Principal's Note - Oct 25, 2020

By Margaret Barnes
Principal's Note
October 25, 2020

Good afternoon, Holmes Families!

It feels like we have had two completely different seasons in one weekend!  The Barnes are cozy and comfortable at home today on this cold, rainy day.  

We had fun during Spirit Week this week!  Above is a picture of our admin team on Twin Day!  

Please remind your students to complete their SOAR Monday Minute (in their SOAR teachers' Google Classrooms) tomorrow, preferably by 10:30 am!  Thank you!

October 21st PTA Meeting

We had a great turnout at our PTA meeting last Wednesday!  We shared strategies to support your students as they organize their time and tasks, and we talked a bit about students returning to school and how concurrent instruction will allow us to maintain consistency for students and staff.  The recording is HERE.  To join the PTA and stay up to date with their activities, please check the website and like the Facebook page (be sure to like the one with the spiritwear at the top; we have been unable to remove the old one).

Returning to School In-Person  

If you have not had a chance to review Dr. Brabrand's email to families from Friday, please do so.  You can find it HERE.  Tomorrow, you will receive a communication from me detailing what the remaining phase-in groups will look like for Holmes, and you will have an opportunity to change the preference that you chose for your student(s) in July.  Please express your desire to change your preference by close of business on Friday, October 30th (a link to a form will be provided in the letter).  If you do not remember what you chose, you can check in SIS ParentVue, and we will include it in the communication tomorrow.  No action will be needed if you do not need to make a change. 

NOTE: All families who select to come to school in-person will be required to complete a Health Commitment Form detailing the procedures that must be followed each day before allowing your student(s) to come to school.  Please review this information for detailed health and safety guidance and protocols.

Later on today, I will be sending emails to families who still need to complete required forms and enroll in SIS ParentVue.  Links to all required forms can be found HERE.  

Friday, October 30th & Wednesday, November 11th

Both dates above are early release days in FCPS.  Please see the early release schedule below.  Classes will be finished at 11:35 am.  

early

Monday, November 2nd

As you know, Monday, November 2nd and Tuesday, November 3rd, are student holidays.  On Monday, November 2nd between 10 am and 2 pm, students and families will have the opportunity to come to the school for:

  • Library Curbside Checkout (see flyer below in newsletter)
  • Resistance Bands for PE classes (all students)
  • Sewing kits (students in Ms. Fontaine's FACS classes)
  • Read 180 Workbooks (students in Ms. Meisel's Reading classes)

We will send out more detailed information in next Sunday's update.  

Here are today's newsletter topics:

Holmes News

  • Student Services - Important Information
  • 2020-21 Virtual Bell Schedule
  • After School Program Schedule - October 2020
  • Holmes Middle School Theatre
  • Library Curbside Pickup - November 2nd
  • FREE Grab & Go Breakfast & Lunch Closest to Holmes
  • Congratulations to Participants Selected to Participate in the 2020 ASPIRE Summit
  • Frequently Asked Questions & Resources
  • Important Dates
  • How to Stay Connected to Holmes MS

News from around FCPS

  • SIS Weekly Progress Reports to Parents Set to Start 10/5/2020
  • Tech Help & Resources for Students & Families

Thank you, and have a great week!

Sincerely,

Margaret Barnes

Proud Principal, Holmes MS

@email

alpha

schedule

After School Program Schedule - October 2020

Virtual after-school activities will be a blend of school clubs, community service, arts and crafts, leadership, recreation and sports, and other activities. 

For any specific questions related to the After School Program or to share new ideas for after school activities, please feel free to contact Ms. Taylor, our After School Program Specialist.

