A message from Principal Steven McFarlane
Kilmer Community,
A big shout out to our awesome Kilmer PTA for the fantastic Holiday Goodie Bags delivered on Thursday. Your kindness brought lots of smiles to our staff. Thank you for always stepping up and making our school experience top-notch. The PTA’s support means the world, and we're grateful for the positive impact you bring to our school community.
As always, this week's newsletter features photos showcasing happenings at Kilmer over the past week. Whether it's the high-energy performances at the band and orchestra concerts or the delivery of the Holiday Goodie Bags to Kilmer’s staff, these photos capture the heart of what makes our school such a special place.
Wishing you and your families a wonderful holiday season.
Sincerely,
Steven McFarlane
Principal
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Here are just a few of the Positive Referrals received by our Kilmer Cougars from staff members this week!
Emma J. - I'm pleased to write this positive referral for Emma, who has consistently demonstrated exceptional academic performance and a strong work ethic. She participates actively in class, offers insightful contributions, and deeply understands the material. In addition to academic achievements, Emma displays outstanding character. She is respectful, responsible, and maintains a positive attitude, which has made her a role model for others. Keep up the great work!
Tú eres una excelente estudiante. Yo estoy muy orgulloso de ti. ¡Sigue así!
Ben O. - Ben worked during 9th period to help a student in Algebra complete his study guide. The student was glad to work with a peer rather than the teacher. Ben did a great job of explaining the content!
Mathew C. - Matthew worked above and beyond by completing his work at home and in school. He taught other students during 5th period the math concepts while working in a small group.
Kai S. - Thanks for getting water to water our class plants. But really, thanks for always being willing to help out and even volunteering to help out. Your positive attitude shows a lot about your strength as a leader in our community.
Jasmine H. - Jasmine consistently demonstrates a dedication to learning math. She is willing to take risks and is helpful to those around her. I am so proud of you!
 Upcoming Dates:
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Course Registration Activities for the 2025-2026 school year begin in January! More information will be shared in the New Year! Visit the Course Registration page on the Kilmer Website to learn more about the academic advising timeline.
- Madison Counselors meet with 8th grade students attending Madison HS for 9th grade Friday, January 10 during Learning Seminar
- Madison High School’s Rising 9th Curriculum Night - Tuesday January 14, 6:30-8:00
- Marshall High School IB Information Night at Kilmer - Monday, January 27 at 5:00 pm
- Rising 8th Grade Algebra Night - Thursday, January 30 at 5:00 pm
- Marshall Counselors meet with 8th grade students attending Marshall HS for 9th grade Wednesday, February 5 during Learning Seminar
- Marshall High School’s Rising 9th Grade Orientation - Thursday, February 6
- FCPS School Calendar 2024-25
Congratulations to our Music Department for their entertaining performances this week! The students did a fantastic job preparing and performing.
Thank you to the PTA’s Hospitality Committee for organizing holiday gift bags for Kilmer’s staff. We were blown away by the generosity of Kilmer families!
Office Closure
The front office will be closed during winter break from December 23 - January 3. Students and staff will return on Monday, January 6, 2025.
Welcome Mohammad Baashshiti!
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Mohammad Bashshiti is Kilmer’s new Business & Information Technology Teacher. He grew up in the FCPS system, where he attended Fairhill ES, Luther Jackson MS, and Falls Church HS. He graduated from Virginia Tech in May 2012 with dual degrees in Accounting & Information Systems and Finance. He has over 11 years of progressive experience in the private sector as a licensed CPA. Outside of work, he enjoys playing basketball, reading, attending Wizards & Orioles games, and going to stand-up comedy shows. |
Spirit Week
Candy Cane Grams
Crosstown Hoops and Tryouts
Kilmer’s Annual Crosstown Hoops Basketball Game against Thoreau MS will be held on Thursday, April 3 at Marshall High School. All students are welcome to try out. We play the following games: 7th grade girls, 7th grade boys, 8th grade girls, 8th grade boys.
All tryouts will be held during our After School Program:
- 7th Grade Boys - Wed/Thurs, January 15th & 16th, 2nd block
- 7th Grade Girls - Tuesday, January 14th, 1st block
- 8th Grade Boys - Wed/Thurs, January 15th & 16th, 1st block
- 8th Grade Girls - Tuesday, January 14th, 2nd block
Health and Physical Education FLE Announcement
Instruction of the Human Growth and Development unit (gender separate) will take place from January 30 through February 5th during HPE class. Instruction of the Emotional and Social Health unit will take place during regular health class during the 3rd quarter.
A parent preview night will be held both in person and virtually on January 6, 2025 from 4:00pm to 5:30pm. The in person option will be held in the Kilmer Library. The virtual option can be accessed at the link below:
https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/j/9261213450
If you choose to opt your student out of any or all of these lessons, please print and fill out the opt out form for your student’s grade level and have your student return the form to Ms. Wood in student services. The opt out forms can be found at the following link: https://kilmerms.fcps.edu/department/health-physical-education
To view the lessons in both FLE units please login to schoology and click on the All Parents/Guardians course. On that page there is a folder called Parent Preview - FLE Instruction with the FLE lessons.
If you have any questions, please contact your student’s HPE teacher.
After School Activities News/Updates:
Each week Ms. Perry 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. If you have any questions regarding our After School Program please reach out to Saundra Perry (Acting After School Specialist) at slperry@fcps.edu.
Executive Board Contact Information
Fall Student Testing Results - Available in SIS ParentVUE
Each fall, FCPS students take part in screening assessments for reading and mathematics to identify strengths and areas for support. Score reports for families are posted in ParentVUE in the “Documents” section, generally about one month after testing has been completed.
- iReady reports in grades 1-8 are available in ParentVUE now.
- Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Growth reports for grades 6-12 will be available by Friday, December 13, following an extension to the fall testing window.
Visit FCPS’ website for additional information about student tests at each grade level, including what each test is for and when each test takes place. Caregivers may follow up with their children’s teachers for more information about how they use test results to support student success.
Attendance Reminder
Getting your student into the habit of daily attendance helps reduce their stress and makes it easier to connect with friends and teachers. We understand each year may present extenuating circumstances that lead to missed days. However, we hope to increase timely communication regarding absences as they occur to prevent patterns that could impact your student’s well-being.
Please read the tips below to support regular school attendance and foster a positive attitude regarding school and education:
- Scheduling: Schedule family vacations, trips, appointments, and other out-of-school activities during school holidays. See the FCPS calendar.
- Engagement: Help your student stay engaged by asking open-ended questions about what is going on in school. Encourage those conversations, daily!
- Monitor Attendance: Monitor your student's attendance in ParentVue. By the end of the school year, if a student misses just two days each month, they may be considered chronically absent.
- Social-Emotional Health: If your student expresses anxiety about school, contact your student’s counselor.
Missing even a few days can negatively impact a child's academic achievement and we want to partner with you to work toward your child's success. If you have additional questions, please contact your child’s school counselor, we would be happy to speak with you further about how we can support your child’s attendance for the rest of the school year.
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener Results
Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener during the month of October, providing information on their SEL skills like achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships, and making responsible decisions. The screener also asks students how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
Individual student SEL Screener results are now available to families in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent via postal mail.
For support in understanding your individual student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the Family Guide or reach out to our school staff with any questions.
Lightspeed Parent Report
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