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Laptop Cases and Laptop Care

We wanted to send out a couple of reminders about taking care of the student devices that were checked out at the beginning of the year and make sure that they care for their devices throughout the school year.

  • Please encourage your students to only hold the necessary equipment and accessories in their school-issued cases or their personal ones. Weighing down or over-packing the cases can result in unnecessary damage to the laptops and cases. Our Tech Team has seen a large amount of laptops with cracked or broken screens as well as ripped cases. Much of this is caused by students using them as backpacks for their school books and supplies.
  • Students need to be aware they are responsible for their laptops, cases, and chargers. We have had instances of students lending out their laptops and chargers and not having them returned by their fellow peers as well as leaving them in their classrooms and on top of lockers. These items are not to be shared among others.
  • Updates to the computers need to be done inside the school network as they cannot be updated from home. Please encourage your student to restart their computers twice a week early in the morning before classes begin. 
  • If a student forgets their laptop device, they do not get a loaner from the help desk, there are loaners available in each classroom. Loaners are only provided upon a laptop being serviced by the help desk.

Any questions or concerns, feel free to email Ryan Richardson, our School-Based Technology Specialist (SBTS) at rdrichardso1@fcps.edu.


FMS After-School Programs

  • Transportation is available to students staying after school on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays – departing Franklin at 4:45 PM. The late bus schedule is posted on the after-school bulletin board in the cafeteria and on your child’s grade level google classroom. Please be aware that the after-school late bus numbers and routes may differ from your child’s normal school day bus route. Please use the Kiss and Ride to pick-up your child from the After-School Program
  • Please see below for the After-School activities for October 14th-October 25th.
  • Students who plan to stay after-school must notify their parent/guardian BEFORE the 2:15 dismissal bell and should report to the cafeteria with all their belongings after the 2:15 dismissal bell for after-school check-in.

General Schedule of After-School:

2:15 – Dismissal bell, students who are staying after-school will go to their locker, grab all their belongings and head to the cafeteria. Each table will be labeled with the club/activity. They find the correct table (ex. Chess Club) and will sign in and have a seat at that table. Everyday students will report to the cafeteria for sign-in.

2:40 – Club/activity sponsors will come to the cafeteria to get their group and take them all together to the correct room.

2:40 – 3:40 – 1st block activities

3:40 – 4:40 – 2nd block activities

4:40 – Students will report back to the cafeteria for late bus dismissal.

Fall After-School Activities List and Descriptions

All students will report to the cafeteria after the 2:15 dismissal bell to sign-in for after-school. If additional sign-ups are required an activity, they can be found on your child’s grade level google classroom.

Schedule for 10/11-10/25

Franklin Middle School PTA Schedule

Here are the dates for the PTA Meetings for Franklin Middle School. Any changes to the schedule will be updated on the PTA Website. Contact information is located here.

November 12, 2019

6:30 pm - Board meeting

7:00 pm - General membership meeting

December Board meeting TBD, no December General membership meeting

January 7, 2020

6:30 pm - Board meeting

7:00 pm - General membership meeting

February 11, 2020

6:30 pm - Board meeting

7:00 pm - General membership meeting

March 10, 2020

6:30 pm - Board meeting

7:00 pm - General membership meeting

April 16, 2020

6:30 pm - Board meeting

7:00 pm - General membership meeting

May 12, 2020

6:30 pm - Board meeting

7:00 pm - General membership meeting

June 9, 2020

6:30 pm - Board meeting

7:00 pm - General membership meeting


Oakton High School Band Future Cougar Night!

Friday, October 11, 2019, Meet at 6pm at Door 6 (behind the school)

ALL Students in 5th through 8th grades who live in the Oakton High School pyramid are invited to join the Oakton High School Marching Cougars and Color Guard at our football game! More details at: www.oaktonbands.org

MARCH onto the football field with the Oakton High School Marching Cougars

PLAY the OHS Fight Song and the National Anthem on the field

SPIN with the Marching Cougar Color Guard during the fight song. No experience is necessary!

