From Buddies to Leaders: Honoring the Class of 2025
The 2025 8th-grade graduating class is a remarkable group of kind, intelligent, and ambitious young students.
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Celebration of the Arts
The Arts at TFS has always been a treasured part of school life and academics. We offer music, drama, and visual arts while utilizing our media center. Starting in 2005,
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A Cherished Tradition: First Graders Craft Rosaries for First Communicants
In second grade, students participate in a special sacrament, First Communion. Before this happens each May, our first graders gift their fellow second graders a unique,
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Inside the Classroom: Alan Johnston
Alan Johnston joined TFS in the 2022-2023 school year and is currently in his third year as an 8th-grade science teacher. A tenured educator, Mr. Johnston brings decades
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Catholic Schools Week 2025: Why Families Choose a Catholic Education
This year, The Franciscan School will once again celebrate Catholic Schools Week from January 26 to February 1, 2025. We are in the middle of a four-year theme titled
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Religion at TFS
“Catechesis aims to bring about in the believer an ever more mature faith in Jesus Christ, a deeper knowledge and love of his person and message, and a firm commitment
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The Blessing of Instructional Teaching Assistants
Here at The Franciscan School, we are driven to provide an excellent learning experience for all our students. In our elementary grades, Instructional Teaching
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It All Begins With Prayer
Prayer is an essential pillar for spiritual growth in the Catholic faith. St. Francis of Assisi viewed prayer as a vital connection to God and a way to align one’s heart
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Inside the Classroom: Connor Fodell '09
“I want every student to think back on 5th grade with a smile.”
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Time-Honored Tradition: Prayer Buddies
When our little ones start their first year of kindergarten, it can feel like a big transition in a school with many grades and “big students.” Because of this, one of
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Technology In The Classroom
We can all agree that technology is here to stay. And while sometimes technology gets a bad rap, it can be a significant learning tool. At The Franciscan School, the
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Inside the Classroom: Sara Akers
In August of 2021, The Franciscan School had the blessing of welcoming seasoned teacher Sara Akers to our staff. Just a few days after she moved across the country from
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Rising to the Challenge: Class of 2024
This year’s class of 2024 has excelled in many ways: in the classroom, in the theater, on the court, on the fields, and in their communities. From athletic championships
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A TFS Family Affair
If you were to ask someone at The Franciscan School what makes our school special, they would more than likely respond with “the community” as one of their top answers.
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Timberwolf Fund
“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have; God is pleased by sacrifices of that kind.” Hebrews 13:16
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Partners in Faith: TFS & St. Francis Preschool
Birthed from St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, both The Franciscan School and St. Francis of Assisi Preschool have laid a firm foundation of faith as a pillar of
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Catholic Schools Week 2024
From January 28 through February 3, Catholic schools across the country will be participating in Catholic Schools Week, a time to celebrate Catholic education in the
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Inside the Classroom: Jameson White
TFS Music Teacher Jameson White has dedicated his life to music. As an accomplished musician and music educator, music has been an instrumental part of his life since he
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Managing the Game of Life: A 5th Grade Experience
Managing the Game of Life: A 5th Grade Experience
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Unlocking Potential: The 8th Grade Capstone Project
In the 2022-2023 school year, we started a new 8th grade tradition at The Franciscan School: The Capstone Project.
