Good evening, Holmes Families!

Every year, March is designated Women's History Month by presidential proclamation. The month is set aside to honor women's contributions in American history. 

Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Read more about Women’s History Month in National Geographic Kids. 

Do you have your tickets for the Student/Faculty Basketball Game - Thursday, 3/9?

Our Holmes PTA is so excited to bring this tradition back!  Join us on Thursday, March 9th, for our student/faculty basketball game.  Students must attend with an adult.  Use your phone's camera to purchase tickets from the link that comes up at the QR code below. Hope to see you there!

Parent Coffee - 3/10, 10-11 am

Please join our next Parent Coffee on Friday, March 10th at 10-11am.  You can join in person or virtually using this zoom link: https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/92971860698 

Topic: DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP: FRIENDSHIPS AND BOUNDARIES

College Planning Program (CPP) for 8th Graders

The CPP program is open to all 8^th graders that are interested in participating. CPP is designed to systematically mitigate the impact of barriers to access, opportunity, and attainment and support students who are from populations that are historically underrepresented on college campuses. The main goal is to familiarize 8th graders with what the college expectations will be for freshman admissions.

Please direct all questions to Ms. Sandra Turner at @email.

Here are today's newsletter topics:

Holmes Updates

• Student Services Information
• 2022-23 Blue/White Calendar
• 2022-23 Bell Schedule
• After School Schedule Next Week
• Holmes MS PTA
• From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison
• Testing Information & Quarter 3 Testing Windows 
• Important Upcoming Dates
• How to Stay Connected to Holmes MS

FCPS & Community Updates

• Request Your Free Student Bus Pass Today!
• Parental Notifications and Policy 3290: Sexually Explicit Content
• Braddock and Springfield District Town Hall
• Youth Substance Use Presentations
• Summer Camps & Learning Opportunities
• Stay Connected with FCPS

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

@email

#TeamHolmes

HOLMES UPDATES

Student Services Information

2022-23 Blue/White Calendar

From Mr. Kruk, our After School Specialist

After-School Program Weekly News & Notes from 2/27-3/3

Student of the Week

The After-School Program Student of the week: Connor Uzokoff

• Connor has been nominated by our staff because of his positive attitude, responsible behavior, and commitment to the After-School Program.
• Connor has participated in many different clubs consistently throughout the school year including; RC Cars Club, Cards & Games Club, and the School Musical.
• Great work Connor!

Summer VIP Program is back!

• What?:
  • FCPS and Neighborhood & Community Services come together to provide a 4-week all day summer program.
  • Our VIP Program will combine 6 middle schools this summer; Holmes, Poe, Glasgow, Luther Jackson, Thoreau, and Kilmer Middle School.
  • Program supports students’ social, emotional, physical, and academic growth through a wide-range of academic and recreational opportunities.
  • There is a registration fee associated with the program to be determined soon. Last year’s cost was $50 per student for the 4 weeks.
• Who?: For any rising 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade Holmes student.
• When?: June 28^th – July 27^th (tentative timeframe 9am-4pm)
• Where?: Luther Jackson Middle School
• How?:
  • Registration is set to open on Monday, March 20^th via google link.
  • Registration link and payment form will be sent home to all Holmes families when available.
  • Bus transportation is provided but only from Holmes MS to Luther Jackson MS in the morning, and then from Luther Jackson MS back to Holmes MS in the afternoon.
• Interested? Please complete this interest form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeND25vkljQOzlD9kjYOLS4tP8pHK8YjuYRQcnwk9yIm4KdQA/viewform?usp=sf_link
• More details to follow in the next few weeks.

After School Schedule 3/6-3/10

Students Leaving After-School before 4:45

• • Any student staying after school must be signed out of the main office by a parent or guardian if leaving prior to 4:45.
  • Walkers may sign themselves out any time after 3:30 when first block ends.

Questions/Concerns

Contact the After-School Specialist, Matt Kruk, @email

Holmes MS PTA

We invite EVERY family at Holmes to participate in the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) because we can do more together! Advocate for your child, and for all the children at Holmes.  Connect with other parents, so that we can build a stronger community for ourselves and our children. This year, the Holmes PTA is planning on holding in-person meetings again, so you can meet face-to-face with other parents and with Ms. Barnes.  We're also planning restaurant nights, Bingo Nights, a Fun Run, Teacher Appreciation Week, and so much more!

• Are you able to volunteer?  Submit this Google form
• Want to order Spiritwear

From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison

Upcoming Family Coffee Events:

Family Coffee Events at Holmes occur monthly. The topics coming up over the next few months can be found below. You can attend in person or over Zoom. You will receive Zoom links via News You Choose and e-Notify. Click here to register for an upcoming Family Coffee. All presentation recordings and resources are saved to Holmes Families on Schoology.

Free dental clinic coming to Richard Byrd Library in Springfield

A mobile clinic will provide free dental screenings for kids and teens without insurance at Richard Byrd Library in Springfield this weekend.

Vans from the Medical Care for Children Partnership Foundation (MCCP) — a public-private nonprofit based at Northern Virginia Community College’s Springfield campus — will stop by the library at 7250 Commerce Street from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday (March 4).

The free screenings will be available on a first-come, first-served basis for uninsured people between 3 to 18 years of age, according to a flyer.

“If further urgent dental treatment is needed, information will be given to parents about who to call,” the flyer says. “We will also bring free goody bags for each child seen.”

