FPHS Parent and Student Memo
June 15, 2020
Franklin Pierce High School
Dear Parents and Students,
Please, take the time to read through this memo carefully as we are trying to provide as much information each week as we can via this memo.
In this week's memo:
- Underclassmen end-of-year checkout this week!
- Yearbooks are here!
- FPHS Sports Update
- Summer School
- Reminders from OSPI and FP Schools regarding grading
- Student and Family Resources
This is the last official week of school for the 2019-20 school year. It's been an ongoing series of adjustments, and we appreciate everyone making the best of a very difficult situation. We'll stay in touch throughout the summer, but please stay alert to any announcements from Gov. Inslee and/or OSPI regarding what the Fall will look like for our schools. We hope to see you all soon!
As always, stay tuned for more information. We wish you all the very best. Stay safe and be well! We're all in this together!
2019-2020 Yearbook: You won't want to miss this one!
Yearbooks have arrived!
Seniors, you can pick up your yearbooks on Tuesday, June 16 from 3:30pm to 5pm in front of the school. Come early to avoid long lines. To maintain health and safety, the yearbook pick-up station will be drive-through only. All students must remain in their vehicles.
Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors, you can pick up your yearbooks on Wed and Thurs, June 17 and 18 during your check-out time. See below.
Yearbooks are SOLD OUT!
This unpredictable and unusual year has thrown us all for loop, but it is has allowed us to create a unique, one-of-a-kind yearbook that includes plenty of coverage about this historic year: a COVID-19 spread, a national Year-In-Review, and a special senior supplement!
9th, 10th, and 11th Grade Check-Out Days!
We need to collect all school materials!
This week, mark your calendars for Wednesday, June 17 (last name A through M) or Thursday, June 18 (last name N through Z) from 3 - 6PM.
All students need to sign up to reserve a time slot to return school items. Sign up HERE .
- If you purchased a YEARBOOK, these will also be available for pick up during your assigned time above.
- If you left items in a PE locker or school locker, these items have been placed in a bag and will be available for pick up during your assigned time above.
- If you are not returning to FPHS next year, IT will be available during your assigned time above to collect your laptop, charger, and hot spot (if applicable). All returning students will be keeping their laptops, chargers, and hot spots (if applicable) during the summer.
SENIOR POWER!
- GRADUATION WALK: Thank you to all students and families who attended our FPHS Graduation Walk! It was great to see your smiling faces, celebrate your success, watch those grad caps go flying, and celebrate your accomplishment with you. Remember to stay tuned for the debut of our FPHS Graduation video on Saturday, June 20 at 6pm.
Seniors, on behalf of our FPHS staff, we wish you all the very best of luck in the future. Please, keep us updated on how you're doing. We're excited to hear how you're going to become our next wave of first responders, doctors, lawyers, engineers, plumbers, electricians, entrepreneurs, business owners, real estate planners, legislators, contractors, accountants, teachers, nurses, musicians, actors, professional athletes, activists, and agents of change to make the world a better place for all of us! Go get 'em, Cards!
FPHS Sports!!!
Parents and Athletes:
We are all saddened over our student athletes losing their Spring sports season. This year’s teams and this year’s senior class were poised to do great things. We anticipated podium appearances and multiple state placers among our spring sports. We wish our Seniors the very best and invite all of you to continue to celebrate them as we congratulate them on graduating and turning the page to reveal the next chapter of their lives.
Regarding Fall sports:
- Franklin Pierce High School’s campus is closed for any activities at this time.
- There will be no athletics at the high school level until at least June 19 (per the WIAA).
- As Pierce County transitions into Phase 2, there are still numerous limitations that won’t allow us to return to summer training and practices as we have traditionally known.
- When we transition to Phase 3 (groups of up to 50 allowed), this is when we can return to some form of off-season activities for most sports. In doing so, all safety, cleaning, and social distancing requirements will still be in effect, and we anticipate more guidance from WIAA.
As families in the Franklin Pierce School District, there are a few items you can do to help you and your child to be ready to go for Fall sports regardless of when that occurs:
- Make sure your son or daughter has a current physical that has been completed within the last 2 years. If it expires within the next 3-4 months, we recommend getting that taken care of as soon as possible. If you have a question about your expiration date, Please email jmcneil@fpshools.org
- If your son or daughter had physical while at Ford, we have those on file at FPHS and they will be transferred over.
