9/16/24

Thank you to everyone who dropped in to our Open House last week. We appreciate the chance to try some new things during this annual tradition and hope that if you attended, that you found the time beneficial and engaging.

As we shared last week as an item in the weekly bulletin, one way to show your appreciation for and recognition of the educators who have impacted your students, is to nominate a teacher for a Kohl Fellowship/Award. The nominations are limited to 50 words or less (including this aside, this principal’s message is 108 words)! You can learn more about the program and submit nominations here.

With Saber Pride,

Mr. Vuolo

As we move toward the November 5th referendum vote, we are offering the opportunities below to visit Franklin High School to see the spaces of need.

In addition, we are offering the following COMMUNITY INFORMATION SESSIONS in October where you can hear from district leaders about the path to the referendum and also tour FHS following the presentation.

Can't make one of the dates above? Check out our "virtual tour" of the FHS spaces by clicking on the map below! Short videos are clickable at each location right from your phone and will better explain the areas we hope to address through the referendum.

All Juniors will be taking the ACT exam on March 12th, 2025. The state required ACT exam provides an excellent opportunity for all Juniors to demonstrate their college and career ready skills, as this exam is reportable to colleges. We want all of our Sabers to exceed their projected or past ACT scores. It is our school goal, that upon graduation, all Franklin High School students are prepared for their post-secondary goals.

In addition to daily learning through their classes, students also have:

• Access to an online program, Methodize, to help them to prepare for this exam

• Opportunity to sign up for an additional ACT prep course at your expense

Methodize, available through Xello, allows any and all Juniors to engage in subject specific practice. The program will highlight areas of strength and allow for dedicated practice toward growth areas. The program provides standard specific practice and lessons. Methodize also allows each student to engage in two full practice exams.Methodize consists of 20 units. If students complete about a unit a week, they will complete the preparatory material well in advance of the ACT test.

In addition to engaging in ACT preparation through Methodize, all students can engage in full ACT practice exams by simply using their chromebook. By opening the “apps” tab, students can access the TestNav software and will find ACT practice exams available for their use. The practice exams in TestNav can be taken “timed” or “untimed.” Untimed exams can allow students to examine and become familiar with the test.

We are also extremely excited to share that this year we will again have in-person ACT Prep courses right at Franklin High School. For these continued opportunities, we have teamed with Wisconsin Test Prep. With the support of our Franklin Education Foundation, ACT Prep waivers/scholarships are available for students who are eligible for reduced or free lunch & students with acute financial need. If you qualify, please complete this form and submit it to Student Services two weeks prior to the start of your prep class (or sooner!). By requesting a fee waiver, you give authorization for FHS Administration to access information verifying your eligibility for a waiver. This information, along with this waiver request, are confidential. If approved, the waiver will cover the entire prep course. Please note that, once a student’s online form is submitted and payment for the class is received, they are registered for the class. If a waiver/scholarship is approved, payment will be made on your student’s behalf.

If you plan to sign up, please make sure to complete the online registration form at Wisconsin Test Prep. Cost: $175.00 All classes are held at Franklin High School Space is limited, so please sign up early! The Late Fall course is scheduled to prepare students for the national December ACT test.

Please feel free to reach out with any and all questions. We are available and eager to assist students in their preparation for this measure.

At Franklin, we know we have the best educators in the state. One way to show your appreciation for and recognition of the educators who have impacted your students, is to nominate a teacher or principal for a Kohl Fellowship/Award. The nomination is limited to 50 words or less! You can learn more about the program and submit nominations here.

This year, Franklin Public Schools is partnering with various other organizations to put together a “Family Series” of topics that may be of interest for parents/caregivers in our community to learn about. The first event focuses on “Artificial Intelligence” and will take place THIS Thursday, September 19th from 5pm-8pm in partnership with the Indian Community School. You can see the flyer below and click here or on the flyer to pre-register. Dinner is provided by That’s Amore for anyone who pre-registers. Childcare will be available for non-school aged children and a supervised Open Gym is available for students in 4K-2nd Grade. Keep an eye out in future newsletters for our October and later events!

Pre-SAT / National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test

Franklin HIgh School sophomores and juniors will have the opportunity to take the PSAT/NMSQT test on Tuesday, October 15th beginning at 7:15am at Franklin High School. The cost for this optional test is $18. Space is limited and will be filled on a first come first serve basis. This year’s test is digital/online (only format offered from PSAT).

Deadline to sign up for the PSAT is September 17th!

What is the PSAT (Pre-SAT) / NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test)?

An on line test that:

• Assesses academic skill levels and college and career readiness

• Prepares students for college admissions testing

• Provides access to college planning resources

• Allows Juniors to enter the National Merit Scholarship Program

• Connects students with colleges and universities

• Offers suggestions for improvement of academic skills on college admissions tests

Students will receive more information and may sign up for this optional test by filling out the form that will be sent to their FHS email On Friday, September 6th. Registration will not be considered complete until the form is filled out and the $18 fee is turned in to the Student Services office. The required fee can be cash or check made payable to Franklin High School and turned in no later than September 17th. If your child qualifies for Free/Reduced lunch please reach out to Student Services for a fee waiver.

Please check out the PSAT/NMSQT website or contact your child’s school counselor for additional information about the test.

The AP exam ordering process for May 2025 exams at FHS is underway and involves two important steps. All AP students should have received the two-page electronic handout found here in their AP courses. Please read this document carefully for details, including the exam schedule on the second page. Note that AP exams will be administered digitally (some hybrid digitally) this school year. All AP Students should also join the FHS AP Students Google Classroom with the code given to them from teachers or found on the handout. A brief informational video can also be found here regarding the My AP site and exam ordering procedures.

