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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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Mon, Oct 26: PTA after-school programs begin
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Fri, Oct 30: 2hr early dismissal for end of 1st quarter (1:30pm)
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Mon, Nov 2, and Tue, Nov 3: NO SCHOOL
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Wed, Nov 11: Veterans Day
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Mon, Nov 16: Picture Make-up Day
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Wed, Nov 18: 3-hour Early Dismissal Day (12:30pm)
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Fri, Nov 20: Thanksgiving Lunch
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Wed, Nov 25 - Fri, Nov 27: NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Break)
Be sure to bookmark the FCPS school year calendar to keep track of school holidays, breaks, and observances.
Counselor Corner
October is Bullying Prevention Month, and our students have been diving deep into what it truly means to spread kindness! Throughout our guidance lessons, we’ve been exploring how to spot the difference between conflict and bullying, how to build empathy for those who experience bullying, and how we can all choose positive, supportive behaviors every day.
To celebrate everything we’ve learned, we are wrapping up the month with an action-packed Spirit Week from October 26th–30th! Check out our daily theme schedule to get your outfits ready. Link is also here: https://canva.link/2up6mg1ezut8bj7
We can’t wait to kick off the fun, and we are especially thrilled for our Kindness Costume Parade on Friday! Let’s dress up, show our spirit, and stand together for a kinder school community!
Monday, October 26 - Pajama Day
Tuesday, October 27 – Twin day or school colors (green/yellow)
Wednesday, October 28 – Team or college Jersey Day or School colors/ Franconia Shirts
Thursday, October 29 - Crazy hair, socks or hat,
Friday, October 30th – Book Character (dress-up) day, fall colors, or school colors (green/yellow) [NO TOY WEAPONS]
Federal Impact Aid Survey 2026-2027
Federal Impact Aid Survey will once again be available electronically through your ParentVUE account as of October 19, 2026.
Only the enrolling parent/guardian can complete the 4-question survey in ParentVUE. One survey must be completed for each FCPS student in a household.
Surveys completed in ParentVUE are electronically signed. It also saves valuable resources (such as paper).
All information will be kept strictly confidential.
ParentVUE app access:
Log in to Your SIS ParentVUE account .
Computer or mobile device access (we recommend using Google Chrome)
Log in to Your SIS ParentVUE account or type sisparent.fcps.edu into your Chrome address bar to be taken to SIS ParentVUE. If you don’t have a SIS ParentVUE account, contact your child’s school for an activation letter.
If you have multiple children in Fairfax County Public Schools, please fill out a form for each child. You will know you have completed all the forms when you get to the final page and see a green check mark next to each of their names.
Franconia is excited to celebrate and honor our Franconia ES Military Veterans!
On Wednesday, November 11, 2026, from 9:00 am to approximately 9:30 am, Veterans are invited to join their children for the Pledge of Allegiance, the National Anthem, and a short parade around the school's interior hallways. Coffee and continental breakfast will be provided for all Veterans.
To help us with our planning and ensure we can properly welcome all our guests, we ask that you complete the Franconia ES Veterans Day Celebration Google Form (https://forms.gle/Y3FZyBMVp2fKDkNF6) to register your Veteran if they plan to attend.
Please encourage your student to wear red, white, and blue on Wednesday, November 11 to show their support!
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PTA FALL FESTIVAL
 Thank you so much to PTA and everyone who joined us for our Fall Festival last Friday! We loved seeing so many families enjoying the movie marathon, carnival games, photo booth, face painting, and delicious food trucks. 🍿🎉
An EXTRA BIG THANK YOU to all of our dedicated volunteers for making it all happen! Your support means the world to us.
LIBRARY CORNER
The Literati Book Fair will be here for TWO more days!
Students will shop during the school day, and families are welcome to join during evening hours:
Thursday, October 22, 3:30-6:00
Volunteers for the Book Fair are needed! Visit www.signupkit.co/rCSR0 to sign-up!
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 October 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!
Attention Penguin Performers (Grades 4–6)
Audition sign-up sheets for Shrek, Jr. are now officially posted near the music ramp!
Starting 10/21/26, students may pick up an audition packet located outside the music room to take home.
ACTION:
- Parents - Please look through the entire packet including the calendar of rehearsals and sign and return the WHITE COMMITMENT FORM
Important Dates to Know:
- Zoom Interest Meeting: Wednesday, November 4 @ 7:00 p.m.
- Auditions: November 11 (recently added), 12, and 13
- Callbacks: November 16
Note: **November 11 was added due to the amount of students interested in auditioning. Anyone interested in auditioning SHOULD attend the Zoom Interest Meeting. Zoom links will be sent out closer to the meeting date via TalkingPoints and Wednesday Word. The calendar of rehearsals was sent via TalkingPoints.
Annual Special Education Family Conference: We Need You!
Register now to attend the annual Special Education Family Conference, Connected Communities, Thriving Students.
Saturday, November 14, 2026
8:30 am – 3:00 pm
Hayfield Secondary School
Educators, families, and community members are invited to this in-person event at no cost. Participants can connect, learn, and explore available special education services, supports, and resources. Lunch will be provided for all participants. Register to attend the conference.
Visit the Special Education Family Conference webpage for more information. Email questions to SpecialEdFamilyConf@fcps.edu.
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It's Awards Season at Franconia!
Franconia Elementary School is fortunate to have so many outstanding staff members! Fairfax County Public Schools honors outstanding school staff members in several categories. Check out this link for more information.
Here at Franconia, we are seeking nominations from the community for these awards. Please use the form linked below to nominate Franconia's staff for awards. Consider nominating an outstanding classroom teacher or specialist, our amazing office, custodial, and cafeteria staff, or even our fantastic principals!
Awards Nomination Link: https://forms.gle/jkuKF3z1ios4f1GF6
You may nominate multiple staff members by completing a new form for each nomination. Please note there are some qualifications for these awards, so not all staff members may be eligible.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Claire Branson, School Awards Liaison (and teacher) at cebranson@fcps.edu.
Please note, if you need help with preparing a nomination (translation services or writing assistance), we are happy to help!
📢 LOST & FOUND: THE PENGUIN IS PACKED!
Our Lost & Found penguin is feeling a bit overwhelmed by the mountain of gear left behind! Our retrieval racks are currently bursting with jackets, hoodies, and personal items that are lonely for their owners.
Please swing by the Main Lobby before the end of the week to claim any missing belongings.
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Visitor Information
At Franconia, we pride ourselves in maintaining a welcoming and caring community. It is also important that we continue to encourage all our penguins to build their independence skills.
We ask that parents do not enter the building during arrival and, instead, allow their children to walk to their classroom on their own. There are many adults stationed throughout the hallways who can assist students, so please rest assured all our penguins will get to their classroom safely.
If parents need to speak with their child's teacher, they can make appointments via email or Talking Points.
If parents have business in the office, we ask they enter the building ONLY through the front at Door 1.
Thank you for your support for the Franconia Penguin Community!
PTA CORNER
AFTERSCHOOL CLUBS
Registration for the fall after-school programs is underway. Details and registration links are posted on our website.
The deadline for registration is OCTOBER 25.
MONDAY – all start 10/26
- Crochet
- Football
- Origami K-2
- Origami 3-6
TUESDAY
- Comic Book Illustration <starts 11/17>
- Cooking <starts 11/10>
- Soccer <starts 10/27>
WEDNESDAY
- Chess <starts 10/28>
- Science <starts 11/4>
- Sports & PE <starts 11/4>
THURSDAY
- Pokémon <starts 10/29>
- Slime <starts 11/5>
- Spanish <starts 10/29>
FRIDAY
- Basketball <starts 11/6>
- Intro to Game Design <starts 11/13>
CHARLIE
Franconia ES is fortunate to host visits with Peggy and her comfort dog, Charlie.
Charlie is a highly-trained, mild-tempered border collie who has been extensively trained as a comfort dog. Charlie has been visiting to Franconia since 8 years, visits with Charlie are a wonderful way to help students feel safe, comforted, and happy at school.
Interacting with Charlie also helps students develop empathy and compassion towards others.
Kindergarten T-shirt
We have been having a fantastic time getting to know each of our new kindergarteners! Each year as a way to build classroom community, we like to order special t-shirts with each kindergartners’ name on the back with our whole class list of names. We wear these t-shirts on Fridays, during our field trips, and school spirit days. These special t-shirts enhance the kindergartners’ sense of pride in being Franconia students and they become great memories! The kids love matching each other, and get so excited each Friday to see their friends wearing the same shirt! If you would like to order a Kindergarten t-shirt for your child and/or family, follow this link to the School Store (make sure you are logged in to My School Bucks before clicking the link).
https://www.myschoolbucks.com/ver2/stores/getstoremain
Once in the school store please click Kindergarten T-shirt
Parents are welcome to order t-shirts for themselves and other family members as well! You can add as many shirts as you would like to your cart to order. Each shirt is $9. Please order as soon as possible if you would like one, but please be aware that orders are due by Friday, October 23rd,. Please be aware we can not accept orders past this date and we will not be able to order more afterwards. Thank you for your support!
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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, November 18
- Wednesday, January 13
- Wednesday, April 7
SAVE THE DATE!
Friday, November 20
More details to come
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:
Registration is not required, but it helps with planning.
OCTOBER
Disability History and Awareness Month
In Virginia during October, Disability History and Awareness activities provide an opportunity to create greater public awareness for individuals with disabilities, with the goal of full inclusion in our community.
19-23 - National School Bus Safety Week
National School Bus Safety Week is an active and evolving public education program and an excellent way for parents, students, teachers, motorists, school bus operators, school administrators, and other interested parties - to join forces and address the importance of school bus safety. Resources to share.
Oct. 30 and Nov. 2-3 - *Quarter End Early Release / Teacher Workday / School Planning Day
Friday, October 30, is the last day of the first quarter, and a two-hour early release for students. Schools are closed for students on Monday, November 2, for a school planning day, and Tuesday, November 3, for a teacher workday. See the complete school year calendar.
Quick Links
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