Principal's Note
Good evening, Holmes Families!
I hope that you all had a wonderful weekend! Congratulations to all of our students who participated in District Chorus this weekend with Ms. Eddinger!
Rising 6th Grade Parent Coffee - February 10th, 8-9 am
The first of two parent coffees that we'll have for current 5th grade parents will be tomorrow, February 10th, from 8-9 am. The next one will be March 12th from 9-10 am.
2nd Quarter Honor Roll
This week, we will celebrate our students who made the honor roll for 2nd quarter! All students who received all As or all As and Bs will be invited to the cafeteria for a quick treat and celebration tomorrow (Monday, 2/10) during ER-3. For 3rd quarter, we will have an evening honor roll ceremony for parents to join us, so save the date for the evening of Wednesday, 4/29.
WIDA Testing
WIDA testing begins this week. About 25% of our students at Holmes will be participating in WIDA testing and will have the opportunity to show their progress. See flyers below for dates and information.
 
February PTA Meeting - Thurs., 2/20
Since our pyramid PTA meeting will be rescheduled (tentatively for Wednesday, March 4th), we will hold a Holmes MS PTA meeting on February 20th at 6:30 pm. In addition to presenting a slate of officers for the 2020-21 Holmes MS PTA board, the meeting will also be another opportunity for parents to hear a similar presentation about vaping, alcohol and drugs to the one we will have at this week's parent coffee.
Shadow a Student
The Learning Innovation Team (LIT) at Holmes MS will be participating in the nation-wide Shadow a Student challenge during the month of February. Throughout the year, this team of 12 (names below) has had planning days outside of the building to reflect on the Meaningful Learning Experiences that we are providing for students in the classroom, and we have used those days to plan for our professional learning and work around High Quality Tasks here at Holmes. This month, we will each be shadowing a student to immerse ourselves in the student experience.
As the LIT members participate in the Shadow a Student challenge, we will be part of a national community of school leaders clearing our calendars, silencing our walkie-talkies, throwing on sneakers, and immersing ourselves in student life for a day. Our goal is to improve the student experience at our school by better understanding the student perspective.
Once we have permission from individual students and their parents to shadow (your child will bring a permission slip home and they are welcome to decline; the experience is optional), we will be part of your classrooms for a day. We will be students for the day from the first to the last bell. Our goal is not to evaluate teachers. Teachers will treat us as you one of their students, including giving us that quiz! We will also not be there to watch student behavior. We will be sitting at a desk next to them, as one of their peers. We are doing this because of our commitment to improving the student experience our school.
To learn more about the Shadow a Student Challenge, visit shadowastudent.org.
We look forward to joining this community of educators committed to rethinking the student experience – starting by walking in the shoes of a student. Thanks for your support. Please don’t hesitate to let us know what questions you have!
School Board Member Office Hours
Welcome to Dr. Ricardy Anderson, our new school board representative for Mason District! Dr. Anderson has already made a visit to Holmes in January and will be back for a visit this month. I am excited to work closely with her to support our students and families. If you would like an opportunity to talk with Dr. Anderson, please see her community hours below:
Morning Session
February 14, 2020
10 a.m. – noon
Mason District Governmental Center
Main Conference Room
6507 Columbia Pike
Annandale, VA 22003
Evening Session
February 27, 2020
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Columbia Elementary School
Library
6720 Alpine Drive
Annandale, VA 22003
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In today's newsletter, scroll down for information about:
- Join the Holmes MS PTA!
- FCPS CARES
- This Week's Schedule
- After-School Program
- Academic Advising
- Middle School Honors Classes
- Edison HS Orientation - February 25th
- Institute for the Arts
- Early Identification Program Nominations
- VIP Summer Camp Registration Information
- FCPS Needs Substitutes!
- 8th Grade Personal Yearbook Ads
- SCA Presents: G-Love
- Super Transition Saturday - February 22nd
- Important Dates
- 2019-20 Family Engagement Events (updated calendar coming soon)
- How to Stay in Touch
Thanks, everyone, and have a wonderful week! Please feel free to reach out to me or anyone on my team with any questions you have!
Sincerely,
Margaret Barnes
Proud Principal, Holmes MS
mfbarnes@fcps.edu
#SoarTogether
Your membership supports teacher appreciation and grants for teachers to provide unique programs for students! Join HERE today!
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Do you know a Holmes Middle School staff member who does ordinary things in an extraordinary way or goes beyond what is expected? If so, then click here to submit your story so we can all acknowledge the good work of Holmes faculty and staff members. |
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This week:
Mon., 2/10 = White Day (2nd, SOAR, ER 3, 4th, 6th)
Tues., 2/11 = Blue Day (1st, 3rd,5th, 7th)
Wed., 2/12 = White Day (2nd, SOAR, ER 4, 4th, 6th)
Thurs., 2/13 = Blue Day (1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th)
Fri., 2/14 = White Day (2nd, SOAR, ER 5, 4th, 6th)
*NOTE: Students can always find the blue-white calendar in their agendas or on the school website HERE.
