Hello Holmes Families!

It has been a busy week at Holmes! Wednesday, we had our PTA meeting.  We discussed the amazing PTA grants that our staff can apply for to support programming, along with other updates on Instruction, Behavior, and Attendance.  Please see the blurb below on how to access the recording.  If you haven’t joined the PTA yet, please consider joining.   

On Thursday, we held our Fall Festival, in partnership with the After-School Program and PTA.  Over 300 students registered in advance and were present for the festival.  Students were involved in activities from dancing, to decorating pumpkins, to eating donuts off a strung! A huge thank you to Matt Kruk, after-school specialist, as he organized the event with the PTA!

After Fall Festival, the music department held their fall preview.  The students did an amazing job – it’s incredible that they have only been working on the music performed just from the beginning of the school year.  My favorite part was the last song where band, orchestra, and chorus all performed together.  Please see below for pictures. I cannot wait for the performances in December to see how much more they improve! 

Tonight, our after-school basketball club will participate in a game with other FCPS schools at Luther Jackson Middle School.  And finally, tomorrow, is our last cross country meet at Kilmer Middle School.

Double Back Buses

As you may have seen, the double back buses have been dissolved at Holmes.  This means that there are no more early buses for students.  However, please note that there may be times when buses are late and there may be days when we have afternoon double-back buses.  Please be sure to check the Here Comes the Bus Mobile App for updates.  The Area 2 Office for Transportation’s phone number is 703-446-2050.

Welcome New DSS

I am so excited to welcome Jess Tippins as our new Director of Student Services! She officially begins on Monday, October 30th, 2023. 

Ms. Tippins holds a BA in psychology from Salisbury Statue University, a MA in Special Education from George Mason University, and a K-12 Administration and Supervision Certification from the University of Virginia. She began her career in 1999 as a Special Education Teacher at Mount Vernon HS (Comprehensive Services Site). Next, she moved to central office and was a Special Education Mentor Coach in the Department of Special Services from 2009-2011. In 2011, she became an Educational Specialist in the Office of Professional Learning and School Support supporting the Great Beginnings Teacher Induction program.  In 2015, Ms. Tippins transitioned to the role of  Assistant Principal at Carl Sandburg Middle School.  Most recently, she has served as the DSS at Key Middle School in Springfield, VA. 

Ms. Tippins is a passionate educator and leader who is known for her strengths building strong, positive relationships with students, parents, staff, and the community. She believes in a student-centered master schedule that builds time for adult professional learning and collaboration. She has great expertise in working with students with disabilities and language learner needs.

Ms. Tippins lives in Springfield with her husband Chris (After School Specialist at Franklin Middle School), her son Jackson (7th grade student at Irving Middle School) and her Australian cattle dog Bella.  Ms. Tippins is thrilled to become a member of the Holmes family!!

7th Grade Families

7^th grade students will the opportunity to go see the play The Diary of Anne Frank at Edison High School on December 1st.  If your child would like to be considered to go on this field trip they must write one paragraph (at least five sentences) answering the question: How can one person’s story have a lasting impact on history?  If your child is interested, please have them review the prompt and directions on their Schoology page. 

Halloween Costume Requirements

Halloween is coming up next Tuesday!  If your student plans on wearing a Halloween costume to school there are a few things to keep in mind:

1. The costume must be school appropriate and follow the SR&R dress code
2. Students faces must be visible
3. Accessories that appear to resemble weapons should remain at home

Daylight Saving Time Ends

Daylight saving time will end Sunday, November 5, at 2 a.m. Don’t forget to move your clocks back one hour!

8th Grade Families

The Freshman Application for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology opened Monday, October 23^rd, 2023 at 4pm. Students will be able to begin the application process until Wednesday, November 15^th at 4pm and all applications must be submitted by Friday, November 17^th at 4pm. Please visit the Freshman Application website to start the process. Contact the TJ Admissions Department with questions.

Family Skate and Dance Night

Family Coffee Thursday - 11/2

Mark your calendar for the upcoming family coffee on Thursday, 11/2 from 9:30-10:30am. Join in person or through Zoom using this link: https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/94665260213

Holmes Twitter: Don’t Miss a Tweet!

Follow our school account on Twitter (@HolmesMS_FCPS) to stay up-to-date on the latest news, events, and reminders! We'll be sharing photos of fun activities, videos, important announcements, and more. Here are a few things you can look forward to seeing in November:

• Halloween costume pictures
• End of quarter reminders & when we mail report cards
• Family resources for Veterans, Military Families, and families who don’t speak English
• Staff highlights: School Psychologist, Family Liaison, substitutes, and more!

PTA Meeting Recording

At our meeting on 10/25, we discussed attendance, after school programs, and events. We will be rescheduling the visit from FCPS School Board Member-at-Large, Rachna Sizemore Heizer.

