Principal's Note - Feb 17, 20
Good afternoon, Holmes Families!
I hope that you and your family have been able to have some time to relax and enjoy the beautiful weather during this long weekend!
As you know, we have planned our parent programming this year based on the feedback you gave us in August about the topics that most interest you. For the first half of this year, our monthly topics for parents at PTA meetings and parent coffees have been focused around supporting student success (technology tools, organization, course selection, etc.). We shift our focus now to student safety, beginning with our focus this month on vaping, alcohol, and drugs. Please visit this link from the FCPS website with important information about vaping/juuling, and join us for our PTA meeting this week where a nurse from the Fairfax County Health Department will be presenting about the topic.
Reporting Safety Concerns
Since we are shifting our monthly topics to issues that are related to safety, I want to take this opportunity to thank those members of our community (parents, students, neighbors around the school) for reporting incidents of concern to our administration and counselors. While we train and expect our staff to be vigilant, to actively supervise, and to immediately report and respond to safety concerns, we know that we cannot be everywhere and see everything, so we rely on reporting from our students and families as well. Please encourage your student to report concerns to staff immediately, and we ask that you do the same when your student feels more comfortable sharing with you. For students concerned about approaching staff with other students present, my administrators and I often receive emails and written notes from students reporting information. Ultimately, our most important role is to establish and maintain and safe learning environment for all students to help them excel at high levels. We appreciate you working in partnership with us to help us do that.
February PTA Meeting - Thurs., 2/20 (Topic: Vaping)
Please join us for our Holmes MS PTA meeting on February 20th at 6:30 pm. In addition to presenting PTA business, the meeting will also be another opportunity for parents to hear a similar presentation about vaping, alcohol and drugs to the one we will have at the parent coffee earlier this month. We hope to see you there for this important information to help keep our students safe.
Student Safety: Internet Challenges
Each year, we seem to hear about different challenges that students learn about through social media that are very dangerous and could impact safety (e.g., the cinnamon challenge, Tide pod challenge). Most recently, we have heard about challenges to stick coins into electrical outlets and to swing their heads back and forth until they pass out.
As always, please monitor your student's internet and phone usage, know their passwords, and talk to them about what they are seeing.
WIDA Testing
WIDA testing finishes up this week. Students designated as English Learners participated in the Listening, Reading, and Writing sections last week and will finish with the Speaking portion on one of the three testing days this week (Wednesday through Friday).
Scholastic Art Awards
Holmes Middle School is proud to have three students represented in the Scholastic Art Awards exhibition this year! Below are the images of their work. Congratulations to:
- Emma Khouri,who won a gold key for her short animation: finalVideo.mov
- Abdul Mohammed, who won a silver key for his painting, "Nike".
- Jazlyn Tang, who won a silver key for her painting, "Bucket and Shell".
In today's newsletter, scroll down for information about:
- Join the Holmes MS PTA!
- FCPS CARES
- This Week's Schedule
- After-School Program
- Scholastic Art Awards of 2020
- Super Transition Saturday - February 22nd
- Edison HS Orientation - February 25th
- VIP Summer Camp Registration Information
- SCA Presents: G-Love
- Important Dates
- How to Stay in Touch
Thanks, everyone, and have a wonderful week! Please feel free to reach out to me or anyone on my team with any questions you have!
Sincerely,
Margaret Barnes
Proud Principal, Holmes MS
#SoarTogether
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FCPS Cares
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This Week's Schedule of Classes: 2/17-2/21
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This week: Mon., 2/17 = NO SCHOOL - President's Day Holiday Tues., 2/18 = Blue Day (1st, 3rd,5th, 7th) Wed., 2/19 = White Day (2nd, SOAR, ER 6, 4th, 6th) Thurs., 2/20 = Blue Day (1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th) Fri., 2/21 = White Day (2nd, SOAR, ER 7, 4th, 6th) *NOTE: Students can always find the blue-white calendar in their agendas or on the school website HERE. |
After-School Program - Week of 2/17
During the school year, a weekly schedule of activities that will be held during the After School Program will be posted.
- Late buses are on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Students must be picked up by parents/guardians if they stay on Tuesdays or Fridays.
- NOTE: There are only 6 late buses, so students' late bus assignments and stops are usually different than their regular bus.
For any specific questions related to the After School Program or to share new ideas for after school activities, please feel free to contact Ms. Taylor, our After School Program Specialist.
Super Transition Saturday - February 22nd
On Saturday, February 22, 2020, Career and Transition Services (CTS), the FCPS Parent Resource Center, and several Fairfax County adult service providers will host “Super Transition Saturday” from 9:00 AM to 12:15 PM at Luther Jackson Middle School. This is a free event for parents/guardians and educators of students of all ages with IEPs. Breakout sessions will cover postsecondary education support, the importance of student self-determination beginning in the elementary years, employment support programs, future planning considerations, such as funding needed for services, and CTS support services that are available to students as they progress through the secondary years toward graduation and beyond. A highlight of the day is a parent/guardian and student panel representing a range of challenges and successes. Members of the panel will convey personal experiences and answer parent/guardian and student questions from their perspectives of having been through the transition process. This event is for ES, MS, and HS students, families, and school personnel.
Edison HS Orientation to Course Selection
VIP Summer Camp Registration Information
Important Dates
- Mon., 2/17 - NO SCHOOL - President's Day Holiday
- Wed., 2/19, 6 pm - NJHS New Member Induction Ceremony
- Thurs., 2/20, 6:30 pm - Holmes MS PTA Meeting
- Wed., 2/26, 7 pm - Band Concert: Pre-assessment #1 (Annandale HS)
- Tues., 3/3, NO SCHOOL - Student Holiday
- Wed., 3/4, 9-10 am - Parent Coffee
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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