A Mssage from Principal Steven McFarlane
Kilmer Community,
It’s hard to believe that we are halfway through the first quarter of the school year. Now is a great time to review SIS/Schoology with your student to check on their progress if you haven’t already. If you have any questions about how your child is doing, please feel free to reach out to your student’s teacher.
As a reminder, if your child plans to attend any Marshall High School sporting events, specifically the upcoming Marshall/Madison football game, middle-school students must be accompanied by a responsible adult who remains with the student(s) for the entire game.
Be sure to mark your calendars for the PTA Fall Festival on Thursday, October 8th from 2:30-4:30 PM. More information about this annual event can be found below.
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!
Mario R. - Mario, thank you for showing up to class every day ready and enthusiastic to learn. Your consistent participation and willingness to speak in front of your peers makes 5th period a great class!
Reily G. - Thank you for sweeping outside during lunch without being asked, and cleaning up after those who sat at your lunch table.
Adelaide D. - Adelaide, thank you for hitting the ground running in English this year. You've consistently worked hard both in class and making up work when you are out. Keep up the great work!
Jac J. - Jac, thank you for consistently coming to class prepared to learn, and your willingness to answer questions, elaborate when asked, and share your thoughts help make 5th period a great class.
  Upcoming Dates:
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October 1-2 - School Picture Day through HPE Classes
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October 2 - Final day to register for World Language Credit By Exam (WLCBE). More details can be found below.
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October 5-9 - 7th grade MWEE Science field trip
- Monday, October 5: Ms. Blake’s students and Ms. Zemaitis’ 1st and 3rd periods
- Tuesday, October 6: Dr. Gillen’s students
- Thursday, October 8: Ms. Lewis and Ms. Moyo’s students
- Friday, October 9: Ms. Mattix’s students and Ms. Zemaitis’ 6th and 7th periods
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October 7 - Thomas Jefferson High School Student/Parent Information Night
- The TJHSST Information night is scheduled for Wednesday, October 7, from 5:00 - 6:00 PM in the Kilmer Cafeteria. All current 8th grade students interested in applying for the Freshman round of the Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology may join us for a one hour presentation given by a TJHSST representative in the Kilmer Cafeteria. The majority of the hour will be dedicated to a question and answer session, so we recommend that you review admissions information on the website prior to the session. If you have any questions about this event, please contact your student’s counselor.
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October 8 - PTA Fall Festival is from 2:30-4:30 pm (more info below)
The Kilmer Cross Country team is busy preparing for their first meet in early October. Coming soon: a photo of Coach Boddie racing the entire team 😊
A shoutout to Marshall Debate Team members, who have been mentoring and coaching Kilmer students after school. Our Cougars are learning key debate skills that will help them compete this year!
Student Pickup:
- A few reminders from Kilmer’s main office about procedures for picking up students early or checking them in late:
- A driver’s license or similar photo ID is required to check out a student during the day. Only parents, legal guardians, and people on the student’s emergency contact list may check out a student. If someone else is picking up your student, please send an email from your email address we have on file to KilmerMiddle.Attendance@fcps.edu that includes the full name of the person, the full name of your student, the reason for check-out, and the date of the early dismissal.
- When you arrive at the school, please ring the front entrance doorbell and let the front office know that you are checking your student in for late arrival or picking your student up for early dismissal. After entering the building, please sign your child out using the computer in the office.
- Students are not to contact their parents via cell phone or text messaging during school hours. If students need to contact you during the school day, they may use the phone in the main office.
School Picture Day is Coming!
📅 Date: Thursday October 1st & Friday October 2nd during your child’s HPE class
📸 Pictures Available: Approximately two weeks after photo day
🛒 Pre-order Online: https://shop.imagequix.com/g1001416964
📧 Questions about Ordering? Email us at underclass@vosphoto.com
Kilmer Fall Festival
Students are welcome to stay after school on Thursday, October 8th for the Fall Festival from 2:15-4:30 pm. Late Buses are available, and it is free and open to all Kilmer students. There will be inflatables, games, and a photo booth. There will also be food and concessions available for purchase.
Marshall Mayhem
 The Marshall High School Leadership class is hosting Marshall Mayhem on Friday, September 25, 2026 from 5-6:30 PM. Kilmer students and families are invited to attend! The event will occur at Marshall High School’s kiss and ride in the upper back lot by Door 4 prior to the Marshall-Madison football game.
We will have many fun activities, including:
- Live music
- Marshall club displays
- Face paint
- Games
- Activities
- And more!
Students/families should bring cash for food and an entrance fee of $5 per person.
PTA Website
Stay up to date with news and information from the PTA by visiting the PTA website: https://kilmerpta.membershiptoolkit.com/
PTA Executive Board Contact Information
AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Complete the required Afterschool Registration to register for Middle School After School and Sports Programs. A complete schedule and club descriptions are available via Schoology. Parents > select view as student in top right corner when in Schoology.
The After School Program is structured into two session blocks, 2:30 – 3:30 PM and 3:30 – 4:30 PM, following the 2:15-2:30 PM after school transition/break in the cafeteria. Intramural Sports available Monday-Thursday.
