Principal's Note - Dec 16, 2018
Good Evening, Holmes Families!
Here we are with just one week to go until a very well-deserved break for students, staff, and parents! We have a full week ahead with 2 more days of the Book Fair, Locker Cleanout, the Orchestra Concert, Winter Activity Day, and the Annual Winter Music Assembly! A few notes about each below:
- Book Fair: Students have tomorrow and Tuesday to purchase items at the book fair. It will also be open for parents on Tuesday evening at 6:00 pm before the Orchestra concert and will remain open until about a half-hour after the concert ends. Thank you to everyone who has been able to purchase items that will benefit the Holmes Library!
- Locker Cleanout: All students will clean out their lockers on Tuesday during ER-8. We also encourage students to check for items that they may have lost throughout the year in the Lost-n-Found areas of the cafeteria. All items not claimed by the end of the week will be donated to local shelters.
- Orchestra Concert: Join us for our last winter evening performance at 7:00 pm on Tuesday evening!
- Winter Activity Day: Students' last day to purchase tickets was on Friday. Students with tickets will attend Activity Day on Wednesday after school from 2:30-4:00. Late buses will be available for students, or they can be picked up .
- Annual Winter Music Assembly: We are very excited for the 5th graders from our feeder elementary schools to join us on Friday afternoon for our Winter Music Assembly during 7th period!
In today's newsletter, scroll down for information about:
- FCPS CARES
- This Week's Schedule
- After School Program Information and Schedule - Please note the very limited schedule this week.
- Music Department Winter Performances
- Winter Activity Day: Wednesday, December 19th
- G-love Winter Clothing Drive
- Next Lunch Bunch: Friday, January 11th
- Follow-up to Signs of Suicide lessons - FCPS Mental Health & Resiliency Website
- Curriculum Night, January 17th
- Important Dates
- How to Stay in Touch
Sincerely,
Margaret Barnes
Proud Principal, Holmes MS
#HolmesHawksSoar
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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: 12/17-12/21
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This week: Mon., 12/17 = Blue Day Tues., 12/18 = White Day w/ ER 7 & 8 (ER 8 Lesson: Winter Assembly Etiquette & Locker Cleanout) Wed., 12/19 = Blue Day Thurs., 12/20 = White Day w/1 & 2 Fri., 12/21 = Blue Day *NOTE: Students can always find the blue-white calendar in their agendas or on the website HERE. |
After School Program - Week of 12/17
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.
Scholastic Book Fair - December 10th-18th
The Library Book Fair starts on Monday, December 10th! It runs through December 19th. Students can a get list of books available from their school flyer or can browse here http://www.scholastic.com/bf/holmesmiddleschool6
How to Pay
You can pay with cash, a credit card, or through Book Fair eWallet - click on the link to sign up.
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bookfairs/parent-how-it-works.html
For checks please make payable to Holmes Middle School.
When To Attend The Book Fair
Students will come with their English classes, during lunch or other times.
The Library Book Fair will remain open through the evenings of Tuesday, December 11th, Thursday, December 13th and Tuesday, December 18th. Come enjoy the Holmes Winter Concerts and do some holiday shopping!
Our teachers have wishlists, you can buy for yourself or help a teacher add books to their rooms.
Prizes
Every student who buys something (as little as a dollar or less) from the book fair will be entered into a Grand Prize drawing:
Lunch for a student and a friend with Principal Barnes & Librarian, Ms Haywood.
A restaurant of their choice, with parental consent, and we will have it delivered to school for a special lunch treat.
Other miscellaneous prizes will be awarded throughout the fair.
Shop Online
Share the link to to do online shopping and share with friends and family to help support Holmes Library buy more books. Every dollar helps us get new books on our shelves.
Online Book Fair http://www.scholastic.com/bf/holmesmiddleschool6
Questions: email Ms. Haywood [email protected]
Music Department Winter Performances
We have one more winter performance left! If you have a child in band, chorus or orchestra, please sign up HERE to help on our concert evenings:
Orchestra Performance (ALL orchestra classes) - Tuesday, December 18 at 7 pm in the Cafeteria
All students should arrive for warm-up in his/her concert uniform at the times listed below. (Boys: Tuxedo shirt/pants/black socks/black dress shoes. Girls: black dress/black dress shoes)
- 5:45 Basso and Treble Orchestra: Band room (I-1)
- 6:00 Concert Orchestra: Orchestra Room (I-7)
- 6:15 Chamber Orchestra: Chorus Room (I-14)
If you have any questions, you can contact Kate Bongard (Orchestra director) at [email protected].
SCA Winter Activity Day - Wednesday, Dec. 19th
We would love to have parent volunteers to support with this super-fun event for students! If you are able to support in some way, please contact Mr. Cho at @email or Mrs. Lewis at @email.
G-love Winter Clothing Drive!
Next Lunch Bunch is Friday, January 11th!
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Students can sign up HERE! |
Follow-up to Signs of Suicide (SOS) lessons
Kudos to our Student Services and Clinical staff for completing the Signs of Suicide (SOS) lessons and screening through all History 7 classes last week. Through the screening, 18% of our 7th graders met with a counselor or member of the clinical team. As part of the lesson, students were encouraged to ACT (Act, Care, Tell) and identified any peer that they were concerned about. 15 seventh graders made a referral.
If you have concerns about your child, please contact his/her counselor or seek out contact information for mental health resources, which can always be found on our school homepage.
School Counselors:
6th Grade – Ms. Roberts – [email protected] 703-658-5942
7th Grade – Ms. Murphy – [email protected] – 703-658-5911
8th Grade –– Ms. Neforos – [email protected] – 703-658-5941
ESOL Level 1-4 Grades 6-8– Ms. Torres – [email protected] – 703-658-594
Clinicians:
Psychologist – Ms. Woolheater – [email protected] – 703-658-5926
Social Worker – Ms. O’Sullivan – [email protected] – 703-658-5711
Holmes Middle School Curriculum Night - January 17, 2019
- Monday, 12/10-Tuesday, 12/18 - Scholastic Book Fair (Evening sales will be available for parents on the 12/11, 12/13, & 12/18 music concert dates)
- Tuesday, 12/18, ER 8, Locker Cleanout (Before Winter Break)
- Tuesday, 12/18, 7 pm - Winter Orchestra Concert
- Wednesday, 12/19, 2:30-4:30 pm - SCA Winter Activity Day for Students
- Friday, 12/21, 7th Period - Annual Winter Assembly (Rising 6th Graders from feeder elementary schools invited)
- Monday, 12/24 - Friday, 1/4 - Winter Break - No School
- Thursday, 1/10, 6-7:30 pm - Reunión de padres hispanos (Tema: Pandillas)
- Friday, 1/11, 4th Period - Lunch Bunch with Mrs. Barnes!
- Thursday, 1/17, 5:30 pm - PTA Meeting (Rising 6th Grade Parents Invited)
- Thursday, 1/17, 6:30 pm - Curriculum Night for Parents (Information about choosing courses for students' schedules)
- Friday, 1/18 - Students Released Three Hours Early
- Monday, 1/21 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Holiday - No School
- Thursday, 1/24 - Last day of 2nd Quarter (No Early Release)
- Friday, 1/25 - Student Holiday / Teacher Workday
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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