A message from Principal Steven McFarlane
Kilmer Community,
On Tuesday, we welcomed Dr. Michelle Reid, FCPS Superintendent, to Kilmer. We were able to stop by several classes (you’ll find photos below) so she could see Kilmer teachers and students in action. I shared our school-wide approach to instruction and behavior with her, explaining that we believe it is up to us to create the conditions in which students learn and in which we work. Dr. Reid was very excited about our school’s progress and direction, and I was proud to highlight our amazing school community.
I want to thank all of the volunteers who helped with yesterday’s PTA Fall Festival. The weather was perfect and our kids had a blast—we had around 600 students stay after school (that’s half of our school 🙂). We couldn’t have pulled off this community event without your help.
I hope you have a wonderful weekend. As always, reach out if you have any questions.
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!
Simon V. - Simon comes to class every day ready to learn! He's focused, works hard, and is respectful of others. He also acts with empathy regarding those around him and his surroundings. Thanks, Simon! Mr. Thomas
Jadon E.O. - Jadon exhibits a growth mindset; this week he achieved the highest number of Lexia units in his class. Way to go, Jadon!
Viju Vidyut S.D. - Thank you for coming to class on time and ready to learn each day. You do a great job of working with your classmates at your table. Keep up the good work!
Dechassa D. - Thank you for always being respectful to your classmates and helping others when needed. Your kindness doesn't go unnoticed!
Luke B. - Luke volunteered and worked efficiently to help prepare materials for our class to be ready to learn. He also helped teach others how to do the task.
 Upcoming Dates
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October 21-22 - 7th Grade students will participate in the Signs of Suicide Mental Health Screening during their US History class. To accommodate meetings with students identified for follow-up, the bell schedule on Tuesday, October 21st has been modified. Schedule: 7, 3, 5, 1 (1st period will occur at the end of the day)
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October 31 - End of 1st Quarter, 2-hour early release
Dr. Reid stopped by many of Kilmer’s math classes this week to see our students and teachers in action!
We had a fantastic turnout (600 students!) for our Fall Festival on Thursday after school. It was a fun-filled event. A huge Shout Out to our PTA for putting this together!
Thanks to Ms. Hession who helped recruit 8th graders to earn Service Learning hours. Our Kilmer students worked with St. Thomas Pumpkin Patch to donate leftover pumpkins to Rikki’s Refuge, a non-kill large animal sanctuary in Orange, VA where the pumpkins are fed to the animals throughout the winter.
Last week, 85 Kilmer band students participated in “Marshall Band Night.” It was a wonderful evening for our students and gave them a taste of what’s to come in high school 🙂.
This week, 7th graders from the Sirius, Supernovas, and Starbursts teams went on the MWEE field trip at Burke Lake. Students investigated organisms, insects, and other observations from their surroundings. Students on the Comets team will participate in the field trip in November.
All Families Opted in to Lightspeed Student Online Activity Report
FCPS provides families with a free service that allows parents and caregivers a way to stay informed about their child's online activity on any FCPS device. Starting Sunday, October 12, all parents and guardians who have access to student records in SIS ParentVUE will be automatically enrolled to receive a weekly Lightspeed Student Online Activity Report.
This report provides a summary of the websites your child visited during the previous week and is delivered every Sunday to your email directly from Lightspeed, our internet content filter.
Each weekly report also includes a link to register for the Lightspeed Parent Portal, which provides more detailed browsing information. This portal also gives you the ability to pause internet access on your child’s FCPS laptop during non-school hours, such as dinner or bedtime.
Visit the Lightspeed Parent Report page for more information and answers to frequently asked questions.
Opens October 21: Complete the Federal Impact Aid Survey
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is asking all families to complete the Federal Impact Aid Survey for the 2025-2026 school year, as your participation is crucial for securing vital funding for our schools. Please complete the electronic survey, available via ParentVUE starting October 21st. Your quick action helps protect the resources available to every Kilmer student!
Math Tutoring Supports
Starting next week, Kilmer students can access free peer math tutoring from student volunteers at Thomas Jefferson High School. This program is open to all students seeking extra support with assignments and concepts. Join us every Monday morning (or Tuesday if there is no school Monday) from 7:00–7:25 AM in Room F122/123. Additionally, look out for another peer tutoring program launching soon, run by Kilmer students during Learning Seminar in the Math Modular.
7th Grade Mental Health Program
This school year, school staff are working to teach students about mental health and how to seek help if they are worried about themselves or a friend. FCPS uses a program called Signs of Suicide (SOS). The SOS program will take place during your child’s US History class on either October 21 or 22. During this time, students will watch age-appropriate video clips and participate in a guided discussion about depression, suicide, and what to do if they are concerned about a friend. Following the video, students will complete a brief depression screening tool. We encourage parents to visit www.sossignsofsuicide.org/parent for information on warning signs for youth suicide, useful resources, and some of the key messages students will learn. You can also view this parent video and the e-Notify sent to parents on September 24th to learn more about the program. To accommodate meetings with students identified for follow-up, the bell schedule on Tuesday, October 21st has been modified. Schedule: 7, 3, 5, 1 (1st period will occur at the end of the day)
Outstanding Employee Awards Program
Nominations are open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Kilmer Middle School Outstanding Employee in one or more of the categories below, please complete the Kilmer Middle School Outstanding Employee Awards Nomination Form. You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category).
All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in one or more of the criteria for that award category. The Google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards. The eligibility requirements are below.
Outstanding Teacher
- Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district). Ex: Teacher or Librarian with 3+ years of experience
Outstanding New Teacher
- Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district). Ex: Teacher or Librarian with less than three years of experience
Outstanding Leader
- Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position and location as a Schedule-C or School-Based Administrator scale employee. This does not include the principal. Ex: Assistant Principal, Director of Student Services
Outstanding Professional Employee
- Eligibility: At least one year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership at their current location. Ex: School Based Technology Specialist (SBTS), Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART), Instructional Coach, Testing Coordinator, Clinicians, Speech Pathologist, After-School Specialist, Resource Teachers, MTSS Coordinator, Assessment Coach or Special Education Department Chair
Outstanding Operational Employee
- Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee at their current location Ex: Administrative Assistants, Office Assistants, Librarians, Finance Tech, Custodial staff, Food Services staff, Instructional Aids, Public Health Attendant, Public Health Training Attendant, Parent Liaison)
The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, November 7, 2025. If you have any questions, please contact Nishi Langhorne, Assistant Principal, nmlanghorne@fcps.edu.
PTA Website
Stay up to date with news and information from the PTA by visiting the PTA website: https://kilmerpta.membershiptoolkit.com/
Executive Board Contact Information
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.
A Message from Our New Family Liaison, Mabel Morales
My name is Mabel Morales, and I’m excited to introduce myself as the new Family Liaison at Kilmer Middle School. My role is to help strengthen communication and connections between families, students, and our school community.
I’m here to support you by:
- Helping families navigate school resources and communication
- Promoting family engagement and participation in school activities
- Providing bilingual support (English/Spanish) for communication
- Partnering with teachers and staff to ensure every family feels welcome and informed
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you ever have questions, need assistance, or would like to get more involved at Kilmer. I look forward to working together to make this a successful and positive school year for every student.
Mabel MoralesFamily Liaison | Kilmer Middle SchoolStudent Services Office📞 School: 703-846-8890 | 📱 Work Cell: 571-424-9646 ✉️ mvmorales@fcps.edu
Estoy aquí para ayudar — en inglés o en español.
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