Principal's Note - June 14, 2020

By Margaret Barnes
Principal's Note
June 22, 2020

Good evening, Holmes Families!

That's a wrap!  What an unusual year it has been, but thank you for entrusting us with your "babies" this year and - to our 8th grade parents - for the last 3 years.  

We hope that your student will choose to engage in some of the summer learning and enrichment opportunities (see last week's newsletter for details).  If you would like for you student to participate in the Summer Continuity of Learning program, please complete this registration form.  All students will receive a workbook for English and Math (and for ESOL if they are English Learners) in the mail which will also be available on Blackboard, and they will be able to consult with the teachers below during their office hours.  

Yesterday, you received a survey from FCPS requesting your input about how we start the 2020-21 school year.  Please be sure to share your thoughts to help the school system make an informed decision!  For more information, tomorrow's 1:30 pm school board meeting will feature the options for returning to school next year.  

As I mentioned previously, I will keep up my weekly newsletters throughout the summer so that we can stay connected.  It has truly been a pleasure and an honor to work with your students through this crazy school year!!  Thank you for all of your support and kindness through all of this!

Sincerely,

Margaret Barnes

Proud Principal, Holmes MS

@email

COL

Celebrating our 8th Graders

In case you missed it, here is a video tribute on the 8th Grade Google Classroom for students to see.  Mrs. Murphy, our theater teacher, put it together with contributions from our staff.  Thank you, Mrs. Murphy!  It is so well done, and gives you a glimpse into how much we miss our students, how we have been proud to help them grow through middle school, and how we wish them well as they go on to school. 

Please note: In order to view the video, students must be logged into their fcpsschools.net Google account.

Please come get your bags!

We still have bags of belongings for over 300 students!  Please come to Door 6 tomorrow (Monday, 6/15) between 9 am and 2 pm to pick up your student's items.  And even if they don't think they have lost anything, please have them browse through the lost and found gallery, and email me the number of the item they lost.  Any items not claimed by June 30th will be donated or discarded.  

When do we turn in laptops?

ALL students may keep their school-issued laptops over the summer UNLESS:

  1. You and your family are moving out of the area and will not attend an FCPS school next year;
  2. Your student already has a device at home that they can use instead of the school-issued laptop; OR
  3. You do not plan for your student to engage in any online summer activities (see last week's newsletter for details). 

If any of the statements above are true for you, please come to Door 1 on Monday, June 15th, to turn in your student's laptop.  See below for instructions.  If none of the above are true, we'll see you in August when we collect all of the laptops!!

When do we turn in instruments and music materials?

Attention All Music Students (Band, Chorus and Orchestra):

All 8th grade music students and any 6th or 7th grade music student who is not continuing in a music class next year need to return their music supplies.  Here are the items that need to be returned:

  • Instrument (Band/Orchestra) - Please take any trash or supplies out of your case!  (Make sure that you have all parts of your instrument- ex. Bow, mouthpiece, etc)
  • Method books (Band/Orchestra)
  • Concert uniforms (Band/Chorus/Orchestra)
    • Boys: only tuxedo PANTS- you own the shirt
    • Girls: Dress
    • Please take the hem out of your garment (the stitching at the bottom)
    • If you have cleaned the garment, please have it on a hanger when you drop it off
    • If it is not cleaned, we will place it in a trash bag and get these items cleaned.

ALL 8th graders plus any 6th or 7th grade student who is NOT continuing in a music class next year need to return supplies on Monday, 6/15.  See below for instructions.

Picking up items & returning laptops, instruments, & other music materials on Monday, June 15th, 9 am - 2 pm

  • Pick up student belongings: Door 6
  • Laptop Return: Door 1
  • Return of instruments, performance attire, & other music materials: Door 10

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