Franklin MS Weekly Update - April 5


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Collage of 5 pictures of students with VEX robots

Engineering 2 students are programming their VEX robots to complete obstacle courses.

Good afternoon, Franklin Community,

I hope you all had a wonderful spring break!  We are now officially in the 4th quarter of the school year!  This quarter is such an exciting time of year, including field trips, end of year activities and awards celebrations.  It is also the time of year full of state-required and end of course exams.  We recognize students sometimes get anxious during this time of year, whether it be about upcoming assessments or perhaps about the transition to high school, so we ask you please keep us posted if you notice any changes with your child.  I am so proud of how hard our students have worked this year and how much they have grown and I want to partner with you to ensure they finish the year as strong as possible.

In addition to celebrating the start of the 4th quarter and, finally, a sunny day, this week we are also celebrating several staff members and a student!  This week is National Assistant Principals Week so I would like to give a huge shout out to Ms. Forrest Reid and Ms. Sarah Burrowbridge for their never-ending support and commitment to our students and community.  Yesterday we also celebrated National Librarian Day, in which we honored our fantastic librarian Ms. Sheri Ruffle!  We are so grateful for the support Ms. Ruffle provides our students each day, as well as her collaboration with our staff.  Next, we are celebrating the nomination of one of our special education teachers, Ms. Julia Hills, for the Fairfax County Special Education PTA Award!  Ms. Hills is a strong advocate for our students and an exceptional partner with our families.  Lastly, we celebrate our 7th grade student, Laura, for her Gold Key award-winning short story in the Scholastic Writing Contest!  Congratulations to these staff members and our student!

As a reminder, tonight is our pyramid art show at Chantilly High School.  I am excited to see the talent of our students on display for our community and the talent of our entire pyramid.  Please see the flier below for additional details and I hope to see you there!  And lastly, I know there is great excitement about the solar eclipse this Monday.  I ask you to review the information found below with your child about how to remain safe during the eclipse, particularly as your child is riding the bus or walking home.  

I wish you all a wonderful weekend and, as always, please reach out to me at MLCase@fcps.edu with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Michelle Case

Interim Principal


📆Important Dates

April 5 - Chantilly Pyramid Art Show

April 10 - Student Holiday, Religious Observance Day- Eid

April 16 - Integrated Reading and Writing SOL Test for 8th Graders

April 16 - Dining for Dollars at Piero’s Corner

April 17- Purple Up Day! Month of the Military Child

April 17 - Author Visit with Stuart Gibbs

April 22-24 - Religious Observances

 

🎨Chantilly Pyramid Art Show is Tonight

Join us tonight for the Chantilly Pyramid Art Show from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM.  The art show will feature artworks from: Chantilly HS, Franklin MS, Rocky Run MS, Brookfield ES, Greenbriar East ES, Greenbriar West ES, Lees Corner, ES, Oak Hill ES, and Poplar Tree ES.  Families are invited for fun activities and to view featured artwork. There will also be food trucks, so come hungry!

Chantilly Art Show Flyer

 

📚School Library Month

At Franklin, students develop knowledge and skills, experience a sense of belonging, find inspiration and support, and have the ability to freely pursue their personal interests and academic growth. We greatly appreciate our librarian, Mrs. Ruffle, for all that she does. Watch this video to learn how FCPS librarians make a difference.

 

👏National Assistant Principals Week

Join NASSP, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and the American Federation of School Administrators in honoring the enormous contributions of our amazing assistant principals, Sarah Burrowbridge and Forrest Reid.

We love our assistant principals!

 

☀️ Safely View the Total Solar Eclipse on April 8 

A total solar eclipse will occur on Monday, April 8, and will be viewable, depending on weather, in Fairfax County. The eclipse will begin in our area around 2:04 PM and end around 4:32 PM, with the maximum eclipse occurring around 3:20 PM  Because the timing overlaps with dismissal, it is crucial that students understand the importance of safe viewing practices. We encourage families to review these Solar Eclipse Resources, especially the eye safety information. We hope everyone takes the opportunity to learn more about this extraordinary natural phenomenon while prioritizing safe solar viewing.

 

National Arab American Heritage Month

FCPS is proud to celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month in April. This special month provides an opportunity to recognize the history and valuable contributions of Arab Americans. Arab Americans have ancestry in one of the world’s 22 Arab nations, which are located from northern Africa through western Asia. The people of these nations are ethnically, politically, and religiously diverse but share a common cultural and linguistic heritage. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.

