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In This Issue
Picture Day is Coming
Get ready to smile—School Picture Day is just around the corner!
Dates: Thursday, October 24th and Friday, October 25th
Location: Student's PE Class
Retakes: Tuesday, November 12th
A quick reminder for students: please avoid wearing green on picture day! More details on how to access and order your photos will be shared soon.
Social Studies Basal Resources Review
FCPS is adopting Social Studies Basal Resources for the 2025-26 school year. Basal resources are the primary resources used to support instruction in a given subject. Public review of the instructional materials under consideration — which is part of the process for selecting new resources — is underway. Visit the Community Review webpage for more information on how to view the materials online or in person.
All community feedback will be shared with School Board members before they vote to select materials in spring 2025. FCPS adopts basal resources by the process outlined in Regulation 3004.
Our Schools, Our Future: Register Today for a Community Conversation!
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid is hosting a series of Community Conversations this fall. She invites you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Click the date below to register for the following conversation:
Event will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Childcare and language interpretation services will be provided.
Outstanding Employee Awards!
Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards!
We're excited to announce the opportunity to recognize and celebrate the exceptional work of our Herndon Middle School staff through the FCPS Honors Awards program. This is a beautiful chance to highlight the dedicated individuals who positively impact our school community.
Your nominations are crucial in this process. You may nominate one employee per award category. To nominate, please complete this google form where you can provide a brief paragraph or two describing how the employee demonstrates exceptional work in one or more of the criteria for that award category
Categories include:
🌟Outstanding Teacher
🌟Outstanding New Teacher
🌟Outstanding New Principal
🌟Outstanding Leader
🌟Outstanding Professional Employee
🌟Outstanding Operational Employee
Our nomination window is from Wednesday, October 16th- Wednesday, November 6th.
Grade-Level Team Celebration
Parents/guardians, we’d love your help with a fun team-building activity for our 7th and 8th grader students on Thursday, October 31st, during Homeroom! If you’re able, please consider donating candy, snacks, or other peanut-free treats. You can find our Amazon wish list for easy shopping, or feel free to drop off items in the main office before Monday, October 28th.
Thank you so much for your ongoing support—we truly appreciate it!
7th Grade Team Wish List
8th Grade Team Wish List
Library Volunteers Needed
The Herndon Middle School Library hopes to enlist a dedicated pool of parent library volunteers. Library volunteering is flexible, varied, and rewarding. If YOU are interested, please complete this Interest Form by Friday, November 1st. We will follow up with an email for next steps after that date. Please be aware that in order to be a regular school volunteer, one must go through the FCPS onboarding process to ensure the safety and security of students and staff. This will involve a trip to Gatehouse office for a badge. We at HMS will help you with the process.
Hearing and Vision Screening
Hearing and vision screening is scheduled for all 7th graders on Monday, October 28th and Tuesday, October 29th. Students, please remember to bring glasses to school that day!
Hard Drive Heist
Students, are you ready to make a difference? Join us for a hands-on learning experience where you can help reduce e-waste and earn service hours!
Why participate?
- Learn a new skill
- Help the environment
- Reduce e-waste and contribute to a greener future
- Support your community
When: Monday, October 28th during A and B Block
Where: Tech 2 (Mr. Walsh's Room)
Stingers Robotics Club
Students, are you interested in coding, designing and making stuff, or community outreach?
Join the HMS Stingers Robotics Club on Wednesdays during B-Block from 3:15- 4:45PM to learn more. Please see Mr. Walsh with any questions!
Applications Open October 21 for Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Middle school students who have an aptitude and passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) are encouraged to apply for admission to the Class of 2029 at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST).
The application will be available on the TJHSST Admissions Office webpage starting Monday, October 21, at 4 p.m. Applications must be started by 4 p.m. Wednesday, November 13, with a deadline to submit the application by Friday, November 15, at 4 p.m. Visit the TJHSST registration page for more information.
Herndon MS Parent Coffee Series
Herndon Middle School Parents/Guardians, we invite you to join us for our upcoming Student Services Parent Coffees for the 2024-2025 school year. These conversations will take place from 9:30 to 10:15AM in the cafeteria. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Wednesday, October 23rd: Chronic Absenteeism & Edufuturo
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Thursday, November 14th: Parent Vue & Student Support
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Thursday, January 16th: Academic Advising & Advanced Academics
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Thursday, February 13th: WIDA Overview
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Thursday, March 13th: Student Support
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Thursday, April 10th: SOL Overview
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Thursday, May 15th: Advisory Council
If you have questions about an upcoming Parent Coffee topic, please contact your student's school counselor or Mrs. Simpkins Church, Director of Student Services, at sasimpkinsch@fcps.edu.
