Friday, August 30, and Monday, September 2, are Labor Day holidays for all FCPS employees and students. Virginia legislation requires that schools opening prior to Labor Day must be closed the Friday immediately preceding Labor Day. We hope everyone takes the long weekend to celebrate a strong start to the school year and enjoy time with family and friends. See the complete school year calendar.

Principal's Note

Holmes Families,

I hope this message finds you well as we wrap up our second week of school! It’s been wonderful to see our students settling into their routines, forming new friendships, and engaging with their teachers in meaningful ways.

This week, our students continued to display the enthusiasm and curiosity that make Holmes Middle School such a special place. I’ve had the pleasure of visiting classrooms and witnessing the learning taking place.

As we settle into our routines, I want to encourage families to stay involved and connected with us. Your support is invaluable, and together, we can ensure that every student has a successful and rewarding year.

Next Friday, September 6 at 7PM, please join us at Annandale High School for the football game where our chorus will be singing the national anthem. Tickets are $5. 

Everything You Can Do Through SIS ParentVUE

Want to easily access back-to-school forms and checklists? Log in to your SIS ParentVUE account to find forms and make updates.

Update Contact Information

Be among the first to know about weather closings, bus delays, and other critical communications from your school and FCPS by providing your cell phone number and email in SIS ParentVUE. To update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, click the “Online Packets” tab in the upper right of the screen, then click the “Online Verification/Update” icon. 

Parents/caregivers who do not have a SIS ParentVUE account should print and complete the Emergency Care Information Form (PDF) and submit it to their child’s school.

Complete Permission Forms

Families can now easily give permission for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. This online tool can be accessed using your SIS ParentVUE account. Parents can easily opt their child in or out of resources including online educational tools, school counseling services, and tutoring services. They can also change how student information is managed.

Visit the Parent Digital Consent webpage to access the system. Watch this video to see how to use the tool. 

Submit Absences

Parents can submit daylong absences through SIS ParentVUE. Log in and click “Report Absence.” Note: Partial day absences and changes of transportation should still be reported directly to the school front office. 

Here is a reminder about our check in and check out procedures:

To check out early, please remember to bring in photo ID.  Please remember to allow us some time to locate your student and call them down to the office.  Please be mindful that during times of recess, gym or lunch, it may take longer for your student to make their way down to the office.  Please ensure that you are giving yourself time.

When students are checking in late, you have a few options:

• Students can check in independently, however, a parent/guardian will need to call the attendance line at 703-658-5900 option 1 or email at [email protected]  
• Students can check in the office alongside a parent/guardian stating the reason for late arrival.

Don’t Have a SIS ParentVUE Account Yet?Contact your school for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage. 

Food orders

Students are not able to order food through delivery apps throughout the school day at Holmes. 

If a student forgets their lunch, they are able to get lunch for free in our cafeteria.  However, if you choose to bring them their lunch, students will be called from the cafeteria to the main office.  We kindly ask that you only bring food from home.

Transportation Patience and Safety

Thank you for your patience as we all get used to new routines this school year. We appreciate our families following kiss-and-ride procedures and being patient while waiting for school buses. Students are expected to be at their bus stop at least five minutes before the scheduled pickup time. This year we will have a handful double back busses. This means some busses will either pick up students earlier and they will be dropped off at school supervised by 7am or students will stay at school after dismissal until ~2:40PM.

AM/PM Double back busses:

• HO-06
• HO-07
• HO-17

If a bus is delayed, parents/caregivers may access the Bus Delay Notification System or use the Here Comes the Bus mobile app to receive the delayed bus report. Email messages will be sent to announce significant bus delays.

Contact the Transportation Office at 703-446-2050 with any additional questions. For any concerns after 5:30 p.m., contact Safety and Security at 571-423-2000. 

To make sure you receive email messages about bus delays, update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE.

Kiss and Ride 

As a reminder, please only drop students off through the kiss-and-ride line. 

