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 Military-connected students were recognized in honor of Month of the Military Child and Purple Up Day; Students were competitive during the Pickleball Tournament
Franklin Community,
It certainly felt like summer arrived in a hurry this week. With the recent heat wave and rising temperatures, it has been quite a shift from the cooler weather we experienced not long ago! As we adjust, we appreciate your support in helping students come to school prepared for the warmer conditions and stay hydrated throughout the day.
This past Wednesday, we were proud to celebrate Purple Up Day in recognition of our military-connected students. We hosted a breakfast and presented certificates to honor their resilience, flexibility, and the unique experiences they bring to our school community. Purple Up Day is part of the Month of the Military Child, and the color purple represents all branches of the military. As an aspiring Purple Star School, we are committed to supporting and recognizing our military families, and this was a meaningful opportunity to do just that. We are grateful to our Student Services team and our Parent Liaison, Ms. McFadden, who helped make the morning so special for our students.
As we look ahead to next week, we also want to take a moment to recognize Mr. Tippins in honor of After School Professional Appreciation Week. Mr. Tippins does an incredible job leading our after school program and supporting so many aspects of our school community. Much of his work happens behind the scenes, but its impact is felt every day. From organizing activities and managing logistics to building relationships with students and staff, he consistently goes above and beyond to ensure things run smoothly. We are fortunate to have him as part of our team, and we thank him for all that he does for Franklin.
Next week, we will also be celebrating FCPS Earth Week, with Earth Day taking place on Wednesday. Students are encouraged to show their school spirit by participating in our themed days:
- Monday, April 20 – Zero Waste Day: wear white • Tuesday, April 21 – no school • Wednesday, April 22 – Earth Day: wear green • Thursday, April 23 – Climate Change Day: wear red • Friday, April 24 – Watershed Day: wear blue
As a reminder, there will be no school for students on Tuesday due to the election. To help balance our instructional schedule, Monday will be an All-Period Day, with students attending each of their classes for approximately 45 minutes.
Have a great weekend. Go Falcons!
Tom DeRusso
Principal
Franklin Middle School
Weekly CARE Card Raffle Winners
~Important Dates~
April 20-23: Earth Week Spirit Days
April 21: Special Election - School Closed
April 21: Dining for Dollars - Piero's Corner Ristorante
April 30-May 3: Spring Musical
April 30 - 7:00pm
May 1 - 7:00pm
May 2 - 2:00pm & 7:00pm
May 3 - 2:00pm
May 5: Reading SOL
May 12: Science 8 SOL
May 18: NJHS Induction and Pinning Ceremony - 3:00pm
May 19: Math SOL
Greater Northern Virginia Science and Engineering Fair - 1st Place Finish
Mukhundha “MP” Peddinti won first prize at the Greater Northern Virginia Science and Engineering (NVSE) Fair for Elementary and Middle School hosted by George Mason University this past weekend for his design for Composting Robot. His CompostRobo 2.0 project automates home composting with a mobile, smart bin that collects, crushes, and manages waste, mounted on Arduino Rover, reducing labor. In addition to winning the science fair, he won a special award for the “most innovative design” and Thermo Fisher Jr. Innovation award which means he is eligible to move on to applying for the national competition.
~Action Items~
We Want Your Feedback! Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Questionnaire
On Monday, April 6, parents and guardians of Franklin Middle School will receive an email with a link to the FCPS Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Feedback Form. This questionnaire is part of the Performance Evaluation Program and provides an opportunity to share anonymous feedback about our school’s leadership and environment.
Topics covered in the survey include:
✅ Instructional leadership
✅ School climate
✅ Management (human resources and organizational)
✅ Communication and community relations
✅ Culturally responsive and equitable leadership
✅ Professionalism
The questionnaire will be open April 6 - April 19 and will be collected online. When you receive the email from noreply@fcps.edu, please take a few minutes to complete it. Your input is valuable and helps shape the future of our school. Thank you for your time and feedback!