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Pursuing High-Quality Education: 2023-2026 Strategic Plan
“The quality of a school goes beyond its name, location, or reputation. An education institution succeeds when it supports every learner every day, offering
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Two Feet of Love in Action: Catholic Social Teaching & Service
As a school, we are committed to the principles ofCatholic Social Teaching (CST) and how it is intentionally incorporated into The Franciscan School. Several times
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Inside the Classroom: Patsy Thieken
For the last 15 years, Patsy Thieken has faithfully served as a middle school math teacher at The Franciscan School. We have been blessed by her enthusiasm, creativity,
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Science Olympiad
Headquartered right here in Raleigh at N.C. State University, the North Carolina Science Olympiad (NCSO) is the largest K-12 STEM competition in North Carolina and the
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Inside the Classroom | Tom Harmon
Tom Harmon hasn’t always been a teacher. Though he is now in the classroom with middle schoolers at The Franciscan School, Mr. Harmon’s career actually began at Ford
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Saying Goodbye to our '23 Graduates
May is the time of year where we sense things are changing. Flowers are in bloom, rain showers come and go, and school years come to an end. Months of packing lunches,
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Camp Hanes
Each year, eighth graders at The Franciscan School make a 2-hour drive to King, N.C. to spend a full day atCamp Hanes. Set in a beautiful mountain town just north of
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Catholic Social Teaching: Living Out Our Faith
At The Franciscan School, we are committed to teaching our students the fundamental truths that embody our faith and illuminate the characteristics of Jesus Christ. We
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Passage Home Food Drive Helps 30 Families
As one of The Franciscan School’s three pillars, Service is a tangible way students learn to live the Franciscan mission. It is also an integral part of their spiritual
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Inside the Classroom: Barb Dobner
“Every day is a new adventure.” After teaching at The Franciscan School for 15 years, Barb Dobner continues to find new ways to teach and engage her Kindergarten
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Catholic Schools Week 2023: Celebrating Families
We know that when parents choose to attend The Franciscan School, they do so with many great school options in the area - both public and private. And while oftentimes
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Spotlight: New Middle School Advisory Program
Middle school can sometimes be hard to navigate. With a change in how classes are arranged, the academic rigor that can be found, developments personally and socially,
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All in the Family
When Marie Leone first toured The Franciscan School, she knew it was the place for her. What she didn’t know was that eventually, each of her family members would join
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Inside the Classroom: Jamie Kirchhoff
For the last 17 years, Jamie Kirchhoff has poured her heart into the students at The Franciscan School. As a first grade teacher, Kirchhoff loves when her students’
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Getting Involved: Home School Association
At the heart of The Franciscan School lies the families that make up our community. Each year, our dedicated parents volunteer their time and talents to be a part of the
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New School Year, New Beginnings
Wednesday, August 17th marked the first day of our 2022-2023 school year. New kindergartners and new students walked the halls for the first time. Students entered new
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A New Era at TFS: Ushering in Principal Dawn Smith
The 2022-2023 school year marks a new era for The Franciscan School, a new beginning that will carry on the torch as Mike Watson begins his retirement. When students get
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Math at TFS: Solving Real-Life Problems
“Multiply our kindness and divide away our distractions.” The Franciscan School middle school math teacher Patsy Thieken prays this prayer each day as she immerses her
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Celebrating Principal Mike Watson
Ecclesiastes 3:1 “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.”
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Overcoming Hurdles and Thriving: TFS Class of 2022
As The Franciscan School’s class of 2022 was finishing their first year of middle school, everything changed. Schools closed their doors, families were locked down, and
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One Book, One School
One Book, One School was designed to bring an entire school together through the enjoyment and fostering of community that a single book can provide. Nearly three years
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Inside the Classroom: Ann Giannini
When the doors to The Franciscan School opened in 2000, 4th grade teacher Ann Giannini was one of the original teachers who helped create the school’s mission statement,
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Why Do Families Choose A Catholic Education?
Every year, schools around the country take a week or month to celebrate Catholic education. This year, the theme for Catholic Schools Week is “Catholic Schools: Faith.
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STREAM
STEM, STEAM, STREAM. These buzzwords have floated around the academic world for many years, but how do they apply to The Franciscan School (TFS)?
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From Yoga to Finance, Fitness and More: Middle School Electives
One of the most unique and lesser known attributes of The Franciscan School (TFS) is the wide range of electives offered to middle school students.
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Inside the Classroom: Chris Elliott, PE
Before the doors first opened at The Franciscan School, there were feelings of excitement and anticipation of the unknown.
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Building Confidence One Class at a Time
At The Franciscan School, specials and electives are an integral part of the overall education and character-building experience of the school.
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The Creativity of Art
In the fast-paced, technology-focused world around us, creativity and innovation have never been more important.
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Science with Life Skills at The Franciscan School
As part of The Franciscan School academic landscape, the science curriculum has always played a foundational role in the lives of students inside and outside the
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Staying Afloat and Thriving After 21 Years: School Counselor Laureen Wacenske
“The best school in Raleigh.” These words were spoken to The Franciscan School Counselor Laureen Wacenske 22 years ago as she was deciding where to send her son to
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A Year To Celebrate
The academic and spiritual foundation built here at The Franciscan School (TFS) is constructed year by year with the help of parents, teachers, friends, and all the
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Persevering to the End: TFS Class of 2021
Five months into the COVID-19 pandemic, the class of 2021 at The Franciscan School started their final year, unsure of what the year would hold and waiting for life to
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Not Your Mother’s Librarian
While media centers are typically known for holding masses of books, Kristina Kollauf, media specialist at The Franciscan School, aims to make TFS’ media center known
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Student Council Shapes Future Leaders
Each year, a couple of dozen middle school students at TFS put together thoughtful campaigns promising to make important contributions to the school community if they
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For the Love of Music
As orchestra teacher Victoria Pedroza continues in her fifth year at The Franciscan School, her passion for music has only deepened. It’s easy to happen when you’re
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Why Choose A Catholic Education?