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During the school year, a weekly schedule of activities that will be held during the After School Program will be posted.
- Late buses are on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Students must be picked up by parents/guardians if they stay on Tuesdays or Fridays.
- NOTE: There are only 6 late buses, so students' late bus assignments and stops are usually different than their regular bus.
For any specific questions related to the After School Program or to share new ideas for after school activities, please feel free to contact Ms. Taylor, our After School Program Specialist.
Academic advising season is here!
Rising 9th Grade:
Annandale High School counselors met with rising 9th graders on January 16th. Edison High School counselors will be meeting with rising 9th graders on February 4th. Also, field trip forms were handed out to rising 9th grade Edison students – please return your form to Mr. Victor Carias to ensure your child can attend. Over the upcoming weeks, Holmes counselors will meet individually with all students for academic advising and course selection.
Rising 7th and 8th Grade:
Counselors will begin academic advising classroom lessons through Science classes beginning February 1. After lessons, counselors will meet individually with all students for academic advising and course selection. Students are encouraged to select courses based on teacher feedback, progress in current courses, academic strengths, and personal interests (please see the attached Honors flyer). During this time, they will discuss the student’s course selections and answer any questions they may have. Your student’s course selection document will be coming home with your child during the month of February. You can also view the information about the courses they selected through a SIS ParentVue account. Parents, you can login to your Parent Vue account to VIEW course selections at any time, and all changes need to go through the school counselor.
If you do not have a Parent Vue account, please contact Ms. Asma Hindi, aahindi@fcps.edu or call 703-658-5940.
The 2020-21 Course Descriptions and Guide can be viewed on the Holmes Middle School Student Services website: https://holmesms.fcps.edu/student-services/academic-advising
This guide lists the required and elective offerings for 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. It is very important to note the grade levels and pre-requisites that are indicated for each course. Each student must register for seven (7) classes: the required five (5) classes including Mathematics, English, Science, History, and Health & Physical education, and a choice of two (2) year-long elective classes, four (4) semester elective classes, OR a combination of one (1) year-long and two (2) semester elective classes. Electives offer opportunities for enrichment, specialization, and exploration. It is necessary to select all the electives in order of preference in case there is a conflict in scheduling. Please note that a support class for Math or Reading may be prioritized in a students’ schedule based on academic progress. In this case, a support class will take the place of an elective class.
Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s counselor with any questions about this process. We look forward to working with you!
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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!
The Early Identification Program (EIP) is a multi-year college preparatory program for students who will be the first in their family to complete a four-year college in the United States. EIP is a collaboration between Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and George Mason University (GMU). The EIP is one of four programs that comprise the College Success Program in FCPS. Students are nominated for the EIP prep program in 7th grade – please note, 7th grade is the only time students can apply for EIP.
*To request that your child be nominated, please contact Mr. Carias (contact information below) at Holmes MS by February 6, 2020. Please see flyer below for additional information.
703-658-5942
vacarias@fcps.edu
 
Click HERE for more information if you are interested.
Introducing... 8th Grade Personal Ads
The yearbook staff wants to offer you the opportunity to honor your eighth grader as they move up to
high school. Surprise your student with a personal ad in the yearbook. These special messages can
be from parents, grandparents, siblings or even pets. You may purchase more than one ad; however,
please submit a separate form for each ad. Each ad will be the size shown below. Ads cost $15 each and is due Friday, February 28, 2020.
On Saturday, February 22, 2020, Career and Transition Services (CTS), the FCPS Parent Resource Center, and several Fairfax County adult service providers will host “Super Transition Saturday” from 9:00 AM to 12:15 PM at Luther Jackson Middle School. This is a free event for parents/guardians and educators of students of all ages with IEPs. Breakout sessions will cover postsecondary education support, the importance of student self-determination beginning in the elementary years, employment support programs, future planning considerations, such as funding needed for services, and CTS support services that are available to students as they progress through the secondary years toward graduation and beyond. A highlight of the day is a parent/guardian and student panel representing a range of challenges and successes. Members of the panel will convey personal experiences and answer parent/guardian and student questions from their perspectives of having been through the transition process. This event is for ES, MS, and HS students, families, and school personnel.
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Mon., 2/10,8-9 am - Rising 6th Grade Parent Coffee
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Thurs., 2/13, 5-6 pm - Principal Meet & Greet at Weyanoke ES Family Market
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Fri., 2/14, 11-1:30 - 8th graders attending Edison HS take field trip to Edison
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Fri., 2/14, Lunches - Lunch Bunch w/ Mrs. Barnes!
- Mon., 2/17 - NO SCHOOL - President's Day Holiday
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Wed., 2/19, 6 pm - NJHS New Member Induction Ceremony
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Thurs., 2/20, 6:30 pm - Holmes MS PTA Meeting
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Wed., 2/26, 7 pm - Band Concert: Pre-assessment #1 (Annandale HS)
Updated calendar coming soon.
Please stay in touch with us throughout the year by:
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