Important Dates

• Monday, 12/23/24 - Friday, 1/3/25 - NO SCHOOL / Winter Break
• Tuesday, 1/14, 9:30-10:30 AM - Family Coffee
• Wednesday, 1/15 - Annandale High School’s Rising 9th Grade Open House
• Monday, 1/20 - NO SCHOOL / Martin Luther King, Jr's Birthday, Inauguration Day
• Tuesday, 1/28 - 2nd Quarter Ends
• Wednesday, 1/29 - NO SCHOOL / Teacher Workday
• Monday, 2/17 - NO SCHOOL / George Washington's Birthday

Message from Principal Giron

Hello, Holmes Families!

Happy Holidays from our Holmes family to yours!

Please click here to view the Digital Greeting Card

Winter break will be held Monday, December 23, to Friday, January 3. Our staff will be taking time to be with their families over the break.  The main office will be closed during Winter Break.  The office will open on January 6, 2025.  Staff will also not be available via email and will return your message when they come back in the new year.  We hope that you enjoy the time with your families over the break.

We look forward to welcoming students back in the new year. Classes resume on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025. See the complete school year calendar.

Wishing you a restful winter break!

Sincerely,

Serena Giron

Principal

IXL Winter Adventures Challenge: Math (all grades) & Science 8  (Dec 21-Jan 5)

Want to help your students keep their brains "warm" over winter break? Holmes is excited to participate in a county wide contest for usage of IXL, a learning platform that lets students practice skills that they’re learning and guides them to material that will help them grow the most. A pizza party will be awarded for the top 5 participants! Encourage your students to stay engaged by aiming for proficiency (SmartScore of 80) on skills of their choice in Math (all grades) and Science 8.

IXL Parent Handout (English)

IXL Parent Handout (Spanish)

The Early Identification Program (EIP)

WHAT: The Early Identification Program (EIP) is a multiyear (5 year) college preparatory program for students who will be the first in their family to attend a four-year college in the United States.  EIP is a collaborative effort between Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and George Mason University (GMU). The EIP is one of four programs that comprise the College Success Programs in FCPS. EIP goes from 8^th grade through 12^th grade. Please check out the EIP website at https://eip.gmu.edu/ for more information about the program!

HOW:   Nominated students apply to the program at the end of the 7^th grade and enter the program in the 8^th grade. 

Student Participation:

To remain in good standing, EIP students must: 

1. Maintain a 2.8 GPA
2. Attend specified activities/events on Saturdays at GMU Fairfax or Manassas campus
3. Attend weekly mentoring / tutoring sessions at Holmes
4. Attend the three-week Summer Academy at GMU Fairfax campus every July
5. Participate in the Strengthening the Family Workshop

DEADLINE:  February 19^th, 2025

INTERESTED /  QUESTIONS?  Please complete the EIP Information Google Form by the deadline if you are interested: https://forms.gle/xfZ1jW2icdUDH5Zj9

Contact Ms. Amarir, School Counselor and EIP Sponsor at 703-658-5942 or via email at @email with any questions.

HPE Clothing for Sale

Holmes Middle School sweat pants and t-shirts are on sale from the Health and Physical Education Department now on the MyBucks school website. Once you have placed your order online, we can send your purchase home with your student or you can schedule to pick up from Holmes Middle School.

Both the shirts and pants are a 50% cotton and 50% polyester blend. For specific questions, please contact Nick Hartman via email at @email. Below you will find the pricing chart for sizes of the pants and shirts.

Annandale High School’s Rising 9th Grade Open House - 1/15

Dear Rising 9th Grade Parents,

We are excited to welcome you to Annandale High School’s Rising 9th Grade Open House on January 15 from 6:00-8:00pm! We will offer short (optional) sessions on our various Annandale programs, and teachers will be in their classrooms throughout the evening to share all about our core and elective courses for 9th Graders. The goal is for students and parents to leave this event excited about all the opportunities you will have as an Annandale Atom and prepared to complete your course request form when your student meets with their middle school counselor. 

Breakout Sessions on the following topics will be offered throughout the evening: Welcome to Annandale, Course Request 101; IB/MYP Program; Activities and Athletics; English for Speakers of Other Languages Program; Special Education Office, and Student Life. 

The transition from middle to high school can be difficult and stressful for some students. However, Annandale High School takes tremendous pride in ensuring the transition is as smooth as possible. If you have specific questions that you would like to be addressed during this event, please submit your questions via this Google Form by Monday, January 6. Thank you in advance for your input and assisting us in making this event a success!

Shawn DeRose, Principal

Reporting Your Student’s Attendance

All Day Absence: 

1. Use ParentVUE. Log in and click “Report Absence.” Don’t Have a SIS ParentVUE Account Yet? Contact your school for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage.

OR

2. Call the attendance line on 703-658-5919 and leave a message with spelling of your student's first and last names, your name and relationship to the student, and a reason for absence. 

OR

3. Send an email to @email with your student's first and last names, your name and relationship to the student, and a reason for absence. 

Partial Absence: 

To report late arrivals, early dismissals, or to update already submitted attendance

1. Call the attendance line on 703-658-5919 and leave a message with spelling of your student's first and last names, and a reason for late arrival or early dismissal.

