CLINIC
Our goal is to ensure that your student will enjoy a healthful, safe school year.  The clinic is located within the main office and is open from 7:15 am - 2:15 pm.  Please read the following information carefully, and feel free to call your Clinic Room Aide, Kathleen Palumbo, or your School Public Health Nurse, Eileen Butler RN, at 703-481-4242, if you have any questions.   HOW CAN YOU HELP THE CLINIC provide the best possible care?

• Complete and return to school the Emergency Care Information Form, listing as emergency contacts someone who can be reached and can pick up your child, should he/she become sick or injured at school.   Be sure to notify the school office of any changes to information provided on the form.

• If your child has any special health concerns, please contact Eileen Butler RN, School Public Health Nurse, at 703-481-4242.

• If your child will have any PE restrictions, please notify the PE teacher directly.

• Keep a sick student home.  It is difficult to concentrate and perform school-related tasks when not feeling well.

• IF MEDICATION MUST BE ADMINISTERED AT SCHOOL, specific guidelines must be followed, in accordance with school policy.

  • Properly completed medication forms for all medications.  All information on the forms must be completed. forms are located in the school clinic or can be obtained on line at www.fcps.edu/forms.htm.  Administration of short-term antibiotics and antiviral medications may be authorized by the parent or guardian with a properly labeled prescription from the child’s physician and the parent completing, signing, and dating parts I & II of the Authorization for Medication form.  A parent or guardian may authorize administration of over-the counter medication for headaches, muscle aches, orthodontic pain or menstrual cramps on an as needed basis throughout the school year, with the proper form.  The parent can authorize over-the-counter medications for conditions other than those listed above with the proper clinic form for only 3 consecutive days.

  • Other than situations noted above, parents/guardians must complete and sign Part I, physician must complete, sign and date Part II of the Authorization for Medication form.  Medication forms are available from the school clinic.

  • Properly labeled containers.  Over-the-counter medication must be in the original container clearly labeled by parent.  Pharmacist or physician must label all prescription medication, including physician samples.  The label must clearly state student’s name, name of medicine, exact dosage to be taken, and time at which dosage is taken at school.  No medication will be given past an identified expiration/discard date on the medication container.

  • Parent or guardian must transport medications to and from the school clinic, except with parent or guardian approval, a high-school student may carry an over-the-counter medication to and from the clinic.  Medications are kept in the school clinic or school approved location during the school day.

• YOUR SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES

  • Short-term care of sick and injured students and administration of medications according to FCPS Guidelines during the school day (7:15 – 2:15).

  • Coordination of care for students  with identified health concerns during the school day.

  • Identification and follow-up of communicable disease.

  • Vision and hearing screening for all 7^th graders and new-to-county students.

For additional information, please contact the school clinic at 703-904-5100.

CLUSTER

Cluster 7 serves the Centreville, Chantilly, and Fairfax pyramids. Franklin Middle School is located in Cluster 7.

CONFERENCES
This is an opportunity to meet with your child's teachers. Parents or teachers may initiate these conferences. To schedule a conference, please call the guidance department for an appointment at 703 904-5100.

LATE ARRIVALS (TARDY)

When a student comes to school late, he/she should bring a note signed by a parent/guardian or be accompanied by a parent/guardian. The note must explain the tardiness and estimate the time of the student's arrival to school. This note should be presented to the Front Office.  Parents are requested to call the attendance line at 703 904-5151, to report a late arrival in advance, for attendance purposes. Tardiness that is caused by a school bus breakdown will be classified as excused, and each student on the bus will be given a late pass to show to his/her first period teacher. Traffic, oversleeping, and missing the bus are considered unexcused.

LATE BUSES
Depending on School Board approval, Fairfax County Transportation Services provide late buses to Franklin. Currently late buses are scheduled on Monday and Wednesday, for the first semester, and Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday for the third quarter.  See Late Buses for more information!

