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Enjoying lunch with friends on the first day of school.
Dear Franklin Sherman ES Parents/Guardians,
What an incredible start to the week! The energy across this school has been electric—from the warm morning welcomes and parents walking students to class, to a packed PTA coffee bright and early. Our school community is buzzing with positivity, and it sets such a wonderful tone for the days ahead.
A Huge Thank You to Our PTA!
A heartfelt thank-you goes out to our amazing PTA for stocking the staff lounge with delicious treats and essentials. Knowing our team is seen, valued, and loved makes all the difference as we jump into the school year.
Quick Reminders & Connections
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Follow Us on Instagram: Help us spread the word! Follow and tag our official account at @franklinshermanelementary to keep up with school updates, student highlights, and community events.
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Panda Pride Friday: Don't forget to wear your Franklin Sherman gear or school colors this Friday to show off our school spirit!
Thank you for everything you do to make Franklin Sherman Elementary such a supportive, joyful place for our students and each other. Have a fantastic week ahead!
Sincerely,
Farris Thomas
Principal
Franklin Sherman ES
Follow us on Instagram
August 31 PTA Meeting and Back to School Night 5:30 - 7 p.m. (Adults Only)
September 4 - 7 Labor Day Holiday
September 21 Student Holiday
FCPS Calendar: 2026-27
Franklin Sherman Calendar
We are thrilled to invite parents once again for "Lunch with a Panda."
Please join your child for lunch starting September 14. Reservations become available 2 weeks in advance.
Submit this Reservation Form starting August 31 to let us know that you will visit for lunch.
Important Details:
- This form creates a reservation for 1 parent at a time (if both parents wish to visit for lunch the form must be submitted twice)
- There are at most 3 reservations available per grade per day
- Reservations will only become available 2 weeks in advance
- If a date does not appear in the list of choices it is either because there are no more reservations available for that day, or the school calendar/schedule of events does not allow us to have lunchtime visitors
Hello Franklin Sherman Families!
My name is Marilyn Feghali, and I am excited to introduce myself as the new Family Liaison at Franklin Sherman School. I look forward to partnering with students, families, and staff to strengthen communication, support student success, and build a welcoming school community. Please feel free to reach out at mfeghali@fcps.edu I am here to help!
I would also like to share a few exciting updates and opportunities that may be of interest to our Franklin Sherman families:
- Student Data Binders and Data-Driven Discussions
This year, students will maintain and use data binders to monitor their progress, reflect on their learning, and set meaningful growth goals. Data-driven discussions between students and their teachers will help students identify their needs and develop instructional strategies to support their success throughout the school year. This is a Franklin Sherman initiative to help students understand and take ownership of their learning.
- Classroom Coaching Support for Teachers
Teachers will collaborate throughout the year by modeling instructional practices, conducting peer observations, and providing feedback. This collaboration will strengthen instruction and help us better support all students.
Franklin Sherman has outstanding students who go above and beyond every day and demonstrate what a portrait of a panda is- modeling respect and kindness to all. Each week staff members nominate students for demonstrating these exceptional characteristics and students are announced on the Panda News Network. You may see classroom doors with star stickers and this indicates if students or the whole class has been nominated.
Please save the date for September 10th for Celebrate McLean. It will run from 3:30 - 6:00 p.m. at the McLean HS practice football field, prior to our football home opener vs Falls Church. We will have games, food, DJ and tables from our clubs and sports. We look forward to another amazing day!
FCPS News |
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New Student ID Cards Coming for Bus Riders This Fall
As part of the ongoing commitment to strengthening layered safety and security programs, FCPS will implement a new student ID system for students who ride our school buses.
The implementation of the student IDs is designed as an additional safety measure for our 130,000 FCPS students who ride the bus each day, ensuring they are on the right bus and that they get on and off at the correct bus stop, as well as making sure only authorized students are on our buses.
The IDs will be provided to students who ride the bus. Those students will be expected to tap on and tap off the bus. The student IDs do not track student movement. The only information available is when a student taps on or off a bus. Much like our Here Comes the Bus app, our new app will allow parents/guardians to track the progress of the school bus.
