Principal's Note - Jan 12, 2024
Hello Holmes Families!
As a reminder, schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 15, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. Learn more about Martin Luther King Jr. See the complete school year calendar.
With the chance of an upcoming winter storm, I wanted to remind you there are several ways you can find out if inclement weather will affect the school day. The FCPS website is generally the first and fastest mode of communication during emergency weather closings. Our 2-hour delay schedule is on the website and can also be seen here. If school is closed, we will continue with our scheduled blue day or white day. Our blue day/white day calendar can be seen below as well.
With just a few weeks remaining in the quarter/semester, kindly take a moment to check ParentVue or StudentVue alongside your child. Review their current grades and address any missing assignments. It would be greatly appreciated if you could also encourage your child to communicate with their teachers regarding any concerns. Thank you for your support in ensuring a successful end to the academic period.
Academic Advising for 2024-2025 School Year
During the months of January and February, the counselors will begin the academic advising process with our students for the 24-25 school year. Grade specific lessons will occur during the following periods of time:
Week of January 16-19- Current 6th graders will receive rising 7th grade course information presentations through science classes
Week of January 22nd-26th- current 8th graders will receive 9th grade course information through SOAR
Week of February 5th-9th- current 7th graders will receive 8th grade course information through science classes
Wednesday, February 7th from 5-7 pm: Please save the date for the Holmes Middle School Curriculum Night and Electives Fair.
Family Coffee Tuesday, Jan 16th
The next Family Coffee meeting will be on January 16th from 9:30-10:30 am Virtually & In Person. The topic is Finding Balance in Digital Life. We will discuss how to have conversations with students about their media use and you’ll walk away with strategies you can use to monitor usage on personal and FCPS devices.
We encourage you to attend in person to connect with school staff and other families. Language interpretation will be available and we will be providing refreshments.
If you can’t make it, the recording and resources will be shared on our website.
Zoom Link to Join Virtually: https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/96980468770
Here are today's newsletter topics:
Holmes Updates
- Student Services Information
- Admin Team Information
- 2023-24 Blue/White Schedule
- 2023-24 Bell Schedule
- After-School Program
- From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison
- Important Upcoming Dates
- Holmes MS PTA
- How to Stay Connected to Holmes MS
FCPS & Community Updates
- January Observances
- Volunteer With Give Together
- Free Resources for Families
- Tutor.com Can Help With More Than Homework
- Meet New Mason District Supervisor
- Dual Language Immersion Program Registration
- Save the Date: Academy Open Houses Begin This Month!
- Stay Connected with FCPS
Please feel free to reach out and let us know what questions you have. Thank you, and we'll see you very soon!
Sincerely,
Serena Giron
Principal
HOLMES UPDATES
Contact Information
Admin Team Information
2023-24 Blue/White Calendar
From Mr. Kruk, our After-School Specialist
After-School Program Weekly News & Notes from 1/8-1/12
Student(s) of the Week
- Our After-School Program Student of the Week is: Michael Gomola
- Michael was nominated for going out of his way and taking initiative to help tutor his peers in math during Hawk Spot club.
- Great job supporting a positive environment in our program Michael!
After-School Action
This week our Podcast Club students collaborated with each other to create a beautiful Podcast Information board in the library
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ASP Schedule 1/15-1/19
Students Leaving After-School before 4:45 pm
- Any student staying after school must be signed out of the main office by a parent or guardian if leaving before 4:45.
- Walkers with parent/guardian permission, may sign themselves out any time after 3:30 when first block ends.
- Students are not permitted to leave school grounds before checking out in the main office .
Questions/Concerns
Contact the After-School Specialist, Matt Kruk, @email
Important Upcoming Dates
- Monday, 1/15 - NO SCHOOL / Martin Luther King Day
- Tuesday, 1/16, 9:30-10:30 AM - Family Coffee
- Thursday, 1/25 - 2-HOUR EARLY RELEASE / 2nd Quarter Ends
- Friday, 1/26 - NO SCHOOL / Teacher Workday
- Wednesday, 2/7, 5-7 PM - Holmes Middle School Curriculum Night and Electives Fair
- Monday, 2/19 - NO SCHOOL / Presidents Day
Holmes MS PTA
Don't forget to check out these important links:
- Holmes Attendance Form: https://holmesms.fcps.edu/about/attendance-form
- Buy SpiritWear: https://bit.ly/HolmesSpiritWear
- Join the PTA: https://bit.ly/SupportHolmesPTA
- Missed the meeting: watch the recording by clicking here OR access the slideshow/presentation on our website OR access audio language interpretation in Spanish, Urdu, and Arabic by clicking the language button in Zoom.
