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A message from Principal Steven McFarlane
Kilmer Community,
It’s been an energizing week here at Kilmer! Staff and students came back recharged after the four-day weekend. As we conclude the third week of school, it’s fun to watch students settle into their new routine.
Next week, we have a soft roll out of our Afterschool Program. Students seeking academic support or participating in cross country will have access to our late buses at 4:45 pm. The following week our Afterschool Program activities and clubs will begin for all students, in addition to the academic support available from teachers.
There’s new information below regarding student pictures, upcoming Virginia Growth Assessment (VGA) testing, and more.
I hope you have a great weekend, and as always, reach out if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Steven McFarlane
Principal
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Note: At Kilmer, we have “Green Days ” and “Blue Days.” On “Green Days” students attend periods 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, and on “Blue Days” students attend periods 2, 3, 4, 6, 8.
Upcoming Dates:
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Monday, September 11 - Families are invited to Community Night: Afterschool Open House/Activities Fair from 4:00-6:00 PM to learn about clubs and meet sponsors. This is also an opportunity to see the various networks, services, and youth programs available to the Kilmer Community.
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Tuesday, September 12 - Students may access Late Bus Transportation for academic support with their teachers and Cross Country.
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September 15 - Reading VGA Testing
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Monday, September 18 - Afterschool Clubs & Activities begin.
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September 20 - Math VGA Testing
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Thursday and Friday, September 21 and 22 - Student portraits will be taken during PE classes. More information to follow.
With Heat Advisories in place for much of the week, our PE classes stayed inside. This led to a 4-way volleyball game between classes. As you can see, students really got into this friendly competition.
Students in Ms. Boate’s Science 8 class learned about parallel and series circuits by experimenting with Snap Circuits.
Congratulations to Marshall’s Freshman Football Team on their victory over Justice High School last night (38-0!). Dan Nguyen, a Kilmer Special Education teacher, coaches on the varsity staff at Marshall. He asked all former Kilmer students to pose for a picture after the game. We have over 30 former Kilmer students playing freshman football!
Student Portraits
School Picture Day is coming Thursday September 21st & Friday September 22nd, 2023. Photos will be taken in PE class and pictures will be available approximately two weeks following our school's photo day. Save time and pre-order online here: https://vando.imagequix.com/g1001028688#login. The code is your student’s ID number.
For questions about ordering please email underclass@vosphoto.com
Virginia Growth Assessment
The Virginia Growth Assessment (VGA) is a test required for students in grades 3-8. For the 2023-2024 school year, students will take a reading and mathematics VGA in the fall and winter. For fall 2023, VGA will address content that was taught in the previous school year. There is no “passing” or “failing” outcome for the VGA. Results will provide starting and mid-year data about student growth and will offer information about areas of strength and growth in reading and mathematics. All middle school students take the VGA for reading. However, middle school students enrolled in a high school credit-bearing math course, such as Algebra 1, will not take a VGA for mathematics. The following information may help you and your student better understand this assessment.
- VGA must be taken in person at school.
- This online, computer-adaptive test is about half as long as the spring SOL test.
- Questions use Standards of Learning (SOL)-like items to measure current knowledge and skills in the content area.
- Student results will be used to help school staff plan for instruction and supports.
At Kilmer Middle School, the fall reading and mathematics VGAs will be given on the following dates:
- Reading VGA: Friday, September 15th (Blue Day)
- Math VGA: Wednesday, 9/20 (Green Day)
- Makeup testing will occur the week of 10/2.
To accommodate testing, the bell schedule for these dates has been modified and is included below. Changes will be communicated with students and posted in Schoology. An email informing students of their testing location will be sent to the student’s fcpsschools.net email account the day before the test. More information can be found on the FCPS VGA Website. Please contact Marileigh Blake, our School Test Coordinator, at mlblake@fcps.edu with any questions.
World Language Credit Exam
The 2023 World Languages Credit Exam will be administered on November 8, 9, and 13, 2023. Thirty languages will be included: American Sign Language (ASL), Amharic, Arabic, Bengali, Chinese (Mandarin), Farsi, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Nepali, Pashto, Portuguese, Punjabi, Russian, Sanskrit, Somali, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Telugu, Tigrinya, Turkish, Twi, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
If your student can write in their home language fluently and would like to take the World Language Exam for world language credit, students can access the Kilmer Student Services Course on Schoology to register. Students and parents can register together by logging into a student’s fcps laptop and selecting the dates for the exam. Registration is now open and closes on Thursday, October 5, 2023, at 4:00 p.m.
Job Opportunity at Kilmer: Instructional Assistant
Do you know someone who may be interested in an instructional assistant position at Kilmer for the 23-24 school year? If so, please share this link and select Kilmer Middle as the location. All interested candidates can also email their resume directly to Principal McFarlane at swmcfarlane@fcps.edu.
2023-2024 Student Rights and Responsibilities
FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities document (SR&R) explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. In late June, the School Board approved changes to the SR&R for the 2023-24 school year. Updates include a revision of dress code expectations, bystander expectations for students witnessing harmful or unsafe behaviors, bullying, and substance abuse responses. Read Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid’s letter to families regarding the SR&R.
Parents/caregivers should talk to their child(ren) about expectations for this school year. Also, please log in to SIS ParentVUE and sign to acknowledge your review of the SR&R, or sign and return the signature sheet to your child’s school by Friday, September 29.
Students will participate in a review of the Student Rights and Responsibilities on Monday and Tuesday, September 18 and 19, through Social Studies classes and take a test on SR&R content on Thursday/Friday during their PE classes.
