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 Students preparing for the Orchestra concert, an awesome performance of Footloose, cold students at recess on Monday, students weighing their cars in engineering, and the band concert.
Franklin Community,
This was an excited week back after an extended break for Thanksgiving. First of all, it was COLD! While we did make the decision to stay inside a couple of times this week for recess, we had some cold outdoor recess as well. We several things into account when determining whether to go outside for recess or not including windchill and precipitation. We will always make every effort to go outside so please make sure that your student has a warm coat in the event that they are outside in the cold!
This week we also had two concerts at Franklin! Orchestra was on Wednesday night and Band was on Thursday night. I was lucky to attend the Band Concert and was so impressed with our students and our band director, Mr. Hill. I also heard amazing reviews about Ms. Mortensen's Orchestra students. Thank you to our directors and students for putting on such a great show!
Sticking with performing arts, we are also excited for the start of our theater production, Footloose. Our students have been working long hours of rehearsal and are ready to kick off their Sunday shoes. If you've heard the song, you know. Feel free to come to any of our shows this weekend or next. Dates and times are listed below!
Lastly, we were thrilled to present our Franklin MS Outstanding Employee Awards this week. Please see our winners listed below. If you have had a great experience with any of the employees listed, please submit your thoughts to be used in their nomination packet as they move to the Chantilly Pyramid level. Congratulations to all of these amazing staff members, their recognition is well-deserved!
Go Falcons!
Tom DeRusso
Principal
Franklin MS
Outstanding Employee Awards
Please join us in congratulating the following FMS Outstanding Employee winners:
Outstanding Teacher – Christie Meshanko
Outstanding New Teacher – Ryan Spivey
Outstanding Professional Employee – Chris Tippins
Outstanding Operational Employee – Cynthia Davenport
Outstanding Leader – Sarah Burrowbridge
These winners will advance to be considered for the Chantilly Pyramid Outstanding Employee Awards. Please consider submitting your thoughts via the link below as to how each awardee has positively impacted the Franklin community and is deserving of this recognition.
Contribute to a strong nomination packet by submitting a few examples of their outstanding work here.
Weekly CARE Card Raffle Winners
 Thursday the Band Winter Concert featured the Cadet Band, Concert Band and Symphonic Band with 153 members, the largest band Franklin Middle has had in ten years. A big thanks to all of the families who help make this possible, the amazing students for their performance, and to Mr. Hill for his awesome conducting.
 Franklin Middle School Drama presents Footloose starting tonight with shows at 7PM today, 7pm on Saturday, and shows next Friday and Saturday as well! Here’s an awesome premier photo! A huge shout out to all of the families for support, the students for their dedication and passion onstage and behind, and Ms. Lockrem for producing this great show!
 Franklin’s Orchestra performed this week and it was a great success. A big shout out to all of the dedicated students, the supportive families, and Ms. Mortensen for an amazing concert experience.
 Our amazing English teacher Alison Baker was recognized as a Lexia Leader in FCPS this past week. She strives hard to help students learn and make growth."
Important Dates
December 6-7, 13-14 - Fall Musical - Footloose
Dec 6, 7, 13 - 7pm
Dec 14 - 2pm & 7pm
December 9-13 - Book Fair
Dec 12 - Evening Hours - 5pm-7pm
December 12 - Chorus Concert - 7:00pm @ Rocky Run MS
December 23-January 6 - Winter Break - School Closed
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FMS Book Fair is Next Week!
The Franklin MS Library will have a Scholastic Book Fair for students from December 9th-13th. Family shopping time is on December 12th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the library. Students can use cash or a check written out to “Franklin Middle School”. Please use the Scholastic website if you would like to set up an ewallet for your student. More information is available in the Schoology Library Course. Contact Sheri Ruffle if you have questions.
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School Pictures are Ready
To order, log in to your account on mylifetouch.com or create an account using your student's student ID number.
All families can also log on and order a FREE Digital SmileSafe card.
Yearbooks on Sale Now
Don't wait to purchase your child's yearbook! Yearbooks are available for online purchase only, and supplies are limited. Secure your copy now to ensure your child doesn't miss out on this special keepsake of memories. Visit yearbookordercenter.com and use code 5330 to order today!
Franklin Middle School PTA
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Holiday Appreciation Breakfast for Staff
The PTA is excited to provide a grab and go breakfast for the Franklin Middle School staff (consisting of approx 150 staff members) on December 19th. We do need your help! Please see the opportunities for volunteering and donations link below to sign up! Please sign up by December 13th. For all donations be sure to deliver to the front office (labeled for "PTA Holiday Appreciation") no later than 2pm on December 18th. Thank you for your generosity in helping to celebrate our amazing school.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080549A9A728ABF94-53625583-holiday#/
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After-School Program Information
More information on the After-School Program and schedule for next week can be found on the After-School Program website and on the Parent Schoology.
After-School Registration Form - Please Complete
Click the After-School Program Website Link below for more info and the schedule for next week. Buses will run Monday-Thursday. There is programming on Fridays but there are NO Late Buses. Parent pickup only by 4:35pm.
