Dear Holmes Families: 

Good evening!  I hope that you all had enjoyed the long weekend!  With just 3 weeks left in this school year, we are gearing up for a number of end-of-year events, including concerts and other performances from students in the Arts department (scroll to Important Dates for details), the 8th grade celebration, the grade-level awards ceremonies, and the SCA Activity Day.  Parents/guardians of students receiving awards will receive a letter in the mail (although the award will remain a surprise!).  

SOL Testing

All SOLs were completed on Friday, 5/25.  This week, makeups for students who were absent will be conducted, and teachers will continue working with those students who are eligible to retake their SOL (scored between 375-399).  If you have any questions regarding the testing for your student, please contact Mr. Chris Kamar at [email protected].  

Last Day for After School Clubs and Late Buses

Please note that the last day for After School clubs was Friday, May 25th.  Late buses will still be available on Mondays, Wednesday, and Thursdays for students who need to stay after with teachers for academic help, or who go to Homework or Hawk Clubs.  Hawk Club will continue to be available through Friday, June 8th.  The last day for late buses will be Thursday, June 7th.  If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Cabezas.

SCA Activity Day - Seeking Chaperones

As our school year comes to a close, SCA, Grade Level Leaders, and all of Holmes Faculty are planning another “End of the Year: Activity Day”. Last year was successful due to the amazing collaboration between PTA, parent/guardian volunteers, and staff. We are looking to do this Round 2 bigger, better, and kick it up notch! SCA would like to for volunteers to join in celebrating the hard work and successes of our students.

Overall Event Detail

• SCA – EOY Activity Day (consists of 3 parts): Morning Movie, Event Rotations, Faculty vs. Student Basketball game
• Morning Movie (7:30am – 9:55am): Currently, we are planning on showing the inspiring and heartwarming movie, Wonder
• Station Rotation (10:00am – 12:35pm): Holmes Middle School and the student body will be divided up into 4 Stations. Each Station will have a variety of activities for students to choose from: Arts & Crafts, Wii Sports, Relay Games, Board Games, Outside Activities, and more.
• Home Base 1: Movie in Lecture Hall
• Home Base 2: Music and Games in Gymnasium
• Faculty vs. Student Basketball Game (12:40pm – 1:20pm / 1:25pm – 2:05pm): We will have 2 rotations of the Faculty vs. Student Basketball Game. During the game, we will have a special performance from our students.

As logistics for SCA – EOY Activity Day become finalized, the following with complete detail will be provided: Overall Day Schedule, Itinerary, Rotation Details, Station Diagram.

As we have all of Holmes Staff assisting in this event, we are seeking out Parent/Guardian volunteers that would like to chaperone, contribute, and participate in this grand celebration. We do not expect parents to stay all day, but if we could get about 20+ volunteers throughout the day, that would be amazing. Also, if parents/guardians would like to host an activity of their own, please have them contact me ( @email ) to see if we can coordinate something and to ensure that it works out logistically.

Student development does not begin and end throughout the school day. Rather, learning continues from experiences and through the support of our community. Thank you for your constant contributions to the success of Holmes students.  

Fundraiser for 8th Grade EOY Activity

Ms.Hoatling, parent of one of our 8th grade students, will be presenting at a Jamberry Party.  Jamberry is Nail care company with nails wraps, lacquers, gels and hand care products offering you "Signature Style at your Fingertips”. She will be donating her commission along with other contributions to assist with the cost of the 8th grade EOY activity.  Click on the link below for details and to register for the party.

https://jammintoria.jamberry.com/us/en/shop/party/home/89cc7e21-6566-4608-8561-f3f809ffe730

BOGO Book Fair

Coming June 4th-8th.  The BOGO Bookfair!  Stock up for summer reading fun.  Early shopping and volunteer sign-up available now at http://www.scholastic.com/bf/hmsreads

More in our newsletter this week:

• May/June SOL Schedule
• Next Week's Schedule of Classes
• Next Week's After School Program Schedule 
• Free STEM Summer Camp for Girls
• Register your student for FCPS VIP Summer Camp!!
• FCPS, Northern Virginia Community College Offer Summer STEM Camps
• FCPS and Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (DNCS) have teamed up to offer a 5 week camp for rising 7th and 8th graders
• Annandale High School Summer Sports Camps
• TJ Prep Camp Summer 2018
• Teens in Action Camp
• How To Stay In Touch

Thank you, and have a wonderful week!  

