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 We ARE the Home of the Falcons! Check out the new windows! This week students also participated in a great Cross Country event. Great job, Falcons!
Franklin Community,
We are incredibly proud to share some exciting news about Franklin's performance under Virginia's School Performance and Support Framework (SPSF)! Franklin has earned a Distinguished rating with a score of 92.53, an outstanding accomplishment that reflects the hard work of our students, teachers, and staff. The SPSF is Virginia's school accountability system designed to provide families and communities with a more comprehensive picture of how schools are performing. The framework considers several measures of school success, including student achievement on state assessments, academic growth over time, and how well schools are preparing students for future academic success. Rather than looking at test scores alone, the framework also recognizes the progress students make as they develop their skills and knowledge.
This recognition is something our entire Franklin community should be proud of! I want to extend a special thank you to our incredible teachers, who work tirelessly each day to provide meaningful learning experiences, support students at all levels, and help every child reach their potential. Their dedication, professionalism, and commitment to student success are at the heart of this accomplishment. While we are certainly excited to celebrate this recognition, we also know that there is always room to grow. We will continue using student performance data to identify areas for improvement, strengthen our instructional practices, and ensure that all students have opportunities to succeed. We have a lot to be proud of, and I am excited about the work ahead as we continue building on this success!
Speaking of Franklin pride, you may have noticed that the front of our building got a bit of a facelift this week! We installed a new window wrap on the front office windows that brings some additional color and Franklin spirit to our main entrance. We are excited about the new look and believe it helps make our building an even more welcoming place for students, families, and visitors. Our school building is often the first impression families have of Franklin, and we want that impression to reflect the pride we have in our school and the positive, supportive community we work to create each day. We hope you enjoy the new look as much as we do!
I also want to take a moment to address an important safety concern regarding students who walk to school. Recently, we have observed students crossing Lees Corner Road further down near Old Dairy Road rather than using the designated crosswalk directly in front of our main entrance. This is particularly concerning because the crosswalk at our main entrance is staffed by a crossing guard who helps students cross safely during arrival. Crossing at other locations creates an unnecessary safety risk, especially as we move further into the fall and winter months and have less daylight during our morning arrival time. With traffic moving along Lees Corner Road and visibility becoming more limited, it is extremely important that students use the designated crossing location.
If your student walks to school, please take a few minutes to remind them that they should always cross Lees Corner Road at the crosswalk in front of Franklin's main entrance where our crossing guard is stationed. Even if another crossing location seems more convenient, taking a few extra minutes to use the supervised crosswalk is an important step in keeping everyone safe. Student safety remains one of our highest priorities, and we appreciate your partnership in reinforcing these expectations at home.
Lastly, I want to provide a brief update on our search for Franklin's next Director of Student Services. We are actively working through the hiring process to identify a strong candidate who will help lead our Student Services team and continue supporting the academic, social, and emotional needs of our students. This is an important leadership position at Franklin, and we want to ensure that we find someone who will be a great fit for our students, staff, and families. We are hopeful that we will have a candidate identified by the end of next week and look forward to sharing more information with our community as the process moves forward.
I hope you all have a great weekend. Go Falcons!
Tom DeRusso
Principal
Franklin Middle School
Weekly CARE Card Raffle Winners
~Important Dates~
October 19 & 20 - School Picture Day
October 30 - End of 1st Quarter; 2 hour early release
November 2 & 3 - Teacher Workday - School Closed
November 3 - Spirit Night @ Big Buns - 4pm-9pm
November 13 - PTA Reflections Due
~Action Items~
Picture Day is Coming!
October 19 and October 20
- School pictures will be taken during PE classes
- Pre-order today using the QR Code or go to mylifetouch.com
- Create an account or login with the Picture Day ID: EVT4QV8W4
- Orders will be sent home a few weeks after picture day
2026 Outstanding Employee
DO YOU KNOW AN AMAZING EMPLOYEE? ✨
If you have worked with an outstanding employee at Franklin Middle School, FCPS wants your help recognizing them. Falcon families are invited to nominate staff members for recognition!
🏆 NOMINATIONS FOR...
- Outstanding Teacher
- Outstanding New Principal
- Outstanding Professional Staff Leader
- Outstanding Educational Services Employee
- Outstanding Operational Services Employee
🗓️DEADLINE: The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, November 6, 2026.
SUBMISSIONS: Submissions can be made by completing this form
Spanish Link
🐯Thank you for supporting our outstanding Staff! Franklin MS
Finance Park Field Trip
Parent and Caregiver Volunteers Wanted!
Help students make smart money choices. Volunteer at Junior Achievement Finance Park.
Put financial literacy into action
Your student has been learning about money in class. At Junior Achievement Finance Park, students put those skills to work in a hands-on budgeting simulation.