ASP Schedule October 2020

HOLMES NEWS

Holmes Middle School Theatre

Theatre
  • THEATRE SPORTS - Theatre Sports is Holmes after school IMPROV team. Improv is a style of theatre in which the actors make it up "on the spot" - it is not preplanned or rehearsed and there is no script! When we are in "in-person" school, the Theatre Sports team travels to do improv competitions against other FCPS Middle Schools. During Distance Learning, THEATRE SPORTS will meet THURSDAYS from 3:00-4:00. Students do not necessarily have to come every Thursday.
  • HOLMES NEWS BROADCAST - This is new this year! Since we can't put on a play or a musical, instead we will create a monthly news broadcast. These news broadcasts will be created and recorded, and then aired as part of SOAR time once a month. The NEWS BROADCAST TEAM will meet WEDNESDAYS from 3:00 - 4:00; students do not necessarily have to come every week.
  • VOICES OF NOW - Voices of Now is a partnership with Arena Stage in Washington DC. Typically students artists work together with professional theatre artists from Arena Stage. Together these groups of artists work to devise an original script that is then performed as part of a Festival at Arena Stage. Last year, students made a movie instead. This year, Voices of Now will continue with a film production project. This project is a weekly commitment. Voices of Now will meet virtually on MONDAYS at 2:30pm. In order to participate students must attend a workshop and audition. The first interest meeting is this Monday, October 5, so make sure to fill out the attached form, found below! Still not sure? A video is embedded in the google form, check it out!

For more information about After School Theatre Programming, please COMPLETE THIS GOOGLE FORM, and Mrs. E. Murphy will be in touch.

Library Curbside Pickup - November 2nd

Click HERE to watch directions 

Click HERE  to Access Destiny to place hold 

Contacts: Ms. Haywood or Ms. Scully

revised curbside pickup

FREE Grab & Go Breakfast & Lunch Close to Holmes

Please note that it is best to check this website for the most updated information.  This food service is available for ALL students.  Here are the curbside and pop up locations closest to Holmes' neighborhoods:

Congratulations to Participants Selected to Participate in the 2020 ASPIRE Summit

Congratulations to our 7th grade girls who were chosen to participate in the 2020 ASPIRE Summit, “Women Success in the Sports Industry”. The ASPIRE program, created by The Washington Football Charitable Foundation for 7th grade girls, focuses on inspiring, educating and building confidence in young women from across the DMV.

On Tuesday, October 20, the girls heard from a panel of women who have come from different backgrounds to find success in the sports world. The guest speakers shared about their diverse roles in the industry and the participants got to ask questions and hear their inspiring stories!

Frequently Asked Questions & Resources

  • Do I need to report my student's absence during the virtual classes?

Important Dates

  • Friday, October 30th - Last day of Quarter 1, Early Release Day
    • Reminder: Beginning this year, all teachers at Holmes MS use a Rolling (year-long) Gradebook, NOT 4 quarter grades that average to a final grade.
  • Monday, November 2nd & Tuesday, November 3rd - STUDENT HOLIDAYS
  • Monday, November 2nd, 10 am - 2 pm - Library Curbside Checkout and Materials Distribution
  • Wednesday, November 11th - EARLY RELEASE DAY
  • Wednesday, November 25th - Friday, November 27th - NO SCHOOL / THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY 

How to Stay Connected to Holmes MS

Please stay in touch with us throughout the year by:

NEWS FROM AROUND FCPS

SIS Weekly Progress Reports to Parents Set to Start Monday, October 5, 2020

If you have registered for SIS ParentVUE and have a primary email address recorded in ParentVUE, you can receive your student’s Weekly Progress Report via email.  For the 2020-21 school year, Weekly Progress Reports are scheduled to begin on Monday, October 5, 2020.  This report provides a summary of your student’s grades for the current quarter.  To activate the Weekly Progress Reports via email, login to your SIS ParentVUE account and verify that you have a primary email address within the system.  It is listed under the “My Account” tab. 

If it is blank, enter the email address where you would like to receive the progress reports, and click on “Update account.”  Once your email is confirmed, return to the “My Account” tab to activate and select your preferences for receiving these reports.  Emails will be sent according to your selected preferences.  Weekly Progress Reports for all of your middle and high school students will be included in one email.  For additional help, refer to the quick reference guide for FCPS parents/guardians.

Parents can also access student grades through ParentVUE via the Grade Book tab.  

Tech Help & Resources for Students & Families

  • To support families who are working with their children during virtual learning, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is launching a new Parent Technology Help Desk, effective today, Monday, August 24. The help desk can be reached at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS) and will be answered by staff members between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m., seven days a week.
  • FCPS has also set up an online portal to allow older students and parents/guardians to request technology help directly. 
  • Tips for online learning success can be found on the FCPS website. 
  • FCPS Parent Information Phone Lines are available in eight different languages.