Happy Sunday, Holmes Families!  It's Spirit Week this week!

• Mon., 10/22 – Sports Team Day
• Tues., 10/23 – Character / Superhero Day & Mix It Up At Lunch Day!
• Wed,. 10/24 – WEAR ORANGE – Unity Day
• Thurs., 10/25 – Teacher/Student Swap Day
•  Fri., 10/26 - Grade Level Day – Show off your grade level spirit
  • 6th Grade – Red
  • 7th Grade – Blue
  • 8th Grade – Black

Impact Aid Forms Due This Week!

It's that time of year again!  Last week, students received forms asking all families to fill out a Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid. 

Returning this form is important because information from this survey results in an anticipated $3 million dollars in grant funds each year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers. 

For each school-aged child in your household, please complete, sign, date, and return the survey to your child's school. If sections 1 and 2 of the survey do not apply to you, just check the box in Section 3.  All forms must be signed, dated, and returned by October 26. All results are CONFIDENTIAL. 

Learn more by watching this short video featuring Superintendent Scott Brabrand and the U.S. Army Garrison Commander COL Michael Greenberg from Fort Belvoir.

Video link - https://youtu.be/QN_Xup7BgoE

Outstanding Employee Nominations

It is time to submit nominations for outstanding employees at Holmes Middle School.  You can find details about the criteria for each award (teacher, new teacher, leader, support, hourly employee) on the nomination form or here.  This is a great way to recognize our hardworking staff members!  The deadline for nominations is Friday, November 2.  If you have any questions, please send them to Karli Eddinger, HMS Awards Liaison, at @email.  

Parent Volunteers Needed for Music Events!

Thank you to all of our families who supported our students who sold pies for our annual music fundraiser!  And thank you to our volunteers who supported with the logistics of the fundraiser last week.  Help is needed for one event this week!  Please check out this SignUp Genius to let our music boosters know what help you can provide at the Fall Preview Concert: 

Save the Dates!

Save these upcoming dates for November, when we will share tips for supporting your students with organization, study skills, and SIS ParentVue!

• Wednesday, November 7th, 8-9 am - Parent Coffee
• Wednesday, November 7th, 6:30-8 pm - PTA Meeting

These 2 opportunities will take place right before 1st quarter report cards arrive home and before our Mini-Conference Night on Thursday, November 15th, when parents will have the opportunity to meet with their students' teachers.  Mini-conferences will start at 6:30 pm, with a few early bird sessions being offered at 5 and 5:30 that evening.  

In today's newsletter, scroll down for information about:

• This Week's Schedule
• After School Program Information and Schedule
• Voices of Now
• Music Department Fundraiser Pie Delivery
• Holmes MS PTA Information - Box Tops
• Library Updates
• Digital Citizenship Tip of the Week
• Virginia Tech Maker Festival
• Important Dates
• How to Stay in Touch

Sincerely,

Margaret Barnes

Proud Principal, Holmes MS

[email protected]

#HolmesHawksSoar

Do you know a Holmes Middle School staff member who does ordinary things in an extraordinary way or goes beyond what is expected? If so, then click here to submit your story so we can all acknowledge the good work of Holmes faculty and staff members.

This Week's Schedule of Classes: 10/22-10/26

This week: Mon., 10/22 = White Day w/ER 5 & 6 Tues., 10/23 = Blue Day Wed., 10/24 = White Day w/ER 7 & 8 (ER 8 Lesson: IB School-Wide Lesson) Thurs., 10/25 = Blue Day Fri., 10/26 = White Day w/ER 1 & 2  *NOTE: Students can always find the blue-white calendar in their agendas or on the website HERE.

After School Program - Week of 10/22

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

Voices of Now

What is Voices of Now?

Voices of Now is an acting, writing, devising program for young artists provided by Arena Stage, D.C.’s oldest, largest producing theater. Voices of Now artists learn the tools of theater performance, such as movement, vocal expression and collaboration, by taking a series of workshops in the fall. Participants who attend a full series are eligible to audition for the exclusive Voices of Now Holmes Middle School Ensemble, which meets from January through May at Holmes. Ensemble members work with professional actors and directors to study acting and to write an original play performed at Arena Stage. (2017-18 student participants pictured below.)

When is Voices of Now?

Each Voices of Now workshop series are from 2:30-4:30 pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Students can choose from 2 remaining series:

• Series 2: October 17, 18, 24 & 25
• Series 3: November 7, 8, 14 & 15

Students must be able to attend all four dates of a series to sign up.

