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Holmes Calendar
- Monday, 5/25 - Memorial Day / NO SCHOOL
- Tuesday, 5/26 - Teacher Workday / NO SCHOOL
- Wednesday, 5/27 - Eid al-Adha / NO SCHOOL
- Tuesday, 6/2, 7-8:30PM - Chorus and Orchestra Spring Concert
- Wednesday, 6/3, 7PM - End-of-Year Theatre Showcase
- Thursday, 6/4, 7-8PM - Band Spring Concert
- Friday, 6/5, 5-7PM - 8th Grade Dance
- Monday, 6/15, 8-9AM - End-of-Year Awards Ceremony
- Wednesday, 6/17 - Last Day of School / 2-Hour Early Release
Dear Holmes Families,
May is an important month for student testing, and we are happy to share that our early test results are showing growth compared to last year. Student achievement is improving, and we are encouraged by the progress we are seeing across our school.
We are so proud of our students for their hard work and effort. We also appreciate the continued support from our families and staff. We are hopeful that this positive progress will continue as more test results come in.
Thank you for your partnership and support in helping our students be successful.
Sincerely,
Serena Giron
Principal
As we approach upcoming state assessments, we wanted to share a few updates and reminders with you all. The following is our testing schedule for SOLs:
- Tuesday, May 19th - Reading (all students will test)
It is important that your student attends school on these days. Please also encourage your student to get a good night’s sleep and to eat a healthy meal before testing days. Students will receive emails from Sloan Waters regarding their testing location for all three tests.
This year if your student doesn’t pass a spring SOL test, they get a second chance to show what they know before school ends. If you haven’t yet given SOL retest permission, please visit the website: https://digitalconsent.fcps.edu/ispb/is01/r/pdcp/. You can also reach out to our testing coordinator, Sloan Waters (slwaters@fcps.edu), or our School Based Technology Specialist, Jess Klein (jbklein@fcps.edu), to give consent.
Thank you for your continued support at home. We look forward to seeing all students succeed on this year’s SOL! If you have any questions or would like additional information, please reach out to our testing coordinator, Sloan Waters.
The school health room is reminding parents and guardians that all medication stored in the health room must be picked up no later than the student dismissal time on the last day of school. Medication left in the health room after that time will be destroyed. It is school policy that medications must be picked up by the parent or guardian. Medication cannot be sent home with your student. However, with parent or guardian permission, a high school student may transport over-the-counter medications to and from the school health room. If your student will be enrolled in a summer program sponsored by Fairfax County Public Schools, the existing medication authorization form(s) may be used for the summer program, but you will need to pick up the medication on the last day of school and deliver the medication and completed forms to the summer learning site on the first day of the summer program. Please let the health room know if you would like a copy of the form(s).
Medication authorization forms for next school year may be obtained from the school or online at https://www.fcps.edu/resources/student-safety-and-wellness/school-health-services. A medication authorization form is required for any medication, prescription or over-the-counter, to be kept at school. Please be sure medication orders are clear. All information on the form must be completed. Part I must be signed and dated by the parent or guardian. Part II must be signed and dated by your health care provider. Approved over-the-counter medications given for headaches, muscle aches, orthodontic pain, or menstrual cramps do not need a health care provider’s signature. Antibiotic or antiviral medications for 10 consecutive school days or less do not require a health care provider’s signature either. For all asthma medications, a Virginia Asthma Action Plan must be provided. More detailed information is available on the back of the medication authorization form(s).
Over-the-counter medication must be in the unopened original container and clearly labeled by the parent or guardian. No more than 100 pills/tablets of OTC medication should be brought to school at a time. All prescription medication, including samples, must be labeled by the pharmacist or health care provider. Please make sure that the label clearly states your student’s name, the name of the medication, the dosage of the medication, and the time to be given.
Your cooperation will ensure that we can safely give your students their medication. If you have any questions, please contact your Licensed Practical Nurse, Lindsay Quigley at 703-658-5910, or your school Public Health Nurse, Nohelia Yanes, at 703-658-5918.
8th Graders attending Annandale High School next year will be going to the Activities, Athletics and Clubs Fair at Annandale High School on Thursday, May 28th during the school day. Students will have the opportunity to learn all about the amazing extracurriculars opportunities offered at Annandale as well as hear from current students on a student panel. Permission slips were due back to SOAR teachers by May 20th.
