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Dear Franklin Sherman ES Parents/Guardians,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback on the Google survey that I sent out in December regarding my leadership at Franklin Sherman. I am grateful for your honesty, thoughtfulness, and partnership. Your responses help me better understand what you value for your children and what matters most in our school community.
A few themes emerged that I wanted to summarize and share with you all:
Community Strengths & Successes
The majority of the feedback was overwhelmingly positive regarding the school climate and leadership presence. Parents feel a renewed sense of connection to the school.
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High Visibility & Accessibility: Parents repeatedly praised the "high energy" and "positivity" of the leadership. Greeting parents with a smile, being visible around the school, and "leading from the front" have created a welcoming atmosphere.
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Family Engagement: There is strong appreciation for "bringing parents back into the school." Specific initiatives mentioned as high-value included:
- Coffee with the Principal
- Family Morning Meetings & Lunches with students
- Culture Fest
- Classroom invitations
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Communication: Feedback indicates that communication has become "timely," "consistent," and "transparent," improving trust in the administration.
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Inclusivity & Advocacy: Families of students with special needs feel particularly supported. Comments highlighted successful advocacy for IEPs, support during testing processes, and a general feeling that the school welcomes "ALL kids."
Areas for Growth & Concern
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Screen Time: There was a concern raised regarding computer usage during the school day.
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Homework Preferences: Some parents requested a reduction in homework and expressed a specific preference for traditional spelling lists.
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Parent-Teacher Communication: Parents requested more frequent formal check-ins.
Thank you as always for your parternship. My door is always open and I look foward to our continued progress this year.
Sincerely,
Farris Thomas
Principal
Franklin Sherman ES
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January 12 & 13 Lost and Found Cleanout
January 14 Longfellow MS Curriculum Night
January 19 Martin Luther King Holiday
January 28 End of Quarter 2 Early Release 2 Hours
January 29-30 Student Holidays
February 6 Culturefest
February 18 3 Hour Early Release
March 7 Harlem Wizards Game
FCPS Calendar: 2025-26
Franklin Sherman Calendar
PTA members can purchase Wizards tickets now using the code ShermanPTA at the link here. Tickets sold out quickly last year, and many students were disappointed they missed out—don’t let that happen again!
Not a member yet? Join the PTA today for early access and secure your tickets before they’re gone. Click here to join.
Sponsor the Wizards Game!
If you own a local business and want to increase your visibility in the community, consider sponsoring this special event. Sponsorship is a great way to connect with families, celebrate local businesses, and support our wonderful McLean elementary schools. For more information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact Katie Sear at sear.katherine@gmail.com.
We look forward to another unforgettable Harlem Wizards game and hope to see you there!
Lunch With Your Favorite School Hero
What's the prize?
A special lunch for the winning student, three friends, and your favorite Franklin Sherman hero - on us! Want to order pizza delivery? Happy Meals? You got it!
How many will win?
THREE lucky students will win!
3 winners + 3 guests each = 12 students in on the fun! Each winner will get their own fun lunch!
Why is this an awesome raffle?
A fun lunch. Your favorite school hero. And bragging rights.
Why it matters?
Every ticket supports FSES programs, events and supplies for our school!
Get Your Tickets Today
bit.ly/PandaLunchRaffle
Has your child lost an item at school?
On Monday, January 12th, and Tuesday, January 13th, the Lost and Found will be in the school main lobby from 9 am till 4:30 pm. Parents are welcome to swing by the school on these two days to claim any missing item(s) from their household.
All unclaimed belongings will be donated to the McLean Baptist Church, Share Clothing Room.
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Students from the Longfellow Green Team are hosting a stargazing event next week and families from Franklin Sherman invited to attend.
Dark Skies Presentation & Stargazing Event
Date & Time: Thursday, January 15, 2026, 7:00-8:30 pm.
Where: Longfellow Lecture Hall & PE Field
Description: Come learn how the natural world thrives in darkness. Students and guest speakers will discuss light pollution and ways to be better stewards of our night skies. After the presentations, a local astronomer will lead stargazing on the Longfellow PE field. Bring warm clothes (hats and mittens) for the outdoor portion. We'll have telescopes and binoculars available.
