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 Students from Oakton High School Leadership came to teach the Franklin leadership class, Teachers and staff served Thanksgiving lunch to students, Students learning how to safely use equipment in Tech Ed, Two students twinning for the day.
 Congratulations to our Girls and Boys Cross Country Teams for a fantastic season! Go Falcons!
Franklin Community,
This week, students engaged in an important part of the Portrait of a Graduate (POG) Presentations of Learning, an FCPS initiative designed to ensure that all students develop real-life skills such as communication, collaboration, creative and critical thinking, global citizenship, and goal-directed resilience. For about five minutes in each class, students selected an assignment from the first quarter that demonstrated growth in one of these POG attributes and added it to their personal data tracker. By the end of the year, each student will have a portfolio of work showcasing their progress in these essential skills, culminating in a presentation to their classmates about how they have grown as learners and individuals. Thank you to all of our teachers for guiding students through this reflective process and helping them build meaningful lifelong skills.
Congratulations to our girls and boys Cross Country teams on a strong finish to the season at last weekend’s FCPS Middle School Cross Country Championships! Our boys team placed 11th and our girls team placed 14th out of 26 teams—a tremendous accomplishment in a very competitive field. The girls team also had two runners finish in the top 25, including one who placed 6th overall out of nearly 200 runners. We are so proud of the hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship our runners demonstrated all season long.
A big thank you to Coach Fauver for his passion, enthusiasm, and commitment to our athletes, and to Mr. Tippins for keeping everything running smoothly as our athletic director. Go Falcons!
Many families and students in our community have questions regarding the opening of the New Western High School in the 2026–27 school year. All current 8th graders at Franklin will have the option to opt in to attend the new high school if they choose. In the coming weeks, FCPS and Franklin will provide families and students with additional information about the school, its programs, and the decision-making process. Our goal is to ensure that every family has the details they need to make an informed and confident choice for next year. More information will be shared soon—stay tuned!
Lastly, we had a wonderful time celebrating our staff and student Thanksgiving luncheons this week! On Wednesday, staff enjoyed a delicious potluck meal together—a great opportunity to connect, share food, and kick off the holiday spirit. On Thursday, students were served a full Thanksgiving-themed lunch in the cafeteria, and many were excited to see some of their favorite teachers and staff members helping serve in the lunch line. It was a fun, community-building tradition that we look forward to each year.
As we head into the upcoming Thanksgiving break beginning Wednesday, November 26, we wish all of our students and families a restful, safe, and joyful holiday with loved ones.
Tom DeRusso
Principal
Franklin Middle School
Weekly CARE Card Raffle Winners
 Students of the Month
Congratulations to our Falcons who were honored as our October Students of the Month. We are so proud of you. Continue to Soar!
~Important Dates~
November 24, 25 - No After School Program
November 26-28 - Thanksgiving Break - School & Office Closed
December 2 - Picture Retakes
December 3 - Choral Concert - 7pm
December 8-12 - Book Fair
December 10 - Orchestra Concert - 7pm
December 17 - Band Concert - 7pm
~Action Items~
🏆Outstanding New Principal - Share Your Experience
Mr. DeRusso has been nominated for Outstanding New Principal for Fairfax County. As part of the process, we need to provide feedback that shows what a great job he is doing at Franklin MS. We would love for you to share your experiences with Mr. DeRusso. If you have a story you would like to share, please do so by going to this link.
Window for Full-Time AAP Referrals Closes on December 15
Parents and guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for full-time Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) services must submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form to Janet Schiavone at jpschiavone@fcps.edu no later than December 15, 2025.
Each year, families can submit a referral for full-time AAP services any time from the first day of school through December 15. No late referrals for full-time AAP services will be accepted.
Once a referral is received, our school will compile information related to the student. Then, a committee of six trained professionals from across the county will review materials to determine eligibility for full-time AAP services.
Next Steps for Parents
Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of their child’s materials after February 20, 2026, by emailing Janet Schiavone at jpschiavone@fcps.edu.
At the elementary level, referrals for subject-specific and part-time AAP are screened by the school. If you miss the full-time referral deadline, your student can still be screened for subject-specific or part-time AAP services for the remainder of the year.
At the middle school level, honors courses are open to all students.
For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs webpage
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📸School Pictures Ready to View
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.
More about the Smilesafe program here.
✅ 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, which is in the upper right corner of the screen after logging in. Please complete it as soon as possible. We will provide paper forms to families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE starting Wednesday, November 12.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. This year, FCPS expects to receive approximately $4 million in Impact Aid funding. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
For more information, visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.
Register for ParentVUE
Learn how to activate your SISParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey and have access to other helpful information about your child.
Technical support for using ParentVUE or submitting 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” in the Issue Description section. You may also call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).
FMS Food Drive
As we enter the month of Thanksgiving, Franklin is joining together to sponsor its very own food drive to support the efforts of Food for Neighbors. From November 10th through December 5th students can drop off individually packed food items (List of Items Accepted) to their advisory teacher. Items will be collected during every advisory and a running count will be posted each day on the bulletin board near the cafeteria. The team collecting the most number of items will win extra recess. Thank you to everyone for your generosity and good luck to all teams!
WHEN: November 10th through December 5th
WHERE to BRING ITEMS: Advisory Teacher
WHAT ITEMS are ACCEPTED: CLICK HERE
WHY?: Share with others and spread joy in our community
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📔Yearbook Orders
Pre-order your 2025-2026 Franklin Yearbook! Orders are open between now and April 13. No late orders will be accepted.
To order, visit yearbookordercenter.com and use order number 5330, or use the QR code provided on the attached flyer.
Don't miss out!
☑️Register To Volunteer
All parents must register before volunteering for a school event. At Franklin Middle School, our volunteers are a vital part of our school community. We deeply value the time and care they give to our students.
We encourage all our parents and community members interested in supporting our students by volunteering at school to visit Volunteer FCPS, click “Learn More,” and then “Sign Up.” After you create a profile, you will view an orientation video and complete a volunteer application. Visit the Volunteer FCPS Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more.
Volunteer Registration Update
Due to the overwhelming response from our community, FCPS is temporarily pausing fingerprint requirements for most Level 3 volunteers.
If you are scheduled for an upcoming fingerprinting appointment, please cancel your appointment unless you are a mentor, host parent, or non-parent volunteer having frequent, direct, and unsupervised contact with students, which will still require fingerprinting. FCPS will be charged if individuals miss a fingerprinting appointment without canceling in advance.
Those who have already been fingerprinted will be processed to be eligible for all Level 3 opportunities.
Field trip chaperone opportunities will now be classified as Level 2 (not requiring a background check).
To ensure continuous safety, all new volunteers are required to sign a Volunteer Certification Statement. This statement is a legal attestation confirming you have no history of violent felonies, physical/sexual crimes against children, or crimes of moral turpitude.
Want to volunteer? Visit Volunteer FCPS to find and sign up for volunteer opportunities. Contact Volunteers@fcps.edu with any questions.
~Student Services~
 Don't forget to Register here to attend
🍞Food for Neighbors
Help Franklin MS and Food for Neighbors, Fight Student Hunger with the Red Bag Program
1 in 4 kids in Northern Virginia faces hunger. Food For Neighbors supports local students by collecting food through the Red Bag Program and distributing it to school pantries.
How it works:
- Request a free Red Bag
- Fill it with listed food items every 2 months
- Leave it outside on collection day — it’ll be picked up!
Learn more about what to donate and how to get involved: Red Bag program click here.
You can also volunteer to collect or sort bags — a great way for students to earn service hours.
Questions? Contact the school’s social worker, Elyse Brunais , or our family liaison, Janet McFadden.
~AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM~
Students should be picked up from the After-School Program no later than 5:00PM. Parents should communicate with your student on their pickup time. Late Buses run Monday-Thursday with a departure time of 4:45pm. On Fridays there are no late buses but parents may pick up their students by 4:35pm on Fridays.
- The After-School Program will not meet on 11/21, 11/24, 11/25
Cross Country
Congratulations to the Cross Country team for their hard work and dedication this season. Last week 25 runners ran in the MS Championships at Liberty Middle School. A big shoutout to two of our girls that competed in the Girls Championship Race for their top 25 finishes.
- Sarah Varano - 6th Place
- Abigail Mezzetti -23rd Place
If your runner has not turned in their tank top, please have them turn it in to Coach Fauver in room 109.
MS Track & Field will begin in late March or April. Stay tuned for more information.You can also visit the Franklin MS Sports page or at the FCPS MS Sports site for more information.
