 KC the Cougar meets Kilmer's new principal, Amy Miller, at the Rising 7th Grade Curriculum Night.
From the Principal's Desk:
Dear Kilmer Families,
It is a true honor to join the Kilmer Middle School community as your new principal. I am so excited to be part of this amazing school.
As a school leader, I am deeply committed to fostering a collaborative school culture in which all students achieve academic excellence and continue their development as Global and Ethical Citizens. The two years of middle school build a foundation of success for the future and nurturing a strong sense of community, engaging students in authentic, innovative learning experiences, and building strong supportive relationships is key for student growth and success. I look forward to working in partnership with you and the Kilmer staff to foster a caring, positive learning environment that develops students who are intellectually curious, creative innovators, and active risk takers.
I will be scheduling opportunities for Principal Meet and Greets. The first one is Thursday, February 13 at 9:30 AM in Kilmer’s Group Instruction Room. Thank you to the Kilmer Parent Teacher Association for hosting this first meet and greet. I will be sending communications about other opportunities soon. I look forward to meeting you and working with your students.
Sincerely,
Amy Miller
Course registration timelines for the 2020-2021 school year
Seventh Grade Academic Advising
February 10 – March 6
Seventh grade students will participate in a course registration lesson on Monday, February 10 and Tuesday, February 11. At that time, students will enter their eighth grade courses into StudentVue. Over the next month, school counselors will meet one on one with students to finalize their course selections for eighth grade. During this time, honors recommendations will be shared with each student. Students are encouraged to select courses that reflect their academic strengths and interests. After a student meets with their counselor, parents will be able to view their child’s course selections through their SIS ParentVUE account. Directions for viewing course requests online through ParentVUE are below. If a parent has questions about their child’s course requests, please contact the school counselor. Course requests are a firm commitment. Course request changes will not be accommodated after June 1.
Online Course Requests
Eighth Grade Academic Advising
February 10 – March 6
We hope your child had the opportunity to attend the Marshall or Madison Rising Ninth Grade Orientations. The next steps in the course registration process for ninth grade includes the following: Eighth grade students participated in a course registration lesson on Thursday, February 6 and Friday, February 7. At that time, students entered ninth grade courses into StudentVue. Over the next month, school counselors will meet one on one with students to finalize their course selections for ninth grade. During this time, honors recommendations will be shared with each student. Students are encouraged to select courses that reflect their academic strengths and interests. After a student meets with their counselor, parents will be able to view their child’s course selections through their SIS ParentVUE account. Directions for viewing course requests online through ParentVUE are below. If a parent has questions about their child’s course requests, please contact their middle school counselor until March 30. After March 30, please contact Marshall or Madison High School if you have additional questions about ninth grade courses.
Online Course Requests
National School Counseling Week
This week is National School Counseling week and we would like to update you on some of the work our dedicated student services team has undertaken this school year to support our students. Our Kilmer student services team is led by our Director of Student Services and includes four school counselors, a school social worker, a school psychologist, our student services assistant, office assistant, and parent liaison. The mission of the Kilmer Middle School Counseling Program is to provide proactive and developmentally appropriate programming that empowers all students to reach their full potential. School counselors advocate for students’ needs and collaborate with stakeholders to create a safe environment that supports students’ academic, career, and personal/social goals. Not only do they promote a culture of learning within a safe and nurturing environment, school counselors implement school counseling programs targeting mental health wellness, preparation for high school and beyond, and academic skill building to support student learning within the classroom. In addition, school counselors provide academic support services, individual and group counseling, and referrals to FCPS and community resources. We believe we have a strong, caring school counseling team that strives toward ensuring that our students feel emotionally and academically supported at Kilmer Middle School. Thank you to our School Services team who play a critical role in supporting the well-being of our Kilmer students.
Student Absences
Please make sure to notify us of student absences by using the link at https://kilmerms.fcps.edu/attendance, leaving a message at 703 846 8888, or sending in a note if your child will be absent. If your child is ill, please provide details of the illness. Thank you so much for your support.
On behalf of the PTA
If you are going out to dinner, we encourage you to frequent our fundraising partner, Social Burger. When you go to dinner some of the proceeds will go to Kilmer.
Social Burger (Maple Ave / Vienna location)
Tuesday, Feb 25, 2020
4:00-9:00pm
*INCLUDES in-store and online purchases but NOT delivery orders (UbersEats and DoorDash)
Thank you for your support!
Tips to Stay Healthy
From the school clinic, here are some steps on staying healthy:
- Get an annual flu vaccine.
- Wash your hands.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes.
- Stay home when sick.
Please let us know when your child is sick. It is very beneficial when you give us details about your child’s illness so we can track any trends / patterns. There may be students, faculty and staff in our community with immunosuppressed or immunocompromised systems.
Eating Disorder Parent Letter
Eating disorders are behaviors that can lead to serious health problems. These behaviors can begin as a child and affect both girls and boys. Eating disorders are treatable when discovered early. In 2013, Virginia passed a law requiring that every school system provide information to parents annually about eating disorders. This information is given to parents of students in grades five through twelve. Please see this link for the eating disorder parent letter that is full of information about what eating disorders are and tips for recognizing them
Summer Program - IFTA
Do you have a child interested in the Arts? Don’t miss out on registering for Fairfax County’s Institute for the Arts starting on February 3rd! Classes are first come first serve!
Visit the FCPS IFTA website at: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/summer-learning-programs/camps-and-institutes-institute-arts-ifta
or follow IFTA on social media!
Save The Date!
April 1st: VIP Summer Camp Registration Opens
Students deserve 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) partner in offering a 5 week, full-day camp for students entering 7th and 8th grade next school year (rising 6th graders for Glasgow, Poe and Holmes).
Field Trips: Amusement Parks and Water Parks
Electives: Art, Technology, Cooking, Gaming, Sports (Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball), Group Games and World Languages *Electives are subject to change based on enrollment and staffing*
Camp Dates
Monday June 29th—Friday July 31st
No Camp on Friday July 3rd
Location: Thoreau Middle School
Time: 8am—4pm, Monday—Friday
Registration Fee: $50 (includes camp t-shirt)
Transportation: Provided by FCPS from participating middle schools and select elementary and high schools.
Questions?
Contact Kimberly Kardelis, your Middle School After School Program Specialist
Kiss and Ride Procedures
If you drive your student to school, please take a few minutes to note the following: 1) Students must be dropped off at the sidewalk, not in the parking lot. We have had several instances where students have almost been hit while crossing through the parking lot. 2) Do not pass other cars in the Kiss and Ride line. Be courteous of other drivers. 3) Do not make u-turns across the double lines; you may be ticketed. 3) Take your time; safety is everyone's concern.
8th Grade High School Activities Days
On Friday, March 27th, students (8th grade only) slated to attend Madison or Marshall High Schools will attend Rising 9th Grade Activities Fairs to receive important information about extracurricular activities and learn more about their upcoming transition.
Students will be transported via FCPS bus departing from Kilmer between 9:15-9:45AM, and returning by 1:00PM. Students remaining at Kilmer will follow their regular schedules during this time. Any student who has applied for a curricular transfer must be approved/accepted in order to attend the fair at any school other than their base school.
Students attending Marshall will need to either bring a lunch or $3.50 to purchase lunch at Marshall High School. LUNCH PIN NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK at Marshall High School for middle school students. Bagged lunches will be provided for those eligible for free or reduced lunch. Students attending Madison will return to Kilmer for lunch.
Students will not be permitted to participate without a signed Parent Authorization Form, please ensure the student’s name is clearly printed on the form. Hard Copies were distributed to students during lunch on September 19th and 20th. Students may submit completed forms during lunch in the Cafeteria.
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 currently collecting donations.
- 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:
Transportation is available to students staying after school Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, departing at 4:45PM. All students must be picked up promptly and no later than 4:45PM. Late Bus routes are 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.
1/31 – NO Independent Study/Computer Lab until 2/18 (Testing)
2/12 – Capitol Debate
3/12 – Capitol Debate
4/09 – Capitol Debate
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. Students may not leave and return for afterschool activities; they must stay. Students should bring a snack from home, they may also purchase snack from the vending machine after school or during lunch. Parents/Guardians must complete the required Afterschool Registration Form before their student stays after.
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
Thursday, February 13 - Meet and Greet Amy Miller, the new principal, at the PTA meeting, 9:30am
Monday, February 17 - Presidents Day, No School
Tuesday, March 3 - Student holiday/teacher workday
The 2019-20 FCPS School Calendar can be found HERE.
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