 

Muslim American Heritage Month

Muslim American Heritage Month is a time for celebrating the history, contributions, culture, and an enhanced understanding of the diverse population of Muslim Americans. View the Fairfax County School Board resolution honoring Muslim American Heritage Month.

 

🍝 Dining for Dollars at Piero’s Corner on April 16

Please consider supporting our PTA with Dining for Dollars on Tuesday, April 16 at Piero’s Corner in Franklin Farm.  Come in between 5:00-8:00 PM  let them know that you're there for the Franklin fundraiser.  Franklin will receive 20% of the sales which will go directly to supporting the students and staff of FMS.

 

🥁Oakton Band Auditions

Calling Oakton-bound 8th graders! Oakton High School band is holding 8th grade band auditions.  If you are a rising freshman and plan to participate in band, please join us for auditions from 6:30-8:30 PM on Monday, April 15 (Woodwinds) and Tuesday, April 16 (Brass/Percussion).  Enter OHS through Door 1, and look for Oakton band students or parents to guide you to the Hospitality room and Band room.  If you cannot make it on the assigned night, feel free to come at the other time. Learn more about Oakton Band.

 

💜 Purple Up! On April 17 to Support Military Families

April is the Month of the Military Child.  Join our community and turn FCPS purple on Purple Up! Day, Wednesday April 17.  Wear purple in recognition of FCPS’ 14,000 enrolled military-connected students.

Purple Up Flyer

 

📖 Lexia Parent Night: How We Help Your Child Learn to Read

FCPS funds the use of Lexia for all elementary and middle schools as part of their literacy instruction.  Lexia is a computer-based program that supplements classroom instruction to help students develop literacy skills.  It also provides teachers with data to identify students who need additional support and the ability to know which specific concepts and skills to prioritize.Attend a virtual information night on Tuesday, April 9 at 6:30 PM, to learn more about Lexia and how FCPS is integrating it into the classroom to support student growth.  Participants will also get tips for supporting their students at home.  Integrating Lexia into the literacy curriculum aligns with the Virginia Literacy Act, FCPS’ Equitable Access to Literacy, and FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 3, which aims to have all students reading on level by the end of third grade. 

 

💪Oakton High School Band Fitness Fundraiser

Support Oakton HS Bands at a free and fun fitness fundraiser!  Try out a HIGH Fitness class at the OHS gym on Saturday, April 13 at 10am.  The format is ALL CARDIO with great music and no equipment needed!  This class is for all ages and fitness levels.

 

Order an Oakton High School mug

🥤Oakton Mugs for Sale

The Oakton PTSA is selling mugs to raise money for their All Night Grad Party. If you have a student attending Oakton next year, consider  purchasing a Cougar mug.

 

👟Athletic Physicals

Athletic physicals are required for middle and high school student-athletes.  Beginning May 1, 2024, FCPS high schools will offer athletic pre-participation physical exams for students interested in middle school sports during the 2024-25 school year.   These events serve as the primary fundraiser for our high school athletic training programs and each exam costs $50.  Rising middle school students are eligible to receive a physical at no cost although donations to the HS athletic training program are welcomed.

Pre-registration is highly encouraged; walk-in appointments may not be available.  You can register here: Student registration.  Once your registration is received, the school’s athletic trainer will contact you to confirm your appointment time.  Athletic physical exams must be completed on this form: FCPS Middle School Sports Athletic Participation/Parental Consent/Physical Examination Form (PPE).

If you are a medical professional (MD, DO, NP, PA, ATC, PT, EMT, etc.) interested in volunteering your time in support of these events, please register to help out:  Volunteer registration.

 

💻Techstravaganza at Thomas Jefferson HS

This year will be the 20th annual Techstravaganza on Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at TJHSST.  Techstravaganza is a free, public, hands-on STEM activity fair for elementary and middle school students in Northern Virginia.  In previous years, more than 4,500 students have participated in over 70 labs presenting STEM activities.  Exhibitors include TJHSST clubs and volunteers from organizations like NASA SCaN, Art of Problem Solving, George Mason University, American Society of Naval Engineers, and the National Air and Space Museum. 

Admission is free and there will be food for sale.  Here is the registration form.  More information about the event can be found at tjtechstrav.org

 

Franklin MS After-School Program Information

Click Here to learn more about the After-School Program 

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.


 

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