Principal's Note - March 25, 2022
Principal's Note
Good afternoon, Holmes Families!
I hope that you have had a wonderful week! Three weeks straight with no COVID cases and no paused students at Holmes! This has been so amazing to have the consistency for students and staff.
We have just one more week until Spring Break and less than three months of school remaining. It is hard to believe that we will be starting 4th quarter when we return from Spring Break! Next Thursday, 3/31, students will have an extended break during 6th period, to celebrate the end of the quarter. (NOTE: Students with excessive unexcused tardies and disciplinary incidents will not be permitted to participate in the extended break.)
Electronic Devices
This week, I shared reminders with students about expectations for electronic devices. Please help us to reinforce this at home:
Cell Phones
- Student cell phone use is only permitted at the following times:
- On the school bus
- In the morning until 7:25 am (Exception: Not permitted in cafeteria during breakfast)
- After school in cafeteria when waiting for late bus or club pickup
- Teacher discretion in classroom or club
- During all other times of the school day, students need to have their cell phones off and away, including during the 15-minute break. Students using their phones at those times will receive a warning first, a phone call home, and if it continues, may have their phone taken to be put in the office vault until the end of the school day and a parent/guardian may have to pick it up.
- Take a look at this Away for the Day site, which many schools have adopted to help address the distraction of cell phones. We are planning to adopt this at Holmes for the upcoming 2022-23 school year. Please let us know your feedback. Stay tuned for more information about your chance to see the film "Screenagers" in April.
School Laptops
School laptops are to be used for instructional purposes only. Students are not permitted to play video games or use it for other non-instructional activities. Students who continue to violate the acceptable use policy, which is part of the Student Rights and Responsibilities, may lose the privilege to use the school laptop after repeated warnings and progressive consequences.
Prayer Rooms
As a follow-up to our family meeting around student use of prayer rooms last week, please see the information below that was shared with staff today and will be shared with all students in a SOAR lesson on Monday, 3/28:
Important Things to Remember:
- Prayer rooms are available to students of ALL religions, not just certain religions.
- Religious activities are voluntary and cannot be required by staff or other students.
- Students are not permitted to miss instructional time to use the prayer room. (Exception: 2:05 since it is right before dismissal.)
- Students must arrive to class on time.
- Holmes staff members or people from outside the school are not permitted to initiate or lead students in religious activities; they must be student-initiated and student-led.
- Prayer rooms may only be used by students for the intended reason; students who are using the rooms inappropriately will be reported to administration and parents/ guardians will be contacted.
Holmes 5K Fun Run - April 23rd
To register for 5K Fun Run, please use this link or scan QR code below. Fun Run registration form can only be open by students and staff with a “fcpsschools.net” gmail address. We only need one student or staff member to register per family.
Meal Kit Distribution Change for Spring Break
In preparation for Spring Break (April 4-8), the following plan is in place for meal kit distribution:
- March 30: Additional meals (four days of breakfast and lunch, along with 14 days of afternoon snack and supper meals) will be served in one meal kit.
- April 6: Meal kit distribution is canceled.
- April 13: Regular meal kit distribution resumes.
More information and locations of the meal kit sites are available online.
Family Engagement Survey Closes April 3
The Family Engagement Survey will be open through April 3. Your feedback is critical in helping inform and improve FCPS’ practices to best support our students.
Participation in this survey helps strengthen the partnership between your family and your school. When that partnership is strong, students can experience a range of benefits including improved school readiness, higher student achievement, and better social skills and behavior.
FCPS is partnering with independent firm K12 Insight to administer the survey, and it will be available in eight languages. For more information, please watch this short video from Superintendent Brabrand and visit the Family Engagement Survey webpage. Your voice matters!
Free Online Tutoring Coming Soon!
I am excited to share a new resource that will soon be available to all Holmes Middle students to support learning. All FCPS students will have unlimited access to online tutoring support services through Tutor.com at no cost.
Students can connect online any time, and in most subjects for as long as they need. Tutoring is focused instruction provided to students in a one-on-one format through voice or text chat. Tutors will focus on developing students’ strengths and capabilities in reading, mathematics, or other specified subjects. Tutoring services may be accessed before, during, or after school hours and/or on weekends through a link in Schoology.
All tutors must pass a rigorous application process including an extensive background check. No personal information is shared between a student and tutor. All sessions are recorded and transcripts are available for review by teachers and parents/guardians.
