Principal's Note - February 4, 2018

By Margaret Barnes
Principal's Note
February 05, 2018

Dear Holmes Families: 

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!  I hope that you are enjoying the game.  It's a good one!

Second quarter report cards were given to students on Friday, February 2nd during sixth period to bring home and share with you. Please ask your child(ren) to share with you as report cards will not be sent home through the postal service for second quarter.  Please contact the school if you need an additional copy of the report card or need to activate your SIS parent view account.

Tune into TV Channel Apple 21 this Thursday, February 7th at 7:00 PM to see our Holmes Choir students performing the Star Spangled Banner at the School Board meeting at Luther Jackson Middle School!

 

Outstanding Employees!

Congratulations to our staff members who were selected as the Holmes MS Outstanding Employee of the Year in their category:

  • Outstanding Teacher - Alissa Oginsky (6th Grade History Teacher) - Ms. Oginsky has also been selected as the Annandale Pyramid Secondary Teacher of the Year!
  • Outstanding New Teacher (last 3 years) - James Cho (6th & 7th Grade Math Teacher)
  • Outstanding Leader - Christopher Kamar (6th Grade Administrator & Assessment Coach)
  • Outstanding Support Employee - Silvia Orellana (Office Assistant)

 

Spring Semester Testing (WIDA & SOLs)

This week, we will begin our first major testing period of the Spring semester: WIDA Testing for English Learners.  For more information on WIDA Testing in English and Spanish, please visit this page on the school website.  

All 8th graders will take the Writing SOL the week of March 5th, which will then be followed by the Divisionwide assessments for English & Math.  

Within the next few weeks, we will have the May/June SOL schedule out to you for your planning purposes.

 

In our newsletter this week:

  • This Week's Schedule of Classes
  • This Week's After School Program Schedule 
  • STEMTastics 2018 - March 10th
  • Just World Festival - March 16th
  • 8th Grade Court Field Trips - February 13th-15th
  • 7th Grade Newseum Field Trip - March 5th & 6th
  • Important Dates
  • How To Stay In Touch

 

Thank you, and have a wonderful week!  

Sincerely,

Margaret Barnes, Principal

[email protected]                      

This Week's Schedule of Classes*: 2/5-2/9

schedule  

This week:

Mon., 2/5 = Blue Day

Tues., 2/6 = White Day w/ ER 5 & 6

Wed., 2/7 = Blue Day

Thurs., 2/8 =  White Day w/ ER 7 & 8 (ER 8 Lesson: Digital Citizenship)

Fri., 2/9 = Blue Day

 *NOTE: Students can always find the blue-white calendar in their agendas or on the website HERE.  

After School Program (ASP) - Week of 2/5

This week's After School Program schedule is below.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mr. German Cabezas at [email protected].

asp

STEMtastics 2018 - Saturday, March 10th

To the Parents of FCPS Middle School Students:

We extend a special invitation to middle school girls (boys are also welcome) to participate in STEMtastics 2018 to be held on Saturday, March 10 (8:00 AM - 12:15 PM) at NOVA - Annandale Campus. This event is presented by the American Association of University Women (Fairfax City, McLean Area, Springfield-Annandale, and Vienna Area Branches) in partnership with Fairfax County Public Schools and NOVA Systemic.

The following flyer provides additional information. Online registration is open as of February 1 at mclean-va.aauw.net/stemtastics until March 4 (or earlier if capacity is reached). We suggest you register early for the best selection of workshops, as choices are “first come, first served.”

 

If you have questions, please look at our Frequently Asked Questions page at mclean-va.aauw.net/stemtastics/faq/. All participants who have registered and paid will receive a final confirmation email approximately 4 days before the event. Any questions can be sent to @email.

stem

Just World Festival - Friday, March 16th

Sent on behalf of the Just World Interact Club of Annandale HS

Your school is invited to participate in the Just World Festival!