Make Your Voice Heard!
Look for opportunities to share your ideas about funding public education and encourage your neighbors, friends, and community members to follow the FCPS budget process. Several key decision dates and engagement opportunities are listed below:
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Thursday, December 18, 2025 - The Virginia Governor introduced the Fiscal Year 2026 state budget.
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Wednesday, January 7, 2026, beginning at 10 a.m. - There will be virtual regional public hearings on the governor’s proposed 2026-28 biennial state budget.
Thursday, January 22, 2026 - Dr. Reid will present the proposed FCPS budget to the School Board.
Attendance Matters
Reporting Student Absences
We are committed to partnering with families to promote positive attendance habits. Any day that your child is unable to attend school, parents should report the absence. By reporting absences, families are partnering with our staff so that everyone can make sure students are supported and have access to resources.
Full-day absences can be reported in SIS ParentVUE. Parents can also report absences by calling our school attendance line at [phone number] or emailing [attendance email address]. School staff will call parents if students are absent, and our school has not been notified in advance.
Parents can monitor their child’s attendance records in SIS ParentVUE.
When Your Child Is Sick
It is also important to keep your child home when they are sick. The Can My Child Go to School? webpage provides helpful recommendations on when to keep your child home.
FCPS News
FCPS NewsIn case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Make Your Voice Heard! Have an Impact on the Budget
- Go on a Literacy Adventure
- Enjoy Your Winter Break!
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
Winter Activity Registrations are Live!
The PTA is proud to offer several winter classes for students before and after school. Please remember that you must be a PTA member to register. If you have not yet joined, you can do so here.
New After-School Program! Join Mindful Meals for a fun, hands-on 6-week after-school program where students explore food, culture, and healthy choices. Kids will learn how food fuels their bodies, try a cooking experiment, compare homemade meals to fast food, and discover how food can help care for our planet and community. The program runs Thursdays, January 15–February 26, from 4:05–5:05 PM. Cost is $40 and includes a children’s nutrition book for each student. Registration form is here!
Art Club - Grades K-4 on Thursdays from 4:05 - 5:05 pm Register
Chess - All Grades - Wednesdays before school, 8:15 - 9:15 am Register
Karate - Grades K-2 on Tuesdays from 4:10-5:10 pm Register
Karate - Grades 3-6 on Thursdays from 4:10-5:10 pm Register
Sports Spectacular - All grades on Wednesdays from 4:10-5:10 pm Register
Culturefest Table Signups!
We are accepting commitments for Host Tables at World CultureFest on Friday, February 6.
Families interested in representing their country or culture should click on this link to secure a spot!
Space is limited to 16 Host Tables, so please sign up soon. We can help connect families representing the same culture.
Your table can be anything you would like. Ideas include:
- Food samples with a family recipe
- Traditional clothing
- A cultural game
- Flags, stickers, candy, or small giveaways
- Artwork or fun facts about your culture
We look forward to celebrating our community’s diversity!
Lunch with a Panda
We are thrilled to invite you to "Lunch with a Panda."
Submit this Reservation Form to let us know about your visit.
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 1 week 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
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!
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Prepare for Winter Weather
Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather closing decisions are made at FCPS.
FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, the new FCPS mobile app, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange emergency child care if needed.
Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities
We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that may prevent children from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. View the National Weather Service’s tips on staying safe during cold weather.
If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please call Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health.
Invitation from Longfellow MS
Longfellow Middle School will be hosting a Curriculum Night for rising 7th grade families (current 6th grade students) at Longfellow MS on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 p.m.
This evening session aims to provide parents with information that will help their incoming 7th grade student with the transition to middle school. Families will have the opportunity to explore elective course offerings and hear from a variety of Longfellow staff about the courses and programs offered to 7th grade students. Students and staff will also be available to answer questions.
If inclement weather occurs, the event will be rescheduled for Wednesday, January 21, 2026, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
We look forward to welcoming you to Longfellow!
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