Principal's Note - Dec 8, 2023
Hello Holmes Families!
I can’t believe we only have 5 days left until winter break! This past week we had amazing performances from our students in the musical Matilda, Chorus, and Band. Don’t miss our final music performance of the year with Orchestra on Tuesday, December 12th at 7PM.
Families and staff voted on “Outstanding” professionals in various categories. This week, we counted our votes and the following staff received awards for:
| Award | Recipient |
| Outstanding Teacher | Donna Casto |
| Outstanding New Teacher | Amanda Simpson |
| Outstanding Leader | Nicholas Hartman |
| Outstanding Professional Employee | Mel Mollick |
| Outstanding Operational Employee | Phuoc Nguyen |
We are so proud of all of the hard work that our staff does every day! So excited to congratulate them on all their efforts!
We have a few changes to our bell schedule next week on Wednesday and Thursday. Please note the modified schedules below.
Below is our spirit week for next week! Please encourage your child to participate – we had a blast last spirit week!
Thank you for a great Fall Book Fair!
 | It’s still not too late to make purchases that will support our school library. Please click HERE to shop online at the Scholastic Store. If you sign into your Scholastic account (or create an account), you can tag Holmes MS as your school. The library will receive 25% of every purchase you make up until Thursday, 12/14/23! Happy Reading! Click to edit this placeholder text. |
December 18-20 - Winter Olympics Camp for Students Grades 2-8: Annandale High School will be sponsoring a 3-day Winter Olympics Camp at Poe Middle School for students in 2nd through 8th grade during Winter Break. Camp will be held Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 8:30am-3:00pm. Cost is $100. Payment will be accepted during drop off on the first day. https://bit.ly/Olympics23Poe
Here are today's newsletter topics:
Holmes Updates
- Student Services Information
- Admin Team Information
- 2023-24 Blue/White Schedule
- 2023-24 Bell Schedule
- After-School Program
- From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison
- Important Upcoming Dates
- Holmes MS PTA
- How to Stay Connected to Holmes MS
FCPS & Community Updates
- December Observances
- Snow Days This Winter
- Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!
- Keep Learning Over Winter Break with Tutor.com
- Food Insecurity Resources for Families
- Stay Connected with FCPS
Please feel free to reach out and let us know what questions you have. Thank you, and we'll see you very soon!
Sincerely,
Serena Giron
Principal
HOLMES UPDATES
Contact Information
Admin Team Information
2023-24 Blue/White Calendar
From Mr. Kruk, our After-School Specialist
After-School Program Weekly News & Notes from 12/4-12/8
- Student of the Week
- The After-School Program Student of the week: Gabriela Moukalled.
- Gabriela was nominated for her contributions in various clubs and activities including Theatre Sports, Cross Country, Cursive Club, Maker Space, & Art Club.
- “Gabby always shows up to the After-School Program with a smile and great attitude every single day. She is a shining star to our afternoons.” – ASP Staff member
- Great Job Gabriela!
After-School Action
Students worked on their projects during Asian American Leadership, Empowerment, & Development club.
 |
ASP Schedule 12/11-12/15
Students Leaving After-School before 4:45 pm
- 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.
- 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
Important Upcoming Dates
- Tuesday, 12/12, 7 PM - Orchestra Concert
- 12/18/23 - 01/01/24 - NO SCHOOL / Winter Break
- Tuesday, 1/16, 9:30-10:30 AM - Family Coffee
Holmes MS PTA
Don't forget to check out these important links:
- Holmes Attendance Form: https://holmesms.fcps.edu/about/attendance-form
- Buy SpiritWear: https://bit.ly/HolmesSpiritWear
- Join the PTA: https://bit.ly/SupportHolmesPTA
- Missed the meeting: watch the recording by clicking here OR access the slideshow/presentation on our website OR access audio language interpretation in Spanish, Urdu, and Arabic by clicking the language button in Zoom.
The next PTA meeting will be on December 6th in conjunction with the Winter Chorus Concert.
