A message from Principal Steven McFarlane
Kilmer Community,
We had some big events this week with over 100+ 7th graders at the 7th grade dance on Thursday, 500+ students in the music department attended the annual Hershey Park field trip (actually they’re still on the trip 🙂), and tomorrow, Saturday, another 100+ students will be competing at Edison High School for the second track & field meet of the season. These are just a few of the things that make Kilmer a fantastic place and keeps students plugged in. Thanks to all Kilmer staff and parents that make events like these possible!
Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week, and it's the perfect opportunity for us to recognize the incredible dedication and hard work of our faculty and staff. I encourage you and your student to send a note to a staff member who has made a difference this year. Your kind words go a long way.
A quick reminder that SOL testing begins next week. A good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast can make a big difference in helping students stay focused and feel their best. As always, thanks for your support—we know they’ll do great!
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!
Brianna S.M. - Brianna is a wonderful participant in class. She arrives first thing in the morning, ready to learn, and works hard to master the material. Good job!
Varnika P. - Varnika has done an outstanding job studying for the Science SOL. She always comes to class ready to learn and asks the best questions. I can't wait to see what she does in high school and beyond!
Hadia M. - Hadia is an outstanding student—always engaged, responsible, and a positive presence in the classroom. She consistently goes above and beyond in her work, participates thoughtfully in discussions, and sets a great example for her peers with her dedication and enthusiasm for learning.
Kai H. - Thank you for staying after the kids were dismissed to help clean up the patio.
Yuto R. - Thank you for using your excellent Japanese speaking skills to help our new student feel welcome at Kilmer! You made such a huge difference and we appreciate your willingness to help and your ability to help our school community be a better place!
 Upcoming Dates
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May 7 - Reading SOL (all students), 9th period flipped bell schedule
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May 8 - NJHS Induction Ceremony at Kilmer, 5pm
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May 14 - Math SOL (all students), 8th period flipped bell schedule
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May 16 - Science SOL (8th grade) and Diagnostic Science Test (7th grade), 8th period flipped bell schedule
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May 19-20 - SOL makeups
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May 22 - SAVE THE DATE! Kilmer’s PTA will be hosting a Spring Festival after school. More details to come!
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May 28 - Band Spring Concert at Marshall High School, 7pm
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May 29 - Choir Spring Concert at Marshall High School, 7pm
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May 30 - Broadway Desserts, Kilmer Cafeteria, 7pm
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June 2 - Orchestra Spring Concert at Marshall High School, 7pm
🌍 History Comes to Life at the WW2 Museum! 🌍 This week, the History 7 team transformed the Library into a hands-on WW2 Museum experience! Thanks to Gretchen and Rosanne, students explored 24 incredible artifacts donated by Kilmer staff, each with a powerful family story connected to World War II. Students got to touch history, ask questions, and dive deeper into the past. An unforgettable way to bring history off the page and into real life! #HistoryComesAlive #KilmerExploresThePast
🎉 Congratulations to Our April Students of the Month Award Recipients! 🎉 Students enjoyed snacks, games, and a movie to celebrate their achievement during their Learning Seminar period. Way to go, Cougars—keep up the great work! 🐾👏 #CougarPride #CelebrateSuccess
Students pictured: Anusheh Ahmed, Eve Briggs, Wesley Deitz, Eunki Kim, Hankyul Kim, Starling Louie, Rose McCreesh, Nonna Mikhailova, Grant Murphy, Idris Nazary, Bode Pierce, Alyssa Price, London Ringer, Ascary Rivera, Kavya Thyagarajan, Xander Miner, Anis Samsul Kahar, Sawyer Whelan
🎬 That’s a Wrap! Rising 7th Graders Visit Kilmer! 🎉Over the last two weeks, 600 rising 7th grade students visited Kilmer to get a sneak peek at middle school life! Our incredible student ambassadors led tours, hosted panels, and shared what makes Kilmer such a welcoming and exciting place to learn. A huge thank you to our Kilmer school counseling team for organizing this meaningful experience and helping our future Cougars feel right at home! 🐾
#FutureCougars #MiddleSchoolReady
🍭 Sugar Shocker at Kilmer! 🍎Our Public Health Nurse, Stephanie Gibbs, brought an eye-opening Sugar Shocker display to the cafeteria during lunches this week! Students learned just how much hidden sugar is packed into some of their favorite foods—and why making healthy choices matters. A big thank you to Mrs. Gibbs for helping our Cougars stay informed and make smarter snack decisions! 🧃💡 #SugarShocker #HealthyChoices #KilmerWellness
🌊 “Catch a Wave” 7th Grade Dance Was a Splash! 🌺 Our 7th graders had an amazing time at the Hawaiian/Luau-themed "Catch a Wave" dance complete with tropical vibes, fun décor, and lots of dancing! Thanks to everyone who helped make this event unforgettable! 🏄♂️🌴🌞 🎶 “Catch a wave and you're sittin' on top of the world...” – The Beach Boys
PTA Spring Carnival
Kilmer’s amazing PTA is hosting another fun-filled festival right after school on Thursday, May 22 on the back field! Come celebrate the end of the school year and enjoy inflatables, a DJ, photo booth, sports & games, and more. Grab a bite from food trucks offering pizza, ice cream, and snow cones (available for purchase). Don’t worry about a ride—late buses will be available.Use this link to let us know your student is coming. Check out Kilmer’s PTA website for updates and photos from past festivals. Make sure to sign up for the PTA newsletter if you haven’t already!