• Missed the meeting? 
  • Watch the recording by clicking here.
  • Access the slideshow/presentation on our website.
  • Access audio language interpretation in Spanish, Urdu, and Arabic by clicking the language button in Zoom.

Here are today's newsletter topics:

Holmes Updates

• Student Services Information
• 2023-24 Blue/White Schedule 
• 2023-24 Bell Schedule
• After-School Program
• From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison
• Important Upcoming Dates
• Holmes MS PTA
• How to Stay Connected to Holmes MS

FCPS & Community Updates

• Tips to Help Keep Children Safe 
• Calendar Update for March 5 Presidential Primary
• Results of the 2022-23 Fairfax County Youth Survey
• Protective Factors Support Healthy Habits and Positive Choices
• Stay Connected with FCPS

Please feel free to reach out and let us know what questions you have.  Thank you, and we'll see you very soon!

Sincerely,

Serena Giron

Principal

HOLMES UPDATES

Contact Information

2023-24 Blue/White Calendar

From Mr. Kruk, our After-School Specialist

After-School Program Weekly News & Notes from 10/23-10/27

Student of the Week

• The After-School Program Student of the week: Yonathan Zelalem
• Yonathan was nominated by our ASP staff for his kindness, empathy, and willingness to go above and beyond to make sure his peers felt included in our activities.
• We’re proud of you Yonathan, great job!

Fall Festival

• The After-School Program and the PTA partnered together to host a memorable fall festival this week.
• We had over 300 students stay and participate in the fun!

ASP Schedule 10/30-11/3

Students Leaving After-School before 4:45 pm

• • 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.
  • 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

Important Upcoming Dates

• Thursday, 11/2 - Family Coffee
• Friday, 11/3 - End of Quarter 1 and 2-Hour Early Release 
• Sunday, 11/5, 2 AM - Daylight Saving Time Ends
• Monday, 11/6 - NO SCHOOL / Staff Development Day
• Tuesday, 11/7 - NO SCHOOL / Teacher Work Day
• 11/22 - 11/24 -  NO SCHOOL / Thanksgiving Break
• Tuesday, 12/6 - PTA Meeting in conjunction with the Winter Chorus Concert
• 12/18/23 - 01/01/24 - NO SCHOOL / Winter Break

Holmes MS PTA

Don't forget to check out these important links:

• • Holmes Attendance Form: https://holmesms.fcps.edu/about/attendance-form 
  • Buy SpiritWear: https://bit.ly/HolmesSpiritWear
  • Join the PTA: https://bit.ly/SupportHolmesPTA 

The next PTA meeting will be on December 6th in conjunction with the Winter Chorus Concert.

From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison

Mark Your Calendar for the Upcoming Family Coffee

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

Tips to Help Keep Children Safe 

The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) reminds parents and caregivers that it’s important to talk to your children about safety topics including:

• What parents should know about their children’s plans.
• Having a meeting spot in case of getting separated.
• Establishing safe areas. 
• What to do if you are followed.

Visit the FCPD website for more details on how to discuss safety topics.

Calendar Update for March 5 Presidential Primary

The Fairfax Board of Elections has requested that schools be closed on Tuesday, March 5, to accommodate the administration of the 2024 presidential primary election.

March 5 will be a school holiday for students and a virtual School Planning Day. Central offices and school offices will remain open. SACC will remain open, as it does on other professional work days. 

Results of the 2022-23 Fairfax County Youth Survey

The Fairfax County Youth Survey provides insights into the behaviors and attitudes that affect the health and well-being of Fairfax County youth. 

Most Fairfax County students reported they feel safe at their school. Overall, the percentage of students who reported risky behaviors continued to decrease in many areas including substance use, sexual activity, and aggressive and delinquent behavior. 

Mental health indicators including feelings of sadness/hopelessness, suicidal ideations, and suicide attempts also improved noticeably compared to 2021. Students who reported the recommended amount of physical activity increased compared to the prior year as well. 

Read more about the report’s findings, and find the full report on the county’s website.

Protective Factors Support Healthy Habits and Positive Choices

Results from the Fairfax County Youth Survey highlight the importance of students having three or more “protective factors.” Protective factors are individual, family-based, school-based, and community-based assets (such as participating in extracurricular activities, having parents available for help, or having teachers recognize good work) that support healthy habits and positive choices. Learn more about promoting positive outcomes. 

Survey data shows that students with at least three protective factors have a lower likelihood of reporting mental health challenges and engaging in a variety of risky behaviors, including substance and opioid abuse. These findings led to the development of the Three to Succeed program, which is being implemented divisionwide to educate FCPS students, families, and staff on the importance of protective factors and increasing the number of high school students with three or more of them.

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