Principal's Note - March 18, 2022
Principal's Note
Good evening, Holmes Families!
I hope that you have had a wonderful week! We had another week with no COVID cases and no paused students at Holmes!
Thank you for such an amazing turnout at our Holmes Family meeting last night that covered the subject of student use of the prayer rooms at Holmes. I also want to share a special thank you to our interpreters and our teachers and staff who attended in-person and online as well. If you missed it but wanted to attend, click on this link and use this passcode: Y5#dG!&P!j. I appreciated the opportunity to collaborate with students and parents to help meet student needs while also following school guidelines. Learn more about guidelines for religious activities for students here.
Over the course of the next week, I will be working with staff to respond to the feedback and suggestions shared from last night. I hope to share an update by the middle of next week. In the meantime, students who wish to pray should continue to use the two prayer rooms in the library during the following non-instructional times of the school day:
- morning arrival
- 15-minute break
- class changes
- lunch
- beginning at 2:05 (right before afternoon dismissal; they will need a pass from their teachers)
All students are expected to arrive to class on time, should not miss instructional time, and may only use the prayer rooms for their intended purpose.
Helping Your Student to Manage Conflict
In response to the incident that I shared with you earlier in the week, I also wanted to share a little bit about the challenges that students have been having with managing interpersonal conflict this year. It is very typical for students at this age to experience some challenges navigating the social world in middle school. Friend groups sometimes change while the body is changing drastically, making the regulation of emotions difficult at times. Group chats and social media only add to and often exacerbate those conflicts. That part of this year is similar to previous years.
What is different this year is the frequency and intensity of the social conflict that we are seeing between students. Our counselors, clinicians, and administrators are working closely with many students on a daily basis responding to reports of teasing, bullying, harassment, spreading gossip and rumors, and other "drama". In the past two years, students have missed critical time in their social emotional development to learn how to navigate conflict, which we all have to learn how to do effectively.
Here are some of the tips we give students regularly to help them:
- As much as possible, avoid the person who you have the conflict with, in-person and online. Don't sit near them in the cafeteria or on the bus, or find a private way to ask your teacher to not sit near them in class.
- If someone tries to pull you into a conversation about the conflict, try to ignore it and walk away.
- Find an ally: a friend or an adult who can help you if needed.
- Do not add to the problem by saying or posting unkind things about the student or spreading rumors (check your student's social media!)
- Do not insert yourself into other people's "drama"
- Do not confront another student in a group or when you are escalated and angry
- Pay attention to the way you feel physically when you are escalated and angry so that you recognize it when it happens again; take deep breaths and try to remove yourself from the conflict.
- If you want to talk it out with the student, ask an adult for help. We are trained in mediation and restorative conversations to help students who are in conflict to come to agreements about how to move forward. (This is so hard! Students want so badly to manage and resolve situations on their own without the help of an adult, but they still need our help to mediate conversations.)
- Report bullying, harassment, use of racial slurs, sexist comments, or other biased or inappropriate language immediately to an adult.
- Talk to your parents/caregivers so they know how to help you.
As you talk to your students each day and learn about the interactions they are having and possibly struggling with, please feel free to reach out and let us know how we can help. We want to catch things early before they escalate into something more intense and serious. We know the toll that conflict can take on a person's stress and wellbeing, which makes it difficult to focus and learn.
Next week, students will have a SOAR lesson on responding to conflict and will get a few tips to help them.
Holmes 5K Fun Run - April 23rd
To register for 5K Fun Run, please use this link or scan QR code below. Fun Run registration form can only be open by students and staff with a “fcpsschools.net” gmail address. We only need one student or staff member to register per family.
Family Engagement Survey
FCPS’ Family Engagement Survey was emailed to all parents and caregivers on Sunday, March 13. If you haven’t taken the survey, please participate today! Your feedback is critical in helping to inform and improve FCPS’ practices to best support our students. Survey topics include:
- Welcoming environment
- Communication
- Student success
- Advocacy
- Family and school partnerships
- Collaboration with the community to see if FCPS is meeting its goals at the school, region, and division levels
The survey is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Korean, Amharic, Farsi, Urdu, Pashto, and Vietnamese. Take the survey now by clicking on the QR code below. Visit FCPS’ website for more information.
