Kilmer MS Newsletter - January 20, 2023

A message from Principal Steven McFarlane

McFarlane

Kilmer Community, 

My favorite part of being at Kilmer is when I get into classrooms to watch our students in action, and this week I was able to visit many classrooms. It’s clear to me, regardless of the content, our students are doing the “heavy academic lifting.” I took a few pictures to highlight this work (see below). In Ms. Marcey and Ms. Drumheller’s Pre-Algebra class, students were using “white board tables” to practice combining like terms with variables. Mr. Cissel had his Engineering 1 students designing and making mini-sonic propeller-powered cars. Students in Ms. Steiner’s Creative Writing class watched a short video titled, The Red Ballon, and were rewriting the story from another point of view. We believe that students learn by doing, and at Kilmer we’re intentional in planning units and lessons that allow for this.

I want to note an addition to my weekly newsletter. In order to streamline communication, I’ve added an extra section featuring updates for our After School Program. Ms. Kardelis provides a robust After School newsletter each week, and we’re adding those newsletters to our website (https://kilmerms.fcps.edu/afterschool_newsletter). Each week I’ll provide a few highlights in my newsletter (see below), and include the link to our website with more detailed information from Ms. Kardelis. Please reach out to Ms. Kardelis for any questions related to our After School Program.

Lastly, Mr. Paine (civics teacher) is looking for parent volunteers for our Finance Park field trip in March. Please consider signing up (see the blurb below for more information).

I hope everyone has a great weekend, and as always, reach out if you have any questions.

Sincerely,

Steven McFarlane

Principal


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Pictures of the Week

Engineering 1 Students have designed their mini-sonic propeller-powered cars. Now they are cutting out their car designs out of balsa wood blanks on scroll saws and sanding them to perfection. Their last step is to put the car together to see if their designs are stream-lined and balanced, as they race them for time and distance on the tracks of Kilmer hallways.

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This week students in Ms. Marcey and Ms. Drumheller’s Pre-Algebra class were working on combining like terms with variables.

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End of 2nd Quarter - January 25, 2023

SIS ParentVue and SIS StudentVue Gradebook and Report Card Modules will be unavailable from Wednesday, January 25 at 4 pm until Monday, February 6 at 6 am in order for teachers to finalize first quarter grades. After Feb 6, 2nd Quarter Report cards will be visible in SIS StudentVue and ParentVue. A copy of your child’s report card will also be mailed home in mid February.

The first day of the 3rd Quarter is Monday, January 30. At that time, students will begin their second semester electives or continue with their year long electives.


Course Registration Timeline for the 2023-2024 school year

Eighth Grade Students: 

During the months of February and March, all students will participate in an academic advising session with their school counselor to finalize their course selections for the 2023-2024 school year.

  • Students attending Marshall High School

The Marshall High School Rising 9th Grade Orientation is scheduled for Tuesday, February 7, 2023 (Snow Date: Feb. 9) from 6:00 – 8:00 PM. Marshall School Counselors will speak to all students attending Marshall on February 6 and 7. Each student will be assigned to one session during 4th or 5th period. More information will be shared leading up to these dates. 

Marshall HS IB Information Night Presentation 

Marshall HS Course Registration Resources

 

  • Students attending Madison High School

Madison High School Course Registration Resources

 

Seventh Grade Students:

Seventh grade students will participate in a course registration lesson during Science class during the week of Feb 13 - 17. During the months of February and March, all students will participate in an academic advising session with their school counselor to finalize their course selections for the 2023-2024 school year. For more information please visit our course registration timelines and curriculum resources page on Kilmer website.


Fairfax County Institute for the Arts

Each summer, Fairfax County Institute for the Arts (IFTA) provides classes and enrichment for students in middle through high school at Lake Braddock Secondary School. There is transportation available from select high schools outside of the Lake Braddock Pyramid - transportation details will be released as the dates for IFTA approach.

Courses being offered this summer range from cake decorating, to music classes such as "Movie themes for band and strings," to stone carving, to ceramics, to digital art and graphic design, and more! 

IFTA is also offering 9th grade Health and PE this summer! If you are wondering how you can fit in extra electives next year when you enter high school, this is a GREAT option to take care of your Health and PE requirement over the summer, while also participating in some awesome, fun classes of your choice! (Note: Health and PE 9 is also offered through online summer school - there is a fee involved.) 

February 1st is the start of IFTA enrollment. Here is the IFTA website for more information: Fairfax County Institute for the Arts


COVID-19 Compensatory Education Plan Meetings for Families of Students with Disabilities

Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to implementing a plan for COVID-19 compensatory education as part of its obligation to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to students with disabilities. Please join us at an informational meeting for parents/guardians and other stakeholders:

Visit our website to see what language interpretation services will be available at each meeting and to learn more about the COVID-19 Compensatory Education Plan.


Finance Park - Parent Volunteers Needed

In March our 8th grade students will be going on a field trip for Finance Park through their civics class. We need parent volunteers. Please see more information below, and consider signing up to volunteer at: https://www.myja.org/parents/fairfax.

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Afterschool Activities News/Updates

Each week Ms. Kardelis will post a detailed overview of our After School Program to our website. Please visit Kilmer’s website at https://kilmerms.fcps.edu/afterschool_newsletter to find the weekly After School newsletter.

A few highlights:

  • NO Intramural Sports:
    • Tuesdays *Crosstown Hoops Practice
  • NO AFTERSCHOOL ACTIVITIES or LATE BUS TRANSPORTATION: 1/31

References & Reminders

Staffing Update - Special Education Department Chair

Shannon Johnson, our current Special Education Department Chair, was promoted to a multi-agency specialist at Central Office. This is bittersweet because we will miss Shannon’s expertise, and this is an exciting promotion for her and her career. 

Moving forward, Renee Cartwright and Maura McWilliams will be serving as co-department chairs for the remainder of the school year. Both Ms. Cartwright and Ms. McWilliams are current special education teachers at Kilmer. Specifically, Ms. Cartwright will be fulfilling the role on green/odd days and Ms. McWilliams on blue/even days. Ms. Cartwright will primarily support 7th grade and Ms. McWilliams will primarily support 8th grade student meetings. 

Although Ms. Johnson’s last full day at Kilmer is this Friday, January 13, she will work a hybrid schedule between Kilmer and her new position for the remainder of the 2nd quarter. Ms. Cartwright and Ms. McWilliams have been working closely with Ms. Johnson and Mr. Musgnug (assistant principal), and will continue to do so.


Yearbooks!

The year will be over in the blink of an eye, so buy your yearbook now before it's too late. A yearbook is one of the most important books that you will ever have, buy yours now since they are running out.

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Prayer

If your student would like a dedicated space to pray, please have them contact their counselor. Counselors will provide a pass for your student to access the Group Instruction Room during recess (12:30-12:45 PM) to pray. According to Fairfax County Public Schools’ guidelines, students can pray during non-instructional times and not during class time unless “not excusing the student would result in a substantial burden on the student’s religious exercise”. Students participating in prayer will be supervised during this time.