Franklin Sherman Flash - August 16
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Principal's MessageDear Franklin Sherman Families,
I hope you all have had a wonderful, relaxing summer. I am extremely excited for our new school year and seeing your student(s) on Monday. It will be back to routines for us all as we go to bed earlier and make sure to have a good breakfast in the morning.
Thank you to our amazing PTA for stocking the lounge with so many great treats this week and for the delicious lunch yesterday. The sign out front was a great added touch of excitement as we welcomed families to our open house yesterday.
Thank you to those of you who attended our open house. The staff have been busy receiving professional development this week as well as getting their rooms and the hallways ready for you to see. We do have another opportunity coming up for parents to come and meet their student's teacher. Please join us for Back to School Night on August 28th. K-3 is from 5:30-6 and grades 4-6 is from 6-6:30. A friendly reminder that this is a kid free event and a great opportunity for parents to meet their student(s)' teacher and learn about the curriculum for the year.
If you have any questions/concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I hope you and your family have a great last weekend of the summer.
Farris Thomas
Principal
Franklin Sherman ES
Important Dates
August 18 Chalk the Walk
August 19 First Day of School (Bell Schedule 9:20 am-4:05 pm)
August 19 Jitters and Joy Coffee
August 23 Friday Fun Day
August 28 Back to School Night (more info to come)
September 2 Labor Day Holiday
September 6 Friday Fun Day
September 23 Early Release Monday
Contents
- Report Absences through ParentVUE
- Dismissal Map
- Your Family's App Toolbox
- Student Consent Forms
- Free and Reduced Price Meal Applications
- Celebrate Mclean!
- Digital Resources Consent - Complete Today For Each Child
- News from Our PTA
- Student Accident Insurance Program
- FCPS Cares Program
- Franklin Sherman Flash Archive and Translation Available On Our Website
Starting August 19, parents and caregivers can report up to two consecutive full-day absences using SIS ParentVUE. For absences longer than two days, please contact Franklin Sherman's Front Office.
All Day Absences: The Attendance feature in SIS ParentVUE is the FCPS secure web solution for reporting all day absences.
Partial Absence: To report late arrivals, early dismissals, or to update already submitted attendance, please contact Franklin Sherman's Front Office.
Dismissal Map
In an effort to make our dismissal routines safer and more efficient we have created a new dismissal plan for this school year. Walkers will be dismissed out door #6 towards the playground and neighborhood behind the playground. Kiss n Ride students will exit from door #4, next to the outdoor classroom and learning garden, and stage next to the solar panel so they can look for their car with their teacher. Bus riders will continue to exit from the main entrance by the office.
We are confident that our silent dismissal procedures will maximize learning time and create a safer and smoother transition home for all our students!
Your Family's App Toolbox
SIS ParentVUE - The SIS ParentVUE Account (Student Information System ParentVUE Account) is the FCPS secure solution for accessing information about your child's attendance, class performance, demographic data, and link to Schoology.
TalkingPoints - TalkingPoints is a free app that allows families to communicate with teachers in their preferred language. This will be a new tool we will use this year.
Here Comes the Bus - Know when the school bus is arriving with the Here Comes the Bus app. This app uses GPS to track bus locations in real time. To use this app, you'll need to set up your ParentVue account first. The FCPS school district code is 28982.
Nutrislice - Find out what's for breakfast and/or lunch each day.
MySchoolBucks - Online payment for lunch accounts and field trips are available through the MySchoolBucks School Store. This online payment service provides a quick and easy way to pay for school-related purchases. You will be able to pay for a variety of school fees using credit/debit cards or electronic checks.
Student Consent Forms
Beginning August 1st, student consent forms currently available on ParentVue will be moved to the Parent Digital Consent System (PDC). Families can log into the PDC using their ParentVue credentials to complete consent forms assigned to their child. If you have a new ParentVue account, you must wait 24 hours after it is created to use the PDC.
Forms available include:
- School Counseling Opt-out
- Digital Resources Consent
- SEL Screener Opt-Out
- Family Life Education Opt-out
- SOL Retest Permission
- Objection to Release of Directory Information to the Public
- Objection to Release of Information to Outside Organizations
Families must complete the Free and Reduced Price Meal application before the start of each school year. Approved applications may also qualify students for additional benefits. Look for the application in August, view criteria, and up-to-date information on the Free and Reduced-Price Meals webpage. Families should reach out to their schools with questions or for assistance.
