Good afternoon, Holmes Families!

As a reminder, all schools and offices will be closed on Monday, February 20, for the Presidents Day holiday. Learn more about Presidents Day in Britannica.com. Classes will resume on Tuesday, February 21. See the complete 2022-23 School Year Calendar.

Family Coffee Recording: Chat w/ Admin

Thank you for all those who attended today's Family Coffee: Chatting with Principal and Admin Team. You can access the recording directly on Zoom here or by following the instructions on this graphic:

SAVE THE DATE! Student/Faculty Basketball Game - Thursday, 3/9

Our Holmes PTA is so excited to bring this tradition back!  Save the date and join us on Thursday, March 9th, for our student/faculty basketball game.  Students must attend with an adult.  Hope to see you there!

Peer Tutoring Program

Our Peer Tutoring Program is up and Running! Peer tutors have been trained to support their classmates once a week on academics, organization, speaking skills, and more! We are so proud of our tutors and tutees for taking a risk and helping us start this brand new program. There is nothing better than seeing students learn from each other. We have some true leaders and hardworking students at Holmes!

Chorus News!

Congratulations to Ms. Eddinger and the students who made it District Chorus (pictured below)!

• Lucy Baboyian
• Sylvie Bankester
• Josie McElveen
• Andrew Nguyen
• Noah Plank
• Lyana Vo

And a big congratulations to three Holmes students who were selected to participate in the 2023 All-VA Chorus!  About 1,000 students from all over the state auditioned, so this is a huge honor! 

• Lucy Baboyian
• Rachel Bauer
• Lucas Miller

Early Identification Program 

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.

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 FCPS school or GMU Fairfax campus
4. Attend the three-week Summer Academy at GMU Fairfax campus every July
5. Participate in the Strengthening the Family Workshop

DEADLINE:  School-based EIP sponsors must submit a list of nominated students to the EIP by February 21, 2022.

INTERESTED /  QUESTIONS?  Please complete the EIP Information Google Form if you are interested:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSds4Y1E4AvEbErCws2UtkQacoQyXosd-lFU69bxasl7QmIEKQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

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

Here are today's newsletter topics:

Holmes Updates

• Student Services Information
• 2022-23 Blue/White Calendar (UPDATED!!)
• 2022-23 Bell Schedule
• After School Schedule Next Week
• Holmes MS PTA
• From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison
• Testing Information & Quarter 3 Testing Windows 
• Important Upcoming Dates
• How to Stay Connected to Holmes MS

FCPS & Community Updates

• School Board Approves 2023-24 School Year Calendar
• School-Zone Speed Camera Pilot Program Launched 
• Youth Substance Use Presentations
• Summer Camps & Learning Opportunities
• Stay Connected with FCPS

Please feel free to reach out and let us know what questions you have.  Thank you, and have a wonderful long weekend!

Sincerely,

Margaret Barnes

Proud Principal, Holmes MS

@email

#TeamHolmes

HOLMES UPDATES

Student Services Information

2022-23 Blue/White Calendar (UPDATED)

Please note the update to the blue/white calendar below for the week of 2/27-3/3.  There was an error on the previous version.  The schedule for that week will be as follows:

• Monday, 2/27 - Blue Day
• Tuesday, 2/28 - White Day
• Wednesday, 3/1 - Blue Day
• Thursday, 3/2 - ACTIVITY DAY (alternative schedule) / 2-hour early release
• Friday, 3/3 - STUDENT HOLIDAY / School Planning Day
• Monday, 3/6 - White Day

From Mr. Kruk, our After School Specialist

After-School Program Weekly News & Notes from 2/13-2/17

News & Notes

Student(s) of the Week

• Student(s) of the Week

  • The After-School Program Student of the week: Sebastian Gutierrez Merino
  • Sebastian was nominated by after-school staff for having a positive attitude, his kindness towards others, and finding ways to balance his time between Basketball Team practices and Musical Rehearsals.
  • Congrats Sebastian!

   

  After-School Action

  • Students were focused and working hard this week in both Fitness Club and Podcast Club.

After School Schedule 2/21-2/24

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 prior to 4:45.
  • Walkers may sign themselves out any time after 3:30 when first block ends.

Questions/Concerns

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

Holmes MS PTA

We invite EVERY family at Holmes to participate in the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) because we can do more together! Advocate for your child, and for all the children at Holmes.  Connect with other parents, so that we can build a stronger community for ourselves and our children. This year, the Holmes PTA is planning on holding in-person meetings again, so you can meet face-to-face with other parents and with Ms. Barnes.  We're also planning restaurant nights, Bingo Nights, a Fun Run, Teacher Appreciation Week, and so much more!

• Are you able to volunteer?  Submit this Google form
• Want to order Spiritwear

From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison

Upcoming Family Coffee Events:

Family Coffee Events at Holmes occur monthly. The topics coming up over the next few months can be found below. You can attend in person or over Zoom. You will receive Zoom links via News You Choose and e-Notify. Click here to register for an upcoming Family Coffee. All presentation recordings and resources are saved to Holmes Families on Schoology.

Healthy Social Connections: Middle & High School Classes

• • Register now for CATCH My Breath and Healthy Relationships Plus classes for middle and high school students.
  • Teens are invited to join in Formed Families Forward's Winter and Spring classes, held Tuesday evenings at Sherwood Community Center in Fairfax City. Classes are led by trained young adult facilitators and use activities and peer connections to encourage healthy choices.
  • Registration is FREE and participants who attend regularly earn gift cards. Dinner is served too!