Sincerely,

Margaret Barnes, Principal

[email protected]                   

May/June SOL Schedule

Interested in learning more about the SOL exams your child will take?  Here are links from the Virginia Department of Education for:

• Civics (8th grade only)
• English (all grades)
• Math (all grades)
• Science (8th grade only, but covers content from 6th-8th grades)

Next Week's Schedule of Classes: 5/28-6/1

This week: Mon., 5/28= NO SCHOOL / MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY Tues., 5/29=Blue Day  Wed., 5/30 = White Day  w/ ER 5 & 6 Thurs., 5/31 = Blue Day  Fri., 6/1 = White Day w/ ER 7 & 8 (ER 8 Lesson: IB School-wide Lesson)  *NOTE: Students can always find the blue-white calendar in their agendas or on the website HERE.

After School Program (ASP) - Week of 5/28

Please note that the last day for clubs in After School will be Friday, May 25th. 

For any questions you have about the After School Program, please contact German Cabezas at [email protected].

Free STEM Summer Camp for Girls

The Camp is designed for students with an interest in aviation and seeks to empower young women to succeed in STEM disciplines. Throughout the two-week Camp, the students will participate in a number of aviation activities, including hands-on flight instruction on FAA certified simulators, a 30-minute discovery flight with a local flight school, a high-altitude weather balloon launch and indoor skydiving. They will also meet women working in a variety of aviation fields, such as air traffic control, cyber security and commercial aviation.

Open to sixth through eighth grade girls, the museum will offer the free aviation-focused experience to underserved students in D.C., Maryland and Virginia at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Va.

Participants must be from Title 1-eligible schools or be eligible for free or reduced lunch. Interested students must submit an application. The application is available on the museum's website at https://airandspace.si.edu/shecan.

About the Camp

Students can participate in one of two sessions, hosted at the Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia.

Session 1
Monday, July 23 –  Friday, August 3
Weekdays, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Session 2
Monday, August 6 – Friday, August 17
Weekdays, 9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Each session will consist of 30 students. Transportation to activities as well as lunch and snacks provided. 

FCPS, Northern Virginia Community College Offer Summer STEM Camps

Fairfax County Public Schools is partnering with Northern Virginia Community College to offer more than a dozen one-week STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) summer camps during the summer break.

Open to students currently enrolled in grades 3-12, these one-week camps emphasize hands-on learning, teamwork, critical thinking, and career awareness in a fun and engaging way. Topics include robotics, coding, forensics, cybersecurity, app design, aviation, and pre-health.

Camps will run June 18 through August 3 at the following locations: Edison High School, Marshall High School, Westfield High School, and Hughes Middle School. Discounts are available to parents who sign up their child for multiple camps or sign up multiple children.

Additional information and registration is available online or by contacting STEM Outreach Coordinator Charles Britt at @email or 703-425-5917.

FCPS and Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (DNCS) have teamed up to offer a 5 week camp for rising 7th and 8th graders

What is your middle school child doing this summer?

Like you, we believe your child is a Very Important Person and deserves a summer experience that is safe and full of fitness, friends, fun and enrichment.  FCPS and Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (DNCS) have teamed up to offer a 5 week camp for rising 7th and 8th graders. 

Our camp will be a combination of students from the following middle schools: Glasgow, Holmes, Jackson, Kilmer, Poe, and Thoreau.  Bus transportation will be provided from various pick-up locations which will be communicated in June prior to the start of camp. 

