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Dear Franklin Sherman Families,
We had a fantastic first week at school! Hopefully you heard lots of joyous stories at your homes this weekend. At the end of the week, we introduced our book vending machine which was purchased by the PTA. Every month, the students with birthdays will receive a free book. I cannot thank the PTA enough for this new and exciting purchase! Last Friday, we celebrated 31 August birthdays and I look forward to celebrating our September birthdays soon.
On Friday, I did begin to use a new platform for communication called "Talking Points." Talking Points is an easy and safe way families can communicate in their home languages with their child’s teachers for free. It is also a great way for the school to give timely updates and for teachers to send home quick reminders. You can learn more about it here: https://www.fcps.edu/communications/family-communication-resources/talkingpoints
This week we have our Back To School Night on Wednesday. The first session will begin at 5:30-6 for grades K-3. Specialists will be available in the library from 5:30-6:15 if you have any questions. The second session will run from 6-6:30 for grades 4-6.
As always, please reach out with any questions, concerns, or positive stories you'd like to share. It has been great this first week getting parent feedback on what has been going well and the adorable stories your children come home and share.
Farris Thomas
Principal
Franklin Sherman ES
August 28 Back to School Night (K-3 5:30-6; 4-6 6-6:30. This is a parent/caregiver event only)
August 30 Student Holiday
September 2 Labor Day Holiday
September 6 Friday Fun Day
September 20 Movie Night
September 23 Early Release Monday
School Calendar: 2024-25
Contents
The Early Release Mondays planned throughout the school year for elementary schools are essential to allow educators time for planning and professional development. Students will be dismissed 3 hours early seven times throughout the school year and are encouraged to return home via their normal route. However, we understand there may be a childcare hardship because of the early release Mondays for many of our families. To resolve these concerns, student supervision will be available for families who need it.
The following dates are planned for Early Release Mondays throughout the school year:
- September 23
- October 28
- November 25
- February 24
- March 17
- April 28
- May 19
To help plan for our school’s childcare needs during the early release Mondays, please complete this form by August 23rd https://forms.gle/pAAGTxiBq3QTWYsU9 for each of your children who are enrolled at Franklin Sherman Elementary. The form covers the first two early release Mondays, scheduled for September 23, 2024 and October 28, 2024. If you have multiple children, you will need to submit multiple forms. Staff will confirm the after school supervision plan for each student.
Starting August 19, parents and caregivers can report up to two consecutive full-day absences using SIS ParentVUE. For absences longer than two days, please contact Franklin Sherman's Front Office.
All Day Absences: The Attendance feature in SIS ParentVUE is the FCPS secure web solution for reporting all day absences.
Partial Absence: To report late arrivals, early dismissals, or to update already submitted attendance, please contact Franklin Sherman's Front Office.
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SIS ParentVUE - The SIS ParentVUE Account (Student Information System ParentVUE Account) is the FCPS secure solution for accessing information about your child's attendance, class performance, demographic data, and link to Schoology.
TalkingPoints - TalkingPoints is a free app that allows families to communicate with teachers in their preferred language. This will be a new tool we will use this year.
Here Comes the Bus - Know when the school bus is arriving with the Here Comes the Bus app. This app uses GPS to track bus locations in real time. To use this app, you'll need to set up your ParentVue account first. The FCPS school district code is 28982.
Nutrislice - Find out what's for breakfast and/or lunch each day.
MySchoolBucks - Online payment for lunch accounts and field trips are available through the MySchoolBucks School Store. This online payment service provides a quick and easy way to pay for school-related purchases. You will be able to pay for a variety of school fees using credit/debit cards or electronic checks.
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Student consent are now available with ParentVue login information in the Parent Digital Consent System (PDC). Families can log into the PDC using their ParentVue credentials to complete consent forms assigned to their child. If you have a new ParentVue account, you must wait 24 hours after it is created to use the PDC.