What you'll do
Guide a small group as students make budgeting decisions for an assigned life scenerio. Help them think through their choices and stay on budget.
Visit Dates
11/10/26: Spivey & Endlaw
11/12/26: Terrones
11/13/26: LaMay
Student Time: 9:30am-1:00pm
Volunteer Time: 8:30am-1:30pm
Location: 4099 Pickett Rd, Fairfax, VA
Timing and training: Volunteers ages 18 and older are welcome; no experience needed. You will receive a one-hour orientation when you arrive. Plan on 4.5-5.5 hours total including training and a break. Please arrive 1 hour before students. Your arrival time is listed in VolunteerHub.
Watch the Junior Achievement Finance Park volunteer video.
Sign up to volunteer.
Can you join us? https://jagw.volunteerhub.com/vv2/lp/jafpfc
Spirit Wear Sale!
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🍂 30% OFF Franklin HOODIES & QUARTER ZIPS!
🍂 Hoodie season is here!
Now through Sunday, save 30% OFF Hoodies & Quarter Zips from our Franklin Spirit Wear Store!
🔥 Hoodies starting at just $32.89!
Stay warm, show your school pride, and grab some new Franklin gear for the whole family! SHOP HERE: https://1stplace.sale/97233
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~Need to Know~
Medication Drop Off
If you have medication to drop off for your student, please contact our PHN, Erica Meacham at emeacham@fcps.edu to schedule an appointment.
Weekly Progress Reports E-mails
If you have registered for a SIS Parentvue Account, you can receive Weekly Progress Reports via email (MS and HS only). The report provides a summary of your student(s) grades for the current quarter. You can activate the report and select your preferences in “My Account” tab in Parentvue.
If you have questions on how to register for Parentvue, contact our family liaison, Janet McFadden at jamcfadden@fcps.edu.
Family Cafe Presented by Fairfax County Public Schools
The Family Café Series is a special time for parents to come together and learn about important topics that can help them support their child's growth and learning.These fun and helpful sessions are designed to keep families informed and involved in their child's education—mind, body, and heart.
At Family Café, we believe parents are key partners in helping children succeed. We're excited to learn and grow with you!
Growing Together: Talking about Social-Emotional Learning at Home
Dates and Locations
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October 21, 2026, at Kingstowne Regional Library
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November 10, 2026, at Thomas Jefferson Library
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November 12, 2026, at Lorton Community Center
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November 19, 2026, at Centreville High School
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December 8, 2026, at Stone Middle School
Contact Information
~Student Services~
~After-School Program~
FRANKLIN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM
Franklin Middle School offers free after-school activities every Monday through Friday all school year long.Whether your student wants to join sports, get help with homework, create, and compete in STEM clubs, play video games, or attend special events—there is something for everyone!
- Bus Transportation: Available 4 days a week.
- Schedule & more info on the Franklin After-School Website
- Late Runs - Posted in the After-School and Parent Schoology Course
- Parents can access the schedule via the Parent Schoology and the Franklin After-School website.
Even if your student isn't sure they want to participate right away, we strongly encourage every family to complete the registration form now.
👉Click Here to Complete the Registration Form (Only need to register your child once)
Lights On After-School!
Join us for Lights On After-School on October 27 from 6–8 PM, hosted by Rocky Run Middle School. Celebrate out-of-school time with after-school programs from Rocky Run, Stone, Liberty, Katherine Johnson, and Franklin Middle Schools—one community, five schools, and endless possibilities!
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Learn about the after-school program offerings from the five middle schools
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Receive information about middle school sports
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Get information on teen programs through Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services
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Jump in and play a game of volleyball – FCPS’ newest sport for our middle school students!
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Gift card raffles and fun activities for the whole family!
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Spotlight: VIP Camp 2026 Reunion
FRANKLIN CROSS COUNTRY
Practice next week will be on Monday and Thursday.Our next meet is on Saturday October 24 at Franklin MS.Our PTSA will have a concession stand on site for the Cross Country Meet. Please make sure you visit the concessions while you are here for the meet next week!
- Week of October 19th - Practice Monday/Thursday
- Upcoming Meets:
- October 24 at Franklin MS 7:30AM
- November 7 - MS XC Championships at Liberty MS
Parents can visit the Franklin MS Sports page or at the FCPS MS Sports site for more information on Middle School Sports within FCPS.
Questions, please reach out to Chris Tippins, After-School Specialist/Athletic Coordinator at WCTippins@fcps.edu
~Franklin Middle School PTA~
 PTA Reflections
Do you enjoy creating art or have an interest in writing and taking photos?
Then join us and have fun unleashing your inner artist with PTA Reflections! Our theme this year is “What My Culture Means to Me”
For inspiration, visit the pta.org/programs/reflections and the Reflections virtual art gallery.
Please see links and visit pta.org/Reflections or vapta.org for rules and guidelines for each category and the official entry form:
fillable-student-entry-form_reflections.pdf
https://www.pta.org/home/programs/reflections/craft-an-entry#guidelines
Entries are due to our Franklin Middle School PTA not later than November 13, 2026.
Entries may be submitted to secretaryfmspta2026@gmail.com, and must include a .pdf fillable entry form and your art work (literature, photography, visual arts or accessible arts).
If you’d like to submit hard copies of your artwork, or if you have any questions, please email secretaryfmspta2026@gmail.com
Parent Teacher Association Membership Drive - Franklin Middle School
Your Voice, Your Support, Our Children's Future.
Goal: 200 memberships.
Current Membership: 45 of 200 memberships.
Join Us Today - Get Involved plus Support Our Kids.
Be a voice for our students and a partner in their success!
Join us and help build a stronger, more connected school community.
Anyone can join: staff, parents and community members.
Join PTA HERE! or go to https://franklinmspta.givebacks.com/shop
Franklin Middle School PTA
Scan the QR code or go to the url to get all of the important PTA information.
First PTA Meeting: October 5th
Join the PTA!
https://franklinmspta.givebacks.com/shop
Spiritwear!
https://1stplacespiritwear.com
Facebook!
Franklin Middle School-PTA
Instagram!
FCPSFRANKLINMS
News You Choose!
https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/VAEDUFCPS/subscriber/new?qsp=VAEDUFCPS_1
Franklin Middle School Spirit Night
Date: Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Time: 4:00 P.M. to 9:05 P.M.
Location: Big Buns - Franklin Farm.
13300 Franklin Farm Road, Herndon, Virginia 20171.
Event Details:
~Helpful Information~
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.
~Community Events~
Community Conversations with Superintendent Reid
Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for a Community Conversation. Students, families, staff, and community members are invited to ask questions, share concerns, and discuss what matters most to them. Everyone is welcome! 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
Registration is not required, but it helps with planning.
Conversaciones Comunitarias Directamente con la Dra. ReidAcompáñenos en una serie de Conversaciones Comunitarias que se llevarán a cabo en diferentes lugares de la división escolar. Estas reuniones están abiertas a todos, incluyendo familias, estudiantes, y miembros de la comunidad. Puede asistir al evento que le resulte más conveniente, aunque no se lleve a cabo en su escuela o comunidad. Esta es una oportunidad para compartir sus opiniones, conversar directamente con la Dra. Reid y hacerle preguntas sobre temas importantes para nuestra comunidad de FCPS.
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Lunes 28 de septiembre, a las 6:30 p.m., en la Escuela Primaria Riverside
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Lunes 19 de octubre, a las 6:30 p.m., en la Escuela Primaria Spring Hill
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Lunes 26 de octubre, a las 6:30 p.m., en la Escuela Primaria Beech Tree
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Jueves 29 de octubre, a las 6:30 p.m., en la Escuela Primaria North Springfield
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Viernes 13 de noviembre, a las 6:30 p.m., en la Escuela Primaria Powell
No es necesario inscribirse, pero hacerlo nos ayuda con la planificación.
Special Education Family Conference: Connected Communities, Thriving Students
Register now for the annual Special Education Family Conference: Connected Communities, Thriving Students. The free conference will take place on Saturday, November 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Hayfield Secondary School.
Hosted by FCPS in collaboration with community partners, the conference highlights the power of partnerships in supporting student success. Families, educators, and community members are invited to connect, learn, and explore available special education services, supports, and resources.
The conference will feature an inspiring opening session, engaging breakout sessions, an exhibitor hall with local resources, and lunch for all participants.
Register for the conference and visit the Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information. Email SpecialEdFamilyConf@fcps.edu with any questions.
Chantilly High School Presents:
CLUE
The game is officially ON! Chantilly High School Theatre is thrilled to present CLUE — a madcap murder mystery packed with hilarious characters, unexpected twists, suspicious behavior, and enough secrets to keep you guessing until the very end!
It’s a dark and stormy night at Boddy Manor. Six colorful guests. One very dead host. A collection of questionable weapons. And EVERYONE has something to hide.
Will it be Miss Scarlet with the rope?
Professor Plum with the candlestick?
Colonel Mustard with the wrench?
There’s only one way to find out!
Performances will be:
Thursday, October 22 at 7 PM
Friday, October 23 at 7 PM
Saturday, October 24 at 7 PM
Sunday, October 25 at 2 PM
Gather your favorite detectives, bring your best theories, and get ready for a night of mystery, mayhem, and LOTS of laughs!
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit chantillydrama.org
Oakton High School's Trunk or Treat
Date: Tuesday, October 27
Time: 6:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M.
Oakton High School
Activities include games, music, food, face painting, and more!
Quick Links
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