Principal's Note - Aug 16, 2024
Holmes Community,
Dear Holmes Community! It was wonderful to see so many students, parents, and families at yesterday's Open House. We were also thrilled to welcome our new 6th graders, along with the 7th and 8th graders who are new to Holmes, during our morning Jumpstart program. We are excited and ready for Monday morning when we'll officially welcome all of our students back to school! If your student was not able to pick up their schedule eon Thursday, schedules are viewable in SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE. For more information about obtaining a ParentVue account, please click here to access support on the FCPS website.
On Monday, students will go directly to their 5th period class (See the first two days schedule below). The 4th and 5th periods are designated as Advisory and Learning Seminar, respectively. During these classes, teachers will focus on building relationships and fostering a sense of community through Responsive Advisory Meetings and focused lessons. We have carefully grouped students in groups based on their needs from the very first day. This allows teachers to use the time for either Intervention, which is dedicated to reteaching, reinforcing, or practicing academic or social-emotional skills, or Enrichment, where students can explore topics of interest, extend their learning in core subjects, or engage in creative and critical thinking activities.
Please be sure to check out our back to school info page here
PTA
A HUGE thank you to our PTA, who treated our staff to breakfast on Monday. I saw many families stop at the PTA table during Open House signing up and buying spirit wear. Please consider joining For more information about membership visit the Holmes PTA website.
Sign Up for SIS ParentVUE
Access your student’s attendance records, grades, and assignments at any time with SIS ParentVUE. Parents should receive an activation code when they register their student. Once you have activated a ParentVUE account for an FCPS student, you will keep the same account until the student graduates. Information about students in the same family can be accessed through the same ParentVUE account. Access SIS ParentVUE by using an app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android devices. Need help creating a SIS ParentVUE account? This video walks through the steps. Find out more about SIS ParentVUE.
Update Your Students’ Information Online
FCPS is excited to announce that parents can now update student information online using the Online Verification Update Packet. Parents can conveniently update phone numbers, emergency contacts, health conditions, and immunization dates for students in grades K-12. Accessible through SIS ParentVUE, the online update feature streamlines registration for parents and staff.
Student Bus Route Assignments
FCPS Office of Transportation Services emailed student bus route assignments the week of August 5. Please note that the provided times are estimates and that buses may be delayed due to weather, traffic conditions, and a national and regional driver shortage. Please check the Here Comes the Bus app or FCPS School Bus Delays website for potential delays. Students are expected to be at their bus stop at least five minutes before the scheduled pickup time. A double back route assignment may require your bus schedule to be adjusted earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon.
Kiss & Ride: Student drop off/pick up (aka Kiss & Ride) is conducted at the main entrance (door #1). Parents should drop off their student(s) beginning at 7:10am. Students are dismissed from school at 2:15pm.
Attendance
Help your student stay engaged. Showing up for school has a huge impact on a student’s academic success. Even as children grow older and more independent, families play a key role in making sure students get to school every day and understand why attendance is so important for success in school and on the job.
Starting August 19, parents and caregivers can report up to two consecutive full-day absences using ParentVUE. For absences longer than two days, please contact the 703-658-5900
All Day Absences: The Attendance feature in ParentVUE is the FCPS secure web solution for reporting all day absences.
Partial Absence: To report late arrivals, early dismissals, or to update already submitted attendance, please contact the 703-658-5900
New Cell Phone Policy
Holmes is one of a handful of middle schools testing a new program for students to store cell phones in pouches during the school day. Holmes will not be receiving storage pouches. Instead, as one of seven non-pouch schools in this new cell phone storage program, our staff will be helping make sure our students follow the cell phone rules we already have. These rules are in place to help make Holmes a great place to learn. These rules are:
- Students can’t use their cell phones, airpods, or tablets at school. This includes at lunch, recess, in class, and in bathrooms/locker rooms.
- Cell phones, airpods, and tablets need to be off or on airplane mode and in a backpack. Smartwatches need to be off or on airplane mode.
If you need to reach your student during the school day, please call our front office at 703-658-5900
Share your feedback to FCPS on Cell Phone Storage
Bell Schedule
The bell schedule for the 2024-2025 school year is the same as last year. For the first two days, our schedule will be altered so that we can focus on building relationships and going over expectations throughout our building. See below for the detailed schedule. See below for the blue/white day calendar.
August 19th and 20th
Holmes Middle School Bell Schedule
Student Schedules
Beginning Thursday, August 15 at 6:00am, all students and parents have access to class schedules in SIS StudentVUE and ParentVUE. SIS (Student Information System) is the application to see attendance, class performance, and demographic data.
Student Laptops
We are excited to share that all students who turned in their school-issued computers last year will be issued brand new Chromebooks in their SOAR classes starting August 21st. If your student wishes to use a family-owned device, please ensure the device meets the required specifications. Then, log into your ParentVUE account and select “Opt-out of FCPS device.” This will ensure that your student is not responsible for an FCPS device.
Student Lockers
Student lockers will be available by request only. Please contact your child’s counselor for more information. Information will be shared with students during the first week back
Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights
Fairfax County Public Schools wants all parents and caregivers to understand its policies regarding surveys, records, curriculum, privacy, and related rights.
