Principal's Note - Oct 18, 2024

By Serena Giron

Photo Gallery

October 24, 2024

Important Dates

Friday, 10/18 - 8th Grade Band Night - Edison High School
Friday, 10/18, 5-9 PM - Annual Basketball Tournament at Luther Jackson MS
Wednesday, 10/23, 5:30-6:30 PM - PTA Meeting
Wednesday, 10/23 Fall Festival during After-School Program
Friday, 10/25 - Picture Retake Day
Tuesday, 10/29, 7 PM - Fall Preview concert of Advanced Chorus, Chamber Orchestra and Symphonic Band
Thursday, 10/31 - 2-HOUR EARLY RELEASE / 1st Quarter Ends
Friday, 11/1 - NO SCHOOL / Diwali and All Saints Day
Monday, 11/4 - NO SCHOOL / School Planning Day
Tuesday, 11/5 - NO SCHOOL / Teacher Workday
Monday, 11/11 - NO SCHOOL / Veterans Day
Wednesday 11/27 - Friday 11/29 - NO SCHOOL / Thanksgiving

Message from Principal Giron

Holmes Families,

With just 9 days left in the quarter, I want to thank you for your ongoing support and involvement! Your partnership plays a crucial role in our students' success, and we greatly appreciate the impact you have on their education. Please take a moment to check ParentVue with your child to review any missing assignments, and encourage them to reach out to their teachers to ensure everything is turned in before the end of the quarter. For additional support, please reach out to your child’s counselor (information is below in Admin/Counselor Team Information).

We’re excited to announce the No Tardy Party Class Challenge to celebrate our students arriving to class on time! During the week of 10/28, we will randomly select a class period. If every student in that class is on time, the teacher can enter the class into a raffle. The winning class will receive a special treat! Please encourage your students to be on time—you never know which class period might be chosen!

As a reminder, we will also hold our 2nd annual Fall Festival with PTA support on October 23rd during our after-school program from 2:15 - 4:45PM. The festival is available to all Holmes students and includes a DJ, dance, movies, and many fall activities. Please encourage your child to sign up before 10/23 to attend. Sign-ups will open 10/7 and can be found in the all student Schoology course. For any questions, please contact Matt Kruk; @email. You can also reach out to the PTA at @email if you are interested in volunteering or donating.

Next week is our Fall Spirit Week! The days were planned by NJHS students. See the poster below for more details:

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Serena Giron

Principal

Reporting Your Student’s Attendance

All Day Absence:

1. Use ParentVUE. Log in and click “Report Absence.” Don’t Have a SIS ParentVUE Account Yet? Contact your school for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage.

2. Call the attendance line on 703-658-5919 and leave a message with spelling of your student's first and last names, your name and relationship to the student, and a reason for absence.

3. Send an email to @email with your student's first and last names, your name and relationship to the student, and a reason for absence.

Partial Absence:

To report late arrivals, early dismissals, or to update already submitted attendance

1. Call the attendance line on 703-658-5919 and leave a message with spelling of your student's first and last names, and a reason for late arrival or early dismissal.

2. Send an email to @email with your student's first and last names, your name and relationship to the student, and a reason for late arrival or early dismissal.

Changes to Dismissal

1. We will no longer accept requests to change a student’s method of dismissal after 1:30 PM. Please ensure that you contact the front office at 703-658-5900 before 1:30PM for any changes. Thank you for your understanding.

2. There will be no early dismissals after 1:30 PM at Holmes Middle School, except in the case of an emergency. Please note that doctor's appointments are not considered emergencies. Thank you for your understanding.

Apply for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Eighth grade students who are interested in applying to the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) may begin their application next week.

Application Timeline:

Start Date: Monday, October 21st at 4 PM
Begin Application By: Wednesday, November 13th by 4 PM
Submit Application By: Friday, November 15th at 4 PM

Students apply directly on the TJ website linked HERE

The requirements can be found on the TJ admissions website linked HERE, which also includes a GPA calculator.

If after reviewing the TJ website, you or your student still have questions about the application process, please contact Kelly Murphy at (703) 658-5911 or @email

Attention 6th Grade Families

After careful consideration, FCPS has decided to skip Unit 2 of the Benchmark Advance program, titled "Characters at Crossroads."

This decision was made after a thorough review of the unit's content and instructional approach. FCPS determined that some of the core texts had the potential to be emotionally harmful to our students due to the sensitive nature of the topics and the limited historical and social context provided. Our priority is to create a safe and supportive learning environment for all students, and we believe this decision aligns with that goal.

We understand this change may raise questions, and I want to assure you that we are committed to providing our students with a high-quality education. FCPS is working closely with Benchmark to revise the unit for future use, ensuring it is both engaging and appropriate for our students. In the meantime, we will ensure that students continue to develop their literacy skills through other units and resources.

We appreciate your understanding and support. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Serena Giron at @email

Nominate Staff for Outstanding Employee Awards

It’s that time of the year! Nominations for Outstanding Employee Awards are underway. We are seeking two to three community members to be part of the Selection Committee for 2024-2025 school year. If you are interested in being part of this opportunity, please email Ms. Ramirez at @email no later than Friday, November 1^st. Thank you so much for being part of this committee.

