Dear Holmes Families: 

Good afternoon!  What a way to start 2018!  For a system this large, making a decision is often a tough call.  Click HERE if you'd like to learn more about how FCPS decides whether or not to close school. 

As a reminder, once we lose the days, we do not get them back, so - assuming that tomorrow will go off without a hitch - Tuesday, 1/9, will be a BLUE day, and Wednesday, 1/10, will be a WHITE day with ER 7 & 8.  

I'd like to share some news and highlight a couple of things in our newsletter this week:

• Congratulations to Mrs. Roberta Erol, our French teacher, who will be retiring at the end of this month.  She will be replaced by Ms. Colette Chalier, an experienced French teacher who is new to FCPS and who has also been a librarian and taught in many IB schools around the world and here in the U.S.
• Due to some changes that will be taking place on our PTA Board (to be announced by them at a later date), the PTA meeting for this evening has been cancelled and rescheduled for Monday, January 29th, at 6:30 PM.  More details to come.  
• Auditions for Voices of Now are THIS WEEK!  Students who participated in the workshop series in the October, November, and December now have the opportunity to audition to work with actors from Arena Stage 

In our newsletter this week:

• FCPS' Bus Delay Notification System
• This Week's Schedule of Classes
• This Week's After School Program Schedule 
• 2018-19 Course Selections
• Holmes MS Curriculum Night
• 8th Grade Parent Night at Annandale High School
• National Junior Honor Society (NJHS)
• Deadline for Referral for Level IV Advanced Academic Services
• Important Dates
• How To Stay In Touch

Thank you!  We hope to see you at Curriculum Night this Thursday night!  STAY WARM!

Sincerely,

Margaret Barnes, Principal

[email protected]                      

FCPS' Bus Delay Notification System

Stay up-to-date on school bus arrivals with FCPS' bus delay notification system. This system provides parents with timely notification of late bus route information. Access it directly or use the FCPS Mobile App (available in the iTunes or Google Play stores). Morning bus route information will be available until noon. Afternoon bus route information will be available from 1 to 7 p.m.  

E-Notify (BlackboardConnect) email messages will also be sent to announce bus delays.

Need assistance or have questions? Visit the FCPS Transportation page for more information. 

This Week's Schedule of Classes*: 1/8-1/12

This week: Mon., 1/8 = NO SCHOOL (SNOW DAY)   Tues., 1/9 = Blue Day Wed., 1/10 = White Day w/ ER 7 & 8 (ER 8 Lesson: Literacy) Thurs., 1/11 = Blue Day  Fri., 1/12 = White Day w/ ER 1 & 2  *NOTE: Students can always find the blue-white calendar in their agendas or on the website HERE.

After School Program (ASP) - Week of 1/8

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

2018-19 Course Selections

Planning for the 2018-2019 school year has begun. Over the next few weeks, we will work together to assist you and your child in the process of making educational decisions regarding course selections for the upcoming school year. This work will be critical to his or her success in middle school and beyond.

Beginning January 9th and throughout the month of February, Holmes counselors will provide lessons on academic advising, review course selection sheets, and meet with students for individual academic advising sessions. 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 2018-2019 Course Descriptions and Guide can be viewed on the Holmes Middle School website: https://holmesms.fcps.edu/student-services

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.

Course selections will be live in SIS Parent View and Student View- draft courses will be entered by the first week of March.  Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s counselor with any questions about this process. We look forward to working with you!

 

We also look forward to seeing you on Thursday, January 11th 6:30-8PM for our Curriculum Night. Please see attached flyer for details.

 

Upcoming Rising 9th Grade Transition Dates:

Annandale HS

o  Annandale HS counselors visit Holmes- January 12th during ER classes, 9:05-10:35AM

o  8th Grade Student and Parent Night - Wednesday, January 17th 7:00-8:30 PM

Edison HS

o   Edison HS counselors visit Holmes – February 23rd during ER classes, 9:05-10:35AM

 

o   8th Grade Student and Parent Night: Tuesday, February 27th 7:00PM

Holmes MS Curriculum Night - Thursday, 1/11/18

8th Grade Student & Parent Night: Annandale High School

National Junior Honor Society Update

7th & 8th graders who have attended Holmes for at least 6 months and who have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or more received letters through their 7th period classes inviting them to apply for NJHS.   An information session and application workshop, will be held in the Cafeteria on Wednesday, January 10th during ER-8.   If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Pickens at [email protected] or Ms. Oviatt at [email protected].

Deadline for AAP Level IV Referrals – January 12, 2018

Parents or guardians of 7th grade students may initiate the full-time AAP Level IV screening process by completing and submitting an Advanced Academic Programs Level IV Referral Form to Serena Giron ([email protected]) no later than January 12, 2018.  No late referrals will be accepted. AAP Level IV services are available to students in grades 3-8.  Students may be found eligible for full-time placement in AAP Level IV Center classes through a central selection process and receive a highly challenging instructional program in the four core subject areas.  Multiple criteria are reviewed by a central selection committee to determine eligibility for all FCPS advanced academic services. More information about AAP services available at the middle school level may be found on the FCPS public website at:  https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle-school-academics-7-8/advanced-academics.  If you have any questions, you can contact the Director of Student Services Mrs. Giron at 703-658-5900.  

Important Dates

• Wednesday, 1/10 - NJHS Interest Meeting (During ER-8)
• Thursday, 1/11, 6:30 PM - Holmes MS Curriculum Night (For current 5th, 6th, & 7th graders)
• Friday, 1/12 - Deadline for AAP Level IV Referrals
• Monday, 1/15 - Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday - NO SCHOOL
• Wednesday, 1/17, 7:00 PM - 8th Grade Student & Parent Night (Annandale High School)
• Thursday, 1/25, 12:00 PM - Deadline for NJHS Applications to be Submitted
• Thursday, 1/25 - 2nd Quarter Grading Period Ends / 2-hour early release
• Friday, 1/26 - NO SCHOOL / STUDENT HOLIDAY
• Monday, 1/29 - NO SCHOOL / STUDENT HOLIDAY
• Monday, 1/29, 6:30 PM - PTA Meeting (Rescheduled from 1/8)

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