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 Creating, experimenting, and discovering—our STEAM activities make learning hands-on and fun!
Dear Franklin Sherman Families,
Happy October, Franklin Sherman!
We’re looking forward to a month filled with opportunities to connect and celebrate learning—from academic showcases and morning meetings to PTA events.
Please join us on October 22 for our next PTA meeting at 5:30 and Community Academic Night. Families can explore our math, language arts, and STEAM activities, and visit the book fair, which will be open from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Thank you for your continued collaboration and partnership. We look forward to seeing you!
Farris Thomas
Principal
Franklin Sherman ES
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Every Friday is Panda Spirit Day!!
October 9 Field Trip Grades 3 & 6
October 12 No School
October 16 Movie Night Under the Stars
October 19-23 Book Fair
October 22 PTA Meeting & Academic Night
October 26 Field Trip Grades K & 1
October 30 End Q1 and 2 hours early release
FCPS Calendar: 2026-27
Franklin Sherman Calendar
Mark your calendars for October 22 and get ready for adventure. We will have our PTA meeting from 5:30-6 and then our Passport to Learning, Academic Night is 6-7 p.m. There will be games and learning activities in Reading, Math, Science, and STEAM. Participate in all the activities and fill your passport for the event with stickers from each station. All this, and you can stop in to browse and purchase at the Book Fair as well!
Join us for the academic night.
When: October 19 - 23
Where: Library
October 22: 6-7 - Family Night
We are thrilled to announce that our school is hosting our Fall Book Fair, in partnership with Bookworm Central! This exciting event is an opportunity for our students to explore a world of literature, foster their love of reading, and support our school! Every purchase from the Book Fair helps us earn rewards and resources for Franklin Sherman.
Volunteers Needed
To help everything run smoothly, we are looking for parent volunteers to assist with setting up and breaking down, restocking shelves, helping students make their lists and complete their purchases. Whether it’s 2 hours or twice as much, we are very appreciative of your participation. Here is the sign up genius, please enter your name in the slot that fits your schedule.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Rosalie Essimi at rmessimimen@fcps.edu.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Friday, October 30
Students are encouraged to dress up as a favorite story book character. Staff will be dressing up as well on the 30th for students to vote for the best costumes!
*Reminder this is a 2 hour early release for the end of the quarter. All students will leave at 2**
Literacy Webinar Series (A): Fairfax County Public Schools is presenting a literacy webinar series to help families understand reading assessments, reading plans, and how to support their child at home. The series and topics:
- October 20, 10 a.m.- Understanding Reading Assessments and Your Child
- December 15, 10 a.m.- What is a Reading Plan?
- February 19, 10 a.m.- How Do I Support My Child With a Reading Plan at Home?
- May 14, 10 a.m.- Continuing Reading Success Through the Summer.
- Contact: Carrie Leestma
Sibshops is a program for students who have a sibling with a disability.
This program is open to students in grades 2-5. We also run a teen program (SibTeen) open to students in grades 6-8.
During Sibshops and SibTeen sessions, students will have opportunities to build relationships with other sibs through community building games and discussion activities.
Upcoming session: Tuesday, November 3, 2026, 9 am-12 pm (Sibshops and SibTeen)
@ Katherine Johnson Middle School, 3801 Jermantown Rd, Fairfax, VA
Registration will be available through the Family Resource Center 3-4 weeks prior to each session date. Visit https://www.fcps.edu/services/families-and-caregivers/family-academy/catalog
Sibshops is presented by FCPS Social Work Services. Registration is free; however, donations are accepted to support the cost of future Sibshops sessions. Registration link: https://educatefairfax.app.neoncrm.com/forms/sibshops-4
The Importance of the Flu Vaccine
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 take 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.
Volunteers are an important part of helping our students learn, grow, and succeed at Franklin Sherman and throughout FCPS! Parents, caregivers, and community members who would like to volunteer on field trips, in classrooms, at school events, or in other school activities must complete the FCPS volunteer registration process. This includes an online application, a training video, and, depending on the role, a background check.
Ready to get involved? Click here to begin or login to the volunteer portal if you already have an account.!
FCPS News |
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Calendar Change: Eid al-Fitr
FCPS will mark the beginning of Eid al-Fitr with an evening-only observance day on Monday, March 8. There will be school on this day, but major school-sponsored events and activities (such as auditions or tryouts) will not take place.
Tuesday, March 9, will be a holiday for students and staff.
Wednesday, March 10, will be an observance day. There will be school on this day, but certain activities that cannot be made up (major tests, field trips, or mandatory events) will not take place on this day.
A new school year calendar has been published, which includes this change. Please note that holidays and observances on the calendar may shift due to anticipated lunar sightings.
