Although this year will look different, joining the PTA strengthens our community as we work to stay connected and support our students' academic, social and emotional learning. Please invest in your child and make a difference at Franklin Sherman by joining the PTA for the 2020/2021 school year. We are grateful for your support and look forward to working with you this year.

1. Join the PTA. Annual PTA membership costs $20 per family and is due EACH school year.
2. Sign up for the PTA Weekly Newsletter. Please review our weekly newsletter for important information and note that it is different than the Franklin Sherman Flash distributed by the school.
3. Mark your calendars for PTA meetings. Click here to sync FSES events to your calendar. For the 2020/2021 year, PTA meetings will be virtually @ 8 pm on Sept. 23, Nov. 12, Jan. 21, Mar. 18, May 6 and Jun. 9. 
4. Follow us on Facebook or Instagram, and join the parent discussion group on Facebook.
5. Donate to the Panda Fund. Where FCPS funding ends, Franklin Sherman families step up to enrich their children's educational experience. Many strategic investments take multiple years of fundraising, so we can't stop just because we are not physically in the school. And donating to the Panda Fund is even more critical this year as our other fundraisers are unlikely to happen. We count on every family to help us raise funds to support our children this year and in the future. Make a tax deductible donation now and throughout the year (suggested donation of $150 or what you can).
6. Designate “Franklin Sherman Elementary School PTA” on Amazon Smile AND on the Amazon app as your charitable organization of choice, and Amazon will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to Franklin Sherman. Please also support our other retail programs.
7. Volunteer. Volunteering your time is so meaningful to and appreciated by the school. Nearly all volunteer opportunities can be done virtually and at flexible times. Please contact us to let us know that you’re interested in making a difference – big or small. We need your support!

See our updated information on DAY CAMPS AND LEARNING CENTERS to support online learning in our Resources section for parents on Distance Learning!
Plus looking for fall enrichment opportunities? Check out new additions to our Enrichment Ideas page - including fall programs from PTA partners Young at Art and Baroody Camps!
Do you have a special education child - see our update on webinars and information sources on our Special Education page - including new information on managing virtual learning and your IEP for the new school year.
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Given the virtual start to school, we felt new families may need a helping hand to get connected with other children and other parents in their children's grades. This year we are trying to find buddies for each new family. However, the PTA does not know who you are, we have no access to new parent emails, so you need to contact us.  Please sign up!!!!  Your buddy can give you information about the school and help connect you with other families with children in the same grades as yours.

We look forward to welcoming you to our wonderful community!!!!
Please sign up here! www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c4fafac2da5fe3-newtofranklin

We've added a new page to help parents with Enrichment Ideas:  - including summer camps, upcoming fall enrichment opportunities and online resources.
Special Ed families - check out the updates to our Special Education page 
And see FCPS' sample daily schedules for the virtual school day on our Distance Learning page - Find these and more - click on the heading above that says RESOURCES!

We are organizing Kindergarten Play Dates - both in-person and virtual for each week in August. Information will be shared soon in the PTA newsletter - sign up to our newsletter by clicking the "Stay Updated" button above - or on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/fsespta

Please send us a message at fsespta@gmail.com!  We welcome all new families to our community and we hope to organise some virtual and (hopefully) small group in-person meet and greets. And watch this space for news of Kindergarten Playdates! We hope to organise small group playdates - both virtual and outside in August, when the heat cools off a bit! In the meantime - please check out our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/fsespta

The PTA has worked with Franklin Sherman teachers to develop pre-packaged kits appropriate for each grade. Even with distance learning these kits are useful and contain the essential learning items that will be needed when we return to school!  Until July 31st, kits can be ordered online and will be delivered to your house. Find information on kits here: www.edukitinc.com/schools/11952/Franklin%20Sherman%20Elementary%20McLean,%20VA

If you have already ordered a kit we will arrange to have a pick up time at the school before school starts. If you no longer wish to have your kit, please can you let us know before July 31st by emailing us at: fsespta@gmail.com  Thank You!

Superintendent Brabrand presented the FCPS Reopening of School Plan to the School Board at a public hearing on Monday, June 15th.
List of important documents:
Virginia's Reopening of School Plan executive summary (background info)
FCPS Reopening of School Plan (full document) (pp10-13 scenario details)
FCPS Presentation on Reopening of School to School Board (provides background info, detailed analysis and specifics about scenarios)

Plan's Three Possible Scenarios:
Scenario 1: Virtual Learning for all (if COVID-19 re-surges)
Scenario 2: In-school Learning with Health and Social Distancing (phased-in)
Scenario 3: Online Learning for Individual Medical Need (in-school learning for all other students)

GIVE YOUR FEEDBACK: FCPS has asked families to complete a survey to help them with the planning process: Click Here to Access Survey!  Deadline: Friday, June 19th at 8pm.

The Principal of Timber Lane ES has asked local schools if they can help raise money for grocery gift cards for their families in need during the Covid-19 crisis. Timber Lane has almost 600 students, of which almost two-thirds are low-income and require support. You can use the donate button below and the PTA will provide the gift cards to Principal Ben Chiet. Given the immediate needs of families due to the Covid-19 crisis, we are running this fundraiser from Monday, March 23 through Wednesday, April 1, 2020. Please give if you can!