Principal's Note - May 26, 2023
Good afternoon, Holmes Families!
All schools and offices will be closed on Monday, May 29, for the Memorial Day holiday. Classes will resume on Tuesday, May 30. Learn about the history of Memorial Day. Enjoy this long holiday weekend! We will come back to just 14 days left of school!
Our last PTA meeting of the year was this past Wednesday. If you missed it, you can access the recording HERE, and use this passcode: !nL.7vP+ak. Thank you so much to our fantastic board - Rheanna Bernard, Cathy King, Jovoni Simmons, Amy Mahoney, and Jessica Langille - for all of the support for our students and staff this year! Our PTA board for 2023-24 will be as follows:
- President: Jessica Langille
- Secretary: Jovoni Simmons
- Treasurer: Amy Mahoney
- Vice President of Membership: OPEN
- Vice President of Fundraising: OPEN
If you would be interested in supporting the board through an officer position or other volunteer positions (like organizing restaurant nights, for example), please reach out to Jessica Langille at @email.
SOL Testing Complete: Only Math Retakes Remaining
All students have taken their SOLs; the last day for a first attempt at the SOLs was today. Next week, students who scored between a 375-399 on their Math SOL will participate in remediation on Tuesday and Wednesday and will retake the SOL on Thursday.
8th Grade Celebration - Friday, June 9th, 7-9 pm
Thank you so much to our parents who are helping us to prepare for the 8th grade party on June 9th. If you would like to sign up to volunteer for set-up, chaperoning, or clean-up on that day, please complete this Google form. If you are not able to give your time, that's okay! We rely on donations for this event, and we have set up two items in our store in MySchoolBucks for this purpose. A small donation of $5 for your 8th grader's "ticket" is helpful, or if you would like to donate more, that option is also available.
MS Sports in FCPS Next Year!
Middle school students in FCPS will have the opportunity to participate in fall cross country or spring track next year. In order to participate, students must have a physical and this form completed by a physician along with insurance. To get a $50 physical at an FCPS high school, complete this form. Please see this page on the FCPS website for details. If your student does not have insurance, an alternative option can be found here.
Annandale Physical Night - 5/31, 5:30-7:30 pm
Annandale High School will be holding Annandale Physical Night on May 31st at 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Students will have the opportunity to get their physicals for sports and Band.
Here are today's newsletter topics:
Holmes Updates
- Student Services Information
- 2022-23 Blue/White Calendar
- 2022-23 Bell Schedule
- After School Schedule Next Week
- Holmes MS PTA
- From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison
- Important Upcoming Dates
- How to Stay Connected to Holmes MS
FCPS & Community Updates
- Student Testing Results Coming Soon
- How to Support Your Child’s Success
- Tutoring Grants Available for Families
- Updates on Online Student Registration
- Making the Transition to Middle School
- Inova Cares Clinic Free Health Fair
- Podcast on Family Resource Center
- Summer Camps & Learning Opportunities
- Stay Connected with FCPS
Please feel free to reach out and let us know what questions you have. Thank you, and have a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,
Margaret Barnes
Proud Principal, Holmes MS
#TeamHolmes
HOLMES UPDATES
Student Services Information
2022-23 Blue/White Calendar
From Mr. Kruk, our After School Specialist
After-School Program Weekly News & Notes from 5/22- 5/26
Student of the Week
- The final After-School Program Student(s) of the week for the 2022-23 school year: Diana Juan Lopez
- Diana was nominated by our staff for her commitment to the program, contributions to the many clubs she participates, and her positive attitude.
- Great job Diana!
After-School Action
Students had a great time celebrating their final week of the After-School Program of this school year.
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After School Schedule
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Questions about the After-School Program or Summer VIP Program
Contact the After-School Specialist, Matt Kruk, @email
Holmes MS PTA
We invite EVERY family at Holmes to participate in the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) because we can do more together! Advocate for your child, and for all the children at Holmes. Connect with other parents, so that we can build a stronger community for ourselves and our children. This year, the Holmes PTA is planning on holding in-person meetings again, so you can meet face-to-face with other parents and with Ms. Barnes. We're also planning restaurant nights, Bingo Nights, a Fun Run, Teacher Appreciation Week, and so much more!
- Are you able to volunteer? Submit this Google form
- Want to order Spiritwear
From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison
2022-23 School Year Family Coffees
All Family Coffee sessions have been recorded and can be viewed at any time. They are located on Schoology > Holmes Families course > Family Coffee Sessions.