Learn About Applied Behavior Analysis and Teaching New Skills at Home
All family members and caregivers are invited to attend monthly Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Family Training to learn how to support and teach students with autism and related disorders. No registration is needed.
Virtual trainings take place at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Join a session. Upcoming topics include:
- Autism and ABA Overview on Wednesday, October 14. (It is highly recommended that you attend this session before any future sessions.)
- Prioritizing Skills to Teach at Home on Wednesday, November 18.
- Toilet Training on Wednesday, December 9.
- Managing Challenging Behaviors at Home on Wednesday, January 13.
- Communication: A Foundation for Independence on Wednesday, February 10.
Visit the ABA webpage for a full list of classes. Need an interpreter? Contact Stephanie Watkins two weeks before the training at 571-423-4110 or sawatkins@fcps.edu.
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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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
Safe Routes to School Parent and Caregiver Survey
As part of the Fairfax County School Board’s Annual School-Based Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Assessment, the FCPS Office of Safety and Security and Safe Routes to School program are inviting parents and caregivers to share their experiences traveling to and from school.
The Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Survey asks about walking and biking routes, traffic near schools, kiss and ride experiences, accessibility, and other safety concerns.
Your feedback will help FCPS identify common issues. Your responses will be kept confidential and shared with school administrators and the Office of Safety and Security. The five-minute survey is open through Thursday, October 15.
Be sure to identify the school related to your feedback and include specific locations where you have observed a safety issue. If you have students at different schools in FCPS, please complete a different survey for each school.
If you have any questions about the survey, please contact SafeRoutestoSchool@fcps.edu.
FCPS Seeks Community Input on Middle School AAP Centers
FCPS is exploring a plan to offer Full-Time Advanced Academic Program (AAP) services at every middle school. Under the proposal, students who qualify could attend their neighborhood middle school and take advanced classes with other AAP students. The School Board has approved community engagement at Franklin, Hayfield, Holmes, Key, and Whitman middle schools, where programs could open for the 2027-28 school year. The proposal is still under consideration, and the School Board is expected to make a decision in December.
Each community meeting offers in-person and virtual participation. Upcoming meetings are scheduled for:
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Franklin Middle: Monday, October 5, at 6 p.m.
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Holmes Middle: Thursday, October 15, at 6 p.m.
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Whitman Middle: Thursday, October 22, at 6 p.m.
Current middle school students will remain at their assigned AAP centers through middle school. Learn more and find meeting sign-up forms on the Middle School AAP Centers page.
PTA News |
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Class T-shirts and Spirit Wear
Still need a class shirt for your child? Kids need these for field trips, field day, and to show their school spirit. We will be selling them at Movie Night on Oct 16 and after our next PTA meeting on Oct 22. If your child needs one before then, please reach out to our Family Liaison, Marilyn Feghali, at mfeghali@fcps.edu. One shirt, lots of school spirit, and plenty of opportunities to wear it throughout the year!
All Fridays are School Spirit Fridays this year! Students are encouraged to wear their class shirt, FSES colors, or FSES gear and show off their Panda Pride.
Check out our NEW Spiritwear Store, filled with fun options for students, parents, and the whole Panda community. Whether you’re looking for a new favorite tee, sweatshirt, or other gear, there’s something for everyone, and every purchase helps support our school and PTA programs. Rep your school & support our Pandas!
Get Ready for Monster Mash Dash!
Join your Franklin Sherman friends for one of our favorite annual traditions!
Whether you’re ready to race the 5K, walk with friends, or bring the whole family out for the 1-Mile Fun Run, everyone is welcome. Costumes are encouraged, and you definitely don’t have to be a runner to join the fun!
Sunday, October 25
5K at 8:00 AM
1-Mile Fun Run at 9:00 AM
Come run, walk, cheer, dress up, and be part of a fun FSES tradition.
Sign up today!
Franklin Sherman Food Bus is BACK - Make a REAL Difference!
Every Friday, leftover food from Franklin Sherman is gathered and taken across the street to the food pantry at SHARE. This weekly effort is an important source of food for local families who depend on SHARE, and one of their only sources of donated dairy products.
Would your family like to be part of it? Kids are encouraged to participate, making this a wonderful and very tangible way for them to see how a small amount of time can make a meaningful difference for another family.
The Food Bus runs every Friday that school is in session. Reach out to Lisa at lisagrochford@gmail.com for questions. We need families throughout the school year! You can sign up for a Friday here or choose several dates.
Reminders
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!
Lunch with a Panda
We are thrilled to invite parents once again for "Lunch with a Panda."
Please join your child for lunch. Reservations become available 2 weeks in advance.
Submit this Reservation Form 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
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