SOL Reminders
As we prepare for the upcoming SOL assessments, please take note of the following testing dates:
- May 7th – Reading
- May 14th – Math
- May 16th – Science
To help your child feel prepared and confident on testing days, please remind them to charge their chromebooks the night before, get a good night’s sleep, and arrive at school on time. Your support at home makes a big difference in helping students perform their best. Thank you for partnering with us during this important time!
Yearbook Sales
Have you purchased this year’s yearbook yet? Yearbooks are still available for preorder online at www.walsworth.com. Simply click "Buy a Yearbook" and search for Kilmer MS. The cost is $45 per book.
We have 310 copies left and they are going fast! Once we sell out, we can’t order any more books. Guarantee your copy today by purchasing your yearbook now!
Website store: https://yearbookforever.com/school-store/4plJHPnxG3fG90oaVoBKB0O9
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
Kilmer’s Positive Referral Program
Over the past few weeks many local news outlets have covered Kilmer’s Positive Referral Program. In case you missed it, below are the various articles/clips that have been published highlighting the fantastic staff and students we have here. Check them out below!
Science 8 SOL After-School Review Sessions
All 8th graders will be taking the Science 8 SOL on Friday, May 16. The Science 8 SOL includes topics from 6th grade, 7th grade, and 8th grade Science classes. In addition to reviewing topics in Science 8 classes, teachers are offering after school review sessions, focused on 7th grade topics. All 8th graders are invited to attend.
8th Grade Promotion Ceremonies
Save the date for the 8th Grade Team Promotion Ceremonies! More information will be coming soon. If you need to know which team your child is on, please refer to the email that you received on April 10th or ask your student. It is also listed in SIS in their class schedule. More information is available on our website.
8th Grade End of Year Field Trip - Dave & Buster’s
To celebrate the culmination of middle school, we invite all 8th grade students who are in good academic and disciplinary standing on a field trip to Dave & Buster’s in Fairfax, VA. Students received field trip forms through their Civics class this week. Payment is made through My School Bucks. Completed forms should be returned before May 23rd to students’ Civics teachers. More information is available on our website.
8th Grade Semi-Formal Dance
The 8th grade dance is a time for 8th graders to celebrate their time at Kilmer with music, dancing, a photobooth, and dinner. This year’s 8th grade semi-formal will be on Friday, June 6th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Kilmer Middle School.
- Doors will close at 6:30 p.m., students will not be admitted late.
- There is no readmittance if a student decides to leave the dance prior to 8:00pm.
- Attire is semi-formal.
- Tickets are $10 and must be purchased during the school day, prior to the dance. No tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets may be purchased with cash during all lunches Thursday, May 29th – Tuesday, June 3rd.
- Please contact Mr. Phil Prevost (pmprevost@fcps.edu) with any questions.
Course Registration for 25-26
Course registration for the 2025-2026 school year is now closed. You can view your child’s selected courses in SIS ParentVUE under the Course Requests tab. Instructions for accessing course requests are available here: Online Course Requests in ParentVue. The list of course requests is not a final schedule, but a confirmation of courses entered into the student information system.
Please note:
- Elective choices may change due to space limitations and scheduling conflicts.
- Music placements will be updated after spring auditions.
- Special education and ESOL course placements may change based on their English language proficiency or IEP service hours.
8th Grade Students: Kilmer is no longer able to assist with changes to high school courses. If you have questions about 9th grade courses, please contact the Office of Student Services at your child's high school.
Lightspeed Parent Report
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