CARDINAL CONNECTIONS
August 29, 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:
It's Go Time, Cards! Enjoy your last weekend of summer vacation!
Students, are you ready to get back to school and get this year started? Make sure you're focused on your short-term and long-term goals for success. Make sure EXCELLENCE is what you're seeking in everything you do. Get yourselves to bed early and get ready to spend a little less time on your cell phones. It's time to get back to work! Let's do this!
Parents, I know you're ready to get the kids back to school! Please, have an end-of-summer pep talk with your children about what you expect from them for academics, behavior, and attendance. Please, encourage them to get to bed at a reasonable hour and to NOT have electronic devices in their rooms that might distract them from getting a good night's sleep.
Our Staff is definitely ready to get this school year started! We had a great week of training and our leadership students even led us in a high-energy community-building workshop (pics below). Our focus is on AC/DC: Academic Excellence, Campus Safety, Determination, and Community. Let's go!
Cardinal Strong!
- Aug 30: Who is your hero?
- Aug 31: What’s on your bucket list?
- Sep 1: What’s your favorite movie and why?
First Day of School Bell Schedule (Tue, Aug 30):
- FRESHMEN ONLY will begin school at the normal start time of 8:15am on the first day of school.
- The morning will be dedicated to Freshmen Orientation (8:15am - 11:45am).Freshmen will have a chance to see your schedule, tour the campus, meet your Advisory teacher, and meet your Link Crew leaders.
- Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors (including Running Start and Skills Center students) should arrive to school at 11:45am on the first day. These students will report to their Advisory classrooms to receive their schedules. Lists of Advisory classes will be posted in the Commons.
- School buses will make their normal morning run for Freshmen only and then another run approximately 4 hours later for Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors.
- Only Freshmen students will have lunch on campus on the first day of school. Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors should eat lunch before they come to school.
- All students will be dismissed at the normal dismissal time of 2:45pm.
- If you ride a bus, please make sure you know your bus route number and where you'll be picked up after school. We have three bus pick up locations at the end of the day: one is near the gym; one is in the student parking lot; one is near the 500 building. Make sure you know where your bus will pick you up at the end of the day.
- If you have questions about your bus route or pick up locations, please call the Transportation Department directly or visit their website (see Resources section below for more contact info).
Daily Bell Schedules (starting on Day 2, Aug 31):
GENERAL INFO:
PICTURE DAY is September 12 from 8:15am to 2:45pm. Students will be called out of class by last name. Running Start students can have their pictures taken at any time during the day. Use this LINK or the QR Code below to prepay for pictures.
- Every enrolled student has access to a breakfast and a lunch at no cost through the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program. If students wish to purchase a la carte items or a second meal, they will need to have money on their account or pay at the time of purchase. It is easier and faster if students already have funds in their account. Payments are accepted at all schools by cash or check. Over the phone payments can be made with the Nutrition Services office at 253-298-4618, a $10 minimum is required with a Visa or Mastercard. Online payments can be made through the Skyward Family Access online prepayment link.
Current COVID Guidelines can be found HERE.
Student immunization requirements can be found HERE.
Performing Arts Center Construction: The student drop-off and pick-up zones will be the same as last year for the start of this year. Please, give yourself an extra 5 or 10 minutes, especially at the beginning of the year. See additional construction updates/info below.
LAPTOPS: Cardinals students will receive their new laptops on the first day of school. Students who did not turn in laptops will not receive a new one until the old one is turned in and reimaged. Please, come to the main office to turn in your laptop from last year.
Assessment Center: The Assessment Center is available daily after school in room 901 from 3pm to 4pm. The Assessment Center is supervised by the Support Team. Students can make appointments for assessments and must coordinate with their teachers in advance. If a student is taking the Activity Bus home, s/he must report to the HW Center after s/he finishes in the Assessment Center.
Homework Center: The Homework Center is available in the library after school daily until 4:45pm. The HW Center is supervised by the Support Team. Students must come prepared with assignments and materials. Inappropriate behavior will result in removal from the HW Center and a Behavior Referral. Students must report to the HW Center no later than 10 minutes after the final dismissal bell. If students are riding the activity bus, they must remain in the HW Center for the entire time and receive a pass for the bus from the HW Center supervisor.
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.
What's your "E" (Enrollment, Enlistment, or Employment) after high school?
What are the best trade jobs in high demand that pay well? Here's my top 5 jobs in the trades for 2022!
Social Justice, Equity, and Anti-Racist Resources:
In the video below: In the United States and Canada, the first Monday of September is a federal holiday, Labor Day. Originally celebrated in New York City's Union Square in 1882, Labor Day was organized by unions as a rare day of rest for the overworked during the Industrial Revolution.
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!
If you are interested in getting connected with a program there are a few things to know.
- Physicals are good for two years.
- We switched registration platforms from Family ID to Final Forms. All athletes will need to register for their sport on the Final Forms platform before being able to turn out for sports!
- The coaching list is below. Please reach out to these coaches for additional information.
Counseling Corner:
- Class of 2023: 24 Credits
- Class of 2024: 24 Credits
- Class of 2025: 28 Credits
- Class of 2026: 30 Credits
College in the High School courses:
We are excited to offer multiple College in the High School (CHS) courses at FPHS this year. If you are enrolled in a CHS course, you have the option to earn college credits by successfully completing the course. Please, note:
- Paying for the college credit automatically starts an official college transcript with the institution offering the course that will include the student's grade earned.
- Fees apply for students who choose to enroll in a CHS course to earn college credit. There is no fee for students who take the course for high school credit only.
- College credit fees are as follows:
- Central WA University: $60/credit
- Eastern WA University: $65/credit
- University of WA: $66/credit, plus a $45 registration fee
- Courses typically earn five credits. Fees are collected by the University at the beginning of the fall semester.
- EWU does allow a payment plan for students.
- Tuition assistance is available to students who qualify for free and reduced lunch services.
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.
Student drop-off and pick-up zones:
Pierce County Skills Center:
- 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