Principal's Note
Good afternoon, Holmes Families!
Here we are, finally, at the last week of school! Students have a regular day of distance learning classes on Wednesday and Friday this week, plus regularly scheduled office hours on Thursday. The last day of school is Friday, June 12th.
The first day of school in 2020-21 school year is Tuesday, August 25th. Governor Northam shared some information about phases for school opening in his press conference today, which is summarized HERE. Much more to come from FCPS. Look out for a survey coming to parents very soon to get your input.
There is A LOT of very important information in today's newsletter, so please read through to the end.
Unlike other summers, I will keep up my weekly newsletters throughout the summer so that we can stay connected. It has truly been a pleasure and an honor to work with your students through this crazy school year!! Thank you for all of your support and kindness through all of this!
Sincerely,
Margaret Barnes
Proud Principal, Holmes MS
mfbarnes@fcps.edu
Today, I shared a video tribute on the 8th Grade Google Classroom for students to see. Mrs. Murphy, our theater teacher, put it together with contributions from our staff. Thank you, Mrs. Murphy! It is so well done, and gives you a glimpse into how much we miss our students, how we have been proud to help them grow through middle school, and how we wish them well as they go on to school.
Please note: In order to view the video, students must be logged into their fcpsschools.net Google account.
While we have had quite a few students and parents come to Holmes to pick up their items, we still have quite a few bags left, and just one day of pickup to go! Please sign up for a time on Thursday to pick up your student's items. And even if they don't think they have lost anything, please have them browse through the lost and found gallery, and email me the number of the item they lost. Any items not claimed by June 30th will be donated or discarded.
ALL students may keep their school-issued laptops over the summer UNLESS:
- You and your family are moving out of the area and will not attend an FCPS school next year;
- Your student already has a device at home that they can use instead of the school-issued laptop; OR
- You do not plan for your student to engage in any online summer activities (see below for details).
If any of the statements above are true for you, please come to Holmes on Monday, June 15th, to turn in your student's laptop. See below for instructions. If none of the above are true, we'll see you in August when we collect all of the laptops!!
Attention All Music Students (Band, Chorus and Orchestra):
All 8th grade music students and any 6th or 7th grade music student who is not continuing in a music class next year need to return their music supplies. Here are the items that need to be returned:
-
Instrument (Band/Orchestra) - Please take any trash or supplies out of your case! (Make sure that you have all parts of your instrument- ex. Bow, mouthpiece, etc)
- Method books (Band/Orchestra)
- Concert uniforms (Band/Chorus/Orchestra)
- Boys: only tuxedo PANTS- you own the shirt
- Girls: Dress
- Please take the hem out of your garment (the stitching at the bottom)
- If you have cleaned the garment, please have it on a hanger when you drop it off
- If it is not cleaned, we will place it in a trash bag and get these items cleaned.
ALL 8th graders plus any 6th or 7th grade student who is NOT continuing in a music class next year need to return supplies on Monday, 6/15. See below for instructions.
- Instruments, Performance Attire, & other music materials: Return to Door 10 (see pic below)
- Laptops: Return to Door (see pic below)
Summer Learning & Enrichment Opportunities
FCPS school buildings will remain closed through the end of July. Recently the County highlighted a variety of summer programs, you can see the message here and visit the Summer Learning Website here. Holmes MS will continue to provide recommended, virtual learning opportunities for students from June 29-July 31.
Summer Continued Learning
Students currently in grades 6-8 will receive both a Mathematics and Language Arts Essentials Summer Practice Book in the mail by the end of June; digital versions of the books will also be posted on the Continuity of Learning Blackboard page. These books will provide practice activities that review essential content from the 2019-2020 school year. Students will receive a mathematics book based on the level of mathematics they took during the 2019-2020 school year. The language arts book will focus on essential skills in reading, writing, grammar, mechanics and vocabulary.
A supplemental English Language Development Summer Practice Book will be sent to middle school English learners who are ELP levels 1 & 2. These books will provide English Language Development (ELD) practice activities to support and enrich language development during the summer. In addition, the Language Arts workbook that all students receive will contain an ELD section with language development activities designed for students at ELP level 3 & 4.