The AUDITION will take place on Wednesday, December 12 from 2:30-4:30 pm.  The program is limited to 20 students per series. Turn in your application ASAP!  No experience is required. Spaces are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

How Do I Sign Up for Voices of Now?

Pick up an application from Mrs. Murphy in I-12, and then return it to her as soon as its complete

Music Department Fundraiser Pie Delivery

The music department pie fundraiser began October 1 and ran through October 15th. The music department sells pies to raise money for a number of things, including the purchase of instruments, funding of a summer study scholarship, and to pay for the busses which take students on our spring trips.  

Pie delivery day is Monday, November 5th from 2:30 - 6:30 pm. All pie orders MUST be picked up on this day, during these hours. This is a teacher work day. We will have thousands of pies delivered that day, and will not have space to store pies in a school freezer. If you will not be able to pick up your pies on that day, please make arrangements with someone else to pick up your pies for you.  We will also need parent and student volunteers on this day to organize the delivery.  Parents can sign up at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a4ca9a922a6fb6-fundraising.  A student volunteer sign-up sheet will be placed in I-hall two weeks prior to delivery day.  

We are also in need of donations of cases of name brand soda or water, individual bags of snacks (chips, Cheetos, fritos, etc) and candy to sell at our concessions tables for concerts.  If you are willing to donate an item, you can send it with your child, or leave it in the front office labeled for the music department. 

PTA Information: Box Tops due 10/26!

Its almost time to turn in our Box Tops! Bring in Box Tops by filling up a submission sheet (found here) or by bundling Box Tops in a sandwhich bag. Box Tops can be turned into the front office! You can find BoxTops on participating products in your grocery store, as well as by downloading the Box Tops app on your phone. Help our school earn money to support our teachers and students! Turn in Box Tops by October 26th. For questions or to volunteer for this program, please contact our Box Tops Coordinator by visiting the PTA website (www.holmesmspta.org)

Library Updates

Volunteers Needed! Our library is actively recruiting parent volunteers. If you’re interested in signing up to help, the hours and time commitment are completely flexible. We can use help shelving books, straightening the books on the shelves and various small tasks. As little as an hour a week would be welcomed! If you are interested please sign up on the link below or if you have questions please contact our Librarian, Corina Haywood – @email  or by phone 703-658-5938.  Sign up to volunteer HERE!

Digital Citizenship Tip of the Week

It's Digital Citizenship week!!  Click HERE for Family Engagement Resources from Common Sense Media!

Virginia Tech Maker Festival

The Virginia Tech Maker Festival is entering it’s 4th Year. For 3 years, the Virginia Tech Maker Festival has hosted its STEM festival at the Virginia Tech Northern Virginia Center in Falls Church, VA. The goal of this event is to increase STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math) learning in all ages, nationalities, genders, and socio-economic backgrounds.

Virginia Tech is one of the leading research universities in the country specializing in Engineering, Science, and Math. Our very own students and Professors discovered the lead in the water in Flint, Michigan. With our partnerships, and laboratories, Virginia Tech wants to expand the STEM growth in the National Capital Region with the Virginia Tech Maker Festival. We hope to inspire future generations of Science, technology, engineering and math students, researchers, professors, leaders, and beyond.

We will have robots, experiments, and interactive games. Come join the fun, & Register Now!

We are also in need of volunteers. This is a great way for high school students to earn service hours, support the local community, and learn more about STEM. As a thank you, lunch will be provided and you will receive a Certificate of Appreciation.

If you are interested, please complete the volunteer application here and you will be signed up.

Thank you and we hope you will join us on Nov. 3rd!

Important Dates

• Monday 10/22 - Friday, 10/26, - SCA Spirit Week
• Thursday, 10/25, 7 pm - Fall Preview Concert
• Friday, 10/26 - Box Tops Due
• Friday, 11/2 - Last day of 1st quarter
• Monday, 11/5 & Tuesday, 11/6 - STUDENT HOLIDAYS / TEACHER WORKDAYS
• Monday, 11/5, 2:30-6:30 pm - Music Department Fundraiser Pie Delivery
• Wednesday, 11/7, 8-9 am - Parent Coffee (Topic: Organization, Study Skills, & ParentVue)
• Wednesday, 11/7, 6:30-8 pm - PTA Meeting (Topic: Organization, Study Skills, & ParentVue)
• Thursday, 11/15, 6:30-8:30 pm - Mini-Conference Night (Early Bird Sessions to start at 5/5:30)

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
• following us on Twitter  
• monitoring your student's progress with SIS Parent Account
• join the Holmes MS PTA and attend meetings