CREATIVITY AND EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
CREATIVITY AND EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Creative thinking is a catalyst for positive change and progress . Nurturing creativity in our students empowers them to think outside the box , solve problems in inventive ways , and adapt to a rapidly changing world . Our students ’ creative aptitude is on full display during the holiday season , in myriad ways , through a staggering number of projects , events , outreach efforts , and opportunities for individual expression .
FRIS Annual Fall Parade Based on the example of Tony Sarg , the puppeteer whose ingenuity brought helium balloons to life for the Macy ’ s Thanksgiving Day Parade , students from FRPS , FRIS , and FRMS combined their creativity and critical thinking skills to present a robot-guided fall parade . Within the timespan of just one school day , first and fifth grade students worked together with
FRMS vs Cancer Visit to AHN Hempfield FRHS vs Cancer club visits Forbes Cancer Institute every year to decorate , visit with patients , and distribute donated comfort items . This year , for the first time , Franklin Regional Middle School vs Cancer Club had a visit of their
IT coach Mrs . Carmen Loughner and middle school student coders to research , design , create , and program their very own Thanksgiving Day Parade float .
First graders researched points of interest about their animal , assisted by fifth graders who then used PebbleGo to complete a Google Slide presentation . Students collaborated again at the intermediate school to design the float based on their animal . The newly created balloon animals were carried by a Finch Robot , which students programmed
own to AHN Hempfield to decorate , visit , and give out donated items . The FRMS students were friendly , caring , respectful , and enthusiastic , and represented Franklin Regional extremely well . The patients and families they visited were grateful for the outreach and support .
to drive the parade route . Widespread battery outages and some compromised programming delayed the start of the parade the following morning , but students remained undeterred . They carefully reprogrammed the Finches so that the show could go on , much to the delight of all parade attendees .
ranklin Regional FRANKLIN REGIONAL NEWS
Michael Rettger Memorial Basketball Tournament
The annual Michael Rettger Memorial Basketball Tournament , organized by the Michael Rettger Foundation , is a beloved tradition at Franklin Regional , with strong community involvement . This event embodies the true spirit of teamwork , both on and off the court . During the two-day tournament , the Foundation collects items for Toys for Tots to support local children in need . In addition , the Foundation awards two scholarships — one for a member of the girls ’ basketball team and one for a member of the boys ’ basketball team — to further foster Michael Rettger ’ s legacy and the family ’ s commitment to education and athletics at FR . The Rettger
Family ’ s ongoing support plays a critical role in funding the Panther Foundation ’ s initiatives and enhancing the athletescholar experience . This year ’ s scholarship recipients were Angelina Brush and Finn Hutchinson .
Concerts Concerts are an annual highlight of our holiday season , showcasing student talent and discipline in choral , band , and orchestra performances . From first years to graduating seniors , our students share their love of music through traditional and classical songs selected to inspire audiences with the joy and nostalgia of the season . In addition to formal concerts , students perform informally for their peers — for example , FRIS Second Year Strings performed one morning during student arrivals , and FRMS Golden Notes Chorus , 8th Grade Strings , and Wind Ensemble presented a mini-concert of seasonal music selections during ninth period the last week before winter break .
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