A message from Principal Steven McFarlane
Kilmer Community,
This week our building came alive! We’ve had hundreds of new students participating in the Shifting Gears program. It’s hard not to smile watching how excited students are as they bounce through the halls with joy. A big thank you to the many Kilmer staff members working to support Shifting Gears, and thanks to Phil Prevost for planning and leading this work.
Yesterday, our new-to-Kilmer staff reported to the building, and the whole staff reports on Monday. The week ahead is an important time for us as we reconnect, and plan and prepare for the year ahead.
A reminder about Kilmer’s Open House on Thursday, August 15. We are strongly encouraging 7th grade students to attend between 2:00-4:00 pm and 8th grade students to attend between 4:00-5:00 pm. We recognize there may be students who are siblings or extenuating circumstances preventing a student from attending during their designated time. We would like families to follow these timeframes to the greatest extent possible, but understand if you must come at a different time because of family schedules/commitments.
Lastly, students can view their class schedule prior to the Open House through SIS StudentVUE beginning at 6:00 am on Thursday, August 15. StudentVue can be accessed through students’ FCPS laptops or through the SIS StudentVUE mobile app. Class schedules will also be visible for parents in SIS ParentVUE. Please add the mobile apps to your phones prior to Open House to assist your child with locating their classes. School maps will also be available.
Have a great weekend. As always, reach out if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Steven McFarlane
Principal
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 Upcoming Dates:
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August 15 - Open House for 7th & 8th grade, 2-5 PM.
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August 30 & September 2 - Labor Day, 4-day weekend
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September 5 - Save the Date! Back-to-School Night at Kilmer MS 6pm - 8pm, more details to follow.
- FCPS School Calendar 2024-25
It was awesome seeing students from all of our feeder elementary schools getting to know each other during Shifting Gears
Kilmer Open House and Class Schedules
Kilmer’s Open House sets an inviting atmosphere and welcoming tone for the school year. We will hold one Open House event for both grade levels on Thursday, August 17 from 2:00-5:00 pm. We are encouraging 7th grade students and families to attend the event between 2:00 - 4:00 pm and 8th grade students and families to attend between 4:00-5:00 pm. During our Open House event, students will pick up their FCPS laptop, locate their classes throughout the building, and meet Kilmer staff. The clinic will also be open to drop off medications.
Students can view their class schedule prior to the open house through SIS StudentVUE beginning at 6:00 am on Thursday, August 15. StudentVue can be accessed through students’ FCPS laptops or through the SIS StudentVUE mobile app. Class schedules will also be visible for parents in SIS ParentVUE. Please add the mobile apps to your phones prior to the open house to assist your child with locating their classes. School maps will also be available.
If you are unable to attend this event, student laptops will be distributed to students during 1st period on the first day of school.
Updating Student information through SIS ParentVUE
The Online Verification Update (OVU) packet in SIS ParentVUE allows parents to review and update phone numbers, emergency contacts, and health information (such as health conditions and immunizations). The enrolling parent can access OVU through their SIS ParentVUE account. Parents/Guardians can continue to use traditional paper forms to submit changes to Kilmer Middle School. Paper forms can be submitted to the Kilmer Student Services Office.
Important: Do not use the OVU packet if your address has changed or if you moved to another FCPS school. Contact the Kilmer Student Services Office directly to complete address updates or to withdraw and transfer your student to the new school.
Health Room Information & Medication Drop-off Times
Information about the Health Room and Student Medications have been updated on our school website. If you need to drop-off medications for your student, the Health Room will be open at the following times to receive medication:
- August 12th from 11:30 am - 2:00 pm
- August 13th from 7:30 am - 2:00 pm
- August 15th from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm (Kilmer Open House Day)
- August 16th from 7:30 am - 2:00 pm
7th Grade Immunization Requirement
All students entering 7th grade will be required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations prior to the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap), Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
- To meet the Meningococcal (MenACWY) requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 10 or older.
- As a parent/guardian, you may decide that your child not receive the HPV vaccination. The school does not require documentation if a parent/guardian elects for their student not to receive the HPV vaccination.
If you have not submitted immunization documentation to your child’s elementary school this past spring or to Kilmer Middle School this summer, please submit an updated immunization record showing that your child has received the missing immunization(s).
If you have questions regarding your child’s immunization status, please contact Gail Wood, Student Services Assistant at gmwood@fcps.edu .
