 Interim Principal Mr. Amico learned that carbon buried in ocean sediment gets stuck there for long periods of time.
From the Principal's Desk:
Greetings, Kilmer Cougar Families!
Thank you so much for all your hard work this school year to help your students achieve at their highest! We want to make sure everyone enjoys the well-deserved upcoming breaks. In alignment with the Marshall Pyramid, we will implement “homework free breaks” during Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring breaks. Teachers have been asked not to assign homework, or projects / assessments due on the first two days after the return from break.
Everyone has worked hard and needs some time to relax and rejuvenate. We hope you take advantage of the time to spend time with family and have a wonderful Thanksgiving Break!
Have a good weekend!
Student Absences Next Week
Please notify us of student absences or early departures for the Thanksgiving holidays by using the link at https://kilmerms.fcps.edu/attendance, by leaving a message at 703-846-8888 or by sending in a note with your child.
Thank you so much for your support during this busy time.
Seeking Plastic Bags
Ms. Jones, one of our 8th grade science teachers, is working with her PAWS class to weave sleep mats out of plastic grocery bags for the homeless. The bags make a waterproof, insulated cushion to help protect against the winter cold. The class is looking to collect HUNDREDS of new or used plastic bags. Think of it as a great way to recycle all those used grocery bags! Bring in your donations by December 1st to the attention Sheryl Jones. Thanks for your help!
Employee Recognition
As community members, you have the opportunity to submit a nomination to recognize our outstanding staff. To submit a nomination for a Kilmer MS Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form link: https://forms.gle/KaLk85a3XnSiPrX29. You may nominate an employee in one or more categories. All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category.
Outstanding Teacher
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding New Teacher
Eligibility: Within their first three years of being a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding Leader
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as a Schedule-C or School-Based Administrator scale employee (that is not the building principal):
Common positions in this category: Assistant and Associate Principals, Director of Student Activities, Director of Student Services
Outstanding Professional Employee
Eligibility: At least one year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership
Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Safety and Security Specialist, Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role in a school
Outstanding Operational Employee
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee
Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, All Parent Liaisons (regardless of how they are paid)
Note: The deadline to submit a nomination is December 6th. If you have any questions, please contact Chris Musgnug at ccmusgnug@fcps.edu.
Parent Volunteers Needed - Ellis Island Simulation
We are excited to share that, through our History classes and in partnership with our librarians, our 7th grade students will all travel through an Ellis Island Simulation on Monday, November 25 and Tuesday, November 26. We need your help to pull off this informative (and fun) learning opportunity! This is a great chance for students to better understand the immigration process during the Industrial Era and for you to interact with our students. It is a longstanding tradition at Kilmer. Everyone has so much fun! We will provide you with step-by-step directions when you come in to volunteer! Please consider signing up to volunteer for one or more shifts if you are available. Thank you so much!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508094eaaa928a13-ellis
Lost and Found
We have many items in our lost and found boxes: sweaters, coats, gym shorts, binders, lunch boxes, water bottles, etc. Encourage your student to look through for missing items. Anything left after November 26th will be donated.
In Case You Missed It: 2020-21 School Year Calendar Announced
In case you missed it over the summer, the 2020-21 school year calendar has been announced. For planning purposes, notable dates include: First day of school - Tuesday, August 25, 2020; Labor Day Break - September 4-7, 2020; Thanksgiving Break - November 25-27, 2020; Winter Break - December 21, 2020-January 1, 2021; Spring Break – March 29, 2021- April 2, 2021 (Note: Monday, April 5, 2021, is a teacher workday and a holiday for students); Last day of school for students - Friday, June 11, 2021. See the complete 2020-21 school year calendar.
From Kilmer's PTA: Add KILMER as your Amazon Smile Charity Today
The holidays are coming up fast. Last year, the PTA only earned $63 from Kilmer families shopping on Amazon Smile. We can do better than that!
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE as you prepare for the holiday season, stop and take a minute to go to smile.amazon.com today and add Joyce Kilmer Middle PTA as your charity.
Happy shopping!
Kilmer Weekend Food Program
The Kilmer Pantry is being established to send students home with a weekend pack to help them have enough food over the weekend. Many children depend on the meals they receive while in school, then on the weekend, they may not have enough to get by.
The Pantry will provide weekend bags with non-perishable food to students every week starting in December. Distribution will be done in a discreet manner.
To meet our goal of providing weekend meals to children in need, we are collecting donations starting November 11.
- Donate non-perishable foods and bring them to the main office of Kilmer Middle School (see link for suggestions of what could be donated).
- Shop a sample pack on this Amazon Wishlist (updated link) and have the food delivered directly to Kilmer c/o Charlene Horne.
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Donate funds directly to the PTA and we’ll do the shopping for you!
If you want your student to receive a weekend food bag, please contact your child’s counselor.
Thank you for your support
Greetings from After School:
There will be NO Afterschool Activities or Late Bus Transportation November 25th & 26th (Thanksgiving Break week). Students must depart promptly following regular dismissal at 2:15PM. Activities and Late Bus transportation will resume on December 3rd.
Survey for shuttle to Vienna Teen Center/Phoenix Club for registered (Phoenix Club) participants @3:30PM
Kilmer's After-School Program is looking to partner with the Vienna Teen Center’s Club Phoenix. One service that we are looking at potentially offering is a shuttle bus that would transport students from our KMS Afterschool Program to Club Phoenix. Only students with a completed Kilmer MS Afterschool Registration Form and Club Phoenix Registration Form will be able to use this service. Students may participate in Club Phoenix activities until the center closes at 6:30PM Monday-Thursday and 10PM on Fridays. Parents/Guardians are responsible for transportation home from Vienna Teen Center. Please complete the KMS Afterschool to Vienna Teen Center Shuttle Survey so we can gauge Parent/Student interest. Survey results will be used to coordinate a schedule. Vienna Teen Center Questions? Email Natalie Duncan Natalie.Duncan@ViennaVA.gov
Questions? Please contact the After School Program Specialist Ms. Kardelis at kckardelis@fcps.edu or 703.846.8820
Upcoming Dates
Wednesday, November 27 - Friday, November 29 - Thanksgiving Holiday
Thursday, December 5 - SCA dance
Thursday, December 5 - Principal Selection Process Meeting, 5:30
Monday, December 9 - Choir Concert, Marshall HS, 7pm
Wednesday, December 11 - Orchestra Concert, Marshall HS, 7pm
Friday, December 13 - Haha Holiday Show, Kilmer MS, 7pm
The 2019-20 FCPS School Calendar can be found HERE.
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