TAKE THE SURVEY!
Free Tutoring Services Coming Soon to FCPS!
I am excited to share a new resource that will soon be available to all Holmes Middle students to support learning. All FCPS students will have unlimited access to online tutoring support services through Tutor.com at no cost.
Students can connect online any time, and in most subjects for as long as they need. Tutoring is focused instruction provided to students in a one-on-one format through voice or text chat. Tutors will focus on developing students’ strengths and capabilities in reading, mathematics, or other specified subjects. Tutoring services may be accessed before, during, or after school hours and/or on weekends through a link in Schoology.
All tutors must pass a rigorous application process including an extensive background check. No personal information is shared between a student and tutor. All sessions are recorded and transcripts are available for review by teachers and parents/guardians.
Students will automatically have access to the Tutor.com tutoring service unless a parent/guardian submits an opt-out request. Watch for an email soon that will include the online tutoring services notice and opt-out information. Additionally, a hard copy form will be sent home with every student.
For additional information, visit our online tutoring services website. As always, please contact us if you have any questions. Watch this video to learn more.
Here are today's newsletter topics:
Holmes Updates
- Student Services - Important Information
- 2021-22 Blue-White Calendar
- 2021-22 Bell Schedule
- Next Week's Schedule
- After School Program Next Week
- A Message from Mr. Kruk
- From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison
- Holmes Spiritwear Sale
- 17th Annual Special Education Conference
- Lightspeed Parent Report on Child's Device Activity
- Short-Term Behavioral Health Service For Children and Youth (STBH)
- Job Opportunities at Holmes & in FCPS
- Important Upcoming Dates
- How to Stay Connected to Holmes MS
FCPS & Community Updates
- Stay Connected with FCPS
Summer Learning and Camps
- Summer VIP Camp at Thoreau Middle School
- Annandale High School Volleyball Camp for Rising 9th Graders
- Annandale High School Sports Camps
- Park Authority Camps
Please feel free to reach out and let us know what questions you have. Thank you, and have a wonderful weekend!!
Sincerely,
Margaret Barnes
Proud Principal, Holmes MS
HOLMES UPDATES
Next Week's Schedule: 3/21-3/25
The Blue-White Calendar can also be found on the inside cover of student agendas and can be found HERE on our school website.
- Monday, 3/21 - WHITE DAY
- Tuesday, 3/22 - BLUE DAY (SOAR & ER 1)
- Wednesday, 3/23 - WHITE DAY
- Thursday, 3/24 - BLUE DAY (SOAR & ER 2)
- Friday, 3/25 - WHITE DAY
After School Schedule Next Week
A Message from Mr. Kruk
ASP Student of the Week 3/14-3/18:
- Congratulations to this week’s After-School Student of the Week; Kiera Marchetti (6th grade)
- Kiera has been a consistent member of the After-School Program and participates in many clubs including; Capital One Coders, Running Club, Model UN, and more.
- Kiera is described by ASP staff members as enthusiastic, responsible, and being a risk-taker.
- GREAT JOB KIERA!
Movie Club
- The movie featured this Tuesday 3/22 will be; Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (G)
- If you have any questions or concerns regarding movie club, please reach out to our After-School Specialist, Mr Kruk. (@email)
Ethiopian & Eritrean Culture Club
- This past Thursday, the Ethiopian & Eritrean Culture club interest meeting took place during the After-School Program.
- Thank you to all of the staff, students, family members and volunteers that came to help support the club.
- The club will continue to meet on Thursday’s during the After-School Program from 2:30-4:30.
- Any questions about the Ethiopian & Eritrean Culture club please contact Ms. Oncho (@email)
For any and all questions related to the after school program, please contact Mr. Kruk at @email.
