Happy Sunday, Holmes Families!  

I am so sorry for not getting my update out to you last weekend!  And now here we are with just 3 weeks of the 1st quarter left!  Scroll down through our newsletter to see all of the amazing things that have been happening at Holmes in these past 2 weeks and how our #HolmesHawksSoar!

Thank you, PTA!

Many thanks to our awesome PTA for providing a DELICIOUS breakfast from Anita's for all staff on our School Planning Day this past Monday, October 8th!  We are so grateful to have such a supportive and positive PTA team!  If you haven't joined yet, check out the website, and join today!

NEW! ER Intervention 

In the past 2 weeks, we have gone through our 1st round of ER intervention, which is a new layer of academic support that we are providing for students this year.  Our first round was focused on Math and ended on Friday.  Next up will be English this week and next week.  With each ER cycle, we will rotate through Science/Social Studies, then electives, and then will start over again with Math.  Teachers in each subject area and grade level work as a team to identify a group of students who need a little extra boost in certain skill areas.  Teachers identified for the group are pulled from their ER classes to another location with the subject area teacher, so - not to worry - no new instruction is being missed, and they still participate in our school-wide ER-8 lessons!  It's a great way for our teachers to provide extra support to students who need it during the school day! 

Digital Citizenship Week - 10/15-10/19

On Friday, all students participated in the first of 4 school-wide Digital Citizenship lessons for the year to kick off Digital Citizenship Week 2018!  Check out the Family Engagement Resources for Digitial Citizenship from Common Sense Media in our Tip of the Week further down in the newsletter!

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!  Your help is needed for 2 events this week and next week!  Please check out the SignUp Genius links below to let our music boosters know what help you can provide:

• Fundraiser help: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a4ca9a922a6fb6-fundraising
• Help at the Fall Preview Concert: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a4ca9a922a6fb6-fall

Save the Dates!

Thank you to Mr. Cabezas for presenting about the Holmes MS After School Program at our parent coffee and PTA meeting on Wednesday, October 3rd!  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
• Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid
• Moving On To Life in the Community: A Resource Fair for Students with Disabilities
• Our New Online Attendance Form
• SCA Spirit Week - Monday, 10/22 - Friday, 10/26
• Voices of Now
• Holmes MS PTA Information - Join the PTA and Box Tops
• Music Department Fundraiser
• Change of Address Process
• Library Updates
• Digital Citizenship Tip of the Week
• Bus Notes - Students Going Home with a Friend and Bus Delay Notification System
• 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: 10/15-10/19

This week: Mon., 10/15 = Blue Day Tues., 10/16 = White Day w/ ER 1 & 2 Wed., 10/17 = Blue Day  Thurs., 10/18 = White Day w/ ER 3 & 4 Fri., 10/19 = Blue Day  *NOTE: Students can always find the blue-white calendar in their agendas or on the website HERE.

After School Program - Week of 10/15

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.  

Student-Parent Survey For Federal Impact Aid

STUDENT-PARENT SURVEY FOR FEDERAL IMPACT AID

Beginning on October 16th, FCPS will be 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

Moving On To Life in the Community: A Resource Fair for Students with Disabilities

All Ages Welcome - Wednesday, October 17 – Lake Braddock Secondary Rod – Entrance 14 or 15 – from 6:30pm-8:45pm. This is a free resource fair for students with disabilities and their parents. Learn about vocational, residential, leisure, recreational, independent living and advocacy options. This Resource Fair is for all individuals requiring ongoing employment and community support services after graduation. If you have questions or need to register by phone, please contact the FCPS Parent Resource Center: 703-204-3941. Otherwise, register here

#HolmesHawksSoar by taking care of our watershed!

All 7th grade students went to Hidden Oaks Nature Center in the first week of October to get hands-on experience taking care of our local watersheds!

Our New Online Attendance Form

Submitting a student absence has never been easier thanks to our new online attendance form!

We have a new attendance form that allows parents/guardians to submit absences online.

Submit an absence using our online attendance form.

The previous way of submitting absences via telephone at 703-658-5919 will continue to be available. 

#HolmesHawksSoar by volunteering!!

Check out our awesome SCA students who unpacked, inventoried, and organized almost 200 backpacks worth of supplies on October 1st!  Thank you, SCA! If your student is in need of school supplies, don't hesitate to ask!  Reach out to your student's counselor for support!

SCA Spirit Week - Monday, 10/22 - Friday, 10/26

Get your outfits ready!!

• 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

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!

#HolmesHawksSoar by Aiming High & Embodying Portrait of a Graduate traits!

To help our students envision themselves as future high-school and college graduates, Mrs. Neforos & Mr. Hutto designed this awesome display in the main hall with mirrors and graduation caps and gowns!   Throughout the year, we provide school-wide lessons around IB Learner Profile traits, which align with Fairfax County Public Schools' Portrait of a Graduate Traits.   As a continuation of last year's school-wide focus on writing, we are helping our students to be good communicators this year through writing and be speaking "with good purpose".  Check out 2 of our awesome teachers, Mr. Hymel & Ms. Giuliano as they modeled how to speak with good purpose during one of our ER-8 lessons!

Music Department Fundraiser

The music department pie fundraiser begins October 1 and runs until 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. Our goal as a music department is to raise $18,000. If all students sell 12 pies, or raise $72 in donations, we can reach our goal!

Please take a moment to look at the fundraiser materials which came home this week with your student. There are three key things:

1. Pies come in three different prices; please make sure you have collected the right amount for the pie being ordered. Be sure to double check that you have the correct amount of money BEFORE turning in your order. Any donations received should be marked on the front of the envelope. 
2. All money and order forms are due Monday, October 15th. This is a blue day. If your child has music class on a white day, the forms and money are still due on that day. Order forms and money should be turned in using the envelope provided. We will need some parent volunteers during the day to help count money and tally orders. If you are available for a few hours during the day that week, please click on the link to sign-up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a4ca9a922a6fb6-fundraising 
3. Pie delivery day is November 5th from 2:30-6:30. 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 --> https://www.boxtops4education.com/about/collection-sheets) 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)

#HolmesHawksSoar by Promoting Peace!

Each year, students in art classes participate in the Lions Club Peace Poster Contest!  We have some amazing artists!

Change of Address Process

If you have recently moved, or plan to move, you should bring the updated deed or lease to the main office so we can update the mailing address on file for your student.  This also applies if you live in an apartment complex and move within that same complex. 

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!

Bus Notes

Students Going Home with a Friend When students are going home with a friend on the bus, a hand-written note, with a parent’s signature, is required from both parents of the students making the request. A temporary bus pass will not be issued without the note from both parents or guardians. These policies are in place for your child’s safety, and is required by the School Transportation Department of Fairfax County Public Schools.

Bus Delay Notification System

Stay up-to-date on school bus arrivals with FCPS' bus delay notification system. This system provides parents with timely notification of late bus route information. Access it directly online. Morning bus route information will be available until noon. The afternoon bus route information will be available from 1 to 5:30 p.m.  

E-Notify (BlackboardConnect) email messages will also be sent to announce bus delays.

Need assistance or have questions? Visit the FCPS Transportation page for more information.

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
• 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