The Just World Interact Club of Annandale High School is holding its 11th Annual Just World Festival on March 16th, 2018 from 4-7 pm at Annandale High School. The festival, which is sponsored by Rotary International, aims to teach youth that they are not only a part of their local community, but a global one. Through our goal, we want to educate both youth and community leaders alike about global issues, environmental issues, fair trade, human rights, and most importantly social action.

You can participate in one of the following ways:

1)      Just come to enjoy the festival which includes food, an interactive exhibition hall, fair trade marketplace, workshops, and cultural events.

2)     Donate to our festival raffle or general fund to host the event.

Annandale, which is one of the largest schools in Fairfax County, is also one of the most diverse, with students representing 150 nations and speaking 90 different languages. The Just World Festival capitalizes on these strengths, creating a fun and educational environment in which to explore international-mindedness. The festival is focused around an extensive list of exhibits by students, nonprofit organizations, community leaders and national figures. It also includes a Fair Trade Marketplace; dance, music; and a world café provided by the Annandale Bistro.

I hope you will decide to take advantage of this meaningful opportunity. Together, we can make a positive difference in our communities. For more information about the Just World Festival, please visit https://justworldinteract.wixsite.com/justworld or email the student organization at @email

If possible or willing, we hope that you can help advertise this event at your school by making announcements or distributing copies of the flyer (via e-mail or hard-copy) that is attached to this e-mail!

We hope to see you in March!

The Just World Interact Club

#unityindiversity

justworld

8th Grade Court Field Trips - February 13th-15th

Many of the students in the 8th grade class will be attending the annual Court Field Trip to the Fairfax County Courthouse on Feb 13th, 14th, or 15th. If your student is attending, they will have the opportunity to witness a live court case at the Circuit Court level as well as participate in a Mock Trial and interview a Juvenile Court Judge, Bailiff, and District Attorney. Please remind them to adhere to the business casual dress code, and bring lunch money as we will stop for lunch before we return to school. 

NOTE: Students will be selected based on a one-page essay submitted to their teachers.

7th Grade Newseum Field Trip - March 5th & 6th

7th grade parents interested in joining the Newseum field trip on Monday March 5 or Tuesday March 6 please email Sarah Wiltshire at @email

Important Dates

  • Thursday, 2/8, 7:00 PM - Holmes Choir School Board Performance (Luther Jackson MS)
  • Tuesday, 2/13 - Thursday, 2/15 - 8th Grade Court Trips (selected students only)
  • Thursday, 2/15,  6:30 PM - Quarter 2 Honor Roll Ceremony
  • Saturday, 2/17, 1:30 PM - District Chorus Concert (Hayfield SS)
  • Monday, 2/19 - NO SCHOOL / Presidents' Day Holiday 
  • Wednesday, 2/21, 2:00 PM - Box Top for Education Submission Deadline
  • Tuesday, 2/27, 7:00 PM - Pre-Assessment Orchestra Concert
  • Thursday, 3/1, 7:00 PM - Pre-Assessment Band Concert
  • Monday, 3/5 & Tuesday, 3/6 - 7th Grade Newseum Field Trip
  • Thursday, 3/8, 7:00 PM - Pre-Assessment Chorus Concert
  • Monday, 3/12, 6:30 PM - PTA Meeting
  • Monday, 3/26 - Friday 3/30 - NO SCHOOL / SPRING BREAK
  • Monday, 4/2 - NO SCHOOL / STUDENT HOLIDAY
  • Tuesday, 4/3 - Thursday, 4/5 - MWEE - 7th Grade Field Trip (Hidden Oaks Nature Center)
  • Thursday, 4/5, 6:00 PM - Faculty Basketball Game (moved from 3/22/18)
  • Friday, 4/6 - Beginning Theatre Arts Field Trip (Hayfield SS)
  • Friday, 4/13 - Advanced Theater Trip to NYC
  • Friday, 4/13 - 3rd Quarter Grading Period Ends / 2-hour early release

How To Stay In Touch

Please stay in touch with us throughout the year by:

nplh