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 Sidewalks were cleared and ready to welcome students back; Our counselors were overjoyed at being honored this week; Office staff showed their USA spirit as the Olympic season starts; Students enjoyed time with the K-9 Caring Angels Therapy Dogs.
Franklin Community,
We appreciate everyone’s flexibility and patience as we worked through multiple delayed starts this week due to snow and icy conditions. While winter weather has continued to impact our schedule, it has been nice to see us getting closer and closer to a more normal routine. Thank you for your support in helping students arrive safely and ready for learning each day.
We are proud to share that Franklin had three students represented in Artifax, FCPS’s annual celebration honoring outstanding teen artists from across the division. Artifax showcases student work in the visual arts and recognizes creativity, skill, and artistic voice at the middle and high school levels. Being selected for Artifax is a significant accomplishment, and we are thrilled to see our Franklin artists recognized among such talented peers. Congratulations to our students and a big thank-you to our art teacher, Ms. French, for inspiring and supporting student creativity.
This week, students were introduced to Falcons in Good Standing (FIGS) during Advisory. FIGS is a behavior-based incentive program designed to promote positive behavior, accountability, and responsible decision-making as we prepare for our upcoming Franklin vs. Rocky Run basketball event. Students learned about the expectations and criteria for maintaining good standing, and we appreciate your partnership in reinforcing these expectations at home as we build toward a safe and positive school-wide event.
We are also looking forward to our 8th grade volleyball tournament, which will take place during Advisory next week as a fun culminating event for the volleyball unit. To celebrate the tournament, we will invite students to attend the championship game as spectators, making it a spirited and community-building event. We’re excited to see our 8th graders showcase their effort and root on their classmates!
We also want to acknowledge that the second semester is officially underway. Students enrolled in semester-long electives have begun their new courses, while students in year-long electives should not have experienced significant schedule changes unless there were extenuating circumstances. We understand that not every student may have received their first-choice elective, but please know that we use course selection sheets to make every effort to place students in classes they have expressed interest in while also balancing the many complexities of building a master schedule. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we work to provide meaningful and engaging elective experiences for all students.
As we look ahead to the coming week, we are hopeful that a stretch of warmer weather next weekend will bring some much-needed melting snow and a return to more typical winter conditions. We appreciate your continued flexibility during this unusual weather pattern and look forward to a smoother, more routine week ahead at Franklin.
Tom DeRusso
Principal
Franklin Middle School
Weekly CARE Card Raffle Winners
National School Counseling Week
This week we spent time celebrating our amazing school counselors. Our middle school counselors play an important role in supporting students’ academic success, social development, and emotional well-being. They work closely with students through individual meetings, group lessons, and classroom activities focused on skills like organization, resilience, and healthy relationships. Our counselors strive to help every student feel supported, confident, and ready to learn.
Thank you to Ms. Fraundorfer, Ms. Gallagher and Ms. Zeid. Franklin is lucky to have you as our school counselors!
~Important Dates~
February 16 - Presidents' Day - School & Office Closed
February 17 - School Closed - Teacher Workday
February 27 - Franklin vs. Rocky Run Basketball
5pm-Staff / 6pm-Girls / 7pm-Boys
Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Learn more about Black History month.
~Action Items~
🥛 Student Fasting Meal Kits
FCPS is offering take-home meal kits from Wednesday, February 18 to Thursday, March 19, 2026 to support students who are fasting during the school day.
Families must fill out a meal kit request form FCPS FNS website for each student, every week. Because these meals are prepared fresh, we cannot accept late requests.
The request form will open on February 4. Please see submission deadlines below:
- By Wednesday, February 11, 2026 for the week of February 18, 2026
- By Monday, February 16, 2026 for the week of February 23, 2026
- By Monday, February 23, 2026 for the week of March 2, 2026
- By Monday, March 2, 2026 for the week of March 9, 2026
- By Monday, March 9, 2026 for the week of March 16, 2026
Meal kits will be picked up in the main office at the end of the school day.
📸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.
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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!
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☑️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.
Want to volunteer? Visit Volunteer FCPS to find and sign up for volunteer opportunities. Contact Volunteers@fcps.edu with any questions.
~Student Services~
FLE Updates
Dear Parents/Guardians of Franklin Students:
Students in grades 7-8 participate in Family Life Education (FLE) instruction through their Health/PE classrooms.
7th grade HGD FLE Feb. 2-5
8th grade HGD FLE Feb 9-12
8th grade ESH FLE lessons begin Feb 18.
