A message from Principal Steven McFarlane
Kilmer Community,
Kilmer students have been busy this week! They are rehearsing for The Addams Family after school, preparing for Crosstown Hoops and getting reading for the band assessment at Madison High School this Friday. Meanwhile, 8th graders are reviewing for the upcoming Integrated Reading and Writing assessment in English classes, 7th grade students have been learning about meiosis and mitosis in Science and the Great Depression in US History. The list goes on and on…and Kilmer is certainly an exciting place to be as the end of 3rd quarter approaches.
On Monday, March 24, Kilmer Middle School parents/guardians will be contacted through email (keep an eye out for an email from FCPSSurvey@fcps.edu) with a link to the FCPS Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Feedback Form Online. This questionnaire is part of the Performance Evaluation Program and offers parents/guardians an opportunity to provide anonymous input about various topics related to our school. These topics include instructional leadership, school climate, management (human resources and organizational), communication and community relations, culturally responsive and equitable leadership, and professionalism. The questionnaire will be collected online between March 24 and April 4. When you receive an email from FCPS Surveys, please take a few minutes to complete the questionnaire. Thank you in advance.
Have a wonderful weekend and as always, reach out with any questions or concerns.
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!
Amelia K. - Amelia volunteered to help out with cleaning up the kiln room (disposing old clay projects) and worked on packing up the still life project.
Rayan I. - Thank you for kindly loaning your laptop charger to a peer when they didn't have one!
Bridgette J.C. - Bridgette is diligent and works with focus and accuracy. She follows classroom procedures and expectations and participates responsibly.
Eton C. - Mr. Greenfield and I were passing out books to students, and Eton, unprompted, asked if he could help pass out books to students. It was good to see Eton engaged and involved in class today and volunteering to be a helping hand! We appreciate it, Eton!
Jai S. - Bit by bit throughout the year you've applied yourself more to your studies in English. Keep up this great momentum!
 Upcoming Dates
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Integrated Reading and Writing (IRW) and Diagnostic Writing Activity
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March 19 - Student will have a flipped Bell Schedule and start the day in their 9th period class
- 8th grade students participating in the SOL Reading test will complete an integrated reading and writing (IRW) component. The IRW component of the SOL Reading test has one non-fiction reading passage followed by 4-6 of multiple-choice/technology-enhanced items and an “invitation to write” based on the passage.
- 7th grade students will participate in a Diagnostic Writing Activity to prepare for next year’s IRW assessment.
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April 10 - 8th graders travel to Marshall HS or Madison HS for Rising 9th Grade Activities Fair
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Fine and Performing Arts Spring Dates:
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Orchestra
- Spring Music Department Trip 5/2 @ Hershey Park
- Spring Orchestra Concert 6/2 7 pm @ Marshall HS
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Band
- Assessment Concert 3/14 and 3/15 @ Madison HS
- Spring Music Department Trip 5/2 @ Hershey Park
- Spring Band Concert 5/28 7 pm @ Marshall HS
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Chorus
- Assessment Concert 3/20 @Kenmore MS
- Honors Choir 4/24 and 4/25 @ Richmond
- Spring Music Department Trip 5/2 @ Hershey Park
- Spring Chorus Concert 5/29 @ Marshall HS
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Theatre
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Spring Musical Performance Addams Family
- March 26th: Addams Family Student Show – 2:30 pm
- March 27th: Addams Family – 7:00 pm
- March 28th: Addams Family – 2:00 pm & 7:00 pm
- May 30th: Broadway Desserts – 7:00 pm
- FCPS School Calendar 2024-25
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🧵✨ Check out the amazing sewing projects from Ms. Arteaga’s Family & Consumer Science class! Students had the opportunity to choose their project—creating hand-sewn monkeys, emoji pillows, or embroidery designs. 🧸😃 #SewMuchFun
Our Algebra Honors students are having a blast with Exponent Scavenger Hunts and "Math" Libs! These fun activities are helping them master exponents while adding a little excitement to their math skills. Keep up the great work, Cougars!
Happy Pi Day! 🥧 Our Math Department celebrated in style with delicious pies in Math Hall and staff sporting their best Pi-themed attire. A fun and tasty way to honor this iconic mathematical constant!
Cousin Itt is ready to take the stage—and wants YOU to be there! 🎭 Don’t miss The Addams Family at Kilmer. Join us for a spooktacular show! 🖤🤍 Tickets are available for purchase at https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/15622/kilmer-middle-school-theatre.
Principal Evaluation Staff Feedback Form
On Monday, March 24, parents and guardians of Kilmer Middle School will receive an email with a link to the FCPS Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Feedback Form. This questionnaire is part of the Performance Evaluation Program and provides an opportunity to share anonymous feedback about our school’s leadership and environment.
