Friday, May 3, is Orthodox Good Friday, and a teacher work day. Millions of Orthodox Christians commemorate Good Friday, also known as “Great Friday” to remember the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion. There will be no school for students that day. See the complete school year calendar.

Thursday, May 2, is School Lunch Hero Day. Between preparing healthy meals for America’s students, adhering to strict nutrition standards, navigating student food allergies, and offering service with a smile, school nutrition professionals are true heroes.

Holmes Spirit Week - 4/29 - 5/2

Monday, 4/29 – POGjama Day – dress comfy to start the week (Communicator)

Tuesday, 4/30 – Twin Day – collaborate with a friend and dress alike (Collaborator)

Wednesday, 5/1 – Super Citizens! – dress like your favorite hero (Ethical & Global Citizen)

Thursday, 5/2 – Hat day – wear your favorite thinking cap (Creative & Critical Thinker)

Quarter 3 Honor Roll Celebration - 5/1

On Wednesday, May 1^st , we will be hosting the Quarter 3 Honor Roll Celebration during SOAR in order to acknowledge the hard work and academic achievement of our students who earned all A’s or A’s & B’s on their 3^rd quarter report card. Students will be receiving invitations through their SOAR class. Congratulations and keep up the great work 😊 !

Laptop & Charger Collection

We will be collecting laptops and chargers on June 5, 6  in PE classes. If your child has lost their charger, the replacement cost is $20. If they have lost their computer, please notify Mr. Rossen (@email) ASAP. If lost, you will be responsible for replacing the computer at $375.  These items must be collected or paid for in order to prevent delays in receiving a computer next year.

If your child has lost either item, please have a conversation with them about responsible use. Labeling their technology is a best practice and highly encouraged. All students were given laptop labels at the beginning of the year; many students have peeled off their labels. Again, all students are responsible for lost technology, as stated in the Student Rights & Responsibilities document. 

Please, contact Mr. Rossen (@email) if you have a concern.

Your Voice is Needed:

At Wednesday’s PTA meeting, we gathered input from families around core values to help draft our new Holmes Mission and Vision statement.  Please fill out this form to share your thoughts.  Thank you!

Holmes Middle School Title I Status

Please refer back to an email that was sent out last week titled "Holmes MS Identified as a Title I School."  In the email, you will find information on our new Title I status.  Please use this form to capture any questions or wonderings that you may have so that I can best prepare for our upcoming May information session.  Stay tuned for details on that informational night.

PTA-sponsored Teacher Appreciation Week - 5/6-5/10

Summer Program for Young Scholars

Families of students currently identified as Young Scholars will be receiving information next week about our Young Scholars summer program that will be hosted by Jackson Middle School.  This program will run Monday through Friday, 7:20 AM – 11:20 AM, from July 8-26, 2024.  In the meantime, you may reach out with inquiries to Mr. Christopher Kamar at @email or Ms. Alexandra Anderson at @email.

HOLMES UPDATES

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

• May Observances
• Techstravaganza 2024 by TJHS
• Parent Information Phone Lines Available in Eight Languages
• Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!
• It’s Kindergarten Registration Time!
• Summer Camps and Learning
•  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

Contact Information

Admin Team Information

2023-24 Blue/White Calendar

From Mr. Kruk, our After-School Specialist

After-School Program Weekly News & Notes from 4/22-4/26

Student(s) of the Week

• The After-School Program Student of the week: Joseph D’Cruz
• He was nominated for his commitment and excellence in Battle of the Books throughout the course of the school year.
• Congrats Joey!

Making History

Congratulations to our 28 Track & Field members who have been training hard for the past few weeks to compete in weekend meets. This amazing group of students will always be the first in our school’s history to participate in Middle School Track & Field as a sanctioned sport in FCPS. These hawks really soar!

Battle of the Books

Congratulations to our 6 students that represented Holmes in the annual Battle of the Books competition this past week at Lake Braddock Secondary School.

ASP Schedule 4/29-5/3

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

From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison

4/18 Family Coffee Recording 

Thank you to all families who attended this month’s Family Coffee at Holmes Middle School. The topic was Positive Discipline for Teens hosted by Fairfax County Department of Family Services. 

