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Franklin Families and Students,
Good afternoon! As many of you have heard, the FCPS School Board has recently approved a Return to School timeline that will go into effect later this month. I wanted to share some of key dates from this timeline with you and preview some of the resources that we will have in place to support our students and families through this transition.
Franklin MS students who have elected to attend school in-person will return to school on the following schedule:
8th Grade - Week of March 2
7th Grade - Week of March 9
Selected Students in Special Programs - February 16
Students who have elected the in-person option will attend school at FMS two days a week and participate virtually two days a week. Students will be notified of the two days they will attend in-person and families can also check their student status in SIS ParentVue. Students who have elected to remain virtual will maintain their regular schedule.
Beginning on February 16, a new Bell Schedule for ALL students will begin and the school day at Franklin will be 7:30 AM - 2:00 PM.
In the weeks ahead, we will be sharing numerous activities, events, and resources with our students and families that are intended to ensure a successful transition during this Return to School timeline. Here are a few of the highlights:
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On Monday, February 8 at 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM we will host Virtual Listening Sessions about the Return to School timeline. These sessions will not feature a formal presentation. Rather, this will be an opportunity for us to hear your questions, concerns, and suggestions. Links will be sent through News You Choose on Sunday afternoon.
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On Tuesday, February 16 at 6:00 PM, we will provide a Return to School Family Information Session. This presentation will provide a detailed look at how Franklin MS will support the Return to School plan. It will include information about safety measures, procedures, and what the daily life of a Franklin Falcon will look like.
- During the month of February, we will use our Falcon Time class periods to provide our students with videos, activities, and even a few school-wide virtual assemblies that will help them prepare for the upcoming transitions.
As we plan for this transition, please know that we are committed to supporting all of our FMS students. We will be dedicated to the success of our students who elected to attend in-person and our students who decided to remain virtual.
I know that there will be a lot of information shared with you in the coming weeks and that there will be a lot to process. Please know that we are here to help, and you are encouraged to contact us at any time.
Thank you again for everything you have done to support your student during the school year so far. As we transition into a new phase, we look forward to continuing to partner with you.
With Gratitude,
Dustin Wright
Principal
Upcoming Events
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Monday, February 8 - Return to School Family Listening Sessions at 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM
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Monday, February 8 - 2nd Semester Elective Supply Distribution and Math 7 Packet Pick-Up from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
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Tuesday, February 9 - Virtual Hispanic Parent Coffee at 7:00 PM
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Monday, February 15 - Presidents' Day Holiday - No School
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Tuesday, February 16 - New Bell Schedule Starts & Return to School Family Information Session
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Wednesday, February 17 - AAP Parent Night Meeting for Rising 7th Grade Parents at 6:00 PM
Monday Attendance Reminder
Please note that students are required to complete the online check-in / attendance form on Mondays for the remainder of the year. All FCPS schools are required to note attendance on Mondays. Students are expected to check in and work through asynchronous assignments each Monday. A few details about Monday attendance can be found below.
- Attendance will still be taken on Mondays and students will be contacted by their Falcon Time teachers with a virtual attendance activity that needs to be completed by 12:00 PM.
- Asynchronous activities will be available for our students and they should review the Google Classroom sites for all of their classes.
Celebrating Black History Month
February is Black History Month and a time when the country highlights and celebrates the accomplishments of Black Americans. Click here for a message from our Superintendent, Dr. Brabrand. Additionally, Franklin MS students will engaging in curriculum and activities about this important topic in several of their classes.
The Fairfax County Public Library has several programs celebrating Black History Month. Please click on the links below for more information or contact the Fairfax County Public Library.
Kwame Alexander Virtual Visit on Monday, February 22
Teen Mic Night on Tuesday, February 23
Teen Art Contest
2nd Semester Electives Supplies Distribution and Math 7 Packet Pick-Up on February 8
Students enrolled in 2nd semester Art, Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS), and Engineering classes will have the opportunity to pick up supplies on Monday, February 8 from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Paper math packets will also be available for Math 7 students (Math 7 Honors students do not need to pick up packets).
