Hello Holmes Families!

Happy New Year! We had a great first week back!

During the months of January and February, the counselors will begin the academic advising process with our students for the 24-25 school year.  Grade specific lessons will occur during the following periods of time:

Week of January 16-19- Current 6^th graders will receive rising 7^th grade course information presentations through science classes

Week of January 22^nd-26^th- current 8th graders will receive 9^th grade course information through SOAR

Week of February 5^th-9^th- current 7^th graders will receive 8^th grade course information through science classes

Wednesday, February 7^th from 5-7 pm:  Please save the date for the Holmes Middle School Curriculum Night and Electives Fair

Conversation to Raise Awareness of Fentanyl and Other Drugs

In this video, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid interviews the Fosters, a family who tragically lost their son Cayden to a half pill of fentanyl mistaken for Percocet. This heart-wrenching yet eye-opening video of their experience is essential to raise awareness among parents/caregivers and students about the dangers of fake painkillers.

Please join Dr. Reid on Wednesday, January 10, at 6:30 p.m., at Edison High School for a community conversation about opioid awareness. You may register to attend. However, registration is not required; it is simply for space considerations. 

The evening’s program is appropriate for parents/caregivers and students in grades 6-12. All attendees will receive free REVIVE! Narcan training during the event and learn about support services currently available within FCPS and Fairfax County.   

FCPS’ website also has resources to help you to start the conversation and additional support for families struggling with substance misuse. 

Family Coffee Tuesday, Jan 16th

The next Family Coffee meeting will be on January 16th from 9:30-10:30 am Virtually & In Person. The topic is Finding Balance in Digital Life. We will discuss how to have conversations with students aout their media use and you’ll walk away with strategies you can use to monitor usage on personal and FCPS devices. If you can’t make it, the recording and resources will be shared on our website.

Zoom Link to Join Virtually: https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/96980468770 

Here are today's newsletter topics:

Holmes Updates

• Student Services Information
• Admin Team Information
• 2023-24 Blue/White Schedule 
• 2023-24 Bell Schedule
• After-School Program
• From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison
• Important Upcoming Dates
• Holmes MS PTA
• How to Stay Connected to Holmes MS

FCPS & Community Updates

• January Observances
• Volunteer With Give Together
• Dual Language Immersion Program Registration
• Safe Students, Safe Schools
• Save the Date: Academy Open Houses Begin This Month!
• Stay Connected with FCPS

Please feel free to reach out and let us know what questions you have.  Thank you, and we'll see you very soon!

Sincerely,

Serena Giron

Principal

HOLMES UPDATES

Contact Information

Admin Team Information

2023-24 Blue/White Calendar

From Mr. Kruk, our After-School Specialist

After-School Program Weekly News & Notes from 1/2-1/5

After-School Action

This week we launched our Lego Masters club. It was a big success as students started to create their Lego projects.

ASP Schedule 

Students Leaving After-School before 4:45 pm

• Any student staying after school must be signed out of the main office by a parent or guardian if leaving before 4:45.
• Walkers with parent/guardian permission, may sign themselves out any time after 3:30 when first block ends.
• Students are not permitted to leave school grounds before checking out in the main office .

Questions/Concerns

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

Important Upcoming Dates

• Monday, 1/15 - NO SCHOOL / Martin Luther King Day
• Tuesday, 1/16, 9:30-10:30 AM - Family Coffee
• Thursday, 1/25 - 2-HOUR EARLY RELEASE / 2nd Quarter Ends
• Friday, 1/26 - NO SCHOOL / Teacher Workday
• Wednesday, 2/7, 5-7 PM - Holmes Middle School Curriculum Night and Electives Fair
• Monday, 2/19 - NO SCHOOL / Presidents Day

Holmes MS PTA

Don't forget to check out these important links:

• Holmes Attendance Form: https://holmesms.fcps.edu/about/attendance-form 
• Buy SpiritWear: https://bit.ly/HolmesSpiritWear
• Join the PTA: https://bit.ly/SupportHolmesPTA 
• Missed the meeting: watch the recording by clicking here  OR access the slideshow/presentation on our website  OR access audio language interpretation in Spanish, Urdu, and Arabic by clicking the language button in Zoom. 

The next PTA meeting will be on December 6th in conjunction with the Winter Chorus Concert.

