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Holmes Calendar
- Monday, 1/19 - Martin Luther King, Jr's Birthday / NO SCHOOL
- Wednesday, 1/28 - 2nd Quarter Ends / 2-Hour Early Release
- Thursday, 1/29 - Staff Development Day / NO SCHOOL
- Friday, 1/30 - Teacher Work Day / NO SCHOOL
- Monday, 2/16 - George Washington's Birthday / NO SCHOOL
- Tuesday, 2/17 - Teacher Work Day / NO SCHOOL
Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),
Welcome back, Holmes community! We hope everyone had a restful and enjoyable break. We are excited to welcome our students back and begin the new year together.
As a reminder, tomorrow, January 5, is a Blue Day. Please be sure students review their schedules and come prepared for their Blue Day classes.
We look forward to a strong start and a great return to learning. Thank you for your continued partnership and support.
Thank you,
Serena Giron
Principal
Dear Rising 9th Grade Parents,
We are excited to welcome you to Annandale High School’s Rising 9th Grade Open House on Wednesday, January 14 from 6:00-8:00pm! We will offer short (optional) sessions on our various Annandale programs, and teachers will be in their classrooms throughout the evening to share all about our core and elective courses for 9th Graders. The goal is for students and parents to leave this event excited about all the opportunities you will have as an Annandale Atom and prepared to complete your course request form when your student meets with their middle school counselor.
Breakout Sessions on the following topics will be offered throughout the evening: Welcome to Annandale, Course Request 101; IB/MYP Program; Activities and Athletics; English for Speakers of Other Languages Program; Special Education Office, and Student Life.
The transition from middle to high school can be difficult and stressful for some students. However, Annandale High School takes tremendous pride in ensuring the transition is as smooth as possible. If you have specific questions that you would like to be addressed during this event, please submit your questions via this Google Form by Monday, January 6. Thank you in advance for your input and assisting us in making this event a success!
Shawn DeRose, Principal
Annandale High School Class of 2026 presents
The Second Annual BLIZZARD BREAKFAST
January 17
9:00–11:30 AM
Location:
Annandale High School Cafeteria
4700 Medford Dr. | Door #7
Activities:
Pancake Breakfast
Crafts | Storytime | Photos | Music
Special Guest: Olaf from Frozen
Admission: $5
Questions?
eemahoney1@fcps.edu
cacole@fcps.edu
All Day Absence:
- Use ParentVUE.Log in and click “Report Absence.” Don’t Have a SIS ParentVUE Account Yet? Contact your school for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage.
OR
- Call the attendance line on 703-658-5919 and leave a message with spelling of your student's first and last names, your name and relationship to the student, and reason for absence.
OR
- Send an email to holmesmiddle.attendance@fcps.edu with your student's first and last names, your name and relationship to the student, and reason for absence.
Partial Absence:
To report late arrivals, early dismissals, or to update already submitted attendance
- Call the attendance line on 703-658-5919 and leave a message with spelling of your student's first and last names, and reason for late arrival or early dismissal.
OR
- Send an email to holmesmiddle.attendance@fcps.edu with your student's first and last names, your name and relationship to the student, and reason for late arrival or early dismissal.
Please be mindful when requesting for your child to ride the bus with another student. For safety and verification purposes, the school requires written permission from both students’ parents before such arrangements can be approved. Permission emails should be sent to HolmesMiddle.Attendance@fcps.edu first thing in the morning on the day of the request.
Handwritten notes that are dated and signed by both students' parents will also be accepted.
Please note that students will not be issued bus passes without the required written permissions from both students' parents.
If you need to pick up your student early, please do so before 1:30 p.m. to avoid interrupting the safe dismissal process. Please note that doctor’s appointments are not considered emergencies.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in helping us ensure a smooth and safe dismissal for all students.
This schedule is effective as of 11/5/25
NEW opportunities coming to our After-School Program 2nd Semester
Starting in January, our program will be offering some new clubs and activities for our students including the following;
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Cooking Club – students will learn how to use basic ingredients to create some amazing and delicious dishes.
