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Hello Holmes Families!
We are headed into second semester and third quarter next week! Some students will have new semester classes which may impact their schedule. Monday will be a White day starting with 2nd period. There are posters hanging in the halls to assist students in finding new 2nd semester classes (just like the first day of school). Students will also receive a new copy of their schedule in 2nd period on Monday. Parents and students can also access the new class schedule through ParentVue or StudentVue. SIS gradebooks will not be available in ParentVue and StudentVue during the 2nd Quarter grade reporting, from January 25 - February 5, 2024.
Outstanding Secondary Teacher
Though we have many outstanding staff at Holmes, this year our very own Ms. Donna Casto, 8th grade English teacher, has been selected as Annandale Pyramid Outstanding Secondary Teacher! Please help me in congratulating her!
Intervention
Wednesday, January 30th, we will start our next cycle of intervention with a priority on Math, Science, and English. This cycle will last through March 13th. Schedules are updated and students will receive their new 5th period teacher name when they get their new schedule on Monday. Students not in intervention will have access to a choice menu including guided organization, academic support (including with Tutor.com), reading and reflection, and enrichment.
Activity Day
Activity day was a huge success! A BIG thank you to Ms. Natrisha Sanchez who managed the behind the scenes logistics so that students had access to various activities throughout the day! Some picture highlights are below.
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Academic Advising for 2024-2025 School Year
During the months of January and February, the counselors will begin the academic advising process with our students for the 24-25 school year. Grade specific lessons will occur during the following periods of time:
Week of January 16-19- Current 6th graders received rising 7th grade course information presentations through science classes
Week of January 22nd-26th- current 8th graders received 9th grade course information through SOAR
Week of February 5th-9th- current 7th graders will receive 8th grade course information through science classes
Wednesday, February 7th from 5-7 pm: Please save the date for the Holmes Middle School Curriculum Night and Electives Fair. This is open for all students/families, rising 6th through rising 8th.
Family Coffee Monday, Jan 29th
The next Family Coffee meeting will be on January 29th from 9:30-10:30 am Virtually & In Person. The topic is Finding Balance in Digital Life. We will discuss how to have conversations with students about their media use and you’ll walk away with strategies you can use to monitor usage on personal and FCPS devices.
We encourage you to attend in person to connect with school staff and other families. Language interpretation will be available and we will be providing refreshments.
If you can’t make it, the recording and resources will be shared on our website.
Zoom Link to Join Virtually: https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/96980468770
Here are today's newsletter topics:
Holmes Updates
- Student Services Information
- Admin Team Information
- 2023-24 Blue/White Schedule
- 2023-24 Bell Schedule
- After-School Program
- From Ms. Oncho, Our Family Liaison
- Important Upcoming Dates
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- How to Stay Connected to Holmes MS
FCPS & Community Updates
Please feel free to reach out and let us know what questions you have. Thank you, and we'll see you very soon!
Sincerely,
Serena Giron
Principal
After-School Program Weekly News & Notes from 1/22-1/26
Student(s) of the Week
- Our After-School Program Student of the Week is: Emily Trinh
- Emily was nominated by our After-School staff for her “infectious positivity and kindness towards others”
- Great job Emily!
After-School Action
This week, Mr. Davis and 30 students kicked off our first Futsal practice in preparation of the upcoming Futsal tournament on February 16th at Poe Middle School.
ASP Schedule 1/29-2/2
 
Students Leaving After-School before 4:45 pm
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Any student staying after school must be signed out of the main office by a parent or guardian if leaving before 4:45.
- Walkers with parent/guardian permission, may sign themselves out any time after 3:30 when first block ends.
- Students are not permitted to leave school grounds before checking out in the main office .
Questions/Concerns
Contact the After-School Specialist, Matt Kruk, mjkruk@fcps.edu
- Monday, 1/29, 9:30-10:30 AM - Family Coffee
- Wednesday, 2/7, 5-7 PM - Holmes Middle School Curriculum Night and Electives Fair
- Monday, 2/19 - NO SCHOOL / Presidents Day
- Tuesday, March 5 - NO SCHOOL / School Planning Day
- Friday, March 22 - 3rd Quarter Ends
Don't forget to check out these important links:
Dear Holmes Families,
We invite you to participate in our Strengthening Families Classes, designed to help parents acquire nurturing skills, effective discipline techniques, and guidance on assisting youth in coping with stress and peer pressure. The classes will run for seven weeks every Wednesday, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, starting on January 24 and concluding on March 6. The sessions will be held in person at Holmes Middle School in room M1. The instructor for these classes holds a Master's degree in psychology and brings many years of experience working with families and youth.
To register, please contact Ms. Oncho at 571-326-8370.