New Cell Phone Policy

Thank you for helping to support the FCPS cell phone policy by waiting to call or text your child about non-urgent matters until the school day is over. In case of an emergency, it is always best to contact the school’s front office at 703-658-5900 to reach your child during class time. 

Visit the FCPS Cell Phone Policy webpage to read more about usage policies by grade level and to share your feedback on the current 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.

Lightspeed Parent Report on Child’s Device Activity

FCPS has tools to help parents know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided at no cost to families by Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service.

Parents may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites your child visited. The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for free access to the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours.

Learn more about Lightspeed Parent Reports.

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. 

Community Conversations

FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid hosts a series of Community Conversations throughout the school year. The events are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. 

As a listening leader, connecting and engaging with community members across our division is critical to Dr. Reid.  

Superintendent Community Conversations are events open to all and will be held in each FCPS Region. A full schedule of events is listed below. Please choose the event most convenient for you.  

Pre-registration is not required, but does help us plan. Childcare and language interpretation services will be provided.

School Year 2024 - 2025  Fall Series - 

• Monday, September 9, 2024 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Holmes Middle School - Register here.

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

• 2024 Student Rights and Responsibilities 
• Safety Drills During the School Year
• Receive Credit for Proficiency in Languages
• Community Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Reid
• Solve the Puzzle Before It’s Gone!
• 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

• Friday, 8/30 & Monday, 9/2 - NO SCHOOL / Labor Day
• Wednesday, 9/11, 6-8PM - Back to School Night
• Thursday, 9/12 & Friday, 9/13 - Fall Picture Day

From Holmes MS Family Liaisons

Dear Holmes Family,
My name is Alemtsehay Oncho, and I am the Family Liaison at Holmes Middle School. I am thrilled to welcome back our returning families and extend a warm welcome to all our new families! I am also excited to work alongside Mr. Benavides our new Family Liaison. It is a privilege to serve this community, where I truly feel at home.
As a mother of five children, ranging from 11 to 28 years old, I share many of the same experiences and challenges as you do in parenting. With over ten years of experience working with families from diverse cultural backgrounds, I understand the unique needs of our community. This is my fourth year at Holmes, and I speak English, Amharic, and Oromo. I also use language interpretation to communicate with families who speak different languages.
My role is to support families in becoming actively engaged in their child's academic success and emotional well-being. I do this by connecting families with school staff, organizing family workshops, and training sessions, and providing resources from both the school and the community that can address a variety of needs, such as food, school supplies, clothing, English classes, job readiness, and employment opportunities. Research shows that when families are involved in their children’s education, student achievement increases significantly.
I am committed to working together with you for the success of all our students. To keep you informed and connected, I use Talking Points, News You Choose, and Schoology to communicate and share valuable resources. Remember, “It takes a village to raise a child.”
Please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected], on my work cell at 571-326-8370, or at my office phone at 703-658-5923. I look forward to collaborating with you.

Dear Holmes Middle School Families,
My name is Juan Benavides, and I am thrilled to introduce myself as the new parent liaison at Holmes Middle School, working alongside Alem Oncho. I grew up in Springfield, VA, though I was originally born in Long Island, New York, and my family is from Honduras. My background is quite diverse—I initially pursued a dream of becoming a professional soccer player, which led me to Germany where I achieved that dream after competing in Division 1 soccer at Radford University. Although my studies were in sport management and I was passionate about staying connected to sports, my experiences abroad inspired me to shift my focus.

I discovered a deep fulfillment in giving back to the community and supporting others who come from similar backgrounds to achieve their dreams. This passion is what brings me to Holmes Middle School. I am fluent in Spanish and am here to assist all families, regardless of language barriers. I am thrilled to work with Alem and all of you to support our students and their families. I look forward to getting to know each of you and working together to make a positive impact on our school community.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance. You can contact me at:

• Email: @email
• Phone: 703-658-5923

Holmes MS PTA

Join the Holmes MS PTA and attend meetings (4th Wednesday of the month; translation services provided)

