FHS Parent Weekly Update for 12/6/19

Posted on: December 6, 2019 11:00 am

12/6/19

This Parent Weekly Update will be the last of 2019. Look for the first Parent Update of 2020 on or before January 6th, 2020. On behalf of the faculty and staff at Franklin High School, we wish everyone a Happy Holidays, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

After this week, we will have 7 instructional days until exams. Please make sure you are checking your student’s grades on Progress Book, and providing accountability at home to help ensure your student’s academic success.

At FHS we award academic credits to students at the end of each semester. Below is a reminder of how students earn credits from page 25 of the FHS Student Handbook:

The Awarding of Academic Credit

Academic credit for a course taken is awarded per semester (1/2 credit) when two criteria are met.

The student passes (earns a 60% or higher) at least two of the following:

Quarter 1(3), Quarter 2(4), and Semester Exam

The student’s semester grade is a 60% or higher

Semester grade calculation: Quarter Grades 40% each; Exam 20%
(Q1*.4) + (Q2*.4) + (SE*.2)

Please note: failure to attend a course’s first or second semester exam will result in an incomplete for that semester grade. Incompletes will be changed to failures (F) if the student does not correct the exam absence with the administration.

Exam Exemption Information:

As first semester exams are on the horizon, here is some valuable information for students, parents, and staff. Below you will find a helpful guide and important dates to assist you in navigating our exam policies and procedures.

Please review the Understanding Exam Exemptions guide for a concise explanation of how each student's exemption status is determined.
Please review pages 31-32 in the FHS Student Handbook 1920 for a more detailed explanation of the FHS exam policies.
Please review our FHS DAILY EXAM SCHEDULES to know which exams are administered on which days.
Key dates related to exam exemptions can be viewed in the table below:

DATE	EXPECTATION	STUDENT RESPONSIBILITY
12/5/19	List posted outside the office with students’ exam exemption status.	Check the list!
12/6-9/19	Students can sign up to meet with Mr. Voynovich to review and discuss their exam exemption status.	If you have a question, sign up to meet with Mr. Voynovich.
12/11/19	Students will receive their exam exemption documents in their advisory class period.	Get these documents signed by your teachers and parent(s)/guardian(s).
12/13/19	All exam exemption documents will be collected. Including students’ non-exempt permission form for student dismissal during study hall periods.	Documents MUST be submitted to your advisory teacher by the end of the advisory period on this day!**
12/16-17/19	Student exam exemptions will be finalized.	You should have done everything at this point. Thank you.
12/18-20/19	Exams will be administered. FHS DAILY EXAM SCHEDULES	Be at school to take your exams!

**NO LATE PAPERWORK WILL BE ACCEPTED AND STUDENTS’ EXAM EXEMPTION STATUS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE IF ALL THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK IS NOT SUBMITTED!!!

All questions regarding a student’s exam exemption status should be directed to Mr. Voynovich. Please email me directly at mvoynovich@franklincityschools.com or call the main office at (937) 743-8611.

Students, exams are a great opportunity for you to demonstrate all that you have learned throughout the semester. Be here! Be prepared! Be on time! You’ve got this! We wish all of you the absolute best!!

Understanding Exam Exemptions

1920 FHS Student Handbook.pdf

FHS DAILY EXAM SCHEDULES

Community Service Opportunities

Franklin Area Historical Society

FAHS is looking for student volunteers to accept tickets at the doors of Sunday, December 15th’s Holiday Home Tour. Students working the event will need to report to the Harding Museum at 302 Park Ave, Franklin, OH 45005. We are in need of six students, each working two hour shifts in pairs.The times needed are below:

12:30 pm-2:30pm
2:00 pm-4 pm
3:30 pm-5:30 pm

Franklin Carlisle Rotary

The second opportunity is the Franklin Carlisle Rotary will be making their famous Chocolate Peanut clusters THIS Saturday Dec. 7th at the Warren County Career Center kitchen (back of the building near the Commons Cafe entrance). They could use some students to melt, stir, dip chocolate and peanuts alongside Rotarians. They will be there from 9:00 am-3:30 pm and students can come/go according to their availability. It's fast, fun work and if we had more hands on deck we would be able to make everything in this one day. Plus, taste testing is delicious!

If interested in any of these opportunities please contact Mary Nenninger. Her email and phone number are below.

Email: mesn3353@gmail.com
Phone: 513-312-6208

EOC Retesting:

FHS will be retesting students on State of Ohio End of Course Assessments Monday 12/2/19 through Friday 12/13/19. This does not affect all students, and if this applies to your student(s) you will receive a letter in the coming weeks.

