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A message from Principal Steven McFarlane
Kilmer Community,
It has been great attending the various concerts and performances this month. Our orchestras were fantastic on Tuesday evening, and all Kilmer students were able to see (hear) our music department in action today during an assembly.
We are excited that Melissa Smith, our new assistant principal, joined us this week! I’ve included the admin team’s roles & responsibilities, including interdisciplinary team supervision, below. If you have any questions please reach out to your child’s administrator or counselor.
Also, we have partnered with Marshall High School this year to host an International Baccalaureate (IB) night. Whereas, most IB requirements are fulfilled at the high school level, there are a few prerequisite courses that must occur in middle school (e.g. Algebra I and world language). Marshall’s IB coordinators will give an overview of the program, as well as answer any questions. The second IB information Night will be held at Kilmer Middle School on Wednesday, January 18 at 5:00 pm in the cafeteria. Please see the blurb below for more information.
Lastly, next week is Spirit Week. I’ve included the days/themes below. I hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend, and as always, reach out if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Steven McFarlane
Principal
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 Winter break is Dec 17th through January 2, 2023. School resumes January 3, 2023.
Picture of the Week
 Ms. Sweet’s eighth grade English students engaged in a Socratic Seminar related to the novel, Animal Farm, by George Orwell. Students had the chance to practice skills related to the FCPS Portrait of a Graduate communicator attribute by generating questions about the book, sharing their ideas through structured discussion, and listening to one another. Ms. Sweet used an inner circle and outer circle format (allowing all students the chance to participate in the activity) and provided sentence frames to help students formulate their responses.
 Today all students were able to see our orchestra, band, and chorus students perform pieces from their winter concert programs.
Admin Roles & Responsibilities
We’re excited Melissa Smith, assistant principal, joined us this week. The admin team will shift back to our original roles & responsibilities. Thank you for your flexibility during the transition.
Kilmer Spirit Week
Our fantastic Student Council Association has come up with some really fun Spirit Day ideas for our last week prior to winter break. We look forward to lots of spirit!
 Marshall HS IB Information Nights
Marshall HS will host two IB information nights in January. The first one will be held at Marshall High School on Tuesday, January 10 at 7:30 pm in the auditorium. The second IB information Night will be held at Kilmer Middle School on Wednesday, January 18 at 5:00 pm in the cafeteria. Presentations will include an overview of the IB program and the prerequisite courses required for an IB diploma. Seventh and eighth grade families are encouraged to attend. For additional questions, contact the IB coordinators at marshallibcoordinators@fcps.edu.
Rising 9th Grade Students - SAVE THE DATE
Marshall High School Curriculum Night
Tuesday, February 7, 2023 (Snow Date: Feb. 9)
6:00 – 8:00 PM
Madison High School Freshmen Curriculum Night
Thursday, January 12, 2023
6:00 - 7:00 PM, Madison Auditorium
Congratulations to Kilmer Orchestra Students
Please join me in congratulating the following amazing students who auditioned successfully for the Junior District Honors Orchestra, an ensemble composed of middle school orchestra students from schools in northern Fairfax and Arlington counties.
Auditions were VERY competitive this year, so we are delighted to have Kilmer represented in the results. Students will participate in the District Honors Orchestra event at Langley HS on January 13-14th. The event includes rehearsals all day Friday and most of the day Saturday, then a performance at 3 pm on the 14th with a guest conductor.
Highlights of the Kilmer results include:
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Ethan Chichka, 8th grade, 2nd chair viola overall
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Bryan Hsu, 8th grade, violin, 2nd chair violin overall
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Elliot Oh, 8th grade, 1st chair cello overall for the 2nd year in a row AND he had the highest overall score of any student at the auditions!!!
The complete list is as follows:
Bryan Hsu, Violin (8); Johnathan Peed, Violin (8); Ameya Rao-Mallela, Violin (8); Kate Kim, Violin (7); Claire Goaslind, Violin (7); Ethan Chichka, Viola (8); Natalie Tran, Viola (8); Abigail Park, Viola (8); Arthur Wu, Viola (8); Daniel Cho, Viola (8); Kidlat Gant, Viola (8); Justin Nguyen, Viola (8); Aria Braynard, ALT Viola (8); Elliot Oh, Cello (8); Zacchaeus Zinner (7) ; Jason Kim, ALT Cello (8); Libby Schoepf, Bass (8)
Marshall HS Christmas Tree Fundraiser
Outdoor Recess
We will monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories which may prevent our students from being outside. Make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy their time outdoors. Please note, all students have an indoor option for recess everyday.
Kiss and Ride Reminders:
If you drive your student to school, please take a few minutes to note the following:
- Students must get out on the sidewalk, not in the parking lot, this is to ensure their safety.
- Be courteous of others and use all available doors to keep the line moving.
- If you drop your student on Wolftrap road do not make u-turns across the double lines; you may be ticketed.
Preparing for Winter Weather
Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather-related closing decisions are made. FCPS’ inclement weather procedures will remain the same as last year. The first five inclement weather days will be traditional “snow days” with no school activities. After those five days, we will use the flexibility provided by the Virginia General Assembly to have unscheduled virtual learning days, whenever possible, to maintain the continuity of learning. Virtual learning on these days will be synchronous/live instruction, following the inclement weather virtual learning day schedule (includes a two-hour delay).
FCPS’ website is generally the first mode of communication during emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible including email, text, social media, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
COVID Diagnostic Testing in January
Mark your calendars! COVID diagnostic testing will be available for FCPS teachers, staff, and students at five locations across the county January 3-5 from 5 to 8 p.m. This testing is for those who are either experiencing COVID symptoms or have been exposed to someone diagnosed with COVID. Appointments are not required, but registration must be completed before testing. Visit the COVID Testing webpage for more information.
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