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Franklin, TN – Two FSSD schools are encouraging Franklin residents to do a little shopping at area Big Lots stores, hoping some donations will make their way back to the schools. Franklin Elementary and Freedom Intermediate will be the beneficiaries of an in-store donation program at Big Lots stores, continuing through July 8, 2012. These schools will receive 100% of the donations made in the stores.

The schools also have an opportunity to win larger awards through the Big Lots “Lots2Give” online video contest. Participating schools will put their creativity to the test by entering an online video. Videos will be posted on www.biglots.com/lots2give from June 11 through July 8, 2012 for public voting. Winning schools will share $120,000 in cash prizes, which include one $20,000 grand prize, two $10,000 first place prizes, four $5,000 second place prizes and thirty $2,000 third place prizes.

Most importantly, online votes will determine the winners, so Franklin residents will be asked to help out by voting online during the contest period. Schools were selected to participate in the Big Lots Lots2Give Program based on geographic location and level of need as determined by Big Lots.

• Summer hours will be 8:00-3:00 at all schools. There will be no staff in the buildings or Central Office the week of July 2-6, 2012.

• 2012-2013 Registration will be August 7. Click here for detailed information.
• School begins August 9, 2012

The time is now to register for Franklin Special School District's Summer MAC!

The theme is Summer MAC Olympics 2012! The friendly competition begins May 23 and ends August 8. There will be lots of activities, field trips and guest speakers - all included in the $20 per day fee (Williamson County students are also eligible at $22 per day). SMAC is open from 6:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., with breakfast, lunch and snack included!

• Summer MAC Registration Form

For more information about the MAC program or more details about Summer MAC, please call 790-4719.

It is time again for our 3rd – 8th grade students to Show What They Know as they take the annual TCAP Achievement Test and End of Course Assessment (Algebra I students only). During the week of April 30 – May 4, students will spend about two hours each day taking the tests, which cover state standards in reading/language arts, math, science and social studies.

New this year:

• Senate Bill 3427 requires that TCAP scores be computed as a percentage of a student’s final grade in the tested areas of math, reading/language arts, science, and social studies.  TCAP scores in the FSSD will account for 15% of a student’s final grade.
• Algebra I students will take the Algebra I End Of Course (EOC) Assessment in lieu of the TCAP math test.  In the past, these students have been required to take both assessments.

Here are a couple of ways you can help your child prepare for the TCAP and EOC  tests:

• Use past homework assignments, class notes and available materials to review for the test.
• Take practice tests, which are available on the Tennessee Department of Education website:

Parents, please make sure your children are well-prepared for TCAP or EOC tests by doing the following:

• Make sure your child gets a good night's rest and eats a healthy breakfast.
• Parents should keep a positive attitude about tests. Mark down test dates on your calendar so you and your child are aware of testing dates.
• Make sure your child gets up early enough so he or she is on time.
• It is important to talk with your child about tests to help reduce stress about test-taking.
• Praise your child when he or she performs well on a test.
• Encourage him or her to try harder if he or she doesn’t do well on a test.
• Talk to your child's teacher to find out the areas in which they need the most help.
• Designate a study time for your child without the distraction of TV, phone and other devices.

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Franklin, TN – Residents in neighborhoods adjacent to Moore Elementary School have noticed a little extra foot traffic on their streets lately as a long line of children walk past their houses in brightly colored vests almost every day after school. Those streets are the training grounds for a grueling 28-mile, two-day walk – a rite of passage that the fourth grade students have eagerly anticipated since kindergarten.

This is the 20th anniversary of Moore Elementary’s annual “Walk to Wellness,” an opportunity to put fitness to the test, to forge bonds with other students, and to marvel at the nature that surrounds us here in Williamson County. The walk begins on May 10 with a trek that leads the students to the Natchez Trace Parkway. At the end of the day, the 9- and 10-year-old road warriors will have covered 18 miles, approximately two-thirds of their journey. The final 10 miles culminate with a grand school-wide welcome home, where underclassmen, faculty members and parents bump fists and slap hands with the returning walkers.

