Principal's Note - June 23, 2020

By Margaret Barnes
Principal's Note
June 23, 2020

Good afternoon, Holmes Families!

We hope that your student will choose to engage in some of the summer learning and enrichment opportunities (see June 9th newsletter for details).  If you would like for your student to participate in the Summer Continuity of Learning program, please complete this registration form.  (Note: You do not need to complete it again if you have already done so.)  All students will receive a workbook for English and Math (and for ESOL if they are English Learners) in the mail which will also be available on Blackboard, and they will be able to consult with the teachers below during their office hours.  All students can access the Summer Continuity of Learning office hours.  Students who are English Learners can access the English Language Development office hours.  

To help students with organization of their FCPS email, I would encourage them to delete anything they received before June 13th that they don't need to keep.  As our summer teachers post things, emails will be automatically generated to students.  

Read, Read, READ this summer!

Scroll down to check out the books that Ms. Haywood and some of our staff members will be reading with students this summer!  We encourage you to read these along with your students to spark conversations at home about race, equity, and bias.  Check our the Common Sense site to help you choose which book you might like to start with first.

Check out Fairfax County Public Library's Summer Reading Adventure and join in the fun!  

What's going to happen next year?

Stay tuned to the School Board meetings this week to find out what next year will look like.  We should have a final decision by Friday, June 26th.  My next newsletter will share information. Thank you, everyone!

Sincerely,

Margaret Barnes

Proud Principal, Holmes MS

@email

*Right now, I am reading Diary of a Young Girl & White Fragility.*  What are you reading?

Summer Continuity of Learning - Office Hours Schedule

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Summer English Language Development - Teacher Schedule

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LAST CHANCE - Please come get your bags!

We still have bags of belongings for over 300 students!  Please come to Door 5 tomorrow (Wednesday, 6/24) between 8 am and 1 pm to pick up your student's items.  Any items not claimed tomorrow will be donated or discarded.  

Returning laptops

ALL students may KEEP their school-issued laptops over the summer UNLESS:

  1. You and your family are moving out of the area and will not attend an FCPS school next year;
  2. Your student already has a device at home that they can use instead of the school-issued laptop; OR
  3. You do not plan for your student to engage in any online summer activities (see last week's newsletter for details). 

If any of the statements above are true for you, please come to Door 6 between 8-10 am on Wednesday, June 24th, to turn in your student's laptop.  

If none of the above are true, we'll see you in August when we collect all of the laptops and give out new ones!!

Returning instruments and music materials

All 8th grade music students and any 6th or 7th grade music students who are not continuing in a music class next year need to return their music supplies.  Here are the items that need to be returned:

  • Instrument (Band/Orchestra) - Please take any trash or supplies out of your case!  (Make sure that you have all parts of your instrument- ex. Bow, mouthpiece, etc)
  • Method books (Band/Orchestra)
  • Concert uniforms (Band/Chorus/Orchestra)
    • Boys: only tuxedo PANTS- you own the shirt
    • Girls: Dress
    • Please take the hem out of your garment (the stitching at the bottom)
    • If you have cleaned the garment, please have it on a hanger when you drop it off
    • If it is not cleaned, we will place it in a trash bag and get these items cleaned.

ALL 8th graders plus any 6th or 7th grade student who are NOT continuing in a music class next year need to return supplies on Wednesday, 6/24 between 10-11 am and 2-3 pm.  See below for instructions.

Picking up items & returning laptops, instruments, & other music materials on Wednesday, June 24th

  • Laptop Return: Door 6 - 8-10 am
  • Pick up student belongings: Door 5 - 8 am - 1 pm
  • Return of instruments, performance attire, & other music materials: Door 10 - 10-11 am & 2-3 pm

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Summer Reading

Check out these books that Ms. Haywood, Ms. Barnes, and some staff members and students at Holmes will be reading this summer!

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