Let’s Celebrate Catholic schools! We asked members for our school community to share why they believe in the Catholic school education experience.
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Ready to Launch: The Franciscan School Prepares Students for High School Success
In an ever-changing world, The Franciscan School recognizes the great responsibility and privilege it has to shape young lives. The staff and faculty are devoted to
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Inside the Classroom: Mr. Barbee, 7th-Grade Social Studies
Even as a teenager, Mr. Matt Barbee, TFS 7th-grade social studies teacher, knew he wanted to teach. Barbee is in his fifth year of teaching at TFS – the first four he
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Say Hello To The New St. Francis Parish Priests
The Franciscan School families may have seen some new faces on campus this year as St. Francis of Assisi welcomed two new priests to the parish community in September.
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School Advisory Council Helps The Franciscan School Fulfill Mission and Vision
Once a month, you’ll find a diverse group of TFS parents and advocates meeting with principal Mike Watson and the pastor of St. Francis of Assisi parish to discuss the
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Caring for T’Wolves
In her 20 years as the school nurse at The Franciscan School (TFS), Joanne Sullivan has worked to ensure that every member of the TFS community is healthy, happy and
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Back to School: Learning in a New World
In a season marked by great uncertainty, decisions are difficult for everyone – and educators, in particular, recognize that there are no simple solutions.
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Welcome to Kindergarten!
It was the first day of Kindergarten, and I had so many emotions. I was sad that my “babies” were growing up. I was sad that we would no longer have lazy weekday
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Graduates Reflect on Their Franciscan School Experience
It’s graduation season at The Franciscan School. A time of joy, celebrating accomplishments, and remembering all the years that led to this moment. While we can’t have
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Transitioning to the Virtual Classroom During COVID-19
In the last two months, the world, as we know it, has changed. Among the numerous closures, shutdowns, and cancelations, students all over the world, from kindergarten
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The Franciscan School Athletic Program
At The Franciscan School, the goal of our athletic program is to develop good sportsmanship, team building, self-reliance, responsibility, and self-discipline within
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TFS 20 Years of Educational Excellence
In the late summer of 2000, The Franciscan School (TFS) opened its doors for the first time. Now 20 years later, we’ve become one of the largest Catholic schools on the
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Franciscan Influences: Catholic Education
This article is part of a series, published since 2010, in which laypeople describe how Franciscan values have affected their lives. The previous HNP Today issue
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The Franciscan School Curriculum is Leading the Way in Catholic School Innovation
The Franciscan School is Curriculum Grounded in Innovation Finding the ideal Catholic school for your child can be an extensive process. Does the coursework provide your
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Celebrating Lent: The Season of Hope
It’s time for celebrating Lent season…again! Every year this season of the church launches us into spring – a time of freshness, newness, the budding forth and
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What’s Love Got To Do With It?
Some years ago, Tina Turner sang, “What’s love got to do with it?” especially if love is nothing more than “a second-hand emotion,” too dependent on a “heart [that] can
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Celebrating The Franciscan School During Catholic Schools Week
The annual celebration of Catholic Schools Week begins on January 26th across the United States. In Raleigh, we are fortunate to have an excellent Catholic school right
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Love and Service Go Hand in Hand: TFS Annual Passage Home Drive
The holiday season is upon us, and it is the perfect time to spend with families and loved ones, it’s also the ideal season to give back. At The Franciscan School (TFS),
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Why The Franciscan School?
The Franciscan School celebrates its 20th Anniversary during the 2019/20 academic year as one of the preeminent catholic schools in the Raleigh area. In those short
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Learning to be FRANCIScan
What made St. Francis, St. Francis? Well, it was more than a love for creation and a desire for poverty – surprising as that may seem! St. Francis was more than a
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Reading is Fundamental
Reading is Fundamental “There is no such thing as a child who hates to read; there are only children who have not found the right book.” -Frank Serafini Studies show
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The Franciscan Experience
Fall is almost here and we are excited to launch another year of amazing events for our school community. On September 24th the Annual Franciscan Experience will begin
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The TFS Home and School Association (HSA)
The TFS Home and School Association (H.S.A.) is an organization with a group of parent volunteers who work to provide additional support to the mission of the school.
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