Students will automatically have access to the Tutor.com tutoring service unless a parent/guardian submits an opt-out request. Watch for an email soon that will include the online tutoring services notice and opt-out information. Additionally, a hard copy form will be sent home with every student.
For additional information, visit our online tutoring services website. As always, please contact us if you have any questions. Watch this video to learn more.
Here are today's newsletter topics:
Holmes Updates
- Student Services - Important Information
- 2021-22 Blue-White Calendar
- 2021-22 Bell Schedule
- Next Week's Schedule
- After School Program Next Week
- A Message from Mr. Kruk
- From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison
- Holmes Spiritwear Sale
- 17th Annual Special Education Conference
- Lightspeed Parent Report on Child's Device Activity
- Job Opportunities at Holmes & in FCPS
- Important Upcoming Dates
- How to Stay Connected to Holmes MS
FCPS & Community Updates
- Softball players are needed for 2022 spring season
Summer Learning and Camps
- Summer VIP Camp at Thoreau Middle School
- Annandale High School Volleyball Camp for Rising 9th Graders
- Annandale High School Sports Camps
- Park Authority Camps
- Stay Connected with FCPS
Please feel free to reach out and let us know what questions you have. Thank you, and have a wonderful weekend!!
Sincerely,
Margaret Barnes
Proud Principal, Holmes MS
HOLMES UPDATES
Next Week's Schedule: 3/28-4/1
The Blue-White Calendar can also be found on the inside cover of student agendas and can be found HERE on our school website.
- Monday, 3/28 - BLUE DAY (SOAR)
- Tuesday, 3/29 - WHITE DAY
- Wednesday, 3/30 - BLUE DAY (SOAR & ER 4)
- Thursday, 3/31 - WHITE DAY, End of 3rd Quarter & 2-Hour Early Release
- Friday, 4/1 - NO SCHOOL / Teacher Workday
3/31 2-Hour Early Release Bell Schedule
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After School Schedule Next Week
A Message from Mr. Kruk
ASP Student of the Week 3/21-3/25:
- Congratulations to this week’s After-School Student of the Week; Myla Van Heerden!
- Myla brings great energy to our Voices of Now Ensemble.
- She has consistently shown up to rehearsal on time and with a positive attitude.
- Myla brought the same positive outlook to our Winter Production earlier this school year, never missing rehearsals and learning all of her material on time.
- Myla is constantly growing her performance skills and is open to feedback.
- She is also encouraging and supportive to all of her peers.
- GREAT JOB MYLA!!!
Movie Club
- The movie featured this Tuesday 3/29; The LEGO Batman Movie (PG).
- If you have any questions or concerns regarding movie club, please reach out to our After-School Specialist, Mr Kruk. (@email)
Girls Volleyball Club Coming Soon!
- 4-week Girls Volleyball Club (grades 6-8) will start on Thursday, April 14th and will continue on Thursdays until May 5th.
- Students may sign-up on Volleyball Thursdays in the lecture hall during their lunch block.
- For questions, please reach out to our awesome coaches, Mr. Smith (@email) or Mr. Lefbom (@email)
Students Leaving After-School:
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- Any student staying after school must be signed out by a parent or guardian if leaving prior to 4:45. Walkers may sign themselves out.
- Students will remain in their clubs or under teacher supervision until they are called to the main office for pickup.
- No student is to leave the school until signed out of the main office.
For any and all questions related to the after school program, please contact Mr. Kruk at @email.
From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison
April Parent Coffee
Our next Parent Coffee will be on April 14th from 6pm-7pm over Zoom. The topic is "Coping with Stress and Anxiety". In the one hour session, you will learn tips and strategies for helping your child manage their stress and anxiety from Dr. Brandynicole Brooks with the Prince William National Alliance on Mental Illness. For more information about Dr. Brooks, visit her website at www.drbrandynicole.com . We will send out more information about this coffee soon.
Holmes Closet
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Teens in Action - Spring Program 2022
Community Parent Support Group - Thursdays
Holmes Spiritwear Sale
Holmes merchandise is now available on
https://www.selectspiritwear.com/v5store/pc/viewcategories.asp?idcategory=753(please ignore the February 12th deadline)
17th Annual Special Education Conference
Registration Open for 2022 Special Education Conference
Join us for the 2022 Special Education Conference, Bringing our Inclusive Community Together: Affirming, Assessing, Advancing, held virtually on Saturday, March 26. Welcoming ceremonies, guest speakers, FCPS presentations, and an exhibit hall are included. Registration for this free conference is now available online.
Speakers include:
- Dr. Lisa Cullins, A Conversation About Compassion Fatigue.