Parenting Education Classes

These free classes teach positive and effective ways parents can interact with their children at every age and stage of development. They help families to:

• Understand what to expect from children at different developmental stages and ages (0-18 years).
• Build strong, positive, respectful relationships between all family members.
• Take charge of their own feelings and behaviors and communicate in non-threatening ways.
• Handle stress and anger better and find alternatives for yelling and spanking.
•   https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/familyservices/children-youth/parenting-education-programs

CYEP Unite: Conference and Career Expo - 2/20

Testing Information & Quarter 3 Testing Windows

Important Upcoming Dates

• 2/14-2/28 - WIDA Testing (for students identified as English Learners)
• Monday, 2/20 - NO SCHOOL / George Washington's Birthday
• Wednesday, 2/22, 6:30-7:30 pm - PTA Meeting
• Thursday, 3/2 - 2-Hour Early Release
• Friday, 3/3 - NO SCHOOL / School Planning Day

• Thursday, 3/9 - PTA Basketball Night 

• 4/3/2023 - 4/7/2023 - NO SCHOOL / Spring Break 
• Thursday, 4/13 - 2-Hour Early Release / End of 3rd Quarter
• Friday, 4/14 - NO SCHOOL / Orthodox Good Friday /Teacher Workday
• Friday, 4/21- NO SCHOOL / Eid al Fitr
• Monday, 5/29 - NO SCHOOL / Memorial Day
• Friday, 6/16 - 2-Hour Early Release / Last Day of School

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
  • PTA Facebook
  • Online PTA Membership Form
  • MemberHub

FCPS & Community Updates

School Board Approves 2023-24 School Year Calendar

The Fairfax County School Board approved a calendar for the 2023-24, 2024-25, and 2025-26 school years at their February 9 meeting. Learn more about the approved calendar. 

The first day of the 2023-24 school year will be Monday, August 21, and the last day will be Wednesday, June 12. 

Developing a school year calendar is a balancing act, involving multiple factors that must be considered. Community input is one of those factors, and we appreciate our community for being involved in the calendar development process. 

School-Zone Speed Camera Pilot Program Launched

Fairfax County has launched a speed camera pilot program targeting several school zones where speeding is common. Speed cameras have been installed in the following locations:

• Chesterbrook Elementary School
• Irving Middle School
• Key Middle School
• London Towne Elementary School
• Sleepy Hollow Elementary School
• South County Middle School
• Terraset Elementary School
• West Springfield High School

An additional school zone speed camera near Oakton High School will be installed. Thank you to Fairfax County for helping to ensure we’re all more safe as we travel to and from school! 

Youth Substance Use Presentations

• FCPS is dedicated to providing parents and community members with the most accurate and up-to-date information on youth substance use, prevention, addiction, interventions and available supports. Please join us and our partners from the Fairfax County Police Department and Community Services Board as we discuss these topics as well as the ongoing opioid crisis. Attendees will walk away with an understanding of:

• Alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and opioid.
• List what you can do as a caregiver.
• How to identify and connect with community resources.

Please see below for more information about presentations in Annandale HS and Edison HS. 

Summer Camps & Learning Opportunities

Tech Adventure Camp and CTE Summer Academy

We are excited to provide the following information about our 2023 CTE summer enrichment camps! The FCPS Career and Technical Education (CTE) office is once again offering two enrichment programs this year - Tech Adventure Camp and CTE Summer Academy.

What is CTE Summer Enrichment

• Hands-on, exploratory enrichment programs
• Teaches students engaging and exciting content in Career and Technical Education (CTE)
• Helps students make connections to careers and develop new skills

2023 Programs

• Tech Adventure Camp: Students in Kindergarten - grade 6 explore STEAM, culinary, health, trades, and computer science by rotating through daily classes
• NEW TO 2023: Tech Adventure Camp is now open to current kindergarten and 1st grade students!!
• CTE Summer Academy: Students in grades 7 - 11 choose their classes and dive deeper into CTE program areas, skills, and career exploration

Details

• Cost - $275 per week
• *Fee waived for a select number of Free and Reduced Meal students
• Dates - July 10 - 14; July 17 - 21; and July 24 - 28
• Time - 8:30 am to 2:00 pm
• *Early drop off begins at 7:30 am
• Different weekly offerings
• Transportation from select FPCS schools is provided!

Additional Information can be found on our websites!

• Tech Adventure Camp -ly/FCPS_TAC
• CTE Summer Academy -ly/FCPS_CSA

Registration for both camps will begin February 1st. Our websites are updated regularly with more information. Feel free to contact Beth Mehr, CTE Summer Programs Educational Specialists, for more information. We look forward to creating, exploring, and learning with your students this summer!

Institute for the Arts Camps (IFTA)

IFTA is a two- or four-week summer enrichment program for students currently in grades 6-11. Students select from nearly 90 classes in art, dance, health and physical education 9, music, self-directed economics and personal finance, and theater. Visit the IFTA website for more information and registration. 

E-IFTA is a weekly arts camp for students in grades 2-5 who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students take part in four classes every day related to dance, music, theater, and visual art. They work with FCPS fine arts teachers who create classes that are fun and engaging. Visit the E-IFTA website for more information and registration. 

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