To support student learning from June 29 to July 31, there will be one hour per week of office hours available for each course. Office hours for mathematics, language arts, and English Language Development will be with one of our own outstanding staff members and are intended to support students with the Mathematics Essentials Summer Practice Book, the Language Arts Essentials Summer Practice Book, and the English Language Development Summer Practice Book. Attendance is recommended.
Office hours and information regarding how to sign up will be sent next week as we are still in the planning process.
ESOL Language & Literacy Connections (Online)
If your student is an English Learner, they may have already been recommended for this online course by their ESOL teacher. The deadline for registration has already passed, but more information can be found HERE.
Options for Algebra Students
Students currently enrolled in Algebra can also participate in one of two Algebra specific summer learning options.
Students who passed or failed Algebra 1 may take the Virtual Credit Recovery course to improve their understanding and skills before the next school year. Students who participate will meet daily with high school staff, review Algebra content, and receive a grade at the end of the summer. Students currently in the 8th grade should work with their counselor prior to the end of the 1st quarter of the following school year in deciding to expunge the Algebra 1 course and the grade that was taken during the 19-20 traditional school year. High school credit bearing course work taken during the summer between the 8th and 9th grade may not be expunged. Any student can sign up for Credit Recovery, teachers and schools may also invite students to attend. Click here for more information. The deadline to register for this is June 12, 2020.
In addition to the Credit Recovery for Algebra, teachers and schools can also recommend students for Summer Algebra Intervention. Like the Continuity of Learning option, Algebra Intervention will offer a self-directed, self-paced option for students who want to review Algebra. Students who are recommended for or sign up for Algebra Intervention will be able to connect with high school staff once a week for office hours. There is no credit or grade for this program. This virtual program can be accessed by signing up here. The deadline to register for this is June 12, 2020.
Algebra students may also choose to participate in Algebra Intervention over the summer and choose to retake Algebra for a grade in the 9th grade. If a student retakes Algebra in the 9th grade, the student should work with their current counselor to expunge the grade. Students can also work with their 20-21 school counselor during the first quarter of the 9th grade to expunge the 19-20 grade.
Other Summer Options
- Students and parents may also receive information about program-specific programs such as Extended School Year (ESY) and ESOL Summer School.
- See below for more information about Virtual VIP Summer Camp!
- Varsity Tutors - FREE Virtual Summer Camps
-
Online campus is available for students in grades 7-12 at a reduced cost of $375 per course.
- Virtual Thomas Jefferson High School Prep Course ($225 - see flyer below)
FCPS and Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (DNCS) have teamed up to offer a 5-week camp for rising 6th (Glasgow, Holmes, & Poe only) through rising 9th graders. Our camp will be a combination of students from the following middle schools: Glasgow, Holmes, Jackson, Kilmer, Poe, and Thoreau.
Camp Days and Hours: VIP Camps will be offering virtual activities Mondays through Thursdays beginning Monday, June 29, through Thursday, July 30. Program offerings will include a combination of synchronous and asynchronous activities.
- Synchronous activities will be scheduled throughout the day during the 9:00 am – 3:00 pm time frame.
- Synchronous – staff and students are online working together at the same time
- Asynchronous – activities that students can work on at any time
- 2020 Virtual VIP Camp Elective Descriptions
Registration Form Instructions:
*A separate registration form must be completed for each child.
*Carefully read the Rules of Conduct included in this packet with your child. Please be sure you and your child sign the “Signature Page” to show your agreement to all rules, regulations, and policies.
**Glasgow, Holmes, and Poe families only: 6th graders (entering fall of 2020) are also eligible.
Staffing for VIP Summer Teen Programs: VIP camps are staffed by the FCPS After-School Program Specialists (ASPS) and staff, Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS) staff, and other county agencies.
You will need to refer to the registration form for details pertaining to conduct and expectations prior to providing Parent/Guardian and Student initials on the 2020 Virtual VIP Student Registration Form (online). The online form must be completed.
Please stay in touch with us throughout the year by:
|
