Check out our After-School activities ideas - both virtual and in-person!  See our page: After-School Enrichment

Tired of being stuck indoors with wintry mix outside? Go on a virtual trip with our two new resources on our Distance Learning page! Each resource provides easy links to amazing virtual field trips to great museums in the US and around the world - as well as some spectacular visits to places like The Sistine Chapel and the Great Wall of China.  Thanks to the Gomez family for letting us know about these useful resources!

See our Special Education page for updated links to February events/webinars for parents as well as FCPS and community resources and parent groups.

Highlights include:
Behavior Therapy Techniques:  The Gold Standard Treatment for Children with ADHD
Tue. Feb. 9, 7:00-8:30 pm - Learn some techniques you can use right away to help manage challenging behaviors and ways to teach your child how to cope with difficult emotions. 
Escape from Escape:  A Guide to Digital Use Disorders for Parents:  Lockdown Edition
Tue. Feb. 9, 7:00-8:30 pm, $10 - Learn how to create reasonable but effective screen limits.  The challenges of lockdowns and distance learning will be addressed.
Half-way Hacks:  Tools for Virtual Learning at Home
Thu. Feb. 11,  7-8 pm - tools to support time management, smooth transitions, or social emotional regulation, and track progress.
Microsoft Accessibility Tools for Students with Dyslexia
Thu, Feb. 11, 9-10 pm, online - tools in MS Word that can help students with dyslexia or any learning difference to be more successful.
What to Expect When You're Returning to School:  How to Support Your Students
Mon. Feb 22, 7:30-9:00 pm - Whether your child is returning to on-site learning or remaining virtual, learn how to prepare for changes and how to provide help to your students.
Overcoming COVID-19’s Impact on Your Student with Special Needs
Wed. Feb. 24, 7-8 pm - Explore topics like your child's progress and regression, compensatory education, and how to get your student's education back on track. 

This week's PTA meeting begins with a presentation by Josh Schrader of Capital Music Therapy Services (CMTS) discussing how music therapy can help combat anxiety.  We will also have an update from our school administrators. 
Please join us on Thursday, January 21st at 7:30pm. The link can be found in our PTA Newsletter. Don't receive the newsletter? Then please click here to Sign Up for Emails!

As an all-volunteer, non-profit organization, the PTA relies on your generosity. Please donate today to help the PTA support our school and our community.
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If you have a PayPal account, please donate through the PayPal Giving Fund and we pay no fees!
 
Every year, we rely on Franklin Sherman families to step up to help improve their children's educational experience by investing in our school.
 This year, the PTA will focus on helping the school administration and teachers with:

• Tools and supplies they need to successfully support our students in virtual learning and eventually to switch to concurrent learning
• Special grade events (e.g., the 6th grade play)
• Technology
• Staff appreciation
• Class and community social activities

We are grateful for your support!

 Please help us support our local community partner Share of McLean and donate a gift card for a child in need in our community!
​Normally at our annual Thanksgiving Luncheon, Share of McLean hosts a mitten tree where Franklin Sherman families can donate a "mitten" gift to a family in need in our community. 
This year we are hosting a virtual "mitten tree" drive. Please see our Sign Up to select a mitten and then donate through a PayPal link. Franklin Sherman's Girl Scout Troop 3366 is supporting this drive by writing "mitten" thank you letters to all families that donate! Full details are on the Sign Up. ​Please give generously as the need this year is greater than most.
To learn more about Share, please see their ​website.
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Franklin Sherman's biggest fundraising partnership, the Monster Mash Dash is rapidly approaching! Come and join us as we take the 8th annual Monster Mash Dash 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run VIRTUAL this year! 

We need to get at least 400 registered participants to keep the Monster Mash Dash going - please help!

Please sign up to run or get the great t-shirt! You can run anytime between October 23rd and October 31st.

Don't forget to tag @fsespta in your race training or costume photos on Instagram and Facebook!
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Check out our MMD Page for more information!

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