Kilmer Community Night - Afterschool Open House & Activities Fair - Monday, September 11th, 4:00-6:00 pm
Families are invited to come out and learn about clubs and meet sponsors. This is also an opportunity to see the various networks, services, and youth programs available to the Kilmer Community.
Cross Country: All students have an opportunity to join the Kilmer XC Team! Families are invited to meet our Athletic Coordinator, learn more about the program, ask questions, and submit required forms for participation.
ESOL Parent Presentation (4:45-5:15 pm): Families are invited to attend a session to learn about Kilmer’s ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) services presented by Susanne Ehsani, ESOL Department Chair. We will discuss the courses offered for English Learners, explore WIDA ACCESS for ELLs, the annual English language proficiency test and resources available for multilingual families. {B101}
What to eXpect as an Algebra Parent (5:00-6:00 pm): Join members of Kilmer’s Algebra team for an interactive presentation on the specifics of the Algebra curriculum and strategies for supporting your student. Time will be provided for a question-and-answer session.
COMMUNITY Resources/Vendors
- FFX County Sheriff's Office Child ID Program
- FFX County 4-H
- Vienna Teen Center Club Phoenix
- Mathnasium of Tysons
- Play Squash Academy
- Legend Wrestling
- Asian American LEAD (AALEAD)
- Mathnasium of Tysons
- Stemtree Education Center
Disclaimer: Opportunities offered by organizations other than Fairfax County Public Schools are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent, or a specific school. These opportunities may utilize technology tools that have not been assessed by the Fairfax County Public Schools Department of Information Technology. Students should gain permission from their parent or guardian before engaging in any non-FCPS enrichment opportunity and families should review the Terms of Service, User Agreements, and Privacy Policy for any technology platform that the enrichment opportunity may use before participating.
WHAT IS THE AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM? The purpose of the Afterschool Program is to provide quality programming in the areas of academic support and enrichment, social skills and youth development, physical health and wellness, and family and community engagement. A completed Afterschool Registration Form is required for participation.
WHEN DO THINGS START?
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Tuesday, September 12th - Students may access Late Bus Transportation for Cross Country Practice and Academic Support.
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Monday, September 18th - Afterschool Clubs & Activities begin.
The Afterschool Program is structured into two sessions, 2:30 – 3:30 pm and 3:35 – 4:45 pm following the 2:15-2:30 pm Afterschool Transition/Break in the Cafeteria. Students may stay after for the first session or both sessions. Late bus transportation is only available after the second session block at 4:45PM (Afterschool dismissal) on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Students may not return for participation, late bus transportation, or pick-up after leaving campus.
Middle School Athletics - Cross Country
This year, all students have the opportunity to join Kilmer’s new cross country team. While there are no tryouts (or cuts) for the cross country team, to participate in cross country meets students must consistently attend practices. Practice will be 3x a week (Tuesday-Thursday) from 2:30-3:30 pm. Students may be picked up at 3:30 pm, or join the last hour of our Afterschool Program after practice. Practices will begin Tuesday, September 12.
In order to participate families must complete the MS Sports Participant Registration. Please note, there are three steps to sign up. Students will not be allowed to participate until they have received a physical and completed all forms.
- Complete the MS Sports Participant Registration form. Parent registration (includes required parent/student education program).
- A completed FCPS MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION/PARENTAL CONSENT/PHYSICAL EXAMINATION FORM
- A completed Emergency Care Form
Please reach out to Kilmer’s Athletic Coordinator, Nana Amaniampong at namaniampong@fcps.edu with any questions. Completed forms can be emailed to Mr. Amaniampong, or dropped off in the main office. Also, Mr. Amaniampong will be at the Community Night: Afterschool Open House/Activities at Kilmer Middle School on Monday, September 11 from 4:00-6:00 pm.
Cell Phone/Phone Accessories Violations
During the first two weeks of school we reminded students of the FCPS policy of “off and away” during the school day. Moving forward, if students are found in violation of this policy, staff members will confiscate the phone/accessory and turn it into the main office. Parents will be notified by the main office (via email) for the first two offenses, and students may pick up their device at the end of the day. If a student’s device is confiscated a third time, their administrator will contact their parent/guardian and enact a check-in/check-out system for two weeks. Additional violations will result in a parent/guardian pick-up. Violations are tracked by quarter.
Health Information & Emergency Care Forms
The Health Information Form (HIF) (SS/SE-71) and the Emergency Care Information form (SS/SE-3) provide valuable information regarding student health conditions. These forms are critical in the early identification of students who may need healthcare support in the educational environment. Along with the development of Healthcare Plans (HCP) and Action Plans, the Public Health Nurses (PHNs) utilize the information contained in the HIF to develop teaching strategies for FCPS staff in order to meet the requirements of Regulation 2104 Health Services-School Health-Related Needs. Parents/guardians who have a SIS ParentVUE account can verify and update the forms electronically by using the Online Verification/Update packet. For families without SIS ParentVue accounts, forms can be located on the General Registration Forms page.
Parental Permission to Use Digital Resources
Some FCPS-approved digital resources require parent consent before they can be used by students. Find the list of resources which require consent on the Parent Consent webpage. This page also includes directions for providing permission. Please complete the Parental Permission form at your earliest convenience.
Each digital resource used in FCPS has had an instructional and technical review. Information about the educational technology tools approved for use within FCPS can be found in the online Digital Ecosystem Library. Parents can find more information about FCPS-approved digital resources on the Digital Resources in FCPS webpage.
Lightspeed Parent Report
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