It is possible that the ID program will expand in the future to include uses such as library cards and meal payment. Learn more about the new transportation system and student ID cards.
Get Ready for the New School Year With the FCPS App!
📱Simplify your back-to-school prep! Download the FCPS mobile app to check school calendars, breakfast/lunch menus, and school contacts all in one place with no login required. Plus, get quick access to ParentVUE, Schoology, and the bus app.Download the FCPS mobile app in the Apple App Store or Google Play, and make sure to subscribe to our school in the app settings.
Sign Up for SIS ParentVUE
Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Contact our registrar at [email/phone number] if you need an activation code. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE. Also, download the new ParentVUE mobile app so you can access your child’s records easily from anywhere!
Update Your Contact Information
Be sure you receive important information! Update your phone number(s) and/or email address(es) by clicking “My Account” and reviewing the “Online Verification/Update.” On that form, you can also update immunization records, health information, and emergency contacts.
Customize Your Lightspeed Settings
All parents should be receiving weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report emails. To set up these new features, click the “Log in or Register” button at the bottom of your weekly Lightspeed Online Student Activity Report email.
Visit the FCPS Lightspeed Parent Portal Guide for more information. If you have additional questions, submit a Parent Technology Support Ticket.
Parents are encouraged to discuss internet boundaries with their children so that they can understand the reasoning behind any limits and the differences between access at home and at school. Get tips on talking to your children about technology safety.
SEL Screener Parent/Guardian Notification
The Fall Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3 through 12 in October. Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. This gives students a way to share how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
After each screening, results are available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families without a ParentVUE account. For more information, including SEL Screener questions and opt-out information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.
Understanding Student Rights and Responsibilities Updates: New Universal Grade Matrices for Families
Families are encouraged to review the updated FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) document, which explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses in order to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment.
Updates for the 2026-27 school year include new Universal Grade Matrices (UGMs). UGMs are charts that show behavior expectations and school responses by grade level (K-3, 4-8, and 9-12). These at-a-glance resources (in Appendix D of the SR&R) are designed to make it easier for parents and caregivers to understand how schools respond to different types of behavior concerns.
Visit the SR&R webpage for more information and to review additional updates to the SR&R for the 2026-27 school year.
New Requirement for Student Device Use During the School Day
Starting this school year, students must use FCPS-issued devices for school-related digital activities during the instructional day. This is in accordance with a new School Board requirement, approved on July 16, which states that students may not use personal electronic communication or computing devices, including personal laptops, tablets, smartwatches, smartphones, and similar devices.
Students may only use their personal device if it is required as part of a necessary accommodation in the students’ Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan. A principal or the principal’s designee may approve a limited, course-specific exception for students enrolled in a specialized class when the curriculum requires a technology tool or software that isn’t available on a standard FCPS-issued device.
Families can help support this requirement by reminding students to bring their FCPS-issued device each day and use it for all school-related digital activities unless an approved exception applies.
PTA News |
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26-27 PTA MEMBERSHIP
The new school year is here, which means it's time to renew your PTA membership! For $30 a year, you help directly fund the field trips, teacher grants, and family events that make Franklin Sherman special. Membership doesn't ask for your time, just your name on our roster, and the bigger our numbers, the stronger our voice for our kids. Sign up today!
Fall Enrichment Signup is HERE!
We have lots of options for before and after school enrichment this fall! Please take a look at the offerings and signup on the PTA Website.
2026-2027 Volunteer Opportunities
Opportunities big and small are available to help support students, connect families, and shape our school community. As Elvis put it, “A little less conversation, a little more action, please!” We'd love to have your talents help our school community. Click here.
Sign Up for the PTA Newsletter
Know someone who doesn't receive our weekly newsletter?
Send them to our SIGN UP FOR THE FSESPTA NEWSLETTER link here!
Our weekly newsletter is filled with important school info.
FCPS CARES
Want a quick way to recognize an employee or team at Franklin Sherman? 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 party from HR. Celebrate our wonderful staff today!
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Panda Press Archive and Translation Available On Our Website
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