School Fees:

School Fees for the 2019-2020 school year were mailed out on Tuesday 10/15/19, and should have been received by Friday 10/18/19. School Fees can be paid online at https://www.spsezpay.com/Franklin/ezpay/Login.aspx , or by check or cash in the FHS Main Office Monday-Friday from 7am-3pm. Checks for School Fees should be made out to Franklin High School. For the Class of 2020, please be reminded School Fees must be paid in FULL for you to receive your Diploma at Graduation. For Seniors, checks for School Fees will NOT be accepted after April 10th (Spring Break). If you have any questions about School Fees, please contact the FHS Main Office at (937)743-8611.

1st Semester Exams: FHS will administer 1st Semester Exams Wednesday 12/18/19, Thursday 12/19/19 and Friday 12/20/19. These exams count for 20% of students semester grades.

FHS will be CLOSED for Winter Break Monday 12/23-Monday 1/6/20

Students will return for 2nd Semester Tuesday 1/7/20

Monday December 9-Friday December 20th, 2019

Upcoming Weekly Events
Monday 12/9/19	Advisory Schedule
Tuesday 12/10/19	Advisory Schedule FHS Band Concert 7pm in FHS Auditorium
Wednesday 12/11/19	Advisory Schedule Spanish Christmas Dinner 5-8 pm in FHS Cafeteria
Thursday 12/12/19	Advisory Schedule FHS Choir Concert 7pm in FHS Auditorium
Friday 12/13/19	Advisory Schedule FHS Blood Drive
Monday 12/16/19	Advisory Schedule December BOE Meeting 6pm at HB
Tuesday 12/17/19	Advisory Schedule
Wednesday 12/18/19	Exam Day 1 Schedule Exams for periods 1, 2 and 3
Thursday 12/19/19	Exam Day 2 Schedule Exams for periods 4/5 or 5/6 and 6/7 or 7/8
Friday 12/20/19	Exam Day 3 Schedule Exams for periods 9 and 10 Drama Class Performances 7-9 pm
Quick Reminders	FCS CLOSED for Winter Break Monday 12/23/19-Monday 1/6/20 Saturday 12/21: Drama Class Performances 7-9 pm Monday 1/6/20: Teacher work day/No School for Students Tuesday 1/7/20: Student return for 3rd Quarter/2nd Semester Friday 1/10/20: 2nd Quarter/1st Semester Report Cards Distributed

Registration Gateway:

Many FHS Parents have not updated their student(s) information in Registration Gateway. If you have not done so already, please log-in at Registration Gateway at https://update.franklincityschools.com/.

Your child's student ID# in the username and the Mother's maiden name and student's year of birth is the password.
With field trips starting, if a student's information has not been updated and saved in Registration Gateway he/she will be ineligible to attend field trips.
Parent/guardian contact and medical information must be current for emergency situations.
Change of address or a change in custody/guardian will require proper documentation to be taken to the Welcome Center at @ 150 E. 6th Street in order complete and save your information.

If you are unable to log in to Registration Gateway please contact the High School office at 937-743-8611. The deadline to complete beginning of year paperwork has expired, so please make this a priority!

R.O.A.R. PRIDE:

As we kick-off the 2019-2020 school year, we have several exciting things happening here at Franklin High School. One of the many new things we are introducing to our building this year is a PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention & Supports) plan. The entire concept of PBIS is to provide students additional social, emotional, and behavioral support. Often times, this support manifests itself in providing students with as many positive interactions, experiences, and opportunities as possible. To help with this process, our PBIS committee, along with input and feedback from students and staff, created a PBIS matrix. The purpose of the matrix is to establish a common language throughout our building with regards to our behavior expectations for students. As you will find, all of the wording within the matrix is positive and fosters healthy relationships among everyone in our building. With that being said, our PBIS slogan is R.O.A.R. PRIDE! Each letter of R.O.A.R represents a word that we believe is a fundamental pillar of success. R (Respect) O (Ownership) A (Attitude) R (Responsibility). R.O.A.R. is followed by PRIDE emphasize to our students the importance of taking pride in everything they do. Lastly, we wanted to preserve our time-honored traditions and values by reminding students of the fact that they’re Once A Wildcat, Always A Wildcat!

Student Attendance and the 2019-2020 School Calendar:

To help families stay organized when planning events, here is a link to the school calendar so you know the days Franklin City Schools are in session:

FCS 2019-2020 School Calendar

Please make every effort to schedule trips, appointments, etc. outside of the school day. Attendance is a key component to students academic success!

School Safety:

We are working hard every day to make FHS safe for all stakeholders. Thank you to everyone’s flexibility and patience as we work through the kinks related to our parking and traffic structure at drop-off and dismissal. Included below is a copy of parking lot map to provide a visual for our parking and traffic structure at FHS.

