Principal's Note - March 17, 2019
Good evening, Holmes Families!
I hope that you all enjoyed the beautiful weekend! Getting a taste of Spring weather by being outside in the sunshine is always a nice way to recharge after a long week.
AVID
This past week, we interviewed students who applied for the AVID program for the 2019-20 school year. Students were interviewed by two staff members and a current AVID student. We were so impressed to hear from students about their commitment and determination to a future goal of college attendance and graduation. Students were thoughtful and reflective about how the support of the AVID class could help them get there. Our school's AVID Site Team certainly has a difficult task ahead of us to decide which students will be selected for next year's AVID classes (one 7th grade and one 8th grade). Students will receive letters by the end of March letting them know the outcome of the application process.
National Junior Honor Society (NJHS)
Today, parents of students who are eligible to apply for Holmes' chapter of NJHS received an email with details and a link to the application, which is due by 2:15 on Friday, March 29th. Eligible students (those who have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher) will be invited to attend an information session tomorrow (Mon., 3/18) during ER-2 in the cafeteria. One session will be held for current 7th graders and one for current 8th graders. More details about the application process will be provided there. The NJHS Induction Ceremony will be held on the same evening as the 3rd quarter Honor Roll Ceremony.
3rd Quarter Honor Roll Ceremony
Please note the change in date for the 3rd Quarter Honor Roll Ceremony. It was scheduled for Thursday, April 25th, but will now be held on the evening of Wednesday, April 24th. Parents of students who make the Honor Roll will receive letters notifying them about details of the event.
In today's newsletter, scroll down for information about:
- FCPS CARES
- This Week's Schedule
- This Week's After School Program Schedule
- Parent Chaperones Needed For Finance Park Make-up Field Trips
- Annandale Pyramid Unity Night - Thursday, April 4th
- School Health Services Survey
- Family Engagement Survey - March 24th - April 12th
- Registration Now Open for 2019 Special Education Conference at Lake Braddock Secondary School - Saturday, April 6th
- Color Fun Run/Walk - Saturday, April 27th
- Calling All Fairy Godparents for Dress Donations
- Important Dates (including May SOL Schedule)
- How to Stay in Touch
Thanks, everyone, and have a wonderful week!
Sincerely,
Margaret Barnes
Proud Principal, Holmes MS
#HolmesHawksSoar
FCPS Cares
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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. |
This Week's Schedule of Classes: 3/18 - 3/22
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This week: Mon., 3/18 = White Day w/ ER 1 & 2 Tues., 3/19 = Blue Day Wed., 3/20 = White Day w/ ER 3 & 4 Thurs., 3/21 = Blue Day Fri., 3/22= White Day w/ ER 5 & 6 *NOTE: Students can always find the blue-white calendar in their agendas or on the website HERE. |
After School Program - Week of 3/18
For any specific questions related to the After School Program or to share new ideas for after school activities, please feel free to contact Mr. German Cabezas, our After School Program Specialist.
PARENT CHAPERONES NEEDED FOR FINANCE PARK MAKE-UP FIELD TRIPS
Our Finance Park Make up dates will be Tuesday, March 19th and Friday, May 31st. We are really in need of more parent chaperones, so if you are available on the 19th, please contact your student’s Civics teacher, and they will add you to the list. During the day, which will be from 8:30am – 1:30pm, you will lead a group of no more than 9 students, as they prepare to be “an adult for the day.” It will require you to drive yourself to the JA Finance Park Facility, which is at 4099 Pickett Road, Fairfax VA. Once again, please contact your student’s Civics teacher (i.e. Mr. Kerner, Mr. Sterzinger, Mr. Hoover, Mr. Schmitz, or Ms. D’Angelo) if you are interested.
Annandale Pyramid Unity Night
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 2019: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/85QGH7C
School Health Services Survey-Parents 2019 (Spanish): https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LLSF55F
School Health Services Survey – STAFF 2019: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L87BPDZ
FCPS Family Engagement Survey - March 24th-April 12th
Dear Families,
Fairfax County Public Schools will be conducting a survey to gather information about family engagement in our schools. Relationships are important to us, and your opinion is critical to help us support your engagement in your child’s education. Your feedback will also help us determine how well we are reaching the goals for Caring Culture we have set in our Strategic Plan. Survey translations will be made available, and the survey can be taken on electronic devices, including smartphones.
Survey administration is scheduled for March 24-April 12, 2019, and you will receive more information about how to take the survey in the near future.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Registration Now Open for 2019 Special Education Conference at Lake Braddock Secondary School
Registration is now open for the 2019 Special Education Conference, which will be held Saturday, April 6, from 7:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Lake Braddock Secondary School. The focus of this year’s conference is on building inclusive and post-secondary practices to support the development of 21st century skills and Portrait of a Graduate attributes.
This year’s keynoter is Dr. Mary E. Morningstar, the co-director of Portland State University’s Think College Inclusion Oregon project and a professor in the Graduate School of Education’s Special Education Department, who will be speaking about Moving from Compliance to Quality Transition Outcomes.
Get more information and register.
Color Fun Run/Walk
Calling All Fairy Godparents for Dress Donations
Annandale Pyramid Art Show
Important Dates
- Tuesday, 3/19, Finance Park Make-Up Field Trip (8th graders who have Mr. Hoover)
- Fri., 3/22 & Sat., 3/23 - Chorus Assessment, Sandburg MS
- Tues., 3/26 - Pyramid Art Show, Annandale High School
- Thurs., 3/28, 6:00 pm - Hispanic Parents Night
- Thursday, 4/4 - Last Day of 3rd Quarter
- Thursday, 4/4, 7:00 pm - Annandale Pyramid Unity Night (Holmes vs. Poe Faculty Basketball Game)
- Friday, 4/5 - Teacher Workday / Student Holiday
- Mon., 4/15-Fri., 4/19 - SPRING BREAK
- Wed., 4/24, Evening - 3rd Quarter Honor Roll Celebration & NJHS Induction Ceremony
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
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May / June SOL Testing Schedule
Interested in learning more about the SOL exams your child will take? Here are links from the Virginia Department of Education for: