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 Students in Science 8 doing a weather prediction project and pictures of the Eco club preparing to make spring amazing at Franklin!
Franklin Community,
Looking ahead to next week, our 8th graders will be taking the Integrated Reading and Writing (IRW) Assessment next Tuesday. The IRW is a state assessment that measures students’ ability to read complex texts, analyze information, and produce clear, well-supported written responses. The assessment requires students to read multiple sources on a given topic and write an extended response that demonstrates comprehension, critical thinking, and effective writing skills. While this is an important academic benchmark, it is also an opportunity for students to showcase the literacy skills they have been building throughout middle school.
While 8th graders are taking the IRW, our 7th graders will complete a practice version of the assessment in their classes. This practice experience helps familiarize students with the structure and expectations of the assessment so they feel confident and prepared when it becomes part of their testing program next year. We appreciate your support in ensuring students are well-rested and ready to do their best.
I also want to take a moment to recap last week’s exciting Franklin vs. Rocky Run basketball event. What a night! Our girls team secured a thrilling victory with a three-point shot in the final two seconds of the game to claim the win. It was an unforgettable finish that had the crowd on its feet. The boys team mounted an impressive comeback, battling back to make it a close contest before coming up just two points short. As for the staff team, we are proud to report that everyone had fun and, most importantly, nobody got seriously hurt, which is truly a victory whenever 30+ year-olds lace up the basketball shoes!
Congratulations to all of our players for their hard work and competitive spirit, and thank you to our fans for demonstrating outstanding sportsmanship and positive energy throughout the evening. This was the largest crowd we have had at the game in many years, and we are excited to continue building on this incredible school spirit.
A special thank you goes to Ms. Magwire and our pep band for making the evening even more memorable. Having a pep band at the event for the first time added tremendous energy and school pride to the atmosphere. We are grateful for the time and effort that went into preparing for the performance and helping make the night such a success.
Looking ahead to the spring season, we held our Track interest meeting today and were thrilled to see so many students in attendance. There is clearly a great deal of excitement about the upcoming season. However, we are still in need of a Track Coach to make the season possible. Coaching track is a wonderful opportunity to connect with students, build relationships, and help young athletes develop resiliency, confidence, and a strong work ethic. If you or someone you know may be interested in this stipend position, please reach out to Mr. Tippins at wctippins@fcps.edu for more information. We would love to get this position filled so we can provide this opportunity for our students.
Thank you, as always, for your continued partnership and support. It has been an exciting stretch at Franklin and before we know if March will be over and we will be headed on Spring Break!
Tom DeRusso
Principal
Franklin Middle School
Weekly CARE Card Raffle Winners
~Important Dates~
March 8 - Daylight Saving Time (spring forward)
March 10 - Integrated Reading & Writing SOL (8th grade only)
March 11 - PTA Meeting - 7:00pm (virtual)
March 20 - Eid al-Fitr - School & Office Closed
March 27 - End of 3rd Quarter - 2 hour early release
March 30-April 3 - Spring Break
April 6 - Teacher Workday - School Closed
April 10 - Teacher Workday - School Closed
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National School Social Work Week
March 2-8 is National School Social Work Week. Social workers in FCPS help to prevent social, emotional, and behavioral factors from affecting a student's ability to perform at their best. Their primary goal is to remove barriers that prevent a student from fulfilling their academic potential. Franklin MS is lucky to have Ms. Brunais as our Social Worker. We are thankful for all she does to help Franklin students and the community! Thank you, Ms. Brunais!
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~Action Items~
Stress Less Week
During the week of March 23-27, Franklin Middle School students and staff will be celebrating Stress Less, Laugh More Week. This week is an annual event that aims to create a healthy and supportive school environment for students by ensuring we all play a role in normalizing conversations around mental health. Students and staff will learn ways to cope with stress and participate in activities that promote an inclusive and fun school community. We will have several games and activities that require small treats or prizes! If you would like to donate, please click here and drop off items to the main office by Thursday, March 19th. Thank you and we appreciate your support!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0B49A8AC2DA7FB6-55470855-stress
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Want a quick way to recognize an employee or team? Share an FCPS CARES! Families, colleagues, and students are all invited to submit. The FCPS CARES is automatically sent to the recipient(s) and their supervisor, and is posted on fcps.edu. Additionally, each month one school in our region wins a staff celebration from HR. Encourage your community to show our staff that their hard work is appreciated!
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🥛 Ramadan - 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 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.
Chantilly Freshman Football
Chantilly Freshman Football interest meeting. Tuesday March 10 - 3:35 PM. Meet coach frank and learn more about the upcoming football season. Students should report to the cafeteria immediately after school. The meeting will take place 2nd block.