PLAY spirit music with the OHS band in the stands

WATCH the Marching Cougars perform their halftime show from the stands

Future Cougars are encouraged to wear a shirt from their current school and bring their instruments. Guard participants and percussionists~ no need to bring  anything. Parents are encouraged to join OHS Band Boosters for our walk up to the field and tailgate party after halftime.  Entrance fee for parents is $5. See you there!

Future Cougar Night Flyer


Fairfax Youth Survey

The Fairfax County School Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors work together to administer the Fairfax County Youth Survey. The results of this survey are published each year on https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health-humanservices/fairfax-county-youth-survey and are used by school officials, youth leadership classes, youth-serving county agencies, and local non-profits to determine the effectiveness of prevention and intervention programs offered in schools and communities. It is also used to identify changing trends and areas of need. The survey is anonymous and no individual information is reported. The survey will be given to 8th grade students during Social Studies class.  

The Fairfax County Youth Survey asks questions about risky behavior, mental health, physical health, and safety. There are questions about behaviors related to alcohol, illegal drugs, or misuse of prescription drugs. Additional questions about depression, student stress, bullying and harassment, and questions about personal health, and for students in eighth, tenth, and twelfth grade only, sexual behavior, will be included in the survey. Students are also asked about specific protective factors concerning health and safety.

You have the right to preview the survey and may deny permission for your child to participate if you desire. If a student is uncomfortable with any question on the survey, the student does not have to answer that question or may elect to discontinue the survey. While it is hoped that as many students as possible will participate, you have the option of completing the attached form if you wish to opt out your child.

The survey will be administered to 8th grade students on November 8, 2019. A copy of the survey will be available to parents and/or guardians online at https://www.fcps.edu/resources/student-safety-and-wellness/youthsurvey beginning October 4, 2019. If you do not wish for your child to take part in the survey, please complete THIS FORM and return it to the main office no later than October 18, 2019.



Author Visit to FMS: Ben Mikaelsen

benmikaelsenauthor

Welcome Franklin Falcons!  Franklin Middle School is excited to welcome writer Ben Mikaelsen, author of Touching Spirit Bear, next spring on April 1, 2020.  In preparation for this author visit, part of each student’s school supplies are to purchase a copy of Touching Spirit Bear.  When Ben is here in the spring, he will sign personal copies of the students’ books.  If you do not purchase a copy, Franklin Middle School will have copies available for students to borrow during the school year.  Franklin Middle School prides itself on building literacy for all students and we incorporate ten minutes of reading in fifth period two times per week.  Beginning the week of September 23, 2019, students will be reading Touching Spirit Bear.   Prior to beginning work on Touching Spirit Bear, students should have another book to read during fifth period.  Thanks for supporting literacy at Franklin Middle School. Photo credit: Scholastic.com


Yearbooks for Sale

You’re in it, but did you get it? Don’t miss your chance to purchase a 2019-20 yearbook. When you order now you will receive a free personalized nameplate. Click on the link below and order yours today.

https://www.yearbookordercenter.com/index.cfm/job/5330


AAP Parent Referrals for Students New to Fairfax County Due October 7, 2019

AAP Level IV services are available to students in grades 3-8.  Students may be found eligible for full-time placement in AAP Level IV Center classes through a central selection process and receive a highly challenging instructional program in science, social studies and English.  Multiple criteria are reviewed by a central selection committee to determine eligibility for all FCPS advanced academic services. More information about AAP services available at the middle school level may be found on the FCPS public website at:  https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle-school-academics-7-8/advanced-academics.  If you have any questions, you can contact Lea Fadden at Lea.Fadden@fcps.edu.  

Parents or guardians of seventh grade students, who are new to Fairfax County Public Schools since January 2019, may initiate the full-time AAP Level IV screening process by completing and submitting an Advanced Academic Programs Level IV Referral Form to Lea Fadden at Lea.Fadden@fcps.edu no later than October 7, 2019.  No late referrals will be accepted.

Seventh grade students who are not new to FCPS may apply in the winter for AAP entry in eighth grade.  Those referrals are due January 6, 2020.


Best Buddies Update

Best Buddies Update

All Applications due 10/21