7th grade ESH FLE lessons begin Mar 9,
In addition, grade level-specific curriculum lessons are available for review in multiple locations.
- Online in Schoology - includes lessons and media titles that FCPS has streaming rights for. Any additional media or book titles that are not streamed are available at your child’s school library.
o Parents/guardians login to Schoology using the same username and password as their Student Information System (SIS) Parent account.
- Your child’s school. Please contact the school to schedule a time to review lessons and/or media.
- City of Fairfax Regional Library – lessons only. Media is not available.
In the beginning of the year, parents/guardians who did not wish to have their child participate in FLE instruction chose to opt their child out of any or all of the lessons. If you have not and would like to opt your child out of one or more lessons, please fill out and return the form https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/forms/english_3.pdf.
If you have already indicated your desire to opt your child out of FLE lessons by using the form provided earlier in the school year, you do not need to complete another form. Should you opt your child out and then later decide you want your child included in FLE instruction, you must notify your child’s school principal in writing before instruction begins.
An alternative non-FLE health instructional program is provided for children who do not take part in FLE instruction, and every effort is made to foster understanding and respect for family choices and to avoid peer pressure for or against participation in the program.
 Rising 9th Grade Students
The Parent University 101: Helping Your Child Navigate Rising 9th Grade Academic Advising and the Important Rising 9th Grade Academic Advising Dates are posted in the Student and Parent Schoology.
🍞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.
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For more info on the After-School Program visit the website or schoology.
- No After-School Program on Friday February 13
VIP CAMP - SAVE THE DATE
Save the Date for Values in Prevention Camp - VIP Camp. Western Fairfax VIP Camp will be held at Liberty Middle School from July 1-July 30.
More details to follow. Application for VIP Camp will open in March!!
MS Sports - Spring Track
Spring Track Information is posted below. There will be a meeting in late February (TBD). The first practice will be on Tuesday April 7. All students will need to make sure that they register using the MS Sports Track Registration Link posted below. If your student ran Cross Country their FCPS Physical is still valid but will need to complete the Registration Link and ECC.. If they are new to track, they will need to complete all forms listed below.
Meets for Track will be held at designated High Schools across FCPS on Saturdays. The first meet of the season will be on Saturday April 25 at Herndon High School.
All paperwork and the MS Sports Registration must be submitted before any student can participate, try out or practice. Any questions please reach out to Chris Tippins at WCTippins@fcps.edu.You can also visit the Franklin MS Sports page or at the FCPS MS Sports site for more information.
**Track Coach Needed**
We are looking for a Track Coach for the spring Track season. Track practices will start the week after Spring Break. Coaching consists of practices 2 days per week and five meets on Saturdays. The last meet of the season is on 5/30. If you are interested in coaching, please contact Chris Tippins (wctippins@fcps.edu) and/or Tom DeRusso (tgderusso@fcps.edu)
Franklin vs Rocky Run Basketball Game - February 27
Tickets for the Franklin vs Rocky Run Basketball Game are on sale now via MySchoolBucks for $5.00. Visit the school store and look for the Franklin vs Rocky Icon to purchase tickets. Tickets will be available via MySchoolBucks until February 24. Tickets will be sold in lunches on February 25/26 and will be available for purchase at Chantilly HS the night of the game.
COMMANDERS CAMPS
Coming to Franklin MS!!
Franklin Middle School will be hosting 3 Commanders Flag Football Camps run by Flag Star Football this summer. For more information visit www.commanderscamps.com or scan the QR Code below.
 ~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~
😷Health Reminders
Flu season is here, and we all want to keep our students healthy and safe. Please remind your child to practice good hygiene, such as washing their hands frequently and covering their mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
If your child is feeling unwell, especially with flu-like symptoms such as fever, chills, cough, sore throat or body aches, we ask that you to keep them at home to rest and recover. If your child has a fever of 100.4 or higher, keep them at home until his or her fever is below 100.4 for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication.
Thank you for your support in keeping our school community healthy. If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to reach out to our Public Health Nurse, Lauren Nichols, RN, at 703-904-5135.
 Immunization Events for FCPS Students
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will provide school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. Additional dates will be available throughout the school year.
Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary. View immunization resources on the FCPS website.
⛄ Winter Resources for Families
A list of resources has been compiled for students and families in case they or someone they know needs assistance while schools are closed for winter break. Please visit FCPS’ winter resources page for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs.
❄️ 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.
📱 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.
~Community Events~
 
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