Principal's Note - Aug 2, 2020

By Margaret Barnes
Principal's Note
August 04, 2020

Good evening, Holmes Families!

I hope that you all are having a great weekend!  I will be keeping my note short this week for you...there will be PLENTY of information to come in future weeks...I promise!  

Here are today's newsletter topics:

  • 2019-20 Yearbooks
  • Laptop Return - August 3rd & Laptop Collection Details
  • Countdown to September 8th: 5 Things to Know with 5 Weeks to Go
  • Low-cost / Free internet access
  • Fairfax County Public Library's Summer Reading Adventure
  • Important Dates

Thank you and have a great week!

Sincerely,

Margaret Barnes

Proud Principal, Holmes MS

@email

2019-20 Yearbooks

Yearbooks are here!!!  If you pre-ordered a 2019-20 Holmes Yearbook, and didn't have a chance to pick it up last week, you can stop by to pick it up at Holmes on Monday, August 3rd between 8:30 am and 3:30 pm.  After you drop off your laptops at Door 4, you can then pick up your yearbooks at Door 1.  

We do have additional yearbooks for sale if you would like to purchase one for $35.  If you would like one, please bring cash (exact change, please) or a check made payable to Holmes Middle School.  We have also added it to our school store in MySchoolBucks in case you would like to order one and have it shipped to your home.   

Laptop Return - August 3rd

laptop

It's time to return your laptops and chargers!

In case you missed the time to turn in your laptops last week, please come to the school on Monday, August 3rd, between 8:30 and 3:30 to drop off your laptops. 

2020-21 6th Graders: If you borrowed a laptop from your elementary school, you MUST turn it in to your elementary school in order to receive a new laptop from Holmes for the 2020-21 school year.  Please contact your elementary school to find out their dates and times for collecting laptops.

2019-20 8th Graders: You MUST turn in your Holmes laptop in order to receive your laptop from Annandale or Edison (or other FCPS high school).  

ALL 2019-20 Holmes Students: Your laptops and chargers MUST be turned in to receive your new laptop for the 2020-21 school year.  

Laptop Collection Details

  • Monday, August 3rd, 8:30 am - 3:30 pm

Bring your laptops and charger to Door 4 (see map below).  

To prepare your laptop for return to Holmes MS, please complete the following:

  • Remove any stickers the student has added to the laptop to include sticker residue.
    • Exceptions:  DO NOT REMOVE:  Fairfax County Public Schools barcodes, FCPSOn labels, Dell factory labels
  • Wipe down laptop surfaces (outside and inside) with a Lysol or Clorox wipe that has been squeezed of excess liquid.
  • Leave Laptop ID card attached.  If ID card is missing, please have student name/ID on piece of paper within the transparent place-card holder.
  • Wrap up charger as best as you can, some already have an attached velcro wrap.

Replacement Cost for items not returned:

  • HP ProBook Laptop: $355
  • HP Power Adapter/Charger: $38
  • Dell 3380 Laptop: $395
  • Dell Adapter/Charger: $50

For student who have lost their laptops and/or chargers, a replacement fee will need to be paid to Holmes Middle School.  You can also pay the replacement fee in MySchoolBucks through our school store.

map

Countdown to September 8th: 5 Things to Know with 5 Weeks to Go

  1. Students: Time to clean out your fcpsschools.net email inbox!
    • In order to help you start of the 2020-21 school year in an organized way, go ahead and have your students clean out their email inboxes so they can start fresh!  
  2. Virtual Bell Schedule 
    • Mondays - All asynchronous (with some small group intervention for selected students)
    • Tuesdays-Fridays (see image of bell schedule below)
schedule

3.  2020-21 Counselors.  The way that our counselors and assistant principals will be organized this year will be slightly different than last year.  Please see below for your student's assigned counselor and AP.  

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4. In need of Free & Reduced-Price Meals?  If needed, complete the Free & Reduced-Price Meals application along with the Consent to Share form, which can both be found HERE in multiple languages.

5. SIS ParentVue setup.  If you have not done so already, ensure that your SIS ParentVue account is set up in order to see your student's schedule when it is available in a few weeks and to check your student's progress through the year.  Instructions for access and setup can be found HERE.

Need low-cost or free internet access?

Here are some options to consider:

FCPL's Summer Reading Adventure

fcpl

Please encourage your child to continue reading this summer!  Check out Fairfax County Public Library's Summer Reading Adventure and join in the fun!  

Important Dates

  • Monday, August 24th - Friday, August 28th - LAPTOP DISTRIBUTION
    • Aug. 24th - 8th graders
    • Aug. 25th & 26th - 7th graders
    • Aug. 27th & 28th - 6th graders
    • Note: If you have students in more than one grade level, you do not need to come on multiple days.
  • Tuesday, September 8th - FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

How to Stay In-Touch

Please stay in touch with us throughout the year by: