Franklin MS Update- 04/24/2026
Franklin MS Update- 04/24/2026

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Military-connected students were recognized in honor of Month of the Military Child and Purple Up Day; Students were competitive during the Pickleball Tournament

Franklin Community,

As we move further into the spring, there is a lot happening at Franklin. From theater performances to upcoming assessments, this is an important stretch of the school year!

I want to once again encourage our community to come out and support our talented students in this year’s spring musical, Legally Blonde. Our cast and crew have been working incredibly hard to bring this production to life, and it promises to be a fantastic show. We hope to see many of you there cheering on our students and celebrating their efforts.  Shows run from Thursday, 4/30 to Sunday, 5/3.  Go to Etix.com and search “Franklin” to purchase tickets!

We also want to share an opportunity for families to engage in an important and timely conversation. We are hosting a parent book discussion centered on The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. This conversation will focus on the impact of smartphones, social media, and screen use on children and adolescents, topics that we know are relevant to many of our families.

The discussion will take place on Wednesday, May 6 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm via Zoom. Families do not need to read the book in advance to participate. This is an opportunity to connect with other parents, share experiences, and learn more about how we can support our students in navigating today’s digital world. You can find more information and register using this link.

As we look ahead, we are also entering our SOL testing window. Our testing schedule is as follows:

  • Reading SOL: May 5

  • Science SOL: May 12

  • Math SOL: May 19

These assessments are an important opportunity for students to demonstrate their learning and growth over the course of the year. Over the next several weeks, it will be critical for students to stay focused, remain engaged in their classes, and put forth their best effort each day.

We ask for your support in helping students come to school well-rested, prepared, and ready to do their best. Encouraging consistent routines, limiting distractions, and reinforcing the importance of effort can make a meaningful difference during this time. Our teachers have been working hard to prepare students, and we are confident in their ability to succeed.

 

Have a great weekend, and Go Falcons!

Tom DeRusso
Principal
Franklin Middle School


Weekly CARE Card Raffle Winners

care card winners

~Important Dates~ 

April 29: PTA Meeting - Virtual

April 30-May 3:  Spring Musical

                          April 30 - 7:00pm

                          May 1 - 7:00pm

                          May 2 - 2:00pm & 7:00pm

                          May 3 - 2:00pm

May 5:  Reading SOL

May 12:  Science 8 SOL

May 18:  NJHS Induction and Pinning Ceremony - 3:00pm

May 19:  Math SOL

May 20:  Last day of After School Program

May 25: Memorial Day - School & Offices Closed

May 26:  Teacher Workday - School Closed

May 27:  Eid Al-Adha - School & Offices Closed


~Action Items~

Teacher Appreciation Week - May 4-8

Teacher Appreciation Week – Beginning May 4: Help us celebrate our incredible teachers and staff! We are currently collecting monetary donations to support the week’s activities: https://www.givebacks.com/causes/b06aacf3-909f-4793-9af1-c3b14a359693/campaigns/caaed42b6f1a.  A SignUpGenius for snacks and drinks will be shared soon.


National Junior Honor Society 

NJHS

fcps cares

 

Want a quick way to recognize an employee or team? 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 from HR. Encourage your community to show our staff that their hard work is appreciated!

 


~Student Services~

book discussion

Let’s Talk About The Anxious Generation –  Book Discussion

Join us via Zoom on Wednesday, May 6 at 5:30 pm, for a virtual Book Discussion of The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, a #1 New York Times bestseller exploring how today’s world is impacting our children’s mental health.

This will be a judgment-free conversation about our kids’ screen time, smartphones, social media, and other topics that affect our kids’ lives.

You don’t need to have read the book to participate in the discussion. 

The conversation will be led by two parents and will be a chance to connect, share perspectives, and learn from one another in a supportive space.

If you have any questions about the book discussion, contact Janet McFadden at 703 904-5193 or jamcfadden@fcps.edu.  We hope you’ll join us!

Register  Here


Franklin MS celebrates the Month of the Military Child (MOMC) – APRIL 2026

military child

Required Immunizations for Rising 7th Graders

As required by the Code of VA, parents or legal guardians need to provide proof of immunizations for their child to attend at a Virginia public school.

 

In addition, all students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations

  • Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap) given at age 7 or older; 
  • Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) given at age 10 or older;  
  • A complete series of 2 doses of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. 
  • After reviewing educational materials approved by the Board of Health, the parent or guardian, at the parents or guardians sole discretion, may elect for the child not to receive the HPV vaccine.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with your child’s healthcare provider now to avoid the rush this summer. Immunization appointments are available. Inspire Health Alliance will be providing immunizations for currently enrolled FCPS students at no out-of-pocket cost. Visit the Inspire Immunization Events Student Registration webpage to schedule an appointment. 

Please review the Virginia Department of Health Information Packet (PDF) for more information on rising 7th grade immunization requirements.