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Parenting Education Classes
Summer learning Opportunities
Important Upcoming Dates
- Monday, 5/29 - NO SCHOOL / Memorial Day
- Wednesday, 5/31, 7 pm - Spring Band Concert
- Friday, 6/9, 7-9 pm - 8th Grade Celebration/Party
- Wednesday, 6/14 - Schoolwide All-day Activity Day
- Thursday, 6/15, 8-9 am: 8th Grade Awards Ceremony
- Friday, 6/16 - 2-Hour Early Release / Last Day of School
How to Stay Connected to Holmes MS
Please stay in touch with us throughout the year by:
- keeping your contact information up-to-date throughout the year
- visiting the Holmes MS website
- signing up for News You Choose
- following us on Twitter
- monitoring your student's progress with SIS Parent Account
- join the Holmes MS PTA and attend meetings
FCPS & Community Updates
Student Testing Results Coming Soon
Starting in late May, caregivers will receive reports for assessments their students completed this spring. Not sure what assessments your student took this year? A list of tests by grade level is available. Scores will be delivered in SIS ParentVUE, by mail, or from the school or testing organization. Learn what to expect regarding assessment reporting practices and timelines.
Some families will also receive a Virginia’s Visualization and Analytics Solution (VVAAS) Student Assessment Summary report with historical Standards of Learning (SOL) test results from 2015-2022.
Go online or contact your student's school for additional information about student assessments.
How to Support Your Child’s Success
If you do not already have a SIS ParentVUE account, sign up now to monitor and support your child’s academic success! Through ParentVUE, you are able to view your student’s attendance, grades, and assignments at any time. You can also access special reports for your student like progress reports and assessment score reports.
Once you have activated a ParentVUE account for an FCPS student, you will keep the same account until the student graduates. Information about students in the same family can be accessed through the same ParentVUE account. Access SIS ParentVUE by using an app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android devices.
Need help creating a SIS ParentVue account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.
Tutoring Grants Available for Families
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) is now accepting applications from parents for tutoring microgrants for their children through the K-12 Learning Acceleration Grants program.
The program was created to help Virginia families address the impact of the pandemic on student learning. It provides $1,500 grants to parents of school-age children for tutoring in specific subjects. Children from homes with family incomes at 300% or less of the federal poverty level may qualify for $3,000 grants.
Available services include in-person, online, and hybrid tutoring provided one-on-one or in small group or large group settings. The first step in the process is to visit VDOE’s K-12 Learning Acceleration Grants page and create an application account.
Updates on Online Student Registration
FCPS plans to have online registration in place at all schools across the district starting June 30, ensuring a simple and efficient new student registration application process for the upcoming school year. Learn more about registration.
Making the Transition to Middle School
Making the move from elementary school to middle school can be an exciting and unsettling time for a parent and child. In a recent episode of FCPS multilingual podcast, En Pocas Palabras, learn ways to ease the transition including:
- Understanding the developmental changes in your child.
- Getting to know middle school culture.
- Encouraging independence, but remaining available.
- Offering emotional support to your child.
- Reiterating your family values and expectations.
- Staying involved in your child’s school.
The podcast is available in Arabic, English, Korean, and Spanish. Listen and subscribe.
Inova Cares Clinic Free Health Fair
Inova Cares Clinic for Children (ICCC) and Inova Partnership for Healthier Communities (PHC) are now scheduling appointments to provide children ages 5 and up with FREE School Physicals and Immunizations to begin the 2023-24 School Year. This will take place at Inova Cares Clinic for Children in Herndon, Manassas and Falls Church. PHC will be onsite to screen and enroll qualifying families in Medicaid/FAMIS and connect them to an appropriate and affordable source of quality health care providers. Please see the attached flyers and share with everyone who would benefit from this event.
2023 Free School Physicals for Medicaid and Inova Patient’s ONLY
2023 Inova Cares Clinics Free School Physicals
23 Inova Cares Clinic BTS Fairs volunteer flyer
Podcast on Family Resource Center
In the latest episode of En Pocas Palabras, hear how the Family Resource Center (FRC) provides supports for all families and school staff in FCPS. Meet Mary Beth Harrison-Cunningham, manager of the FRC, and Amal Elsayed, FRC liaison.
The Family Resource Center provides free library resources, confidential consultations, and informational webinars. Contact the Family Resource Center at 703-204-3941 or @email.
En Pocas Palabras is available in Arabic, English, Korean, and Spanish. Listen and subscribe.
Summer Camps & Learning Opportunities
Mathspace Summer Learning: Supporting your Secondary Student
Summer VIP Program
Annandale Summer Sports Camps
Annandale Community:
Looking for fun activities for your child this summer? Annandale High School is offering a variety of summer camps this year for current elementary and middle school students led by our own Annandale coaches. Help spread the word to friends, family and neighbors!
Registration for all camps can be found HERE. See descriptions of the various camps below. More information can be found at AnnandaleAtoms.net.
Campers can bring their lunch or purchase lunch at camp, and they should bring a snack and a water bottle each day. Cash or checks are accepted. Checks should be made out to “Annandale Athletic Boosters”. Payment is due on the first day of camp.
If you have any questions, please email Brandon Sutphin, Director of Student Activities, at @email.