From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison
April Parent Coffee
Our next Parent Coffee will be on April 14th from 6pm-7pm over Zoom. The topic is "Coping with Stress and Anxiety". In the one hour session, you will learn tips and strategies for helping your child manage their stress and anxiety from Dr. Brandynicole Brooks with the Prince William National Alliance on Mental Illness. For more information about Dr. Brooks, visit her website at www.drbrandynicole.com . We will send out more information about this coffee soon.
Holmes Closet
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2022 Fairfax County Teen Job Fairs - March 19
These events will focus on students and young job seekers looking for a variety of employment opportunities: full time, after-school, seasonal positions, internship opportunities, and volunteer positions.
For more information and registration, click the link below:
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/springfield/teenjobfairs?_
Fairfax County Neighborhood and Community Services
Holmes Spiritwear Sale
Holmes merchandise is now available on
https://www.selectspiritwear.com/v5store/pc/viewcategories.asp?idcategory=753(please ignore the February 12th deadline)
17th Annual Special Education Conference
Registration Open for 2022 Special Education Conference
Join us for the 2022 Special Education Conference, Bringing our Inclusive Community Together: Affirming, Assessing, Advancing, held virtually on Saturday, March 26. Welcoming ceremonies, guest speakers, FCPS presentations, and an exhibit hall are included. Registration for this free conference is now available online.
Speakers include:
- Dr. Lisa Cullins, A Conversation About Compassion Fatigue.
- Marlo Keller, Exceptional Family Member Program Pathways: Navigating the Halls of a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) School Move.
- Ann Dolin, Less Policing, More Parenting: How to Improve Your Child’s Executive Functioning Skills Without All the Arguments.
- Dr. Lisa Bateman, Reducing the Stigma Around Mental Health Challenges and How to Support Children in Asking for Help.
Visit the Special Education Conference webpage for more information and to register
Lightspeed Parent Report on Child’s Device Activity
FCPS has new tools to help parents and guardians know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided by Lightspeed, our internet content filtering service, at no cost to families. You may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites your child visited. If you want more detailed information, sign up for the Internet Use Parent portal and log-in anytime to see more detail about your child’s browsing and “pause” access to the internet during non-school hours. Find out more and sign up for these services on our website.
Short-Term Behavioral Health Service For Children and Youth (STBH)
Job Opportunities at Holmes & in FCPS
To help us meet these critical needs, here is a reminder of some job opportunities that we have a available at Holmes and throughout FCPS:
- Student monitors (Holmes needs 1 or 2 more)
- Substitutes (short- and long-term) - School Board just approved an increase in pay for short- and long-term substitutes!
If you or someone you know is looking for work and may be a good fit for one or more of these positions, I encourage you or them to apply!
Important Upcoming Dates
- Thursday, 3/31 -2-hour Early Release & Activity Day / Last day of 3rd Quarter
- Friday, 4/1 - Student Holiday / Teacher Workday
- Monday, 4/4-Friday, 4/8 - SPRING BREAK
- Saturday, 4/23 - Spring 5K Fun Run
- Friday, 6/3 7-9 PM - 8th Grade Celebration
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
Summer Learning and Camps
Summer VIP Camp at Thoreau Middle School
- This summer, Thoreau Middle School will host our annual Summer VIP camp.
- Any student from Holmes that would like to participate in the summer program may register.
- Applications and more details will be coming out soon! Stay-tuned in the next coming weeks for more information.
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Annandale High School Volleyball Camp for Rising 9th Graders - June 13-17
Annandale High School Sports Camps
Dear Annandale HS Pyramid Parents –
Annandale High School is hosting five weeks of sports camps this summer. The camps include:
- June 13-17 - Multi-Sport Camp
- June 20-25 - Boys Basketball
- June 27-30 - Olympic Sports Camp (4 days)
- July 11-15 - Girls’ Field Hockey, Girls’ Lacrosse, & Girls’ Basketball
- July 18-22 - Girls Basketball
The camps are open to students entering 2nd through 9th grade (ages 7-14). The price of each camp ranges from $100 - $125 and runs from 8:30am-3:00pm. Scan the QR Code to sign up and pay online. Any questions, email John Ellenberger, the Director of Student Activities at Annandale High School at @email.
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Park Authority Camps
Click the link to register https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/camps
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