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A message from Principal Steven McFarlane
Kilmer Community,
This week I was able to join my first PTA meeting, and I’m incredibly grateful for the partnership we have with Kilmer families! Related, the Parent Coffees have been one of my favorite things in my first few weeks of being principal of Kilmer. I truly value the conversations and perspectives. This week our conversation centered around how important middle school is for students in helping them to build their skills, while ensuring they are in a safe and supportive environment. Part of that growth is having students learn how to advocate for themselves. It’s not uncommon for students in middle school to encounter a subject, assignment, or concept that is challenging, and it may be the first time that school isn’t “easy.” When we teach students to seek out support for themselves it’s helpful to have information about what support is available. Here is a link to a document that has some of the academic supports available at Kilmer which may be helpful when speaking with your child.
Also, I’m pleased to announce Melissa Smith as our new assistant principal. Ms. Smith is currently a dean of students at Annandale High School, and her official start date at Kilmer is Monday, December 5 (see her biography below). Welcome to Kilmer, Ms. Smith!
Lastly, as a reminder, next week we have school on Monday and Tuesday, and then we’re off for the remainder of the week for Thanksgiving break. I hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday.
Sincerely,
Steven McFarlane
Principal
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Welcome, Melissa Smith - Assistant Principal
Melissa Smith is a graduate of Fairfax County Public Schools. She attended Old Dominion University for undergrad and earned her masters from The College of William & Mary. Ms. Smith began her career in education as a middle school math and science teacher. During her time as a teacher, Ms. Smith served as the math department chair, a mentor teacher and curriculum writer. Following her time in the classroom, Ms. Smith was an instructional coach where she provided curriculum, classroom and planning support to teachers. Ms. Smith comes to Kilmer from Annandale High School where she was the Dean of Students. In this role, Ms. Smith supported collaborative teams with instructional planning and delivery and also supported Annandale’s attendance initiatives. In her free time, Ms. Smith enjoys traveling and learning DIY tips from YouTube videos. Ms. Smith is excited to become a part of the Kilmer Middle School community.
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 Students in 8th grade science are finishing a unit on the “Laws of Motion.”
 Students in Ms. DeSimone’s FACS class enjoying the final product of their soft pretzel lab.
Principal Meet & Greet
Come meet the new principal at a Principal Meet & Greet. Our last one will be November 29th. In order to help with planning please fill out the Google Form if you’re planning to attend.
Second NJHS Mandatory Candidate Meeting -- December 12 , 2022
Congratulations to our new NJHS candidates!
Kilmer NJHS Candidates participated in their first meeting on November 9 to learn about Stage 1: Investigation. There are five stages of service learning in Kilmer’s NJHS program: Investigation, Planning and Preparation, Action, Reflection and Demonstration.
All candidate materials and activities are located in the NJHS Schoology Course. The NJHS Committee communicates with candidates in Schoology and school email accounts. Parents are encouraged to view the Schoology Course with their students.
The second NJHS Mandatory Candidate Meeting is after school, first block, on December 12 in the Kilmer Cafeteria.
NJHS is preparing to Make a Difference!
Food Pantry
We are grateful for the ongoing support of donations of food and money provided by our generous Kilmer community for our food pantry. These donations support about 70 Kilmer students and their families continually throughout the year.
 
FCPS Calendar Survey Coming Soon!
In an annual planning process, FCPS uses input from the community to help develop the school year calendar for the following year. The Calendar Survey will be sent to parents/caregivers, employees, and students in grades 7-12 next week. FCPS’ framework for creating the calendar is available online to ensure transparency, as we work to build a calendar that is inclusive and equitable.
Opportunities to Participate in the Strategic Planning Process
FCPS is offering a number of opportunities for parents/caregivers to be involved in the Strategic Planning process! Check out two immediate options below:
- Nominate Yourself or Someone Else for the Family Team
We are currently seeking nominations for parents/caregivers who are interested in contributing to Strategic Plan development as part of the Family Team. This team will represent the rich diversity of families that make up FCPS’ community, and will focus on identifying engagement and outreach practices that will improve our partnerships with families.
If you are interested in being part of the Family Team or would like to nominate someone else, please fill out this form by Tuesday, November 22.
If you are a member of a community organization or group, consider signing up to be a key communicator during the strategic planning process. FCPS key communicators are active members of the community who people turn to for information, and have an interest in sharing information about the school division and encouraging involvement. If this describes you or someone you know, please get the details and complete this form by Monday, November 28.
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