FHS Parking Lot Map

FHS Student Handbook:

Below you will find links to our handbook, and an abbreviated list of changes for the 2019-2020 school year. Please take time to review both of these links, as well as review them with your student(s).

1920 FHS Student Handbook.pdf

FHS Handbook Updates 1920.pdf

Please pay close attention to the changes we have made to how we will address the issue of vapor instruments (a.k.a., vapes, electronic cigarettes, juuls, etc.). The consequences are more strict and they can be found on page 15 of the student handbook. These documents have also been shared with students via email, reviewed during Advisory, and are posted on the Franklin City School Website: FHS Student Handbook for 2019-2020

Follow FHS Administration Social Media Outlets:

Facebook: AdminsFHS
Instagram: @adminsfhs
Twitter: @AdminsFHS

We are using all of these social media sources as communication tools and a way to communicate with stakeholders.

From Guidance:

Friday, December 6

The semester ends on December 17 with exams on the 18, 19, and 20. Counselors and administrators have met with students who are in danger of failing multiple classes. Remember, the quarter 1 grade for each class is worth 40% of the grade for that class, quarter 2 is worth 40% and the exam is worth 20%. If a student failed 1 quarter, there is still a chance to pass the class for the semester. Students should be encouraged to finish the semester strong and study for exams!!

Holiday Assistance: The holidays can be a stressful time of year with added expenses on top of regular financial responsibilities. If you are still needing some assistance this year The Vineyard Downtown will be assisting families with gifts. This Saturday, December 7th from 11am to 2 pm they will be open for families to sign up for their program. Families are asked to provide a $5 donation that will go to the Vineyard Downtown Help Center. In return, each enrolled child will receive three gifts.

Seniors:

College Information:

- Students planning to attend college next year should be filling out college applications at this time. Please pay attention to application deadlines. Counselors are working on submitting transcripts for students who have requested transcripts be sent on Naviance.

- The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) opened on October 1. All college-bound seniors will want to fill out the FAFSA with their parents at Fafsa.gov. If you weren’t able to attend the FAFSA meeting, please review this information carefully and let the counselors know if you have questions - Presentation and FSA ID handout.

- Scholarships: the counselors visited senior English classes on Thursday (11/14) to provide students with information on college scholarships. Students have access to the scholarships packet on their Google Classroom or packets can be picked up in the Guidance Office.

Community Service: If seniors have not yet completed their 20 community service hours, they should be working diligently to accumulate those hours prior to graduation. Community service forms are available in the Athletic Office. Students should check the bulletin board by Mr. Sizemore’s room (118) for upcoming community service opportunities.

Sophomores: Sophomores visited the Warren County Career Center on Monday, 11/25. Students who are interested in applying to attend the Career Center during their Junior and Senior year will need to apply on the WCCC website. The application is now open and usually remains open until mid-February. Students should go to mywccc.org, click on ‘High School’ and then click on ‘APPLY NOW’.

Advisory: Social Emotional Learning takes place at least once a week in Advisory (25 minute period). Students learn something new every Monday. There are no lessons during the month of December so students can focus on their grades and preparing for exams. The month of January will focus on social media addiction and etiquette.

**If you have any questions for the guidance staff, please contact your child’s counselor.

Students with last names starting with A-K, please contact Kelly Sells at ksells@franklincityschools.com, and students with last names starting with L-Z, contact Haley Arlinghaus at harlinghaus@franklincityschools.com.

From the FCS Department of Technology:

It has come to our attention that some students are frustrated with the level of web-filtering on their student machines. The district's web filtering system is called SecURLy. Web filtering is a mandatory federal requirement for schools. It is tied to several funding sources that we receive. Franklin City Schools utilizes the Southwest Ohio Computer Association (SWOCA) as our Internet provider (also called our ITC). We (through SWOCA) have partnered with SecURLy to provide this required web-filtering.

While we appreciate your communication and understand your frustration, the Chromebook that you are using belongs to Franklin City Schools. It is district property. There are circumstances where we may need to adjust our levels of filtering for various reasons. Please refrain from emailing the department of technology with your frustrations. They will not be responding to these emails. ~FCS Technology Department

Mental Health Support: Warren County has support for students and families dealing with issues related to mental health and addiction. Sometimes, the first step is the hardest. Below is a link to resources available in Warren County. If you feel you or someone you know is in crisis, please contact the Warren and Clinton County Crisis Hotline at 877-695-NEED (6333). Mental Health Crisis Services - Warren County ESC

Upcoming School Events: (Up through end of February)