Principal's Note - April 20, 2020

By Margaret Barnes
Principal's Note
April 20, 2020

Good morning, Holmes Families!

I hope that you all had a restful weekend and that you and your families are healthy, safe, and have what you need at this difficult time.  I have provided a number of community resources in the newsletter this week to support families with basic needs to help get through this time. 

As you know, our start to distance learning last week was a rollercoaster.  Again, I am so sorry that students were not able to see their teachers "face-to-face" online.  Teachers were disappointed as well. Since Blackboard is not working consistently, I am unfortunately not able to hold my weekly lunch bunch today at 12 with students.  They are welcome to email me or their teachers with any questions they have.  

I want to share a few things with you about our instructional plans at Holmes so that you and your students can find some consistency and predictability while FCPS 24/7 (Blackboard) continues to have technical issues:

1. Our model for distance learning at Holmes is based on asynchronous instruction so that students can work on things at their own pace any day of the week at the time that works best for them and your families.  Each week, a lesson grid will be posted for each class for students to know what the topic is for the week and what activities they must do (required) and can do (optional) to support their learning of that topic.  Any synchronous learning we are able to provide on Wednesdays and Fridays during the scheduled class times is intended for teachers to answer students' questions and provide clarification.  This asynchronous model helps us to ensure that the learning continues for your student even when Blackboard is down.

2.  The overwhelming majority of our teachers at Holmes use Google Classroom as the primary platform for their classroom materials.  When Blackboard is down, students should go to Google Classroom to find the weekly lesson grid and material.  (Note: Students must be logged into Google Chrome with their fcpsschools.net accounts to access them.)

3. If and when FCPS is able to get Blackboard working consistently, students should keep the following in mind: 

  • Teachers are available by email Monday through Friday
  • Synchronous class meetings (videoconferencing) only occur on Wednesdays and Fridays
  • Teacher office hours (videoconferencing) vary throughout the week and are posted on the teachers' Blackboard and Google Classroom sites. 

I hope that this information is helpful as you support your student through this time.  Scroll down in the newsletter for more information from our Holmes Distance Learning Guide and 7 Tips for Parents Supporting Remote Learning.  

In today's newsletter, scroll down for information about:

  • Holmes MS Distance Learning Guide
  • Distance Learning YouTube Channel
  • 7 Tips for Parents Supporting Distance Learning
  • Field Trip Refunds
  • Food Resources
  • Community Resources
  • Social-Emotional and Wellness Resources for Families
  • Important Dates
  • How to Stay in Touch

Thanks, everyone, and have a wonderful week!  Please feel free to reach out to me or anyone on my team with any questions you have!

Sincerely,

Margaret Barnes

Proud Principal, Holmes MS

[email protected]

#SoarTogether

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Holmes MS Distance Learning Guide

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Other suggestions for students when Blackboard is down:

For Classes

  • Make up your missing work from 3rd quarter, which is all due by Friday, April 24th! Contact your teacher if you have questions about it.  Teachers’ emails can be found here: https://holmesms.fcps.edu/index.php/about/staff-directory.
  • Check your teachers’ Google classrooms or Google sites for instructions on what to work on.
  • Complete the "Must Do" and "Can Do" activities in the weekly lesson grids from each of your teachers.
  • Complete activities in the packets that were mailed home to you.
  • Email your teachers to clarify what you should be working on.

Other Ideas

Distance Learning YouTube Channel

Math and Language Arts Distance Learning Lessons broadcast on Apple 21 can now be accessed by teachers and students on demand.  To view, go to Fairfax County Public Schools Distance Learning on YouTube and subscribe.  Playlists are arranged by grade level (for math) and content (for language arts).  

Content can also be accessed on the FCPS Apple 21 cable television channel and is streaming at https://www.fcps.edu/news-features-and-events/cable-tv/cable-tv-guide.

As appropriate, these video lessons are also linked to teacher resources provided on Blackboard Distance Learning Resources.

