Good afternoon, Holmes Families!

This is absolutely my favorite time of year!  I hope that you are enjoying this beautiful, cooler weather and enjoying the start of seeing the leaves change color on the trees.  

If you were not able to attend our PTA meeting this past Wednesdays, please visit our Holmes MS PTA website!!  It is linked from our school website (click on "Get Involved" from the Full Menu, or scroll down until you see this icon (the heart in hand) to take you there.  To find out more about the PTA and to join for the 2020-21 school year, check out this site!  Parent Survey At the PTA meeting, I shared a survey with parents to get feedback on what topics you would like to hear about during PTA meetings and other parent events this year.  Please complete this survey by Monday, 10/12.  Parent Volunteers Needed Each year, we ask for a parent volunteer and a staff volunteer to be a part of our Challenged Materials Review Committee along with our librarian, Ms. Haywood.  This FCPS School Board Regulation explains more.  If you would be interested in supporting this committee when materials are challenged, please contact Ms. Corina Haywood at @email.

Important Reminders

• Every student needs to complete the Monday Minute in their SOAR (3rd period) Teacher's Google Classroom by 10:30 am tomorrow (and every Monday).  

Required Forms for ALL Families Must Complete

On Thursday evening, all families who are still missing required forms received an email from me letting them know which specific forms still need to be submitted.  Please submit those as soon as possible.  

It is critically important that we receive the information below from ALL families (be sure to complete the forms for each student you have at Holmes):

• Parent Consent for Digital Resources.  Our teachers have been training in a variety of different digital resources to provide high quality, engaging instruction to all students.  Some of those resources require parent consent.  Please click HERE to see a list of resources that we will be using, and HERE to fill out the form to provide consent for each student you have at Holmes.
  • NOTE: You will need your student's ID number and either the phone number or email of the parent in SIS in order to complete this.  If you need any assistance, please contact Mrs. Asma Hindi at @email or call the school at 703-658-5900.
• Emergency Care Card
• Health Information Form
  • NOTE: The Emergency Care and Health Information forms can be accessed at weCare@school to view and update information. (Please note that weCare@school is a part of FCPS 24-7 Learning: Parent View.) In order to log into Parent View, it is necessary to have an active SIS Parent Account - if you need a SIS Parent Account, please contact Mrs. Asma Hindi at @email or 703-658-5940.
• FCPS' 2020-21 Student Rights & Responsibilities Guide is now available online for review.  Please access THIS FORM to acknowledge receipt of the document for each student you have at Holmes.  Booklets will be available in multiple languages at a later date for families.  
• Immunizations.  
  • Even though we are starting the year virtually, students' immunizations still need to be update (including the TDAP for 7th graders).  If you have not done so already, please provide that important documentation to Ms. Hindi at @email.

Forms that SOME Families May Need to Complete: 

• If applicable, apply for Free & Reduced Meals now and provide Consent to Share information with the school so that class fees will be waived for you.  
  • Even though meals are free to all students right now, we still need families to complete this application if they would like to qualify for free and reduced meals later in the year.  
  • We can only waive class fees if you qualify for free and reduced meals AND if you complete the Consent to Share form.  
• Opt-Out Booklet: Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms
• Family Life Education (FLE) Opt-Out Form
• Homeless Form
• Military Form

Here are today's newsletter topics:

Holmes News

• Student Services - Important Information
• 2020-21 Virtual Bell Schedule
• Library Curbside Checkout - Monday 10/19/20
• FREE Grab & Go Breakfast & Lunch Closest to Holmes
• 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

HOLMES NEWS

Library Curbside Checkout - Monday 10/19/20

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:

• Annandale Terrace ES, 7604 Herald St., Annandale
• Braddock ES, 7825 Heritage Dr., Annandale
• Bren Mar Park ES, 6344 Beryl Rd., Alexandria
• Mason Crest ES, 3705 Crest Dr, Annandale
• North Springfield ES, 7602 Heming Ct, North Springfield 
• Parklawn ES, 4116 Braddock Road, Alexandria
• Weyanoke ES, 6520 Braddock Rd., Alexandria
• Chelsea Square Apartments, 10-10:15 a.m. 5734 Backlick Road, Springfield (parking lot next to the pool) 
• FCPS Food and Nutrition Services, Energy Zone Center, 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 6840 Industrial Rd, Springfield
• James Lee Community Center, 12-12:30 p.m., 2855 Annandale Rd, Falls Church

Important Dates

• Monday, October 5th - SIS Weekly Progress Reports to Parents Set to Start
• Monday, October 12th - STUDENT HOLIDAY / School Planning Day
• Monday, October 19th, 1-3 pm - Library Curbside Checkout
• Wednesday, October 21st, 7-8 pm - PTA Meeting
• Friday, October 30th - Last day of Quarter 1 
  • 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

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

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.