FCPS Earth Week Spirit Days
Monday, 4/20: Zero Waste Day - wear WHITE
Wednesday, 4/22: Earth Day - wear GREEN
Thursday, 4/23: Climate Change Day - wear RED
Friday, 4/24: Watershed Day - wear BLUE
Dining For Dollars - April 21 - 5:00pm-8:00pm
National Junior Honor Society
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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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~Student Services~
Let’s Talk About The Anxious Generation – Book Discussion
Join us via Zoom on Wednesday, May 6 at 5:30 pm, for a virtual Book Discussion of The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, a #1 New York Times bestseller exploring how today’s world is impacting our children’s mental health.
This will be a judgment-free conversation about our kids’ screen time, smartphones, social media, and other topics that affect our kids’ lives.
You don’t need to have read the book to participate in the discussion.
The conversation will be led by two parents and will be a chance to connect, share perspectives, and learn from one another in a supportive space.
If you have any questions about the book discussion, contact Janet McFadden at 703 904-5193 or jamcfadden@fcps.edu. We hope you’ll join us!
Register Here
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Required Immunizations for Rising 7th Graders
As required by the Code of VA, parents or legal guardians need to provide proof of immunizations for their child to attend at a Virginia public school.
In addition, all students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations:
- Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap) given at age 7 or older;
- Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) given at age 10 or older;
- A complete series of 2 doses of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
- After reviewing educational materials approved by the Board of Health, the parent or guardian, at the parents or guardians sole discretion, may elect for the child not to receive the HPV vaccine.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with your child’s healthcare provider now to avoid the rush this summer. Immunization appointments are available. Inspire Health Alliance will be providing immunizations for currently enrolled FCPS students at no out-of-pocket cost. Visit the Inspire Immunization Events Student Registration webpage to schedule an appointment.
Please review the Virginia Department of Health Information Packet (PDF) for more information on rising 7th grade immunization requirements.
Additional Immunization Resources are also available.
~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.
MS Sports - Spring Track
The first meet of the season will be on Saturday April 25 at Herndon High School. An email will go out to all track parents Sunday with more information about the meet at Herndon HS. Please be on the lookout for the email.
Track Schedule
- Monday - April 20 (Practice)
- Wednesday - April 22 (Practice)
- Saturday - April 25 (Meet at Herndon HS)
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.
Western Fairfax VIP Application - Now Open!!
Western Fairfax VIP Camp will be held at Liberty Middle School from July 1-July 30 for rising 7th & 8th grade students. The application link can be found in the link below. The application link is now open.
Click here for more information on VIP Camp
Chantilly Girls Flag Football Interest Meeting
Dates and Times:
Location:
Contact Information:
COMMANDERS CAMPS
Coming to Franklin MS!!
Commanders Camps are coming to Chantilly this summer! Get ready for high-energy flag football, skill-building, and team-first fun crafted for rising 2nd through 7th graders of every experience level!
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.
Camp Runs 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Franklin Middle School
3300 Lees Corner Road
Chantilly, VA 20151
Register today at www.commanderscamps.com or the QR code provided on the flyer for registration.
Special Offer: Save $75 for FCPS families with code: FCPSFIRSTYEAR.
Chantilly Athletics Physical Night
Dates and Times:
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Wednesday, June 10, 2026.
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Appointments: 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.
Cost and Registration:
https://www.chantillyathletics.com/news/f0512881-1c93-444e-9113-dae0a7627b10
Teen Explorer Camp Presented by:
Fairfax County Park Authority
Event Details:
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Location: E C Lawrence Park.
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Age Range: 12 through 14 years.
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Activities: Field trips, games, and nature activities!
Dates and Registration:
Accessibility and Accommodations: Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all county programs, services and activities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request. For details, call 703-324-8563, TTY 711.
 ~Franklin Middle School PTA~
PTA Updates & Reminders
The PTA has several upcoming events and opportunities to support our school community:
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Dining Day at Piero’s Corner – Tuesday from 5 - 8 PM: Join us for a delicious way to give back! A portion of proceeds will support our school. The kids don't have school, so you shouldn't need to cook! Dine in or take out -- Mention Franklin Middle School -- NO ONLINE ORDERS.
