Principal's Note - Dec 9, 2018
Good Afternoon, Holmes Families!
Congratulations to the cast and crew of Elf, Jr., the Musical! I hope that you had a chance to see this fun and exciting performance from our Holmes Theater students! My daughter saw the show on Friday night and was mesmerized by Buddy the Elf & Santa! A special thank you to Ms. Murphy and Ms. Eddinger for all of the time invested in supporting students to prepare for this production, and for a number of our staff members who supported the show in its development, like Mr. Wood, Mr. Schoneboom, and Mr. Hutto!
Two weeks to go until Winter Break, and it will be a bit of a topsy-turvy week. See below for how our class schedule will be different each day as our Student Services Team presents the Signs of Suicide lessons to 7th graders through History classes.
In today's newsletter, scroll down for information about:
- FCPS CARES
- This Week's Schedule
- Signs of Suicide (SOS) Program (December 10th-14th)
- After School Program Information and Schedule
- Scholastic Book Fair (December 10th-18th)
- Music Department Winter Performances
- Winter Activity Day: Wednesday, December 19th
- G-love Winter Clothing Drive
- Next Lunch Bunch: Friday, January 11th
- Important Dates
- How to Stay in Touch
Sincerely,
Margaret Barnes
Proud Principal, Holmes MS
#HolmesHawksSoar
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This Week's Schedule of Classes: 12/10-12/14
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This week: Mon., 12/10 = White Day w/ ER 3 & 4 Tues., 12/11 = Blue Day Wed., 12/12 = White Day w/ ER 5 & 6 Thurs., 12/13 = Blue Day Fri., 12/14 = White Day - Students Released Three Hours Early *NOTE: Students can always find the blue-white calendar in their agendas or on the website HERE. |
Signs of Suicide (SOS) Program
Holmes Middle School Student Services along with Clinicians will be presenting the SOS program to 7th grade students through History classes during the week of December 10th. As you may know, anxiety and depression are all too common in our youth today. Educating them about the signs of depression, and on steps they can take for themselves and/or their friends to get help is critical to healthy development and overall wellness. The SOS Program includes both a video and a Wellness Screening. The psychoeducational video is child-sensitive, with language and images that are developmentally appropriate. The characters in the video portray what a child might go through when suffering from depression, how it differs from sadness, and how they know when to seek help. It also coaches students on when to seek help if a friend is exhibiting these behaviors using the acronym ACT (Acknowledge, Care, Tell). The Wellness Screening used for FCPS in a short survey in which students will check off “yes” or “no” to questions about themselves.
If you have any questions about the screening, please feel free to contact your child’s counselor. If you do not wish for your child to participate in the SOS Program, please indicate this on the permission slip (which was mailed home with report cards) and return it to Mrs. Girón, Director of Student Services.
Schedule Change:
To support the implementation of the SOS program, we will alter our schedule this week by changing the order of classes (see picture below).
After School Program - Week of 12/10
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.
This week's ASP schedule will be sent by Monday morning, 12/10.
Scholastic Book Fair - December 10th-18th
The Library Book Fair starts on Monday, December 10th! It runs through December 19th. Students can a get list of books available from their school flyer or can browse here http://www.scholastic.com/bf/holmesmiddleschool6
How to Pay
You can pay with cash, a credit card, or through Book Fair eWallet - click on the link to sign up.
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bookfairs/parent-how-it-works.html
For checks please make payable to Holmes Middle School.
When To Attend The Book Fair
Students will come with their English classes, during lunch or other times.
The Library Book Fair will remain open through the evenings of Tuesday, December 11th, Thursday, December 13th and Tuesday, December 18th. Come enjoy the Holmes Winter Concerts and do some holiday shopping!
Our teachers have wishlists, you can buy for yourself or help a teacher add books to their rooms.
Prizes
Every student who buys something (as little as a dollar or less) from the book fair will be entered into a Grand Prize drawing:
Lunch for a student and a friend with Principal Barnes & Librarian, Ms Haywood.
A restaurant of their choice, with parental consent, and we will have it delivered to school for a special lunch treat.
