Kilmer MS Newsletter - November 8, 2024

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Kilmer Community,

We had a fun and festive end to the 1st quarter last week with Spirit Week, culminating in creative costumes for Halloween. We also were able to celebrate our October Students of the Month. Students of the Month are recognized for their positive contributions to the Kilmer community connected to FCPS’s Portrait of a Graduate (see picture below). As we wrap up the 1st quarter, and begin the 2nd quarter, be on the look out for report cards and Honor Roll certificates which will be sent home next week on 11/14. 

A final reminder to nominate Kilmer staff 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.

Lastly, today is the LAST DAY to Buy Kilmer Skate Night Tickets (this is a PTA event)! Buy Tickets HERE

  • When: Saturday, November 9th, from 6:00pm - 8:00pm
  • Where: Skate Quest Reston: 1800 Michael Faraday Ct, Reston, VA 20190
  • Who: Open to all Kilmer Middle School Students, Siblings and Family Members, and Kilmer Staff
  • How Much: Tickets purchased online before 11/8 at 9pm are $10 each. Tickets purchased at the event are $14 if purchased using cash and $16 if purchased via credit card.

Have a wonderful weekend and as always, reach out with any questions or concerns. 

Sincerely, 

Steven McFarlane

Principal

Positive Referrals

Here are just a few of the Positive Referrals received by our Kilmer Cougars from staff members this week!

Jada N. - It is such a pleasure to have Jada in my class! She always arrives with a smile and has a positive attitude during class. Jada is great at completing her work, and puts her best effort into whatever she is doing. Jada helps her group members stay on task. If someone is confused, Jada is always willing to lend a helping hand. Thanks for being amazing!

Matthew R. - Matthew actively participated in the Veteran's Day advisory lesson - sharing his thoughts and leading the poetry discussion.  He was a true leader during this class. 

Jacob D. - Thanks for stepping up to answer questions, clean the board, and help out when needed. I appreciate your calm attentiveness. 

Salma J. - Salma helped pick up lots of cones at the end of class without being asked.

Kilmer at a Glance

Upcoming Dates:

Picture(s) of the Week

Last week our October Student of the Month award recipients enjoyed snacks, games, and a movie to celebrate their achievement during their Learning Seminar period. Congratulations to Katelyn Acuna, John Ahn, Sabine Al Khatib, Natalie Axelrod, Brynn Edwards, Maddox Fraatz, Christopher Gudiel Esquivel, Akim Mulhovo, Isabella Munoz - Gui, Chia Okpokwasili, Hong-Duc Pho, Wilson Snavely, Baptiste Vergne, Kellen Votega, Shirley Wood, and Daniel Yoo!

Important Information

Impact Aid Survey Opens Monday, October 21

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is eligible for federal Impact Aid grants due to the federal presence in our area. The grants from these programs will become part of FCPS' general operating budget. They are critical to ensuring that students receive an excellent education. FCPS anticipates receiving approximately $3,000,000 in Impact Aid funds.

FCPS uses the survey for Federal Impact Aid to identify federally connected students. On Monday, October 21, the survey will be available to FCPS families online through ParentVue, in the “Online Packets” section. Click here for directions on how to access the survey. Families without ParentVUE can request a paper copy of the survey from their child's school. FCPS staff will process the information with the utmost confidentiality.

2nd Quarter Learning Seminar Changes

Throughout the school year, students learning seminar teacher may change for the following reasons: the student is participating in a club like yearbook, a student is receiving an intervention to support increase progress in math or reading, or their current teacher is implementing an intervention or sponsoring a club and a student needs to move out of that teacher’s class. Any student with a change to their Learning Seminar will remain with one of their teachers. Students with a change to 8th or 9th period began their new schedule today.

FCPS World Languages Credit by Exam (WLCBE) 

The exam will be held on Tuesday, November 12th at 7:30AM on the Avant Platform. Please make sure your child is on time to school that day so we can begin testing promptly. Students will need to bring a fully charged FCPS Chromebook. Before the test, please do the following on the FCPS Landing Page on the Avant Website

  1. Review the resources related to preparing for the assessment 
  2. Take a Sample Test in your language
  3. Review the STAMP FAQs about the assessment
  4. Review the resources related to Assessment Results

Please contact your student’s counselor for any additional questions.

TJHSST Applications

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 2029 at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST). 

The application is now available on the TJHSST Admissions Office webpage. Applications must be started by 4 p.m. Wednesday, November 13, with a deadline to submit the application by Friday, November 15, at 4 p.m. Visit the TJHSST registration page for more information.

Mental Health Screening - 7th Grade Students only

This school year, school staff are working to teach students about mental health and how to seek help if they are worried about themselves or a friend. FCPS uses a program called Signs of Suicide (SOS). The SOS program will take place during your child’s US History class on either November 19 or 20. During this time, students will watch age-appropriate video clips and participate in a guided discussion about depression, suicide, and what to do if they are concerned about a friend. Following the video, students will complete a brief depression screening tool. We encourage parents to visit www.sossignsofsuicide.org/parent for information on warning signs for youth suicide, useful resources, and some of the key messages students will learn. You can also view this parent video and the e-Notify sent to parents on October 21 to learn more about the program

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s participation in this program or if you would like to opt your child out of this program, please contact your child’s school counselor by Friday, November 15th .

Fall Student Testing Results - Available in SIS ParentVUE

Each fall, FCPS students take part in screening assessments for reading and mathematics to identify strengths and areas for support. Score reports for families are posted in ParentVUE in the “Documents” section, generally about one month after testing has been completed.

  • iReady reports in grades 1-8 are available in ParentVUE now. 
  • Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Growth reports for grades 6-12 will be available by Friday, December 13, following an extension to the fall testing window. 

Visit FCPS’ website for additional information about student tests at each grade level, including what each test is for and when each test takes place. Caregivers may follow up with their children’s teachers for more information about how they use test results to support student success.

Youth Survey (8th grade only):

The Fairfax County Youth Survey, a collaboration between the Fairfax County School Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, is a comprehensive, anonymous, and voluntary survey given each year to students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12. The survey examines behaviors, experiences, and other factors that influence the health and well-being of Fairfax County's youth. The results, published each year at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/youthsurvey, identify trends and areas of need, providing a snapshot of the county's youth and serving as a barometer of the community's effectiveness in fostering healthy choices in young people. We will be administering the Fairfax County Youth Survey on Wednesday, November 20th during Learning Seminar.

While it is our hope that as many students as possible will participate, if you do not wish for your child to take part in the Youth Survey, please contact your child's school counselor no later than November 15, 2024. If you have already opted your child out of this survey using the Parental Digital Consent Portal you do not need to provide additional information to the school counselor.

Upcoming Student Experience Survey at Kilmer Middle School

Our school has been selected to participate in a pilot program for FCPS’ Student Experience Survey. This survey will gather important feedback from students about their school experiences to help FCPS make meaningful improvements.

A limited number of classes in grades 6-12 were selected to participate and those families were notified separately. However, all students in participating grades, except those who have opted out, will receive a link to the survey in their FCPS email. We will administer the survey in selected classes during the school day between Monday, December 2, and Friday, December 13. Any student may take the survey at home(again, this is optional). 

We believe it's important to hear from our students about what we're doing well and where we can improve. This work also aligns with the five equity commitments in FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which focus on amplifying student voice and experiences as we work toward meeting plan goals.

Fall Immunization Clinic at Kilmer MS

Kilmer MS will host a School Site Immunization Clinic on November 19, in collaboration with the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD). Only students enrolled at Kilmer MS may participate in the clinic.

The following immunizations will be offered during school hours at the School Immunization Clinic: 

  • Meningococcal Conjugate (MenACWY) Vaccine
  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine
  • Tetanus, Diphtheria, & Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine

Click here to find additional information for each vaccine. 

If you would like your child to receive immunizations as part of the School Site Immunization Clinic, you must first provide:

  • Permission via a signed Adolescent Vaccine Clinic Consent Form, which can be found in the Middle and High School Clinics section on this webpage.
  • A copy of their immunization records (if available).
  • A copy of the front and back of their insurance card (if applicable). Insurance is not required to participate in the clinic.

Please bring your signed consent form to our Student Services Office by 11/8 in order for your child to participate. If your child is insured, please submit a copy of the front and back of your child’s insurance to our Student Services Office as well. You may contact our school’s public health nurse, Stephanie Gibbs, at [email protected] with any immunization questions.

1st Quarter Grades

Student gradebooks in SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be unavailable from Mon, Oct 28, 2024 @ 4:00 PM until Tue, Nov 12, 2024 @ 6:00 AM. At the end of this window, 1st quarter grades will be posted in SIS ParentVue and StudentVUE.

After School Program

After School Activities News/Updates:

Each week Ms. Perry 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 Saundra Perry (Acting After School Specialist) at [email protected].

Kilmer PTA

Executive Board Contact Information

Reflections Art Contest

Calling all creatives! Are you into art, photography, music, dance, film, or writing? Enter the Reflections Art Contest! This year's theme is "Accepting Imperfection"! You can enter one submission each in any (or all!) of the six categories! Deadline for entries is November 15.

  1. For ARTWORK file:  name, category and division - e.g., JaneSmith.VisualArts.Middleschool.Entry
  2. For ENTRY FORM file: Similar naming convention: JaneSmith.VisualArts.Middleschool.Form
References & Reminders

Outstanding Employee Awards Program

Nominations will open for the Outstanding Employee Awards on Monday October 21, 2024! 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 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 8, 2024. If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Smith, Assistant Principal, [email protected].

Morning Kiss N’ Ride Drop-Off Time

Doors open every morning at 7:10 am. Cars that arrive before 7:10 am will need to wait in the Kiss N’ Ride line until doors open. Thank you!

Reminder to Order School Pictures

School Photos are now online! Families should have received an E-proof via email. Please remember to check your spam. For any questions about your student's school pictures please contact: [email protected]

Join the School Book Committee

We are excited to invite parents to join our School Book Committee! This is a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with other parents and educators to select and promote texts that enrich our students' reading experiences. As part of the committee, you will choose new titles for the Language Arts curriculum should the need to review arise. Your input is invaluable in ensuring our texts reflect the diverse interests and needs of our students.

If you're interested in joining or would like more information, please email Erin Dwyer at [email protected]

On Time to Class 

To help create a smooth and effective learning environment, we ask that students make every effort to arrive on time to each class. Please review Kilmer’s response to tardies outlined below. These will begin on October 1, 2024. Parents/guardians will be notified if your child is assigned lunch or after school detention.

  • Tardy Sweeps: Tardy sweeps will begin in October and occur randomly throughout the year.  A tardy sweep means if your child arrives to class after the bell, the teacher’s door will be locked, and a staff member will record the tardy. Students who are recorded in a tardy sweep will be assigned lunch detention. 
  • Class Tardies: Students may receive an office referral from their teacher if they reach four tardies to a single class. Students who receive an office referral will be assigned after school detention. 
  • Excessive Tardies: Students who reach a total of 10 or more tardies in a calendar month will be assigned an after school detention.

Regularly monitoring your student's tardies in ParentVue helps ensure they stay on track with punctuality and reinforces good habits for academic success. It is important for students to be in all classes on time every day, we will work with you and your child should there be issues or concerns that prevent them from getting to classes on time.

Lightspeed Parent Report

8100 Wolftrap Road Vienna, VA 22182 | Phone: 703-846-8800

Attendance: 703-846-8888 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

Kilmer MS Newsletter - October 25, 2024

GovDelivery2 weeks 5 days ago

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Kilmer Community,

We are closing in on the end of the First Quarter! I am so proud of everything our students and staff have accomplished so far and we look forward to starting the 2nd Quarter strong on November 6. Please note the calendar below for reminders about next week’s early release and upcoming student holidays.

I want to thank all of the volunteers who helped with last week’s PTA Fall Festival. The kids had a blast and we couldn’t have pulled it off without your help. Thank you!

As a reminder, doors open every morning at 7:10 am. If you arrive to drop off your student before 7:10 am please wait in the Kiss N’ Ride line until the doors open. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us ensure a smooth morning arrival for students and staff.

Have a wonderful weekend and as always, reach out with any questions or concerns…and for all the baseball fans out there, Go Dodgers!

Sincerely, 

Steven McFarlane

Principal

Positive Referrals

Here are just a few of the Positive Referrals received by our Kilmer Cougars from staff members this week!

Zora D. - Bringing a positive attitude to the art room and helping out with cleaning at the end of the day.

Hailey H. - Helped with cleaning tables, stacking chairs, and organizing the room.

Eliza S. - Thoughtfully and insightfully participates in class discussions, enriching others' learning.

Sean C. - Thank you for taking the time to share answers during whole-class discussions, act courteously, and engage diligently in your work!

Giacomo Q.C. - Giacomo did a wonderful job when he volunteered to manage the assembly line during our Industrial Revolution simulation. He responded to his workers' needs, problem-solved when there was a slow-down on the line, communicated respectfully, and didn't get frustrated. He ensured the smooth production of all 5 of my classes :)

Kilmer at a Glance

Upcoming Dates:

  • October 31st - End of 1st Quarter, 2-Hour Early Release (12:15 PM dismissal)
  • November 1 - Holiday, No school
  • November 4 - School Planning Day, No students
  • November 5 - Teacher Workday, No students
  • FCPS School Calendar 2024-25
Picture(s) of the Week

We had beautiful weather and a great turnout at our Fall Festival last week!

On October 18th Kilmer participated in the Central Fairfax Basketball Tournament. Kilmer was named tournament champion after winning all four games in convincing fashion. Our students demonstrated outstanding teamwork and sportsmanship! Be sure to help us congratulate our students. 

We are proud to congratulate six of our Kilmer students — Saanvi, Shirley, Jayandhiga, Aanya, Anabia, and Advaith — who were selected to attend the Thomas Jefferson Intermediate Math Open (TJ-IMO) on Saturday, October 19th. At this prestigious event, they had the opportunity to learn advanced problem-solving strategies from experienced Varsity Math Team coaches. They then put these strategies to the test in a competitive mathematics challenge. They did a great job representing Kilmer!

This week our 8th grade students visited Junior Achievement's Finance Park. Students engaged in activities that taught them how to manage budgets, make financial decisions, and plan for real-world scenarios. This experience helped them build essential life skills while fostering problem-solving skills.

Important Information

Spirit Week: October 28-31

Kilmer’s SCA, sponsored by Mr. Prevost, will have our first Spirit Week next week. We look forward to seeing lots of spirit from our students and staff!

All spirit celebrations need to abide by the Student Rights and Responsibilities, including no masks, face paint, or fake weapons.

Morning Kiss N’ Ride Drop-Off Time

Doors open every morning at 7:10 am. Cars that arrive before 7:10 am will need to wait in the Kiss N’ Ride line until doors open. Thank you!

Outstanding Employee Awards Program

Nominations will open for the Outstanding Employee Awards on Monday October 21, 2024! 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 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 8, 2024. If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Smith, Assistant Principal, [email protected].

Impact Aid Survey Opens Monday, October 21

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is eligible for federal Impact Aid grants due to the federal presence in our area. The grants from these programs will become part of FCPS' general operating budget. They are critical to ensuring that students receive an excellent education. FCPS anticipates receiving approximately $3,000,000 in Impact Aid funds.

FCPS uses the survey for Federal Impact Aid to identify federally connected students. On Monday, October 21, the survey will be available to FCPS families online through ParentVue, in the “Online Packets” section. Click here for directions on how to access the survey. Families without ParentVUE can request a paper copy of the survey from their child's school. FCPS staff will process the information with the utmost confidentiality.

Fall Immunization Clinic at Kilmer MS

Kilmer MS will host a School Site Immunization Clinic on November 19, in collaboration with the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD). Only students enrolled at Kilmer MS may participate in the clinic.

The following immunizations will be offered during school hours at the School Immunization Clinic: 

  • Meningococcal Conjugate (MenACWY) Vaccine
  • Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine
  • Tetanus, Diphtheria, & Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine

Click here to find additional information for each vaccine. 

If you would like your child to receive immunizations as part of the School Site Immunization Clinic, you must first provide:

  • Permission via a signed Adolescent Vaccine Clinic Consent Form, which can be found in the Middle and High School Clinics section on this webpage.
  • A copy of their immunization records (if available).
  • A copy of the front and back of their insurance card (if applicable). Insurance is not required to participate in the clinic.

Please bring your signed consent form to our Student Services Office by 11/8 in order for your child to participate. If your child is insured, please submit a copy of the front and back of your child’s insurance to our Student Services Office as well. You may contact our school’s public health nurse, Stephanie Gibbs, at [email protected] with any immunization questions.

1st Quarter Grades

Student gradebooks in SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be unavailable from Mon, Oct 28, 2024 @ 4:00 PM until Tue, Nov 12, 2024 @ 6:00 AM. At the end of this window, 1st quarter grades will be posted in SIS ParentVue and StudentVUE.

Applications Open October 21 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 2029 at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST). 

The application will be available on the TJHSST Admissions Office webpage starting Monday, October 21, at 4 p.m. Applications must be started by 4 p.m. Wednesday, November 13, with a deadline to submit the application by Friday, November 15, at 4 p.m. Visit the TJHSST registration page for more information.

Virtual Java Classes for Middle School Students

Fairfax High School students are offering a virtual workshop to middle school students in Basic Java and Advanced Java coding. They are doing this as a fundraiser to help buy supplies for  their robotics club, as well as pay for competition fees. If your student is interested, please sign up below or reach out to the club sponsor, and chemistry teacher at Fairfax HS, Geeta Sridharan [email protected].

Reflections Art Contest

Calling all creatives! Are you into art, photography, music, dance, film, or writing? Enter the Reflections Art Contest! This year's theme is "Accepting Imperfection"! You can enter one submission each in any (or all!) of the six categories! Deadline for entries is November 15.

  1. For ARTWORK file:  name, category and division - e.g., JaneSmith.VisualArts.Middleschool.Entry
  2. For ENTRY FORM file: Similar naming convention: JaneSmith.VisualArts.Middleschool.Form
After School Program

After School Activities News/Updates

Each week Ms. Perry 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 Saundra Perry (Acting After School Specialist) at [email protected].

Kilmer PTA

Executive Board Contact Information

References & Reminders

Reminder to Order School Pictures

School Photos are now online! Families should have received an E-proof via email. Please remember to check your spam. For any questions about your student's school pictures please contact: [email protected]

Join the School Book Committee

We are excited to invite parents to join our School Book Committee! This is a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with other parents and educators to select and promote texts that enrich our students' reading experiences. As part of the committee, you will choose new titles for the Language Arts curriculum should the need to review arise. Your input is invaluable in ensuring our texts reflect the diverse interests and needs of our students.

If you're interested in joining or would like more information, please email Erin Dwyer at [email protected]

On Time to Class 

To help create a smooth and effective learning environment, we ask that students make every effort to arrive on time to each class. Please review Kilmer’s response to tardies outlined below. These will begin on October 1, 2024. Parents/guardians will be notified if your child is assigned lunch or after school detention.

  • Tardy Sweeps: Tardy sweeps will begin in October and occur randomly throughout the year.  A tardy sweep means if your child arrives to class after the bell, the teacher’s door will be locked, and a staff member will record the tardy. Students who are recorded in a tardy sweep will be assigned lunch detention. 
  • Class Tardies: Students may receive an office referral from their teacher if they reach four tardies to a single class. Students who receive an office referral will be assigned after school detention. 
  • Excessive Tardies: Students who reach a total of 10 or more tardies in a calendar month will be assigned an after school detention.

Regularly monitoring your student's tardies in ParentVue helps ensure they stay on track with punctuality and reinforces good habits for academic success. It is important for students to be in all classes on time every day, we will work with you and your child should there be issues or concerns that prevent them from getting to classes on time.

Lightspeed Parent Report

8100 Wolftrap Road Vienna, VA 22182 | Phone: 703-846-8800

Attendance: 703-846-8888 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

Kilmer MS Newsletter - October 18, 2024

GovDelivery3 weeks 5 days ago

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Kilmer Community,

This week we had a special surprise! Kelly Colis and Tommy McFly visited Kilmer staff to drop off Georgetown Cupcakes as part of their annual “Teacher Tour.” Kilmer was nominated for our Positive Referral program by parent Courtney McCreesh. Each week I highlight just a few of the Positive Referrals submitted by staff for students. In its essence, the Positive Referral program captures a snapshot of the thousands of positive student interactions and contributions that occur daily at Kilmer. To date, almost 600 Positive Referrals have been submitted by Kilmer staff, and that number continues to grow. Next time you’re in the building, stop by the cafeteria windows to check out some of the Positive Referral submissions. 

Please welcome Ms. Saundra Perry, Acting After School Coordinator. Ms. Perry is a retired After School Coordinator filling in while Ms. Kardelis is out on maternity leave. Be sure to read Ms. Perry’s bio below, and you can direct any After School Program questions to her at [email protected].

Lastly, we hope to see you at the Fall Festival this afternoon (2:30-5:00 pm). We will have inflatables, a live DJ, food trucks, concessions, and a photo booth to capture all the fun memories. The event is free, but the food trucks are not, so remember to bring cash. A reminder that students will not be allowed to leave campus and then reenter the festival without an adult. 

Have a wonderful weekend and as always, reach out with any questions or concerns. 

Sincerely, 

Steven McFarlane

Principal

Positive Referrals

Here are just a few of the Positive Referrals received by our Kilmer Cougars from staff members this week!

Dean S. - Dean I am so proud of you! You model maturity, responsibility, and great engagement in our class, please keep up the good work!

Gelder T. R. - Gelder, thanks so much for helping to clean up your breakfast table. When you went to throw away your own trash you walked by a few of your friends and offered to take their trash as well. It's the little things that add up, and I'm appreciative of the positive impact you make here at Kilmer. 

Nirvanna C. - Nirvanna thank you for always demonstrating maturity and responsibility in English! Keep up the good work!

DJ C. - DJ always has a positive attitude and comes to every class prepared and more importantly excited to learn.  He is a leader in our classroom! 

Steven J. - Steven is responsible, hardworking, and consistently follows directions. He actively participates in group work, encouraging others to share their ideas, and sets a great example for his classmates.

Kilmer at a Glance

Upcoming Dates:

  • October 31st - End of 1st Quarter, 2-Hour Early Release (12:15 PM dismissal)
  • November 1 - Holiday, No school
  • November 4 - School Planning Day, No students
  • November 5 - Teacher Workday, No students
  • FCPS School Calendar 2024-25
Picture(s) of the Week

Thanks to parent Courtney McCreesh for nominating the Kilmer staff for the Teacher Tour! We enjoyed the treats that came with our selection!

Important Information

Outstanding Employee Awards Program

Nominations will open for the Outstanding Employee Awards on Monday October 21, 2024! 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 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 8, 2024. If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Smith, Assistant Principal, [email protected].

Impact Aid Survey Opens Monday, October 21

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is eligible for federal Impact Aid grants due to the federal presence in our area. The grants from these programs will become part of FCPS' general operating budget. They are critical to ensuring that students receive an excellent education. FCPS anticipates receiving approximately $3,000,000 in Impact Aid funds.

FCPS uses the survey for Federal Impact Aid to identify federally connected students. On Monday, October 21, the survey will be available to FCPS families online through ParentVue, in the “Online Packets” section. Click here for directions on how to access the survey. Families without ParentVUE can request a paper copy of the survey from their child's school. FCPS staff will process the information with the utmost confidentiality.

1st Quarter Grades

Student gradebooks in SIS ParentVUE and StudentVUE will be unavailable from Mon, Oct 28, 2024 @ 4:00 PM until Tue, Nov 12, 2024 @ 6:00 AM. At the end of this window, 1st quarter grades will be posted in SIS ParentVue and StudentVUE.

Upcoming Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Assessment 

The Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) require schools to provide reading and mathematics screening tests for all students in grades 6-8. These assessments also fulfill a requirement for reading and mathematics growth assessments under the Virginia Assessment Program (VAP). Test results help families and teachers know how to support each student’s learning and development. The Academic Screening, Growth, and Diagnostic Tests webpage provides more information on these tests. 

The Math MAP Growth Assessment will be delivered to all students, regardless of course, during math class during the following dates. 

8th Grade

7th Grade

Thursday, October 17

Friday, October 18

Tuesday, October 22

Wednesday, October 23

Winter and spring retests are required for students scheduled for spring SOL 6-8 Math and Reading tests. Retests provide additional growth data to guide instruction. Students scheduled for SOL Algebra 1, Geometry, or Algebra 2 tests will retest with MAP Growth Math if they score below benchmark or if additional growth data is needed for the student. Based on academic screening results, some students may require a reading plan or math intervention plan. Some students may require additional diagnostic tests to help teachers determine specific areas for support. If you have questions about academic screening, growth, or diagnostic tests, please contact your student’s teacher or the school's test coordinator. 

Virtual Java Classes for Middle School Students

Fairfax High School students are offering a virtual workshop to middle school students in Basic Java and Advanced Java coding. They are doing this as a fundraiser to help buy supplies for  their robotics club, as well as pay for competition fees. If your student is interested, please sign up below or reach out to the club sponsor, and chemistry teacher at Fairfax HS, Geeta Sridharan [email protected].

Reflections Art Contest

Calling all creatives! Are you into art, photography, music, dance, film, or writing? Enter the Reflections Art Contest! This year's theme is "Accepting Imperfection"! You can enter one submission each in any (or all!) of the six categories! Deadline for entries is November 15.

  1. For ARTWORK file:  name, category and division - e.g., JaneSmith.VisualArts.Middleschool.Entry
  2. For ENTRY FORM file: Similar naming convention: JaneSmith.VisualArts.Middleschool.Form
After School Program

While Ms. Kim Kardelis is out on maternity leave, Kilmer’s lucky to have Ms. Saundra Perry serving as our Acting After School Coordinator. Please see her bio below, and reach out to Ms. Perry at [email protected] with any questions related to Kilmer’s After School Program. 

Saundra Perry, a New York native has over 25 years’ experience in Human Service (Specialized in Prevention Services) with Fairfax County Government and Fairfax County Public Schools.  Before retirement, she served as the After School Specialist at Walt Whitman Middle School.  During her tenure with the County and FCPS she was a part of teams involved in the initial development of programs such as Road DAWG (Don’t Associate with Gangs), Girl Power and Fairfax County Golf initiative and Cops & Kids (Basketball program with local officers and students). She also began the annual Military Family Night tradition at Walt Whitman Middle to honor the military families.

After retirement, she worked as a substitute teacher, and temporary after school specialist at Herndon Middle and Whitman Middle.  Recent projects included working 3 years for Fairfax County Health Department Covid project. She has a passion for service.

She graduated from Hampton University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and completed graduate work in Organizational Leadership. 

Her loves are her three adult children, and her light are her three grandchildren.

After School Activities News/Updates

Each week Ms. Perry 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 Saundra Perry (Acting After School Specialist) at [email protected].

Kilmer PTA

Executive Board Contact Information

References & Reminders

Reminder to Order School Pictures

School Photos are now online! Families should have received an E-proof via email. Please remember to check your spam. For any questions about your student's school pictures please contact: [email protected]

Join the School Book Committee

We are excited to invite parents to join our School Book Committee! This is a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with other parents and educators to select and promote texts that enrich our students' reading experiences. As part of the committee, you will choose new titles for the Language Arts curriculum should the need to review arise. Your input is invaluable in ensuring our texts reflect the diverse interests and needs of our students.

If you're interested in joining or would like more information, please email Erin Dwyer at [email protected]

On Time to Class 

To help create a smooth and effective learning environment, we ask that students make every effort to arrive on time to each class. Please review Kilmer’s response to tardies outlined below. These will begin on October 1, 2024. Parents/guardians will be notified if your child is assigned lunch or after school detention.

  • Tardy Sweeps: Tardy sweeps will begin in October and occur randomly throughout the year.  A tardy sweep means if your child arrives to class after the bell, the teacher’s door will be locked, and a staff member will record the tardy. Students who are recorded in a tardy sweep will be assigned lunch detention. 
  • Class Tardies: Students may receive an office referral from their teacher if they reach four tardies to a single class. Students who receive an office referral will be assigned after school detention. 
  • Excessive Tardies: Students who reach a total of 10 or more tardies in a calendar month will be assigned an after school detention.

Regularly monitoring your student's tardies in ParentVue helps ensure they stay on track with punctuality and reinforces good habits for academic success. It is important for students to be in all classes on time every day, we will work with you and your child should there be issues or concerns that prevent them from getting to classes on time.

Lightspeed Parent Report

8100 Wolftrap Road Vienna, VA 22182 | Phone: 703-846-8800

Attendance: 703-846-8888 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

Kilmer MS Newsletter - October 11, 2024

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Kilmer Community,

It’s hard to believe we are in the final few weeks of the 1st Quarter. Please continue to review SIS/Schoology with your student, and if you have any questions feel free to contact your student’s teacher. 

We hope to see you at our Fall Festival next Friday, October 18th from 2:30-5:00 PM. If you’re able, please Sign Up To Volunteer. We will have inflatables, a live DJ, food trucks, concessions, and a photo booth to capture all the fun memories. The event is free, but the food trucks are not, so remember to bring cash. I will communicate with students next week that if they are going to the Festival they need to report directly there after school, or if they head home they’ll need to come back with an adult. Students will not be allowed to leave campus and then reenter the Festival without an adult. 

Have a wonderful weekend and as always, reach out with any questions or concerns.

Sincerely, 

Steven McFarlane

Principal

Positive Referrals

Here are just a few of the Positive Referrals received by our Kilmer Cougars from staff members this week!

Kawsar K. - Kawsar was very focused in History class when we were reviewing for our Unit 2 test on Westward Expansion. She made sure to have me check her answers and ask for help when she needed it! :) I am so proud of you for working hard!

Daniel O. M. - You did a great job presenting your project to me in Ms. Batson's class. That was a tough assignment which required you to speak in front of many adults, and I am proud of the work you did.

Katelyn A. - Katelyn's class was playing a review game with bingo chips, and someone had spilled a lot of them on the floor. As soon as she saw what had happened, she immediately started cleaning them up (even though she had nothing to do with making the mess). I appreciate her help and thoughtfulness! 

Cyra S. - Helped to create a poster explaining class guidelines for Lexia completion.

Kaelyn H. - Kaelyn thank you for helping pick up the fitness 500 worksheets without being asked to. Your kindness does not go unnoticed and thank you for being a great role model for your peers!

Kilmer at a Glance

Upcoming Dates:

  • October 31st - End of 1st Quarter, 2-Hour Early Release (12:15 PM dismissal)
  • November 1 - Holiday, No school
  • November 4 - School Planning Day, No students
  • November 5 - Teacher Workday, No students
  • FCPS School Calendar 2024-25
Picture(s) of the Week

Students in Ms. Lal, Mr. Collymore, and Ms. Alvarez’s classes celebrated Osman’s birthday this week!

While delivering Positive Referrals to students this week, I had the pleasure of stopping by Ms. Bonneau’s room and got to watch the Wind Ensemble in action.

Students in Ms. Batson’s English Language Development class worked on a project where they had to design a game they thought would be beneficial to students at Kilmer. Afterwards, they presented their projects to teachers, counselors, and administrators.

Important Information

Kilmer MS Fall Festival 

Date and Time: Friday, October 18th, 2:15 PM- 5:00 PM

Location: Kilmer Middle, right after school

Join us for the Kilmer Fall Festival on Friday, October 18th, right after school until 5 PM! It's going to be an afternoon full of fun and excitement for everyone. We’ll have inflatables, including the thrilling "Leaps and Bounds Challenge" and "Human Foosball." The kids can dance to the tunes spun by our DJ, grab a bite from the food trucks or concession stands, and capture memories at our photo booth.

What to Expect:

  • Inflatables: "The Leaps and Bounds Challenge" & "Human Foosball"
  • Live DJ
  • Delicious food from food trucks and concessions
  • A fun photo booth to capture all the memories

Fall Festival Volunteers Needed! We cannot run the Fall Festival without some additional parent volunteers. We need adults to help with the flow of lines for the inflatables and food trucks!  We have two different shifts available - please consider signing up for one or both. Thank you for volunteering! Sign Up To Volunteer at the Fall Festival

Upcoming Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) Assessment 

The Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) and Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) require schools to provide reading and mathematics screening tests for all students in grades 6-8. These assessments also fulfill a requirement for reading and mathematics growth assessments under the Virginia Assessment Program (VAP). Test results help families and teachers know how to support each student’s learning and development. The Academic Screening, Growth, and Diagnostic Tests webpage provides more information on these tests. 

The Math MAP Growth Assessment will be delivered to all students, regardless of course, during math class during the following dates. 

8th Grade

7th Grade

Thursday, October 17

Friday, October 18

Tuesday, October 22

Wednesday, October 23

Winter and spring retests are required for students scheduled for spring SOL 6-8 Math and Reading tests. Retests provide additional growth data to guide instruction. Students scheduled for SOL Algebra 1, Geometry, or Algebra 2 tests will retest with MAP Growth Math if they score below benchmark or if additional growth data is needed for the student. Based on academic screening results, some students may require a reading plan or math intervention plan. Some students may require additional diagnostic tests to help teachers determine specific areas for support. If you have questions about academic screening, growth, or diagnostic tests, please contact your student’s teacher or the school's test coordinator. 

Reflections Art Contest

Calling all creatives! Are you into art, photography, music, dance, film, or writing? Enter the Reflections Art Contest! This year's theme is "Accepting Imperfection"! You can enter one submission each in any (or all!) of the six categories! Deadline for entries is November 15.

  1. For ARTWORK file:  name, category and division - e.g., JaneSmith.VisualArts.Middleschool.Entry
  2. For ENTRY FORM file: Similar naming convention: JaneSmith.VisualArts.Middleschool.Form

TJ Investigative Science Fair Interest Meeting

Please note the date/format has been changed to October 18 and will now be virtual. Scan the QR code below for more information. Feel free to also check out their website at tjsciencefair.wordpress.com or email them at [email protected].Click to edit this placeholder text.

Reminder to Order School Pictures

School Photos are now online! Families should have received an E-proof via email. Please remember to check your spam. For any questions about your student's school pictures please contact: [email protected]

Join the School Book Committee

We are excited to invite parents to join our School Book Committee! This is a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with other parents and educators to select and promote texts that enrich our students' reading experiences. As part of the committee, you will choose new titles for the Language Arts curriculum should the need to review arise. Your input is invaluable in ensuring our texts reflect the diverse interests and needs of our students.

If you're interested in joining or would like more information, please email Erin Dwyer at [email protected]

After School Program

After School Activities News/Updates

Each week Ms. Perry 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 Saundra Perry (Acting After School Specialist) at [email protected].

Kilmer PTA

October PTA Meeting

Join us for our next PTA meeting on Tuesday, October 15, at 7 PM. Whether you prefer to attend in person or online, we’ve got you covered! Come hear important updates, share your thoughts, and connect with other parents and staff. We hope to see you there! A link to the meeting will be shared closer to the date.

Executive Board Contact Information

References & Reminders

On Time to Class 

To help create a smooth and effective learning environment, we ask that students make every effort to arrive on time to each class. Please review Kilmer’s response to tardies outlined below. These will begin on October 1, 2024. Parents/guardians will be notified if your child is assigned lunch or after school detention.

  • Tardy Sweeps: Tardy sweeps will begin in October and occur randomly throughout the year.  A tardy sweep means if your child arrives to class after the bell, the teacher’s door will be locked, and a staff member will record the tardy. Students who are recorded in a tardy sweep will be assigned lunch detention. 
  • Class Tardies: Students may receive an office referral from their teacher if they reach four tardies to a single class. Students who receive an office referral will be assigned after school detention. 
  • Excessive Tardies: Students who reach a total of 10 or more tardies in a calendar month will be assigned an after school detention.

Regularly monitoring your student's tardies in ParentVue helps ensure they stay on track with punctuality and reinforces good habits for academic success. It is important for students to be in all classes on time every day, we will work with you and your child should there be issues or concerns that prevent them from getting to classes on time.

Lightspeed Parent Report

8100 Wolftrap Road Vienna, VA 22182 | Phone: 703-846-8800

Attendance: 703-846-8888 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

Kilmer MS Newsletter - September 27, 2024

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Kilmer Community,

It’s been a great week! Last Saturday, I attended Kilmer’s first cross country meet of the season at Robinson Secondary School. The weather was beautiful (unlike the rainy days we’ve had pretty much everyday since then 🙂) and I couldn’t be more proud of the effort and sportsmanship shown by our Kilmer Cougars. Tomorrow, the team will be at Herndon Middle School if you’d like to come out and support our athletes. 

A reminder about our morning Kiss & Ride, for the safety of our students and staff, please be mindful of your speed when dropping off your child in the Kiss & Ride lanes. As of late, we’ve noticed an uptick in speeding cars. Please slow down.

This week some teachers began inviting students to their classrooms for intervention sessions during Learning Seminar if they did not show mastery of concepts on a common formative assessment. Using Learning Seminar (8th and 9th period) to reteach concepts is just one more way that Kilmer teachers support our students’ learning. Students can also request a pass to visit a teacher during Learning Seminar for extra help by filling out the Google Form on their teacher’s Schoology page.

Have a wonderful weekend and as always, reach out with any questions or concerns. 

Sincerely, 

Steven McFarlane

Principal

Positive Referrals

Here are just a few of the Positive Referrals received by our Kilmer Cougars from staff members this week!

Brielle A. - Brielle consistently makes good choices in both English 7 and Learning Seminar. Brielle displays the Portrait of a Graduate traits of resilience and adaptability. 

Christopher G. E.  - Christopher is an amazing teammate and model student.  His patience and kindness are so appreciated. 

Hashim E. - Thanks for being the student who will help clean up trash even if it isn't yours. You have gone out of your way to help and you do it with a smile. I appreciate how you set a great example for your peers!

Nico P. - Nico consistently makes good choices and finds strategies to succeed in both English 7 and Learning Seminar. I am proud of his flexibility and problem-solving skills. Nico displays the Portrait of a Graduate traits of resilience and adaptability.

Kilmer at a Glance

Upcoming Dates:

Picture(s) of the Week

It was a beautiful day for running last Saturday at Kilmer’s first cross country meet of the season at Robinson Secondary. Congratulations to all the runners! Tomorrow (Saturday, 9/28) our team will be at Herndon MS. 

Kilmer students who create our KTV New Show improvised with a makeshift studio when we briefly lost power this week.

Important Information

Welcome Chuck Miller

Mr. Chuck Miller will be serving as Kilmer’s Acting Assistant Principal once Erin Kestler goes out on maternity leave (his start date is October 1st). Mr. Miller has years of administrative experience, most recently serving as Principal at Whitman Middle School in FCPS. Please see his bio below.

Chuck Miller has spent the last 36 years as a secondary educator.  After a decade in Arizona, Chuck moved to FCPS and spent 26 years as a teacher and administrator.  Chuck retired in June 2023 after spending 7 years as the Principal at Mark Twain Middle School.  He is happy to return to working in schools where he can support students and teachers.

World Language

This year's World Languages Credit by Exam will be administered at each FCPS middle, high, and secondary school. The World Languages Credit by Exam is an optional test for students in grades 7-12 who can speak and write (type) proficiently in a language other than English. Based on the results of the exam, they can earn 1, 2, and/or 3 passing world language credits. Students who wish to take the exam should be able to proficiently understand and communicate in the testing language, and will be asked to listen, read, speak, write/type, and/or sign/interpret for ASL.  For more information on how to prepare for the exam and scoring criteria you may visit the FCPS website.

Registration opens on Monday, September 9th and closes on Thursday, October 3rd. Late registrations will not be accepted. The 2024 World Languages Credit by Exam will be administered at Kilmer, during the school day, this year. 

Students will be able to register using the sign-up form posted in the All Students Schoology page. Once your student's counselor completes the registration you will receive a confirmation email with additional details about the date and time of the exam. If you have any questions about registering for this exam, please reach out directly to your student's counselor.

Thomas Jefferson High School Student/Parent Information Night

Thursday, October 10h 5:00 - 6:00 pm

All 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, and we recommend that all those interested in participating view this video prior to attending the presentation. You can find additional information including important application deadlines here. If you have any questions about this event, please contact your student’s counselor.

On Time to Class 

To help create a smooth and effective learning environment, we ask that students make every effort to arrive on time to each class. Please review Kilmer’s response to tardies outlined below. These will begin on October 1, 2024. Parents/guardians will be notified if your child is assigned lunch or after school detention.

  • Tardy Sweeps: Tardy sweeps will begin in October and occur randomly throughout the year.  A tardy sweep means if your child arrives to class after the bell, the teacher’s door will be locked, and a staff member will record the tardy. Students who are recorded in a tardy sweep will be assigned lunch detention. 
  • Class Tardies: Students may receive an office referral from their teacher if they reach four tardies to a single class. Students who receive an office referral will be assigned after school detention. 
  • Excessive Tardies: Students who reach a total of 10 or more tardies in a calendar month will be assigned an after school detention.

Regularly monitoring your student's tardies in ParentVue helps ensure they stay on track with punctuality and reinforces good habits for academic success. It is important for students to be in all classes on time every day, we will work with you and your child should there be issues or concerns that prevent them from getting to classes on time.

After School Program

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 [email protected].

Kilmer PTA

Join the PTA and Friends of Kilmer and Enter to Win $200 in Amazon Gift Cards!

Joining the PTA is a fantastic way to support our students and teachers while having a say in the activities and initiatives that make our school a great place for everyone. PTA memberships are only $20 per family per year. As a thank you for your support, we will be raffling off two $100 in Amazon gift cards! Everyone who joins prior to 8:30 am on Tuesday, October 15th will be automatically entered to win a $100 Amazon gift card!

There will also be a drawing to win an additional $100 Amazon gift card for anyone who donates to Friends of Kilmer. The drawing will be made at the 7 pm PTA meeting on Oct 15th, you do not need to be present at the PTA meeting to win. Click HERE to purchase your PTA membership and contribute! For those of you that already purchased memberships prior to this announcement, we thank you, and you will also be participating in the raffle.

September is Hunger Awareness Month

60,000 Fairfax County kids are on free or reduced meals. 55,000 receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Kids attending class hungry are at risk for decreased academic performance. Food insecurity affects kids' concentration, mood, and memory. The Kilmer Food Pantry was established to send these students home with a weekend food pack to help them have enough to eat for the weekend. The Kilmer Food Pantry is proud to have expanded services, including providing meals throughout the month, offering school supplies, and providing warm coats and new socks in the winter.  

We can't do this without the generosity and support of our Kilmer Middle School community. There are many ways to support food insecurity at Kilmer. 

Here's how you can help now!

  1. Donate non-perishable food items from our Amazon wishlist. Items will be delivered directly to Kilmer Middle. 
  2. Donate non-perishable items on the marked carts in the main office (See suggestions below for ideas).
  3. Donate funds directly to the PTA and we’ll do the shopping for you!

Learn more at: https://kilmerpta.membershiptoolkit.com/foodpantry 

Reach out to the Executive Board with any questions.

References & Reminders

Lightspeed Parent Report

8100 Wolftrap Road Vienna, VA 22182 | Phone: 703-846-8800

Attendance: 703-846-8888 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

Kilmer MS Newsletter - September 20, 2024

GovDelivery1 month 3 weeks ago

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Kilmer Community,

We’re excited to kick off this year’s cross country season tomorrow, Saturday, September 21st at 8:30 AM at Robinson Secondary School. Students have been working hard preparing the past couple of weeks, and we’re excited to cheer them on (over 100 runners!). A special thank you to this year’s coaches: Emma Bolin, Marcus Boddie, AJ Kirksey, Isaiah Pina, and Josh Lafferty.

We would like to share information about our tardy protocols and stress the importance of arriving to class on time. When students are late, they miss valuable instructional time and may find it challenging to catch up, which can affect their overall learning experience. Beginning October 1st, we will conduct random tardy sweeps and implement our school-wide response to tardiness. If your child arrives to class after the bell during a tardy sweep, the teacher’s door will be locked, and a staff member will record the tardy. Students who are caught in the tardy sweeps will be assigned lunch detention and parents/guardians will be notified via email. Students may also be assigned after school detention for excessive tardies. Students have been informed of Kilmer’s tardy procedures during our SR&R sessions with Kilmer’s assistant principals. This information will also be featured on next week's morning announcements.  

Have a wonderful weekend and as always, reach out with any questions or concerns. 

Sincerely, 

Steven McFarlane

Principal

Positive Referrals

Here are just a few of the Positive Referrals received by our Kilmer Cougars from staff members this week!

Rigel M. - I appreciate the hardwork and dedication. Completed both the Part 2 Summative Test and 2 assignments during the whole 1st block of after school.

Peyton B. - I am really grateful that you are a friendly face and helpful peer to a student in one of your classes that really needs it! 

Samantha A.C. - Thank you for always being willing to help your classmates with translations and assignments. Your kindness does not go unnoticed. Thank you!

Addison F. - Addison is an exceptional student. She displays a strong work ethic and enthusiasm for learning. Addison is always eager to assist classmates and is known for her supportive nature. Addison's ability to work well with others makes her a standout student and a valuable member of our class.

Kilmer at a Glance

Upcoming Dates:

Picture(s) of the Week

Students in Science 8 classes experimented with speed by adjusting the height of a ramp while timing how long it took for a tennis ball to travel various distances.

This week our 7th graders took a field trip to Burke Lake as part of the Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE). 

The rain didn’t stop students from having fun during indoor recess this week.

Important Information

On Time to Class 

To help create a smooth and effective learning environment, we ask that students make every effort to arrive on time to each class. Please review Kilmer’s response to tardies outlined below. These will begin on October 1, 2024. Parents/guardians will be notified if your child is assigned lunch or after school detention.

  • Tardy Sweeps: Tardy sweeps will begin in October and occur randomly throughout the year.  A tardy sweep means if your child arrives to class after the bell, the teacher’s door will be locked, and a staff member will record the tardy. Students who are recorded in a tardy sweep will be assigned lunch detention. 
  • Class Tardies: Students may receive an office referral from their teacher if they reach four tardies to a single class. Students who receive an office referral will be assigned after school detention. 
  • Excessive Tardies: Students who reach a total of 10 or more tardies in a calendar month will be assigned an after school detention.

Regularly monitoring your student's tardies in ParentVue helps ensure they stay on track with punctuality and reinforces good habits for academic success. It is important for students to be in all classes on time every day, we will work with you and your child should there be issues or concerns that prevent them from getting to classes on time.

World Language

This year's World Languages Credit by Exam will be administered at each FCPS middle, high, and secondary school. The World Languages Credit by Exam is an optional test for students in grades 7-12 who can speak and write (type) proficiently in a language other than English. Based on the results of the exam, they can earn 1, 2, and/or 3 passing world language credits. Students who wish to take the exam should be able to proficiently understand and communicate in the testing language, and will be asked to listen, read, speak, write/type, and/or sign/interpret for ASL.  For more information on how to prepare for the exam and scoring criteria you may visit the FCPS website.

Registration opens on Monday, September 9th and closes on Thursday, October 3rd. Late registrations will not be accepted. The 2024 World Languages Credit by Exam will be administered at Kilmer, during the school day, this year. 

Students will be able to register using the sign-up form posted in the All Students Schoology page. Once your student's counselor completes the registration you will receive a confirmation email with additional details about the date and time of the exam. If you have any questions about registering for this exam, please reach out directly to your student's counselor.

Thomas Jefferson High School Student/Parent Information Night

Thursday, October 10th 5:00 - 6:00 pm

All 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, and we recommend that all those interested in participating view this video prior to attending the presentation. You can find additional information including important application deadlines here. If you have any questions about this event, please contact your student’s counselor.

After School Program

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 [email protected].

Kilmer PTA

Join the PTA and Friends of Kilmer and Enter to Win $200 in Amazon Gift Cards!

Joining the PTA is a fantastic way to support our students and teachers while having a say in the activities and initiatives that make our school a great place for everyone. PTA memberships are only $20 per family per year. As a thank you for your support, we will be raffling off two $100 in Amazon gift cards! Everyone who joins prior to 8:30 am on Tuesday, October 15th will be automatically entered to win a $100 Amazon gift card!

There will also be a drawing to win an additional $100 Amazon gift card for anyone who donates to Friends of Kilmer. The drawing will be made at the 7 pm PTA meeting on Oct 15th, you do not need to be present at the PTA meeting to win. Click HERE to purchase your PTA membership and contribute! For those of you that already purchased memberships prior to this announcement, we thank you, and you will also be participating in the raffle.

September is Hunger Awareness Month

60,000 Fairfax County kids are on free or reduced meals. 55,000 receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Kids attending class hungry are at risk for decreased academic performance. Food insecurity affects kids' concentration, mood, and memory. The Kilmer Food Pantry was established to send these students home with a weekend food pack to help them have enough to eat for the weekend. The Kilmer Food Pantry is proud to have expanded services, including providing meals throughout the month, offering school supplies, and providing warm coats and new socks in the winter.  

We can't do this without the generosity and support of our Kilmer Middle School community. There are many ways to support food insecurity at Kilmer. 

Here's how you can help now!

  1. Donate non-perishable food items from our Amazon wishlist. Items will be delivered directly to Kilmer Middle. 
  2. Donate non-perishable items on the marked carts in the main office (See suggestions below for ideas).
  3. Donate funds directly to the PTA and we’ll do the shopping for you!

Learn more at: https://kilmerpta.membershiptoolkit.com/foodpantry 

Reach out to the Executive Board with any questions.

References & Reminders

Lightspeed Parent Report

8100 Wolftrap Road Vienna, VA 22182 | Phone: 703-846-8800

Attendance: 703-846-8888 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

Kilmer MS Newsletter - September 13, 2024

GovDelivery2 months ago

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Kilmer Community,

As we settle into the school year, we continue to focus on teaching and reteaching expectations for our Kilmer students. So many of our students are doing a wonderful job meeting expectations and we are thrilled at the number of Positive Referrals pouring in from our teachers. We know that when we make it clear what is expected, our students can and will do the right thing. 

Our school’s mission is to create a safe, positive, and enriching environment that will promote resiliency, confidence, resourcefulness, and life-long learning. To that end, we want to take steps to help our students develop into ethical and global citizens who are respectful and dignify all members of our community. This is a key component of FCPS Portrait of a Graduate.

We hope that you will partner with us by talking to your child about the importance of being respectful to students, staff, and community members.  More specifically, please speak to your child about the importance of reporting to a trusted adult any incidents of racial slurs and hate speech.  Any of these behaviors are unacceptable within our safe and positive environment.

Families are at the heart of this work and we appreciate any and all support that you can provide at home.  I’ve included some resources you might find helpful below. If you need support on how to use these resources at home, please feel free to reach out to me or any member of my administrative team. 

Additionally, I believe that partnering with families and engaging in continual communication is essential to this work. For that reason, I am committed to reaching out to families via email and via community messaging in the event of a racial slur or hate speech incident at Kilmer Middle School. This is just one way that we can partner with parents to ensure that beliefs or behaviors that harm the dignity of others are not tolerated in any way by our school community. 

I know that together, we can make a difference by learning to embrace and value our differences instead of using them to divide us. 

Have a wonderful weekend and as always, reach out with any questions or concerns. 

Sincerely, 

Steven McFarlane

Principal

Positive Referrals

Here are just a few of the Positive Referrals received by our Kilmer Cougars from staff members this week!

Here are just a few of the Positive Referrals received by our Kilmer Cougars from staff members this week!

Marek R. - Marek, you've been crushing it lately in French! The past 2 weeks you've had such a positive impact on our learning environment. Merci! 

Oliver H. - Oliver you are always respectful, positive, and engaged when you come to class. It is a pleasure to teach you!  

Eliza D. - Eliza, it might be early in the school year, but you have already demonstrated leadership qualities and you always come to class positive as well as ready to learn!

Kilmer at a Glance

Upcoming Dates:

  • September 17-20 - 7th Grade Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) Field Trip (9/17-Comets Team, 9/18-Sirius Team, 9/19-Supernovas Team, 9/20-Starbursts Team)
  • September 19-20 - Picture Day through HPE Classes (Classes that conflict with the MWEE field trip will be able to take their picture on 9/19 or 9/20.)
Picture(s) of the Week

During Learning, Seminar Ms. Prokopius held an interest meeting for students to learn more about being a “Student Ambassador” at Kilmer.

Important Information

Picture Day - September 19 & 20

Picture Day is coming up! Students will take their photo through their Health & PE class on September 19th or 20th. If you would like to order photos, please go to https://vando.imagequix.com/g1001132466. If you need a paper order form, they are available in the Student Services office. Photos will be available 2-3 weeks after picture day. Questions about Ordering? Email: [email protected]

If your student is in 7th grade and going on the MWEE Field Trip on 9/19 or 9/20, they will take their photo on the day that they are not on the field trip.

World Language

This year's World Languages Credit by Exam will be administered at each FCPS middle, high, and secondary school. The World Languages Credit by Exam is an optional test for students in grades 7-12 who can speak and write (type) proficiently in a language other than English. Based on the results of the exam, they can earn 1, 2, and/or 3 passing world language credits. Students who wish to take the exam should be able to proficiently understand and communicate in the testing language, and will be asked to listen, read, speak, write/type, and/or sign/interpret for ASL.  For more information on how to prepare for the exam and scoring criteria you may visit the FCPS website.

Registration opens on Monday, September 9th and closes on Thursday, October 3rd. Late registrations will not be accepted. The 2024 World Languages Credit by Exam will be administered at Kilmer, during the school day, this year. 

Students will be able to register using the sign-up form posted in the All Students Schoology page. Once your student's counselor completes the registration you will receive a confirmation email with additional details about the date and time of the exam. If you have any questions about registering for this exam, please reach out directly to your student's counselor.

Locker Update

Students who completed the locker request form will receive an email on Monday, September 16 to notify them that their assigned locker number and combination is now visible in SIS StudentVue under the Student Info tab. Students will have the opportunity to practice opening their locker during the first 5 minutes of Learning Seminar on Wednesday, September 18.

After School Program

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 [email protected].

Kilmer PTA

First PTA Meeting of 2024-2025

Please join us for our first PTA meeting of the school year on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 at 9:30 AM. We will be trying out a hybrid (in-person and Zoom) model. The meeting will be in the Group Instruction Room, and families can park on the east side of the building and enter through Door #15. If attending virtually, a Zoom link will be sent via eNotify prior to the meeting.

September is Hunger Awareness Month

60,000 Fairfax County kids are on free or reduced meals. 55,000 receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Kids attending class hungry are at risk for decreased academic performance. Food insecurity affects kids' concentration, mood, and memory. The Kilmer Food Pantry was established to send these students home with a weekend food pack to help them have enough to eat for the weekend. The Kilmer Food Pantry is proud to have expanded services, including providing meals throughout the month, offering school supplies, and providing warm coats and new socks in the winter.  

We can't do this without the generosity and support of our Kilmer Middle School community. There are many ways to support food insecurity at Kilmer. 

Here's how you can help now!

  1. Donate non-perishable food items from our Amazon wishlist. Items will be delivered directly to Kilmer Middle. 
  2. Donate non-perishable items on the marked carts in the main office (See suggestions below for ideas).
  3. Donate funds directly to the PTA and we’ll do the shopping for you!

Learn more at: https://kilmerpta.membershiptoolkit.com/foodpantry 

Reach out to the Executive Board with any questions.

References & Reminders

Damaged Chromebooks

All students have been given a brand new Chromebook for the 2024-2025 school year. An important reminder, please ensure your student keeps the protective cover on. These protective covers are vital to keeping Chromebooks in great condition. If a Chromebook is damaged (meaning willfully, or by being careless), families will be charged through MySchoolBucks. A breakdown of costs are below:

Parent Digital Consent - Forms

Beginning August 1, many of the parental consent and opt-out forms will be made available through a new Parent Digital Consent System. A parent or guardian will need to log-in using their SIS ParentVue username (email address) and password. If you have just registered your SIS ParentVUE account you will need to wait 24 hours before you can log in to the Digital Consent System. The SIS ParentVUE Account Overview page has information about registration and how to get support with your account.

Some forms in the system are required (like the Digital Resource Consent), while others, like the Family Education Opt-out form, are optional. If you have more than one child in FCPS, you must fill out the forms for each.

Updating Student information through SIS ParentVUE

The Online Verification Update (OVU) packet in SIS ParentVUE allows parents to review and update phone numbers, emergency contacts, and health information (such as health conditions and immunizations). The enrolling parent can access OVU through their SIS ParentVUE account. Parents/Guardians can continue to use traditional paper forms to submit changes to Kilmer Middle School. Paper forms can be submitted to the Kilmer Student Services Office. 

Important:  Do not use the OVU packet if your address has changed or if you moved to another FCPS school.  Contact the Kilmer Student Services Office directly to complete address updates or to withdraw and transfer your student to the new school.

7th Grade Immunization Requirement

All students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations prior to the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap), Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. 

  • To meet the Meningococcal (MenACWY) requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 10 or older.      
  • As a parent/guardian, you may decide that your child not receive the HPV vaccination. The school does not require documentation if a parent/guardian elects for their student not to receive the HPV vaccination.

If you have not submitted immunization documentation to your child’s elementary school this past spring or to Kilmer Middle School this summer, please submit an updated immunization record showing that your child has received the missing immunization(s) to [email protected]. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school. 

If you have questions regarding your child’s immunization status, please contact Gail Wood, Student Services Assistant at [email protected].

Lightspeed Parent Report

8100 Wolftrap Road Vienna, VA 22182 | Phone: 703-846-8800

Attendance: 703-846-8888 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

Kilmer MS Newsletter - September 6, 2024

GovDelivery2 months 1 week ago

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Kilmer Community,

It was great seeing so many of you at Back-to-School Night last night! Events like BTSN are incredibly important. They help us lay a strong foundation for our students' success by fostering connections between our staff and our parent community.

Next week, we have a soft rollout of our Afterschool Program. Students seeking academic support from one of their teachers or participating in cross country will have access to late buses at 4:45 PM. The following week our Afterschool Program activities and clubs will begin for all students in addition to the academic support available from all of our teachers. 

Finally, I’m so proud of how our students have started the school year. As I’ve written before, we are incredibly intentional about how we explicitly teach, and reteach, students about expectations both in the classroom and in our common areas. Our students have done an excellent job learning these routines, and as students settle in we’re able to open up more opportunities. For example, this week we started outside seating for lunch on our patio. As we approach fall weather, it’s great to see so many students taking advantage of the fresh air during lunch. 

I hope you have a great weekend. As always, reach out if you have any questions.

Sincerely, 

Steven McFarlane

Principal

Positive Referrals

Here are just a few of the Positive Referrals received by our Kilmer Cougars from staff members this week!

Omar N. - Thank you so much for coming over quickly to help me put away cones before 2nd period PE! I was really struggling and so appreciated your help. Quick kindness goes a long way!

Kimberly A. - Kimberly brings her energetic learning style to class each day. She is kind to her teachers and classmates and participates often throughout class. Keep up the good work!

Olivia M. - Olivia stayed after school to stack extra chairs without being asked. Thank you, Olivia, for being so respectful and considerate!!!

Kilmer at a Glance

Upcoming Dates:

  • September 17-20 - 7th Grade Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience (MWEE) Field Trip (9/17-Comets Team, 9/18-Sirius Team, 9/19-Supernovas Team, 9/20-Starbursts Team)
  • September 19-20 - Picture Day through HPE Classes (Classes that conflict with the MWEE field trip will be able to take their picture on 9/19 or 9/20.)
Picture(s) of the Week

Thank you to the PTA for their support at Back-to-School Night this week! Keep up to date with PTA information and events (or join if you haven’t already 🙂) by visiting: https://kilmerpta.membershiptoolkit.com/

Starting this week, students had the chance to eat outside and enjoy the beautiful weather!