Note that there are 2 required steps before a student's exam order can be processed:

STEP 1. Students must login to their My AP account (myap.collegeboard.org), join the appropriate course section with the join code given to them by their AP teacher(s), and MUST opt-in to ordering each exam, if they wish to do so, in My AP for each class by September 26.

STEP 2. Exam fees will then be added to the student's online FHS student fee account on RevTrak/PowerSchool by October 2 (same system used to pay school fees) and must be paid online (preferable) or in FHS/Student Services Office by October 11.

This year, each AP exam costs $102 (AP Seminar and AP Research are $150). Fee waivers are available for students who receive free/reduced lunch - see details on handout and in video. Students who may need accommodations on AP exams per an IEP, IHP, or 504 Plan should see Mrs. Oost in Student Services this fall. Please see Mrs. Oost or Ms. Maldonado in Student Services if you have questions at any time. We wish you the best in your AP classes this year!

Students who were unable to attend the school picture days in August will be able to take their photos on our Make-Up day scheduled for October 21st. Mark your calendars!

Mark your calendars, the Wisconsin Education Fair is coming to FHS on Tuesday, October 15th, from 6-8pm in the FHS cafeteria. The Wisconsin Education Fair is a college fair where students, families and school counselors get an opportunity to meet with representatives from colleges, universities, military branches and specialty schools. We hope to see you there!

We've had some requests to share a presentation from our Open House last week. Please find the link below:

"Welcome 9th Grade Families-FHS 101"

EVENTS

Monday, 9/23
- Powderpuff Semis- 3:15- Seniors v. Freshmen & Sophomores v. Juniors

Wednesday, 9/25
- Saber Parade-5:30pm
- Powderpuff Final- 6:15 pm

Friday, 9/27

- FHS Pep Rally (closed to the public) during the school day
- Student Section Pizza Party- 5:30 pm
- Homecoming Football Game vs. Racine Horlick - 7:00 pm

Saturday 9/28

- Dance at FPMS- 7:30 pm-10 pm

Tickets for the Homecoming dance can now be purchased here. Your student ID will be used as your code. If your code does not work, you may have detention to serve or fees to pay. For more information, please refer to the athletics website.

REMINDER: No tickets can be purchased if you have fees to pay or detentions to serve.

FHS Athletics is looking for founding-level sponsors for our Scoreboard Project. For more information, please contact Cordell Smith, the Athletic and Activities Director.

Sophomores with a 3.5 unweighted cumulative grade point will be invited to apply for membership in the Franklin High School National Honor Society at the end of the first semester.

More details will be provided at the time of invitation.

*It is encouraged to begin documenting your service hours as soon as possible.

Juniors interested in the National Honor Society must satisfy the same criteria and should contact Mr. Decker directly for application materials.

More information (including the Community Service Verification Form), guidelines for service hours, and answers to frequently asked questions can be found on the Franklin High School website under Activities & Athletics, where you will find this helpful slide deck: (NHS Info)

GET YOUR TICKETS NOW! Join us THIS Friday, September 20, for a night of clean, Southern-style, Saber Center comedy featuring Etta May, winner of the prestigious American Comedy Award "Female Comic of the Year," and Carollynn Xavier, better known as the viral sensation the "Recovering Californian."

• Etta May with special guest Carollynn Xavier

• Friday, September 20 | 7 p.m.

• Purchase tickets: https://www.franklin.k12.wi.us/ticket-purchasing-information

• Group discounts are available!

Through our continued partnership with Forte Theatre, we are pleased to share that Forte Youth Productions is holding auditions for their next youth musical production, "Oliver! Jr" that will be taking place at the Saber Center for the Performing Arts in late January and early February! This adaptation of the classic novel & award-winning musical springs to life with some of the most memorable characters & songs to ever grace the stage!

• Auditions for grades 6th-12th: Mon 10/14 & Tues 10/15 (NEW DATES) 6-8pm (please sign up for one 15 min time slot)

• Audition location: FHS Choir Room

• Callbacks: Sat 10/19 12p-5p (NEW DATE & TIME)

• Rehearsals: Mon 11/25 - Thurs 1/30/25 (no rehearsals during holiday breaks)

• Performances: Fri 1/31/25 to Sun 2/2/25 at the FHS Saber Center

• More info at https://www.fortetheatrecompany.org/oliver-jr

* If you aren't available for auditions, but would still like to be considered, please contact us at randall@fortetheatrecompany.org

She Loves Me is part of Forte’s MAINSTAGE season, featuring adult, professional actors from throughout the Milwaukee area and we are super proud to host them at the Saber Center for the Performing Arts! Featuring a score by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick (“Fiddler on the Roof”) and a book by Joe Masteroff (“Cabaret”), “She Loves Me” follows two feuding clerks in a 1930s European parfumerie who unwittingly fall in love as anonymous romantic pen pals. Based on the story that led to the films Shop Around the Corner & You’ve Got Mail, "She Loves Me" is an endearing romantic comedy you won't want to miss! Tickets on Sale Now here!

Below are links to some helpful student resources!

Hotsheet (scholarship info)

Community Academic & Career Planning Opportunities

Upcoming College Rep Visits

Community Resources for Families

Job Board

With all of the many activities and events happening at FHS, it is suggested that you become familiar with our website. Here are some ways you can find high school information.

Website: https://www.franklin.k12.wi.us/franklin-high-school

Location: 8222 S 51st St, Franklin, WI 53132, USA
Phone: 414-423-4640
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FranklinHighSchoolSabers
Twitter: @franklinsabers

Instagram: @FHSSABERS