Other miscellaneous prizes will be awarded throughout the fair.
Shop Online
Share the link to to do online shopping and share with friends and family to help support Holmes Library buy more books. Every dollar helps us get new books on our shelves.
Online Book Fair http://www.scholastic.com/bf/holmesmiddleschool6
Questions: email Ms Haywood [email protected]
Music Department Winter Performances
It is time for our Music Department Winter performances. If you have a child in band, chorus or orchestra, please sign up HERE to help on our concert evenings:
Band performance (ALL band classes) - Tuesday, December 11 at 7 pm in the Gymnasium
All students should arrive for warm-up at 6:00 pm in his/her concert uniform. (Boys: Tuxedo shirt/pants/black socks/black dress shoes. Girls: black dress/black dress shoes)
- Period 2 (Concert Band 1), Period 6 (Beginning Band) & Period 3 (Percussion class): Band Room- I-1
- Period 4 (Concert Band 2): Orchestra room- I-7
- Period 5 (Symphonic Band): Chorus room- I-14
Chorus performance (ALL chorus classes) - Thursday, December 13 at 7 pm in the Gymnasium
All students should arrive to the GYM for warm-up at 6:00 pm in his/her concert uniform. (Boys: Tuxedo shirt/pants/black socks/black dress shoes. Girls: black dress/black dress shoes)
Orchestra Performance (ALL orchestra classes) - Tuesday, December 18 at 7 pm in the Cafeteria
All students should arrive for warm-up in his/her concert uniform at the times listed below. (Boys: Tuxedo shirt/pants/black socks/black dress shoes. Girls: black dress/black dress shoes)
- 5:45 Basso and Treble Orchestra: Band room (I-1)
- 6:00 Concert Orchestra: Orchestra Room (I-7)
- 6:15 Chamber Orchestra: Chorus Room (I-14)
If you have any questions, you can contact Barbara Dobberstein (band long-term substitute) at [email protected], Karli Eddinger (Chorus director) at [email protected] or Kate Bongard (Orchestra director) at [email protected].
SCA Winter Activity Day - Wednesday, Dec. 19th
We would love to have parent volunteers to support with this super-fun event for students! If you are able to support in some way, please contact Mr. Cho at @email or Mrs. Lewis at @email.
G-love Winter Clothing Drive!
Next Lunch Bunch is Friday, January 11th!
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Students can sign up HERE! |
- Monday, 12/10-Tuesday, 12/18 - Scholastic Book Fair (Evening sales will be available for parents on the 12/11, 12/13, & 12/18 music concert dates)
- Tuesday, 12/11, 6 pm - PTA Meeting (shortened due to Band concert)
- Tuesday, 12/11, 7 pm - Winter Band Concert
- Wednesday, 12/12, 5-9 pm - PTA Fundraiser Night, Flight Trampoline Park
- Thursday, 12/13 - Beginning Theater Field Trip
- Thursday, 12/13, 7 pm - Winter Chorus Concert
- Friday, 12/14 - Students Released Three Hours Early
- Tuesday, 12/18, 7 pm - Winter Orchestra Concert
- Wednesday, 12/19, 2:30-4:30 pm - SCA Winter Activity Day for Students
- Friday, 12/21, 7th Period - Annual Winter Assembly (Rising 6th Graders from feeder elementary schools invited)
- Monday, 12/24 - Friday, 1/4 - Winter Break - No School
- Thursday, 1/10, 6-7:30 pm - Reunión de padres hispanos (Tema: Pandillas)
- Friday, 1/11, 4th Period - Lunch Bunch with Mrs. Barnes!
- Thursday, 1/17, 5:30 pm - PTA Meeting (Rising 6th Grade Parents Invited)
- Thursday, 1/17, 6:30 pm - Curriculum Night for Parents (Information about choosing courses for students' schedules)
- Friday, 1/18 - Students Released Three Hours Early
- Monday, 1/21 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Holiday - No School
- Thursday, 1/24 - Last day of 2nd Quarter (No Early Release)
- Friday, 1/25 - Student Holiday / Teacher Workday
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
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