This “Walk to Wellness” has been the passion of Moore Elementary physical education teachers John Parks and Kathy Clark and has been a true rite of passage for the school’s departing class each year.

“We started this project 20 years ago as a way to promote walking as the best form of exercise for better health and weight control,” Parks said. “Little did we know, 20 years later, we would still be affecting the lives of so many students. Our fourth graders have the opportunity every year to commit to an 8-week training schedule of walking after school four days a week.” The students and parents sign a contract of commitment and the training begins. Although it is completely voluntary, there are very few who chose to forego the annual walk.

The students keep personal journals during the training where they record information about the weather and their surroundings, as well as any body changes they observe as they go through the training. “This is a life-changing event for most students and one that they look forward to throughout their experience at Moore Elementary,” Parks said.

“We feel that promoting healthy active lifestyles early in life is the critical factor in the battle of childhood obesity,” he added. “When children are educated on how to stay active and when they learn about proper nutrition they have a much better chance of developing into a healthy active adult.” These fitness values are promoted at Moore Elementary through an early morning walking club, early morning jump rope team, afternoon running club and daily quality physical education. This education culminates at Moore with the 4th Grade Two Day Walk to Wellness.

As part of the 20th Anniversary of the walk, alumni of the past 19 walks have been invited back to help the school celebrate this milestone. “This walk has affected approximately 1200 students, and we hope to have a good representation at this reunion,” Parks said. A reception will follow from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. on May 11 for all alumni and parents who wish to reminisce over pictures and videos of the past walks.

For specific information on the walk, please contact John Parks at Moore Elementary, 615-790-4700 or by email at .

Student registration dates for the 2012-2013 school year will take place at the end of the summer, prior to the opening of school. Students are not required to be present for this drop-in registration period. Please check your school below for the registration date and time:

• Franklin Elementary, Johnson Elementary, Liberty Elementary, Moore Elementary, and Poplar Grove

• • • • • • • Freedom Intermediate

• Freedom Middle

Please bring the following documents to registration:

• Birth Certificate: If your student is entering school for the first time, please bring a birth certificate. The FSSD requires a certified birth certificate to verify name and age.  A passport is also acceptable.
• Two Proofs of Residency: Each year, parents are required to show two forms for proof of residency in the FSSD, with name and current address on the document. (This includes rising kindergarten parents who provided proof of residency at kindergarten registration in the spring). These documents must reflect billing for the month prior to registration. If residing with another family, the primary homeowner must complete a notarized Residency Affidavit; provide two proofs of residency under his/her name, and a photo I.D.

• Utility bills (gas, electric, water) for the month prior to registration.

• Cable or satellite bills for the month prior to registration.

• Copy of signed Lease Agreement (including renewed Lease Agreements), a signed valid non-contingent real estate contract, or signed executed Settlement Statement with supporting documentation.
  
  

• Mobile or land line phone bill

• Bank, credit card or insurance statements

• Driver’s license or car title

Many of the school registration forms are available online for parents to print and complete in advance.

 Children enrolling in pre-school, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, 7th grade, or new students starting school in Tennessee for the first time, will need all immunizations documented on the Tennessee Department of Health's official Tennessee Certificate of Immunization. These are available at doctors' offices or the Health Department (1324 West Main St) and are required for enrollment in school. Most children may have already received these immunizations as part of their routine childhood vaccinations; however, they must be documented on the official Immunization Certificate.

All schools will be open during the summer, with the exception of July 2-6. New students may register anytime during the hours of 8:00-3:00 throughout the summer.

The 2012 FSSD Kindergarten Registration date is April 20. This provides the schools with a "best guess" as to the number of new students to expect in the fall so that classrooms can be adequately staffed and prepared to meet students on the first day of school. A child must be 5 years of age on or before September 30 to enter kindergarten.

• Entrance Requirements
  
  Birth Certificate: The FSSD requires a certified birth certificate of all children entering school for the first time to verify name and age.  A passport is also acceptable.
  
