Principal's Note - April 28, 2023

By Margaret Barnes
Principal's Note
May 01, 2023

Good afternoon, Holmes Families!

People with ancestral roots in Asia and the islands of the Pacific have been integral to the story of America. In 1992, May was designated Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to celebrate their heritage and contributions. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.

Please take a moment this evening to review this newsletter for important information, including our SOL Testing Calendar.  There are three primary testing dates:

  • Science (8th graders only) - Wednesday, May 10th
  • Reading (All students) - Tuesday, May 16th
  • Math (All students) - Tuesday, May 23rd

Students who score between a 375-399 will have the opportunity to retake the SOL a little over a week after the original test date and after time to remediate and review with teachers.  We will be in touch if your student falls in this category.  SOL Retake date for Science may change slightly; the test is new this year, and it may take longer to receive scores from the state.  

Please note that students who receive certain testing accommodations (e.g., testing over multiple days) may not test on the date listed on the calendar.  Mr. Kamar, our assessment coach, will be in communication with you and your students about the date of their SOL test. 

SOL Testing Window

Quarter 3 Honor Roll Celebration

On Thursday, May 4 we will be hosting the Quarter 3 Honor Roll Celebration during SOAR in order to acknowledge the hard work and academic achievement of our students who earned all A’s or A’s & B’s on their 3rd  quarter report card. Students will be receiving invitations through their SOAR class. Congratulations and keep up the great work! 😊

Teacher Appreciation Week

Teacher appreciation week is the second week in May! Show your student’s teachers how much you appreciate them by buying them breakfast! Only $5 per teacher. Purchase here: https://holmesmiddleschool.memberhub.com/store/items/702236

Family Coffee Recording, 4/18: Drug and Substance Abuse Prevention

In our Family Coffee this month we got a basic understanding of alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and opioids. We also chatted about what leads to drug abuse and misuse. To see the slides and recording for this meeting, visit the Holmes Families Schoology Page, or click here to go to the Zoom recording directly.

PTA Meeting Recording, 4/26: Fun Run, Dough Raiser, and More!

Thank you, families, for joining the PTA meeting in person or virtually on Wednesday. We are so excited about the many opportunities coming up to engage with the school community. To see the slides and recording from our meeting, visit the Holmes Families Schoology Page, or click here to go to the Zoom recording directly.

Pizza Night -5/2

Pizza Night

PTA Fun Run - 5/12, 4:30 pm

Fun Run

8th Grade Celebration - Friday, June 9th, 7-9 pm

It's time to plan for the 8th grade celebration, and we need your help!  Thank you to those parents who have already volunteered.  To make it easier to track who is signing up to volunteer, please complete this Google form, and I will be in touch next week.  We will need help with food & drinks, decorations, and games/activities for students.  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. 

Paying for College for Middle School Families:

Middle School families are invited to attend College Access Fairfax's Paying for College virtual webinar on Wednesday, May 3rd at 7:00pm. No registration is required. The presentation provides a "30,000 foot" view of the basis of post-secondary education, college savings plans, and the resources available through FCPS. 

Zoom Link:  https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/99317851754

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

  • Taste of Annandale community festival 
  • Community Conversation: School Safety and Security
  • Parent Resource Center Is Now the Family Resource Center
  • Final Feedback Opportunity - Strategic Plan Survey 
  • 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

@email

#TeamHolmes

HOLMES UPDATES

Student Services Information

Student Services Info

2022-23 Blue/White Calendar

calendar

New Bell Schedule

From Mr. Kruk, our After School Specialist

After-School Program Weekly News & Notes from 4/24-4/28

Student of the Week

  • The After-School Program Student of the week: Nebyou Daniel
  • Nebyou was nominated for his commitment to the program and various clubs including basketball league, flag football league, intramural sports, and more.
  • “Nebyou always shows up with a positive attitude and willingness to help out staff and his classmates” – ASP Staff
  • Congrats Nebyou!

After-School Action

Students enjoyed learning about connecting schools and their future careers during a Career & Technology Education presentation provided by FCPS’s Career Pathways.

ASP Club

After School Schedule 5/1-5/5

Block 1

Block 2

Students Leaving After-School before 4:45

    • Any student staying after school must be signed out of the main office by a parent or guardian if leaving prior to 4:45.
    • Walkers may sign themselves out any time after 3:30 when first block ends.

Questions/Concerns

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!