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End of Year Parties -- June 16 -- We are looking for volunteers to assist in planning 7th and 8th grade parties on June 16 before the end of the year! If interested, reach out to Tracy Berman-Kagan at berman.kagan@gmail.com
Thank you for your continued support of our school community!
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~
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 FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Her 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. on:
Click on a date to register to attend that event. Registration is not required, but helps with planning, especially for child care and interpretation services. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.
Special Education Family Conference
The 2026 Special Education Family Conference, Stronger Together: Connecting Families and Schools, will take place on Saturday, April 18, at Marshall High School. During this no-cost, in-person event, families will have the opportunity to hear a keynote address from internationally renowned educator and advocate, Dr. Shelley Moore, connect to resources and other families, and participate in afternoon sessions.
FCPS families are invited to register to attend this year’s conference. Childcare, accommodations, and language interpretation are available.
Visit the FCPS 2026 Special Education Family Conference webpage for updates and more details.
Free Medical Clinic
Remote Area Medical (RAM) Free Medical Clinic in Chantilly, VA
Hosted By: Humanity First Serving Mankind
Dates and Times:
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Two days only: April 18 through April 19, 2026
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The parking lot opens on Friday at 11:59 p.m.
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The clinic opens on Saturday and Sunday at 6 a.m.
Location: Mubarak Mosque
4555 Ahmadiyya Drive
Chantilly, VA 20151.
Contact Information: Learn more at RAMUSA.ORG or call 865-579-1530.
Get the medical care you need at our free medical clinic coming to Chantilly, VA. Remote Area Medical (RAM) provides free, quality healthcare to those in need.
Services Provided:
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Dental: Cleanings, fillings, extractions, and dental X-rays.
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Vision: Complete eye exams, eye health evaluations, and prescription glasses made on site.
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Medical: Physical exams, prescription (RX) consultations, women's health, general exams, and more!
Oakton HS Dance Team
Oakton HS Dance Team 2026-27 Tryouts
If you love to dance and want to be involved in your school, come try out for the Oakton High School Dance Team! Tryouts will be held June 15, 16, and 17 for the 2026-27 team selection. Not sure if you have all of the skills for dance team?? At tryouts you will have the opportunity to learn skills there, and dancers are often selected based on potential ability to pick up the needed skills! Fill out the Tryout Interest Form to get more information about the team and tryouts! Filling out this link will also get you information about various Dance Team events occurring in the Spring to prepare for tryouts. Contact Coach Rowley at kmrowley@fcps.edu with questions.
Oakton HS Dance Team Interest Meeting
If you are interested in trying out for the Oakton High School Dance Team for the 2026-27 season, there will be informational meetings Thursday, March 23 at 3:30pm in the Oakton High School library OR 7:00pm virtual meeting. Please sign up here if you plan to attend one of the meetings). Coach Rowley will share information about what a year on dance team is like, as well as share tryout information and talk about the tryout process.
Oakton HS Dance Team Spring Prep Clinics
If you love to dance and are interested in trying out for the Oakton High School Dance team for the 2026-27 school year or the year after, the Dance Team is holding a Tryouts Prep Clinic May 11, 14, 18, and 19 from 3:30-5:30pm at Oakton HS. The clinic is open to students in grades 7-11! The clinics will teach a variety of skills and choreography that will be helpful in preparing for tryouts for next year or the year after. Students may attend the full four days or specific days that they are able to. If you are interested in participating in the Tryouts Prep Clinic, get more information and register using the Tryouts Prep Clinic link. If you have questions, please reach out to Coach Rowley at kmrowley@fcps.edu.
Oakton HS Dance Team Junior Summer Dance Camp
All rising 1st-8th graders who love to dance are invited to attend camp this summer on Monday-Wednesday, June 29-July 1 from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm at Oakton High School. Participants will learn choreography and technique with OHS Dance Team dancers and coaches. The campers will have the opportunity to perform a routine at the end of the week. Each day there will be a craft, snack time, and team building activities. For more information and to register go to bit.ly/ohsjuniordancecamp2026.