Positive Referrals started being delivered this week. It was awesome to get the chance to celebrate the fantastic students we have here at Kilmer!

Important Information

Picture Day - September 19 & 20

Picture Day is coming up! Students will take their photo through their Health & PE class on September 19th or 20th. If you would like to order photos, please go to https://vando.imagequix.com/g1001132466. If you need a paper order form, they are available in the Student Services office. Photos will be available 2-3 weeks after picture day. Questions about Ordering? Email: [email protected]

If your student is in 7th grade and going on the MWEE Field Trip on 9/19 or 9/20, they will take their photo on the day that they are not on the field trip.

World Language

This year's World Languages Credit by Exam will be administered at each FCPS middle, high, and secondary school. The World Languages Credit by Exam is an optional test for students in grades 7-12 who can speak and write (type) proficiently in a language other than English. Based on the results of the exam, they can earn 1, 2, and/or 3 passing world language credits. Students who wish to take the exam should be able to proficiently understand and communicate in the testing language, and will be asked to listen, read, speak, write/type, and/or sign/interpret for ASL.  For more information on how to prepare for the exam and scoring criteria you may visit the FCPS website.

Registration opens on Monday, September 9th and closes on Thursday, October 3rd. Late registrations will not be accepted. The 2024 World Languages Credit by Exam will be administered at Kilmer, during the school day, this year. 

Students will be able to register using the sign-up form posted in the All Students Schoology page. Once your student's counselor completes the registration you will receive a confirmation email with additional details about the date and time of the exam. If you have any questions about registering for this exam, please reach out directly to your student's counselor.

Locker Update

Students who completed the locker request form will receive their locker assignments and locker combinations by email on Monday, September 16.

After School Program

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 [email protected].

Kilmer PTA

September is Hunger Awareness Month. 60,000 Fairfax County kids are on free or reduced meals. 55,000 receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Kids attending class hungry are at risk for decreased academic performance. Food insecurity affects kids' concentration, mood, and memory. The Kilmer Food Pantry was established to send these students home with a weekend food pack to help them have enough to eat for the weekend. The Kilmer Food Pantry is proud to have expanded services, including providing meals throughout the month, offering school supplies, and providing warm coats and new socks in the winter.  

We can't do this without the generosity and support of our Kilmer Middle School community. There are many ways to support food insecurity at Kilmer. 

Here's how you can help now!

  1. Donate non-perishable food items from our Amazon wishlist. Items will be delivered directly to Kilmer Middle. 
  2. Donate non-perishable items on the marked carts in the main office (See suggestions below for ideas).
  3. Donate funds directly to the PTA  and we’ll do the shopping for you!

Learn more at: https://kilmerpta.membershiptoolkit.com/foodpantry 

 

Reach out to the Executive Board with any questions.

References & Reminders

Learning Seminar

On your student's schedule, you will see an 8th & 9th period Learning Seminar course. Learning Seminar is a 90-minute academic block on Wednesdays and Fridays. During this time students have the opportunity to:

  • Visit one of their teachers for support
  • Participate in remediation or intervention to improve academic skills
  • Work on homework, retake assessments, or engage in learning extensions 

To help students structure their time during this class, students are using a digital Student Daily Agenda. Each student has created their own copy of this document, which can be found in their All Students: Schoology page. Students will begin each Learning Seminar period by opening their agenda and using it to track daily assignments, check for passes to see teachers, and access online platforms such as Lexia and Mathspace.  We encourage parents to review this agenda with your student at home and refer back to it as we continue to help them build their time management and organizational skills throughout the year.Click to edit this placeholder text.

Damaged Chromebooks

All students have been given a brand new Chromebook for the 2024-2025 school year. An important reminder, please ensure your student keeps the protective cover on. These protective covers are vital to keeping Chromebooks in great condition. If a Chromebook is damaged (meaning willfully, or by being careless), families will be charged through MySchoolBucks. A breakdown of costs are below:

Parent Digital Consent - Forms

Beginning August 1, many of the parental consent and opt-out forms will be made available through a new Parent Digital Consent System. A parent or guardian will need to log-in using their SIS ParentVue username (email address) and password. If you have just registered your SIS ParentVUE account you will need to wait 24 hours before you can log in to the Digital Consent System. The SIS ParentVUE Account Overview page has information about registration and how to get support with your account.

Some forms in the system are required (like the Digital Resource Consent), while others, like the Family Education Opt-out form, are optional. If you have more than one child in FCPS, you must fill out the forms for each.

Updating Student Information Through SIS ParentVUE

The Online Verification Update (OVU) packet in SIS ParentVUE allows parents to review and update phone numbers, emergency contacts, and health information (such as health conditions and immunizations). The enrolling parent can access OVU through their SIS ParentVUE account. Parents/Guardians can continue to use traditional paper forms to submit changes to Kilmer Middle School. Paper forms can be submitted to the Kilmer Student Services Office. 

Important:  Do not use the OVU packet if your address has changed or if you moved to another FCPS school.  Contact the Kilmer Student Services Office directly to complete address updates or to withdraw and transfer your student to the new school.

7th Grade Immunization Requirement

All students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations prior to the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap), Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. 

  • To meet the Meningococcal (MenACWY) requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 10 or older.      
  • As a parent/guardian, you may decide that your child not receive the HPV vaccination. The school does not require documentation if a parent/guardian elects for their student not to receive the HPV vaccination.

If you have not submitted immunization documentation to your child’s elementary school this past spring or to Kilmer Middle School this summer, please submit an updated immunization record showing that your child has received the missing immunization(s) to [email protected]. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school. 

If you have questions regarding your child’s immunization status, please contact Gail Wood, Student Services Assistant at [email protected].

Lightspeed Parent Report

8100 Wolftrap Road Vienna, VA 22182 | Phone: 703-846-8800

Attendance: 703-846-8888 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

Kilmer MS Newsletter - August 29, 2024

GovDelivery2 months 2 weeks ago

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

Kilmer Community,

As I mentioned last week, we started a new initiative with Positive Referrals to celebrate positive behavior demonstrated by our students. It’s rewarding to recognize students who make such a positive impact on our school community. Each Friday, students who receive a Positive Referral throughout the week are invited to pick up a reward during lunch. Starting this week, I will highlight just a few of the Positive Referrals submitted by staff for our students in the weekly newsletter (see below). 

Also, don’t forget about Back-to-School Night next Thursday, September 5, from 6-8 PM. There’s a lot of information below including a period-by-period bell schedule, as well as a guide to access your child’s schedule beforehand. We look forward to seeing you there!

I hope you have a great long weekend. As always, reach out if you have any questions. 

Sincerely, 

Steven McFarlane

Principal

Positive Referrals

Here are just a few of the Positive Referrals received by our Kilmer Cougars from staff members this week!

Neema O. - Neema's class came from English to the Library for orientation. She was one of the last to arrive in the library and had her hands full with things that her peers had left in the classroom as they hurried out -- one student's drum stick bag, another's syllabus. And then she made sure to get the items back to their original owners. What a thoughtful, positive role model!

Iris B.V. - Iris is a wonderful group member to her teammates. She is always willing to lend a hand and help out her group when someone doesn't know what to do. Iris also helps her group stay on task so they can all finish their work and understand the material. Thank you Iris!

Josh H. - Josh helped out as a new student ambassador for a student who is new to the country. He was so responsible and made sure the student understood where to go for his classes. Thank you Josh for your willingness to support other students. You are a terrific leader!

Kilmer at a Glance

Upcoming Dates:

  • September 5 - Back-to-School Night at Kilmer MS, 6-8 PM. Additional details included under the important information section.
  • September 17-20 - 7th Grade MWEE Field Trip (9/17-Comets Team, 9/18-Sirius Team, 9/19-Supernovas Team, 9/20-Starbursts Team)
  • September 19-20 - Picture Day through HPE Classes (Classes that conflict with the MWEE field trip will still be able to take their picture on 9/19 or 9/20.)
Picture(s) of the Week

Ms. Smith’s English 7 classes made a “Word of the Year Wall” which includes their positive commitments and goals for this school year.

Ms. Kozik’s Theater classes learned about types of theaters and how their origins from Ancient Rome evolved to the theaters we have today.

Students enjoying a game of Uno during Recess time. Students have the option to choose between an outdoor space or indoor space for Recess.

Important Information

Back-to-School-Night

Back-to-School Night is Wednesday, September 5 from 6:00-8:00 pm. During Back-to-School Night, families will follow their child’s schedule and attend sessions with each teacher to learn about the curriculum in each course.

Schedule

Families will start in their child’s 1st period class, and follow the bell schedule below. We will ring a bell to signal the beginning/end of each period. 

Please make sure you have access to your child’s schedule with classroom locations during the event. You can access class schedules through the SIS ParentVUE Mobile App  or have your child share it with you. Families will only attend periods 1-7. Period 8 and 9 are our Learning Seminar periods and period 10 is not a class, it is your child’s Interdisciplinary Team assignment.

  • Videos: Navigating SIS ParentVue

English  Spanish  Arabic  Vietnamese  Korean  Farsi  Urdu  Chinese

Understanding Your Child’s Schedule in the SIS ParentVUE Mobile App

Parking

Parking options for Back-to-School Night include Kilmer’s parking lot and street parking. Even with these options, parking can be tight so you may want to consider carpooling with a friend or neighbor. Please DO NOT park at the Nation’s Capital Swim Club. 

Learning Seminar

On your student's schedule, you will see an 8th & 9th period Learning Seminar course. Learning Seminar is a 90 minute academic block on Wednesdays and Fridays. During this time students have the opportunity to:

  • Visit one of their teachers for support
  • Participate in remediation or intervention to improve academic skills
  • Work on homework, retake assessments, or engage in learning extensions 

To help students structure their time during this class, students are using a digital Student Daily Agenda. Each student has created their own copy of this document, which can be found in their All Students: Schoology page. Students will begin each Learning Seminar period by opening their agenda and using it to track daily assignments, check for passes to see teachers, and access online platforms such as Lexia and Mathspace.  We encourage parents to review this agenda with your student at home and refer back to it as we continue to help them build their time management and organizational skills throughout the year.

Locker Update

Students will have the option to request a hall locker during the third week of school. A locker request form will be posted on Schoology, Tuesday, Sept. 3. Students will have until Friday, September 6 to submit their request. Students who make a request will receive their locker assignments and locker combinations by email on Monday, September 16. With the introduction of FCPS laptops, the amount of lockers requested by students has significantly decreased over the past couple years. If your child is in need of a locker prior to these dates, please contact your child’s school counselor. 

Parent Digital Consent - Forms

Beginning August 1, many of the parental consent and opt-out forms will be made available through a new Parent Digital Consent System. A parent or guardian will need to log-in using their SIS ParentVue username (email address) and password. If you have just registered your SIS ParentVUE account you will need to wait 24 hours before you can log in to the Digital Consent System. The SIS ParentVUE Account Overview page has information about registration and how to get support with your account.

Some forms in the system are required (like the Digital Resource Consent), while others, like the Family Education Opt-out form, are optional. If you have more than one child in FCPS, you must fill out the forms for each.

After School Program

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 [email protected].

Middle School Sports  – Cross Country

Kilmer hosts Fall Cross Country as a part of the FCPS Middle School Athletics Program

and is open to all—no experience required!  We will have two Cross Country Team information sessions (4:30-5 pm or 5:15-5:45 pm) at the After School Activities Fair held from 4-6 pm September 9th at Kilmer.

Practices will be held after school from 2:30-3:30 pm beginning the week of September 9th.  Practices will occur each week on Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday (subject to change).  Late Bus Transportation is provided at 4:45 pm.

Cross Country Meet Schedule*:

  • 9/21 - 8:30-10:00 am, @ Robinson SS
  • 9/28 - 8:30-10:00 am, @ Herndon MS
  • 10/5 - 8:30-10:00 am, @ Kilmer MS
  • 10/19 - 10:30-12:00 pm, @ Poe MS
  • 10/26 - Meet location and time TBD

*Students must participate in at least 3 practices prior to competing.