To apply online:
- Visit www.MySchoolApps.com.
- In the State drop down menu, select Virginia.
- Click on the Search button.
- On the next screen, select Fairfax County Public Schools from the Choose your District dropdown.
- Click on the Select District & Continue button.
Celebrate Mclean!
Thursday – August 29 – 4:00-6:30
We are excited to announce our annual Celebrate McLean festival at McLean High School. This vibrant community event is filled with fun for all ages. Enjoy a lively atmosphere with a live DJ, delicious food trucks, engaging games including a moon bounce obstacle course, and much more.
Celebrate McLean also serves as a great opportunity for future and existing Highlanders to learn more about student clubs, activities, and our athletic teams. It’s a perfect way to kick off the evening before heading to support our McLean Varsity football team as they take on Meridian at 7pm right after the festival.
Join us and celebrate our community and cheer on our team for an unforgettable night! Admission is free to Celebrate McLean.
Digital Resources Consent - Complete Today For Each Child
We want your child to get the most out of their school experience! To open up a world of exciting activities and valuable opportunities, we need your collaboration. Please take a moment at the beginning of the school year to review and provide your consent through the easy-to-use FCPS Parent Digital Consent system.
More Information and Guide for Completing the Consent
News from Our PTA CHALK THE WALK Sunday
August 18th 9am-12pm
Join us in decorating the school sidewalks with encouraging messages and fun and colorful drawings. Bring your creativity and kids, and the PTA will provide the chalk. Let's turn the sidewalks into a colorful celebration to welcome our students back to Franklin Sherman!
JITTERS AND JOY COFFEE Monday
August 19th 9:30am
Whether you are nervous or thrilled about the kids returning to school, join us to meet fellow parents under the outdoor pavilion by the playground to commiserate and/or celebrate after drop-off on the first day of school!
Friday Fun Day with Kona Ice
August 23 & September 6, 3:50 - 4:40 p.m.
Treat your kids to some shaved ice and help our pandas! For a fundraiser, we have arranged for the Kona Ice truck to be in the school parking lot by the fields. A portion of sales will be given to the PTA to support our school.
Join the PTAYou can make a difference in your school community and will receive the weekly PTA Newsletter. Annual PTA membership costs only $20 and is due EACH school year. Join today!
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FCPS NewsIn case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Phones Down, Engagement Up
-
Update Your Child’s Immunizations and Records
- Traffic-Related Back-to-School Safety
- Family Information Phone Lines
- Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
Student Accident Insurance ProgramFairfax County Public Schools does not provide medical insurance for accidents that occur at school. Parents may want to consider if purchasing voluntary student insurance is right for their family.
K & K Insurance Group has student accident insurance coverage available for purchase by parents. If you do not have other insurance, this plan may be a resource to consider. Additionally, even if you have other coverage, this plan can help fill expensive gaps caused by deductibles and co-pays. Coverage may be purchased at any time during the school year.
Find more information on the FCPS website.
Family Vision Group
If you are interested in being a parent representative for the family vision group please email Farris Thomas ([email protected]).
This program is designed to foster a collaborative environment where diverse families can engage directly with Dr. Reid on important issues that impact student success. The FCPS Family Vision Group brings communities together to discuss and achieve the goals of the 2023-2030 Strategic Plan, which prioritizes excellence, equity, and opportunity for all students.
By participating, parents/caregivers gain valuable knowledge and connections to become powerful partners in their child's educational journey. The group also facilitates open discussions with Dr. Reid on important topics related to student success. Bi-monthly meetings (August 2024 - May 2025) ensure consistent school representation and foster open communication through Q&A sessions, and feedback opportunities to help participants inform other families at their schools. The FCPS Family Vision Group seeks to recognize and strengthen the positive impact of community engagement on student achievement. Key responsibilities of the FCPS Family Connection Group Include:
- Regularly attend FCPS Family Vision Group meetings.
- Support the superintendent's outreach efforts to engage families and community members.
- Actively participate in the exchange of information and perspectives.
- Serve as ambassadors to your school community by being an additional bridge to sharing information between families and the superintendent.
- Commit to pursuing the interest of each and every student in Fairfax County Public Schools.
FCPS Cares Program
FCPS Cares is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize those who go above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story so we can all acknowledge the outstanding work of FCPS and specifically Franklin Sherman.
Franklin Sherman Flash Archive and Translation Available On Our Website
6633 Brawner St. McLean, VA 22101 | Main Office: 703.506.7900
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