Principal's Note - April 22, 2018

By Margaret Barnes

Principal's Note

April 22, 2018

Dear Holmes Families:

Good afternoon! I hope you all have enjoyed this beautiful weekend! We had a successful start to 4th quarter this week, and it is hard to believe that there are only 8 weeks of school remaining. The countdown to summer begins, and we continue to ask students to stay focused since the next 8 weeks will be packed, including the 6th grade field trips this week, 2 music field trips and other performing arts events, the 8th grade celebration, Awards Ceremonies, and - of course - SOLs!

On Friday, 4/20 - which was also the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting in Colorado - about 400 of our students walked out at 10:00 AM in honor of the victims of school shootings. Staff members directed them to the flagpole outside Door 1. Students exited and reentered the building in an orderly fashion and were outside for 17 minutes before returning to class.

FCPS respects the rights of our students to engage in peaceful protest and express their opinions through speech and other ways as long as it is done respectfully, does not interfere with the rights of others, and does not disrupt learning in the school. Our school is committed to providing an environment where everyone is treated with respect and encouraged to help others.

Our teachers, administrators and staff continue to reinforce a sense of positive school community and we ask for your partnership in working with your child to discuss meaningful actions that they can take to engage in their community.

In our newsletter this week:

Next Week's Schedule of Classes
Next Week's After School Program Schedule
Register your student for FCPS VIP Summer Camp!!
FCPSOn Community Meetings Scheduled
FCPS, Northern Virginia Community College Offer Summer STEM Camps
FCPS and Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (DNCS) have teamed up to offer a 5 week camp for rising 7th and 8th graders
Annandale Atoms 5K Run/WalkImportant Dates
Annandale High School Summer Sports Camps
May/June SOL Schedule
How To Stay In Touch

Thank you, and have a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Margaret Barnes, Principal

[email protected]

Next Week's Schedule of Classes: 4/23-4/27

This week:

Mon., 4/23 = White Day w/ ER 3 & 4

Tues., 4/24=Blue Day

Wed., 4/25 = White Day w/ ER 5 & 6

Thurs., 4/26 = Blue Day

Fri., 4/27 = White Day w/ ER 7 & 8 (ER 8 Lesson: Digital Citizenship)

*NOTE: Students can always find the blue-white calendar in their agendas or on the website HERE.

After School Program (ASP) - Week of 4/23/18

For any questions you have about the After School Program, please contact German Cabezas at [email protected].

asp

FCPSOn Community Meetings Scheduled

FCPS is on a journey to enhance learning through FCPSOn, a 1-to-1 digital transformation. The term 1:1 means each student will have access to one device to use for learning. Holmes will be beginning this journey next year by going 1-to-1 with all 8th graders.

FCPSOn extends student learning and increases equitable access to technology and instructional practices that lead to personalized, meaningful learning experiences which provide opportunities for deeper understanding and development of Portrait of a Graduate attributes. The FCPS Strategic Plan Ignite includes access to contemporary and effective technology as a component of the Student Success goal.

Students will have access to the device at school, and in some schools and grade levels, students will also be able to take their device home.

Community Meetings Scheduled in Each Region

A plan has been developed to engage community stakeholders on the next phase of FCPSOn. This plan involves regional as well as school-based community engagement. Five community meetings (one in each region) are scheduled in March and April to explain how FCPSOn supports the division’s Portrait of a Graduate and Ignite goals.

In 2018-19, school-based community engagement will begin for schools scheduled to implement FCPSOn during SY 2019-20. These school-based engagement activities will help stakeholders develop a deeper understanding of FCPSOn and the instructional practices that will be implemented when 1:1 technology is deployed in their local schools.

Learn more about FCPSOn and how it supports the Portrait of a Graduate and Ignite Strategic Plan goals by attending one of five community meetings. All meetings will begin at 7 p.m. To request an interpreter, please click on Interpreter Request Form.

Dates and locations for the community meetings and more information about FCPSOn are available here

fcpson

FCPS, Northern Virginia Community College Offer Summer STEM Camps

Fairfax County Public Schools is partnering with Northern Virginia Community College to offer more than a dozen one-week STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) summer camps during the summer break.

Open to students currently enrolled in grades 3-12, these one-week camps emphasize hands-on learning, teamwork, critical thinking, and career awareness in a fun and engaging way. Topics include robotics, coding, forensics, cybersecurity, app design, aviation, and pre-health.

Camps will run June 18 through August 3 at the following locations: Edison High School, Marshall High School, Westfield High School, and Hughes Middle School. Discounts are available to parents who sign up their child for multiple camps or sign up multiple children.

Additional information and registration is available online or by contacting STEM Outreach Coordinator Charles Britt at @email or 703-425-5917.

FCPS and Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (DNCS) have teamed up to offer a 5 week camp for rising 7th and 8th graders

What is your middle school child doing this summer?

Like you, we believe your child is a Very Important Person and deserves a summer experience that is safe and full of fitness, friends, fun and enrichment. FCPS and Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (DNCS) have teamed up to offer a 5 week camp for rising 7th and 8th graders.

Our camp will be a combination of students from the following middle schools: Glasgow, Holmes, Jackson, Kilmer, Poe, and Thoreau. Bus transportation will be provided from various pick-up locations which will be communicated in June prior to the start of camp.

There is a $50 registration fee. We will take weekly field trips and pricing information for that will be released after we have notified students of acceptance. Students who do not attend the field trips will not need to pay the field trip fees, but will need to stay home from camp that day as all of our staff will attend the trip. Students will also have the option of choosing which trips to attend.

The staff is led by your local After-School Specialists and trained DNCS staff. Campers will have a great time playing sports, games, doing arts and crafts and exploring concepts in science and technology.

Details

Dates: July 2, 2018 - August 2, 2018 (campers are encouraged to attend all 5 weeks)

Times: 8:00am-4:00pm

Location: Thoreau Middle School

Registration: Begins on Monday, March 19th, and will close on Friday, April 20th. You can expect to receive notice of acceptance or waitlist status soon after registration closes in late April. Registration fee payment information will be communicated at that time. Sign up by picking up a registration packet from Thoreau's main office or visiting this link: https://goo.gl/forms/lEikoWujZQ06I5eh2

Cost: $50 registration fee plus field trip fees (admission plus transportation cost)

With limited spaces available, it’s important to submit your registration as soon as possible.

Questions? Contact Shannon Campbell at @email or 703-846-8089.

Annandale Atoms 5K Run/Walk

The Annandale HS Booster Club is hosting it's annual fundraiser to benefit and support scholarships for our student athletes. If you have questions, you should contact Terry Adams at @email Phone: 703-615 0651.

Annandale Atoms 5K Run/Walk