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 Students practice their coding skills with the Lego Robotics After-School Club
Good afternoon, Franklin Community,
As we prepare for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, I want to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for the support you have shown our staff this year. The shift from elementary school to middle school is huge and full of so many changes for students and families. While we work hard daily to support students, we could not do this without the support of our families and the partnership you provide us each day. From a personal perspective, I want to express my gratitude for the support this community has provided me in my first year as the interim principal here at Franklin. I say this every opportunity I have when speaking about our school community - it is truly special and it is because of the people. I could not be more proud of this school community and I truly feel lucky to be a part of this.
I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and safe travels to those of you venturing out of town. As we have done in the past, there will be no homework assignments given over the break and no assessments will be given the Monday we return from break. It is essential our students and our families have this time to rest and be present with their families. Similarly, it is essential for our school staff to have that same opportunity.
Please reach out with any questions or concerns at MLCase@fcps.edu and I look forward to reconnecting with you all after the Thanksgiving break.
Sincerely,
Michelle Case
Interim Principal
Important Dates
November 22 - 24 - No School - Thanksgiving Holiday (office closed)
November 28 - PTA Meeting at 7:00 PM (virtual)
November 29 - FMS Band Winter Concert at 7:00 PM at Franklin MS
November 30 - FMS Orchestra Winter Concert at 7:00 PM at Franklin MS
December 1 - School Picture Make-Up Day
December 5 - FMS Chorus Winter Concert at 7:00 PM at Rocky Run MS
AMC 10 Math Competition
The AMC 10 is a 25-question, 75-minute, multiple-choice examination in high school mathematics designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem-solving skills. The AMC 10 is for students in 10th grade and below and covers the high school curriculum up to 10th grade. The AMC 10 provides an opportunity for students to develop positive attitudes towards analytical thinking and mathematics that can assist in future careers. The AMC 10 is the first in a series of competitions that eventually lead all the way to the International Mathematical Olympiad.
We had 28 students participate in the AMC 10 this year from our high school level Geometry class. Our top scoring students at Franklin were:
Gold (1st Place): Colin Ryan
Silver (2nd Place): Malcolm Mclenahan
Bronze (3rd Place): Elizabeth Dai, Beckett Gnipp, Ghrini Sai Jella
Congratulations to all students who participated!
2023 Fairfax County Youth Survey
The 2023 Fairfax County Youth Survey will be given to 8th grade students on Tuesday, December 5, during an extended Falcon Time. As shared in the eNotify that was sent to parents and guardians of Franklin Middle School eighth grade students in October, the Fairfax County Youth Survey is a comprehensive, anonymous, and voluntary survey given each year to FCPS students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12. Parents and guardians who do not wish for their students to participate in the survey should send an opt-out email to Forrest Reid (fyreid@fcps.edu). The subject line should read Youth Survey Opt-Out. Please also include the first and last name of the student as it appears on their school records in the body of the email. In the event, you do not receive an email acknowledging receipt of the opt-out within 48 hours, please contact the school at 703-904-5100.
Lightspeed Classroom Management Tool
Our school will be using a new classroom management tool that will help teachers better connect with student devices during classes. The new tool will provide teachers with a number of helpful features:
Easily view student screens in real time from the teacher console to see which students may need guidance or support.
- Focus student attention on a particular website on their device to minimize distractions.
- Pause student access to the internet to focus on other classroom tasks.
We believe this classroom management tool will allow us to maximize class time to support your student’s learning while at school. Currently, we have a pilot team of teachers using it in order to identify best practices for school-wide implementation. Following feedback from the team piloting the tool, all teachers will have access to the tool. We anticipate all teachers utilizing the tool by the start of the new year.
PTA Gift Card Drive
Franklin Middle School is collecting donations of gift cards to help FMS families in need during the winter holidays. Please consider a donation of any amount in a regular or electronic gift card. We would like to consider stores like Walmart, Target, Amazon, Kohls, and Burlington that offer a variety of shopping options. Additionally, gas station gift cards are also appreciated. If interested, please contribute by December 1.
Please email E-gift cards to our Franklin Middle School social worker, Elyse Brunais. Gift cards may also be mailed to the address below.
Franklin Middle School
attn: Elyse Brunais
3300 Lees Corner Road
Chantilly, VA 20151
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Franklin Middle School PTA President, Anne Lake, president@franklinmiddleschoolpta.org or Franklin Middle School social worker Elyse Brunais. Thank you for supporting our community.