Please use the google link to register, even if you don't anticipate your student staying After-School. Unforeseen circumstances happen, and we want to be prepared to contact you if anything arises!
Parents - When picking up your student from the After-School Program, please do not use the bus loop after 4:00pm. It makes it difficult for the buses as they are entering for the dismissal of the After-School Program. Parents can use the parking lot or the Kiss and Ride.
Falcons Got Talent - Coming Soon!!
Book Donations Drive
The books that are collected are going to make their way to Northern Virginia Family Services (NVFS) to be given to children who need books but don’t have access to them. Books that are donated can be dropped off to the main office or have your student bring them to one of the book donation bins around the school.
Window for Full-Time AAP Referrals Closes on December 15, 2024
Parents/guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for Full-Time advanced academic programs may submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form to Janet Schiavone at jpschiavone@fcps.edu no later than December 15, 2024.
The window for families to submit a referral for Full-Time AAP services is the first day of school through December 15, annually. Forms for Full-Time and part-time referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted.
Submitting a referral form for Full-Time AAP will initiate a process that begins at the local school and is then completed at the central office level. Our school will put together a portfolio that includes multiple data which are considered holistically. At the central office level, a committee of six trained professionals from various schools and roles will review the portfolio materials to determine eligibility for Full-Time placement. Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of the portfolio that was submitted after they have been turned in for central selection by emailing <<fill in the name and email address of the AART>>.
Referrals for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP are screened at the local school. If you miss this deadline, your student can still be screened for Subject-Specific AAP or Part-Time AAP for the remainder of the year and submit a referral for Full-Time AAP next fall.
For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.
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⏰ Update on Potential Changes to Middle School Start Times
At Tuesday’s School Board work session, staff from Prismatic Services, Inc., presented options for adjusting start times at FCPS middle schools. As a reminder, Prismatic is charged with developing an action plan to help the School Board reach its goal of starting middle school at or after 8 a.m.
The presentation includes five options for adjusting middle school start times based on the consultant’s analysis from community forums, surveys, and interviews with staff, parents, associations, and other groups. The School Board will provide next steps to the superintendent.
Watch a video of the work session. Visit the Middle School Start Times webpage for more information on the project.
Federal Impact Aid Survey
Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in). Please complete it as soon as possible.
For any families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE, we will provide paper forms starting Wednesday, November 13. Paper forms should be returned by Wednesday, December 4.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. Information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
For more information, please watch this video on Impact Aid and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.
Need to Register for ParentVUE?
Learn how to activate your SIS ParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey.
Technical support for using ParentVUE or completing the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type Federal Impact Aid Survey under Issue Description. Or, call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).
Student Feedback Opportunity for FCPS Cell Phone Policy and SR&R
FCPS is working with K12 Insight to host a community forum for families, staff members, and students to provide feedback on the school division’s cell phone policies and practices, and the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) document. FCPS is looking for more student participants (grades 3-12) to help ensure diverse perspectives from our community.
The community forum will be held on Tuesday, December 10, 6:30-8 p.m., at the Willow Oaks Administrative Center. If your student is interested in providing feedback, please visit the Cell Phone Policy Forum registration page to learn more. Families must register their child by Monday, November 25.
Social and Emotional Learning Screener Results
One of the ways FCPS supports the mental wellness of all students is through the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener. In October, students in grades 3-12 took this screener, which gives information about their skills such as achieving goals, handling emotions, building relationships with adults and peers, and making good choices.
The screener also helps students evaluate their school community’s efforts to make them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to create learning, experiences, and environments for students to succeed.
Families are able to view student SEL Screener results in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent by mail.
Learn more about the screener on the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage. For help understanding your child’s results or ideas to support them at home, review the Family Guide or contact your child’s school.
Register for ParentVUE
Learn how to activate your ParentVUE account, so you can easily access your child’s results and other helpful information.
 ❄️ Preparing for Winter Weather
Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made.
FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange for childcare if needed.
Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities
We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories which may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. See the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.
If you need assistance supplying your child with cold-weather clothing, please call Fairfax County's Coordinated Services Planning at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health care.
Tutoring Resources for Families
Is your family looking for resources to help support your child’s academic success? FCPS’ Family Resource Center (FRC) maintains a list of district employees who hold a valid Virginia teaching credential and who are available to be hired as a tutor by parents. FRC maintains this list, but families are responsible for contacting and working directly with tutors. This list is not “approved” by FCPS and is only meant as a resource.
FCPS also partners with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors' services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests.
 ✨ The 2023-30 Strategic Plan — Goal 5: Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation
FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan sets five main goals to create positive change in the division. These goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts.
Our final goal is Leading for Tomorrow’s Innovation. We are preparing our students for a future that has yet to be imagined. We must give them the skills they will need to succeed. Watch this video to see students exploring and preparing for careers through Career and Technical Experience programs. See how Goal 5 is being put into practice.
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