Principal's Note - Sept 20, 2024

By Serena Giron
Principal's Note
September 23, 2024

Important Dates

Holmes Calendar

  • Wednesday, 9/25, 6:30PM - PTA Meeting Online or in person in Holmes Library  
  • Thursday, 10/3 - NO SCHOOL / Rosh Hashanah
  • Friday, 10/4 - NO SCHOOL / Teacher Workday
  • Monday, 10/14 - NO SCHOOL / Staff Development Day
  • Friday, 10/25 - Picture Retake Day
  • Thursday, 10/31 -  2-HOUR EARLY RELEASE / 1st Quarter Ends

Table of Contents

Message from Principal Giron

Holmes Families,

We have had another wonderful week at Holmes! I am incredibly proud of our students so far this school year.  Our students have been busy learning what good behavior looks and sounds like through SOAR, checking out their new school laptops, learning new curriculum, and becoming experts at navigating the school building. 

Important Reminders:

  • Attendance: We ask that families continue to prioritize punctuality and attendance. Every day in class counts, and we appreciate your support in ensuring that students arrive on time and ready to learn.
  • Health & Safety: As we head into the colder months, please remind your students to wash their hands regularly and follow healthy habits to keep our school community safe.

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Serena Giron

Principal

EHS Feeder Night

Admin Team Information

Admin Team

Holmes MS 2024-25 Blue/White Calendar

Calendar

Holmes MS 2024-25 Bell Schedule 

Bell Schedule

Parent/Caregiver Checklist: Have You Completed These Important Forms?

We understand that the multiple school forms caregivers receive during the first weeks of school can feel overwhelming, but each one helps set your child up for a successful school year! If you do not have a SIS ParentVUE account, please contact your child’s school for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage. 

🩹 Immunization Requirements 

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 may check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to your school’s front office. 

Alternative immunization documents (below) may also be provided to your school’s front office, but they may not be uploaded in ParentVUE:  

  • A healthcare provider’s written statement specifying all administered immunizations.
  • A healthcare provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption.
  • A notarized Religious Exemption form objecting to the administration of immunizations due to conflicts with religious tenets or practices.

Find more information on immunizations. 

📋 Permission Forms

Families can easily grant permission for their children to access a variety of school resources through the Parent Digital Consent system. Parents can 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. 

Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R)

The SR&R document explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses. Parents using SIS ParentVUE will be prompted to sign the document when logging in to that platform. A printable version of the document with a signature sheet is available on the SR&R webpage. This form should be signed and returned by Friday, September 30.

💻Digital Consent for Resources

This year we’ll be using a variety of FCPS approved online resources. In order to be in compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), we need you to fill out this brief form stating that you give your permission for your child to use these applications.  

FCPS Cares

Want to recognize a Holmes staff member who is going above and beyond?  

Submit a story through the FCPS CARES Program.   

Parenting Project Workshop

The 10-week Parenting Project workshop is being offered at Annandale High school beginning October 1st. All the details are in the flyer below. 

When: Tuesdays 6-8 p.m.

Where: Annandale High School Refreshments served in the cafeteria at 5:30 p.m.

In-person sessions:

  • October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
  • November 12, 19, 26
  • December 3
  • Virtual Session November 5

Contact: Rosario Carrasco, 703-642-7411, @email

Lisa Sibenik, 571-423-1286, @email

Empowering Parents

When a Student Should Stay Home From School

When students need to miss school, it is important for parents/guardians to communicate those absences with the school.  This can be done by calling the main phone line at 703-658-5900 – press 1 for English or 2 for Spanish. Then select option 1.  Or you can submit up to two full day absences via SIS Parent VUE

Whether students miss school because of illness or any other reason, missing school leads to learning loss.

Help your child succeed by encouraging them to attend as many days as possible, but do make sure your child stays home if they are sick. Visit our website for information on when to keep your child at home.

If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to notify their teacher so that assistance can be provided if needed. Keep an open line of communication with your school's public health staff.

Read about how families can help form good attendance habits. Attend today, achieve tomorrow! 

Blue Star Welcome Week

Every year, approximately 600,000 military-connected families relocate. Most of these families move to new duty stations, while some transition out of the military and others transition in. Most of these moves take place over the summer, and Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to ensuring our military families feel welcomed and a sense of belonging to their local community. 

Blue Star Welcome Week is an opportunity for our community to welcome our military-connected families and show them our appreciation for their service and sacrifices. Throughout the week, FCPS will help ease their transition through events, messages, actions of welcome, and opportunities to make meaningful connections. Please help us welcome our military families during Blue Star Welcome Week, September 21 - September 29, 2024, and throughout the year! #BlueStarWelcomeWeekFCPS 

Military families will receive a separate email for Holmes specific activities! Stay tuned!

Please reach out to Juan Benavides, family liaison if you haven't received anything - [email protected] 

Checking out Students

Families, remember that when coming to the school to pick up your student, an official photo ID must be presented to the Main Office staff. Please understand that this is for security purposes. Driver’s licenses, passports, and military IDs are appropriate examples of official IDs.

6th Grade Language Arts Curriculum

This school year there are multiple changes in store for Language Arts curriculum, assessment, and intervention. This video from the Language Arts Office provides an overview of the changes for the 2024-2025 school year.  We look forward to partnering with you throughout the year!

Literacy Back to School Night video

Message from Holmes MS Family Liaisons

FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning (no longer Tutor.com). 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, study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. To learn more click HERE.

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)
    • 9/25 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 In-Touch

Please stay in touch with us throughout the year by: