Dear Holmes Families: 

Good afternoon!  It is hard to believe that we are so quickly approaching Spring and have already moved our clocks ahead.  The time moves so quickly!  Our 8th graders have completed their Writing SOLs (we should have results in about a month), and we have just 2 weeks until Spring Break.  Over these next 2 weeks, all students will be taking the FCPS Divisionwide Math & English assessments to help teachers to continue to identify what concepts students are grasping and which they are struggling with so that they can adjust their instruction to meet those needs. 

Our music students are in the middle of assessment as well!  Our Band & Orchestra groups had their District Assessments this weekend.  All Bands received Good & Excellent ratings, and all 3 of our Orchestras received Superior ratings.  We are very proud of our students and teachers, not only for their excellent performances and the hard work preparing for them, but also for representing Holmes so well!  Our Chorus groups will have their assessment this upcoming weekend at Sandburg Middle School.

WTOP 2018 Click for Kids Campaign!

Remember to vote for Holmes in the  WTOP's Click for Kids Campaign every day between now and Friday!  Please rally your family, friends, and neighbors to help Holmes win up to $10,000 to help us purchase enough devices to go one-to-one for 8th graders next year!  Voting ends at on Friday, March 16th.  All voters must be 13 or older and can vote once a day. See details below.  Please help us by spreading the word on social media!  #WTOPClickforKids

One-to-one for 8th Graders in 2018-19 School Year at Holmes MS

We are very excited to announce that we are planning to implement a 1:1 plan for 8th graders at Holmes next year.  That means that each 8th grader will receive a laptop at the beginning of the school year, will have it throughout the year to use at home and school, and will return it at the end of the year.  To learn more about one-to-one and the benefits for instruction, scroll below to the information about FCPSOn.  We will have many more details to come in the upcoming months as we prepare for next year.  

 

Congratulations to 8th grader Elena Leopold! "It is with great pleasure that I share that 8th grade Holmes student Elena Leopold was selected as a National Junior Cherry Blossom Princess! Through the National Conference of State Societies, Elena was chosen as one of only seventy-five girls selected nationwide to have the opportunity to participate in a variety of cultural and social events celebrating the unique and enduring friendship between the United States and Japan.  Students were selected based on merit and citizenship, as well as based on a written essay. During the week leading up to the Cherry Blossom Festival & Parade, Elena will serve as an Ambassador alongside political dignitaries and celebrities in attending events at embassies, Nationals Stadium, and the Lantern Lighting on the Tidal Basin. The confidence, support, and intelligence she’s gained at Holmes has greatly contributed to her interest to apply (and receive) this special honor.  From writing skills learned at Holmes to complete her essay from gaining on-stage confidence in theater & chorus, these transferable skills are a win for all!! Best, Julie Leopold

In our newsletter this week:

• This Week's Schedule of Classes
• This Week's After School Program Schedule 
• Next Week's Writing SOL Schedule - 8th Graders
• 2018-19 Initial Student Transfer Season Opens March 1
• Testing Information for Parents/Guardians
• School Health Services Survey
• Just World Festival - March 16th
• Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge & Wellness Expo - March 17th
• FCPSOn Community Meetings Scheduled
• Project BEST Hosts Fifth STEM Conference for Middle School Students
• Tech Conference for Teen Girls, March 27 & 28
• NOVA STEM Day 2018
• Important Dates
• May/June SOL Schedule
• How To Stay In Touch

Thank you, and have a wonderful week!  

Sincerely,

Margaret Barnes, Principal

[email protected]                   

This Week's Schedule of Classes: 3/5-3/9

This week: Mon., 3/12 = Blue Day   Tues., 3/13 = White Day w/ ER 5 & 6 Wed., 3/14 = Blue Day Thurs., 3/15 = White Day w/ ER 7 & 8 (ER 8 Lesson: SSR & LOCKER CLEANOUT) Fri., 3/16 = Blue Day  *NOTE: Students can always find the blue-white calendar in their agendas or on the website HERE.

After School Program (ASP) - Week of 3/12

For any questions you have about the After School Program, please contact German Cabezas at [email protected].