From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison
Family Coffee - 1/16, 9:30-10:30 AM
Please join our January Family Coffee to learn how to set a healthy balance with the use of phone and internet, explore online safety, consider family agreement for technology use and learn ways to balance tech use at home. You are welcome to join in person or via zoom. We will provide refreshments.
How to Stay Connected to Holmes MS
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
FCPS & Community Updates
December Observances
National Special Education Day - 12/2
National Special Education Day is recognized each year on Dec. 2 and commemorates President Gerald Ford’s signing of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1975. We celebrate our teachers and staff who serve and support our students with special needs, as well as our families who are partners in the education and support of those students!
Learn more about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Chanukah - 12/7-12/15
Chanukah, an 8-day Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple and the miracle of a small quantity of oil that lit the Temple’s menorah for 8 days. This year, Chanukah begins at sundown on Thursday, December 7. That day will be a half-O day, and major events cannot be scheduled that evening. Learn more about Chanukah in National Geographic Kids. See the complete school year calendar.
Bodhi Day - 12/8
Bodhi Day, Friday, December 8, is the Buddhist holiday that commemorates the day that the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni), experienced enlightenment, also known as bodhi in Sanskrit and Pali. The school calendar recognizes many religious and cultural observances (O days) during the school year, including Bodhi Day. There is school on these days, however, the School Board has directed that tests, quizzes, field trips, graduation, homecoming, or FCPS-scheduled athletic events will not be held on these observance days.Learn more about Bodhi Day in this video from the Miami Children’s Museum. See the complete school year calendar.
Christmas - 12/25
A very Merry Christmas to those in our community who celebrate! Christmas is an annual holiday that commemorates the birth of Jesus, and is celebrated in many unique ways across the U.S. and the world. Learn more about Christmas.
Snow Days This Winter
For the current school year, FCPS will be returning to its previous procedure for snow days — there will be no virtual learning days when school is closed due to bad weather.
During snow days, students may still access Tutor.com, complete any supplemental learning opportunities recommended by their teachers, and view educational programming (available virtually and on public access television channels):
- Elementary school instruction: Red Apple 21.
- Middle school instruction: Channel 25.
- High school instruction: Channel 99.
Eleven snow days are built into the existing FCPS calendar. Eliminating virtual learning days will allow us to maximize students’ in-person learning and provide equitable access to instruction and student services.
Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!
We often notice more empty seats in our classrooms as winter break approaches. This year, let's work together to nurture a rock-solid attendance habit. Every hour of every school day is a unique opportunity for students to learn, connect, and grow.
A big thank you to:
- 🌟 Students who show up every day and the parents/caregivers supporting them.
- 👩🏫 Teachers who create a welcoming environment for learning.
- 👨💼 Administrators providing a safe and engaging place to grow.
- 👏 Bus drivers, support staff, and volunteers lending a helping hand to all our learners.
If you or your child need support, please reach out to our school social worker or family liaison. If your child is not feeling well, please refer to the When Should I Keep My Child Home? webpage for guidance.
There will be no school from Monday, December 18, to Monday, January 1, 2024, for winter break. Classes will resume on Tuesday, January 2.
Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.
Keep Learning Over Winter Break with Tutor.com
Does your child need help getting up to speed in high school math, science, or English? Tutor.com offers diagnostic quizzes to help students test their knowledge and find areas where they may need help. Quizzes can be taken anytime, and students can connect immediately to a tutor.
Test prep is also available for students preparing for the PSAT, SAT, or ACT.
FCPS students have unlimited access, 24/7, to online tutoring support services through Tutor.com at no cost to families. Students can connect online any time, any place, and in most K-12 subjects for however long they need.
Food Insecurity Resources for Families
Food insecurity impacts more than 60,000 Fairfax County residents. There are many resources available to support those who need food assistance. Find out how to receive or offer support on the Fairfax County website, or view their Human Services Resource Guide for assistance with food, clothing, housing, and other services.
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.