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Dear Holmes Families:
Good afternoon! Isn't it wonderful to finally see some sunshine today?
Every week is a great week at Holmes Middle School, but last week was particularly special! 15 students performed at Arena Stage on Thursday for the Voices of Now Festival! They performed a devised play called "Crash Course" based on autobiographical information that they learned about each other throughout the year as they worked with professional actors from Arena Stage. It was incredibly moving and an amazing opportunity for our Holmes actors.

In addition, our Capital One Coders had a great evening showing off their apps at the Capital One Building in McLean Thursday night! In addition, Capital One awarded Holmes and other schools present with a $10,000 grant to promote technology integration in our school! Thank you, Capital One!!
 
Parent Information Night
In light of the recent national news and other difficult situations that are students are faced with, we invite you to join us on Thursday night for the event below to learn more about how we can keep our students safe throughout the school year and summer.
  Paving on Montrose until May 25th
There will be paving on Montrose
Street until May 25th. As a result, please build extra time in your
morning plans to ensure your student arrives to school on time. In addition, please look at the posted signs because you will be towed if you are parked in the way.
SOL Testing
We're
about halfway through
SOLs! Our SOL schedule is below in this posting. Civics, Math 7, & Math 8 remain. We are excited about our students'
successes as we see scores come in. All students will receive their
unofficial scores from their teachers at the end of May/beginning of
June. All students scoring between 375-399 are eligible to retake
the SOL the week of June 4th. Teachers will provide opportunities
for students to practice and review the content in order to have a
successful 2nd attempt.
Applications for AVID Program
Applications for the AVID Program at Holmes will be
accepted through Wednesday, May 23rd. AVID (Advancement
Via Individual Determination) is a research-based, national program whose
mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for
college readiness and success in a global society. Students accepted
into the AVID program will take a year-long elective class that will help
them improve their organization and study skills in order to be successful
in rigorous classes and that will expose them to a variety of colleges and
careers. It is not a remedial program. All rising 7th
and rising 8th grade (current 6th and 7th grade) students are
welcome to apply. Applications are available in the Student Services
office. For more information, please feel free to contact Jay Bradley, AVID Coordinator, or Megan Neforos, AVID Counselor, with
any questions.
Last Day for After School Clubs and Late Buses
Please
note that the last
day for After School clubs will be Friday, May 25th.
Late buses will still be available on Mondays, Wednesday, and Thursdays
for students who need to stay after with teachers for academic help, or
who go to Homework or Hawk Clubs. Hawk Club will continue to be
available through Friday, June 8th. The last day for late buses will be
Thursday, June 7th. If you have any questions,
please contact Mr. Cabezas.
SCA Activity Day - Seeking Chaperones
As our school year comes to a close, SCA, Grade Level
Leaders, and all of Holmes Faculty are planning another “End of the Year:
Activity Day”. Last year was successful due to the amazing collaboration
between PTA, parent/guardian volunteers, and staff. We are looking to do this
Round 2 bigger, better, and kick it up notch! SCA would like to for volunteers to join
in celebrating the hard work and successes of our students.
Overall Event Detail
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SCA – EOY Activity Day (consists of 3
parts): Morning Movie, Event Rotations, Faculty vs. Student Basketball
game
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Morning Movie (7:30am – 9:55am): Currently,
we are planning on showing the inspiring and heartwarming movie, Wonder
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Station Rotation (10:00am – 12:35pm): Holmes
Middle School and the student body will be divided up into 4 Stations. Each
Station will have a variety of activities for students to choose from: Arts
& Crafts, Wii Sports, Relay Games, Board Games, Outside Activities, and
more.
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Home Base 1: Movie in Lecture Hall
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Home Base 2: Music and Games in Gymnasium
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Faculty vs. Student Basketball Game (12:40pm – 1:20pm / 1:25pm – 2:05pm): We will have 2 rotations of the Faculty vs. Student Basketball Game. During the game, we will have a special performance from our students.
As logistics for SCA – EOY
Activity Day become finalized, the following with complete detail will be
provided: Overall Day Schedule, Itinerary, Rotation Details, Station Diagram.
As we have all of Holmes Staff assisting in this event, we
are seeking out Parent/Guardian volunteers that would like to chaperone,
contribute, and participate in this grand celebration. We do not expect parents
to stay all day, but if we could get about 20+ volunteers throughout the day,
that would be amazing. Also, if parents/guardians would like to host an
activity of their own, please have them contact me ( jfcho@fcps.edu ) to see if we can coordinate
something and to ensure that it works out logistically.