• PTA Facebook
• Join
• Purchase Spirit Wear
• Upcoming events:
  • Every Wednesday Papa Johns 11am-11pm, use code HMS4010 for 40% off your order (Annandale location only)
  • 9/16 Chipotle Spirit Night, 4-8pm 6242 Little River Turnpike location Online order code: HABJHXN
  • 9/25 General membership meeting, Holmes library and Zoom
  • 10/11 Panera Spirit Night, 4-8pm Vincent Gate Terrace location, enter code FUND4U at online checkout
  • 10/23 Fall Festival, sign up here to volunteer or make a donation
  • 10/23 General membership meeting, Holmes library and Zoom
  • 11/8 Jollibee Spirit Day, 9am-10pm, 4809 Beauregard St. location, mention Holmes, and 20% of your order comes back to the school

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

2024 Student Rights and Responsibilities 

FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities document (SR&R) explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. Read Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid’s letter to families regarding the SR&R. 

Parents/caregivers should talk to their child(ren) about expectations for this school year. Also, please log in to SIS ParentVUE and sign to acknowledge your review of the SR&R, or sign and return the signature sheet to your child’s school by Monday, September 30. 

You can submit questions online regarding the SR&R.

Safety Drills During the School Year

Keeping students and staff safe is a priority for FCPS. Each school has an emergency preparedness plan to respond to incidents such as fires and tornadoes. Schools are required by state law to practice emergency drills, including lockdown drills, each year. Schools are also required to notify parents and guardians at least 24 hours before a school conducts a lockdown drill. However, schools are not required to give the specific date and time of the drill in advance. 

The first lockdown drill of the school year must take place within the first 20 days of school. Preschool and kindergarten students are exempt from practicing the first lockdown drill. 

Your child may come home and talk about their experience during the drill. We encourage you to talk with your child about the importance of being prepared for emergencies. Please review these frequently asked questions to support your students before and after school lockdown drills.

⚠️ Know Our Security Terms

FCPS uses specific terminology to describe the actions school staff and students should take to ensure safety in a variety of situations. It is important for staff, families, and students to understand what the different terms mean and how they impact school operations.

Watch this video to learn about safety terms including lockdown; secure the building; and stay put, stay tuned. 

If students, staff, or community members have a safety concern at school (that is not an immediate emergency), they should submit a tip to the FCPS Safety Tipline. In an emergency, please call 9-1-1.  

Receive Credit for Proficiency in Languages

This year's World Languages Credit by Exam will be administered at each FCPS middle, high, and secondary school. 

The World Languages Credit by Exam is an optional test for students in grades 7-12 who can speak and write (type) proficiently in a language other than English. Based on the results of the exam, they can earn 1, 2, and/or 3 passing world language credits. 

Registration opens on Wednesday, September 4, at 8 a.m., and closes on Friday, October 4, at 4 p.m. Late registrations will not be accepted. Please contact your student’s school counselor to register for the exam. 

Find more information, including the list of eligible languages. 

Community Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Reid

Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid invites you to share your questions or concerns regarding Fairfax County Public Schools. Your voice matters! Community Conversations will be held this Fall 6:30-7:30 p.m. on:

• Monday, September 9, at Holmes Middle School 
• Monday, September 23, at Newington Forest Elementary
• Monday, September 30, at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary 
• Monday, October 14, at Fairhill Elementary 
• Monday, October 21, at Virginia Run Elementary 
• Wednesday, October 30, at Herndon Middle 

Click the date above to register. Registration is not required but helps with planning. Additional registration links will be shared in next week’s This Week at FCPS. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid. 

Solve the Puzzle Before It’s Gone! 

Fairfax County's Puzzle Hunt will end on Sunday, September 15. Families have been solving puzzles and finding clues all summer in this unique community event that takes solvers on a journey to the wonderful parks in Fairfax County. There is still time to join before it ends!

Puzzles are filled with creative thinking, logic, and wordplay. They are designed to be completed with friends and family and are challenging and accessible for all skill levels. Solve the puzzles, then find clues at the parks for a final meta-puzzle. Visit our wonderful local parks with friends and family. 

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