What Is Required? Students and parents will need to complete several steps prior to participating, including:

  • Student-Athletes in FCPS are required to be covered by medical insurance

Forms must be submitted to Ms. Kardelis, After-School Program Specialist and Kilmer Athletic Coordinator at [email protected].  Forms may also be dropped off in the collection box in the Main Office.

Kilmer PTA

Reminder, please be sure to sign up to receive information from the PTA. Unless you opt-in, you will not hear from us!

  1. Click here to join the new Kilmer PTA facebook group. The group is private and limited to Kilmer families and staff - so please be sure to answer the security questions so we can approve your membership. You may also use this group to post questions and other information related to Kilmer.
  2. Joining the Kilmer website is free and will allow you to receive the Kilmer PTA's email newsletter as well as access the student directory.  
  3. Don’t forget to JOIN THE PTA!  

Reach out to the Executive Board with any questions.

References & Reminders

Damaged Chromebooks

All students have been given a brand new Chromebook for the 2024-2025 school year. An important reminder, please ensure your student keeps the protective cover on. These protective covers are vital to keeping Chromebooks in great condition. If a Chromebook is damaged (meaning willfully, or by being careless), families will be charged through MySchoolBucks. A breakdown of costs are below:

Attendance

Our goal is to partner with families to help minimize the number of days students are absent. Getting your student into the habit of daily attendance helps reduce stress and makes it easier to connect with friends and teachers. We understand that each year presents different extenuating circumstances that lead to missed days. However, we hope to increase communication in regards to absences to reduce impact on your student’s well-being. FCPS has created a Health Flyer for Parents indicating when a parent should keep their child home from school. Please review FCPS Attendance Policies and resources to encourage regular school attendance. 

Beginning in the 24-25 school year, parents/legal guardians can report up to two consecutive absences through SIS ParentVUE. Learn more about attendance reporting through ParentVUE HERE. Families can also report absences by emailing [email protected]  or calling 703-846-8888 before 9:00 am each day. If parent contact is not made within 48 hours, the absences will be recorded as unexcused. 

Updating Student Information Through SIS ParentVUE

The Online Verification Update (OVU) packet in SIS ParentVUE allows parents to review and update phone numbers, emergency contacts, and health information (such as health conditions and immunizations). The enrolling parent can access OVU through their SIS ParentVUE account. Parents/Guardians can continue to use traditional paper forms to submit changes to Kilmer Middle School. Paper forms can be submitted to the Kilmer Student Services Office. 

Important:  Do not use the OVU packet if your address has changed or if you moved to another FCPS school.  Contact the Kilmer Student Services Office directly to complete address updates or to withdraw and transfer your student to the new school.

7th Grade Immunization Requirement

All students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations prior to the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap), Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. 

  • To meet the Meningococcal (MenACWY) requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 10 or older.      
  • As a parent/guardian, you may decide that your child not receive the HPV vaccination. The school does not require documentation if a parent/guardian elects for their student not to receive the HPV vaccination.

If you have not submitted immunization documentation to your child’s elementary school this past spring or to Kilmer Middle School this summer, please submit an updated immunization record showing that your child has received the missing immunization(s) to [email protected]. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school. 

If you have questions regarding your child’s immunization status, please contact Gail Wood, Student Services Assistant at [email protected].

Lightspeed Parent Report

8100 Wolftrap Road Vienna, VA 22182 | Phone: 703-846-8800

Attendance: 703-846-8888 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

Kilmer MS Newsletter - August 23, 2024

GovDelivery2 months 3 weeks ago

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

A message from Principal Steven McFarlane

Kilmer Community,

It’s been a fantastic week! The first week back is always filled with a mixture of emotions. Students are excited and a bit nervous, but quickly they settle into their new routine, getting to know their teachers and new friends along the way. 

As educators, we know how important it is for us to teach, and reteach, expectations to students. I spent time this week on the PA system walking students through the schedule. Students have done an amazing job learning how to safely maneuver the hallways, transition to/from recess, as well as lunches. Additionally, teachers have been doing the same thing inside their classrooms. We know that it’s imperative to explicitly teach routines and procedures so our students are set up for success throughout the year. 

Finally, beginning Monday, Kilmer is continuing our program to celebrate positive student behavior. Teachers and staff are encouraged to write a “Positive Referral” to students who demonstrate exemplary behavior. Every Thursday/Friday, students who have been recognized by a staff member during the week will receive a special note. Along with the note, students will also receive a voucher to redeem for a reward during lunch on Fridays. Additionally, we will showcase a copy of the note in the Main Hall to inspire other students to make positive choices. We look forward to celebrating how Kilmer students make a positive impact every day!

Have a great weekend. As always, reach out if you have any questions. 

Sincerely, 

Steven McFarlane

Principal

Kilmer at a Glance

Upcoming Dates:

Picture(s) of the Week

Students have settled into the lunch routine, and many of them have been bringing cards to play with friends.

Welcome to Joe Gillen, our new Science 7 teacher. Students eagerly asked him questions about his favorite sports teams and experience as a researcher.

Science 8 students collaborate to identify the most important Lab Safety rules in Mr. Mahowald’s class.

Algebra students in Mr. Prevost’s class collect data on baskets made to ultimately perform data analysis and construct a scatter plot. 

Important Information

Attendance

Our goal is to partner with families to help minimize the number of days students are absent. Getting your student into the habit of daily attendance helps reduce stress and makes it easier to connect with friends and teachers. We understand that each year presents different extenuating circumstances that lead to missed days. However, we hope to increase communication in regards to absences to reduce impact on your student’s well-being. FCPS has created a Health Flyer for Parents indicating when a parent should keep their child home from school. Please review FCPS Attendance Policies and resources to encourage regular school attendance. 

Beginning in the 24-25 school year, parents/legal guardians can report up to two consecutive absences through SIS ParentVUE. Learn more about attendance reporting through ParentVUE HERE. Families can also report absences by emailing [email protected]  or calling 703-846-8888 before 9:00 am each day. If parent contact is not made within 48 hours, the absences will be recorded as unexcused.

Locker Update

Students will have the option to request a hall locker during the third week of school. A locker request form will be posted on Schoology, Tuesday, Sept. 3. Students will have until Friday, September 9 to submit their request. Students who make a request will receive their locker assignments and locker combinations by email on Monday, September 16. The dates to request a locker have been updated to allow students time to determine whether or not one will be needed this school year. With the introduction of FCPS laptops, the amount of lockers requested by students has significantly decreased over the past couple years. If your child is in need of a locker prior to these dates, please contact your child’s school counselor.

Damaged Chromebooks

All students have been given a brand new Chromebook for the 2024-2025 school year. An important reminder, please ensure your student keeps the protective cover on. These protective covers are vital to keeping Chromebooks in great condition. If a Chromebook is damaged (meaning willfully, or by being careless), families will be charged through MySchoolBucks. A breakdown of costs are below:

Parent Digital Consent - Forms

Beginning August 1, many of the parental consent and opt-out forms will be made available through a new Parent Digital Consent System. A parent or guardian will need to log-in using their SIS ParentVue username (email address) and password. If you have just registered your SIS ParentVUE account you will need to wait 24 hours before you can log in to the Digital Consent System. The SIS ParentVUE Account Overview page has information about registration and how to get support with your account.

Some forms in the system are required (like the Digital Resource Consent), while others, like the Family Education Opt-out form, are optional. If you have more than one child in FCPS, you must fill out the forms for each.

Free and Reduced-Price Meals

The application for free and reduced-priced meals is now available for the 2024-25 school year. Students who were approved for free and reduced-price lunch last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should re-apply as soon as possible for the 2024-25 school year, so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost. 

Lightspeed Parent Report

After School Program

The After School Program & Athletics Welcome Letter is linked on the Kilmer website, https://kilmerms.fcps.edu/afterschool_newsletter. Topics include:

  • What is the After School Program?
  • When does After School start?
  • How do students sign up?
  • Middle school athletics
Kilmer PTA

Hello Kilmer Families! 

We can't believe the first day of Kilmer MS is just around the corner! The Kilmer PTA is planning some exciting events for the fall that will help the students and their families get acclimated, have fun, and build community. We will be promoting these events through both Kilmer's brand new facebook group and our email newsletter. Please be sure to sign up for one or ideally both so you can stay in-the-know! Unless you opt-in, you will not hear from us!

  1. Click here to join the new Kilmer PTA facebook group. The group is private and limited to Kilmer families and staff - so please be sure to answer the security questions so we can approve your membership. You may also use this group to post questions and other information related to Kilmer.
  2. Kilmer has a brand new website through Membership Toolkit. When you visit this site, please be sure to create an account and add in your information for the student directory. Joining the Kilmer website is free and will allow you to receive the Kilmer PTA's email newsletter as well as access the student directory. Please be sure to add your email - and you will be able to select what, if any, information is made public to the other Kilmer families. Any shared emails will only be used to send Kilmer PTA related info. 
  3. While on our website, you will be able to JOIN THE PTA! Kilmer PTA membership is only $20 for families and $10 for teachers. The Kilmer PTA relies on membership funds to host fun events for students including the Fall and Spring Festivals, support teacher appreciation, and so much more! Joining the PTA does not require you to volunteer in any way - but we'd love to have your help if you would like to get involved!

We are looking forward to a wonderful year! To get more involved with the PTA or if you have any questions, please reach out to us!

Wendy Rosner - [email protected]

Laura Roper - [email protected]

Mandy Ryan - [email protected]

References & Reminders

Middle School Sports – Cross Country

Kilmer hosts Fall Cross Country as a part of FCPS Middle School Athletics Program and is open to all–no experience required! Practices will be held after school beginning in September (details forthcoming).Late Bus Transportation is provided at 4:45pm. Cross Country Meets begin September 21st (tentative). Students must participate in at least 3 practices prior to competing.

What Is Required? Students and parents will need to complete these steps prior to participating, including:

Kilmer Afterschool Registration Form (Must be signed into student’s FCPS Google Account)

FALL 2024 Middle School Sports Participant Registration Form

Each Student-Athlete and a Parent/Guardian will review the FCPS Middle School Sports Athletic Health Education Program prior to the student’s participation in middle school athletic activities.

  • Check ‘I Agree’ button to indicate this was completed
  • Link embedded near end of Registration Form (second to last question…Health Education Program)

Once completed, the forms below must be submitted to the Main Office collection box for Ms. Kardelis, After-School Program Specialist to review and process:

FCPS Middle School Sports Athletic Participation/Parental Consent/Physical Examination Form (PPE). The exam must be completed by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant. Please note that the form must be dated on or after May 1, 2024, for the 2024-2025 school year. Student-Athletes in FCPS are required to be covered by medical insurance.

Emergency Care Card information

Bell Schedule

The bell schedule is on the Kilmer Website along with a PDF link for families who want to download and/or print.The first day of school is our Anchor Day (see schedule below), and we’ll walk students through all schedules (Anchor, Green, and Blue) the first couple weeks of school. Students can identify their assigned lunch based on their 5th period and 6th period teacher. The teacher lunch schedule can be found below the bell schedule

Updating Student Information Through SIS ParentVUE

The Online Verification Update (OVU) packet in SIS ParentVUE allows parents to review and update phone numbers, emergency contacts, and health information (such as health conditions and immunizations). The enrolling parent can access OVU through their SIS ParentVUE account. Parents/Guardians can continue to use traditional paper forms to submit changes to Kilmer Middle School. Paper forms can be submitted to the Kilmer Student Services Office. 

Important:  Do not use the OVU packet if your address has changed or if you moved to another FCPS school.  Contact the Kilmer Student Services Office directly to complete address updates or to withdraw and transfer your student to the new school.

7th Grade Immunization Requirement

All students entering 7th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations prior to the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap), Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. 

  • To meet the Meningococcal (MenACWY) requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 10 or older.      
  • As a parent/guardian, you may decide that your child not receive the HPV vaccination. The school does not require documentation if a parent/guardian elects for their student not to receive the HPV vaccination.