Franklin MS Spirit Wear
Now’s the perfect time to grab your favorite Franklin hoodies, long sleeves, tees, hats, and cold-weather gear for the whole family. Whether you're staying warm at home, events, or around town, don’t miss your chance to show your Franklin pride and save. These winter savings won’t last long! Use code SPIRIT308 at checkout! Plus enjoy free shipping on orders $85+.
📸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~
2026 FAMILY ENGAGEMENT SURVEY
The Family Engagement Survey is a wonderful opportunity to let FCPS know how our schools can best serve your family. This survey is aligned with the FCPS 2023–2030 Strategic Plan, Pillar B: Vibrant Home, School, & Community Partnership.
This year’s survey will launch next Monday, March 9, and will remain open until March 23, 2026.
Parents will receive an email directly from FCPS with a link to complete the survey electronically. The survey can be completed online using that link on most electronic devices. Families may also access the survey beginning March 9 through the public URL available on both the FCPS and Franklin websites. The survey will be available in nine languages: Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Paper copies of the survey will be available in the school office.
If you have any questions, please contact our Family Liaison, Janet McFadden, at 703-904-5193 or by email at jamcfadden@fcps.edu.
We encourage all families to participate and share their valuable feedback.
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.
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. A News You Choose will be sent to rising 7th and 8th Grade families soon with more information.
More details to follow. Application for VIP Camp will open on Tuesday March 17 at 6pm.
MS Sports - Spring Track
Spring Track Information is posted below. 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 Mr. Tippins (wctippins@fcps.edu) and/or Mr. DeRusso (tgderusso@fcps.edu)
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~
Register for PTA Meeting – March 11, 2026!
You're invited to join us for our March PTA meeting on March 11, 2026 at
7 PM. Please click here to register. You will receive an email confirmation and link to join upon registering.
This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with Principal Tom DeRusso, find out about what is going out at Franklin Middle School, and hear about what is coming up, including Teacher Appreciation Week and end of the year party planning!
Whether you're a long time volunteer or new to the Franklin community, your voice and participation truly make a difference!
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~
⏰Daylight Saving Begins (Spring Forward)
Sunday, March 8, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time begins. Don’t forget to move your clocks ahead one hour!
Family Engagement Survey to Open March 9
FCPS is administering our Family Engagement Survey, which will be open from Monday, March 9, to Monday, March 23. Your feedback is critical in helping us to better recognize, understand, respect, and address family strengths and needs in our schools.
Survey topics include:
- Welcoming environment.
- Communication.
- Student success.
- Advocacy.
- Family and school partnerships.
- Community partnerships.
The survey will be available in English, Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Pashto, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
Parents/caregivers will receive a survey link via email from FCPS on March 9. A survey link will also be posted on FCPS’ website. Paper surveys will be available at each school. Please stay tuned for more 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.
📱 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~
Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid
As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Dr. Reid’s Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) on:
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Tuesday, March 3, at Waples Mill Elementary School.
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Tuesday, March 17, from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m., at Glen Forest Elementary School.
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Monday, March 23, at Ravensworth Elementary School.
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Monday, April 13, at Belle View Elementary School.
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Monday, April 20, Westgate Elementary School.
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Wednesday, April 22, at Crestwood Elementary School.
Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.
  
🤖Oakton Cougar Robotics
Oakton Cougar Robotics would like to invite our students to Oakton High School’s STEAM Symposium!
During this event, your students will be able to explore the STEAM clubs of Oakton High School and other FCPS High Schools through various booths and activities proctored by each of the clubs. Through this symposium, we hope this event will foster STEAM interest and learning in your students and get them excited about all the opportunities available in the near future.
This event will take place on Friday, April 10th, from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm, set up in a rotational manner so that your students may come and go as they please.
 
Prepare for Summer Learning and Fun for Students
Registration is open or will be available soon for summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students.
Career and Technical Education and Institute for the Arts Camps
Career and Technical Education camps and Institute for the Arts camps will be held in July at Robinson Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Tuition assistance is available to FCPS families eligible for free or reduced meals.
CTE Summer Academy (CSA) is a week-long enrichment program that allows students in grades 6-11 to dive deeper into CTE program areas, develop skills, and begin career exploration. Watch this video about CTE camps. Registration is open for these programs through Friday, June 5.
Institute for the Arts (IFTA) is a two-week camp for students currently in grades 6-11. Students select from nearly 60 classes in art, dance, music, and theater. Rising freshmen have the option to take Health and PE 9 through IFTA as well!
Production Camp is a four-week summer theatre intensive for students in grades 6-11. Students in performance or technical theatre tracks rehearse, design, and build a musical in a collaborative atmosphere. The show is presented to the public at the end of camp.
New this year: Students in the above camps can also register for aftercare, which is available from 2 to 5 p.m.
Quick Links
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