Franklin Sherman Flash - October 17, 2022

We're Better Together


1st grade at mount vernon picture

Dear Franklin Sherman Families,

It was so exciting to see our students embark on the first field trip of the year!  The rain did not dampen the spirits of our first graders as they explored Mt. Vernon last week!

I would like to extend a thank you to our PTA for organizing another great school event with last week's movie night.  We were so grateful that the rain stopped in time for our feature film!

Please keep an eye on the calendar.  There is no school on Monday in honor of Diwali.  We will have a 2 hour early close on Friday, October 28th.  Our dismissal will begin at 2:05 p.m.  Finally, there is no school on Monday, October 31st.  The early close and the workday on 10/31 provide our teachers with the time they need to complete progress reports and to conference with families.

Have a great week!

Kathy Quigley, Principal


Important Dates

October  Disability History and Awareness Month

October  LGBTQIA+ History Month

October  National Bullying Prevention Month

October 17-21  Digital Citizenship Week

October 17-21  Dental Drive

October 24  Student Holiday - Diwali

October 26  Fall Picture Day

October 28  End of Quarter - Two Hour Early Release

October 30  Monster Mash Dash

October 31  Student Holiday

November 3  AAP Information Night 

November 6  Fall Back: Daylight Savings Time Ends

November 8  Election Day Holiday

November 11  Veterans Day Student Holiday

 

School Calendar:  2022-23

 


Contents


Celebrating a Decade of Digital Citizenship Week!

October 17-21

Ten years ago, Common Sense Education started Digital Citizenship Week to highlight the importance of helping kids, families, and teachers navigate our 24/7 digital world. Over those 10 years, media and technology have changed dramatically. There have also been big shifts in the ways we teach and learn in today's classrooms.

That's why FCPS and Franklin Sherman will continue to be a leader working on behalf of students and their families in creating a positive culture around how they use media and technology.

Engage your kids with the suggested daily activities for families from this Calendar and make connections to the activities we will be using in the classroom as well.  Some links in the Activity Calendar require a google login to use.  If you have difficulty accessing the calendar you can also view it here as a pdf.

 

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Franklin Sherman's POG Focus for SY 22-23

goal directed learner image

Portrait of a Graduate (POG) focuses on supporting all FCPS students succeed beyond the regular classroom. POG prioritizes the development of skills that work to empower students to be productive citizens of a global community and successful in the workforce of the future. These are centered around five themes: 

  • Communicator
  • Collaborator
  • Ethical and Global Citizen
  • Creative and Critical Thinker
  • Goal-Directed and Resilient Individual 

Each school in Fairfax County was asked to select one POG focus this year. Franklin Sherman has selected to focus on building our students' skills as Goal-Directed and Resilient Individuals. The specific goals include the following focus for each grade level:

  • Grades K-3  
    • I don’t give up when something is hard
    • I learn from my mistakes and keep trying
  • Grades 4-6
    • I persevere through difficult tasks and situations
    • I learn from my mistakes & I seek help and feedback to improve my work

Our classroom teachers are using the ideas of perseverance, learning from our mistakes and collaborating for feedback across all content areas. This is often a way that we end the day in our closing circle as part of our Responsive Classroom routines for building a caring classroom community. 

For more information about this goal, and why it is important, you can check out this video! For additional information and resources for families who would like to reinforce this learning at home please visit the FCPS POG Family Resources page.

 

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Fall Picture Day

School Picture Day is coming Wednesday, October 26, 2022  . Pictures will be available approximately two weeks following our school's photo day. Save time and Pre-order Online Here

For questions about ordering school pictures please email underclass@vosphoto.com.

 

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Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid

impact aid video link

 

Beginning on October 18, FCPS will be asking all families to fill out a Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid. Returning this form is important because information from this survey results in an additional $3 million in grants each year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.

For each school-aged child in your household, please complete, sign, date, and return the survey to your child's school. If sections 1 and 2 of the survey do not apply to you, just check the box in Section 3. All forms must be signed, dated, and returned by November 4. All results are confidential.

 

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AAP Information

AAP Level IV Screening Information Night (Grades 2-6)

Parents of students in second through sixth grade, who are interested in having their child screened for the full time services are invited to attend our parent information night. 

Our meeting will be held on Thursday, November 3rd, from 7:15-8:00 p.m. after the PTA meeting in the cafeteria. During this meeting we will discuss the forms, documents, and deadlines for applications. We will also review possible ideas for work samples and provide a brief question and answer session for families. 

Note: AAP Level IV parent referrals are due on December 15, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. This is a county deadline, and late entries can not be accepted. 

 

AAP Level IV Questions & Support: Virtual Office Hours

Ms. Stoermann, our Advanced Academic Resource teacher, will host virtual office hours sessions to help you with your questions regarding AAP Level IV screening (2-6th Grade) or any other AAP questions you have.

