Principal's Note - December 3, 2017
Dear Holmes Families:
Good evening! As we count down to the Winter Break, our students are in the midst of taking the county-wide assessments for Math and English at all grade levels, preparing for concert and musical performances, and 270 students received letters on Friday inviting them to apply to our new chapter of National Junior Honor Society at Holmes MS!
In our newsletter this week, you'll see information about:
- This Week's Schedule of Classes
- This Week's After School Program Schedule
- Willy Wonka, The Musical
- Family Life Education (FLE) Curriculum Preview Night
- PTA Family Dine-Out Night
- National Junior Honor Society (NJHS)
- Deadline for Referral for Level IV Advanced Academic Services
- Lunch Bunch with Mrs. Barnes
- The Signs of Suicide (SOS) Program
- Community Conversations with Dr. Brabrand
- Important Dates
- How To Stay In Touch
Thank you! We hope to see you at one or more of the student performances this week and next! Scroll to the bottom for the full calendar!
Sincerely,
Margaret Barnes, Principal
Schedule of Classes*: 12/4-12/8
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NOTE: The schedule will be flipped Tuesday-Thursday due to the SOS lessons happening in History 7.
*NOTE: Students can always find the blue-white calendar in their agendas or on the website HERE. |
After School Program - Week of 12/4
This week's After School Program schedule is below. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mr. German Cabezas at [email protected].
I am very excited to announce that we will be offering a 3rd semester of Capital One Coders in the Spring! We will announce more information about how students can apply after we return from Winter Break.
Don't miss Willy Wonka this week!
Click HERE to purchase tickets online!
FLE Curriculum Preview Night
For all parents who are interested in previewing the Family Life Education curriculum that will be delivered in Health & PE classes, there will be a preview night this Thursday, December 7th, from 6-7 PM in the library.
For any questions, please contact Ms. Sarah Wiltshire at [email protected].
PTA Family Dine-Out at Five Guys this Thursday!!
National Junior Honor Society is now at Holmes MS!
 On Friday, 7th & 8th graders who have attended Holmes for at least 6 months and who have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or more received letters through their 7th period classes inviting them to apply for NJHS. An information session and application workshop, will be held after school on Wednesday, December 6th at 2:30 PM. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Pickens at [email protected] or Ms. Oviatt at [email protected]. |
Deadline for AAP Level IV Referrals – January 12, 2018
Parents or guardians of 7th grade students may initiate the full-time AAP Level IV screening process by completing and submitting an Advanced Academic Programs Level IV Referral Form to Serena Giron ([email protected]) no later than January 12, 2018. No late referrals will be accepted. AAP Level IV services are available to students in grades 3-8. Students may be found eligible for full-time placement in AAP Level IV Center classes through a central selection process and receive a highly challenging instructional program in the four core subject areas. Multiple criteria are reviewed by a central selection committee to determine eligibility for all FCPS advanced academic services. More information about AAP services available at the middle school level may be found on the FCPS public website at: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle-school-academics-7-8/advanced-academics. If you have any questions, you can contact the Director of Student Services Mrs. Giron at 703-658-5900.
Lunch Bunch with Mrs. Barnes
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The first Lunch Bunch last Tuesday was incredibly fun! I learned so much for our students and was so appreciative that they shared their lunch with me to let me know how things are going for them in school. The next Lunch Bunch will be on Monday, December 11th. Students who are interested in attending should be logged into their FCPS Google account, and should submit their interest through this Google Form. There are also forms in the cafeteria and all of the hallways that can be turned into the Main Office. Priority will go to those students who have not attended yet. |
Signs of Suicide (SOS) Program
This week, our HMS Student Services team will be presenting the SOS program to 7th grade students through History classes.
Parents have had the opportunity to opt their students out for a few weeks, but we still want to honor any additional opt-outs that come up. If you have concerns or any questions about the screening, please feel free to contact your child’s counselor or Mrs. Girón at 703-658-5900.
Community Conversations with Dr. Brabrand
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Superintendent Scott S. Brabrand will host five Community Conversations this fall to hear what students, parents, employees, and members of the community are thinking about and what issues are important to them. Brabrand welcomes community members to attend and take part in any of the upcoming sessions that are convenient for them.
Community members needing an interpreter can make a request for services online.
The meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a meet and greet, followed by discussion and questions from the audience from 7 to 8 p.m.
The remaining meeting will be held as follows:
- Monday, December 11, Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Rd.
Falls Church, Cafeteria (Region 2).
For more information, contact the FCPS Office of Communication and Community Relations at 571-423-1200.
Important Dates
- 11/27-12/14 – Divisionwide Horizon testing for Math & English classes
- Week of 12/4-12/8 – SOS Lessons & Screening in History 7 classes
- Tuesday, 12/5, 7:00 PM – Winter Band Concert
- Wednesday, 12/6, 2:30-3:30 PM - NJHS Interest Meeting & Application Workshop
- Thursday, 12/7-Saturday, 12/9, 7:00 PM – MUSICAL!! (Willy Wonka!)
- Thursday, 12/7, 5:00-8:00 PM – PTA Family Dine-out at Five Guys (Pinecrest Plaza)
- Thursday, 12/7, 6:00-7:00 PM - Family Life Education Curriculum Preview Night (Library)
- Tuesday, 12/12, 7:00 PM – Winter Orchestra Concert (Cafeteria)
- Wednesday, 12/13, 2:30-4:30 PM – School Activity Day in ASP (free to all eligible students; students with discipline referrals and 3+ unexcused tardies in any week between 11/27 & 12/13 will not be permitted to attend)
- Thursday, 12/14, 7:00 PM – Winter Chorus Concert (Gym)
- Friday, 12/15 - Deadline for NJHS applications to be submitted (2:30 PM)
- Monday, 12/18 - Monday, 1/1 - WINTER BREAK
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
