Principal's Parent Letters

September 14, 2020

September 7, 2020

August 31, 2020

August 24, 2020

August 1, 2020

June 15, 2020

June 8, 2020

June 1, 2020

May 25, 2020

May 18, 2020

May 11, 2020

May 4, 2020

   April 27, 2020

   April 20, 2020  

   April 13, 2020

   April 6, 2020

   March 30, 2020

FPHS MISSION: To provide students an engaging educational environment, built upon proven academics and high standards, resulting in successful and contributing citizens.

FPHS VISION: Every student (100%) graduates from high school prepared to succeed in post-secondary education.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

My apologies for getting the November newsletter out a bit late. We’ve now completed Quarter 1 and are moving quickly toward the end of Semester 1. You should have received a Q1 report card in the mail. As a reminder, each passing class earns .5 credits at the semester totaling 3 credits per semester. Semester 1 ends on January 22. We are currently in the process of sending out off-track letters to families of those students who are behind in credits and off-track to graduate. Current Seniors are required to have 22 credits to graduate. Current Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors are required to have 24 credits to graduate. If your child is off-track to graduate, please make an appointment right away with his/her counselor in order to establish a graduation plan.

In addition to earning the required number of credits, all students must also pass the Math and ELA SBA exams (state exams). There has been some confusion recently about the “alternative pathways” recently released by the state for students who have not passed the state exams. I would like to provide some clarity regarding those alternative pathways. The first thing to understand is that, for the most part, each of the alternative pathways is more difficult than passing the actual state test. Here are the Graduation Pathways options:

1.       Pass the state test with the minimum score or higher. For ELA, that’s 2548. For Math, it’s 2595.

2.       Earn credit in a dual credit course (Running Start, College in the High School) for English and Math.

3.       Earn a 3 or higher on the National AP Exam or earn a C+ or higher in a Math or English AP class.

4.       Meet or exceed the graduation score on the SAT for Math and English.

5.       Pass a transition course in ELA or Math (Bridge to College).

6.       Meet the standard entrance score for military enlistment on the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery): 31.

7.       Successfully complete a sequence of CTE courses aligned with the student’s High School and Beyond Plan.

 October/November Highlights:

• ·         Thank you to all parents who attended our Fall Conferences and Financial Aid Nights.
• ·         All teachers and many additional staff participated in a full-day professional training focused on ensuring equity for all students in our various school programs.
• ·         We had a successful and spirited Homecoming Week, which culminated in our Homecoming Dance.
• ·         Three of our outstanding Leadership students presented at our monthly School Board meeting.
• ·         All 11^th graders participated in PSAT testing.
• ·         Thank you to each of our Daffodil Princess candidates, and congratulations to Lindsey Clark who was selected as this year’s FPHS Daffodil Princess.
• ·         We celebrated Nutrition Services Appreciation Week. Thank you to all of our cafeteria staff for your service to our students every day.
• ·         We hosted a well-attended Family Board Game Night.
• ·         We hosted a McDonald’s Take-Over as a fundraiser.
• ·         Took a group of about 40 students to tour the Boeing plant.
• ·         Hosted an Open Art Night for students and families.
• ·         Boosters hosted a well-attended Bingo night.
• ·         Hosted a well-received Veterans Day Assembly.
• ·         Ethnic Studies students went on a field trip to the African American History Museum in Seattle.
• ·         Congratulations to our sports teams and athletes for wrapping up an excellent Fall sports season. Way to go, Cards!

Reminders:

• ·         Each Monday is College Monday, and each Friday is Spirit Friday!
• ·         We conduct school-wide grade checks on the final Thursday of each month to determine students who will earn Choice Learning or will be placed on Academic Probation for the following month.

FPHS MISSION: To provide students an engaging educational environment, built upon proven academics and high standards, resulting in successful and contributing citizens.

FPHS VISION: Every student (100%) graduates from high school prepared to succeed in post-secondary education.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

It’s hard to believe, but the first month of school has come and gone already. As a reminder, at the end of each month, we will conduct a school-wide grade check. Grade checks will determine whether a student earns Choice Learning, Learning Lab, or is placed on Academic Probation for the following month.

• ·         Choice Learning: These are students who are passing all of their classes. These students will receive independent study time in the cafeteria or library during our 30-minute Learning Labs on Mondays and Fridays from 10:05am to 10:35am. This year, we’re also offering fun, physical activities outside or in our gym during Choice Learning.
• ·         Learning Lab: These students have at least one INC/INC+ and will spend Learning Lab time with their Advisory teachers receiving extra help and study time on Mondays and Fridays from 10:05am to 10:35am.
• ·         Academic Probation: These students have 3 or more INC/INC+. They will attend regular Learning Labs for 30 minutes on Mondays and Fridays with their Advisors for guided study time and receive additional academic supports from our Academic Support Team during lunches, after school, and during school assemblies.

Here are a couple of items I’ve noticed so far that I’d like to share with you:

• ·         Sleep: On a daily basis, I ask students how they’re doing. Very often, I get the response, “I’m tired.” I’ll ask them what time they went to sleep, and I’ll get answers like, “1am or 2am.” Then, I’ll give them my standard lecture about teenagers needing 9 hours of sleep each night in order to perform at their best at school. They’ll usually scoff and say, “That’ll never happen.” But it’s true. Parents, please do everything you can to ensure your child is getting 9 hours of sleep per night. If you notice a dip in performance or attentiveness, it very well may be a lack of sleep that’s causing the problem.
• ·         Cell phones: In case you didn’t already realize it, we’re pretty addicted as a society to our cell phones. When I ask students why they were up until 1am or 2am, the number one response is always “I was on my phone.” If you haven’t done so already, we strongly recommend a household policy of turning-in cell phones before bedtime. Many cell phone plans will allow parents to deactivate the phone during bedtime and/or school hours. At school, we allow students to be on cell phones during lunch and passing periods. Our expectation is that cell phones are muted and put away during class time. Please, help us reinforce this message at home.
• ·         One-to-One Laptops: We’re excited about offering one-to-one laptops to all students. All teachers are maintaining a Canvas page for each class to provide easy, 24/7 access to course materials and assignments. Please, make sure to read and sign the laptop handbook that was emailed out to all parents. We also strongly encourage parents to purchase laptop insurance for $25 to cover all accidental damages.
• ·         Academic Supports: If you were not aware, we have a HW Center available to all students every day until 4pm in the library. We have three staff members available to support students in the HW Center. We also offer HW support during lunches every day. We have late buses to take students home after HW Center or extra-curricular activities at 5pm.

September Highlights:

• ·         Fall sports are off to a great start!
• ·         Every Monday is College Monday and every Friday is Spirit Friday. All students and staff are encouraged to wear college gear on Mondays and FPHS gear on Fridays!
• ·         Our clubs hosted “Club Rush” to recruit new members! We have about 30 clubs available at FPHS, and all kids are encouraged to get involved.
• ·         Thank you to everyone who attended Back to School Night! We had about 60 community partners attending with information about college, careers, trades, and industry.
• ·         We had 16 students receive the annual Elizabeth Wesley Incentive Awards—more than any other participating school in the region.