Safeway Immunization Clinics for All FCPS Students
Safeway Pharmacy will host immunization clinics for any FCPS student age 18 or younger at Frost Middle School on Monday, October 28, and Tuesday, October 29, from 3 to 7 p.m.
Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are highly encouraged to avoid wait times. A parent or guardian must accompany walk-in students age 18 or younger to provide consent. Learn more about immunization resources and registering in other languages for the Safeway clinic.
Students age 19 and older may access free immunizations at their middle/high school immunization clinic, the Fairfax County Health Department or through other community resources.
Middle and High School Clinics
FCPS is partnering with the health department to host immunization clinics at middle and high schools. Clinics will take place during the school day. Students may only participate in the clinic at the school where they are enrolled. Parental/caregiver consent is required for students to receive immunizations.
Please check the Immunization Resources page for clinic locations, dates, and how to submit a consent form.
Help Needed for Homecoming Parade Float
Help us build a float for the 2024 Herndon Homecoming Parade! This year's theme is Out of This World and we need your help building our Herndon Middle School float. We're collecting donations for the following supplies now through October 31st:
- B or C flute Cardboard (Thick Cardboard)
- Chicken Wire
- Newspaper
- Steel Wire
- Paint of all colors (especially black & red)
- Paint Brushes/Roller
- Foam Balls
Please drop off at Herndon Middle School's main office before 7:30 am or after 2:30PM. Want to volunteer your time? Reach out to Liana Shivers at lshivers@fcps.edu.
If you'd like to learn more about the Herndon Homecoming Parade, visit herndon-va.gov.
Fairfax HS - Robotics Club Virtual Java classes
Students from Fairfax High School will be offering a virtual workshop to middle school students in Basic Java and Advanced Java coding. They will be doing this as their fundraiser for buying supplies to build their robot and pay competition fees.
If interested, please register by scanning the QR code or by using this link!
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INTEGIRLS DC 2024 Winter Math Competition
The D.C. chapter of INTEGIRLS is hosting a beginner-friendly, in-person math competition Saturday, December 14th from 9-4PM at the Bioscience Education Center at Montgomery College Germantown Campus! Our mission at INTEGIRLS is to encourage girls and non-binaries in STEM fields through math competitions and events. This year, we will have math competition rounds (individual and team), an estimathon, a speaker event, awards ceremony, provided lunch, and lots of fun STEM activities. Teams of up to 4 students will be able to connect with and enjoy math with other girls and non-binaries around the DMV. There will be a lot of prizes and fun swag for all participants.
Register here directly or go to the INTEGIRLS D.C. website (dc.integirls.org) to learn more about the competition.
October
Disability History and Awareness Month
National Bullying Prevention Month
24 | MentorWorks Pumpkin Carving & Painting Event
24 & 25 | Picture Day
28 | Choral Pyramid Concert at Herndon HS at 7:00PM
30 | Superintendent Community Conversation at Herndon MS at 6:30PM
31| Quarter 1 Ends/Early Release
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Quarter End, Early Release, Diwali/Dia de los Muertos and All Saints Day, Student Holidays
Thursday, October 31, is the last day of the first quarter, and a two-hour early release for students.
Friday, November 1, is a holiday this year for Diwali and Dia de los Muertos and All Saints Day. All schools and offices will be closed.
Schools are closed for students on Monday, November 4, for a school planning day, and Tuesday, November 5, for a teacher workday.
See the complete school year calendar.
Weekly Attendance Update | October 22nd
Tips on How Families Can Help
Did you know?
- Regular school attendance in elementary school improves the chances that your child will read on grade level.
- Chronic absenteeism (missing 18 or more school days per year) is a primary cause of lower academic achievement even when the absences are "excused" or understandable.
- Students who attend 90% or more of the school year are more likely to graduate from high school on time.
- Absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with peer conflicts or facing some other potentially serious difficulty, and help is available.
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FCPS Cares
The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for parents, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees.
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