Principal's Note - Feb 18, 2022
Principal's Note
Good evening, Holmes Families!
I hope that you had a great week and are looking forward to the long weekend. There will be no school on Monday, and we will return on TWOs-day, 2-22-22!! Your student is welcome to do something fun for TWOs-day like twin with another student, wear a tutu, or something else creative for the day.
Masks
As you hopefully saw in Dr. Brabrand's message to the community today, we will continue with universal masking right now since community transmission is still high, but we do recognize that the new Virginia law (Senate Bill 739) requires us to allow parents to decide if their students will wear masks beginning March 1st. More details to come soon from FCPS.
PTA Update
Has your student been wanting some Holmes gear? Our PTA has a spiritwear sale going on right now...see below for details. Also, please note that our PTA meeting will be moved to Wednesday, 3/2, at 6:30 pm since there is a band concert at Annandale High School on 2/23.
Holmes Spiritwear Sale
Holmes merchandise is now available on
https://www.selectspiritwear.com/v5store/pc/viewcategories.asp?idcategory=753(please ignore the February 12th deadline)
Here are today's newsletter topics:
Holmes Updates
- Student Services - Important Information
- 2021-22 Blue-White Calendar
- 2021-22 Bell Schedule
- Next Week's Schedule
- After School Program Next Week
- A Message from Mr. Kruk
- From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison
- Short-Term Behavioral Health Service For Children and Youth (STBH)
- High School Musical by Edison Students - March 3-5
- Back-to-School Immunization Clinic - March 12
- Job Opportunities at Holmes & in FCPS
- Important Upcoming Dates
- How to Stay Connected to Holmes MS
FCPS & Community Updates
- Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications
- Free COVID Testing
- Stay Connected with FCPS
Summer Learning and Camps
- Annandale High School Volleyball Camp for Rising 9th Graders
- Annandale High School Sports Camps
- Middle and High School STEM Camps at West Point Military Academy
- Park Authority Camps
Please feel free to reach out and let us know what questions you have. Thank you, and have a wonderful weekend!!
Sincerely,
Margaret Barnes
Proud Principal, Holmes MS
HOLMES UPDATES
Next Week's Schedule: 2/21-2/25
The Blue-White Calendar can also be found on the inside cover of student agendas and can be found HERE on our school website.
- Monday, 2/21 - NO SCHOOL / President's Day Observed
- Tuesday, 2/22 - WHITE DAY
- Wednesday, 2/23 - BLUE DAY (SOAR & ER 1)
- Thursday, 2/24 - WHITE DAY
- Friday, 2/25 - BLUE DAY (SOAR & ER 2)
After School Schedule Next Week
A Message from Mr. Kruk
Student of the Week:
This week’s After-School Program Student of the Week is Victoria Jackson, 8th grade. Victoria has been an Art Club regular for 3 years! I asked “Tori” why she comes to Art Club. “I like to make things”, she says, while showing me a miniature clay cup (see picture below). Tori is a dedicated artist who cares about her work and driven to find new art skills and ways to express her ideas. Congratulations Tori!
Movie Club
- A new After-School club, Movie Club, will be available for our students each week, starting next week 2/22-2/25.
- The movie featured on Tuesday 2/22 will be Disney’s Encanto.
- If you have any questions or concerns regarding movie club, please reach out to our After-School Specialist, Mr. Kruk (@email)
Student Pickup Process:
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- Any student staying after school. must be signed out by a parent or guardian if leaving prior to 4:45. Walkers may sign themselves out.
- Students will remain in their clubs or under teacher supervision until they are called to the main office for pickup.
- No student is to leave the school until signed out of the main office.
College Partnership Program Application Help Session Coming Soon!
WHO?
- Any 8th grade student that would like to apply to the College Partnership Program
WHAT?
- Application Help Session with Q & A
WHERE?
- Holmes Middle School, Room A4
WHEN?
- Tuesday March 8th from 2:30-3:30
WHY?
- To support our rising freshmen and their academic future.
For any and all questions related to the after school program, please contact Mr. Kruk at @email.
From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison
Virtual Workshop on Positive Discipline - March 8, 2022
Please mark your calendar for our Virtual Workshop on Positive Discipline
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Free COVID-19 Vaccines - February 28, 2022
Short-Term Behavioral Health Service For Children and Youth (STBH)
High School Musical by Edison Students - March 3-5
Edison Theatre Company presents: High School Musical!