 ~Franklin Middle School PTA~
Support Franklin's PTA
We're One-Third of the Way to Our Goal!
Welcome back to all our families to another busy school year! We're grateful to everyone who has already joined the PTA this year! So far, we're only about one-third of the way to meeting our membership goal. Your membership dollars go directly back into supporting our students, teachers, and classrooms by covering a variety of costs from classroom resources and teacher appreciation to student enrichment opportunities and more.
While we anticipated membership numbers might dip compared to last year, we're hopeful that families who are able can help close the gap. In addition to the standard $25 membership, please consider subscribing to the $50, $75, or $100 levels. Every extra contribution makes a big difference and helps reduce the need for heavier fundraisers later in the school year. Click here to register for membership, and please try to do so as soon as possible.
A reminder to returning Franklin families and awareness for our new families--for details and links on information and resources you'll need as your children progress through Franklin, visit and subscribe to our PT School Board and follow the Franklin MS PTA Facebook page.
~Helpful Information~
❄️ Prepare for Winter Weather
Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather closing decisions are made at FCPS.
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, the new FCPS mobile app, 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 emergency child care 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 that 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. View the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.
If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health.
FRANKLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL PROCEDURES 2025-2026
Welcome! Whether you are making the transition to middle school or returning for 8th grade, please review the following procedures to ensure that all students are safe and accounted for each school day and to minimize disruption of classroom instructional time.
Phones
Franklin Middle School has an “off and away” policy for student phones in classrooms, hallways, bathrooms, and locker rooms. Phones must be turned off and put in a backpack or locker for the duration of the school day (7:30 am - 2:15 pm).
Early Dismissal
The attendance line is NOT to be used to request early dismissal. To minimize disruptions to the classroom learning environment, please have your student bring a note to the main office detailing the student name, date, and time you will pick up your student and the reason for the early dismissal. A pass will be issued to your student to be released from class at the designated time. Any adult picking up a student must provide a photo ID and be listed as an emergency care contact.
Absences and/or Late Arrivals
Absences and late arrivals should be reported by 9:00 am using any of the following methods.
- Attendance line: 703-904-5151
- Online attendance form on the FMS website
- Through ParentVue submission
Forgotten Items
Please do not drop off forgotten items, including lunches, as we cannot guarantee they will get to the student’s classroom. Exceptions include prescription glasses, hearing aids, medication, etc.
Bus Transportation
In support of student safety and accountability, bus riders are to get on and off at their assigned FCPS bus stop. If the need arises, a one-time pass can be issued to ride a different bus as long as a written note is provided to the school by the parent/guardian of each student. *Notes are to be turned into the main office by 7:30 AM the day of the request. Emails, calls and text messages are not accepted.
Clinic
Students should not use their phones to call home if they are not feeling well. They should get a pass from their teacher and report directly to the clinic.
Pre-Arranged Absences (3 or more days)
Pre-arranged absences must be approved in advance. Please complete the Request for Prearranged Absence Form/Middle and High School (found on the FCPS website) and turn in to the main office at least one week before the scheduled absence.
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📱 Download the New FCPS Mobile App!
The FCPS mobile app offers a customized platform to help keep families connected and informed, directly from their smartphones. You can download the Fairfax County Public Schools mobile app by going to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and searching for “FCPS.”
With the app you can:
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Stay up-to-date: Get the latest news from FCPS.
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View school calendars: See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals.
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Check school menus: See what’s for lunch and breakfast today, tomorrow, or next week.
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Tap to contact: Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
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Access key links: Jump to ParentVUE, Schoology, and the FCPS website in one tap.
Users can access updates and content without having to sign in, making it easy for everyone to stay informed.
Learn more about the new mobile app, including feedback from parents TeAndra Nelson and Roy Dykes.
Tutoring Resources for Families
Some families may be looking for additional resources to help support their child’s academic success. The FCPS Family Resource Center (FRC) maintains a list of FCPS employees who hold a valid Virginia teaching credential and who are available to hire as tutors. This list is a resource offered by the FRC, but families are responsible for contacting and working directly with the tutors. This list is not approved by FCPS and is only meant to be a resource to families.
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, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests.
~Highlights~
Native American Heritage Month
Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native Americans. It is also a time to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges they have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.
~Community Events~
Quick Links
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