Staying Healthy This Cold/Flu Season
Cases of RSV, the flu, and other viruses often rise this time of year. It is important for students to wash their hands regularly and cover their coughs and sneezes. Please monitor your child’s health daily and keep them at home if they are sick. Visit FCPS' Health and Safety Guidance webpage for more tips.
Franklin MS After-School Program Information
All students that stay after school for academic support, clubs or activities must have a completed After-School Registration Form. The After-School Registration only needs to be completed once for the 23-24 SY.
Bus Transportation for the After-School Program is available Monday-Thursday. There is no transportation on Fridays for the After-School Program and dismissal is by parent pick up only.
Click Here to to see the Club/Activity Descriptions and Weekly Schedule
No After-School Programming on the following days:
November 20
November 21
The After-School Program will resume on Monday November 27,2023.
Middle School Track Coming this Spring
All FCPS Middle Schools will field Track teams in the spring. More information is coming soon.
MS Athletes will need the following to participate in Track in the Spring:
All students that ran Cross Country this fall are already eligible to participate in Track in the spring. More information can be found on our website about Cross Country and Track or you can visit the FCPS MS Athletics Website.
Special Education Resources for Families
Fairfax County Public Schools has the following resources available to assist families of students with special needs.
- The Office of Special Education Procedural Support helps staff, families, and students with the implementation of and compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as amended.
- Kathy Murphy, the assistant ombuds for special education, provides information and support to caregivers and students regarding special education and Section 504 services. Contact the Ombuds Office by submitting a question, calling 571-423-4014, or emailing ombuds@fcps.edu.
Additionally, the Virginia Department of Education has updated the Virginia Family's Guide to Special Education. This state guide was developed to help those involved in special education including families, teachers, school administrators, advocates, and students.
Student Attendance and Engagement
During the Academic Matters segment of the November 9 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid discussed student attendance and engagement. Attendance and absenteeism rates are one measure for Goal 2 of our 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
Chronic absenteeism — which is defined as a student missing 10% or more of school for any reason — is a concern across Virginia school districts. Although FCPS continues to outperform the state average in attendance rates, we are tracking chronic absenteeism closely.
Data shows that:
- Missing just 10% of school — just two days a month — negatively affects a student’s academic performance.
- Only 17% of students who were chronically absent in both kindergarten and first grade were reading proficiently in third grade, compared to 64% of those with good attendance.
- Students who fail to read at grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely than students who achieve proficiency to drop out of high school.
- By sixth grade, chronic absenteeism becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.
Attendance is critical for academic success!
Missing School Over the Holidays
Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, please speak with your child’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. However, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that happens in the classroom.
Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.
School Pictures
Students have received their Lifetouch proofs and pre-ordered picture packets. For assistance with ordering new packages or additional pictures, please contact Lifetouch by phone at: 1-800-736-4753 or by email at: UCanswers@lifetouch.com. Picture make-up day is scheduled for Friday, December 1.
Yearbook Information
Franklin MS 2023 yearbooks are on sale through May 4, 2023. The cost of the yearbook is $27, and will increase to $30 after January 1, 2023. Families may order online by clicking here (school code 5330). Please contact Kelly Barlow with any questions.
Community Review of Elementary English Language Arts Basal Instructional Resources
FCPS will adopt new Elementary School Language Arts Basal Instructional Resources for the 2024-25 school year. Public review of the recommended materials is part of the process for selecting new resources.
You may access the resources in person and online from Wednesday, November 15, until Friday, December 15, at noon. Digital materials for public review and comment will be available on the Elementary Language Arts Basal Resource Review webpage. Those reviewing instructional materials may complete an electronic comment sheet that will be available on the webpage during the review period.
Visit FCPS' website for instructions on how to view hard copies of the instructional materials at Pimmit Hills Center. The Elementary Language Arts team will be there to answer questions Friday, December 1, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM and Saturday, December 2, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM.
FCPS Students Selected for 2023 All-Virginia Jazz Band, VMEA Senior Honors Choir, and All-Virginia Elementary Orff Ensemble
Forty-six students representing 16 Fairfax County high schools have been selected for the 2023 All-Virginia Jazz Band and the 2023 VMEA Senior Honors Choir. Students throughout Virginia went through a rigorous audition process for positions within these ensembles. Student-musicians will rehearse with nationally recognized conductors.
In addition, seven students representing two Fairfax County elementary schools have been selected for the 2023 All-Virginia Elementary Orff Ensemble.
See the full list of students selected for these ensembles and a list of concerts that are open to the public.
Stay Connected on Social Media
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Follow Franklin on Facebook and on Instagram @FCPSFranklinMS to see what’s happening in the building throughout the year.
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