OR

2. Send an email to @email with your student's first and last names, your name and relationship to the student, and a reason for late arrival or early dismissal. 

Changes to Dismissal and Early Pick-Ups

To request a bus pass for your student, please email the front office at [email protected] no later than 1:30 PM. Additionally, ensure front office has consent from the parent of the student to whose house your child will be traveling, as this is required for approval.

If you have to pick up your student early, we ask that you do so before 1:30PM to avoid interrupting safe dismissal process. Please note that doctor's appointments are not considered emergencies.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. 

Admin/Counselor Team Information

Holmes MS 2024-25 Blue/White Calendar

Holmes MS 2024-25 Bell Schedule 

After-School Program Weekly News

Hawks Highlights from After-School from week 12/16-12/20

Our Capital One Coder students presented their projects at the Capital One headquarters to family and friends. It was an amazing event and we’re so proud of our students who did an incredible job representing Holmes Middle School.

ASP Upcoming Schedule 1/6-1/10

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 before 4:45.
• Walkers with parent/guardian permission, may sign themselves out any time after 3:30 when first block ends.
• Walkers must have written permission (may be emailed) from their parent/guardian to walk.
• Students must be picked up no later than 5pm.
• Students are not permitted to leave school grounds before checking out in the main office.

Questions/Concerns

Contact the After-School Specialist, Matt Kruk, @email

From Holmes MS Family Liaisons

Family Coffee 12/18 Recording & Resources

Thank you to all families who attended this month’s Family Coffee at Holmes Middle School. The topic was Positive Family Discipline. 

The recording, presentation, and resources shared can be found on our Website.

January Family Coffee - 1/14 at 9:30-10:30 AM

Holmes MS PTA

Join the Holmes MS PTA and attend meetings (4th Wednesday of the month; translation services provided)

• PTA Facebook
• Join
• Purchase Spirit Wear
• Upcoming events:
  • Every Wednesday Papa Johns 11am-11pm, use code HMS4010 for 40% off your order (Annandale location only)
  • 11/8 Jollibee Spirit Day, 9am-10pm, 4809 Beauregard St. location, mention Holmes, and 20% of your order comes back to the school

Be Among the First to Hear About School Delays/Closings

Watch this video to see how FCPS makes weather closing decisions. 

FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.

Be among the first to hear about weather delays and closings! Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE. Emails and text messages are sent to parents and caregivers based on the addresses and cell phone numbers entered on this platform. 

Dual Language Immersion

Registration for the countywide lottery for Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program will open on Monday, January 13, 2025. Current pre-K students may apply for the kindergarten immersion program, and current kindergarten students may apply for the first grade immersion program for the 2024-25 school year. 

Dual Language Immersion is available in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. 

Parents/caregivers who are interested may want to attend an informational meeting. Meetings are held at the school site. Visit the Dual Language Immersion Program Registration page for a list of meetings by language offered. 

Get more information on the DLI Program webpage and DLI Program Registration webpage.

Family Resource Center Webinars and FCPS Family Academy

In January, the Family Resource Center (FRC) will host webinars for families on:

• Overcoming School Refusal and Resistance
• Virtual Meeting for Siblings of Children with Special Needs
• FCPS Math Week
• Supporting Your Child’s Executive Functioning Skills
• Depression in Teens
• Understanding Trauma in Your Child/Comprendiedo el Trauma en su Hijo (presented in Spanish)

Sign up for the FRC newsletter or visit their webinar webpage.

Upcoming Family Academy Events

You are an important part of your child's education! The FCPS Family Academy compiles classes, webinars, workshops, and programs offered by FCPS to help you support your child's needs and learning at home. Browse Family Academy offerings. 

Comprehensive Boundary Review Update

The Superintendent’s Boundary Review Advisory Committee held its second meeting on December 16 at Gatehouse Administration Center. View key takeaways from that meeting and access the meeting agenda, slides, and other materials that committee members received.  If you did not get a chance to attend an in-person Community Boundary Review Meeting, please consider participating in a virtual meeting:

• Friday, January 10, 2025, 6-7:30 p.m. 
• Thursday, January 16, 2025, 1-2:30 p.m. 
• Saturday, January 25, 2025, 9:30-11 a.m. 
• Monday, January 27, 2025, 6:30-8 p.m. 
• Tuesday, January 28, 2025, 6:30-8 p.m. 
• Monday, February 10, 2025, 6:30-8 p.m. 

Language interpretation will be available. 

All virtual meetings will follow the same format as the in-person meetings that were recently held, and the same information will be shared. Please stay tuned for details on how to register. Visit FCPS’ Comprehensive Boundary Review webpage to learn more. Sign up for FCPS’ School Boundary Review newsletter as well.

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
• monitoring your student's progress with SIS Parent Account
• join the Holmes MS PTA and attend meetings

Follow Us on Social Media

Stay connected with Holmes Middle School by following us on social media! It's the best way to keep up with our latest news, celebrate student achievements, and be part of our vibrant community. Whether you're a student, parent, or community member, you'll find exciting updates, important announcements, and inspiring stories that showcase the spirit of Holmes!

Links: Instagram