There is a $50 registration fee.  We will take weekly field trips and pricing information for that will be released after we have notified students of acceptance.  Students who do not attend the field trips will not need to pay the field trip fees, but will need to stay home from camp that day as all of our staff will attend the trip.  Students will also have the option of choosing which trips to attend. 

The staff is led by your local After-School Specialists and trained DNCS staff.  Campers will have a great time playing sports, games, doing arts and crafts and exploring concepts in science and technology.

Details:

Dates: July 2, 2018 - August 2, 2018 (campers are encouraged to attend all 5 weeks)

Times: 8:00am-4:00pm

Location: Thoreau Middle School

Registration:  Begins on Monday, March 19th, and will close on Friday, April 20th.   You can expect to receive notice of acceptance or waitlist status soon after registration closes in late April.  Registration fee payment information will be communicated at that time.  Sign up by picking up a registration packet from Thoreau's main office or visiting this link: https://goo.gl/forms/lEikoWujZQ06I5eh2

Cost: $50 registration fee plus field trip fees (admission plus transportation cost)

With limited spaces available, it’s important to submit your registration as soon as possible. 

Questions? Contact Shannon Campbell at @email or 703-846-8089.

Annandale High School Summer Sports Camps

Teens in Action Camp

When Fairfax County Public Schools are closed for the spring, summer and winter breaks, RECQuest offers an engaging, healthy and affordable recreation program for children to learn, play and serve. Activities include team sports, games, arts and crafts, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programming, service projects, cultural field trips and much more! Free nutritious lunches and snacks are served.

Teens in Action Dates & Registration

• Spring 2018: Check back for 2019 dates
• Summer 2018 (English, Spanish)- Registration Opens April 1: June 18 - August 24 (July 4 is a county holiday - no programs)
• Winter 2018: TBD 

Teens in Action Eligibility, Fees & Scholarship Opportunities

• Teens In Action is for youth ages 12 to 18 living in Fairfax County.
• Admission to Teens In Action is free. Some activities and field trips will require a fee in order to participate. Please contact your Teens In Action location for details.
• Financial assistance is available - eligibility requirements apply. Please contact your Teens In Action location for details.

Teens in Action Locations

James Lee Community Center
2855-A Annandale Road, Falls Church, VA 22042
Phone: 703-534-3387, TTY 711

Mott Community Center
12111 Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA 22030
Phone: 703-278-8605, TTY 711

Providence Community Center
3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031
Phone: 703-865-0520, TTY 711

Reston Teen Center
12196 Sunset HIlls Road, Reston, VA 20190
Phone: 703-326-7040, TTY 711

South County Teen Center
8350 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA 22309
703-704-6234, TTY 711

Important Dates

• Wednesday, 5/30 - Little Feet Meet for Special Olympics at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School
• Wednesday, 5/30, 7:00 PM Band Concert (Gym)
• Thursday, 5/31, 7:00 PM - Advanced Theatre Showcase (Cafeteria)
• Monday, 6/4 - 6/8 - Scholastic Book Fair (Library)
• Tuesday, 6/5, 7:00 PM - Music Recital (Gym)
• Thursday, 6/7 - Last Day for Late Buses
• Friday, 6/8, 7:00-9:00 PM - 8th Grade Celebration (Cafeteria)
• Monday, 6/11, 8:00 AM - 6th Grade Awards Ceremony (Gym)
• Monday, 6/11, 6:30 PM - PTA Meeting
• Tuesday, 6/12, 8:00 AM - 7th Grade Awards Ceremony (Gym)
• Wednesday, 6/13, 8:00 AM - 8th Grade Awards Ceremony (Gym)
• Thursday, 6/14 - SCA Schoolwide Activity Day
• Friday, 6/15 - Last Day of School / 2-hour early release

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