Join us for all the fun at this family-friendly musical production - all ages welcome! Get’cha Head in the Game!
Date: March 3, 4 and 5 at 7 pm, and Saturday March 5 at 2 pm
Tickets: Tickets are just $5 and can be purchased at the door or in advance at www.edisontheatrecompany.org
Address: 5801 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310
Back-to-School Immunization Clinic - March 12
Job Opportunities at Holmes & in FCPS
To help us meet these critical needs, here is a reminder of some job opportunities that we have a available at Holmes and throughout FCPS:
- Student monitors (Holmes needs 1 or 2 more)
- Substitutes (short- and long-term) - School Board just approved an increase in pay for short- and long-term substitutes!
If you or someone you know is looking for work and may be a good fit for one or more of these positions, I encourage you or them to apply!
Important Upcoming Dates
- Monday, 2/21 - NO SCHOOL, President's Day
- Wednesday, 2/23 - Pre-assessment Band Concert, 7:00 pm, Annandale High School
- Tuesday, 3/1 - Band/Orchestra Pre-assessment Concert, 7:00 pm, Holmes MS
- Wednesday, 3/2 - PTA Meeting, 6:30 pm - Zoom link coming
- Thursday, 3/3 - 2022-23 Course Selection Sheets due to counselor
- Thursday, 3/3 - 2-hour Early Release & Activity Day
- Friday, 3/4 - Student Holiday / Staff Development Day
- Tuesday, 3/8 - Pyramid Pre-assessment Chorus concert, 7:00 pm, Annandale HS
- Thursday, 3/10 - Pyramid Middle School Chorus concert, 7:00 pm, Annandale HS
- Tuesday, 3/29 -
- Thursday, 3/31 -2-hour Early Release & Activity Day / Last day of 3rd Quarter
- Friday, 4/1 - Student Holiday / Teacher Workday
- Monday, 4/4-Friday, 4/8 - SPRING BREAK
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
The Importance of Submitting Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications
School meals provide nourishment that allows students to excel in the classroom and to grow and thrive. This year, FCPS continues to offer no-cost meals to all students, thanks to a waiver granted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
While the meals are no cost for all, it is still important for families to submit the Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FRM) application because it impacts much more than meals.
FRM applications help link families to other benefits, such as waiving fees for SAT, ACT, and AP exams as well as other school fee-based programs. Qualifying students may also have access to scholarships, classes, or services provided by agencies and organizations outside FCPS. FRM applications also help determine additional education funding for your child’s school.
Winter break is a great time to complete the FRM application. Find out more on our website.
Free COVID Testing
Take a look at the flyer below for information about free COVID testing. For more information about testing and vaccination sites in Fairfax County, check out this link.
Other resources for testing and vaccination can be found here:
Summer Learning and Camps
Annandale High School Volleyball Camp for Rising 9th Graders - June 13-17
Annandale High School Sports Camps
Dear Annandale HS Pyramid Parents –
Annandale High School is hosting five weeks of sports camps this summer. The camps include:
- June 13-17 - Multi-Sport Camp
- June 20-25 - Boys Basketball
- June 27-30 - Olympic Sports Camp (4 days)
- July 11-15 - Girls’ Field Hockey, Girls’ Lacrosse, & Girls’ Basketball
- July 18-22 - Girls Basketball
The camps are open to students entering 2nd through 9th grade (ages 7-14). The price of each camp ranges from $100 - $125 and runs from 8:30am-3:00pm. Scan the QR Code to sign up and pay online. Any questions, email John Ellenberger, the Director of Student Activities at Annandale High School at @email.
Middle and High School STEM Camps at West Point Military Academy
The Center for Leadership and Diversity in STEM (CLD STEM) organizes and runs the West Point middle school and high school STEM camps. Each summer, middle and high school students from across the United States are invited to come to West Point for a week-long hands-on STEM camp. The overarching goal is to increase interest in STEM through inquiry-based projects; develop and reinforce student science, math and problem-solving skills that are prerequisites to success in high school and college.
Please click on the link below for more information:
Park Authority Camps
Click the link to register https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/camps
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