Topics covered in the survey include:
- Instructional leadership
- School climate
- Management (human resources and organizational)
- Communication and community relations
- Culturally responsive and equitable leadership
- Professionalism
The questionnaire will be open March 24 – April 4 and will be collected online. Keep an eye out for an email from FCPSSurvey@fcps.edu and take a few minutes to complete it.
Your input is valuable and helps shape the future of our school. Thank you for your time and feedback!
High School Activities Fairs
On April 10, 8th graders will attend either Marshall High School or Madison High School’s Activities Fair for Rising 9th Graders. This is a chance for students to learn more about high school clubs, sports, and activities. Field trip forms are being distributed and collected through students’ science classes. Signed field trip forms are due March 25, 2025.
Meditation & Silent Reflection Space
FCPS has developed Regulation 1502 to ensure all students and staff have reasonable accommodation and access to meditation and silent reflection spaces within the school division. The regulation provides guidance for schools on how to manage requests for silent reflection during instructional and non-instructional time, and for students to leave school for religious activities. At Kilmer MIddle School, we offer the following accommodations:
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Meditation and Silent Reflection Space – A designated space for students to engage in prayer, meditation, or silent reflection, inclusive of religious and non-religious beliefs. Parental permission is required, and students will receive a pass once approved. To request access, please contact your child’s school counselor.
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Alternative Space during Lunch – Students who are fasting and prefer an alternative lunch space may go to the library. To participate, students must complete this form. Once submitted, they will receive a daily pass from Ms. Rosas Diego.
For more details, please View Regulation 1502 and visit the FCPS' Guidelines for Religious Activities webpage. If you have any questions, please reach out to Jessica Rosas Diego, Student Services Assistant at jrosasdiego@fcps.edu .
Student Fasting Meal Kits for February 28 - March 28, 2025
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) has issued a new, first-time waiver allowing students fasting during the school day from February 28 to March 28, 2025, to request take-home breakfast and lunch meal kits. The Office of Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) will provide meal kits reflecting the school menu. Meals will be kept cold and must be heated at home. Students may claim one breakfast and one lunch kit per day. If a student purchases breakfast or lunch at school, they cannot pick up a kit that day. Meal kits must be picked up by students at the end of the school day—adults cannot collect them.Parents or guardians must submit a weekly request form via the FCPS FNS website by the deadlines:
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March 10, 2025, for the week of March 17, 2025
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March 17, 2025, for the week of March 24, 2025
Tickets on Sale Now for The Addams Family: School Edition
Get ready for a night of laughter, music, and spooky fun as our students bring The Addams Family: School Edition to life on stage! This hilarious musical follows the delightfully creepy Addams family as they navigate an unexpected visit from a "normal" family, leading to plenty of chaos and surprises.
Showtimes:
- Thursday, March 28 at 7:00 PM
- Friday, March 29 at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Tickets: $10 per person
Students also have the opportunity to attend a special student matinee on Tuesday, March 26 at 2:30 PM. Those attending can take the late bus home after the show. Tickets for the student performance are just $5. Tickets are available for purchase at https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/15622/kilmer-middle-school-theatre. Don’t miss the chance to see this fantastic production!
After School Activities News/Updates
Each week Ms. Kardelis 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 Kim Kardelis, After School Specialist, at kckardelis@fcps.edu.
Executive Board Contact Information
Student Pickup
A few reminders from Kilmer’s main office about procedures for picking up students early or checking them in late:
- A driver’s license or similar photo ID is required to check out a student during the day. Only parents, legal guardians, and people on the student’s emergency contact list may check out a student. If someone else is picking up your student, please send an email from your email address we have on file, to KilmerMiddle.Attendance@fcps.edu that includes the full name of the person, the full name of your student, the reason for check-out, and the date of the early dismissal.
- When you arrive at the school, please ring the front entrance doorbell and let the front office know that you are checking your student in for late arrival or picking your student up for early dismissal. After entering the building, please sign your child out using the computer in the office.
- Students are not to contact their parents via cell phone/text messaging during school hours. If they need to contact you during the school day, they can use the phone in the main office.
Enabling Talking Points Notifications
Stay in the loop with your child's learning! Teachers and staff at Kilmer are using TalkingPoints to send class announcements and messages directly to you. You'll receive these via text message, or even better, through the TalkingPoints for Families app. We highly recommend downloading the app for a smoother experience and easier access to messages. Just search 'TalkingPoints for Families' in your app store. Don't forget to enable notifications so you never miss a beat!
Do you have the TalkingPoints app but feel like you are missing messages? Make sure you have enabled notifications on your device so that you are notified when a message from a teacher or staff member comes through. Directions for both iOS and Android can be found here.
Attendance Reminder
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.
Lightspeed Parent Report
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