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Engineering Maker Spacer – students who enjoy open-ended engineering will have the opportunity to create fun projects using 3d printers and more.
Students may reach out to Mr. Kruk if interested in participating in either of these new clubs for 2nd semester.
ASP Upcoming Schedule 1/5-1/9
Want to learn more about the After-School Program and the activities & clubs that we offer?
Daily Student Sign-ups
- Students will sign-up in the cafeteria with Mr. Kruk on the day(s) in which they plan to stay after-school for any reason (activities, clubs, tutoring, auditions, sports, etc). Please be sure to communicate with your student ahead of time, as we do not provide families with notifications when your student completes the sign-up form and stays after school.
Transportation & Parent/Guardian Pickup.
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Bus Transportation (4:45 ONLY) - Students who regularly take a bus to and from school will be provided with an after-school late bus that will depart Holmes between 4:45-5:00pm. We ask for your patience the first few days of the program as the buses get comfortable with their routes and you may notice that your student is home a little later than anticipated. If you have any questions or concerns regarding transportation, feel free to reach out to the Transportation Office; 703-446-2000.
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Kiss & Ride - Students may be picked up anytime during the program. We prioritize SAFETY during our program thus, parent/guardian must come inside the building and sign out their student if being picked up before 4:45. Students must be picked up from the main office no later than 5:00pm. Students who are picked up after 5:00pm on more than one occasion are subject to losing their After-School Program privileges.
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Walkers . If you would like to have your student walk or bike home from the After-School Program, we require a one-time communication (email) stating that you give permission for your student to walk/bike home from the program this year.
Questions/Concerns?
Join the Holmes MS PTA and attend meetings (4th Wednesday of the month; translation services provided)
PTA Facebook
Join the PTA https://www.holmesmspta.com/
Purchase spirit wear https://www.spiritshop.com/school/virginia/alexandria/holmes-middle-school?mibextid=Zxz2cZ&utm_content=&utm_medium=email&utm_name=&utm_source=govdelivery&utm_term=
Food insecurity impacts more than 96,000 Fairfax County residents. Learn how to help and discover the many resources available to support those who need food assistance or shelter. View the county’s Human Services Resource Guide.
Beginning in January 2026, students will meet with their counselors to discuss course selection for next year. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to actively participate in this important process.
As students choose courses, it is important to remind them to consider the following:
- Current academic strengths and habits.
- Graduation requirements (high school students.
- Interests and career and postsecondary goals.
- Personal well-being.
- Extracurricular activities and other commitments that may impact students’ time and energy.
School-life balance is an important consideration as students strive for academic and personal success. Families are welcome to contact their student’s school counselor with questions.
🎓 Graduation Requirements and Planning
FCPS’ Graduation Requirements and Course Planning page provides information that students and families can preview to make informed decisions while planning for success in high school and beyond. To further help families in tracking these requirements, new this year, families can log into ParentVUE to monitor their student's progress toward graduation.
Reviewing the Program of Studies may also be helpful.
Preparing for Tough Conversations With Teens
Are you planning on spending more time with your teen over winter break? Or are they planning to spend time away from you with friends? Now may be a good time to talk to them about fentanyl and overdose.
Discussing tough topics like fentanyl and other drugs can feel challenging, no matter how close you are with your child. Explain to your teen that it’s important to learn about fentanyl so they know what to do if a friend overdoses. Prepare in advance with the tips below:
- Set the stage. Choose a casual environment that’s free from distractions. Talk while driving the car, taking a walk, or doing chores together.
- Make it a two-way discussion. Ask open-ended questions.
- Stay patient, and reserve judgment.
- Check in with your child early and often.
Learn how to start an unskippable conversation, and find resources to share with your teen on how to spot an overdose and how to respond.
Stay connected with Holmes Middle School by following us on social media! It's the best way to keep up with our latest news, celebrate student achievements, and be part of our vibrant community. Whether you're a student, parent, or community member, you'll find exciting updates, important announcements, and inspiring stories that showcase the spirit of Holmes!
Links: Instagram
Please stay in touch with us throughout the year by:
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