The next PTA meeting will be on December 6th in conjunction with the Winter Chorus Concert.
From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison
Lightspeed Software
Lightspeed Software is a new tool being introduced to enhance focus and support individualized learning for 6th-8th grade students. It allows staff to monitor access to the web while students are at school and logged into the FCPS network, ensuring students stay engaged and minimize distractions. It also allows for personalized support, and enables assistance signals and check-ins. Parents are encouraged to sign up for their own Lightspeed reports to gain insights into their child's computer usage.
Refer to the guide below for setting up your account.
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
January Observances
National Mentoring Month
Imagine a world where young people feel empowered, encouraged, and understood. Mentors can make that world a reality by helping young people find and follow their passions, excel in school, and thrive wherever they are. Learn more about Mentoring Month.
FCPS’ MentorWorks program matches mentors with students in schools near where they live or work. They meet for at least 30 minutes a week. Learn more about how to become a mentor for an FCPS student. Please contact Martha Macdonald, mentoring specialist, for additional information at @email.
Human Trafficking Prevention Month
Every year since 2010, the President has dedicated the month to raise awareness about human trafficking and to educate the public about how to identify and prevent this crime. Learn more about National Human Trafficking Prevention Month - United States Department of State
Virginia School Principals Appreciation Week - 1/15-1/21
Each year, the Governor of Virginia makes a proclamation naming this week as Virginia School Principals Appreciation Week.
Orthodox Epiphany - 1/19
In the Orthodox church, Epiphany is celebrated on January 19 and commemorates the baptism of Jesus rather than the arrival of the Magi. It is believed that Christ's baptism by John the Forerunner (John the Baptist) in the River Jordan began Christ's ministry on earth and revealed the Holy Trinity of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to mankind.
Volunteer with Give Together
FCPS students continue to find incredible ways to serve their community while building Portrait of a Graduate skills such as becoming an ethical and global citizen. The school division is excited to collaborate with Volunteer Fairfax for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
Students and families can volunteer on Monday, January 15, at Volunteer Fairfax’s Give Together event. It is designed to engage families with children (ages 5-12) in service learning. Projects will include a food drive, assembling caring kits for community members who need support, making no-tie fleece blankets for veterans, environmental stewardship, and support for animal welfare.
Students ages 13 to 18 are welcome to serve as teen event volunteers. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
Free Resources for Families
Did you know that caregivers can access free webinars, confidential consultations, a lending library, and resources to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities?
Learn more about FCPS’ Family Resource Center (FRC).
Be the first to learn about new workshops by signing up for the FRC newsletter.
Tutor.com Can Help With More Than Homework
Tutor.com offers more than help with homework! This on-demand tutoring service also provides a comprehensive range of resources including exam prep for AP, SAT, and ACT tests at no cost to families.
Students can take practice quizzes at any time. If they struggle in particular areas, they can immediately connect to a live tutor for help through voice or chat options. Learn more on the FCPS Tutor.com webpage.
Meet New Mason District Supervisor
Dual Language Immersion Program Registration
Registration for the countywide lottery for Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs will open on Monday, January 22. Current pre-K students may apply for the kindergarten immersion program, and current kindergarten students may apply for the first grade immersion programs for the 2024-25 school year. Programs are available in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish.
Parents/caregivers who are interested may want to attend an informational meeting. Meetings are held at the school site. Check the FCPS events calendar for the most current information. Meetings will begin on Tuesday, January 16.
A virtual meeting hosted by the World Languages Office will include general program information. Access to this virtual meeting will be made available on the FCPS events calendar and the Dual Language Immersion registration site on the day of the meeting.
Get more information on the immersion program webpage and registration page.
Save the Date: Academy Open Houses Begin This Month!
Is your child interested in architecture and construction, information technology, or health science? FCPS high school academies will hold open houses for interested students beginning in mid-January.
A high school Academy is a center within a high school that offers advanced technical and specialized courses to prepare students for postsecondary education and/or career fields. Students enrolling in Academy elective courses will be provided with opportunities to participate in a variety of career experiences including shadowing, mentoring, or internships with local businesses.
Learn more and view the calendar of Academy open houses.
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