Pandagram 2.0

•         The School Board restored funding for transportation to Advanced Academic Centers, Thomas Jefferson, magnet schools, and for all academy students.  
•  Annual parking fees for high school students will increase from $150 to $200 with a projected revenue of $300,000 going to the staffing reserve.  
• There were no reductions to Girl’s Gymnastics or Indoor Track for next year.  
• All of the budget information can be found at the following page:  www.fcps.edu/news/fy2010.htm.  

  Additionally: SACC hours will not change due to the new start/end times during the school year, and SACC is aware of all school start/end times that the School Board approved.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

 

 

 

 Over the past two weeks, our classes have walked up the street and attended a super field trip to visit the new “Green House”.  The GreenHouse, still under construction in downtown McLean, is being built with a variety of environmentally friendly technologies and techniques. We are very thankful to the developer West Group and builder GreenSpur, who are partnering on the project,  for their generous offer of sneak peeks to our students in grades 1-6.  Our last groups (5th grade classes) will be attending tomorrow.  I would like to extend a HUGE thank you to Tasso Flocus, one of our very own parents, who extended this visit invitation to our teachers and who has made the trip such an exciting and educational opportunity for all of our students.  I have linked the article from today’s McLean Connection that features some of our students visiting the house.  

Next Generation Meets Next-Generation Technology

Next Generation Meets Next-Generation Technology

 

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=328997&paper=68&cat=104

 

Even though we are located minutes from the First Family’s house, The White House, students at Franklin Sherman ES were given an opportunity to explore and learn about the first carbon-neutral house- The Green House. 

On Tuesday, May 12 and Wednesday, May 13, students from FSES participated in a walking field trip to visit 1310 Calder Road.  They learned how to build an energy-efficient house and use renewable-energy to create a a home that is environmentally friendly and beautiful.  Students were able to see how some of the natural resources could be used to light, heat, and cool the house.  They even got to see part of the green roof which was made of plants and grasses! 

To make the trip even better, each student received a plant and a booklet with more information on how the house was constructed along with tips on how become more “green” at home. 

For more information about the “Green House”- go to http://www.co2freeliving.com/index.htm

 

Several students in both first grade classes have had a fast-acting 24 hour ‘bug’ with symptoms of vomiting.  Early this morning, the custodians were able to clean the classrooms with Clorox wipes to help eliminate the virus from spreading to more students.  The teachers also have been given an extra supply of Clorox wipes along with hand sanitizer to keep the classroom desks, chairs, computers, etc clean.  We share your concerns about keeping the students as healthy as possible.  As always if you have questions or concerns feel free to call or email us anytime.     

On Tuesday, May 5, 2009, Elizabeth and Cameron (along with their parents, Mrs. Czarnecki, and Mr. Nielsen) attended a delicious luncheon sponsored by the Women’s Club of McLean.  The students received a tropy to recognize their outstanding efforts and achievement as Franklin Sherman Elementary patrols.  This is a great honor and we are proud of our 2 students!  Congratulations Elizabeth and Cameron!

Congratulations to Elizabeth Maness and Cameron Stork recipients of the Safety Patrol Awards for 2008-2009 by the Women’s Club of McLean.  

Yesterday, the executives from the Chain Bridge Bank came to share financial literacy lessons with our students in grades 3-4-5-6 to participate in the national Teach Children to Save Day.  The lessons were interactive and fun! The lessons really emphasized and connected common day activities with understanding concepts such as saving, spending, compounded interest, opportunity cost, and the difference between wants and needs.  We extend a huge THANK YOU to the employees of Chain Bridge Bank who have been so supportive as our new business partner this year.  The kick-off of our student run school branch of the Chain Bridge Bank opened in October 2008 and has been a fabulous success!  Special thank yous go out to John Vogt, Vice-President of the bank and FSES parent, along with Jenni Wheat and Heather Schoeppe, bank employees who have dedicated their time, efforts and passions toward the success of the branch bank.  Our own Sophia Bruner has been a dedicated PTA sponsor in partnership with Matt Nielson, faculty sponsor and Mrs. Czarnecki, Assistant Principal in making the bank idea a reality!

There is a news article in The Fairfax Times today highlighting the bank visit and you can find this story via this link

 

 

 

• Currently, there are no cases of swine flu in Virginia or in Fairfax County.   

·        The World Health Organization (WHO) has not elevated its pandemic alert phase and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have not determined the severity index for this swine flu.

 

• The Fairfax County Health Department is not recommending closure of schools at this time.  However, per the CDC guidelines, if a swine flu case is linked to a FCPC school, FCPS will work with the FCHD to determine if that particular school should be closed.

 

• FCHD has asked for our assistance in ensuring that all schools enter absentee data in a timely manner into the Health Department School Illness Monitoring System (HD-SIMS).   It is imperative that each school work with their clinic room aide or public health nurse to enter absences into HD-SIMS on a daily basis.  

 

• The FCHD is not recommending any extraordinary cleaning of schools.  The daily cleaning chemicals and procedures used in FCPS facilities are effective against viruses similar to the swine flu.

 

• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.

 

• The Fairfax County Health Department recommends that hand washing and cough and respiratory etiquette procedures (covering coughs and sneezes) are the best preventative measure in controlling the spread of influenza like illnesses. Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.

 

• The CDC recommends that if individuals get sick, they stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them and should not return to work or school until symptoms resolve.  Individuals should contact their local healthcare provider for follow-up.

 

• FCHD is not recommending the use of masks in the school setting.

 

For more information, contact:

FCHD website at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/hd.

 

Please refer to the FCPS Swine Flu web site for more information. This page will be updated as it becomes available:

http://www.fcps.edu/news/swineflu.htm

 

More information can be found at the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website:   http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/

 

Information in Spanish can be found here:  http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/espanol/swine_espanol.htm

 Thank you

Vicki

 

 

Our very own Jennifer DeMarco, preschool autism teacher at Franklin Sherman Elementary School is featured in the SchoolScene show on Channel Red Apple 21 this week.   Tune in and check out this amazing classroom!

SchoolScene # 15  will air on Red Apple 21 from Monday, April 27^th to Sunday, May 10^th every day at 6 p.m. on Cox Cable, Comcast Cable in Reston, and Verizon.  For other air times see Fine Tuning at http://www.fcps.edu/cab

The Franklin Sherman school family enjoyed a terrific Spring Carnival today from 2-5 p.m.  No matter where you looked throughout the school, students and parents were enjoying the fun moon bounce, the exciting cakewalk, the kareoke machine, lots of games, and the great food provided and sold by the 6th grade students and parents.  The velcro moon bounce was certainly a highlight as well.  Thank you to all of the hard working volunteers that made this event so special and such a success!

 

Late Friday, Dr. Dale released a new proposed bell schedule for consideration by the school board.  I wanted to share this information with you right away.  From the examples listed it seems that Franklin Sherman ES would begin and end 5 minutes later next year if this proposed bell schedule is adopted.  The proposed start time would be 9:15 a.m. and the dismissal time would be at 3:55 p.m.

 It is my understanding that if this schedule is adopted, it would save the school system an additional $4 million dollars in transportation savings.

The details of this proposal can be found at this webpage link

http://www.fcps.edu/schlbd/AttA2009-10BellScheduleProposal.pdf