Good afternoon, Holmes Families!

I hope that you all have had a wonderful weekend!  It was a pleasure to see the Holmes Symphonic Band perform with Poe Middle School's and Annandale High School's bands this past Wednesday.  It is an exciting time for all of our musicians at Holmes.  Over the next few weeks, we will have band, chorus and orchestra concerts as preparation for upcoming assessments.  We hope that you can join us for these events to celebrate the hard work and talent of our students and our amazing teachers: Ms. Bongard, Ms. Eddinger, and Mr. Perez.  The next band concert is Thursday, March 5th, at 7 pm at Holmes.  Scroll to the bottom of the newsletter for the dates of the concerts and assessments throughout March.

Helping Your Student Resolve Conflict & Manage Emotions

Prior to Thursday's band concert, we will have our March PTA meeting beginning at 5:45 pm.  Our theme for our PTA meeting and for our parent coffee on Wednesday, March 4th at 9 am is helping students to resolve conflict and manage emotions.  Our Holmes staff will present to families about ways to support your students as they learn these important life skills, one of the areas that we see our students most struggle with in middle school.  We hope that you can join us for one of the events! 

School Visits this week! This week, we had two great visits with a few of our FCPS VIPs!  On Wednesday, our new Mason District School Board Representative Dr. Ricardy Anderson visited with Dr. Fabio Zuluaga, our Region 2 Assistant Superintendent.  We also had the pleasure of being visited by Dr. Scott Brabrand, our FCPS Superintendent on Friday!  Video coming soon!  We were excited to share the learning students are engaged in here at Holmes!   (Pictured left: Dr. Anderson with 7th grade, Cardin Tran; Pictured below: Dr. Brabrand with 7th Grade Science Teacher, Mr. Greg Donitzen)

Dr. Zuluaga visiting our AVID classroom!

8th Grade Celebration - June 5, 2020 Each year, our parents work together with school staff and students to plan the 8th grade celebration, which will be on the evening of June 5th this year from 7-9 pm.  If you would be interested in helping with this effort, please let me know by emailing me at @email.

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

• Join the Holmes MS PTA!
• FCPS CARES
• Calendar Reminder: Schools Closed on March 3 for Presidential Primary
• This Week's Schedule
• After-School Program
• Chaperones Needed for 6th Grade DC Field Trip - April 22nd & 23rd 
• School Health Services Survey
• FCPS' Safety Tip Line Helps Keep Schools Safe
• “Go Paperless” Report Card Option Now Available
• FCPS to Host the Registered Apprenticeship and Career Fair
• Upcoming Pyramid-wide Digital Learning and Citizenship Community Events
• SOL Testing Information           
• VIP Summer Camp Registration Information
• Financial Awareness Workshop for Middle School Parents
• Community Sensory Day 2020- April 4th
• Important Dates
• How to Stay in Touch

Thanks, everyone, and have a wonderful week!  Please feel free to reach out to me or anyone on my team with any questions you have!

Sincerely,

Margaret Barnes

Proud Principal, Holmes MS

[email protected]

#SoarTogether

Have you joined the Holmes MS PTA?

Your membership supports teacher appreciation and grants for teachers to provide unique programs for students!  Join HERE today!

FCPS Cares

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.

Calendar Reminder: Schools Closed on March 3 for Presidential Primary

As a reminder, schools will be closed for students on Tuesday, March 3, for the presidential primary election, which will be a school planning day for staff members. Classes will resume on Wednesday, March 4. See the complete 2019-20 school calendar.

This Week's Schedule of Classes: 3/2 - 3/6

This week: Mon., 3/2 = White Day (2nd, SOAR, ER 3, 4th, 6th) Tues., 3/3 = NO SCHOOL - Student Holiday (Presidential Primary) Wed., 3/4 = Blue Day (1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th) Thurs., 3/5 = White Day (2nd, SOAR, ER 4, 4th, 6th) Fri., 3/6 = Blue Day (1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th)  *NOTE: Students can always find the blue-white calendar in their agendas or on the school website HERE.

After-School Program - Week of 3/2

During the school year, a weekly schedule of activities that will be held during the After School Program will be posted.  

• Late buses are on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.  Students must be picked up by parents/guardians if they stay on Tuesdays or Fridays.  
• NOTE: There are only 6 late buses, so students' late bus assignments and stops are usually different than their regular bus. 

For any specific questions related to the After School Program or to share new ideas for after school activities, please feel free to contact Ms. Taylor, our After School Program Specialist.

Chaperones Needed for 6th Grade DC Field Trip - April 22nd & 23rd

6^th Grade DC Field Trip

When: April 22 & 23

Time: 9:30-1:00

What: Students will be exploring the DC monuments, museums, and memorials aligning to the Science and History standards.

Who wants to chaperone? You do!! 😊

In order to keep the groups small the more parent chaperones the better! This trip cannot happen without your support.

The students will go on a day based on their alphabetical last name. Their permission forms have the details. Please consider spending your day with us in DC.

Parents who agree to chaperone would need to be at Holmes Middle School at 8:45 AM on the day of their assigned trip. We will get back to Holmes around 1:30 PM.

Please complete the Chaperone Volunteer section on your students permission form.

Permission forms will be coming out this week (March 2^nd) through the students Science classes. We are asking for 5 dollar donations to help cover the cost of transportation to and from DC.

Permission forms will be due at the end of Quarter 3 (April 3^rd). No late forms will be accepted.

Behavior and tardy infractions will be monitored starting Quarter 4 until the field trip date. Students may be asked to stay behind based on behavior or tardiness. Administration will follow up.

School Health Services Survey

The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) employs school health aides and public health nurses who provide school health services to the students in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). To determine the quality of these services, a survey has been developed by the FCHD to be shared with all parents or guardians and school staff members who interact with the school health rooms. This may include principals, school counselors, and main office staff members. The survey has been approved for distribution by the FCPS’ Internal Survey Advisory Committee. 

Electronic versions of the survey forms may be accessed at:

School Health Services Survey – Parents 2020: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/K9VWCJ6 approval # 20217   

School Health Services Survey-Parents 2020 (Spanish): https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/K7KGXTS approval #20217  

FCPS' Safety Tip Line Helps Keep Schools Safe

A confidential and anonymous tip line is available to students, staff, parents, and other community members, as part of FCPS' continuing effort to maintain safe schools. Please report school safety issues, such as threats, unsafe or dangerous situations, illegal drug activity, theft, gang activity, existence of weapons, vandalism, and concerns about student wellness. Call 571-423-2020, text TIP FCPS to 888-777, or submit your tip online. Visit the Safety Tip Line webpage for more information. 

Note: If your tip is an emergency and immediate assistance is necessary, please dial 911.

“Go Paperless” Report Card Option Now Available

Starting with 3rd quarter, high school and middle school parents will now have the option to “Go Paperless” in ParentVUE and receive only online report cards. To take advantage of the paperless options, parents/guardians will need to log into ParentVUE, then go to “My Account” and select "Go Paperless!". This process is the only way to keep a paper report card from being generated for students at the secondary level. All parents who share the same address as the student must have a SIS ParentVue account and must select the paperless option. 

At the end of the 3rd quarter, SIAs will generate PDF report cards in SIS. Any student whose parents/guardians did not select to “Go Paperless” will be generated to print. Note that the “Go Paperless” option is not yet available to elementary schools. Documentation for schools to generate online report cards as well as how to select the new print option to only print for those parents who did not select ‘Go Paperless’ will be located under the Secondary Grading area. Go to the SIS Documentation page and navigate to Grading Secondary > Report Card PDF Attach to Student.

FCPS to Host the Registered Apprenticeship and Career Fair

On Thursday, April 16, 2020, Career and Technical Education (CTE), and the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry will host the “Registered Apprenticeship and Career Fair” from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at George C. Marshall High School. This is a free event for Fairfax County high school students, their parents and/or guardians, recent graduates, and members of the community to learn about Youth Registered and Registered Apprenticeship work-based learning experiences. These experiences can meet high school graduation requirements through CTE classes. Participants will be able to meet business, education, and industry leaders from Northern Virginia who offer skilled workforce employment, education, training, and apprenticeship programs.

FCPS Adult and Community Education (ACE) will be on-site to answer any questions on how to take advantage of their post-high school graduation opportunities to include a variety of courses, certificate programs, and career training. High School students and members of the Fairfax County community are able to enroll in ACE courses and satisfy related instruction requirements for both Youth Registered and Registered Apprenticeships.

FCPS students, parents and/or guardians, recent graduates, and community members who wish to attend should register online.

As you send out News You Choose communications, please consider sharing this information and event flyer in order to maximize participation. 

Upcoming Pyramid-wide Digital Learning and Citizenship Community Events

All FCPS staff and families are invited to attend any of the following digital learning and citizenship community education events (more details).

Herndon Pyramid:   Supporting Students in a Digital World:  Bridging Technology Use at Home & School When:  March 5, 2020 (6:30 - 8:30 p.m.) Where:  Herndon High School, Lecture Hall

Marshall Pyramid:  Supporting Students in a Digital World:  Bridging Technology Use at Home & School When:  March 18, 2020 (6:15 - 8:15 p.m.) Where:  Kilmer Middle School

South Lakes Pyramid:  Supporting Families in a Digital World:  Developing a Healthy Relationship with Technology When:  March 18, 2020 (6:00 - 8:00 p.m.) Where:  South Lakes High School

Chantilly Pyramid: Spotlight on Student Learning with a Focus on Media Balance and Well-being When:  March 31, 2020 (6:00 - 7:30 p.m.) Where:  Franklin Middle School

SOL Testing Information

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) requires that all students in grade 8 take the English Writing Standards of Learning (SOL) Test. The purpose of testing is to provide information about student achievement in several areas of English: Writing. Scores from the test will be used to determine whether students fail to meet standards, are proficient in meeting the standards, or are advanced in the standards.