Camp InformationMulti-Sport Camp - Rising 2nd-9th Graders - June 20-23 ($120): Campers will have fun playing a variety of sports including basketball, kickball, volleyball, soccer, and touch football. They will participate in fun contests and win prizes! Campers can bring their lunch or purchase lunch at camp. Hours are 8:30am-3:00pm. Register Here. Olympics Camp - Rising 2nd-9th Graders - June 26-29 ($120): This exciting camp features team activities including soccer, volleyball, basketball, touch football, and relay races. Campers will also get a chance to compete and earn medals! Campers can bring their lunch or purchase lunch at camp. Hours are 8:30am-3:00pm. Register Here. For questions about Multi-Sport or Olympics Camps, please reach out to Christopher Bagot, Camp Director and Varsity Coach, at @email. Basketball - Rising 4th-9th Graders - July 10-14 ($250): Campers will spend each day focused on developing their basketball skills. They will also receive a report card on their basketball abilities, a t-shirt, and a chance to win trophies. Campers can bring their lunch or purchase lunch at camp. Hours are 9:00am to 3:00pm. Register Here. For questions about Basketball Camp please reach out to Jerome McAvoy, Camp Director and Varsity Coach, at @email. Girls Field Hockey/Lacrosse - Rising K-9th Grade - July 10-14, July 17-21, & July 24-28 ($120/week): For new athletes and those who have been playing for years, camp will be a fun-filled day of training, group competition, and surprise activities. Campers should bring their lunch each day except Friday when lunch will be provided. Hours are 8:00am-3:00pm. Register Here. For questions about Girls Field Hockey/Lacrosse Camp please reach out to Janan Gokturk, Camp Director and Assistant Varsity Coach, at @email. |
Tech Adventure Camp and CTE Summer Academy
We are excited to provide the following information about our 2023 CTE summer enrichment camps! The FCPS Career and Technical Education (CTE) office is once again offering two enrichment programs this year - Tech Adventure Camp and CTE Summer Academy.
What is CTE Summer Enrichment
- Hands-on, exploratory enrichment programs
- Teaches students engaging and exciting content in Career and Technical Education (CTE)
- Helps students make connections to careers and develop new skills
2023 Programs
- Tech Adventure Camp: Students in Kindergarten - grade 6 explore STEAM, culinary, health, trades, and computer science by rotating through daily classes
- NEW TO 2023: Tech Adventure Camp is now open to current kindergarten and 1st grade students!!
- CTE Summer Academy: Students in grades 7 - 11 choose their classes and dive deeper into CTE program areas, skills, and career exploration
Details
- Cost - $275 per week
- *Fee waived for a select number of Free and Reduced Meal students
- Dates - July 10 - 14; July 17 - 21; and July 24 - 28
- Time - 8:30 am to 2:00 pm
- *Early drop off begins at 7:30 am
- Different weekly offerings
- Transportation from select FPCS schools is provided!
Additional Information can be found on our websites!
- Tech Adventure Camp -ly/FCPS_TAC
- CTE Summer Academy -ly/FCPS_CSA
Registration for both camps will begin February 1st. Our websites are updated regularly with more information. Feel free to contact Beth Mehr, CTE Summer Programs Educational Specialists, for more information. We look forward to creating, exploring, and learning with your students this summer!
Institute for the Arts Camps (IFTA)
IFTA is a two- or four-week summer enrichment program for students currently in grades 6-11. Students select from nearly 90 classes in art, dance, health and physical education 9, music, self-directed economics and personal finance, and theater. Visit the IFTA website for more information and registration.
E-IFTA is a weekly arts camp for students in grades 2-5 who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students take part in four classes every day related to dance, music, theater, and visual art. They work with FCPS fine arts teachers who create classes that are fun and engaging. Visit the E-IFTA website for more information and registration.
CyberPatriot Summer Cyber Camp
Chantilly Academy will host an AFA CyberCamp Monday, June 26, to Friday, June 30, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. This camp is recommended for rising fifth through eighth graders of all skill levels interested in learning more about the importance of cybersecurity and gaining skill to protect themselves and others from cyber threats. Discounts are available for students eligible for free and reduced-price meals. Visit the camp website to learn more about registration, curriculum, and schedule.
Other Summer Camp Opportunities
Registration is still available for Elementary-IFTA (E-IFTA) arts camps, Credit Recovery Academy, and Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology’s Middle School Technology Institute (MSTI).
Stay Connected with FCPS
Being connected to your school and division is important every year, and even more so now as we navigate our return to school. The best way to stay informed is to sign up for newsletters through News You Chose.
Your school and FCPS have a variety of topics you can choose from, including:
- School Newsletters- featuring everything you need to know about your child’s school
- FCPS This Week- a weekly newsletter featuring news and happenings from across the division, published Wednesday mornings
- School Board Meeting Update- a recap of important news coming out of school board meetings, published the Friday morning after the meeting
- FCPS Employee News- weekly updates just for staff, published Tuesday mornings