Founded in 2007, MCCP is dedicated to providing access to medical and dental health care for kids in Fairfax County.

Annandale Boys and Girls Club

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Testing Information & Quarter 3 Testing Windows

Important Upcoming Dates

• Tuesday, 3/7 - Pyramid Pre-Assessment Chorus - Annandale HS (7 pm)

• Thursday, 3/9 - Holmes PTA Basketball Night 

• Friday, 3/10 - Parent Coffee (10-11 am)
• 3/10-3/11 - Band Assessment - Sandburg MS
• 3/10-3/11 - Orchestra Assessment - Alexandria City HS
• Tuesday, 3/14 - Pyramid MS Chorus Concert - Justice HS (7 pm)
• 3/17-3/18 - Choral Assessment - Sandburg MS
• 3/24-3/25 -  Musical - Footloose
• 3/29 - Band/Orchestra Concert - Holmes Gym (7 pm)
• 4/3/2023 - 4/7/2023 - NO SCHOOL / Spring Break 
• Thursday, 4/13 - 2-Hour Early Release / End of 3rd Quarter
• Friday, 4/14 - NO SCHOOL / Orthodox Good Friday /Teacher Workday
• Friday, 4/21- NO SCHOOL / Eid al Fitr
• Friday, 5/12 - Holmes PTA Fun Run
• Monday, 5/29 - NO SCHOOL / Memorial Day
• Friday, 6/16 - 2-Hour Early Release / Last Day of School

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
  • PTA Facebook
  • Online PTA Membership Form
  • MemberHub

FCPS & Community Updates

Request Your Free Student Bus Pass Today!

Parental Notifications and Policy 3290: Sexually Explicit Content

A Virginia law passed in spring 2022 requires schools to create a policy for parental notification of sexually explicit content/materials. In December 2022, the School Board adopted FCPS Policy 3290: Parental Notification Regarding Instructional Materials with Sexually Explicit Content. 

FCPS has had policies in place for many years regarding the review of instructional materials, communication with parents, and options for alternative instructional materials.

An expectation of this new policy is the 30-day parental notification requirement of sexually explicit content in instructional materials assigned or selected by teachers. After reviewing the notification letter, parents or caregivers who prefer to choose alternative instructional materials for their child must submit this form to the appropriate teacher within the 30-day notification window. View Policy 3290 for more information.

Braddock and Springfield District Town Hall

Join Springfield District Representative Laura Jane Cohen, Braddock District Representative Megan McLaughlin, FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid, and Student Representative to the School Board Michele Togbe for a town hall. All Braddock and Springfield District parents/guardians, staff, students, and community members are welcome. We hope to see you there!

When: Tuesday, March 21, 2023, from 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Where: Lake Braddock Secondary School (Little Theater), 9200 Burke Lake Road, Burke, VA

*If American Sign Language or language interpretation is needed, please submit your request by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 10, 2023.

Youth Substance Use Presentations

• FCPS is dedicated to providing parents and community members with the most accurate and up-to-date information on youth substance use, prevention, addiction, interventions and available supports. Please join us and our partners from the Fairfax County Police Department and Community Services Board as we discuss these topics as well as the ongoing opioid crisis. Attendees will walk away with an understanding of:

• Alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and opioid.
• List what you can do as a caregiver.
• How to identify and connect with community resources.

Please see below for more information about presentations in Annandale HS and Edison HS. 

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Summer Camps & Learning Opportunities

Tech Adventure Camp and CTE Summer Academy

We are excited to provide the following information about our 2023 CTE summer enrichment camps! The FCPS Career and Technical Education (CTE) office is once again offering two enrichment programs this year - Tech Adventure Camp and CTE Summer Academy.

What is CTE Summer Enrichment

• Hands-on, exploratory enrichment programs
• Teaches students engaging and exciting content in Career and Technical Education (CTE)
• Helps students make connections to careers and develop new skills

2023 Programs

• Tech Adventure Camp: Students in Kindergarten - grade 6 explore STEAM, culinary, health, trades, and computer science by rotating through daily classes
• NEW TO 2023: Tech Adventure Camp is now open to current kindergarten and 1st grade students!!
• CTE Summer Academy: Students in grades 7 - 11 choose their classes and dive deeper into CTE program areas, skills, and career exploration

Details

• Cost - $275 per week
• *Fee waived for a select number of Free and Reduced Meal students
• Dates - July 10 - 14; July 17 - 21; and July 24 - 28
• Time - 8:30 am to 2:00 pm
• *Early drop off begins at 7:30 am
• Different weekly offerings
• Transportation from select FPCS schools is provided!

Additional Information can be found on our websites!

• Tech Adventure Camp -ly/FCPS_TAC
• CTE Summer Academy -ly/FCPS_CSA

Registration for both camps will begin February 1st. Our websites are updated regularly with more information. Feel free to contact Beth Mehr, CTE Summer Programs Educational Specialists, for more information. We look forward to creating, exploring, and learning with your students this summer!

Institute for the Arts Camps (IFTA)

IFTA is a two- or four-week summer enrichment program for students currently in grades 6-11. Students select from nearly 90 classes in art, dance, health and physical education 9, music, self-directed economics and personal finance, and theater. Visit the IFTA website for more information and registration. 

E-IFTA is a weekly arts camp for students in grades 2-5 who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students take part in four classes every day related to dance, music, theater, and visual art. They work with FCPS fine arts teachers who create classes that are fun and engaging. Visit the E-IFTA website for more information and registration. 

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