Thank you for supporting our 8th graders!
Holmes and George Mason University have teamed together to offer a four-year instate tuition scholarship to GMU to an eighth-grade student who has demonstrated the potential to be successful in a four-year college program (a cumulative middle school GPA of 3.5 or higher). You and your child should have received an email last week if your child qualifies. The (online) application packet and teacher recommendations are due by 3pm on Friday, May 22nd, 2026. Please reach out to Ms. Dane (kdane@fcps.edu) if you have any questions.
Conversations with parents and families about substance use
Date & Time:
Thursday, May 28, 2026
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Location:
John R. Lewis High School – Cafeteria
6540 Franconia Road
Springfield, VA 22150
Join us to learn about vaping devices, current trends, and how to talk with your teen.
We are excited to support your student’s transition to high school! For the third year, Edison High School is offering an optional Jump Start program for rising 9th-grade students.
Program Details:
Date: Tuesday, July 28th
Time: 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: Edison High School
During this session, students will:
✔️ Meet staff members, including administrators, counselors, and teachers
✔️ Tour the school building
✔️ Receive tips for high school success
✔️ Learn about our wide range of sports and club opportunities
✔️ Receive lunch and Edison Eagle Pride T-shirt
Please note: Transportation will not be provided.
We look forward to welcoming the Class of 2030!
Save the Date: Registration will open on May 27th and a link will be located on the Edison website for those interested in our Jumpstart program. Please contact Greg Dombrowski: GSDombrowski@fcps.edu or Ellen Hagan: EMHaganBower@fcps.edu for further information.
As we enter the final weeks of the school year, Fairfax County Public Schools appreciates your continued partnership in supporting your child’s success. Regular attendance plays an important role in helping students stay engaged in learning, maintain connections with their teachers and peers, and finish the school year strong.
Attending school consistently also helps students build valuable habits such as responsibility, perseverance, and daily routines that support success both in and out of the classroom.
If your child needs to miss school, please remember to report the absence. Full-day absences can be reported in ParentVUE. Families may also report absences by calling the school attendance line or emailing the school-designated attendance address.
If your child is experiencing challenges that are affecting attendance, we are here to help. Please contact your child’s school so staff can partner with you to provide support and resources. Learn more about attendance resources.
On Friday, May 8, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid provided an update on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Budget. FCPS receives the majority of its funding from the Fairfax County Government and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
The Fairfax County Government recently adopted its FY 2027 Budget, and at the funding levels provided, there is currently a $28 million budget gap. In addition, the state budget has not been finalized. At last Thursday's School Board meeting, the superintendent proposed adjustments that would balance the FCPS budget.
Read Dr. Reid’s message to the community for more information on the budget process and budget priorities.
Join Fairfax County Public Schools for a free, family-friendly community celebration filled with hands-on STEM, arts, and creative experiences for students of all ages. This year’s Summer Extravaganza takes place on Saturday, June 6, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Woodson High School.
Explore summer learning resources and connect with FCPS offices and community partners. Don’t miss the Student Market and a full day of engaging activities designed to spark learning, growth, and inspiration for the whole family.
For more information, visit the Summer Extravaganza webpage.
On Thursday, May 7, the Fairfax County School Board approved changes to the FCPS Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R). The approved changes include updated guidance for cellphone possession and use, to align the FCPS cellphone policy with Senate Bill 108. This new Virginia law goes into effect on July 1 and states that all schools in the Commonwealth must follow a “bell-to-bell” phone-free policy.
This means that starting July 1, 2026, across all grade levels at FCPS, student cellphones, phone accessories, and all smart devices (including watches that serve a dual purpose, such as smart watches, as well as earbuds, headsets, smart glasses, and other other items connected to the internet) must be off and personally stored (i.e., put away in backpacks) for the duration of the school day — thus, no cellphones from bell to bell.
High school students will no longer be able to use cellphones and personal devices during lunchtime. More details are available on the FCPS Cellphone Policy webpage.
Other SR&R Changes for the 2026-27 School Year
Visit the FCPS website or the School Board agenda to learn about additional updates, including:
- Added guidance and procedures for in-school and out-of-school suspensions and discipline investigations, including supports for students with disabilities and multilingual learners.
- Expanded guidance and standardized disciplinary procedures (“Universal Grade Matrices”) related to harassment, hate speech, discriminatory behavior, and Title IX reporting requirements.
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