2024-2025 School Supplies
Kilmer Middle School will provide every student with:
- A Chromebook laptop
- Laptop case
- Laptop charger
- Wired headphones*
- *Students are welcome to bring in a personal pair of wired headphones to use. Students will not be permitted to use bluetooth devices or wireless earbuds with school laptops or personal devices during the school day.
Below is a general list of school supplies we recommend students start the year off with. Each teacher will share the supplies needed for their course during the first week of school and students will have until September 3 to bring those items in. If you are in need of school supplies and/or a backpack, please contact our Family Liaison, Jessica Rosas Diego (jrosasdiego@fcps.edu).
- Backpack
- Water bottle
- Lined loose-leaf paper
- Spiral notebook
- Folder
- Pens (blue, black)
- Pencils
- Post-it notes
- Ruler
- Highlighter
Securly Pass
Our biggest priority at Kilmer is the safety of all of our students, including knowing where students are in case of emergencies. To support us in this work, Kilmer, along with many schools across FCPS, will be implementing Securly Pass for the 2024-2025 school year.
Securly Pass is an online platform that allows Kilmer staff to issue hall passes to students anytime they need to leave a classroom. This new platform helps us to manage how many students are in the hallways during the school day, helps us keep students in the classroom during essential instruction, and creates a safe environment for our students.
Students are able to access Securly Pass through their school-issued device using any web browser. Students may request a pass to leave the classroom or request an appointment with a staff member (counselor, administrator, clinic team, etc.). Staff are able to automatically approve the passes quickly, with limited impact on the instruction of the classroom.
Students will have three hall passes per day for their personal use but can request additional passes from their teachers if the need arises. While students are out of the classroom, the pass system monitors how long they are gone so that teachers can focus on the remaining students in the classroom. Our administrative team and security staff are able to monitor active hall passes building wide to ensure we are able to provide effective supervision in appropriate areas.
Bell Schedule
Link to the bell schedule on the Kilmer Website (PDF link included on the site for families who want to download and/or print)
Parent Digital Consent - Forms
Beginning August 1, many of the parental consent and opt-out forms will be made available through a new Parent Digital Consent System. A parent or guardian will need to log-in using their SIS ParentVue username (email address) and password. If you have just registered your SIS ParentVUE account you will need to wait 24 hours before you can log in to the Digital Consent System. The SIS ParentVUE Account Overview page has information about registration and how to get support with your account.
Some forms in the system are required (like the Digital Resource Consent), while others, like the Family Education Opt-out form, are optional. If you have more than one child in FCPS, you must fill out the forms for each.
Cell Phones
Last week Kilmer families received an email about our school’s participation in FCPS’ cell phone storage pilot program. Kilmer is not one of the identified middle schools using Yondr pouches to secure cell phones during the school day, but is part of the “control group” implementing FCPS’ current cell phone usage policy. Middle schools in the control group will be focused on consistent implementation of the policy and documentation in SIS. Under the policy cell phones, tablets, and accessories like airpods must be off and away (in a backpack or locker) from 7:30am-2:15pm. As part of the first few weeks of school, we will support learning around these expectations and routines with our teachers and students. We will also provide opportunities to partner and communicate with our families about how this will look at Kilmer.
Middle School Sports – Cross Country
Kilmer hosts Fall Cross Country as a part of FCPS Middle School Athletics Program and is open to all–no experience required! Practices will be held after school beginning in September (details forthcoming).Late Bus Transportation is provided at 4:45pm. Cross Country Meets begin September 21st (tentative). Students must participate in at least 3 practices prior to competing.
What Is Required? Students and parents will need to complete these steps prior to participating, including:
Kilmer Afterschool Registration Form (Must be signed into student’s FCPS Google Account)
FALL 2024 Middle School Sports Participant Registration Form
Each Student-Athlete and a Parent/Guardian will review the FCPS Middle School Sports Athletic Health Education Program prior to the student’s participation in middle school athletic activities.
- Check ‘I Agree’ button to indicate this was completed
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Link embedded near end of Registration Form (second to last question…Health Education Program)
Once completed, the forms below must be submitted to the Main Office collection box for Ms. Kardelis, After-School Program Specialist to review and process:
FCPS Middle School Sports Athletic Participation/Parental Consent/Physical Examination Form (PPE). The exam must be completed by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant. Please note that the form must be dated on or after May 1, 2024, for the 2024-2025 school year. Student-Athletes in FCPS are required to be covered by medical insurance.
Emergency Care Card information
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