Additional Immunization Resources are also available. 


FCPS Family Cafe: Introduction to Career Pathways for Students

Join Family and School Partnerships to explore career pathways, academies, and the wide range of courses and certifications available in FCPS. 

This virtual workshop will be held on Wednesday, May 13, at 6:30 p.m. and will highlight the various career and technical education courses available to middle and high school students in FCPS. Currently, there are more than 160 Career and Technical Education (CTE) course options available to students. Many CTE programs include industry credentials, work-based learning, and career and technical student organizations, allowing students to develop the skills needed to be successful in future education, training, and careers. 

Register in advance for Career Pathways to receive the Zoom link. Email FamilyEngagement@fcps.edu for more information or call 703-204-4300. 


~AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM~

Students should be picked up from the After-School Program no later than 5:00PM. Parents should communicate with your student on their pickup time. Late Buses run Monday-Thursday with a departure time of 4:45pm. On Fridays there are no late buses but parents may pick up their students by 4:35pm on Fridays. 

For more info on the After-School Program visit the website or schoology.

MS Sports - Spring Track

The first meet of the season will be on Saturday April 25 at Herndon High School. An email will go out to all track parents Sunday with more information about the meet at Herndon HS. Please be on the lookout for the email.

Track Schedule 

  • Monday -  April 27 (Practice)
  • Wednesday - April 29 (Practice)
  • Saturday - May 2 (Meet at West Springfield HS)

Any questions please reach out to Chris Tippins at WCTippins@fcps.edu.You can also visit the Franklin MS Sports page or at the FCPS MS Sports site for more information.


Western Fairfax VIP Application - Now Open!!

Western Fairfax VIP Camp will be held at Liberty Middle School from July 1-July 30 for rising 7th & 8th grade students. The application link can be found in the link below. The application link is now open. 

Click here for more information on VIP Camp


COMMANDERS CAMPS

Coming to Franklin MS!!

Commanders Camps are coming to Chantilly this summer! Get ready for high-energy flag football, skill-building, and team-first fun crafted for rising 2nd through 7th graders of every experience level!

Franklin Middle School will be hosting 3 Commanders Flag Football Camps run by Flag Star Football this summer. For more information visit www.commanderscamps.com or scan the QR Code below.

  • July 20 through July 24

  • July 27 through July 31

  • August 3 through August 7

Camp Runs 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Franklin Middle School

3300 Lees Corner Road

Chantilly, VA 20151

 

Register today at www.commanderscamps.com or the QR code provided on the flyer for registration.

Special Offer: Save $75 for FCPS families with code: FCPSFIRSTYEAR.

commanders

Chantilly Athletics Physical Night - Now Open

Registration for FCPS athletic preparticipation exams (physicals) is now open!

All middle and high school students interested in participating in school athletic programs MUST have a valid athletic physical on file with their school prior to participating.  All rising middle school students, specifically those who will be in 7th or 8th grade (and rising 6th graders at Poe, Glasgow, and Holmes middle schools) next school year (2026-2027) interested in participating in the middle school sports program are eligible to receive a FREE athletic physical exam through these events.

Athletic physicals are coordinated by the certified athletic trainers at our FCPS high schools and are only available at the dates and times indicated.  Students must register in advance and additional information is available through the link above.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdo_1j5mhiRin35nuDOStUgh-GHNYYZgMAo11Or6XXRsSP_Ug/viewform

Dates and Times:

  • Wednesday, June 10, 2026.

  • Appointments: 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM.

Cost and Registration:

  • $50 per physical with online registration. Rising middle school students are eligible for a Free exam

  • $60 for walk-ins.

  • Register now!

https://www.chantillyathletics.com/news/f0512881-1c93-444e-9113-dae0a7627b10

chantilly physical

Teen Explorer Camp Presented by:

Fairfax County Park Authority

Event Details:

  • Location: E C Lawrence Park.

  • Age Range: 12 through 14 years.

  • Activities: Field trips, games, and nature activities!

Dates and Registration:

  • Dates: 1 week session from July 22 through July 26.

  • Registration: Scan the provided QR code on the flyer to register or go to fcps.edu/vip-summer-camp

Accessibility and Accommodations: Fairfax County is committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in all county programs, services and activities. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request. For details, call 703-324-8563, TTY 711.

teen camp

Budget Banner

~Franklin Middle School PTA~

PTA Updates & Reminders

The PTA has several upcoming events and opportunities to support our school community:

 

Thank you for your continued support of our school community!


Support Franklin's PTA

We're One-Third of the Way to Our Goal!

Welcome back to all our families to another busy school year! We're grateful to everyone who has already joined the PTA this year! So far, we're only about one-third of the way to meeting our membership goal. Your membership dollars go directly back into supporting our students, teachers, and classrooms by covering a variety of costs from classroom resources and teacher appreciation