7 Tips for Parents Supporting Distance Learning

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Field Trip Refunds

Our finance technician and administrative assistant at Holmes have been working very hard over the last month to process refunds for families who paid for the theater trip to New York City, the music trip to Williamsburg, and the music trip to Kings Dominion.  The refunds for the theater trip have been completed, and checks have been mailed home to families.  The refunds for the other two trips are still in process.  

Food Resources

FCPS Continues to Provide Breakfast and Lunch to Students

Click HERE for details.  

Free Hot Meal Courtesy of Chef Jose Andres & World Central Kitchen

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Weekend Meal Sites for Families

Below is information about two weekend meal sites for families:

  • No ID or proof of need is required. 
  • Family members may pick up meals on behalf of their entire family – children do not need to be present. 
  • Meals will be served during the below-listed timeframes, while quantities last. 

ACCA Child Development Center 7200 Columbia Pike #2, Annandale, VA 22003 Individual whole-grain crust pizzas with vegetable toppings, fresh fruit Saturdays, 2:30 PM while quantities last

John Calvin Presbyterian Church 6531 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003  Individual whole-grain crust pizzas with vegetable toppings, fresh fruit Sundays, 2:30 PM while quantities last

These weekend sites also offer an opportunity for those who would like to help sustain this program. With a minimum donation of $50, you can order a Pizzeria Paradiso Pizza Kit which includes all of the ingredients needed to make two wholesome 12” pizzas at home (and a link to instructions and a video!).  Each donation will provide meals for four additional families in our area! Kits may be Pre-Ordered and picked at the ACCA Child Development Center on Saturday or John Calvin Presbyterian Church on Sunday between 3:30 and 4:30 PM. More details at the link above.

Community Resources

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Social-Emotional and Wellness Resources for Families

School-Based Social Emotional Learning and Wellness Resources During Distance Learning

School Counselors, School Psychologists, and School Social Workers are available to support students, families and staff during distance learning. They are supporting students, families and staff in many of the same ways as they did prior to distance learning, but it may look different now.

Here is what schools are doing to continue social emotional learning and mental wellness:

● Instructional activities addressing social and emotional skills and mental wellness topics are embedded in instruction to include school counseling and Health & PE lessons/activities.

● Consultation for teachers is provided to support students’ social, emotional, and mental health needs in an instructional setting.

● Individualized student and family support is available at all school levels to address social emotional learning, mental wellness, and access to basic needs.

● Mental Wellness Consultation: Parents may schedule a 30-minute phone consultation with a school psychologist or school social worker, for either themselves or their middle or high school student. This is an opportunity for parents to receive guidance on how to support their student’s emotional well-being. For more information, click the following link: Mental Wellness Consultation

To learn more about these activities, please contact your student’s school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker.

Here is more information on what you can do to support your student at home:

• The FCPS Learning from Home: Support for Families webpage is updated frequently and has many helpful links: FCPS Learning from Home: Support for Families

• The FCPS COVID-19 Website contains valuable information regarding how to talk with your child about the Coronavirus, managing stress, healthy coping, community and emergency mental health resources. For more information, click the following link: COVID-19 Mental Health & Community Resources website

• Online training simulations are available to help you learn and recognize signs of distress, manage conversations, and connect your student/family to support services. For more information, click the following link: Kognito

• Video clips of FCPS students sharing their thoughts and tips on coping with Coronavirus. To view these videos, please click the following link: Student Voice: Coronavirus

• Our Healthy Minds Blog will also be updated with entries throughout the closure: Healthy Minds Blog

• In case of an emergency or for immediate assistance, please click on the following link: Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information

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Important Dates

  • Fri., 4/24 - All missing/incomplete work for 3rd quarter due to teachers
  • Mon., 5/25, - Memorial Day Holiday
  • Fri., 6/12 - Last Day of School

How to Stay In-Touch

Please stay in touch with us throughout the year by:

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