Principal's Note - May 18, 2020

By Margaret Barnes
Principal's Note
May 18, 2020

Good morning, Holmes Families!

I hope that you all are doing well, that you and your families are healthy and safe, and that you have what you need at this time.  While our primary role as a school to support your child as a learner, we know that it is difficult for learning to take place when basic needs are not being met.  As I have for the past few newsletters, I have included community resources for families who may need it.  If your family has a need, please do not hesitate to reach out to our social worker, Jeanmarie O'Sullivan at @email, and she and our parent liaisons, Sara Astrow and Berta Stamp, will work together to help you get what you need.  

Distance Learning

I have to admit that I felt surprised when I looked at the calendar this weekend, and saw that there are just 4 weeks of school left in the 2019-20 school year.  At this point, you have hopefully received your student's 3rd quarter report card in the mail or seen the grades on ParentVue.  Just when it seems like we are getting into a bit of rhythm with distance learning, the year is almost over.  Our teachers are still working hard to plan for student learning each week, and will continue to post lesson grids by Tuesday morning of each week.  Our last day of distance learning classes, will be Friday, June 12th.  

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"What about my stuff?"

This is probably the most popular question that I have received from students since we were last in school on March 12th.  I am so appreciative of your patience, and I am excited to share that I finally have an answer!  

To ensure that we have a healthy and safe process, no students or parents/guardians will be permitted to enter the building to retrieve personal items.  A limited number of volunteers from our staff will be coming in each day this week to clean out student hallway and gym lockers (following all recommended safeguards by the CDC and the Fairfax County Health Department).  All items in the locker will be placed in a bag that will be labeled with your student's name, grade, ID number, and locker number.  Parents/guardians will sign up for an appointment time using the SignUp Genius link for curbside pickup of the student's items.  I'll detail the process below.  At no time will you or your student need to exit your vehicle.  (NOTE: Parents/guardians of students with medications in the clinic will be emailed separately and invited to come in on Thursday, 5/21 to pick up the medications and student personal items.)

Curbside pickup of your student's items will be available between 7:30 am and 3:30 pm on the following dates:

  • Tuesday, 5/26
  • Thursday, 5/28
  • Monday, 6/1
  • Tuesday, 6/2
  • Thursday, 6/4
  • Monday, 6/8
  • Tuesday, 6/9
  • Thursday, 6/11

NOTE: Any items (including medications) not collected by June 30th will be  discarded. 

Steps to follow:

  • Choose a time to pick up your student's items, using the SignUp Genius link.  Once you choose a date, please ensure that you save the appointment time on the calendar.  You will also receive an email reminder 24 hours before your appointment time. 
  • Have your student locate and gather items that are the property of the school (e.g., library books or other books that may have been borrowed from teachers' classroom libraries.)  Students in Mr. Abbott's Geometry class and Ms. Covington's Algebra classes should also return their calculators.  (NOTE: See below the map for instructions about laptops and instruments.)
  • At the time of your appointment, enter the school parking lot at the entrance closest to the pool (see map below). 
    • Drive straight along the line of buses and turn right and pull up to Door 6 to check in.  At Door 6, you will return any items you have, you will sign for any medications returned to you (if applicable), and then you will be directed to the next station
  • The next station will be doors 2-5, depending on your student's last name:
    • Door 5: Student Last Name A-EL
    • Door 4: Student Last Name Em-L
    • Door 3: Student last Name M-Q
    • Door 2: Student Last Name R-Z
  • Student items placed in your car.  A staff member wearing a face mask and gloves will place the bag of items retrieved from your student's locker(s) in the trunk or backseat of your car.  
  • To help with the flow of traffic, turn left and drive past door 1 to exit the parking lot at the exit closest to Braddock Road.  

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What about laptops?  Please note that ALL students who received a school-issued laptop will be able to keep it at least through the last day of school.  We are waiting for more guidance about the process for returning them, which will be shared at a later date (after June 12th).  

What about instruments & performance attire for music classes?  ALL students in band and orchestra should keep their instruments and method books through the last day of school.  For 8th graders going to high school, for any students who are not returning to Holmes next year, or any students not continuing with band, chorus or orchestra classes next year, we will send out a process for returning the instruments, performance attire, and method books at a later date (after June 12th).  

If you have any questions about picking up items for your student, please contact your student's administrator: 

  • Student Last Name A-L: Mrs. Moore - @email
  • Student Last Name M-Z: Mr. Simmons - @email

In today's newsletter, scroll down for information about:

  • Holmes MS Distance Learning Schedule
  • 2019-20 Yearbooks
  • Affordable Internet Options
  • Food Resources
  • Community Resources
  • Social-Emotional and Wellness Resources for Families
  • Important Dates
  • How to Stay in Touch

Thanks, everyone, and have a wonderful week!  Please feel free to reach out to me or anyone on my team with any questions you have!

Sincerely,

Margaret Barnes

Proud Principal, Holmes MS

[email protected]

#SoarTogether

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Holmes MS Distance Learning Schedule

Distance Learning Chart by Teacher

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Yearbooks are still on sale!  Reserve a copy of the 2019-2020 Holmes Middle School yearbook today (with the option of a digital version in addition to the hard copy of the yearbook).  Use this link to purchase a book or find an existing order.

NOTE: We did explore an option about shipping directly to student's home, but we have opted to have all yearbooks shipped to the school to be picked up at a later date.  Once we are able to allow students back in the building to clean out lockers, we will also use that time to collect laptops and distribute yearbooks. 

Affordable Internet Options

If you or someone you know is in need of free or low-cost internet, please explore the options below: 

  • Comcast/Xfinity: Internet Essentials
  • Cox: Cox Connect2Compete supplies broadband internet access to low-income, unconnected families in Fairfax County. Households who meet income and other guidelines will be offered free Internet service through July 15, ($9.95 per month afterward), free modem rental, free installation, and a price guarantee for two years. More information is available on the Cox website
  • Verizon: Lifeline

Food Resources

FCPS Continues to Provide Breakfast and Lunch to Students

Click HERE for details.  

Free Hot Meal Courtesy of Chef Jose Andres & World Central Kitchen

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Weekend Meal Sites for Families

Below is information about two weekend meal sites for families:

  • No ID or proof of need is required. 
  • Family members may pick up meals on behalf of their entire family – children do not need to be present. 
  • Meals will be served during the below-listed timeframes, while quantities last. 

ACCA Child Development Center 7200 Columbia Pike #2, Annandale, VA 22003 Individual whole-grain crust pizzas with vegetable toppings, fresh fruit Saturdays, 2:30 PM while quantities last

John Calvin Presbyterian Church 6531 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003  Individual whole-grain crust pizzas with vegetable toppings, fresh fruit Sundays, 2:30 PM while quantities last

These weekend sites also offer an opportunity for those who would like to help sustain this program. With a minimum donation of $50, you can order a Pizzeria Paradiso Pizza Kit which includes all of the ingredients needed to make two wholesome 12” pizzas at home (and a link to instructions and a video!).  Each donation will provide meals for four additional families in our area! Kits may be Pre-Ordered and picked at the ACCA Child Development Center on Saturday or John Calvin Presbyterian Church on Sunday between 3:30 and 4:30 PM. More details at the link above.

Community Resources

assistance

Social-Emotional and Wellness Resources for Families

School-Based Social Emotional Learning and Wellness Resources During Distance Learning

School Counselors, School Psychologists, and School Social Workers are available to support students, families and staff during distance learning. They are supporting students, families and staff in many of the same ways as they did prior to distance learning, but it may look different now.

Here is what schools are doing to continue social emotional learning and mental wellness:

● Instructional activities addressing social and emotional skills and mental wellness topics are embedded in instruction to include school counseling and Health & PE lessons/activities.

● Consultation for teachers is provided to support students’ social, emotional, and mental health needs in an instructional setting.

● Individualized student and family support is available at all school levels to address social emotional learning, mental wellness, and access to basic needs.

● Mental Wellness Consultation: Parents may schedule a 30-minute phone consultation with a school psychologist or school social worker, for either themselves or their middle or high school student. This is an opportunity for parents to receive guidance on how to support their student’s emotional well-being. For more information, click the following link: Mental Wellness Consultation

To learn more about these activities, please contact your student’s school counselor, school psychologist, or school social worker.

Here is more information on what you can do to support your student at home:

• The FCPS Learning from Home: Support for Families webpage is updated frequently and has many helpful links: FCPS Learning from Home: Support for Families

• The FCPS COVID-19 Website contains valuable information regarding how to talk with your child about the Coronavirus, managing stress, healthy coping, community and emergency mental health resources. For more information, click the following link: COVID-19 Mental Health & Community Resources website

• Online training simulations are available to help you learn and recognize signs of distress, manage conversations, and connect your student/family to support services. For more information, click the following link: Kognito

• Video clips of FCPS students sharing their thoughts and tips on coping with Coronavirus. To view these videos, please click the following link: Student Voice: Coronavirus

• Our Healthy Minds Blog will also be updated with entries throughout the closure: Healthy Minds Blog

• In case of an emergency or for immediate assistance, please click on the following link: Mental Health Resources and Emergency Services Information

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Important Dates

  • Mon., 5/25, - Memorial Day Holiday
  • Fri., 6/12 - Last Day of School

Newsletter Archive

How to Stay In-Touch

Please stay in touch with us throughout the year by:

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