Student development does not begin and end throughout the
school day. Rather, learning continues from experiences and through the support
of our community. Thank you for your constant contributions to the success of
Holmes students.
Fundraiser for 8th Grade EOY Activity
Ms.Hoatling, parent of one of our 8th grade students, will be presenting at a Jamberry Party. Jamberry is Nail care company with nails wraps,
lacquers, gels and hand care products offering you "Signature Style at
your Fingertips”. She will be donating her commission along with other contributions to assist with the cost of the 8th grade EOY activity. Click on the link below for details and to register for the party.
https://jammintoria.jamberry.com/us/en/shop/party/home/89cc7e21-6566-4608-8561-f3f809ffe730
BOGO Book Fair
Coming June 4th-8th. The BOGO Bookfair! Stock up for summer reading fun. Early shopping and volunteer sign-up available now at http://www.scholastic.com/bf/hmsreads
  
More in our newsletter this week:
- May/June SOL Schedule
- Next Week's Schedule of Classes
- Next Week's After School Program Schedule
-
FCPS Career Switcher Information Session
– May 22, 2018
- Register your student for FCPS VIP Summer Camp!!
- FCPS, Northern Virginia
Community College Offer Summer STEM Camps
- FCPS and Fairfax County
Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (DNCS) have teamed up to
offer a 5 week camp for rising 7th and 8th graders
- Annandale High School Summer Sports Camps
- TJ Prep Camp Summer 2018
- Teens in Action Camp
- How To Stay In Touch
Thank you, and have a wonderful week!
Sincerely,
Margaret Barnes, Principal
mfbarnes@fcps.edu
Interested in learning more about the SOL exams your child will take? Here are links from the Virginia Department of Education for:
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Civics (8th grade only)
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English (all grades)
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Math (all grades)
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Science (8th grade only, but covers content from 6th-8th grades)

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This week:
Mon., 5/21= White Day w/ ER 7 & 8 (ER 8 Lesson: Digital Citizenship School Motto Contest)
Tues., 5/22=Blue Day
Wed., 5/23 = White Day w/ ER 1 & 2
Thurs., 5/24 = Blue Day
Fri., 5/25 = White Day w/ ER 3 & 4
*NOTE: Students can always find the blue-white calendar in their agendas or on the website HERE.
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After School Program (ASP) - Week of 5/21
Please note that the last day for clubs in After School will be Friday, May 25th.
For any questions you have about the After School Program, please contact German Cabezas at gdcabezas@fcps.edu.
The Office of Talent
Acquisition & Management (TAM) will host a Career Switcher Information
Session at the Willow Oaks Administrative Center on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. This
event will give military veterans, community members and anyone interested an
opportunity to learn how to become a licensed Virginia teacher.
The information session
will begin with presentations from the four approved Virginia Department of
Education (VDOE) career switcher programs, Educate Virginia, Old Dominion
University, Regent University and Shenandoah University. Troops to Teachers
will also present their program offerings to our military veteran attendees. A
question and answer session will be held with a panel of FCPS educators,
followed by an opportunity to network with the five presenters, the FCPS
licensure team and the substitute office.
We would like you to
share this event information with your school community, parents, FCPS
employees and anyone in your network seeking information on becoming a licensed
Virginia teacher.
Event Information
Tuesday, May 22, 2018
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Willow Oaks Administrative Center
Building 8270 / Room 1000 A&B
Please register here
Fairfax County Public
Schools is partnering with Northern Virginia Community College to offer more
than a dozen one-week STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) summer
camps during the summer break.
Open to students currently
enrolled in grades 3-12, these one-week camps emphasize hands-on learning,
teamwork, critical thinking, and career awareness in a fun and engaging way.
Topics include robotics, coding, forensics, cybersecurity, app design,
aviation, and pre-health.
Camps will run June 18
through August 3 at the following locations: Edison High School, Marshall
High School, Westfield High School, and Hughes Middle School. Discounts are
available to parents who sign up their child for multiple camps or sign up
multiple children.
Additional information and registration is available
online or by contacting STEM Outreach Coordinator Charles Britt
at cbritt@nvcc.edu
or 703-425-5917.
What is your middle school child doing this summer?
Like you, we believe your child is a Very Important
Person and deserves a summer experience that is safe and full of
fitness, friends, fun and enrichment. FCPS and Fairfax County Department
of Neighborhood and Community Services (DNCS) have teamed up to offer a 5 week
camp for rising 7th and 8th graders.
Our camp will be a combination of students from the
following middle schools: Glasgow, Holmes, Jackson, Kilmer, Poe, and
Thoreau. Bus transportation will be provided from various pick-up
locations which will be communicated in June prior to the start of camp.
There is a $50 registration fee. We will take weekly field trips and pricing
information for that will be released after we have notified students of
acceptance. Students who do not attend
the field trips will not need to pay the field trip fees, but will need to stay
home from camp that day as all of our staff will attend the trip.
Students will also have the option of choosing which trips to attend.
The staff is led by your local After-School Specialists
and trained DNCS staff. Campers will have a great time playing
sports, games, doing arts and crafts and exploring concepts in science and
technology.
Details
Dates: July 2, 2018 - August 2, 2018
(campers are encouraged to attend all 5 weeks)
Times: 8:00am-4:00pm
Location: Thoreau
Middle School
Registration: Begins on Monday, March
19th, and will close on Friday, April 20th. You
can expect to receive notice of acceptance or waitlist status soon after
registration closes in late April.
Registration fee payment information will be communicated at that time. Sign up by picking up a registration packet
from Thoreau's main office or visiting this link: https://goo.gl/forms/lEikoWujZQ06I5eh2
Cost: $50 registration fee plus field trip
fees (admission plus transportation cost)
With limited spaces available, it’s important to submit
your registration as soon as possible.
Questions? Contact Shannon
Campbell at SLCampbell@fcps.edu or 703-846-8089.
When Fairfax County Public Schools are closed for the spring, summer and winter breaks, RECQuest offers an engaging, healthy and affordable recreation program for children to learn, play and serve. Activities include team sports, games, arts and crafts, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programming, service projects, cultural field trips and much more! Free nutritious lunches and snacks are served.
Teens in Action Dates & Registration
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Spring 2018: Check back for 2019 dates
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Summer 2018 (English, Spanish)- Registration Opens April 1: June 18 - August 24 (July 4 is a county holiday - no programs)
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Winter 2018: TBD
Teens in Action Eligibility, Fees & Scholarship Opportunities
- Teens In Action is for youth ages 12 to 18 living in Fairfax County.
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Admission to Teens In Action is free. Some activities and field trips will require a fee in order to participate. Please contact your Teens In Action location for details.
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Financial assistance is available - eligibility requirements apply. Please contact your Teens In Action location for details.
Teens in Action Locations
James Lee Community Center 2855-A Annandale Road, Falls Church, VA 22042 Phone: 703-534-3387, TTY 711
Mott Community Center 12111 Braddock Road, Fairfax, VA 22030 Phone: 703-278-8605, TTY 711
Providence Community Center 3001 Vaden Drive, Fairfax, VA 22031 Phone: 703-865-0520, TTY 711
Reston Teen Center 12196 Sunset HIlls Road, Reston, VA 20190 Phone: 703-326-7040, TTY 711
South County Teen Center 8350 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA 22309 703-704-6234, TTY 711
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Tuesday, 5/22, 7:00 PM - Chorus & Orchestra Spring Concert (Annandale HS)
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Thursday, 5/24, 6:30 PM - Parent Information Night - Topic: Alcohol, Drugs & Vaping: What Parents Need to Know
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Friday, 5/25 - Music Department trip to Six Flags America
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Friday, 5/25 - Last Day for clubs in the After School Program
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Monday, 5/28 - Memorial Day Holiday - NO SCHOOL
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Wednesday, 5/30 - Little Feet Meet for Special Olympics at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School
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Wednesday, 5/30, 7:00 PM Band Concert (Gym)
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Thursday, 5/31, 7:00 PM - Advanced Theatre Showcase (Cafeteria)
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Monday, 6/4 - 6/8 - Scholastic Book Fair (Library)
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Tuesday, 6/5, 7:00 PM - Music Recital (Gym)
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Thursday, 6/7 - Last Day for Late Buses
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Friday, 6/8, 7:00-9:00 PM - 8th Grade Celebration (Cafeteria)
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Monday, 6/11, 8:00 AM - 6th Grade Awards Ceremony (Gym)
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Monday, 6/11, 6:30 PM - PTA Meeting
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Tuesday, 6/12, 8:00 AM - 7th Grade Awards Ceremony (Gym)
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Wednesday, 6/13, 8:00 AM - 8th Grade Awards Ceremony (Gym)
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Thursday, 6/14 - SCA Schoolwide Activity Day
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Friday, 6/15 - Last Day of School / 2-hour early release
Please stay in touch with us throughout the year by:
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