The test has two components: multiple choice and direct writing. In order to obtain a score your child must complete both components. The English Writing test will be administered: March 10 - 13, 2020.

It will be very helpful if you can avoid appointments which may take your child out of school during this time period. Also, it will help your child perform his or her best if he or she has had a good night's rest, a healthy breakfast, and comes to school with a positive attitude.

VDOE and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) have an electronic device policy which is to be followed during all SOL testing. To maintain test security, the possession of cell phones or other electronic devices (including wearable technology) in the testing room is prohibited. If a student is discovered with a prohibited electronic device while in a test environment, the student's test will be stopped, the electronic device will be confiscated, and the student will be removed from the test environment. School administrators, consistent with the Acceptable Use Policy and Student Rights & Responsibilities, have authority to search the "item of personal belonging" (e.g., the cell phone or other device, including wearable technology) if it is believed to contain evidence of a violation of school regulations (in this case, cheating). School administrators have the right to apply school-based consequences based upon their investigation of the situation. Please talk to your student about the electronic device policy and the serious consequences of violating it.

A student performance report with your child's scores will be mailed to your home in August.

Should you have any questions or require any fu1iher information about this testing, please contact me at (703) 658-5900 or [email protected].

Sincerely,

Serena Giron

Director of Student Services

Holmes Middle School

Su hijo estara rindiendo el examen de Redaccion de 8.0 grado Estandares de Aprendizaje (SOL) de Virginia entre el 10 de Marzo y el 13 de Marzo. Es importante que su hijo asista a la escuela estos dias. Les pedimos que, de ser posible, eviten programar viajes o citas que puedan hacer que su hijo se ausente de clases durante este periodo de tiempo. Tambien es importante que su hijo descanse bien la noche anterior y tome un desayuno saludable antes de dar el examen. Si se dan cuenta de que tienen algun conflicto de horario que no puede cambiarse y que podria causar que su hijo falte a uno de los dias de examenes, sirvanse notificarlo a la escuela de su hijo lo antes posible.

El Departamento de Educacion de Virginia (VDOE) requiere que todos los alumnos de 8.0 grado rindan el Examen Estandares de Aprendizaje (SOL) de Redaccion en Ingles. El examen tiene dos componentes: respuesta de seleccion multiple y respuesta de composicion corta. Para poder obtener una puntuacion, su hijo debe completar ambos componentes.

El proposito de los examenes SOL es proporcionarles a los padres, la escuela, la division escolar y el estado informacion sobre los alumnos. En la mayoria de los casos, los padres pueden obtener las resultados de los examenes al final del ano escolar. Cuando estemos mas cerca de esas fechas, recibiran mas informacion sabre como y cuando recibiran la puntuacion que obtuvo su hijo.

Si tienen preguntas sobre las examenes SOL, sirvanse comunicarse con el orientador de su hijo o el coordinador a cargo de los examenes o el encargado de evaluaciones en la escuela de su hijo.

Serena Giron

[email protected]

703-658-5900

VIP Summer Camp Registration Information

Financial Awareness Workshop for Middle School Parents

Community Sensory Day 2020- April 4th

Important Dates

• Tues., 3/3, NO SCHOOL - Student Holiday (Presidential Primary)
• Wed., 3/4, 9 am - Parent Coffee (Topic: Helping Your Student to Resolve Conflict and Manage Emotions)
• Wed., 3/4, 7:30 pm - Scholastic Art Awards of 2020 (Ernst Cultural Center, Annandale Campus, Northern Virginia Community College)
• Thurs., 3/5, 5:45 pm - PTA Meeting (Topic: Helping Your Student to Resolve Conflict and Manage Emotions)
• Thurs., 3/5, 7 pm - Band Concert: Pre-assessment #2
• Tues., 3/10, 7 pm - Pyramid 6th Grade Chorus Concert (Annandale HS)
• Thurs., 3/12, 9 am - Rising 6th grade Parent Coffee
• Thurs., 3/12, 7 pm - Orchestra Concert: Pre-assessment
• Tues., 3/17, 7 pm - Pyramid Chorus: Pre-assessment (Annandale HS)
• Thurs., 3/26, 5 pm - Pyramid Art Show (Annandale HS)

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