Principal's Note - Sept 13, 2024

By Serena Giron
Principal's Note
September 16, 2024
  • Wednesday, 9/18, 6PM - Thomas Jefferson High School Presentation in Holmes Lecture Hall
  • Wednesday, 9/25, 6:30PM - PTA Meeting Online or in person in Holmes Library  
  • Thursday, 10/3 - NO SCHOOL / Rosh Hashanah
  • Friday, 10/4 - NO SCHOOL / Teacher Workday
  • Monday, 10/14 - NO SCHOOL / Staff Development Day
  • Friday, 10/25 - Picture Retake Day
  • Thursday, 10/31 -  2-HOUR EARLY RELEASE / 1st Quarter Ends

Table of Contents

Message from Principal Giron

Holmes Families,

Thank you to all the families who joined us for a successful Back to School Night! It was wonderful to see everyone there, and we appreciate those who shared positive feedback about how your child’s school year is going so far!

Our students looked great for Picture Day yesterday and today! If your child was unable to take their picture, retakes are scheduled for Friday, October 25, 2024.    

If you have a student who is interested in applying to the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), please join us on September 18th at 6pm in the Holmes Lecture Hall for a presentation from a TJHSST admissions specialist. 

Please remember that the application process is only available for current 8th grade students who are enrolled in Algebra 1 Honors or higher.

The THJSST admission website is an excellent place to familiarize yourself with the application processes and requirements.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Kelly Murphy, 8th grade counselor:  (703) 658-5911 or @email

Please feel free to reach out and let us know what questions you have.  Thank you!

Sincerely,

Serena Giron

Principal

Admin Team Information

Admin Team

Holmes MS 2024-25 Blue/White Calendar

Calendar

Holmes MS 2024-25 Bell Schedule 

Bell Schedule

Parent/Caregiver Checklist: Have You Completed These Important Forms?

We understand that the multiple school forms caregivers receive during the first weeks of school can feel overwhelming, but each one helps set your child up for a successful school year! If you do not have a SIS ParentVUE account, please contact your child’s school for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage. 

🩹 Immunization Requirements 

Please check with your healthcare provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up to date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school. 

You may check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to your school’s front office. 

Alternative immunization documents (below) may also be provided to your school’s front office, but they may not be uploaded in ParentVUE:  

  • A healthcare provider’s written statement specifying all administered immunizations.
  • A healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption.
  • A notarized Religious Exemption form objecting to the administration of immunizations due to conflicts with religious tenets or practices.

Find more information on immunizations. 

📋 Permission Forms

Families can easily grant permission for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. Parents can opt their child in or out of resources including online educational tools, school counseling services, and tutoring services. They can also change how student information is managed.Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool. 

Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R)

The SR&R document explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses. Parents using SIS ParentVUE will be prompted to sign the document when logging in to that platform. A printable version of the document with a signature sheet is available on the SR&R webpage. This form should be signed and returned by Friday, September 30.

Fueling Student Success: New Food Options Cooked up at FCPS

Students will have more than a dozen new options for lunch and breakfast in school cafeterias  starting this week. New menu items were either favorites at last year’s food show — including Korean BBQ wings, sweet Thai chili wings, chicken tikka masala, and barbacoa street tacos — or were tested with student focus groups and tastings. 

View school menus to see all the new options and when they will become available. 

When a Student Should Stay Home From School

When students need to miss school, it is important for parents/guardians to communicate those absences with the school.  This can be done by calling the main phone line at 703-658-5900 – press 1 for English or 2 for Spanish. Then select option 1.  Or you can submit up to two full day absences via SIS Parent VUE

Whether students miss school because of illness or any other reason, missing school leads to learning loss.

Help your child succeed by encouraging them to attend as many days as possible, but do make sure your child stays home if they are sick. Visit our website for information on when to keep your child at home.

If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to notify their teacher so that assistance can be provided if needed. Keep an open line of communication with your school's public health staff.

Read about how families can help form good attendance habits. Attend today, achieve tomorrow! 

Checking out Students

Families, remember that when coming to the school to pick up your student, an official photo ID must be presented to the Main Office staff. Please understand that this is for security purposes. Driver’s licenses, passports, and military IDs are appropriate examples of official IDs.

After School Program

Hawks Highlights from week 1 (9/9-9/13)

What a great first week of the After-School Program. We had over 20 different activities offered with almost 40% of our Holmes students staying at least one day this week!

Pic 1
Pic 2
Pic 3
Pic 4

ASP Schedule 9/16-9/20

Pic 5

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.
  • 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

Message from Holmes MS Family Liaisons

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning (no longer Tutor.com). Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors' services, at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. To learn more click HERE.

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)
    • 9/16 Chipotle Spirit Night, 4-8pm 6242 Little River Turnpike location Online order code: HABJHXN
    • 9/25 General membership meeting, Holmes library and Zoom
    • 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

How to Stay In-Touch

Please stay in touch with us throughout the year by: