 Getting ready for next week's Team Day!
From the Principal's Desk:
Greetings Cougar Community:
We have now completed our first five day school week!! I think everyone was pretty tired by Friday. We had our first PTA meeting this week as well. I would encourage all families to join the PTA. This organization exists purely to support your students and teachers. They have provided invaluable help to the school in terms of time and money. We are committing to have 100% of our staff join so we would like to approach that number with our families.
Next week will be busy. We have Team Day on Tuesday and Back to School Night on Thursday. There is more information below.
Have a good weekend!
Team Day
On Tuesday, September 17, we will have our first team day of the year. Students will participate in team building activities in the morning and a grade level pep rally in the afternoon. Students are also encouraged to wear their team color to show their team spirit. As a reminder, no face or body paint will be allowed. A list of team names and team colors is below, as well as times for the day’s special events. Lunch times will be slightly modified; the bell schedule will be posted for students on Monday.
Back to school night – Thursday, September 19th, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
All Kilmer parents are invited to attend our annual Back to School night scheduled for next Thursday, September 19th from 6:00-8:00 pm. During this evening, parents will rotate through their child’s schedule and have the opportunity to meet all their child’s teachers and learn about the curriculum for each course. Parents can access their child’s classes by using their FCPS ParentVue mobile app. Directions for downloading the app are at the following link: https://www.fcps.edu/node/31843
All parents who have registered SIS Parent Accounts, and have students enrolled in either middle or high school can download the FCPS ParentVUE mobile app. If you had an active account from the 2018-2019 school year, you can continue to use this account for the 2019-2020 school year. SIS Parent Accounts and FCPS 24-7 Learning accounts now have the same username and password. SIS ParentVUE registration letters for recently registered students will be centrally mailed three weeks into the school year. If you are waiting on this registration letter and are unable to access ParentVUE at this time, printed schedules will be available in the cafeteria at the start of Back to School Night. Students are also encouraged to share their schedule with their parents.
Parking will be difficult; please think about carpooling with neighbors or friends.
Yearbook!
As your student and their friends are taking part in this school year, the yearbook staff is capturing the memories of the year to live forever in the 2019-2020 yearbook. Get your student a book of middle school memories of this year – buy a yearbook. Don’t miss out.
Regular price is $40, but the early bird special is $30 until September 30th!
Yearbooks can only be purchased online by visiting www.yearbookforever.com
Kilmer’s NJHS Candidate Invitations Sent by email
On August 30, Kilmer NJHS Candidate Invitations and Candidate Forms were emailed to all students who earned a cumulative 3.7 GPA in the 2018-2019 academic year.
Invitations were emailed to the students’ @fcpsschools.net account. Parent/guardian information letters were sent to the email on record.
Candidate Forms and Parent/Guardian Letters are also available on the Kilmer Website, along with additional information about NJHS.
The Candidate Form and Teacher Recommendations deadline is September 17 by 3:00 pm. Completed forms are to be turned in to the Main Office.
Requirements and Expectations for Kilmer NJHS candidates:
- Candidates for NJHS must have and maintain a GPA of at least 3.70 throughout the 2019-2020 school year. Initial enrollment is based on 7th grade cumulative GPA.
- Candidates must complete all NJHS assignments by the deadline established by the NJHS committee.
- Candidates must show evidence of scholarship, character, leadership, citizenship, and service.
- At least eight hours of direct service must be completed in an approved service learning project and recorded in the NJHS x2Vol. The eight hours of NJHS service are in addition to Civics hours.
- In addition, seven hours are required during and after school hours for mandatory student meetings and mentor check ins.
- Candidates must have two teacher recommendations (can be 7th or 8th grade teachers).
Students selected as NJHS candidates for the 2019-2020 will be notified through their school email after September 19.
Required Safety Drills
Recognizing and responding to a crisis takes practice. The more a plan is practiced, reviewed and improved, the better that plan will be implemented. Over the past three weeks we have conducted three successful and efficient fire drills and one lockdown drill. Our students did an excellent job exiting the building during the fire drills and remained calm and followed teacher instructions for the lockdown drill.
To ensure students and staff receive regular practice of security procedures, the following schedule of drills is maintained by FCPS:
- Fire drills: Once a week for first twenty (20) school days and monthly thereafter
- Tornado drills: in March of each academic year
- Bus evacuation drills: in September and February of each academic year
- Lockdown drills: Two within the first twenty (20) school days plus two additional drills, one of which must occur in January
We wanted to make sure parent/guardians are aware of these drills for the year in case students want to talk about their experience at home.
Student Gradebooks Open September 9th in SIS ParentVUE and SIS StudentVUE
Student grades are available online through SIS ParentVUE and SIS StudentVUE. The gradebook will open on Monday, September 9th for parents and students.
If you need a SIS ParentVUE account or cannot remember your username:
Click on this link: https://itweb.fcps.edu/ParentView/index.cfm
If you do not remember the password:
Click on this link and select “Forgot Password”: https://sisparent.fcps.edu/PVUE/login_parent_pxp_ovr2.aspx?regenerateSessionId=True
SIS ParentVUE and SIS StudentVUE can also be accessed using a Mobile App, such as iPhone, iPad or Android device. Click on this link: https://www.fcps.edu/node/31843
Getting the news out!
Given the power and scope of social media, many Kilmer faculty and staff have Twitter handles and post photos of Kilmer happenings to spread the good news. If you are on Twitter, please consider following one or more of our staff:
Kilmer: @kilmercougars
Kilmer Library: @kilmerlibrary
Debra David, Assistant Principal: @jesuidebra
Chris Musgnug, Assistant Principal: @chrismusgnug
Michelle Lyttle. Assistant Principal: @michelle_lyttle
Nikisha Kozik, Theater Arts: @KilmerDrama
Jo Gordon, English 8: @jogordon66
Chris Davis, Science 8: @ScienceNvrSucks
Ann Mackenzie, Health and PE: @Mac@kmschat2016
Kathy Van Orden, Reading teacher: @VanOrdenKath
Missie Farrace, French, @mafarrace
Kristen Mattix, Science 7: @science7KMS
Sean Kenney, PE teacher : @KenneyHPE
Eyby Osorio Hernandez, Spanish teacher : @T16espanol-1
Kilmer Martians team: @KilmerMartians
Brooke Nicholas, Spanish teacher: @T13espanol
Emma Aulestia, English 7 teacher: @msaulestia
Family Life Education (FLE): Parent preview Back to School Night
The KMS Health & Physical Education teachers will be available on Thursday, September 19th from 5:00-6:00 in F124 computer lab to answer questions about the Family Life Education curriculum.
The link provided directs parents to the FLE curriculum and opt-out forms on the FCPS website. The opt-out forms are to be turned into Student Services.
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle-school-academics-7-8/family-life-education-fle
Greetings from After School:
Greetings Parent(s)/Guardian(s)
After school activities and transportation begins Tuesday, September 24th. Transportation is available to students staying after school Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays- departing at 4:45PM. Late Bus routes will be posted in the cafeteria. Please be aware that after school late bus numbers and routes may differ from your child's normal school day bus routes. There are two blocks after school, 2:15-3:30pm and 3:45-4:45pm. Students do not have to stay for the second block and may walk or be picked up at 3:30pm. On Mondays and Fridays plans for staying after and getting home by 3:30PM(Mondays) or 4:45PM(Fridays) must be prearranged as there are no late buses on these days. Students may not leave school grounds and return during Afterschool. Students should bring a snack from home, they may also purchase snack from the vending machine or during lunch.
Parents/Guardians must complete the required Afterschool Registration Form before their student stays after.
Questions? Please contact the After School Program Specialist Ms. Kardelis at kckardelis@fcps.edu or 703.846.8820
Upcoming Dates
Tuesday, September 17 - Team Day
Thursday, September 19 - Back to School Night, 6-8pm
Tuesday, September 24 - Late busses and after school activities start
The 2019-20 FCPS School Calendar can be found HERE.
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