For the health and safety of our staff and our FMS families, we will use a drive-thru pick up process to distribute materials. Distribution procedures will be as follows:
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Social distancing guidelines will be in effect and please review the health screening questions found here before visiting FMS.
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Visitors are highly encouraged to wear a faceguard to help protect our staff members.
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Vehicles will enter the Kiss ‘n’ Ride lot and proceed to the access road, drive around the rear of the school building, and visit each station for their student’s materials.
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Please print and complete this short form to help the staff by providing your student’s name, class, and class period #.
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Families and students will stay in their vehicle. Whenever possible, teachers will place student supply kits in the trunk of the vehicle.
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Vehicles will continue along the access road to exit at Old Dairy Road.
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For Art, Engineering, and FACS, supplies are part of a student fee included in course enrollment and are most efficiently paid through MySchoolBucks.
Franklin MS will make all reasonable modifications to policies and programs to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to enjoy all of our programs, services, and activities. Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service to facilitate the pickup of materials should contact Mr. Gibbs as soon as possible.
Health Screening Commitment Form Required Prior to Student Return to School Buildings
As additional student groups return to school in person, parents and caregivers are asked to complete a Health Screening Commitment form before student(s) return to school buildings. This document confirms that a parent, caregiver, or guardian will complete a daily health screening and will keep their students home should they become ill.
The Health Commitment form can be submitted electronically through in ParentVUE (PVUE) beginning January 4, or via hard copy. Please contact Kristine Smith if you need a hard copy sent to you.
PTA Chipotle Fundraiser on February 10
Please consider supporting our PTA with Dining for Dollars at the Chipotle in Franklin Farm on Wednesday, February 10 from 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM. Please mention the fundraiser for Franklin Middle School at the register before you pay in order for our PTA to receive a donation. If ordering online, use the code: 3X664BQ. Fundraiser online ordering is only valid through pickup during the date and time above. Thank you for your support of our PTA!
World Languages Credit Exam
The 2021 Credit Exam for World Languages will take place in March of 2021. Students who take the credit exam have the opportunity to earn up to three (3) credits, based on demonstrated proficiency.
Thirty (30) languages will be assessed via the FCPS Credit Exam. In order to offer the test in all languages while maintaining a safe testing environment, some languages will be tested online and some will be tested in person.
- These languages will be tested online between March 2, 2021 and March 10, 2021: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.
- These languages will be tested in person on March 13, 2021 and March 20, 2021 (Saturdays): Amharic, ASL, Bengali, Farsi, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Nepali, Pashto, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Somali, Tagalog, Tamil, Telugu, Tigrinya, Turkish, Twi, Urdu and Vietnamese.
Registration opens Monday, February 8, 2021, at 8:00 AM and closes at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, February 26, 2021. All students must register for the exam through their school counselor by February 26, 2021. Please contact Zena Chapman with any questions. Click here for additional information about the FCPS Credit Exam for World Languages.
TJHSST Freshman Application Process
The Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Admissions Process will open on February 1, 2021. The application will be available online starting Monday, February 1 at 8:00 AM and the application deadline is Friday, February 26 at 4:00 PM.
Click here for more information regarding the eligibility requirements and application process. If you have additional questions, please contact your student's 8th grade counselor.
Franklin MS After School Program
As the 2nd semester has started, a few new clubs have been added to our virtual after-school activity list.
- New Clubs – Animal Crossing, Cooking, Games Club, Harry Potter, Mars Landing Crew, and Marvel Club. Other clubs that have reopened enrollment include Film Club, Knitting, Photography and Running Club.
- Students can join after-school clubs and activities throughout the year. Please take advantage of our free after-school program!
- Students can find more information about the After School Program in their grade-level Google Classroom and on the student After School site.
- Students should check out the “Clubs by Day” and “Club Descriptions” sheets for club information and schedules.
If you have any questions about the After School Program, please feel free to contact Mrs. Mollé.
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