The Federal Impact Aid Survey is now available to complete online

The Federal Impact Aid program provides money to districts that enroll federally connected students. Help FCPS secure funding from the Impact Aid Program by helping us identify:

Military families.
Federally connected families.
Families living on a military base.

Please complete one form for each child in your household. Remember that only the enrolling parent can fill out the Impact Aid Survey form.

For families without access to ParentVUE, a paper copy of the form will be sent home with your student starting November 12. Your information will be kept strictly confidential.

Your support will ensure that we receive the resources for which we are eligible.

Impact Aid

Admin/Counselor Team Information

Admin Team

Holmes MS 2024-25 Blue/White Calendar

Calendar

Holmes MS 2024-25 Bell Schedule

bell

After-School Program Weekly News

Hawks Highlights from After-School from week 10/14-10/18

Gardening Club

Gardening

Capital One Coders

ASP Upcoming Schedule 10/21-10/25

Block 1

Block 2

Fall Festival – Wednesday October 23^rd (during After-School from 2:15-4:45)

On Wednesday 10/23, we’ll have our annual Fall Festival during the After-School Program.
The festival is available to all Holmes students and includes a DJ, dance, movies, and many fall activities.
Regular After-School buses will be available to our students.
Students must sign-up before 10/23 to attend.
Sign-ups for the fall festival will open on Monday October 7^th and can be found in the all student Schoology course.
For questions – contact Matt Kruk; @email

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 before 4:45.
Walkers with parent/guardian permission, may sign themselves out any time after 3:30 when first block ends.
Walkers must have written permission (may be emailed) from their parent/guardian to walk.
Students must be picked up no later than 5pm.
Students are not permitted to leave school grounds before checking out in the main office.

Questions/Concerns

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

From Holmes MS Family Liaisons

Family Coffee 10/16 Recording & Resources

Thank you to all families who attended this month’s Family Coffee at Holmes Middle School. The topic was Adjusting to Middle School. Families learned about attendance procedures, academic progress and grades, advanced programming, ways to connect with Holmes, and our Student Services support. The recording, presentation, and resources shared can be found on our Website.

Strengthening Families Class

Families

Holmes MS PTA

Join the Holmes MS PTA and attend meetings (4th Wednesday of the month; translation services provided)

PTA Facebook
Join
Purchase Spirit Wear
Upcoming events:
- Every Wednesday Papa Johns 11am-11pm, use code HMS4010 for 40% off your order (Annandale location only)
- 10/11 Panera Spirit Night, 4-8pm Vincent Gate Terrace location, enter code FUND4U at online checkout
- 10/23 Fall Festival, sign up here to volunteer or make a donation
- 10/23 General membership meeting, Holmes library and Zoom
- 11/8 Jollibee Spirit Day, 9am-10pm, 4809 Beauregard St. location, mention Holmes, and 20% of your order comes back to the school

Free Resources For Families

Learning Ally and The Dollar General Literacy Foundation have teamed up to launch new FREE resources for families:

A Literacy Video Series and downloadable guides—rich with tips and actionable steps for parents and caregivers to help promote literacy with their children as they progress in their education journey: Early Literacy, Elementary, Middle, and High School.

Join literacy expert Dr. Terrie Noland and renowned voice actor Michael Burgess in this fun and engaging video series.

Online Java Coding Courses

Java

Safeway Immunization Clinics for All FCPS Students

Safeway Pharmacy will host immunization clinics for any FCPS student age 18 or younger at Frost Middle School on Monday, October 28, and Tuesday, October 29, from 3 to 7 p.m.

Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are highly encouraged to avoid wait times. A parent or guardian must accompany walk-in students age 18 or younger to provide consent. Learn more about immunization resources and registering in other languages for the Safeway clinic.

Students age 19 and older may access free immunizations at their middle/high school immunization clinic, the Fairfax County Health Department or through other community resources.

Elementary School Clinics

The Fairfax County Health Department will provide immunizations for FCPS elementary students on limited early release Mondays at their district offices. All school-required immunizations will be offered at no cost. Call 703-246-7100 to make your appointment.

Middle and High School Clinics

FCPS is partnering with the health department to host immunization clinics at middle and high schools. Clinics will take place during the school day. Students may only participate in the clinic at the school where they are enrolled. Parental/caregiver consent is required for students to receive immunizations.

Please check the Immunization Resources page for clinic locations, dates, and how to submit a consent form.

Our Schools, Our Future: Register Today for a Community Conversation!

Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid will host a series of Community Conversations this fall. She invites you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Click the dates below to register for any of the following conversations:

Events take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Childcare and language interpretation services will be provided.

FCPS News - In Case You Missed It

FCPS News In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
All FCPS Schools Accredited
How FCPS Is Teaching Reading and Writing
Become a Special Education Teacher

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.

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
monitoring your student's progress with SIS Parent Account
join the Holmes MS PTA and attend meetings

Follow Us on Social Media

Stay connected with Holmes Middle School by following us on social media! It's the best way to keep up with our latest news, celebrate student achievements, and be part of our vibrant community. Whether you're a student, parent, or community member, you'll find exciting updates, important announcements, and inspiring stories that showcase the spirit of Holmes!

Links: Instagram

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