules
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)
- 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.
- 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:
- District resources and partners: https://www.fpschools.org/departments/family-engagement-office/community-resources
- Financial Resources: https://dfi.wa.gov/coronavirus/financial-resources