Please stay in touch with us throughout the year by:
January Observances
National Mentoring Month
Imagine a world where young people feel empowered, encouraged, and understood. Mentors can make that world a reality by helping young people find and follow their passions, excel in school, and thrive wherever they are. Learn more about Mentoring Month.
FCPS’ MentorWorks program matches mentors with students in schools near where they live or work. They meet for at least 30 minutes a week. Learn more about how to become a mentor for an FCPS student. Please contact Martha Macdonald, mentoring specialist, for additional information at mmacdonald@fcps.edu.
Human Trafficking Prevention Month
Every year since 2010, the President has dedicated the month to raise awareness about human trafficking and to educate the public about how to identify and prevent this crime. Learn more about National Human Trafficking Prevention Month - United States Department of State
Academic Advising and Course Selection
Rising 7th-12th grade students are discussing course selection for next year with their school counselors. Parents/caregivers should discuss this process with their children to ensure students select courses that align with their interests, career goals, and postsecondary aspirations.
As they choose courses, students should also consider their personal well-being, as well as extracurricular activities and commitments. School-life balance is an important consideration. Parents/caregivers are welcome to contact their student’s school counselor with questions.
Review the Graduation Requirements and Course Planning webpage to help make informed decisions for high school and beyond. Refer to our school-specific course catalog and advising information.
FAFSA Is Open: College Access Fairfax Can Help
Over the next two months, College Access Fairfax will be offering a number of programs on completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA), and finding and applying for scholarships. Visit the College Access Fairfax website for details.
In addition, College Access Fairfax staff members are available for virtual one-on-one help sessions to complete the FAFSA/VASA. Email appointments@CollegeAccessFairfax.org for an appointment.
The FAFSA is now available. Any college-bound high school senior — regardless of income — who wants to be considered for federal, state, and school financial aid programs should complete a FAFSA form. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to work with their students to complete the FAFSA as early as possible. Check each college’s financial aid office website for deadlines and forms. Then, create an FSA ID and fill out the FAFSA.
The VASA application has not yet opened, but should be available in late January for students who are unable to complete the FAFSA. To help determine which aid option is right for you, visit the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia website.
What Families Can Do to Fight Drug Misuse
FCPS is committed to raising awareness about the opioid epidemic with our educators, parents/caregivers, and students. Together, we can help ensure our students thrive.
What can families do?
- Show you disapprove of underage drinking and other drug misuse. More than 80% of young people ages 10-18 say their parents are the leading influence on their decision whether to drink.
- Show you care about your child’s health, wellness, and success.
- Show you are a good source of information about alcohol and other drugs. Find helpful resources on the FCPS Opioid Awareness webpage.
- Pay attention to your child and discourage risky behaviors.
- Build your child’s skills and strategies for avoiding drinking and drug use. Talk with your child about what they would do if faced with a decision about alcohol and drugs, such as texting a code word to a family member or practicing how they will say, “No thanks.”
Dual Language Immersion Program Registration
Registration for the countywide lottery for Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs opened on Monday, January 22. Current pre-K students may apply for the kindergarten immersion program, and current kindergarten students may apply for the first grade immersion programs for the 2024-25 school year. Programs are available in French, German, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish.
Parents/caregivers who are interested may want to attend an informational meeting. Meetings are held at the school site. Check the FCPS events calendar for the most current information. Meetings began on Tuesday, January 16.
A virtual meeting hosted by the World Languages Office will include general program information. Access to this virtual meeting will be made available on the FCPS events calendar and the Dual Language Immersion registration site on the day of the meeting.
Get more information on the immersion program webpage and registration page.
Save the Date: Academy Open Houses Begin This Month!
Is your child interested in architecture and construction, information technology, or health science? FCPS high school academies will hold open houses for interested students beginning in mid-January.
A high school Academy is a center within a high school that offers advanced technical and specialized courses to prepare students for postsecondary education and/or career fields. Students enrolling in Academy elective courses will be provided with opportunities to participate in a variety of career experiences including shadowing, mentoring, or internships with local businesses.
Learn more and view the calendar of Academy open houses.
Stay Connected with FCPS
Being connected to your school and division is important every year, and even more so now as we navigate our return to school. The best way to stay informed is to sign up for newsletters through News You Chose.
Your school and FCPS have a variety of topics you can choose from, including:
- School Newsletters- featuring everything you need to know about your child’s school
- FCPS This Week- a weekly newsletter featuring news and happenings from across the division, published Wednesday mornings
- School Board Meeting Update- a recap of important news coming out of school board meetings, published the Friday morning after the meeting
- FCPS Employee News- weekly updates just for staff, published Tuesday mornings
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