CARDINAL CONNECTIONS

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

November 27---3.5 Hours Early Release

The FAFSA® (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) form is now open!

What is FAFSA & Why is it Important?

FAFSA is the application students must complete to receive federal financial aid to help pay for college or career school. The form is used by schools to determine how much financial aid students are eligible to receive in the form of scholarships, grants, work-study funds, and student loans. Check out this video for more details: WHAT IS FAFSA?

**On December 3rd, there will be a Financial Aid Workshop for ALL SENIORS during Cardinal Connections where they will learn about the different types of Financial Aid and how to apply.**

Ready to get started now?

First, create a student aid.gov account or FSA ID here: https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch

Students and required contributors (parents or anyone who's required to provide info on the FAFSA form) must have a verified account created before completing their section of the FAFSA form. It can take up to 3 days for an account to be verified by the Social Security Administration. NOTE: Parents without an SSN can also create an account to fill out their portion of the FAFSA form.

If the student is not eligible for federal aid due to citizenship or immigration status, including being undocumented, they can apply for state aid with the WASFA Click here to check your eligibility

Which parent needs an account to fill out the FAFSA form? Click this link to help you figure out which parent(s) need to fill out the form: studentaid.gov/fafsa-apply/parents

*IMPORTANT: Parent contributor(s) MUST provide consent and approval for the U.S. Dept. of Education to transfer their tax information to the FAFSA form. If a required contributor doesn't provide consent and approval, students will not be able to complete the form and therefore not be eligible for federal student aid - even if the contributor manually enters tax info into the form. (Even if contributors don't have an SSN, didn't file taxes, or filed outside the US, they will still need to provide consent and approval.)

Completing the Form

After the student completes the FAFSA form, they will electronically sign and submit it. However, the FAFSA form won't be complete until all required contributors (parents) complete their section of the form and give their consent and approval to transfer tax info. Once all required contributors sign and submit the FAFSA, it will be considered complete and submitted for processing.

The student will receive an email confirmation page that shows a completion date and next steps as well as an estimate of their Student Aid Index (SAI), Federal Pell Grant, etc.., these are only estimates. The official SAI will be on the FAFSA Submission Summary which students will receive after the form has been processed.

To keep track of the FAFSA form status, log in to your account and select your FAFSA submission from the "My Activity" section of your account dashboard. Click this link to learn what to expect after submitting the FAFSA: studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/review-and-correct

If you have any questions or need assistance filling out the form, reach out to Mrs. Bruinsma, College & Career Specialist, at abruinsma@fpschools.org

Rainbow over Franklin Pierce High School—a symbol of hope and possibility. Photo courtesy of Sharon Gold, Counseling Office Registration Coordinator.

We are excited to announce that we are partnering with ParentSquare, our new communication tool, which will replace Remind and School Messenger in 2025. Beginning in January, all emergency alerts, school updates, and district communications will be sent through ParentSquare via the app, email, and text.

No need to do anything now, once ParentSquare is live your information will automatically be transferred over. We will continue to share news about this transition in the coming months!

In the event of emergencies, a team of Franklin Pierce Schools staff work to balance safety and our commitment to support student learning. The choice to delay or cancel the start of a school day includes assessing road conditions and consulting with other local services. Franklin Pierce Schools will attempt to offer updates about delays and closures by 5am.

Staff and families can expect to receive information about school closures and delays in the following ways:

• Recorded Telephone Message contact the main office at your child's school to ensure your contact information is up to date
• SMS Message for families/staff who have opted-in, click here if you would like to opt-in
• Email from info@fpschools.org
• Website www.fpschools.org
• Flash Alert Notification sign up to receive email notifications and download the Flash Alert App, click here.
• Local Media including KIRO 97.3 FM, KOMO 1000 AM, KIRO TV Channel 7, KOMO TV Channel 4, and KING TV Channel 5
• Social Media Facebook and Instagram

Everyone 18 and younger can ride public transportation for free. Riders aged 13 and older are encouraged to use one of these tools to access free transportation:

Youth ORCA card:

Riders can tap a Youth ORCA card, also known as Free Youth Transit Pass, when boarding the bus. Get your ORCA card for free at your school's main office, or online.

If you received your card at school, to ensure that it provides free rides up until your 19th birthday, update your youth card expiration date by registering it online.

Current student ID

Show the bus driver your student ID when you board.

Youth who do not have one of these can still ride for free. Riders under the age of 13 do not need to show proof of pass.

Franklin Pierce High School is looking for dedicated volunteers to make a difference in our school community. Whether you have a few hours to spare or want to get more involved, we’d love to have your support!

Interested? Reach out to Bonita Lee at blee@fpschools.org or call 253-298-3837. Click the button below to learn more about becoming an approved volunteer through the district. Let’s work together to make this school year unforgettable for our students! 🌟