Franklin Pierce High School Community Newsletter
Email: bmarzano@fpschools.org
Website: https://franklinpiercehighschool.fpschools.org/
Location: 11002 18th Avenue East, Tacoma, WA 98445, USA
Phone: (253)298-3800
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fphscards
Twitter: @FPHScards
We are proud to announce that Dan Call, Spanish Teacher at Franklin Pierce High School, has been named the 2025 Pacific Northwest Council for Languages (PNCFL) Teacher of the Year! Dan’s incredible dedication to his students and passion for language learning have earned him this prestigious regional honor.
Dan will represent Washington and the Pacific Northwest on the national stage at the ACTFL Convention in New Orleans this November, competing for National Language Teacher of the Year!
One of Dan’s students shared,
“Mr. Call is a rare find in a language teacher. Whether the class is for students who speak no Spanish at all or for fluent Spanish speakers who are interested in learning about their culture and past, he puts tremendous effort into ensuring his class learns in the most dynamic way.”
Please join us in celebrating Mr. Call for this incredible accomplishment!
🖱 Learn more about PNCFL and their work here.
Apply for the Washington State Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC)!
Is your student passionate about making a difference? The Washington State Legislative Youth Advisory Council (LYAC) is now accepting applications for its 2025–2027 cohort!
LYAC is a student-led council that empowers young people (ages 14–18) to engage directly in policymaking, meet with state legislators, and advocate for issues that impact youth across Washington. Members gain hands-on experience in government and leadership—all while helping shape policies that affect their peers.
✅ Who Can Apply?
Students who will be 14–18 years old by August 31, 2025, and in grades 7–10 at the time of application.
💡 Why Join?
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Develop leadership and advocacy skills
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Connect with legislators and policymakers
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Be a voice for youth statewide
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The program is completely free!
🗓 Application Deadline: April 30, 2025, by 11:59 PM PT
🔗 More Information & How to Apply: walyac.org/apply
Did you know? As part of the National School Lunch Program, students must take at least one fruit or vegetable with their meal before heading to the cashier. If they decide not to eat it, no worries—it can be placed in the Share Box for others to enjoy.
This small step ensures we meet nutrition guidelines and help keep our program running smoothly. Thank you for helping us out by grabbing your fruit or veggie first!
Welcome to the third installment of Digital Wellness for Teens: Insights and Tips for Families. This week, we’re focusing on one of the most important (and overlooked) areas of teen health: sleep—and how screen time can disrupt it.
We all know how critical sleep is for teens’ growth, learning, and emotional well-being. But did you know that excessive screen time, especially before bed, can significantly impact the quality and amount of sleep teens are getting? Studies show that even 30 extra minutes of screen use before sleep can delay bedtime and reduce sleep duration, which in turn affects attention, mood, and academic success the next day.
Here’s a resource we recommend this week:
🛏️ https://www.rochesterregional.org/hub/teens-screen-time-sleep
This article by the Sleep Foundation provides an in-depth look at how technology use affects sleep and offers practical tips for setting healthy boundaries at home.
Why This Matters:
- 73% of teens report that they sleep with their phone next to their bed.
- Blue light from screens delays the release of melatonin, making it harder to fall asleep.
- Poor sleep is linked to lower academic performance and higher rates of anxiety and depression.
What Families Can Do:
✅ Establish screen-free zones or times—especially 30-60 minutes before bedtime.
✅ Encourage teens to use traditional alarm clocks instead of their phones.
✅ Talk as a family about the importance of unplugging to recharge.
