Principal's Note - June 14, 2024
As we wrap up our first year together, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the incredible support and dedication shown by our students, staff, and families. Despite the challenges we faced, we have accomplished so much and grown together as a school community. I am immensely proud of each and every one of our students for their hard work and resilience. I hope everyone has a summer filled with rest, rejuvenation, and endless possibilities for the future! Holmes is where the heart is! This will be the last weekly update for this school year.
Please enjoy some pictures below from the 8th Grade Dance and 8th Grade Awards Ceremony.
8th Grade Awards Ceremony
On June 10, we held the 8th Grade Award Ceremony. Students were recognized for their achievements as 8th graders. Our staff collaboratively nominated and selected students for school awards.
Activity Day
On Tuesday, June 11, all students participated in the Holmes Activity Day. Students had the opportunity to participate in an activity of their choice and also watched a student/faculty basketball game. It was a fun and engaging day!
Math Summer Enrichment Opportunities
Summer enrichment opportunities can provide students access to review and support meaningful learning experiences aligned to course objectives.
The purpose of optional summer enrichment might be to:
- Activate students’ background knowledge and skills;
- Provide opportunity to review introductory topics/prerequisites for the course; or
- Create or enhance enthusiasm and interest in a subject or to serve as a springboard for future learning.
Linked below are options that students can access over the summer:
Mathspace
Current middle school students and high school students through PreCalculus will continue to have access to Mathspace through Schoology. Students are encouraged to practice their mathematics through utilizing the Mathspace Skills Check-Ins.
Family Resource Center
Family webinars that may be worth sharing are posted on the FCPS Family Resource Center site with specific mathematics webinars posted under academics.
VDOE
The following resources have been curated from the Virginia Department of Education:
VDOE Mathematics Resources for Families
ST Math
All middle school students and high school students enrolled in ESOL Math support classes have access to ST Math over the summer that they can access through Schoology. This video shows students and families how to access: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQR_drzeR9E
- Get the most out of ST Math over the summer by implementing effective strategies for continued learning.
- JiJi's Summer Math Club encourages students to learn and practice math in a fun and interactive way throughout the summer.
- Don't miss out on our ST Math summer activities that will keep students sharp and prepared for the upcoming academic year.
Additional resources
The following resources are free and available for anyone to use. Please note that FCPS does not have a paid subscription to either service.
Edison High School Jumpstart Program 2024
Registration is now open!
Your student's transition to high school is very important to us! This year we will be offering an optional Jumpstart program to our rising 9th grade students. Students will be able to register to attend one of the two-day sessions.
- August 7 from 9:00AM - 1:00 PM
- August 9 from 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Students will have an opportunity to meet staff members (administrators, counselors, and some teachers), tour the building, get a couple high school tips for success, hear about our many sports/club programs offered and more. Please click here for the registration link. Lunch is included in the program. Transportation will be provided at limited locations.
If registering multiple children, a separate registration form must be completed for each student.
Registration Deadline: In order to be efficient in our staffing and assignments, we are requesting that all applications be returned by Friday, July 26. Students will be placed and accepted on a rolling admission basis. Please contact please contact Greg Dombrowski: @email for further information.
 |
HOLMES UPDATES
Here are today's newsletter topics:
Holmes Updates
- From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison
- Important Upcoming Dates
- How to Stay Connected to Holmes MS
FCPS & Community Updates
- SOL Scores Posted in SIS ParentVUE
- INOVA Back to School Pediatric Health Fair
- Virtual Mental Wellness Consultations
- Summer Fun for All! Summer Camps and Adapted Recreation
- Summer Camps and Learning
- 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
From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison
Pediatric Health Fairs
Do You Need Health Coverage?
Important Upcoming Dates
- Thursday, 8/15, 12-3 pm - Open House
- Monday, 8/19 - First Day of 2024-2025 School Year
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
SOL Scores Posted in SIS ParentVUE
Families can find Standards of Learning (SOL) reports for spring testing in the SIS ParentVUE Documents section on or before the last day of school. Log in to your ParentVUE account to access the following:
- For all students, the official SOL Score Report with overall and reporting category performance for all spring tests.
- For grade 3-8 students, the SOL Growth Parent Report shows performance over time for state reading and math tests completed this school year.
Visit the FCPS website for additional information about spring assessment reporting practices and timelines.
Need help creating a SIS ParentVUE account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.
INOVA Back to School Pediatric Health Fairs
Inova Cares Clinic (ICC) will provide children ages 5+ with free school entrance physicals and immunizations at summer health fairs for children on Medicaid or who are uninsured. The clinics will take place 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on the following dates:
- Saturday, June 29, at ICC for Children - Manassas
- Saturday, July 20, at ICC for Children - Herndon
- Saturday, August 17, at ICC for Children - Falls Church
Appointments are required. No walk-ins will be allowed. Call 703-698-2550 for an appointment.
