A message from Principal Steven McFarlane
Kilmer Community,
We are off to a strong start as we begin our 2nd Quarter of the school year. Please be on the lookout for 1st Quarter report cards on Monday, November 10th in ParentVue. Paper copies will be sent home with students on Friday, November 17th.
This week, students had lessons through PE to learn more about the Open Gate Weapons Detection System. We’ll have more informational videos next week for students as we prepare for full implementation in the coming weeks.
As a reminder, FCPS schools are closed on Tuesday, November 11th, in observance of Veterans Day. Our Kilmer community extends a heartfelt thank you to all who serve. Happy Veterans Day!
The PTA has supported Kilmer’s Food Pantry for many years, and all supplies go directly back into the Kilmer community. We are grateful for the continued support. If possible, please consider replenishing our Food Pantry by purchasing items from our Amazon wishlist.
Finally, today is the final day to nominate a Kilmer staff member for FCPS Most Outstanding Employee Awards. You can submit nominations here: Kilmer Middle School Outstanding Employee Awards Nomination Form.
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!
WIll C. - Will, I really appreciated two things: First, how you presented your One-Pager with gusto, and second, how you were intently listening to the other groups who were presenting!
Maite G. - Maite, thanks for being the nicest line boss in any factory ever. Your positive reinforcement and encouraging leadership helped your assembly line cruise to victory!
Henry M. - Henry volunteered to clean up trash left by other students in the cafeteria in the morning and was very helpful! Thank you so much!
Alessandra T. - Ale had a positive attitude, was listening, and actively participated in the library lesson. Great job!
 Upcoming Dates
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November 17 - School Pictures - Makeup Picture Day in the GIR
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November 26-28 - Thanksgiving Break
Jessica Smith’s ELA classes used the “Stand Up, Hand Up, Pair Up” Kagan strategy to actively discuss and identify the author’s purpose in a variety of texts.
School Planning Days at Kilmer = conversation and collaboration as we continue to hone our craft.
Look out for Kindness Rocks around the building! Thank you to Ms. Goldsmith’s 5th period Yoga class for spreading kindness and joy around Kilmer 🙂
End of 1st Quarter & Report Card Information
Friday, October 31st marks the end of the 1st quarter. The Gradebook tab in SIS StudentVUE and ParentVUE will be unavailable from Friday, October 31, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. until Monday, November 10, 2025, at 6:00 a.m. to allow teachers time to finalize 1st quarter grades.
Report cards will be posted to SIS StudentVUE and ParentVUE on Monday, November 10th and mailed directly to families without ParentVUE accounts. A copy of your child’s report card will be sent home the week of November 17. Honor Roll certificates will also be included for students who earned all As or all As and Bs.
Makeup Picture Day - November 17
Students who were absent on picture day or would like to retake their picture will have an opportunity on Monday, November 17 in the GIR. Students who missed picture day will receive a pass to remind them to take their picture. Students who would like to retake will have the option to take their photo during their lunch block. Please note these retake guidelines:
- Students who are retaking their photo will not receive a new ID card.
- The new portrait will replace their original yearbook portrait and then be available for purchase.
- Students who previously purchased a photo package and would like to retake their photo MUST return their original photo package to the photographer in order to receive a new package.
Support Kilmer’s Food Pantry
We are grateful for the continued support of the Kilmer family supporting our Food Pantry—Thank you! Also, a thank you to Wegmans for their donation to help stock our shelves.
Our Amazon wishlist is here and any donations are greatly appreciated. Like many other food banks in our area and across the country, we are bracing for an increase in need with SNAP and other food aid no longer being distributed beginning Nov. 1st.
Also, if you need assistance, please reach out to our new parent liaison, Mable Morales at mvmorales@fcps.edu or 703-846-8890.
Complete your Federal Impact Aid Survey in SIS ParentVUE
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets, which is in the upper right corner of the screen after logging in. Please complete it as soon as possible. We will provide paper forms to families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE on Thursday, November 20.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. This year, FCPS expects to receive approximately $4 million in Impact Aid funding. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers. For more information, visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.
Applications Open October 20 for TJHSST
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 2030 at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST).
The application will be available on the TJHSST Admissions Office webpage starting Monday, October 20, at 4 p.m. Applications must be started by 4 p.m. Wednesday, November 12, with a deadline to submit the application by Friday, November 14, at 4 p.m. Visit the TJHSST registration page for more information.
Open Gate Weapons Detection System @ Kilmer
As part of the ongoing commitment to strengthening layered safety and security programs, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) will continue to phase in a weapons detection system at all secondary schools this fall. At Kilmer specifically, we’re scheduled to start next month. Before that happens, we’ll be introducing the system to students slowly over the next few weeks by showing videos, having the towers out during lunches for students to see them, and having students practice going through the towers (they will be off) before we “go live.”
Please watch this video of the Superintendent’s conversation with students about the weapons screening system. The most important thing is to be sure that students have the right items removed from their bag before getting in line.
Items to be removed include:
- Three-ring binders
- Laptops
- Collapsible umbrellas
- Metal lunch boxes
- Metal pencil cases
- Metal glass cases
These items can remain in a student’s bags:
- Non-metal lunch boxes
- Books
- Planners
- Spiral notebooks and folders
- Cell phones
- Keys
- Non-metal pencil cases
Once the items are removed, students should walk to the shortest line and proceed. If the light turns red, they will be directed to a secondary screening to determine what may have alerted the system. Experience shows that the process becomes easier and more efficient every day. You can learn more about the system by watching this video and reading the Frequently Asked Questions on FCPS’ website. If you have additional questions, you can submit them online to the FCPS Chief of Safety and Security Office.
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.
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.
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.
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