Principal's Note - April 3, 2019
Good evening, Holmes Families!
It's a big week at Holmes this week! Not only is it the last week of 3rd quarter, but it is Spirit Week! We are excited about our Annandale Pyramid Unity Night on Thursday, April 4th, at Annandale High School when our Holmes Faculty & Staff will play the Poe Faculty & Staff! We hope to see you there (more details below in the flyer)! Here are the themes for our Spirit Week this week:
- Monday, April 1: Roll Out of Bed Day (Pajama Day)
- Tuesday, April 2: Decades Day
- Wednesday, April 3: Wacky-Tacky-Crazy Day
- Thursday, April 4: Annandale Unity Day (wear Annandale Red)
FCPS Values Your Opinion - Family Engagement Survey
Today, you will receive an invitation from Dr. Scott Brabrand, Superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools to participate in the 2019 FCPS Family Engagement Survey!
We would love for you to complete the survey letting us know how we are doing in the areas of:
- Communicating
- Providing you opportunities to partner
- Developing positive relationships
- Ensuring student success and more
The survey will be available between March 24th- April 12th.
The information we learn from you will help us strengthen family engagement and continue fostering a Caring Culture throughout FCPS.
There are 3 ways you can complete the survey.
- Check your email after March 24 for an invitation with a survey link from Dr. Scott Brabrand, Superintendent with subject line: FCPS Family Engagement Survey.
- Ask the front office staff for a paper survey. You can complete it right there on the spot.
- Complete the online survey using one of the school computers. The office staff would be happy to show you an available computer for you to complete the survey electronically at the school.
We honor your opinion and commitment to your child and our schools. We strive to make it a better place for ALL! Thank you in advance for taking this survey to give us feedback!
In today's newsletter, scroll down for information about:
- FCPS CARES
- This Week's Schedule
- This Week's After School Program Schedule
- Calendar Reminder: April 5 Is a Student Holiday; Spring Break Is April 15-19
- April Is School Library Month
- Parent Chaperones Needed For Finance Park Make-up Field Trip
- Registration Now Open for 2019 Special Education Conference at Lake Braddock Secondary School - Saturday, April 6th
- Color Fun Run/Walk - Saturday, April 27th
- Kinship Family Institute (KFI)
- Attention Parents of Middle School Students–College Financial Aid Awareness Workshops to Be Held in March and April
- TJ Prep Camp
- Important Dates (including May SOL Schedule)
- How to Stay in Touch
Thanks, everyone, and have a wonderful week!
Sincerely,
Margaret Barnes
Proud Principal, Holmes MS
#HolmesHawksSoar
FCPS Cares
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Do you know a Holmes Middle School staff member who does ordinary things in an extraordinary way or goes beyond what is expected? If so, then click here to submit your story so we can all acknowledge the good work of Holmes faculty and staff members. |
This Week's Schedule of Classes: 4/1 - 4/5
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This week: Mon., 4/1 = White Day w/ ER 3 & 4 Tues., 4/2 = Blue Wed., 4/3 = White Day w/ ER 5 & 6 Thurs., 4/4 = Blue Day Fri., 4/5 = Teacher Workday / Student Holiday *NOTE: Students can always find the blue-white calendar in their agendas or on the website HERE. |
After School Program - Week of 4/1
For any specific questions related to the After School Program or to share new ideas for after school activities, please feel free to contact Mr. German Cabezas, our After School Program Specialist.
Calendar Reminder: April 5 Is a Student Holiday; Spring Break Is April 15-19
As a reminder, Friday, April 5, is a teacher workday and a holiday for students. The last day of the third quarter is April 4. Classes will resume on Monday, April 8.
Looking ahead, spring break will be April 15-19. See the complete 2018-19 school year calendar.
April Is School Library Month
 April is School Library Month and here at Holmes the library is celebrating! Monday, April 1st - Community Coloring Students are invited during lunch and afterschool to help color a large banner that will be hung in the library upon completion. There will also be color your own bookmarks and other related activities. Monday, April 8th - Community Coloring This week will have additional library activities during lunch blocks and afterschool. Thursday, April 11th - Origami For All We'll be learning simple origami to make, all students will keep some pieces they make and other pieces will be displayed in the library. Monday, April 22nd - Spring Book Fair begins!!! The library is excited to invite you to our Spring Book Fair! The Book Fair will begin the first Monday back from Spring Break, April 22nd and run through April 26th. Mark your calendars! Students will be visiting the Book Fair with their Language Arts classes. This Book Fair is a Buy One Get One Free event, all items are eligible and it is a critical fundraiser, a percentage of every purchase allows the library to buy more books! Students will have an opportunity to shop at the fair with their teachers and during all lunch periods. |
PARENT CHAPERONES NEEDED FOR FINANCE PARK MAKE-UP FIELD TRIP
Our last make-up day for the Finance Park field trip will be Friday, May 31st. We are really in need of more parent chaperones, so if you are available on May 31st, please contact your student’s Civics teacher, and they will add you to the list. During the day, which will be from 8:30am – 1:30pm, you will lead a group of no more than 9 students, as they prepare to be “an adult for the day.” It will require you to drive yourself to the JA Finance Park Facility, which is at 4099 Pickett Road, Fairfax VA. Once again, please contact your student’s Civics teacher (i.e. Mr. Kerner, Mr. Sterzinger, Mr. Hoover, Mr. Schmitz, or Ms. D’Angelo) if you are interested.
Registration Now Open for 2019 Special Education Conference at Lake Braddock Secondary School
Registration is now open for the 2019 Special Education Conference, which will be held Saturday, April 6, from 7:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Lake Braddock Secondary School. The focus of this year’s conference is on building inclusive and post-secondary practices to support the development of 21st century skills and Portrait of a Graduate attributes.
This year’s keynoter is Dr. Mary E. Morningstar, the co-director of Portland State University’s Think College Inclusion Oregon project and a professor in the Graduate School of Education’s Special Education Department, who will be speaking about Moving from Compliance to Quality Transition Outcomes.
Get more information and register.
Color Fun Run/Walk
Kinship Family Institute (KFI)
Attention Parents of Middle School Students–College Financial Aid Awareness Workshops to Be Held in March and April
College Access Fairfax is holding Financial Awareness workshops to help middle school parents get a jump on understanding the financial aid process for post-secondary education. The program will provide general information on what financial aid is, how it is determined and what parents can do now to prepare. The workshops are held from 7 to 9 p.m. on:
- March 28 at Herndon Middle School.
- April 4 at Key Middle School.
- April 8 at South County Middle School.
- April 10 at Jackson Middle School.
- April 24 at Lanier Middle School.
- April 25 at Whitman Middle School.
Interested parents should register to attend on the College Access Fairfax website
TJ Prep Camp
Important Dates
- Thursday, 4/4 - Last Day of 3rd Quarter
- Thursday, 4/4, 7:00 pm - Annandale Pyramid Unity Night (Holmes vs. Poe Faculty Basketball Game)
- Friday, 4/5 - Teacher Workday / Student Holiday
- Mon., 4/15-Fri., 4/19 - SPRING BREAK
- Wed., 4/24, Evening - 3rd Quarter Honor Roll Celebration & NJHS Induction Ceremony
How to Stay In-Touch
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
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May / June SOL Testing Schedule
Interested in learning more about the SOL exams your child will take? Here are links from the Virginia Department of Education for: