Good afternoon, Holmes Families! 

I hope that you all are enjoying the long weekend as we remember Martin Luther King, Jr. today.  Many have chosen today as a day to serve.  Thank you!

As you know, our Curriculum Night has been rescheduled for Thursday, January 31st (times remain the same).  Please join us to help inform your decisions for course selection for next year.  Please note that our PTA meeting has also been moved to that evening at 5:30 pm. Our featured topic that evening will be Digital Citizenship (Managing Distractions & Screen Time!), and we'll do a quick Academic Advising preview to support you during Curriculum Night.  Our 5th grade parents are also welcome to attend!

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

• FCPS CARES
• This Week's Schedule
• After School Program Information and Schedule

• Second Semester Schedule Changes

• Academic Advising
• G-love Winter Clothing Drive 

• Global STEM Challenges Program at Edison High School

• FCPS Announces Third Hiring Event for Furloughed Federal Employees

• 2018-19 Speak Up Survey
• 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: 1/21 - 1/25

This week: Mon., 1/21 = No School / Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Holiday Tues., 1/22 = White Day w/ ER 5 & 6 Wed., 1/23 = Blue Day Thurs., 1/24 = White Day w/ ER 7 & 8 (ER 8 Lesson: Communicator Lesson Part 2) Fri., 1/25 = No School / Teacher Workday  *NOTE: Students can always find the blue-white calendar in their agendas or on the website HERE.

After School Program - Week of 1/21

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.

The following Clubs will start in January 2019:

Wednesday, January 23rd (tentative): Band of Brothers 6th and 7th Grades (two separate clubs)

Second Semester Schedule Changes

All students grades 6-8 will receive second semester schedules in their first period class on Monday, January 28th. Students who have a new second semester class first period, can find their new class room number in a list on the wall in various places throughout the building (by the library, cafeteria, and gym). Please contact your student’s school counselor if you have any questions. 

Academic Advising

Academic advising season is quickly arriving!  

Rising 9^th Grade:

Annandale High School counselors met with rising 9^th graders on January 17^th.  Edison High School counselors will be meeting with rising 9^th graders on February 13^th.   Over the upcoming weeks, Holmes counselors will meet individually with all students for academic advising and course selection.   

8^th Grade Counselor: Megan Neforos, [email protected]

ESOL 1-4  Counselor: Yolma Torres, [email protected]

Rising 7^th and 8^th Grade:

Counselors will begin academic advising classroom lessons through Science classes beginning February 1.  After lessons, counselors will meet individually with all students for academic advising and course selection. Students are encouraged to select courses based on teacher feedback, progress in current courses, academic strengths, and personal interests.  During this time, they will discuss the student’s course selections and answer any questions they may have. 

The 2019-2020 Course Descriptions and Guide can be viewed on the Holmes Middle School Student Services website: https://holmesms.fcps.edu/student-services/academic-advising

This guide lists the required and elective offerings for 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. It is very important to note the grade levels and pre-requisites that are indicated for each course. Each student must register for seven (7) classes: the required five (5) classes including Mathematics, English, Science, History, and Health & Physical education, and a choice of two (2) year-long elective classes, four (4) semester elective classes, OR a combination of one (1) year-long and two (2) semester elective classes. Electives offer opportunities for enrichment, specialization, and exploration. It is necessary to select all the electives in order of preference in case there is a conflict in scheduling.  Please note that a support class for Math or Reading may be prioritized in a students’ schedule based on academic progress.  In this case, a support class will take the place of an elective class.

Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s counselor with any questions about this process. We look forward to working with you!

6^th Grade Counselor: Jolana Roberts, [email protected]

7^th Grade Counselor: Kelly Murphy, [email protected]

ESOL 1-4  Counselor: Yolma Torres, [email protected]

G-love Winter Clothing Drive!

GlobalGlobal STEM Challenges Program at Edison High School STEM Challenges Program at Edison High School

A limited number of spaces are available for the Global STEM Challenges Program, which will continue at Edison High School for the 2019-20 school year for interested ninth grade students who will have successfully completed Algebra 1 by the start of ninth grade. This STEM-focused, three-year, interdisciplinary program consists of three honors and IB level integrated math, science, and engineering courses for each of the students’ first three years of high school and focuses on project-based learning. Students have the opportunity to earn a tenth credit in Computer Science, which is embedded throughout the program. Interested parents and students are encouraged to attend the parent information session at Edison High School on January 29, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. and an open house on March 19, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. to learn about the program and how to request to enroll for 2019-20. Information about this opportunity will be shared with parents of current eighth-grade students through a News You Choose message.

FCPS Announces Third Hiring Event for Furloughed Federal Employees

Fairfax County Public Schools will offer a third hiring event for furloughed federal employees interested in substitute teaching positions on Wednesday, January 23, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at the FCPS Administration Center, 8115 Gatehouse Road, Falls Church, VA 22042. 

“Approximately 350 furloughed employees attended our first two hiring events, and we recognized the need to add a third event to show our support for our neighbors who—in many cases—are parents of FCPS students,” said School Board chair Karen Corbett Sanders. “We always have a need for substitute teachers; on average, we hire 900 to 1,100 subs every day.  We will continue to work with applicants to expedite the hiring process and get them into the classroom as soon as possible.”

Anyone interested in serving as a substitute teacher should complete an application for employment. Individuals interested in attending the January 23 event should also complete the Eventbrite registration. Candidates should bring to the hiring event original documents required for form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. Background checks are required for all FCPS employees and volunteers. Attendees are asked to fill out an application for employment prior to the event.  Additional details, including a link to the employment application, can be found online. 

Substitutes facilitate the instructional process and contribute to providing for a safe, educationally productive environment at school. Duties may include the planning, delivery, and assessment of classroom instruction along with safety and management of a classroom or assigned instructional setting.

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For more information about the hiring event, contact the FCPS Department of Human Resources at 571-423-3000.

2018-19 Speak Up Survey

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is participating in Speak Up 2018-19.  The information collected will help policy makers at the local, state, and national levels, as well as the business community, contribute to the national dialogue about science and technology, and prepare students for the 21^st century workforce.  FCPS will be participating in the survey through January 31, 2019.  The online survey is open to parents, students in K-12, teachers, and staff.  This is an optional survey and takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.  All responses are confidential.

Follow this link to resources schools can use to get the message to stakeholders, including sample emails and social media promotion materials.

We encourage everyone to participate in the survey.  Please visit this link to take the survey.  For more information about the survey, visit our FCPS Speak Up Survey page

Important Dates

• Monday, 1/21 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Holiday  - No School
• Thursday, 1/24 - Last day of 2nd Quarter (No Early Release)
• Friday, 1/25 - Teacher Workday - No School
• Tuesday, 1/29 - Thursday, 1/31 - 8th Grade Finance Park Field Trip
• Thursday, 1/31, 5:30 pm - PTA Meeting
• Thursday, 1/31, 6:30 pm - Curriculum Night
• Monday, 2/4 - Teacher Workday - No School
• 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)
• Thursday, 2/14 6:00 pm - Hispanic Parent Meeting (Topic: Bullying)
• Friday, 2/15 - Lunch Bunch w/ Mrs. Barnes
• Monday, 2/18 - President's Day Holiday - No School
• 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