Office Hours will be held virtually on the following dates:

The county deadline for submitting the AAP Level IV Parent referral is Wednesday, December 15th. This is a county set deadline and late entries will not be accepted. Parents are encouraged to turn in their forms and supporting documents early to ensure that they are formatted appropriately for the screening portfolio. The AAP Level IV Parent Referral form can be found here.

 

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Outstanding Employee Awards

Nominations are now open! To submit a nomination for a Franklin Sherman ES Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form link: on the respective category below. You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category.)

All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. The google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards and the eligibility requirements are below.

Outstanding Teacher  

Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category

Outstanding New Teacher

Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category

Outstanding Principal

Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district)

Outstanding Leader 

Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as a Schedule-C or School-Based Administrator scale employee (that is not the building principal):

Common positions in this category: Assistant and Associate Principals, Director of Student Activities, Director of Student Services

Outstanding Professional Employee 

Eligibility: At least one year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership

Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Safety and Security Specialist, Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role in a school

Outstanding Operational Employee

Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee

Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, All Parent Liaisons (regardless of how they are paid)  

 

The deadline to submit a nomination is November 04, 2022.

 

If you have any questions, please contact Janet Tan at jgtan@fcps.edu

 

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Dyslexia Open House

To recognize that October is Dyslexia Awareness Month, Fairfax County Public Schools will offer a Dyslexia Open House for staff, community members, and parents/caregivers.  Please join us on October 20, 2022, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Willow Oaks (lobby and Room 1000-A) to learn more about dyslexia support in FCPS.  Open house participants will include Instructional Services, Office of Special Education Instruction, Assistive Technology Services, Parent Resource Center, School Psychology Services, Ombudsman Office, Procedural Support, MTSS, SEPTA, Decoding Dyslexia, NAACP & ED Futuro.

The open house will be followed by a presentation about dyslexia support in Fairfax County Public Schools and an opportunity for a staff panel to respond to questions.  Staff who are interested in attending should register here.  Registration closes October 19, 2022, at 5:00 p.m.  

 

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Dental Drive

October 17-21, FSES will hold a "Dental Drive" for the local food pantry, SHARE. If you wish to contribute, please have your student bring in unexpired, wrapped dental related items and drop them in the collection bin at the front of the school. Items requested include: adult and child toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, etc. Thank you for your support! If you have any questions please contact Spillenkothen@gmail.com.

 

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News from the PTA

pta logo

Monster Mash Dash 5K

October 30, 2022 @ 8 a.m.

Save $5 per participant if you register by Oct. 7.  Sign up your family to join us for a 5K or 1-Mile Fun Run on Sunday, Oct. 30 at 8 a.m. Get some exercise before everyone indulges in candy. Costumes are encouraged! It's one of our most important events of the year.

 

Sign Up for PTA Text Reminders *BETA*

Have you ever forgotten a school deadline or activity? We realize parents get A LOT of emails. To help you cut through the clutter, the PTA is trying out occasional, short text reminders to help parents not miss out. If you'd like a reminder about the next ordering deadline, next picture day, or next PJ day, etc. please text "FSES OPT IN" to fsespta@gmail.com from the phone number where you'd like receive text messages (sending an email will not work).

 

Join the PTA

Annual PTA membership costs $20 per family and is due EACH school year.  Join here!

 

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Reminders

Employment Opportunities at Franklin Sherman ES

Student Monitor - Hourly - $16.36 per hour

Description: Provides supervision of students throughout the school day to include but not limited to the classroom, hallways, lunch, recess, specials and at arrival/dismissal; helps maintain order and discipline and assists in managing the behavior of students; operates technology; performs administrative and noninstructional duties; ensures all layered prevention/safety protocols and procedures are implemented and followed; works with individual and small groups of students.

Qualifications: Any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from high school. Must be comfortable managing student behaviors in large and small groups, ensuring all layered prevention/safety protocols and procedures are implemented and followed; and has general familiarity/skills with basic office technology in support of teachers, students, and the classroom.

Dining Room Assistant - Hourly, $12.03 per hour

Description: Assists students during lunch time. Supervises student clean-up, keeps order, and dismisses students to their teachers.

Qualifications: Friendly, energetic, and assertive in maintaining expectations of cafeteria behavior, and loves working with children.

Interested applicants should send their resumes to Scott Ralston, Assistant Principal, atscralston@fcps.edu

 

Library Volunteers Needed

Do you have a few hours to donate to the library?  Tthe library needs you! Parents volunteers would be greatly appreciated for shelving books and/or performing other library-related tasks. If you are interested and can spare some time for this, please call Rosalie Essimi, the school librarian at, 703-506-7900. We will discuss scheduling other details.

 

FCPS CARES Program

The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story at the link below so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees.

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FCPS CARES Program

fcps cares graphic

The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story at the link below so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees.

Submit an FCPS CARES story

 

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