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☎️ Parent Information Phone Lines Available in Eight Languages
Parents/Caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.
Franconia Elementary encourages Bell-to-Bell attendance
School starts at 8:35am and dismisses at 3:30pm
Upcoming Events
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Wed, Sep 16: Back-to-School Night, 6:00-7:30pm
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Mon, Sep 21: NO SCHOOL-Yom Kippur Holiday
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Wed, Sep 30: 3hr early dismissal (12:30pm)
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Fri, Oct 2: Picture Day (more info to come)
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Mon, Oct 12: NO SCHOOL-Indigenous People's Holiday (also teacher work day)
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Fri, Oct 16: PTA Fall Festival
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Fri, Oct 30: 2hr early dismissal for end of 1st quarter (1:30pm)
Be sure to bookmark the FCPS school year calendar to keep track of school holidays, breaks, and observances.
FOOD INSECURITY...
Are you and your family suffering from food insecurity? Franconia ES can help. Use the link below to share your contact information and our Family Liaison (Mrs. Cruz) will reach out to you to discuss your needs.
https://forms.gle/bZa3o2PUdpuVtrSi8
Reporting Discrimination or Harassment
FCPS is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment for people of all races, national origins, and ethnicities. Individuals experiencing harassment or discrimination should report the incident as soon as possible.
KINDERGARTEN
The kindergarten students had an energetic, high-fun physical education session led by Mr. Cousins and Mr. Harris.
LIBRARY CORNER
Reading Challenges
Book Bingo is a monthly challenge. Each month there will be a bingo board just for kindergarten and grade 1, and another bingo board for all grades.
You can find the September Book Bingo boards here.
The Million Word Challenge lasts all year. Students and adults write down the book that students read, on paper or through this online form. The librarian will look up the word count and keep track of all the words!
Library Volunteers
The library always needs volunteers! The biggest need is help with shelving, but we are also looking for help with weekly notices and bulletin boards! Email the librarian, Debby Vandersande, at dmvandersand@fcps.edu if you want to help!
MUSIC CLASS
Rhythm & Smiles
Thank you, Ms. Lucius, for making music so magical for our kindergarteners!
Franconia's 3-hour Early Dismissal Days
2026-2027 School Year
FCPS will continue with limited early release Wednesdays for elementary schools during the 2026-27 school year. The number of days has been reduced from eight to four.
Early release Wednesdays provide elementary teachers with a dedicated block of time to prepare lessons, participate in professional development and training, and collaborate with their peers. A well-supported and continuously improving teaching staff leads to better educational outcomes for students.
Students will be dismissed at 12:30pm on the below days.
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Wednesday, September 30
- Wednesday, November 18
- Wednesday, January 13
- Wednesday, April 7
PTA CORNER
Franconia PTA Fall Festival Friday, October 16 | Evening: Exact time TBD
Mark your calendars for one of our favorite community events of the year! The Franconia Fall Festival returns and while the exact details are still in the planning stages, we can share that we are exploring some new ideas (movies? costumes? we'll see where we land!), and considering keeping familiar favorites like carnival games (with prizes!), and the popular on site food trucks with treats for purchase.
We need your help to make this community event a success! Thanks so much to the couple of folks who stepped up to help plan. We need a few more to pull off an event of this scale. And there will be future asks for help the day of. If you can lend an hour (or two!), please reach out to president@franconiapta.org.
Superintendent Community Conversations
Join us for a series of Community Conversations that will be held across the school division. Share your thoughts with Dr. Reid and ask her questions. Click on the date to register for any of the following events:
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Wednesday, September 16, at 6:45 p.m., at McNair Elementary School
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Monday, September 28, at 6:30 p.m., at Riverside Elementary School
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Monday, October 19, at 6:30 p.m., at Spring Hill Elementary School
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Monday, October 26, at 6:30 p.m., at Beech Tree Elementary School
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Thursday, October 29, at 6:30 p.m., at North Springfield Elementary School
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Friday, November 13, at 6:30 p.m., at Powell Elementary School
Registration is not required, but it helps with planning.
Family and School Partnerships Academy Courses (Registration Open)
Let’s Grow Our Family Engagement Practice Together! Family and School Partnerships is offering two five-week virtual Academy courses this fall. Learn practical ways to build strong partnerships with families and create a welcoming school community. Both courses meet virtually from 4:30–6:30 PM, beginning in October.
Getting to Know Fairfax County Public Schools: A Military Family Orientation
Military families who are new to FCPS or moving to Fairfax County soon are invited to this virtual presentation. Families will learn about FCPS programs, digital resources, early enrollment for military families, strategies to support student success, and the Military Interstate Compact.
A Zoom link will be provided after registration.
Free Parent-Child Connect and Youth Emotional Intelligence Workshops:
Two concurrent, six-week virtual workshops are available this fall for Asian American families in the DMV area. The Parent-Child Connect Workshop is for parents and caregivers of school-aged children and is offered in English or Chinese. The Emotional Intelligence Workshop is for Asian American youth in grades 3–8 and focuses on emotional awareness, stress management, confidence, friendships, conflict resolution, and healthy self-esteem.
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Date: Parent workshop: Saturdays, September 19 to October 24, 2026, in Chinese; Sundays, September 20 to October 25, 2026, in English. Youth workshop: Saturdays, September 19 to October 24, 2026.
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Time: Parent workshop, 7:00–8:45 p.m. Youth workshop, 4:00–5:30 p.m.
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Location: Virtual via Zoom
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Cost: Free
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Eligibility: Asian American parents, caregivers, and youth. Youth participants must be in grades 3–8. Maryland residents receive priority.
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More Information: Workshop information | Bullying Prevention and Mental Health Promotion Lab
Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) (New Resource)
Cardinal Care Language and Disability Access Plan provides free language assistance and reasonable accommodations for Medicaid applicants and members with limited English proficiency or disabilities. Support is available throughout the Medicaid process, including applying for coverage, accessing medical services, and participating in appeals.
The Importance of the Flu Vaccine
As we look ahead to the upcoming school year, the health and well-being of our students continues to be one of our priorities. Staying up to date with your child's flu vaccination helps:
- Reduce School Absences: Keeping students healthy means more time spent learning and engaging with peers.
- Protect the Community: Vaccination helps shield vulnerable family members and neighbors from seasonal illness.
- Support Overall Wellness: Routine flu shots are a key component of a proactive student health plan.
Upcoming Flu Shot Events
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will provide flu shots for all FCPS students, ages 18 and under, at no out-of-pocket cost. Multiple events will be taking place at designated FCPS locations. Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year. Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary.
September
 Attendance Awareness Month
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Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow! The beginning of the school year is the best time to develop strong attendance habits! Students who attend school regularly are more likely to perform well in reading and math, develop strong social and emotional skills, and graduate from high school on time. Help prepare your child for future success. Visit the FCPS Attendance web page for tips and strategies.
Sept. 15-Oct. 15
From September 15 to October 15, FCPS recognizes and celebrates the histories and cultures of the members of our community who trace their heritage to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Learn more about National Hispanic Heritage Month.
20-21 - Yom Kippur
Monday September 21, is a holiday and schools and offices will be closed. See the complete school year calendar.
Sept. 26 to Oct. 4 - Blue Star Welcome Week
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Blue Star Welcome Week is a nationwide initiative to ensure military families feel a sense of belonging to their school communities. Blue Star Welcome Week is an opportunity to empower military families to thrive as they serve. |
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