From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison

Lightspeed Software

Lightspeed Software is a new tool being introduced to enhance focus and support individualized learning for 6th-8th grade students.  It allows staff to monitor access to the web while students are at school and logged into the FCPS network, ensuring students stay engaged and minimize distractions. It also allows for personalized support, and enables assistance signals and check-ins. Parents are encouraged to sign up for their own Lightspeed reports to gain insights into their child's computer usage.

Refer to the guide below for setting up your account.

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

January Observances

National Mentoring Month

Imagine a world where young people feel empowered, encouraged, and understood. Mentors can make that world a reality by helping young people find and follow their passions, excel in school, and thrive wherever they are. Learn more about Mentoring Month.

FCPS’ MentorWorks program matches mentors with students in schools near where they live or work. They meet for at least 30 minutes a week. Learn more about how to become a mentor for an FCPS student. Please contact Martha Macdonald, mentoring specialist, for additional information at @email.  

Human Trafficking Prevention Month

Every year since 2010, the President has dedicated the month to raise awareness about human trafficking and to educate the public about how to identify and prevent this crime. Learn more about National Human Trafficking Prevention Month - United States Department of State

Three Kings Day/Epiphany - 1/6  Three Kings Day, also known as the Epiphany, is a Christian celebration that commemorates the Biblical story of the three kings who followed the star of Bethlehem to bring gifts to the Christ child. This marks the official 12th day of Christmas. Learn more at National Geographic Kids.

Orthodox Christmas - 1/7 Many Orthodox Christians in the United States celebrate Christmas Day on January 7 in the Gregorian calendar. It is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe to be the son of God. Learn more facts about Christmas from National Geographic Kids.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day - 1/15 As a reminder, schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 15, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. Learn more about Martin Luther King Jr. See the complete school year calendar.

Virginia School Principals Appreciation Week -  1/15-1/21 

Each year, the Governor of Virginia makes a proclamation naming this week as Virginia School Principals Appreciation Week.

Orthodox Epiphany - 1/19

In the Orthodox church, Epiphany is celebrated on January 19 and commemorates the baptism of Jesus rather than the arrival of the Magi. It is believed that Christ's baptism by John the Forerunner (John the Baptist) in the River Jordan began Christ's ministry on earth and revealed the Holy Trinity of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to mankind. 

Volunteer with Give Together

FCPS students continue to find incredible ways to serve their community while building Portrait of a Graduate skills such as becoming an ethical and global citizen. The school division is excited to collaborate with Volunteer Fairfax for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

Students and families can volunteer on Monday, January 15, at Volunteer Fairfax’s Give Together event. It is designed to engage families with children (ages 5-12) in service learning.  Projects will include a food drive, assembling caring kits for community members who need support, making no-tie fleece blankets for veterans, environmental stewardship, and support for animal welfare. 

Students ages 13 to 18 are welcome to serve as teen event volunteers. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

Dual Language Immersion Program Registration

Registration for the countywide lottery for Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs will open on Monday, January 22. Current pre-K students may apply for the kindergarten immersion program, and current kindergarten students may apply for the first grade immersion programs for the 2024-25 school year. Programs are available in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish. 

Parents/caregivers who are interested may want to attend an informational meeting. Meetings are held at the school site. Check the FCPS events calendar for the most current information. Meetings will begin on Tuesday, January 16. 

A virtual meeting hosted by the World Languages Office will include general program information. Access to this virtual meeting will be made available on the FCPS events calendar and the Dual Language Immersion registration site on the day of the meeting.

Get more information on the immersion program webpage and registration page.

Safe Students, Safe Schools

Fairfax County Public Schools believes that academic success is built on the foundation of a safe learning environment. This includes physical safety, and mental health and wellness. 

FCPS has a comprehensive approach to safety that involves physical security measures, online monitoring by security staff, and crisis intervention support. The division has created the Safe Students, Safe Schools Brochure (PDF) to enhance your awareness of potential hazards and to equip you with practical tips for how you can help. Visit the FCPS website for more information. 

Save the Date: Academy Open Houses Begin This Month!

Is your child interested in architecture and construction, information technology, or health science? FCPS high school academies will hold open houses for interested students beginning in mid-January.

A high school Academy is a center within a high school that offers advanced technical and specialized courses to prepare students for postsecondary education and/or career fields. Students enrolling in Academy elective courses will be provided with opportunities to participate in a variety of career experiences including shadowing, mentoring, or internships with local businesses.

Learn more and view the calendar of Academy open houses.

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