  Immunization Record: Tennessee requires proof of immunization and a complete physical exam for school attendance.  A Tennessee Department of Health “Official Immunization Certificate” must be provided to the school before the student’s first day of class. The certificate is available from the local Health Department or the child’s physician. Students who are exempt from immunizations are still required to have this certificate signed by a physician and have proof of a physical exam. This includes students entering pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and students transferring from another state. For more information, check the Student Health Services page.

  Required Immunizations
  In order to provide the safest environment possible in the schools, the State of Tennessee requires proof of immunizations. For specific information, please visit the State's Required Immunizations web site.

  Medical Examination: Tennessee law requires proof of physical examination for all students initially entering Tennessee schools.  This includes students entering pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and students transferring from another state. This certificate is available from the local Health Department or the child’s physician.
  
  Proof of Residency: Each year, parents are required to show two forms for proof of residency in the FSSD, with name and current address on the document. These documents must be presented at spring registration and then updated at opening registration. If residing with another family, the primary homeowner must fill out a notarized Residency Affidavit; provide two proofs of residency under his/her name, and a photo I.D.

• Utility bills (gas, electric, water) for the month prior to registration
• Cable or satellite bills for the month prior to registration
• Copy of signed Lease Agreement (including renewed Lease Agreements), signed valid non-contingent real estate contract, or signed executed Settlement Statement with supporting documentation

• Mobile or land line phone bill
• Bank and insurance statements
• Driver's license or car title

A new online tool is available for students who want to sharpen their test taking skills.  The Tennessee Department of Education released a website where students can test their knowledge with practice TCAP Achievement and End-of-Course exam questions.

The TCAP test will be given to all students in grades 3 through 8 in the FSSD during the testing window of April 30 - May 4. The test will cover the subject areas of reading, mathematics, science and social studies.

Although many teachers will use TCAP and EOC practice tests in class, parents and students can use this application in preparation for spring state testing.

Here’s how to get started:

• Go to www.pearsonaccess.com.

• Select “Tennessee” from the program dropdown box.

• Click the “Support” tab at the top.

• Click the “ePATs” link at the left.

• Narrow your viewing options by clicking the “Achievement” or “EOC” radio button.

• Select the desired test to begin the application.

Spring Break MAC will be a time of fun and relaxation for your child to hang out and spend time with their friends.

Field trips have been planned to the movie theater and to Lucky Ladd Farms, Tennessee's largest petting farm with more than 25 exciting hands-on activities for all ages. On site activities will include indoor and outdoor fun! The daily rate for FSSD students is an incredible value at $20.00. Williamson County and private school students may attend at a rate of $22.00.

• Information

• Registration Form

Deadline to register is Friday, March 16.

Several Franklin Special School District schools have made national news by working to support and improve the health of our children and our community. The following schools have received awards from the HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC), a voluntary national certification initiative for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program:

• Franklin Elementary School (Gold)
• Freedom Intermediate School (Silver)
• Freedom Middle School (Silver)
• Johnson Elementary School (Gold)
• Moore Elementary School (Silver)
  
• Poplar Grove Elementary School (Bronze)
• Poplar Grove Middle School (Bronze)

As part of their effort, healthy items are featured on their menus and physical education and activity emphasized. Their efforts are part of the HealthierUS School Challenge, which supports First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign by recognizing schools that are creating healthier school environments through their promotion of good nutrition and physical activity.  Sponsored by the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), the initiative encourages all schools take a leadership role in helping students to make healthier eating and physical activity choices that will last a lifetime.  The FSSD school winners have worked hard to make changes to their school nutrition environment in order to (1) improve the quality of the foods served, (2) provide students with nutrition education, and (3) provide students with physical education and opportunities for physical activity.  

The HUSSC awards include four levels of superior performance:  Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Gold Award of Distinction.  Schools awarded receive a monetary incentive (Bronze $500, Silver $1000, Gold $1500, and Gold Award of Distinction $2000), an award plaque signed by a USDA official, a banner to display in their school, and their name listed on the Team Nutrition Web site.

The schools will be recognized today at the FSSD Board of Education meeting at Freedom Middle School.