Match Day - 5/13, 7:30 pm

Match Day

From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison

Upcoming Family Coffee Events:

Family Coffee Events at Holmes occur monthly. The topics coming up over the next few months can be found below. You can attend in person or over Zoom. You will receive Zoom links via News You Choose and e-Notify. Click here to register for an upcoming Family Coffee. All presentation recordings and resources are saved to Holmes Families on Schoology.

pta1

Parents / caregivers can see what their students are learning in their core classes by grade level

We hope this information will allow us to better partner with parents and caregivers to support academic success.

At the March 30 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid presented updates to curriculum overview on the FCPS website during the Academic Matters segment. 

As stated on each grade level and course page, the objectives and outcomes for each unit are common across FCPS and based on the Virginia Standards of Learning. The pacing provides an example of how the curriculum can be organized throughout the year. Teacher teams may adjust the pacing or order of units to best meet the needs of students.

Information will be updated at the start of each school year. To access the grade level and/or course pages directly, visit our Academics page.

Important Upcoming Dates

  • Saturday, 4/29, 9 am - Soccer tournament at Glasgow MS
  • Tuesday, 5/2 - Homes PTA Fundraiser / Pizza Night 
  • 5/8-5/12 - Teacher Appreciation Week
  • Thursday, 5/11, 7 pm - Orchestra Concert (NOTE: Chorus portion of the concert has been cancelled)
  • Friday, 5/12, 4:30-6 pm - Holmes PTA Fun Run
  • Tuesday, 5/16, 5:30 pm - NJHS Induction Ceremony
  • Friday, 5/19, Time TBD - Voices of Now Performance, Arena Stage, Washington DC
  • Wednesday, 5/24, 6:30 pm - Holmes PTA Meeting
  • Monday, 5/29 - NO SCHOOL / Memorial Day
  • Wednesday, 5/31, 7 pm - Spring Band Concert
  • Friday, June 9th, 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:

FCPS & Community Updates

Taste of Annandale Community Festival - 4/29

The community is invited to the Taste of Annandale, a free family-friendly festival April 29, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., along Tom Davis Drive.

The Taste of Annandale features live performances, food trucks and restaurants, children’s programming and activities, a 5K race, a best-dressed pet contest, vendors, a chili cookoff, beer garden, and the police helicopter.

The Taste of Annandale is organized by the Annandale-Mason Roundtable, a nonprofit formed by volunteers. The festival was developed with two major goals in mind: to bring the community together to celebrate Annandale and to shine a spotlight on local businesses and organizations.

Since the first Taste of Annandale in 2015, it has grown every year to become the biggest street festival in the area. The festival’s partners include the Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, Mason Police District, Celebrate Fairfax, and the ACCA Child Development Center.

If you would like to volunteer, please contact Hadyn Kihm, 703-324-5713, mailto:@email.

Sponsorships are available, as well as space for vendors and restaurants. The deadline has been extended to April 20. Learn more and download an application on the Taste of Annandale website, https://tasteofannandale.com/.

Taste of Annandale

Community Conversation: School Safety and Security

FCPS will host a community conversation to discuss our approach to safety and security, and the work we do every day to keep our schools safe. Join us Monday, May 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at South Lakes High School. Registration information will be available soon.. 

FCPS staff and experts will review our risk assessment processes, the physical measures we already have in place to protect our students and staff, pilot programs to detect vaping, and how we communicate and collaborate with our partners when there is an incident at our schools. 

Parent Resource Center Is Now the Family Resource Center

FCPS’ Parent Resource Center has changed its name to the Family Resource Center (FRC), as a way to acknowledge and support the broad diversity of families in our community. The FRC continues to offer a wide range of essential resources and education for caregivers and students including:  

Families can find printable resource guides and details about the center’s free lending library on FRC’s homepage. They may also sign up to receive the FRC newsletter for updates on webinars, resources, and other information. If you have questions, please contact the FRC via email at @email or call 703-204-3941.

Upcoming FRC Webinars

The FRC is hosting the following upcoming webinars. Events are virtual unless stated otherwise:

Click on the titles above for more information or to register for a webinar. 

Final Feedback Opportunity - Strategic Plan Survey 

FCPS has almost completed the process of drafting a new Strategic Plan, which will guide our school division in the years ahead. Please participate in our brief survey regarding final input on the Strategic Plan’s draft goals, measures, and pillars. The goals are what we want for all students, and the measures are how we will determine our progress in reaching those goals. The pillars are the things that FCPS must do well to reach our goals. Your voice matters! Take the survey. 

Thank you for being a part of this important work! Learn more about the Strategic Planning process.

Summer Camps & Learning Opportunities

Summer VIP Program

Summer VIP Camp

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 Information

Multi-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!

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. 

Art Academy

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