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 Honoring Mr. DeRusso during National Principal's Month, Band students got a special treat recently with a guest conductor, Students hanging up a Unity Chain preparing for Unity Day next week, Eighth-grade English students are working on their Technology CER planning. They are creating a claim about the value (or lack thereof) of technology in our lives and looking through texts we’ve read this quarter to find evidence to support their claims.
Franklin Community,
This week, we celebrated our Soaring Falcons, recognizing students who go above and beyond in demonstrating our CARE traits each day. Two students are selected from each team to be honored as our Students of the Month, earning a certificate, a small prize, and recognition in a special video shared during advisory. This program is one of the many ways we work to reinforce positive behavior and celebrate students who consistently make Franklin a kind, respectful, and supportive community. Congratulations to all of our Soaring Falcons!
As part of the ongoing commitment to strengthening layered safety and security programs, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) has continued to phase in a weapons detection system at all secondary schools this fall. Franklin will begin full implementation on Monday, November 10.
In preparation, we will be providing presentations and practice opportunities for students during the week leading up to implementation. These sessions will allow students to understand the procedures, see how the screening process works, and ask any questions they may have. Our goal is to ensure everyone feels comfortable, informed, and confident before the system goes live.
Please take a moment to watch this video of the Superintendent’s conversation with students about the weapons screening system. The most important thing is for students to have the correct items removed from their bags before getting in line.
Items to be removed include:
- Three-ring binders
- Laptops
- Collapsible umbrellas
- Metal lunch boxes
- Metal pencil cases
- Metal glasses cases
These items may remain in a student’s bag:
- Non-metal lunch boxes
- Books
- Planners
- Spiral notebooks and folders
- Cell phones
- Keys
- Non-metal pencil cases
Once the items are removed, students should walk to the shortest line and proceed through the system. If the light turns red, they will be directed to a secondary screening to identify what may have caused the alert. Experience from other schools shows that this process becomes easier and more efficient with each passing day.
You can learn more about the system by watching the video linked above and reviewing the Frequently Asked Questions on the FCPS website. If you have additional questions, please submit them online to the FCPS Office of Safety and Security.
We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and support as we work together to maintain a safe and welcoming learning environment for all students and staff.
As I mentioned last week, this year we are in the process of revising our school’s Vision and Mission statements, and we’re seeking input from our entire community — including families, students, and staff. Your feedback will help us ensure that our Vision and Mission truly reflect our shared values, goals, and hopes for the future of Franklin.
A clear Vision and Mission are important because they provide a shared sense of purpose and direction for our school — shaping our priorities and the culture we build together. They define who we are, what we stand for, and the kind of learning environment we strive to create for every student.
We’d love to hear your thoughts! Please take a few minutes to share your input by filling out the Franklin Vision and Mission Community Input Form.
As we head into the long weekend, we want to wish everyone a happy Diwali and hope you enjoy a safe, joyful, and relaxing day off on Monday.
Tom DeRusso
Principal
Franklin Middle School
Weekly CARE Card Raffle Winners
Students of the Month
Congratulations to our Falcons who were honored as our September Students of the Month! We are so proud of you. Continue to Soar!
~Important Dates~
October 20: Diwali - School & Office Closed
October 22 - SEL Screener
October 31 - Quarter 1 Ends - 2 hour Early Release
November 3 & 4 - Teacher Workday - No School
~Action Items~
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