- Marlo Keller, Exceptional Family Member Program Pathways: Navigating the Halls of a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) School Move.
- Ann Dolin, Less Policing, More Parenting: How to Improve Your Child’s Executive Functioning Skills Without All the Arguments.
- Dr. Lisa Bateman, Reducing the Stigma Around Mental Health Challenges and How to Support Children in Asking for Help.
Visit the Special Education Conference webpage for more information and to register
Lightspeed Parent Report on Child’s Device Activity
FCPS has new tools to help parents and guardians know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided by Lightspeed, our internet content filtering service, at no cost to families. You may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites your child visited. If you want more detailed information, sign up for the Internet Use Parent portal and log-in anytime to see more detail about your child’s browsing and “pause” access to the internet during non-school hours. Find out more and sign up for these services on our website.
Job Opportunities at Holmes & in FCPS
To help us meet these critical needs, here is a reminder of some job opportunities that we have a available at Holmes and throughout FCPS:
- Student monitors (Holmes needs 1 or 2 more)
- Substitutes (short- and long-term) - School Board just approved an increase in pay for short- and long-term substitutes!
If you or someone you know is looking for work and may be a good fit for one or more of these positions, I encourage you or them to apply!
Important Upcoming Dates
- Thursday, 3/31 -2-hour Early Release & Activity Day / Last day of 3rd Quarter
- Friday, 4/1 - Student Holiday / Teacher Workday
- Monday, 4/4-Friday, 4/8 - SPRING BREAK
- Saturday, 4/23 - Spring 5K Fun Run
- Friday, 6/3 7-9 PM - 8th Grade Celebration
How to Stay Connected to Holmes MS
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
FCPS & COMMUNITY UPDATES
College Success Programs
The College Success Program (CSP) is comprised of three individual programs that provide college access, readiness, and success services to students who are traditionally underrepresented on college campuses. Many, but not all, College Success Program students are the first in their family to attend college and/or do not have the financial means to attend without significant support.
The three programs that comprise the College Success Program are:
AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination)
The College Partnership Program (CPP)
The Early Identification Program (EIP)
These programs prepare students for the academic rigor of college course work, help students with the college application process, and provide enrichment experiences to build the resilience that is so often needed to successfully graduate.
Together, the programs offer a variety of services that include:
- Assistance with the college application process
- Field trips to college campuses
- Goal setting and career exploration
- Monitoring of academic performance
- Tutoring
Softball players are needed for 2022 spring season
VSRS youth softball league is looking for players for our spring season, our website is www.stingraysva.org/vsrs. Most VSRS players start out with little or no prior softball experience. Our focus is for the kids to have fun while learning the sport and our hope is that many of them end up playing for their high school teams. VSRS practices and most games are in the Annandale area. For more information you can contact VSRS Coordinator Tom Dickson at @email.
Summer Learning and Camps
Summer VIP Camp at Thoreau Middle School
- This summer, Thoreau Middle School will host our annual Summer VIP camp.
- Any student from Holmes that would like to participate in the summer program may register.
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Annandale High School Volleyball Camp for Rising 9th Graders - June 13-17
Annandale High School Sports Camps
Dear Annandale HS Pyramid Parents –
Annandale High School is hosting five weeks of sports camps this summer. The camps include:
- June 13-17 - Multi-Sport Camp
- June 20-25 - Boys Basketball
- June 27-30 - Olympic Sports Camp (4 days)
- July 11-15 - Girls’ Field Hockey, Girls’ Lacrosse, & Girls’ Basketball
- July 18-22 - Girls Basketball
The camps are open to students entering 2nd through 9th grade (ages 7-14). The price of each camp ranges from $100 - $125 and runs from 8:30am-3:00pm. Scan the QR Code to sign up and pay online. Any questions, email John Ellenberger, the Director of Student Activities at Annandale High School at @email.
Park Authority Camps
Click the link to register https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/camps
Stay Connected with FCPS
Being connected to your school and division is important every year, and even more so now as we navigate our return to school. The best way to stay informed is to sign up for newsletters through News You Chose.
Your school and FCPS have a variety of topics you can choose from, including:
- School Newsletters- featuring everything you need to know about your child’s school
- FCPS This Week- a weekly newsletter featuring news and happenings from across the division, published Wednesday mornings
- School Board Meeting Update- a recap of important news coming out of school board meetings, published the Friday morning after the meeting
- FCPS Employee News- weekly updates just for staff, published Tuesday mornings