LATE OPENING/EARLY DISMISSAL
Announcements are made on local radio and TV and on the Fairfax County Public School cable TV station, "Apple 21" on Channel 21. This will provide you with the most current information. Please do not call the school directly regarding late openings or early dismissals. Click on the link below to go to the Fairfax County Emergency Announcement home page.  In addition, please sign up for Keep In Touch to be emailed information regarding emergency announcements.

"PARENT EDUCATION NETWORK" LECTURE SERIES
This lecture series provides parents and staff members a forum to learn and ask questions about relevant middle school issues. It develops and promotes Franklin's relationship with the community and area resources (local therapists, psychologists, drug abuse counselors, etc.). See the Calendar of Events for upcoming lectures or visit the Parent Education Network page!

PEARLS AND DIAMONDS - AN AWARD WINNING FRANKLIN TREASURE
Franklin students' literary arts magazine is published annually.  Please see the Afterschool Activities page for more information on how to work on the Pearls and Diamonds literary magazine!

P.E. UNIFORMS
A PE uniform is necessary for physical education class and may be purchased from the school. The cost for 7^th and 8^th grade uniforms is $13.50 ($4.00 for the shirt and $9.50 for the shorts).   Sizes XXL will be $1.00 extra per item ($15.50 for the complete uniform).  Students should also bring their own athletic shoes and white socks. Sweatshirts and sweat pants are recommended for all students because the classes will be outside as much as possible. These may be available for purchase within the school from the PTA spirit wear coordinator.  Otherwise, standard sweat suits may be brought from home.

PREARRANGED ABSENCES

Parents may prearrange for their child to be absent from school.  The student must bring a letter, signed by the parent or guardian, to the office. The letter must include the dates of the absence, reason for the absence and any other pertinent information.  The student will receive a pink prearranged absence form that must be signed by all of their teachers AND RETURNED TO THE OFFICE PRIOR TO THE ABSENCE. Students are responsible to make up any work missed!

PTA
The Parent Teacher Association is under charter from the National PTA and affiliated with the Virginia State PTA and the Fairfax County Council of PTA's.  Please join the Franklin PTA! Membership is $10.00 per person. A portion of our dues are sent to the National PTA, Virginia State PTA and the Fairfax County Council of PTA's.  The following officers are elected each spring: President, 7th and 8th grade Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The PTA Executive Committee includes these elected officers plus the County Council Representatives.  The County Council of PTA's is a working group of representatives from all Fairfax County PTAs. It provides important information on issues of local interest including the county and school budget plus leadership training and other resources for Fairfax County PTAs. Franklin PTA has a representative to the County Council.  

REPORT CARDS
Progress reports are sent home every quarter (9 weeks). See also Interim Reports. Report Cards must be signed by a parent or guardian and returned to the school.

STUDENT COUNCIL ASSOCIATION (SCA)
Students elect officers for 7th and 8th grade in September.  There are elected representatives from each team. The SCA sponsors activities such as dances, food drives and spirit week.  

TEAMS
Middle school students are grouped in teams. There are approximately 120-130 students on a team. Franklin has four 7th grade teams and four 8th grade teams.

TOWEL SERVICE

The school offers an optional towel rental service for physical education classes. Students may bring towels from home, but wet towels cannot be kept in lockers overnight. The fee for towel service is $15 for the year.  

VOLUNTEERS
Franklin has an active volunteer program. The list of areas where volunteers are needed is sent home and is available on Back-To-School Night. Not all volunteer duties occur during the school day. There are ways to volunteer in your home and on selected evenings. Please contact the Volunteer Coordinator (see PTA page).

YEARBOOK LITERARY PACKAGE
Each year Franklin Middle School publishes a hard cover yearbook, entitled Dimensions, an award winning literary magazine, Pearls and Diamonds, in addition to the quarterly newspaper, The Current. Order forms are available in the office and on our website (Literary Package). The price for the yearbook package is $36.  If you order your students name to be stamped on the front cover of the Yearbook the price is $41. Yearbooks are distributed to students the last week of school. No extra yearbooks are available in June so please be sure your student's order is placed early.

YEARBOOK SIGNING AND PICNIC
This is held near the end of the school year. Students participate by grade level.