FCPS Fine and Performing Arts Camp:
Institute for the Arts
Dates and Times:
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Session 1: July 6 through July 17, 2026
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Session 2: July 20 through July 31, 2026
Daily Schedule:
8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Early drop off begins at 7:30 a.m.
NEW this year: Aftercare is available until 5:00 p.m.
Robinson Secondary School
5035 Sideburn Road
Fairfax, VA 22032
Transportation is available from select FCPS schools.
Contact Information: Questions? Email Maeve Nash, Program Director, at mnash at fcps.edu. More information is available at linktr.ee/iftafcps.
Register at
https://linktr.ee/iftafcps or the QR code provided on the flyer
Choose from over 60 classes in art, music, theatre, and dance for students in grades 6 through 11.
Open to students currently in grades 6 through 11. All students are welcome, including:
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FCPS students
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Students enrolled in private schools
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Students who are homeschooled
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Non-Fairfax County residents
Cost: $600 per session. Tuition assistance is available; see the site for details.
Registration: Registration is open from February 2nd to June 5th. There are a limited number of seats for this camp. To guarantee a spot, register early!
Welcome to The Oakton High School
Color Guard Program!!
What is Color Guard?
Color Guard is a dance-based performance activity that uses flags, rifles, and sabres to perform. The Fall Guard (August-October) is a part of the marching band, while the Winter Guard (November-March) is its own ensemble.
You do not need to have any experience in performance to join the program!
A brief video is linked here. Please note the ending QR code is out of date but the QR code in the provided flyer works!
Basic Info:
We will spend most of our time rehearsing with or around the marching band. Rehearsals are mostly outside, but we may rehearse indoors depending on the weather and schedule. This is a performance-based physical activity, but accommodations can be made if needed. You will be trained on everything that is asked of you.
During the season, we will work to create a 7-8 minute 'show' that will be performed at competitions throughout the season and performed at our final competition: State Assessment.
Everyone will have the opportunity to dance and spin flags; spinning weapon (rifle and sabre) is optional, and is audition-based.
The Schedule:
We will have a few summer pre-camp days to go over basics, conditioning, and any questions you may have. These will be short 3-4 hour events, leading up to band camp; the exact dates are still to be finalized.
Band camp is three weeks before school begins. It consists of two full weeks and a third week with a partial camp schedule. Band camp is at Oakton High School and is only on weekdays.
After camp ends and the school year begins, we rehearse Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays after school/in the evening. We will perform at some OHS Football Games and have 5-6 Saturday competitions starting mid to late September. A final calendar for the season will be made available as we approach the end of the school year.
Registering:
If you have an interest in registering, registration will go live at the start of May and can be found on the Oakton Bands website. It will also be sent out via email to all who have registered for a spin clinic.
Once you have registered, you will be added to a Schoology group where we will post updates and communicate throughout the season.
Interested?:
If you have interest in joining the program or just trying it out, we are hosting several upcoming spin clinics at Oakton High School which you can register for using this link!
-Please note that this form must be completed using an FCPS email.
If you have any questions you can reach out to Coach Malcolm Wood directly, via the following emails:
awood1@fcpsschools.net - awood1@fcps.edu - oaktonguard@oaktonbands.org
Color Guard Spin Clinics
We are hosting some spin clinics for potential members to meet the team and try out spinning!
-Tuesday, April 28th- 3:15-4:30 @OHS Dance Room
-Wednesday, April 29th- 3:15-4:30 @OHS Dance Room
-Tuesday, May 5th- 3:15-4:30 @OHS Dance Room
-Wednesday, May 6th- 3:15-4:30 @OHS Dance Room
-Tuesday, May 12th- 3:15-4:30 @OHS Dance Room
These spin clinics are entirely optional but encouraged to give potential members a chance to try the activity!
If you or anyone interested has any questions, they can reach me via this email (awood1@fcps.edu) or my oaktonguard@oaktonbands.org email.
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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