Log In Now
Forms available include:
- School Counseling Opt-out
- Digital Resources Consent
- SEL Screener Opt-Out
- Family Life Education Opt-out
- SOL Retest Permission
- Objection to Release of Directory Information to the Public
- Objection to Release of Information to Outside Organizations
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Families must complete the Free and Reduced Price Meal application before the start of each school year. Approved applications may also qualify students for additional benefits. Look for the application in August, view criteria, and up-to-date information on the Free and Reduced-Price Meals webpage. Families should reach out to their schools with questions or for assistance.
To apply online:
- Visit www.MySchoolApps.com
- In the State drop down menu, select Virginia
- Click on the Search button
- On the next screen, select Fairfax County Public Schools from the Choose your District dropdown
- Click on the Select District & Continue button
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Thursday – August 29 – 4:00-6:30
We are excited to announce our annual Celebrate McLean festival at McLean High School. This vibrant community event is filled with fun for all ages. Enjoy a lively atmosphere with a live DJ, delicious food trucks, engaging games including a moon bounce obstacle course, and much more.
Celebrate McLean also serves as a great opportunity for future and existing Highlanders to learn more about student clubs, activities, and our athletic teams. It’s a perfect way to kick off the evening before heading to support our McLean Varsity football team as they take on Meridian at 7pm right after the festival.
Join us and celebrate our community and cheer on our team for an unforgettable night! Admission is free to Celebrate McLean.
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We want your child to get the most out of their school experience! To open up a world of exciting activities and valuable opportunities, we need your collaboration. Please take a moment at the beginning of the school year to review and provide your consent through the easy-to-use FCPS Parent Digital Consent system.
More Information and Guide for Completing the Consent
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FCPS has tools to help parents know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided at no cost to families by Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service.
Parents may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites their child visited. The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for free access to the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours.
Learn more about Lightspeed Parent Reports.
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Friday Fun Day with Kona Ice
August 23 & September 6, 3:50 - 4:40 p.m.
Treat your kids to some shaved ice and help our pandas! For a fundraiser, we have arranged for the Kona Ice truck to be in the school parking lot by the fields. A portion of sales will be given to the PTA to support our school.
Join the PTA
You can make a difference in your school community and will receive the weekly PTA Newsletter. Annual PTA membership costs only $20 and is due EACH school year. Join today!
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In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- Everything You Can Do Through SIS ParentVUE
- Updating Immunizations and Records
- Transportation Patience and Safety
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today
Fairfax County Public Schools does not provide medical insurance for accidents that occur at school. Parents may want to consider if purchasing voluntary student insurance is right for their family.
K & K Insurance Group has student accident insurance coverage available for purchase by parents. If you do not have other insurance, this plan may be a resource to consider. Additionally, even if you have other coverage, this plan can help fill expensive gaps caused by deductibles and co-pays. Coverage may be purchased at any time during the school year.
Find more information on the FCPS website.
Enroll Now
Submit a Claim
If you are interested in being a parent representative for the family vision group please email Farris Thomas (fsthomas@fcps.edu).
This program is designed to foster a collaborative environment where diverse families can engage directly with Dr. Reid on important issues that impact student success. The FCPS Family Vision Group brings communities together to discuss and achieve the goals of the 2023-2030 Strategic Plan, which prioritizes excellence, equity, and opportunity for all students.
By participating, parents/caregivers gain valuable knowledge and connections to become powerful partners in their child's educational journey. The group also facilitates open discussions with Dr. Reid on important topics related to student success. Bi-monthly meetings (August 2024 - May 2025) ensure consistent school representation and foster open communication through Q&A sessions, and feedback opportunities to help participants inform other families at their schools. The FCPS Family Vision Group seeks to recognize and strengthen the positive impact of community engagement on student achievement. Key responsibilities of the FCPS Family Connection Group Include:
- Regularly attend FCPS Family Vision Group meetings.
- Support the superintendent's outreach efforts to engage families and community members.
- Actively participate in the exchange of information and perspectives.
- Serve as ambassadors to your school community by being an additional bridge to sharing information between families and the superintendent.
- Commit to pursuing the interest of each and every student in Fairfax County Public Schools.
FCPS Cares is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize those who go above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story so we can all acknowledge the outstanding work of FCPS and specifically Franklin Sherman.
FCPS Cares Program
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