- Stay tuned for online registration for the Fall Athletic Season. There will be changes made to some of the forms because of COVID-19. Once those are completed, registration will be made available, and families and athletes should register as soon as possible.
- Follow the WIAA and Franklin Pierce HS on Facebook, Instagram, and twitter for continuous updates.
- Connect with coaches of your sport. Coaches have been given permission to host online meetings with current and prospective athletes. We know they would love to connect with families and athletes to be able to begin sharing important information.
Fall Coaches' emails:
- Football: Trevor Hanson, Thanson@fpschools.org
- Cross Country (Boys & 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
- Swim & Dive (Girls): TBH
- Tennis (Boys): Tyler Parsons, tparsons@fpschools.org
- Volleyball (Girls): Tiffany Disney, Tdisney@fpschools.org
- Cheerleading: Rebecca Matthews, franklinpiercecheer@gmail.com
For this week:
- This is your last week to complete missing assignments to pass your classes and earn a credit. Remember, INC = no credit and off-track to graduate.
- Sign up for your day/time to return all school materials and pick up yearbooks and locker materials (see above).
- Take some time this week to thank your teachers for continuing to provide remote learning opportunities and teach from home.
- Thank you parents for helping you get through this difficult time.
Priorities for Parents:
- This is your child's last week to complete his/her missing assignments to pass their classes and earn credit. Remember, INC = no credit and off-track to graduate.
- If you are inclined, please take a moment to thank any staff members who you feel have gone above and beyond to stay connected and promote continuous learning.
- THANK YOU, parents, for all the adjustments, flexibility, and on-the-fly changes you've had to make during this school closure. As a parent of 4 children myself, I know the extra demands and workload it has placed on you. Thank you for all you've done to keep your children connected and learning.
Guidance from OSPI and FPS about Grading and Learning:
As the impacts of the virus have unfolded, OSPI continues to provide guidance to school districts and policymakers. Their work has been grounded in three core principles: compassion, communication, and common sense. OSPI has focused schools across Washington on continuous learning with a deep understanding that distance learning models often exacerbate existing inequities.
As the learning continues, K–12 system leaders, educators, parents/guardians, and students have asked OSPI to provide more detailed guidance related to student grading policies. This guidance and subsequent rule adoption will focus on the following framework:
Grades 9–12 will be graded using the following principles:
- Do no harm!
- Every student will get an opportunity to improve their grade with their March 17 grade as a baseline.
- No student will receive a “pass, fail or no credit" grade in an academic course, unless directed by an IEP.
- It is important for students to continue to engage in the learning being presented during the closure to reduce learning loss, prepare for the next year, and improve their grades from March 17.
- Every class taken during the closure period will be given a statewide designator on the high school transcript to denote the unique environment in which the course was taken.
- Students assigned an “INCOMPLETE” for a course will not receive credit for the course until a grade is earned and will be given multiple opportunities to reengage in the learning standards in order to earn credit.
Summer School!
Resources
School Resources:
- District Website: https://www.fpschools.org/
- IT Help Desk for Students and Parents: 253-298-4647, 7:30AM to 4PM
- TED Talks: a great place to learn from some of the world's brightest minds on a variety of subjects: https://www.ted.com/talks. Listen to a new one every day!
- Free library card with access to audiobooks: https://www.piercecountylibrary.org/services/library-card/library-card.htm
- FPS Breakfast and Lunch Program: www.fpschools.org/meals
- FPS Education Resources: https://www.fpschools.org/exended-closure-resources-and-information/closure-educational-resources
- FPHS Homework Center: Mon - Fri, 11am to 12pm. Connect with our Academic Support Team for assistance in any class. Go to Microsoft Teams > Join a Team and use the following code: hxv89I5
- AP Testing, SAT, ACT info HERE.
- Resources for Continuous Learning.
- Want to add Canvas to your phone? Android or iOS. Once you download the app, search "fpschools" to find our district.
- FPHS Facebook page.
- Info for Running Start 2020-21.
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