Principal's Note - Sept 27, 2024

By Serena Giron
Principal's Note
September 30, 2024

Important Dates

Holmes Calendar

  • 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,

It has been another successful and busy week at Holmes.

A group of NJHS and AVID students were selected through a lottery to visit the White House on Saturday, September 21 for a "Back to School Event" with Dr. Jill Biden.  You can see pictures from the White House visit here - https://holmesms.fcps.edu/features/hms-goes-white-house.  The students were thrilled to hear Dr. Biden speak and engage with Military personnel, Secret Service, and White House staff. It was truly an unforgettable day!

Wednesday, we had our first PTA meeting.  Unfortunately, we did not record, so I am unable to share a video.  However, topics from the evening ranged from hearing about PTA goals for the year and budget, an update on Holmes from me, our family liaisons shared how they support families and upcoming programming, and Ms. Lister talked through Literacy updates at Holmes.  Please see the flier below about upcoming virtual Lexia parent information nights.  Lexia is an evidence based program that we use in all of our English classes.  If you have more questions about the PTA, please contact Amy Mahoney, PTA president at [email protected] and please consider joining the Holmes MS PTA. 

Thursday, we celebrated Blue Ribbon week by welcoming our Military families for our inaugural monthly Military breakfast.  We are thrilled to share that it was a wonderful success! It provided an excellent opportunity for parents and students to connect and build community. We’re excited to continue these events and look forward to our upcoming breakfasts. Thank you to everyone who participated! If you did not get messaging about the Military breakfasts and would like to be included, please contact Mr. Juan Benavides at [email protected]. 

Lastly, for our Edison families - this Friday is the Edison High School feeder night for the football game.  Please see the flyer below for more information.

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Serena Giron

Principal

Lexia Night

EHS Feeder Night

Admin/Counselor Team Information

Admin Team

Holmes MS 2024-25 Blue/White Calendar

Calendar

Holmes MS 2024-25 Bell Schedule 

bell

After-School Program Weekly News & Notes from 9/23-9/27

Hawks Highlights from ASP week 9/23-9/27

  • This week we had over 35 different clubs & activities including our newest clubs; Capital One Coders, RC Cars Club, & VEX Robotics, & Cooking Club.
  • Next week we will introduce a few more including - Future Entrepreneurs, Future City Planners, & Science Olympiad

Students Leaving After-School before 4:45

  • 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.
  • Walkers must have written permission (may be emailed) from their parent/guardian to walk.
  • Students must be picked up no later than 5pm.
  • 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

ASP

asp

asp

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.  

Bell Schedule

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! 

World Language Credit Exam

Can your child read and write proficiently in another language?

If the answer is YES then you may want to register them for the World Language Credit Exam

What is the World Language Credit Exam?

A free, optional test offered by FCPS to provide students the opportunity to EARN HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT for their ability to read and write in another language. This is a rigorous test that assesses language experience (example: student can read entire newspaper in another language and write an essay using complete sentences).

Why take the World Language Credit Exam?

If students pass the exam, they can earn up to three (3) high school credits towards the advanced diploma language graduation requirements.

When is the World Language Credit Exam?

The 2024 World Language Credit Exam will be administered at Holmes Middle School On November 13 (make up date November 14) 2024 to interested 7th and 8th grade students. School counselors will register students from September 26-October 4, 2024.

If you are interested in having your child register for this test, they can come to student services to meet with their counselor between September 26th and October 4th. 

7th Grade:  @email

8th Grade:  @email

ESOL 1-2:  @email

 

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: