Franklin MS Update- 02/13/2026

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Congratulations to the winners of the 8th grade volleyball tournament; afterschool soccer program; students working on their communication skills with a building activity.

Franklin Community,

What a fun way to frame the week. We kicked things off with the excitement of Super Bowl weekend and are heading into Valentine’s Day weekend to close it out. It has been a lively stretch for our students, and that energy has certainly carried into the building.

We are continuing to work through academic advising as students make their course selections for next year. This is an important process for both our students and our school community as we plan for elective offerings and honors-level courses. The decisions students make now help shape our master schedule and ensure we are providing classes that align with student interests and goals. If you have not already done so, we encourage you to have a conversation with your student about their course selections and future plans. Your input and guidance are an important part of this process.

We have also had to get a bit creative with recess this week. Due to the snow still covering much of our fields, recess has been limited to paved surfaces for students bold enough to brave the cold temperatures, with an indoor option in the gym for a calmer recess experience. Both locations have been a bit crowded, but our students have handled it well and we have made it work. We are hopeful that some warmer temperatures this weekend and in the days ahead will bring melting snow and allow us to return to our normal recess routines.

Today, students received their report cards along with any earned A/B Honor Roll certificates. We are proud of the hard work and growth our students demonstrated during the first semester. Please be on the lookout for these materials in your student’s backpack!

Lastly, we want to share information about the new Raptor Emergency Management System being implemented across FCPS. This system enhances school safety by providing staff with improved tools to respond quickly and effectively in the event of an emergency. As part of this rollout, staff members will be issued wearable emergency response badges with buttons that allow them to instantly initiate specific safety protocols or alert administrators and first responders if urgent assistance is needed. These badges provide an added layer of security by enabling immediate communication without requiring access to a phone or computer. Raptor integrates emergency protocols, reunification procedures, and communication tools into one streamlined platform, allowing schools to manage incidents more efficiently and ensure accurate, timely information sharing with families and first responders if needed. Strengthening safety systems remains a top priority, and this new platform adds another layer of preparedness to support our students and staff.

We hope everyone enjoys a safe and enjoyable long weekend and has a Happy Valentine’s Day! Remember that students do not report to school on Monday or Tuesday.

Tom DeRusso
Principal
Franklin Middle School

Weekly CARE Card Raffle Winners

~Important Dates~

February 16 - Presidents' Day - School & Office Closed

February 17 - School Closed - Teacher Workday

February 27 - Franklin vs. Rocky Run Basketball

5pm-Staff / 6pm-Girls / 7pm-Boys

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Learn more about Black History month.

~Action Items~

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!