Families learned more about:

• Teen brain development
• Parenting with choices and consequences
• Creating Family Rules
• Choosing rewards and highlighting praise

 The recording, presentations, and resources shared can be found on our Website

May Family Coffee - 5/9 at 9:30-10:30 am

Important Upcoming Dates

• 4/29-5/2 - Holmes Spirit Week
• Friday, 5/3 - NO SCHOOL / Teacher Workday & Orthodox Good Friday
• 5/6-5/10 - Teacher Appreciation Week by PTA
• Wednesday, 5/8, 6:30pm - Title I Community Meeting
• Thursday, 5/9, 9:30-10:30 am - May Family Coffee
• Wednesday, 5/15, 7 pm - Chorus & Orchestra Concert
• Thursday, 5/16, 5:30 pm - Voices of Now at Arena Stage
• Saturday, 5/18 - Soccer Tournament at Glasgow MS
• Wednesday, 5/22, 6 pm - NJHS Induction Ceremony
• Monday, 5/27 - NO SCHOOL / Memorial Day
• Wednesday, 5/29, 6:30 pm - Last PTA Meeting 
• Wednesday, 5/29, 7 pm - Band Spring Concert
• Thursday, 5/30 - VIP Parent Night
• Friday, 6/7, 7 pm - 8th Grade Celebration
• Monday, 6/10, 8 am - 8th Grade Awards
• Tuesday, 6/11 - Activity Day
• Wednesday, 6/12 - Last Day of School / 2-Hour Early Release

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. 

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK - 5/6-5/10

Givebacks: 

Buy a teacher breakfast or donate to their snack cart:

Givebacks (memberhub.com)

SIGNUPGENIUS:

Donate snacks or your time for teacher appreciation week: 

2023/2024: Teacher Appreciation Snack, Dessert and Drink Donations (signupgenius.com)

Amazon wishlist:

Buy something off of our wishlist for the teachers and staff to snack on, sent directly to the school.

Amazon.com

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
  • PTA Facebook
  • Online PTA Membership Form
  • MemberHub

FCPS & Community Updates

May Observances

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

People with ancestral roots in Asia and the islands of the Pacific have been integral to the story of America. In 1992, May was designated Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to celebrate their heritage and contributions.Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.

Jewish American Heritage Month

May is a national month of recognition of the history of Jewish contributions to American culture, acknowledging the diverse achievement of the Jewish community in the U.S. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.

Mental Health Awareness Month/Wear Green Day

Better Hearing and Speech Month

National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

Orthodox Easter - 5/5

Many Orthodox Christians in the United States celebrate Easter according to the Julian calendar. It is a time to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, whom Christians believe to be the son of God. Learn more about Easter in NatGeo Kids. 

National Fentanyl Awareness Day - 5/7

May 7 is National Fentanyl Awareness Day. Talk to your children about their mental health and the risks of encountering illicitly manufactured fentanyl. Learn more at fentanylawarenessday.org/watch-and-talk #JustSayKNOW

Fentanyl is 50X stronger than heroin and present in many illegal drugs (pills and powders) teens might come across. Most kids don’t understand the dangers of fentanyl. Spread the word and find more resources at fentanylawarenessday.org. #JustSayKNOW

Bike to School Day - 5/8

Bike Month has been celebrated since 1956 to showcase the many benefits of bicycling and encourage more people to give biking a try. Fairfax County has an extensive network of both paved and natural surface bike trails. You can access a map to all the trails in Fairfax county online.

Wednesday, May 8, is the official Bike to School Day. You can register as a family or neighborhood. Plan your ride whether you ride to school, to a park, or just within your neighborhood. Register for Bike to School Day.

Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week - 5/6-5/10

Since 1984, National PTA has designated one week in May as Teacher Appreciation Week. National Teacher Day began in 1953 when former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt proposed that Congress set aside a day to acknowledge the work of educators. Since 1985, NEA has celebrated National Teacher Day on the Tuesday of the first full week of May. FCPS follows the NEA and National PTA dates of scheduling Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week the first full week of May.

National School Nurse Day - 5/8

National School Nurse Day is Wednesday, May 8. It is a day to recognize the many contributions that school nurses make to student health and learning.  

FCPS appreciates the role of School Public Health Nurses (PHNs) for their contribution to the health and welfare of all our students. Professional school nurses support the needs of students through their delivery of healthcare, contributions to local school communities, and promotion of safety, prevention, and wellness throughout the year. They are advocates who bridge healthcare and education by supporting student health and readiness to learn. School nurses are essential to our community and work tirelessly to make a positive impact in the lives of their students.  