In its Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms (Annual Notice), FCPS provides explanations of the rights listed above as well as forms that may be used to exercise opt-out choices. Two versions of the Annual Notice are available: a grades K-8 version and a grades 9-12 version. Parents/caregivers with children at different grade levels should read each applicable version of the Annual Notice, because the notices and opt-out rights vary depending on the student’s grade level.
Get more information and view the 2024-25 Opt-Out Booklets.
Update Your Child’s Immunizations and Records
Please check with your healthcare provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up-to-date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school.
You can check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to a school’s front office.
If your child needs a vaccine, please make an appointment with your healthcare provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or access other local services. If needed, families may also provide other immunization documentation including a healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption or a notarized Religious Exemption Form.
Find more information on immunizations on the FCPS website.
Free and Reduced Price Meal Applications, Additional Benefits, and Related Information
CEP General Information:
- CEP is a USDA program; eligibility is based on direct certification for free meals at individual FCPS schools.
- All students at CEP schools automatically receive no-cost breakfast and lunch every day of the school year (even if the student would not qualify for free meals).
- Meal service is the same at CEP schools and non-CEP schools; a la carte items are still offered.
- CEP program participation for individual schools will be assessed annually by FNS.
Free and Reduced-Price Meal Applications, Additional Benefits, and Related Information
- Parents/guardians of students attending only CEP schools do not need to submit an application for free and reduced-price meals to receive free meals and no further action is required by the parents/guardians of students attending CEP schools.
- For families that may want to receive benefits beyond meals that are income-based, the FCPS CEP Consent to Share Information for Other Programs will continue to be utilized and is included in the free and reduced-price meal application process.
Parents should be encouraged to complete and submit the CEP Consent to Share Form -https://www.fcps.edu/form/fs-197-fcps-community-eligibility-provision-cep-household-income-eligibility-form-consent
- By law, FNS cannot disclose student status to anyone, unless that family has a consent to share form on file.
- Parents/guardians of students attending both non-CEP schools and CEP schools must still submit a household application for the free and reduced-price meal benefit and be approved for students in non-CEP schools to receive the free or reduced-price meals
benefit. https://www.myschoolapps.com.
- Students transferring from a CEP school to a non-CEP school within FCPS will need to apply for the free and reduced-price meal benefits to FNS unless the student is eligible for free meals via direct certification.
Family Technology Tools at Holmes MS
HOLMES UPDATES
Here are today's newsletter topics:
Holmes Updates
- Admin Team & Student Services Information
- 2024-25 Blue/White Schedule
- 2024-25 Bell Schedule
- Important Upcoming Dates
- How to Stay Connected to Holmes MS
FCPS & Community Updates
- Back To School Essentials
- INOVA Back to School Pediatric Health Fair
- Free Workshops for Families
- Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost
- Celebrate Community at the Taste of Annandale
- What Is a School Board?
- 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
Holmes MS 2024-25 Blue/White Calendar
Holmes MS 2024-25 Bell Schedule
Important Upcoming Dates
- Monday, 8/19, 7:30AM-2:15PM - First Day of School
- Friday, 8/30 & Monday, 9/2 - NO SCHOOL / Labor Day
- Wednesday, 9/11, 6-8PM - Back to School Night
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
Back To School Essentials
INOVA Back to School Pediatric Health Fairs
Inova Cares Clinic (ICC) will provide children ages 5+ with free school entrance physicals and immunizations at summer health fairs for children on Medicaid or who are uninsured. The clinics will take place 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on the following dates:
- Saturday, August 17, at ICC for Children - Falls Church
Appointments are required. No walk-ins will be allowed. Call 703-698-2550 for an appointment.
Free Workshops for Families
Parents and 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 the Family Resource Center (FRC).
In September, the FRC will host webinars for families on supporting siblings of children with disabilities, helping students organize their school work, working with children who like to push boundaries, and teen development and well-being. Sign up for the FRC newsletter for their latest offerings or visit their webinar website.
Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost
FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors.
Celebrate Community at the Taste of Annandale
The Taste of Annandale [https://tasteofannandale.com/] is a free, family festival Sept. 21, 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m., at the Eileen Garnett Civic Space at 7200 Columbia Pike.
There will be live music and dance, food trucks and other food vendors, children’s performances and activities, a 5-K race, a chili cookoff, a pet contest, local businesses and organizations, and more.
The Taste of Annandale 5K [https://tasteofannandale.com/5k-race/] will start at 9:30 a.m. on Sept. 21 at the K Market parking lot at 4239 John Marr Drive, Annandale.
Sponsorship and vendor opportunities are available. Visit the Taste of Annandale website [https://tasteofannandale.com/] for more information.
Proceeds from the event will benefit Annandale youths.
What Is a School Board?
The Fairfax County School Board is responsible for running the public schools in Fairfax County. Twelve School Board members are elected by county voters every four years.
A student representative serves on the board as a non-voting member. They are chosen by their peers each year.
The School Board makes general rules and sets guidelines to ensure Fairfax County Public Schools runs properly. They follow the laws of Virginia and the rules set by the Virginia Board of Education.
Learning about your local School Board is important. Understanding their policies and initiatives can help you advocate for positive changes and ensure that the educational needs of all students are met. There are many ways to get involved.
Learn more about the School Board, how to participate in their meetings, and where to watch their meetings.
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