Virtual Mental Wellness Consultations
This summer, the FCPS Office of Intervention and Prevention Services will offer virtual Mental Wellness Consultations from Monday, June 24, through Friday, August 2. Any FCPS parent or secondary student can schedule a 45-minute consultation with a school psychologist or social worker by phone or videoconference.
Parents of students in any grade level can request a consultation to receive guidance on how to support their child’s social, emotional, and academic success. Information about community resources will also be provided.
Middle or high school students can request a consultation to receive guidance and support for concerns related to anxiety, mood, behavior, peer or family interactions, or school transitions and changes. Strategies and tools can also be provided to address academic challenges such as organization and time management.
We encourage all families to take advantage of this service. Request a consultation or call and leave a message at 703-503-2520.
Summer Fun for All! Summer Camps and Adapted Recreation
The Family Resource Center (FRC) has a list of dozens of summer camps including general camps, camps for students with a variety of needs, and camps for children of military personnel.
They’ve also prepared a list of adapted resources, sorted by activity, that are inclusive for children and adults of various physical abilities.
Learn more by calling 703-204-3941, emailing @email, or visiting the FRC webpage.
2024 SUMMER CAMPS AND LEARNING
Have you made summer plans for your child yet? Are you looking for a summer camp for your child with special needs?
The Family Resource Center has compiled information on summer camps including local options, camps for students with special needs (sorted by need), and camps for students experiencing grief or who have parents in the military.
End of School Year Volleyball Camp at Justice HS
Summer Strings Camp at South County Middle School
Exciting news! SoCo Summer Strings is returning this summer! The camp will be hosted at South County Middle School from July 8-19, 8:30am-12:30pm, weekdays only. Camp is open to all rising 5th-9th grade students with at least one year of experience on the violin, viola, cello, or bass. Students will participate in two large ensemble rehearsals, an instrument-specific technique class, and a sectional each day. You can find more information and registration for camp at www.schsorchestra.org/soco-summer-strings. Early registration is from March 1-June 9, so reserve your student’s spot soon!
Co-Ed Basketball Camp for Grades 4-9 at Edison HS
Co-Ed Tennis Camp for Grades 3-12 at Edison HS
VIP Summer Camp for Rising 7th & 8th Graders
All rising middle schoolers are invited to attend a summer of fun and leisure with VIP Camp. VIP Camp — which takes place Monday, July 1, to Thursday, August 1 — is designed to encourage teens to develop healthy and positive recreation interests and features a wide variety of leisure activities and programs.
Registration is open. VIP Camp costs $100 to attend. Reach out to your school's after-school specialist for scholarship availability due to financial hardship. This camp is sponsored by Fairfax County Public Schools and Fairfax County’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services.
 |
- Applications will open on Tuesday 3/12 at 6pm
- Here is the link to the application à https://forms.gle/zQcxhFrKWnn2LPjG6
- Links to the application can also be found on the Holmes website under the Activities Tab à After-School Program à VIP Summer Program
- Any questions or concerns about the VIP summer program, contact Matt Kruk; @email
Sign Up for FCPS Summer Camps and Learning Programs
Registration is now open for several summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts camps will be held in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools.
CTE programs are available for grade 6-11 students to explore CTE program areas, develop skills, and begin career exploration. IFTA allows students to select from nearly 90 classes in art, dance, health and physical education 9, music, and theater. Visit the IFTA webpage to register.
Summer Learning
Programs are also available for high school students to fulfill the Economics and Personal Finance course requirement, earn a high school course credit via this summer’s online campus program, or recover one high school course credit through the Credit Recovery Academy.
FCPS’ free online class for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provides FCPS middle and high school English Learners the opportunity to continue developing their academic, reading, and writing skills in online discussions with an ESOL teacher.
Find session dates, registration links, and registration deadlines on FCPS summer programs.
Institute for the Arts
Students in all FCPS secondary schools can enroll in the Institute for the Arts. IFTA is a two- or three-week summer Arts enrichment program for students in rising 7th through 12th grades. Students create their own schedules in Art, Music, Theatre, and Dance from nearly 60 courses offered. Transportation is provided from around the county. Tuition assistance is available for students who qualify. Check out the Institute for the Arts website for more information or email @email.
Chantilly Academy will host an AFA CyberCamp from Monday, June 24, to Friday, June 28, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. This camp would be a great fit for rising fifth through eighth graders of all skill levels interested in learning more about the importance of cybersecurity and gaining skills to protect themselves and others from cyber threats. Discounts are available for students eligible for free and reduced-price meals. Visit the camp website for more information.
Registration is also still available for the Institute for the Arts (IFTA) and Elementary-IFTA (E-IFTA) arts camps, and Credit Recovery Academy.
CTE Summer Academy
Tech Adventure Camp
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