Franklin High School

As construction on the north side of the new Franklin High School continues, we want to inform you about upcoming changes to our afternoon traffic patterns. These changes are necessary to accommodate construction and ensure the safety and efficiency of student pick-up and bus operations. Beginning Wednesday, April 23, 2025: The temporary loop near the Gymnasium will no longer be in use. A new service road has been opened from the bottom of the student parking lot to Panther Drive. This road will be used exclusively by buses to turn around and stage on Panther Drive. Bus riders will now board on Panther Drive (with the exception of EC buses, which will continue using the front of campus). Please note: This road is closed to student and parent traffic. Parent Pick-Up Areas: The Front Loop (off Porter Street) and McCollum Street will now be open for parent pick-up. Our School Resource Officers and FHS staff will be on site to help guide traffic and ensure a safe and smooth dismissal process. We understand that changes to your daily routines—especially pick-up and drop-off—can be challenging. We greatly appreciate your patience, flexibility, and cooperation as we navigate this transition together. Our top priority is ensuring a safe and efficient environment for all students, families, and staff. Thank you for your continued support.

If you are a senior and you have given blood 3 times with The Blood Connection during your high school career, please see Mrs. Kussow during 3rd period or after school THIS WEEK about how to claim your Red Cord for Class Day and Graduation.

FHS Students, Please be aware that due to ongoing construction on campus, no students or unauthorized personnel are permitted within the construction zone. This area is clearly marked with blue fencing and caution tape, extending from near the dog park at the bottom of Frogtown to Wayah Street. This is an active construction site, and entry by unauthorized individuals is considered trespassing and poses a serious safety risk. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Bus #163 will run in the morning, but it will NOT run tomorrow afternoon (04/22/25)

Attention 9th grade students and parents!! Rising FHS Sophomores will begin registration for next year's classes when they return on Tuesday April 22. Students will find registration information in school email and should discuss course selections with parents and guardians. Students must be prepared with 4 electives and 3 alternate selections when they arrive to register.

🎓 FHS Senior Award Night Announcement 🎓 We're excited to share that this year's Senior Award Night will be a special combination of both Class Day and Scholarship Night! 📍 Location: Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts 📅 Date: May 15th 🕕 Time: 6:00 PM Due to ongoing construction at the school, we’ve had to shift Class Day from its usual daytime schedule. While that change wasn't easy, we’re grateful for your understanding and support. This new evening event gives us the opportunity to celebrate our seniors in a spectacular venue — and ensures all family and friends can attend!

Congratulations to Kendall Rumans who was selected by the NCHSAA as the OrthoCarolina Performance of the Month Winner for March!! https://x.com/nchsaa/status/1910754726485913782?s=46

Caps and Gowns!!

Good afternoon Seniors! The N.C. Tomato Growers Association is offering up to $5,000 in merit/need-based scholarships for the 2025-2026 academic year. Any North Carolina resident who pursues a horticulture or agribusiness undergraduate or graduate degree at a four-year North Carolina college or university is eligible to apply. The deadline for submitting an application is May 31st, 2025. Awards will be based on a student’s demonstrated scholastic achievement, initiative, leadership, financial need, and extracurricular activities. The scholarship is contingent on the recipient maintaining at least a 2.5 grade point average out of a possible 4.0 on all course work during the scholarship period. Recipients must be enrolled for the entire school year to receive the full scholarship. Scholarship funds will be distributed through the financial aid office of the attending student’s college or university. Awarded scholarships will be paid in two installments, one-half per semester. If you need additional information, you may contact Melinda James: (706) 746-0201 osagem@msn.com Students are responsible for mailing completed applications to: N.C. Tomato Growers Association c/o Melinda James 1604 Hale Ridge Road Scaly Mountain, NC 28775 ** If you need a transcript for this scholarship, please email the counseling office before Friday, May 9th. Seniors, the application has been sent to your school email from Ms. Ensley.

Driver has been found, bus #156 will begin running again this afternoon (04/08/2025).

Bus #156 will not run tomorrow (04/08/25). We are actively looking to find a driver for the route. We will keep everyone posted of any new developments. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Seniors! Another Scholarship Opportunity

Current 10th Graders!! Registration time is here! There are new opportunities to consider as a rising high school junior. Typical graduation requirements for the junior year include English, Math, Science and Social Studies. Electives will be chosen to complete next year's eight class schedule. The course catalog of electives can be found on the FHS website. Juniors are eligible for vocational classes toward certificate programs and community college courses for transferable credit (3.0 unweighted GPA required) These courses are offered tuition free. The cost of the textbook is the only financial obligation. Discussion with classroom teachers about opportunities for AP and honors courses, as well as the commitment they require, can be very beneficial. New elective offerings, not appearing in the elective catalog, are Journalism, Broadcasting and Accounting1. All rising juniors are encouraged to discuss these options with parents and guardians. Registration for the junior year begins April 7, when students return from spring break. Please take these decisions seriously. Schedule changes will only be considered for the following reasons: 1) You are registered for a course you have already passed 2) You have a course with a prerequisite that you have not completed 3) Your schedule is missing a required course

🎉 Congratulations to Sasha Widman! 🎉 We are so proud to share that Sasha Widman placed 5th in the state in the Nursing Assistant competitive event at the HOSA state conference! With over 3,400 students at the conference and this being one of the more popular events, Sasha faced some fierce competition from across the state. 🌟 Congratulations Sasha!!

Such a special night captured in a single picture. A huge thank you to Maria Tallent for this amazing photo! FHS Unify was absolutely incredible! If you missed it, you truly missed something special. Stay tuned next week for an exciting announcement about FHS Student Leadership and FHS Unify! A heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers, participants, and sponsors who made this night possible. We can’t wait to do it all again next year! Students and staff—tomorrow is the final day of Unify Spirit Week! Don’t forget to wear your Unify shirt!

Seniors, Good afternoon. I apologize for the late notice, but we just had a new scholarship open up at Franklin High School. This scholarship application will be due on Tuesday, April 8 by 3:30pm. Applications are available in the counseling office. https://5il.co/3btds

There will be a 200 question exemption test for Drivers Ed given on Saturday May 10th at 9 am at Franklin High School. Any student who will be the age of 14 1/2 yrs old by this date is able to take this test. To register for this test, you will need to visit the wncdrivingschool.com website. You must bring your ipad to test day in order to be able to take the test. Please read all information for study materials and items needed for the test on the website. Cost is $65 cash

Bus #156 will NOT run for the remainder of this week (morning or afternoon). Bus #23 and #104 can still shuttle students to transfer at Iotla Valley Elementary School in the afternoon.

The 6th Annual UNIFY March Madness Game will be livestreamed on our FHS Hudl page Date: March 27 Time: 6:00 PM Watch it LIVE: https://fan.hudl.com/usa/nc/franklin/organization/22440/franklin-high-school/watch?ib=2303358 While we highly encourage everyone to attend and pack the stands with Panther spirit, we’re offering this livestream option so no one misses out on the event.

Huge congratulations to Emma Ledford, a senior at Franklin High School (Class of 2025), for earning the prestigious Earlham Trustee Scholarship! 🎓✨ This incredible achievement means Emma will receive $40,000 per year for four years to attend Earlham College in Indiana, one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country. 🌟 The Earlham Trustee Scholarship is a highly competitive, merit-based award given to students who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to their community. This scholarship recognizes students who embody Earlham’s values of intellectual curiosity, social responsibility, and global engagement. Emma’s hard work, dedication, and passion have truly paid off, and we couldn’t be prouder of her! And that’s not all – Emma has also committed to continuing her athletic career as a member of the Earlham College Volleyball team. 🏐