Late Bus Transportation is only available after the second session block at approx. 4:45 PM (Afterschool Dismissal) on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
Upcoming Dates (see Schoology for full/updated listings)
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Monday, Sept.28th
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Technology Student Association (TSA) Chapter 2:30-4:30 PM
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https://tinyurl.com/KilmerTSA2025
- Mondays/Wednesday weekly meetings
- Chapter Membership $80 + Competition Fees
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Monday, Sept.28th
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TBD
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Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Interest Meeting 2:30-3:30 PM
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Thursday, Oct. 1st
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Friday, Oct. 2nd
Middle School Athletics
As a part of the FCPS Middle School Athletics Program Kilmer will host Fall Cross Country (XC), Winter Volleyball and Spring Track & Field.
Steps to participate (including practice):
ALL forms for athletic competitions must now be submitted through FinalForms online registration portal (please do not email or submit paper copies). Families received verification links via the email address tied to ParentVUE Account from FinalForms.
Parents > Search email for “FinalForms” (it may have been routed to spam/junk).
XC PRACTICE & MEET DETAILS
Practices Begin 9/14
- 2:30-3:30 PM on Monday/Wednesday/Thursday
- Must participate in 4 practices for Meet Eligibility
- NO Tryouts - NO Experience Needed
Saturday Meet Schedule:
- 10/03 Carson MS - 7:30 AM
- 10/10 Twain MS - 10 AM
- 10/17 Stone MS - 7:30 AM
- 10/24 Poe MS - 10 AM
- 11/07 Liberty MS (Championship)
QUESTIONS? Ask the After-School Program Specialist, Ms. Kardelis (F107). Please visit Kilmer’s website at https://kilmerms.fcps.edu/afterschool_newsletter to find the weekly After School newsletter.
Updated Administrative Caseloads
Kilmer continues to feel the impact of the boundary change that went into effect this school year.
Currently, Kilmer’s enrollment is under 1,000 students (more than 200 fewer students than last year). FCPS continues to “rebalance” the workforce to ensure schools are staffed appropriately according to their current enrollment. As a result, Assistant Principal Nishi Langhorne is being moved to another school, and Friday, 9/18 is her last day at Kilmer.
We’ve updated our caseloads, effective Tuesday, 9/22.
 I’m grateful for the impact Ms. Langhorne has made during her time at Kilmer. If you’ve had the pleasure of working directly with Ms. Langhorne, you know the joy she brings to the people around her and the talent and expertise she brings to her work. Please join me in wishing Ms. Langhorne the best in her new endeavors.
Important Message from the Town of Vienna
Town of Vienna Parks and Recreation needs our help keeping community spaces safe and clean! Please note that e-bikes and e-scooters are strictly prohibited on all athletic fields, including Waters Field. Additionally, Waters Field is NOT permitted as an after-school hangout spot for students.
Recent misuse has led to safety hazards, litter, and turf damage, prompting local officials and police to increase preventive measures and lock field gates. We ask parents to discuss these rules with their students to help preserve these spaces for scheduled athletic use. Thank you for your support in keeping our community grounds safe!
AAP Screening for Full-Time Services
The fall Full-Time AAP Referral Window for Students New to FCPS Closes on October 15. The fall referral window is only for students in Grades 3-8 who are new to FCPS as of January 1, 2026. Parents and guardians who would like their Kilmer student to be considered for Full-Time Advanced Academic Program (AAP) services must submit the Full-Time AAP Referral Form to Corey Thornblad, Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, at ctthornblad@fcps.edu by October 15, 2026. Late referrals will not be accepted. Referral forms are on the Advanced Academic Programs website.
For students who are not new to FCPS and have been enrolled, the spring Full-Time AAP identification window is open to students in Grades 2-7. Families interested in referring their student for consideration during the spring window must submit a referral by December 15, 2026. Once a referral is received, our school will compile information related to the student. Then, a committee of trained professionals from across the county will review materials to determine eligibility for Full-Time AAP services.
Superintendent Community Conversations
Join us for a series of Community Conversations that will be held across the school division. Share your thoughts with Dr. Reid and ask her questions. Click on the date to register for any of the following events:
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Monday, September 28, at 6:30 p.m., at Riverside Elementary School
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Monday, October 19, at 6:30 p.m., at Spring Hill Elementary School
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Monday, October 26, at 6:30 p.m., at Beech Tree Elementary School
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Thursday, October 29, at 6:30 p.m., at North Springfield Elementary School
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Friday, November 13, at 6:30 p.m., at Powell Elementary School
Registration is not required, but it helps with planning.
World Language Exam
Students in grades 7-12 can take the World Languages Credit By Exam (WLCBE). The WLCBE assesses language proficiency in languages other than English and recognizes the strengths that our students bring as effective communicators in multiple languages. This assessment may be used to award world language credits towards graduation, determine course placement for language courses offered in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS), and fulfill the world languages requirements for the Virginia Seal of Biliteracy.
A student may participate in the exam a total of two times per language, with no more than one attempt each year. In other words, students have two chances per language to earn credits by taking the exam between grades 7 and 12. Students who wish to take the exam should be able to understand and communicate proficiently in the testing language and will be asked to listen, read, speak, and either write/type or, for American Sign Language, sign/interpret
For more information on how to prepare for the exam and scoring criteria, you may visit our website: https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high/world-languages/credit-exam-world-languages.
If you would like your student to participate in the next available WLCBE on Tuesday, November 10th, please complete the World Language Exam Registration Form and submit it by the registration deadline, Friday, October 2nd. NO LATE REGISTRATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. You will receive a confirmation email from your student’s counselor with additional information regarding preparing for the exam.
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