Please join us in thanking the PHNs for their hard work and dedication to FCPS students.  

Memorial Day Holiday - 5/27

All schools and offices will be closed on Monday, May 27, for the Memorial Day holiday. Learn about the history of Memorial Day. See the complete school year calendar.

Tomorrow’s Women in Science and Technology (TWIST), a student organization at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST), promotes STEM through their annual flagship outreach event, Techstravaganza. Techstravaganza is a free, public, hands-on STEM activity fair for elementary and middle school students in Northern Virginia. In previous years, this event hosted more than 4,500 students and 70 labs presenting STEM activities. Exhibitors range from TJHSST clubs and TWIST volunteers to organizations like NASA SCaN, Art of Problem Solving, George Mason University, American Society of Naval Engineers, and the National Air and Space Museum. This year, TWIST will be holding the 20th annual Techstravaganza on Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 10 AM to 4 PM at TJHSST. Admission is free, food will be for sale. Here is the registration link: https://tinyurl.com/techstrav24

Parent Information Phone Lines Available in Eight Languages

Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.

Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

As we approach the end of the school year, it’s important for students to stay engaged, attend school, and finish strong! Visit our website for attendance resources. 

It’s Kindergarten Registration Time!

Attending kindergarten provides children with an opportunity to learn and practice the essential social, emotional, problem-solving, and self-regulation skills they will use throughout their lives. Eligible children can also be registered throughout the summer, but registering your child early helps us plan so that we have the teachers and resources needed on the first day of school. 

Prepare for registration by gathering documents and completing forms. We are happy to support families with registration and the transition to kindergarten. For more information in other languages, visit FCPS’ Kindergarten Registration webpage.

2024 SUMMER CAMPS AND LEARNING

Have you made summer plans for your child yet? Are you looking for a summer camp for your child with special needs?

The Family Resource Center has compiled information on summer camps including local options, camps for students with special needs (sorted by need), and camps for students experiencing grief or who have parents in the military. 

Co-Ed Basketball Camp for Grades 4-9 at Edison HS

VIP Summer Camp for Rising 7th & 8th Graders

All rising middle schoolers are invited to attend a summer of fun and leisure with VIP Camp. VIP Camp — which takes place Monday, July 1, to Thursday, August 1 — is designed to encourage teens to develop healthy and positive recreation interests and features a wide variety of leisure activities and programs. 

Registration is open. VIP Camp costs $100 to attend. Reach out to your school's after-school specialist for scholarship availability due to financial hardship. This camp is sponsored by Fairfax County Public Schools and Fairfax County’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services. 

• Applications will open on Tuesday 3/12 at 6pm
• Here is the link to the application à https://forms.gle/zQcxhFrKWnn2LPjG6
• Links to the application can also be found on the Holmes website under the Activities Tab à After-School Program à VIP Summer Program
• Any questions or concerns about the VIP summer program, contact Matt Kruk; @email

Sign Up for FCPS Summer Camps and Learning Programs 

Registration is now open for several summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts camps will be held in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. 

CTE programs are available for grade 6-11 students to explore CTE program areas, develop skills, and begin career exploration. IFTA allows students to select from nearly 90 classes in art, dance, health and physical education 9, music, and theater. Visit the IFTA webpage to register.

Summer Learning

Programs are also available for high school students to fulfill the Economics and Personal Finance course requirement, earn a high school course credit via this summer’s online campus program, or recover one high school course credit through the Credit Recovery Academy. 

FCPS’ free online class for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) provides FCPS middle and high school English Learners the opportunity to continue developing their academic, reading, and writing skills in online discussions with an ESOL teacher. 

Find session dates, registration links, and registration deadlines on FCPS summer programs. 

Institute for the Arts

Students in all FCPS secondary schools can enroll in the Institute for the Arts. IFTA is a two- or three-week summer Arts enrichment program for students in rising 7th through 12th grades. Students create their own schedules in Art, Music, Theatre, and Dance from nearly 60 courses offered. Transportation is provided from around the county. Tuition assistance is available for students who qualify. Check out the Institute for the Arts website for more information or email @email.

CTE Summer Academy

Tech Adventure Camp

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