Good evening, Holmes Families! 

Just when I thought we might have our first full week of school!  School Board Member-At-Large Ryan McElveen just announced on Twitter that FCPS will be on a 2-hour delay tomorrow (Monday, 2/11).  I think we're all ready to get back to our regular routine, but safety comes first.  On days with a 2-hour delay, doors open for students at 9:10 am.  Please do not drop off students prior to that time, since we have minimal adult supervision available before 9:10 due to teacher contract start times.  

Speaking of start times, we are continuing to monitor student attendance very closely in order to provide appropriate support and accountability where needed.  While our data shows that some students are arriving late to class throughout the day, the bulk of our tardies are in the morning during 1st period on Blue days or 2nd period on White days.  Please ensure that your child arrives to school in time to be in class and ready to learn when the 7:30 bell rings.  Students with frequent unexcused tardies each week receive progressive consequences for accountability.  

Thank you for a GREAT turnout at last week's Annandale Pyramid PTA meeting!  We are looking forward to more opportunities to celebrate together as a community in the future!

WIDA Testing starts this week for all students who are designated as English Learners (levels 1-4).  Students will take the Reading, Listening, & Writing tests this week, and the Speaking tests will be next week.  Soon after that, our 8th graders will have the Writing SOL at the beginning of March!  Testing season has officially begun!  Sometimes, these assessments can be stressful for students.  They are important, yes, but please help your students to manage the stress or anxiety by just encouraging them to do their best and to also get plenty of sleep and eat well.  

Valentine's Day is Thursday, which is always a fun and pretty high-emotion day, especially in middle school.  We welcome students dressing in red or pink to celebrate the day, but we ask that they please keep the gifts and candy to a minimum so that we can stay focused on learning.  

In today's newsletter, scroll down for information about:

• FCPS CARES
• This Week's Schedule
• After School Program Information and Schedule
• Calendar Reminder: Schools Closed for Students
• Chaperones Needed for Finance Park Field Trip
• AVID Program at Holmes MS
• Academic Advising
• G-love Winter Clothing Drive 
• Global STEM Challenges Program at Edison High School
• Fairfax County Park Authority Offering Snow Day Camp at Four Locations
• Important Dates
• How to Stay in Touch

Thanks, everyone, and have a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Margaret Barnes

Proud Principal, Holmes MS

[email protected]

#HolmesHawksSoar

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: 2/11- 2/15

This week: Mon., 2/11 = White Day w/ ER 1 & 2 Tues., 2/12 = Blue Day Wed., 2/13 = White Day w/ ER 3 & 4 Thurs., 2/14 = Blue Day Fri., 2/15 = White Day w/ ER 5 & 6  *NOTE: Students can always find the blue-white calendar in their agendas or on the website HERE.

After School Program - Week of 2/11

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.

Calendar Reminder: Schools Closed for Students on Monday, February 18

As a reminder, schools and offices will be closed on Monday, February 18, for the Presidents Day holiday. Classes will resume on Tuesday, February 19.  See the complete 2018-19 school year calendar.

Rising 6th Grade Parent Coffees

Rising 6^th grade families:

You are cordially invited to attend one of our rising 6th grade parent coffees.  You will have an opportunity to meet with Holmes staff and to learn more about the transition to Holmes Middle School.

When: Tues, Feb 13 8AM - (Cafeteria)

When: Wed, Mar 13 9AM  - (Cafeteria)

Please contact Ms. Serena Giron, Director of Student Services [email protected] or 703-658-5940 with any questions you may have.

We look forward to meeting you!

Chaperones Needed for Finance Park Field Trip

Our Finance Park make-up dates will be February 19^th, 20^th, and 21^st.  We are really in need of more parent chaperones for all three dates, so if you are available any of those dates, please contact your student’s Civics teacher, and they will add you to the list.  During the day, which will be from 8:30am – 1:30pm, you will lead a group of no more than 9 students, as they prepare to be “an adult for the day.”  It will require you to drive yourself to the JA Finance Park Facility, which is at 4099 Pickett Road, Fairfax VA.  Once again, please contact your student’s Civics teacher (i.e. Mr. Kerner, Mr. Sterzinger, Mr. Hoover, Mr. Schmitz, or Ms. D'Angelo) if you are interested.

AVID Program at Holmes MS

AVID stands for Advancement via Individual Determination!  AVID is a college and career readiness system designed to prepare students for future success in college.  AVID students are learners who: - have college as a goal; - are motivated to succeed in school; - are willing to enroll in rigorous classes and work to achieve their academic goals The AVID Elective class is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to be successful in challenging courses leading to college acceptance. It is NOT an intervention or remedial course.  In the AVID class, students work to develop their skills in Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading (WICOR). Trained tutors work with students to help them explore their challenging course material more deeply and to help them develop higher-order thinking and college-level independent study skills. AVID students also hear from a number of guest speakers in different careers and participate in college and cultural field trips. Our AVID Site Team has invited students who we believe could benefit from the support of the AVID Program to an Information Session.  It was originally scheduled for last Tuesday, 1/29, and will now be held during ER-7 on Thursday, February 7th.   The link to the online application is HERE, and is due by the end of the school day (2:15 pm) on FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2019. After applications have been reviewed, we will contact selected students to participate in an interview, the next step in the AVID selection process. If you have questions about AVID, you can contact any of these staff members: Margaret Barnes, AVID Site Team Member, [email protected] Jay Bradley, AVID Coordinator, [email protected] Serena Giron, AVID Administrator, [email protected] Jason Hutto, AVID Site Team Member, [email protected] Kristin Johns, AVID English Teacher, [email protected] Megan Neforos, AVID Counselor, [email protected] Pete Smith, AVID Elective Teacher, [email protected]

G-love Winter Clothing Drive!

Thank you for all of the donations we have received so far!  We are still accepting items.  If someone in your family is in need of winter items, please contact Sara Astrow or James Cho (emails on flyer below).  

Financial Awareness Workshops for Middle School Parents

Join the Global STEM Challenges Program

Fairfax County Park Authority Offering Snow Day Camp at Four Locations

The Fairfax County Park Authority is offering Snow Day Camp at Audrey Moore RECenter, Lee District RECenter, Oak Marr RECenter, and Spring Hill RECenter for children ages 6 to 10 when Fairfax County Public Schools are closed two or more school days in a row (limited to 30 children per site, first-come basis) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The cost is $65 per day, per child, non-refundable.

Note: Snow Day Camp will not operate for single-day FCPS school closures, late openings or early dismissals, on weekends, and will not be held when Fairfax County Government is closed or the Fairfax County Park Authority is closed.

Learn more about Snow Day Camp. 

Important Dates

• Monday, 2/11 - Q2 Honor Roll Celebration (During ER 1 & 2)
• Wednesday, 2/13 - Edison HS Counselors come to meet with current 8th graders (During ER 3 & 4)
• Friday, 2/15, Lunches - Lunch Bunch w/ Mrs. Barnes
• Friday, 2/15, 2:15 PM - AVID Applications Due (online)
• Monday, 2/18 - President's Day Holiday - No School
• Tuesday, 2/19 - Thursday, 2/21 - Rescheduled Finance Park Field Trip (8th Grade)
• Thursday, 2/21 6:00 pm - Hispanic Parent Meeting (Topic: Bullying)
• Wednesday, 2/27, 7:00 pm - Orchestra Concert
• Thursday, 2/28, 7:00 pm - Band Concert

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