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Holmes Calendar
- Monday, 1/19 - Martin Luther King, Jr's Birthday / NO SCHOOL
- Wednesday, 1/21, 6PM - Rising 6th Grade/ New Student Curriculum Night
- Friday, 1/23, 5-8PM - 2nd Annual Title I Rec Night
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Tuesday, 1/27, 6:30-7:30PM - PTA Meeting
- 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 HMS Families,
As a reminder, schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 19, for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday. See the complete school year calendar.
Holmes recently held its annual Spelling Bee, and we are proud to celebrate our outstanding spellers for their hard work and dedication. After an impressive competition, two students emerged as school champions, demonstrating exceptional focus, preparation, and sportsmanship. Congratulations, Sean Banh and Bryson Stampe. We were honored to have Dr. Anderson, our Mason District School Board representative, join us in celebrating our students. We commend all participants for their courage and commitment, and we look forward to cheering on our representative as they advance to the Regional Spelling Bee on March 22nd!
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 Thank you,
Serena Giron
Principal
Students are meeting with their counselors to discuss course selection for the next school year.
We will host our Rising 6th grade/ New Student Curriculum Night on Wednesday, January 21st, 2026 starting at 6 pm.
Rising 9th grade students who will be attending Annandale High School should plan to attend the Rising 9th Grade Night next Wednesday, January 14th, 2026. More information about academic advising for Annandale High School can be found at the following website https://annandalehs.fcps.edu/
Information about academic advising for Edison High School can be found at the following website https://edisonhs.fcps.edu/.
Families can learn more about course offerings and programs at these events. School-life balance is an important consideration for students as they strive for academic and personal success. You may contact your student’s school counselor with questions.
6th grade students- Kelly Murphy (kwmurphy@fcps.edu)
7th grade students- Karrah Dane (kdane@fcps.edu)
8th grade students- Erika Davis (emdavis@fcps.edu)
ESOL Students Levels 1-3- Mariam Amarir (mamarir@fcps.edu)
Graduation Requirements and Planning
Planning which courses to take next year — and in future years — must be given considerable thought. Students and families should review the Graduation Requirements and Course Planning webpage to make informed decisions while planning for success in high school and beyond.
The curriculum webpage may also be helpful. Refer to our https://holmesms.fcps.edu/.
We are thrilled to invite you to our 2nd Annual Title I Rec Night! This event is close to my heart, inspired by the "Rec Nights" I attended as a kid in the late '80s. Those nights weren't just about basketball or board games; they were about having a safe space where every child felt they belonged. We want that same sense of community for our HMS students today.
What to expect:
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For Students: Open gym (basketball/volleyball), ping-pong, and teamwork challenges (TBD).
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For Parents: Quick "Learning Stations" to help you navigate Schoology, SIS, and ways to support your child's growth.
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For Everyone: A free family dinner (Halal options available) and free books for every student to take home! Sponsored by Title I!
Last year, nearly 150 community members joined us. Let’s make this year even bigger!
Friday, January 23, 2026, from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
WHAT: The Early Identification Program (EIP) is a multiyear (5 year) college preparatory program for students who will be the first in their family to attend a four-year college in the United States. EIP is a collaborative effort between Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) and George Mason University (GMU). The EIP is one of four programs that comprise the College Success Programs in FCPS. EIP goes from 8th grade through 12th grade. Please check out the EIP website at https://eip.gmu.edu/ for more information about the program!
HOW: Nominated students apply to the program at the end of the 7th grade and enter the program in the 8th grade.
Student Participation:
To remain in good standing, EIP students must:
- Maintain a 2.8 GPA
- Attend specified activities/events on Saturdays at GMU Fairfax or Manassas campus
- Attend weekly mentoring / tutoring sessions at Holmes
- Attend the three-week Summer Academy at GMU Fairfax campus every July
- Participate in the Strengthening the Family Workshop
DEADLINE: February 10th, 2026
INTERESTED / QUESTIONS? Please complete the EIP Information Google Form by the deadline if you are interested: https://forms.gle/xfZ1jW2icdUDH5Zj9
Contact Ms. Amarir, School Counselor and EIP Sponsor at 703-658-5942 or via email at mamarir@fcps.edu with any questions.
Mason District Health Fair scheduled for Saturday, February 7th, from 10am-12pm at the James Lee Community Center. A variety of community groups, organizations, and county departments will be providing valuable health-related information, services, and resources for our community.
Services will include, but are not limited to:
- Vaccine appointment registration and information
- Medicaid enrollment assistance
- Hearing and vision screenings
- Substance abuse prevention training and resources
- Child development screenings and information
- Breast cancer awareness information
- HIV screening and prevention information
- Information on the importance of healthy eating
- And more!
The Fair is for all ages and is free entry for all.
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 February, our program will be offering some new clubs and activities for our students including the following;
- RC Cars Club
- Comic Book Club
- Capital One “Launch” (previously Capital One Coders)
- Book Club
- Cooking Club
- Math Tutors
- Engineering Maker Spacer
***Students or families may reach out to Mr. Kruk directly if interested in participating in either of these new clubs for 2nd semester.
ASP Upcoming Schedule 1/19-1/23
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=
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will provide school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students with no out-of-pocket costs. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. Additional dates will be available throughout the school year.
Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary. View immunization resources on the FCPS website.
FCPS high school academies are holding open houses for interested students. Open houses are a great opportunity to visit classrooms and labs, and meet instructors and academy counselors.
An academy is a center within a high school that offers advanced technical and specialized courses to prepare students for postsecondary education and/or career fields. Academy elective courses provide students with various career experiences, including shadowing, mentoring, or internships with local businesses.
Students can explore more than a dozen career fields through FCPS academies! Watch this video to learn more about academy programs.
View the calendar of Academy Open Houses.
Help your student succeed in school by encouraging them to miss as few days as possible. However, do make sure your student stays home if they are sick. Visit the FCPS website for helpful insights regarding absences and how to work with your child and our school to minimize impacts on learning.
If your child has a chronic illness, make sure to let us know so we can provide assistance, if needed.
FCPS’s Office of Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) works to ensure every student has access to school meals that are safe, nutritious, and meet their individual dietary needs.
FNS works closely with families to provide reasonable meal accommodations for students whose medical needs affect what they can eat at school. To support students appropriately and safely, families are asked to submit medical documentation to FNS from a U.S. licensed health care provider so we can tailor meals to each child’s needs.
Learn more about the documentation required and the steps to develop a menu for your child.
Schoology is the learning management system used in FCPS. Parents and students can use Schoology to view assignments and messages from teachers. Learn more about how to access and navigate Schoology.
Visit the Schoology Snippets YouTube playlist to watch short tutorials that walk you through how to use Schoology.
Need help logging in or accessing Tech Support? Visit the Schoology for Parents page.
Sleep is essential to good health, and getting enough sleep has big benefits to your physical and mental health and well-being. Sleep is restorative, allowing your body time to recover and repair.
This is true for your child, too. In fact, adequate sleep in children supports healthy brain development, learning, and memory consolidation, as well as their mood. And it is important for a strong immune system and the prevention of infections. Read about how much sleep a person needs and get some sleep strategies you can use with your family.
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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