2018-19 Initial Student Transfer Season Opens March 1

For initial (New) student transfers effective at the beginning of the 2018-19 school year, the enrolling parent will submit transfer applications and pay fees online. The enrolling parent will access the online student transfer application on the Student Transfer website at https://www.fcps.edu/registration/student-transfers. The application will be unavailable from 12:00am-5:00am daily for maintenance.

The following staff may access the online student transfer application administrative view at http://fcpsnet.fcps.edu/ssse/student-transfer/ logging in using their FCPS user name and password: Principals, Principal AAs, SIAs/Registrars, Middle/High DSS, and Elementary APs.

Weekly reminders will be emailed to the following staff if an application requires action: Principals and High School DSS.  

Decision letters from the Student Transfer Office will be emailed to: Parents and SIAs/Registrars.

Testing Information for Parents/Guardians

New public FCPS Student Assessment webpages are now available for parents/guardians to access basic information about their children’s required assessments. In compliance with Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) testing transparency, these webpages give an overview of:

• Right to refuse participation in state testing (e.g., SOLs)
• Required assessments at each grade level
• Resources for accessing and understanding assessment results

The Grade Level Tests webpage may be especially helpful to school staff in responding to questions from parents/guardians about required assessments. For each grade level, parents/guardians will find a chart that summarizes the source of the testing requirement, the purpose of the test, amount of time needed to complete testing, timeframe for testing within the year, and how and when results will be distributed. Schools are welcome to share this web resource with families.

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:

Parent Survey (English): https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FCPSParent2018

Parent Survey (Spanish): https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2018SpanishP

Just World Festival - Friday, March 16th

Sent on behalf of the Just World Interact Club of Annandale HS

Your school is invited to participate in the Just World Festival!

The Just World Interact Club of Annandale High School is holding its 11th Annual Just World Festival on March 16th, 2018 from 4-7 pm at Annandale High School. The festival, which is sponsored by Rotary International, aims to teach youth that they are not only a part of their local community, but a global one. Through our goal, we want to educate both youth and community leaders alike about global issues, environmental issues, fair trade, human rights, and most importantly social action.

You can participate in one of the following ways:

1)      Just come to enjoy the festival which includes food, an interactive exhibition hall, fair trade marketplace, workshops, and cultural events.

2)     Donate to our festival raffle or general fund to host the event.

Annandale, which is one of the largest schools in Fairfax County, is also one of the most diverse, with students representing 150 nations and speaking 90 different languages. The Just World Festival capitalizes on these strengths, creating a fun and educational environment in which to explore international-mindedness. The festival is focused around an extensive list of exhibits by students, nonprofit organizations, community leaders and national figures. It also includes a Fair Trade Marketplace; dance, music; and a world café provided by the Annandale Bistro.

I hope you will decide to take advantage of this meaningful opportunity. Together, we can make a positive difference in our communities. For more information about the Just World Festival, please visit https://justworldinteract.wixsite.com/justworld or email the student organization at @email

If possible or willing, we hope that you can help advertise this event at your school by making announcements or distributing copies of the flyer (via e-mail or hard-copy) that is attached to this e-mail!

We hope to see you in March!

The Just World Interact Club

#unityindiversity

Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge; Wellness Expo

The 2018 Real Food for Kids Culinary Challenge and Wellness Expo will be held on March 17 at Hayfield Secondary School from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Doors and exhibits open at 10 a.m. The event will feature a public tasting of dishes created by students to be considered for school menus along with a plenary session with speakers, panelists, and special guests sharing insights on food, nutrition, and health. Admission is $15 per person and includes the public tasting, plenary, and exhibits.

Get more information and register to attend.

FCPSOn Community Meetings Scheduled

FCPS is on a journey to enhance learning through FCPSOn, a 1-to-1 digital transformation. The term 1:1 means each student will have access to one device to use for learning.

FCPSOn extends student learning and increases equitable access to technology and instructional practices that lead to personalized, meaningful learning experiences which provide opportunities for deeper understanding and development of Portrait of a Graduate attributes. The FCPS Strategic Plan Ignite includes access to contemporary and effective technology as a component of the Student Success goal. 

Students will have access to the device at school, and in some schools and grade levels, students will also be able to take their device home. 

Community Meetings Scheduled in Each Region

A plan has been developed to engage community stakeholders on the next phase of FCPSOn. This plan involves regional as well as school-based community engagement.  Five community meetings (one in each region) are scheduled in March and April to explain how FCPSOn supports the division’s Portrait of a Graduate and Ignite goals.

In 2018-19, school-based community engagement will begin for schools scheduled to implement FCPSOn during SY 2019-20. These school-based engagement activities will help stakeholders develop a deeper understanding of FCPSOn and the instructional practices that will be implemented when 1:1 technology is deployed in their local schools. 

Learn more about FCPSOn and how it supports the Portrait of a Graduate and Ignite Strategic Plan goals by attending one of five community meetings. All meetings will begin at 7 p.m.  To request an interpreter, please click on Interpreter Request Form.

Dates and locations for the community meetings and more information about FCPSOn are available here

Project BEST Hosts Fifth STEM Conference for Middle School Students

Project BEST (Building Excitement for Science and Technology), a nonprofit organization comprised of students who attend Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), is hosting its fifth STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) conference for students in grades 6-8, ScI2YC (Science Innovation and Inspiration Youth Conference), on Saturday, March 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lanier Middle School.TJHSST and Lanier Middle School are Fairfax County public schools.

The conference is designed to create and drive students’ curiosity in science, technology, engineering, and math while helping them develop higher-level critical thinking skills. During the day-long conference, middle school students will be able to take part in workshops, lectures led by students, and hear from guest speakers.  Workshops will include physics, biology, and chemistry hands-on experiments. 

Guest speakers will include Sekhar Puli, co-founder and managing partner at REAN Cloud, a Herndon-based cloud systems integrator; and a STEM professional from a local university. 

Public registration for the conference is limited to 300 students on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested students and parents can register online. Registration is a commitment to attend and not just of interest in the event. There is no charge to attend, and lunch will be provided for the student attendees.

Project BEST is dedicated to providing students with education, enrichment, and a joy for learning and understanding the exciting science and technology advances occurring today. The group conducts interactive programs, workshops, and runs after-school chapters in 17 locations across Fairfax County and the nation to help students link STEM to their everyday lives. 

Note:  Lanier Middle School is located at 3801 Jermantown Road in Fairfax. For additional information, contact [email protected].

Tech Conference for Teen Girls, March 27 and 28

Over Spring Break, AFIT (Assisting Females in Technology) will be hosting a Teen Tech Conference for Girls at the NOVA Annandale Campus.  The informational flyer (Why Study Tech Forum Flyer) is attached.  Please share this with your female students who may be interested in attending.  

NOVA STEM Day 2018

The second annual NOVA STEM Day (www.novastemday.com) will be held at the Alexandria Campus on Saturday, April 14, 2018 from 10am to 3pm. NOVA STEM Day is a free public festival celebrating STEM. They expect to have mostly elementary and middle school aged attendees with their families, but also hopefully some older ones as well.

Important Dates

• Thursday, 3/15, 6:30 PM - NJHS Induction Ceremony
• Monday, 3/26 - Friday 3/30 - NO SCHOOL / SPRING BREAK
• Monday, 4/2 - NO SCHOOL / STUDENT HOLIDAY
• Tuesday, 4/3 - Thursday, 4/5 - MWEE - 7th Grade Field Trip (Hidden Oaks Nature Center)
• Thursday, 4/5, 6:00 PM - Faculty Basketball Game 
• Friday, 4/6 - Beginning Theatre Arts Field Trip (Hayfield SS)
• Friday, 4/13 - Advanced Theater Trip to NYC
• Friday, 4/13 - 3rd Quarter Grading Period Ends / 2-hour early release

May/June SOL Schedule

Interested in learning more about the SOL exams your child will take?  Here are links from the Virginia Department of Education for:

• Civics (8th grade only)
• English (all grades)
• Math (all grades)
• Science (8th grade only, but covers content from 6th-8th grades)

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