Good afternoon, Holmes Families! 

Well, we almost had a full 5-day week last week...fingers crossed that we will this week. This week is a big one for our 8th graders, who will be taking the first of 5 SOL exams this year.  This week, each 8th grader will take both parts of the Writing SOL Exam.  The Multiple Choice will be on Tuesday & Wednesday (March 5th & 6th), and the Short Paper Essay will be on Thursday & Friday (March 7th & 8th).  A big thanks to all of our Holmes teachers who intentionally support writing in their classrooms each year, which has prepared our 8th graders well for this week.  Help us to support their success by ensuring they get to sleep early the night before their exams, that they arrive to school on time, and that they "Keep Calm" and are reassured that their teachers have prepared them well.  

Our music students also have their assessments this month, which are their big exams for the year:

• Band - March 8th & 9th, Sandburg MS
• Orchestra - March 15th & 16th, Edison HS
• Chorus - March 22nd & 23rd, Sandburg MS

If your student is performing in these assessments, each teacher will share specific performance times for each ensemble.  A special thank you to our music teachers (including our long-term band substitute, Mrs. Dobberstein) for all of the work before and after school with students to prepare for these events.  

After a very successful pyramid PTA meeting last month, I hope that you will be able to join us for our Holmes MS PTA meeting this Wednesday, March 6th, at 6:30 pm.  We'll hear from our SCA sponsors - Mr. Cho & Mrs. Lewis - along with our awesome SCA students about their work throughout the year.  We'll also share info about how to help with our upcoming Annandale Pyramid Unity Night (flyer below) on Thursday, April 4th!  

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 Newseum Field Trip and Finance Park Make-up Field Trip
• Rising 6th Grade Parent Coffee
• School Health Services Survey
• Family Engagement Survey - March 24th - April 12th 
• Annandale HS Just World Interact Club Presents: Just World Festival (This Friday, March 8th!)
• Important Dates
• How to Stay in Touch

Thanks, everyone, and have a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Margaret Barnes

Proud Principal, Holmes MS

[email protected]

#HolmesHawksSoar

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.

This Week's Schedule of Classes: 3/4 - 3/8

This week: Mon., 3/4 = Blue Day w/ ER 7 & 8 (ER 8 Lesson: Literacy Lesson) Tues., 3/5 = Blue Day  Wed., 3/6 = White Day w/ ER 1 & 2 Thurs., 3/7 = Blue Day   Fri., 3/8= White Day w/ ER 3 & 4  *NOTE: Students can always find the blue-white calendar in their agendas or on the website HERE.

After School Program - Week of 3/4

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 NEWSEUM FIELD TRIP AND FINANCE PARK MAKE-UP FIELD TRIP

Newseum Field Trip - March 13-14

All 7^th graders will be going to the Newseum on March 13^th or March 14^th to explore events in US history through various forms of news media and primary sources.  Your student should have received a permission slip through their history class that will provide more details on the field trip including which day they will be attending.  To make this field trip a success we need parent volunteers to help chaperone.  For the field trip we would need parent volunteers to meet at Holmes Middle School at 8:30am; we will arrive back from the field trip around 1:30pm.  This field trip would not be possible without the help of parent volunteers.  Please email Ms. Lynch at @email if you would like more information about the field trip or if you can commit to volunteering for it.  We appreciate all that you do for your student and Holmes Middle School.

Finance Park Make Up - March 19

Our Finance Park Make up date will be Tuesday, March 19th.  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.

Rising 6th Grade Parent Coffee

Rising 6^th grade families:

You are cordially invited to attend our second rising 6th grade parent coffee next month.  You will have an opportunity to meet with Holmes staff and to learn more about the transition to Holmes Middle School.

When: Wed, Mar 13 9AM  - (Cafeteria)

Please contact Ms. Serena Giron, Director of Student Services [email protected] or 703-658-5940 with any questions you may have.

We look forward to meeting you!

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!

Annandale HS Just World Interact Club Presents: Just World Festival

The Just World Interact Club of Annandale High School is holding its 13th Annual Just World Festival on March 8th, 2019 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.

Annandale HS, 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.

Along with this invitation to our festival, we are holding a raffle and are requesting donations for items to give away as prizes. Your donation will be recognized in our festival program and your business will be promoted during the event. In addition to donating to our festival raffle, you can also donate a general fund to help host the event. Donations will be eligible for tax write-off.

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

You may reach our teacher sponsor, Ms. Hedrick, at 703-642-4238 or @email

We thank you for your support.

The AHS Just World Interact Club

#unityindiversity

Important Dates

• Tuesday, 3/5 - Friday, 3/8 - Writing SOL for 8th Graders
• Tuesday, 3/5, 7:00 pm - Pyramid 6th Grade Chorus Concert (Annandale HS)
• Wednesday, 3/6, 6:30 pm - PTA Meeting
• Fri., 3/8 & Sat., 3/9 - Band Assessment, Sandburg MS
• Monday, 3/11 - 3-HOUR EARLY RELEASE FOR STUDENTS (STAFF DEVELOPMENT)
• Tuesday, 3/12, 7:00 pm - Pre-Assessment Chorus Concert (Annandale HS)
• Wednesday, 3/13, Newseum Field Trip
• Wednesday, 3/13,  6:00 pm - EL Family Engagement Night - (Topic: Technology & Summer Programs)
• Wednesday, 3/13, 9:00 am - Rising 6th Grade Parent Coffee
• Fri., 3/15 & Sat., 3/16  - Orchestra Assessment, Edison HS
• 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
• Thursday, 4/4, 7:00 pm - Annandale Pyramid Unity Night (Holmes vs. Poe Faculty Basketball Game)

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