If you have not submitted immunization documentation to your child’s elementary school this past spring or to Kilmer Middle School this summer, please submit an updated immunization record showing that your child has received the missing immunization(s) to [email protected]. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school. 

If you have questions regarding your child’s immunization status, please contact Gail Wood, Student Services Assistant at [email protected].

Cell Phone Pilot Study

As a reminder, Kilmer is in the “control group” that will not use cell phone storage pouches. Our focus is on consistently implementing the current cell phone policy with fidelity. At Kilmer, that means from 7:30am to 2:15pm, cell phones and devices (including tablets and Airpods) must be off and away in backpacks (not pockets). Smart watches may be worn, but the phone, messaging, and internet viewing features must be off (in airplane mode). These expectations and routines will be shared with staff and students each day through announcements, and all students will participate in a cell phone lesson during Learning Seminar classes next week.

All middle schools will follow the same guidance and collect the phone if a student is not adhering to the “off and away” expectation during the school day:

We appreciate your support in reinforcing these policies at home and ensuring your child understands the importance of following them.

Securly Pass

Our biggest priority at Kilmer is the safety of all of our students, including knowing where students are in case of emergencies. To support us in this work, Kilmer, along with many schools across FCPS, will be implementing Securly Pass for the 2024-2025 school year. 

Securly Pass is an online platform that allows Kilmer staff to issue hall passes to students anytime they need to leave a classroom. This new platform helps us to manage how many students are in the hallways during the school day, helps us keep students in the classroom during essential instruction, and creates a safe environment for our students.

Students are able to access Securly Pass through their school-issued device using any web browser. Students may request a pass to leave the classroom or request an appointment with a staff member (counselor, administrator, clinic team, etc.). Staff are able to automatically approve the passes quickly, with limited impact on the instruction of the classroom.

Students will have three hall passes per day for their personal use but can request additional passes from their teachers if the need arises. While students are out of the classroom, the pass system monitors how long they are gone so that teachers can focus on the remaining students in the classroom. Our administrative team and security staff are able to monitor active hall passes building wide to ensure we are able to provide effective supervision in appropriate areas.

8100 Wolftrap Road Vienna, VA 22182 | Phone: 703-846-8800

Attendance: 703-846-8888 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

Kilmer MS Newsletter - August 16, 2024

GovDelivery2 months 4 weeks ago

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

A message from Principal Steven McFarlane

Kilmer Community,

It was great seeing so many students and families in the building for our Open House yesterday! During the first few weeks, we will spend time teaching (and re-teaching!) our routines to ensure a smooth transition for your child. We will also take the same approach with Kilmer’s participation in the FCPS cell phone pilot study. Below you will find more details about what to expect. 

As we know, the transition to middle school can be a big change. We want to start off this school year by creating a safe and supportive environment for all students. To help foster a sense of belonging, staff and students will wear name tags each day for the first two weeks of school (name tags will be provided each day in your child’s 1st/2nd period class). By wearing name tags, students and staff will get to know each other by name quickly. Ultimately this helps students feel connected and creates a more inclusive atmosphere. We look forward to getting to know each and every one of your students and appreciate all of your support as we begin the new school year.

Lastly, there always seems to be a lot of information at the beginning of the year. In order to help students and families navigate the first day of school we’ve created a section below titled, “1st Day of School “ with the most important information. 

Have a great weekend. As always, reach out if you have any questions. 

Sincerely, 

Kilmer at a Glance

Upcoming Dates:

Picture(s) of the Week

Thanks to all the students and families who attended Kilmer’s Open House!

1st Day of School

Transportation

  • Buses: Bus stops, times, and route numbers are available on SIS StudentVue or ParentVue. Sign in, then go to Student Info, and scroll down to view bus information. The contact for Transportation is: 703-249-7100.
  • Kiss & Ride, Walkers, and Bike riders: Students may enter the building beginning at 7:10am. See the map below for the Morning Arrival Drop-off traffic pattern and entrances for walkers and bike riders:
  • Kiss N’ Ride: Cars will be directed to pull all the way up along the side of the building. Students may unload along the side of the building and enter through Door 16 towards the front. Students should not be dropped off in the parking lot.
  • Buses: Unload in the front building, students enter through Door 1.
  • All students must use the sidewalks and crosswalks at all times. Bike riders MUST walk their bikes once they arrive on campus.
  • ONLY school buses will be allowed use of the bus loop in the front of the school from 7:00 to 7:30 am.
  • Please do not drop your students off in the fire station lot or make a U-turn on Wolftrap Road. We have seen many almost accidents and several citations by FCPD have been written. To avoid accidents or tickets, use the Kiss & Ride lanes.

Afternoon Dismissal

  • Buses: Buses load along the side of the building. Students will have time in their last period class to check their bus number and location before dismissal.
  • Walkers and bike riders will leave via Door 1 or Door 11. Please use sidewalks and crosswalks at all times.
  • Kiss N’ Ride: Cars will be directed to pull all the way up along the front of the building outside the Main Entrance. Cars will wait in a double line and students will walk to their car. See the map below for the Afternoon Dismissal Pick-up traffic pattern:

Bell Schedule

The bell schedule is on the Kilmer Website along with a PDF link for families who want to download and/or print.The first day of school is our Anchor Day (see schedule below), and we’ll walk students through all schedules (Anchor, Green, and Blue) the first couple weeks of school. Students can identify their assigned lunch based on their 5th period and 6th period teacher. The teacher lunch schedule can be found below the bell schedule

Student Schedules

Students can view their class schedule through SIS StudentVUE. StudentVue can be accessed through students’ laptops or through the SIS StudentVUE mobile app. Class schedules are also visible for parents in SIS ParentVUE. All students have a 8 and 9 period Learning Seminar. Period 10 is not a class, as this “period” designates what team your child has been assigned to for the school year. Each Interdisciplinary Team includes a group of students who have the same English, Social Studies, and Science teacher. Please note, students will receive a paper copy of their class schedule during 1st period on Monday to assist them with following their schedule throughout the school day.

Laptop Distribution

If your student was unable to pick up their FCPS laptop during Shifting Gears or Open House, laptops will be distributed during 1st period on Monday. Students who need technology support with their laptop can go to the library during their lunch period. 

Lockers

Students will have the option to request a hall locker during the first week of school. A locker request form will be posted on Schoology on Wednesday, August 21. Students will have one week to submit their request. Students who make a request will receive their locker assignments and locker combinations on Tuesday, September 3. 

Important Information

Attendance

Our goal is to partner with families to help minimize the number of days students are absent. Getting your student into the habit of daily attendance helps reduce stress and makes it easier to connect with friends and teachers. We understand that each year presents different extenuating circumstances that lead to missed days, however, we hope to increase communication in regards to absences to reduce impact on your student’s well-being. FCPS has created a Health Flyer for Parents indicating when a parent should keep their child home from school. Please review FCPS Attendance Policies and resources to encourage regular school attendance. 

Beginning in the 24-25 school year, parents/legal guardians can report up to two consecutive absences through SIS ParentVUE. Learn more about attendance reporting through ParentVUE HERE. Families can also report absences by emailing [email protected]  or calling 703-846-8888 before 9:00 am each day. If parent contact is not made within 48 hours, the absences will be recorded as unexcused.

Updating Student information through SIS ParentVUE

The Online Verification Update (OVU) packet in SIS ParentVUE allows parents to review and update phone numbers, emergency contacts, and health information (such as health conditions and immunizations). The enrolling parent can access OVU through their SIS ParentVUE account. Parents/Guardians can continue to use traditional paper forms to submit changes to Kilmer Middle School. Paper forms can be submitted to the Kilmer Student Services Office. 

Important:  Do not use the OVU packet if your address has changed or if you moved to another FCPS school.  Contact the Kilmer Student Services Office directly to complete address updates or to withdraw and transfer your student to the new school.

7th Grade Immunization Requirement

All students entering 7th grade will be required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations prior to the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap), Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

  • To meet the Meningococcal (MenACWY) requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 10 or older.      
  • As a parent/guardian, you may decide that your child not receive the HPV vaccination. The school does not require documentation if a parent/guardian elects for their student not to receive the HPV vaccination.

If you have not submitted immunization documentation to your child’s elementary school this past spring or to Kilmer Middle School this summer, please submit an updated immunization record showing that your child has received the missing immunization(s).

If you have questions regarding your child’s immunization status, please contact Gail Wood, Student Services Assistant at [email protected] .

Cell Phone Pilot Study

As a reminder, Kilmer is in the “control group” that will not use cell phone storage pouches. Our focus is on consistently implementing the current cell phone policy with fidelity. At Kilmer, that means from 7:30am to 2:15pm, cell phones and devices (including tablets and Airpods) must be off and away in backpacks (not pockets). Smart watches may be worn, but the phone, messaging, and internet viewing features must be off (in airplane mode). These expectations and routines will be shared with staff and students each day through announcements, and all students will participate in a cell phone lesson during Learning Seminar classes next week.

All middle schools will follow the same guidance and collect the phone if a student is not adhering to the “off and away” expectation during the school day:

We appreciate your support in reinforcing these policies at home and ensuring your child understands the importance of following them.

Securly Pass

Our biggest priority at Kilmer is the safety of all of our students, including knowing where students are in case of emergencies. To support us in this work, Kilmer, along with many schools across FCPS, will be implementing Securly Pass for the 2024-2025 school year. 

Securly Pass is an online platform that allows Kilmer staff to issue hall passes to students anytime they need to leave a classroom. This new platform helps us to manage how many students are in the hallways during the school day, helps us keep students in the classroom during essential instruction, and creates a safe environment for our students.

Students are able to access Securly Pass through their school-issued device using any web browser. Students may request a pass to leave the classroom or request an appointment with a staff member (counselor, administrator, clinic team, etc.). Staff are able to automatically approve the passes quickly, with limited impact on the instruction of the classroom.

Students will have three hall passes per day for their personal use but can request additional passes from their teachers if the need arises. While students are out of the classroom, the pass system monitors how long they are gone so that teachers can focus on the remaining students in the classroom. Our administrative team and security staff are able to monitor active hall passes building wide to ensure we are able to provide effective supervision in appropriate areas.

Parent Digital Consent - Forms

Beginning August 1, many of the parental consent and opt-out forms will be made available through a new Parent Digital Consent System. A parent or guardian will need to log-in using their SIS ParentVue username (email address) and password. If you have just registered your SIS ParentVUE account you will need to wait 24 hours before you can log in to the Digital Consent System. The SIS ParentVUE Account Overview page has information about registration and how to get support with your account.

Some forms in the system are required (like the Digital Resource Consent), while others, like the Family Education Opt-out form, are optional. If you have more than one child in FCPS, you must fill out the forms for each.

Middle School Sports – Cross Country

Kilmer hosts Fall Cross Country as a part of FCPS Middle School Athletics Program and is open to all–no experience required! Practices will be held after school beginning in September (details forthcoming).Late Bus Transportation is provided at 4:45pm. Cross Country Meets begin September 21st (tentative). Students must participate in at least 3 practices prior to competing.

What Is Required? Students and parents will need to complete these steps prior to participating, including:

Kilmer Afterschool Registration Form (Must be signed into student’s FCPS Google Account)

FALL 2024 Middle School Sports Participant Registration Form

Each Student-Athlete and a Parent/Guardian will review the FCPS Middle School Sports Athletic Health Education Program prior to the student’s participation in middle school athletic activities.

  • Check ‘I Agree’ button to indicate this was completed
  • Link embedded near end of Registration Form (second to last question…Health Education Program)

Once completed, the forms below must be submitted to the Main Office collection box for Ms. Kardelis, After-School Program Specialist to review and process:

FCPS Middle School Sports Athletic Participation/Parental Consent/Physical Examination Form (PPE). The exam must be completed by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant. Please note that the form must be dated on or after May 1, 2024, for the 2024-2025 school year. Student-Athletes in FCPS are required to be covered by medical insurance.

Emergency Care Card information

Free and Reduced-Price Meals

The application for free and reduced-priced meals is now available for the 2024-25 school year. Students who were approved for free and reduced-price lunch last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should re-apply as soon as possible for the 2024-25 school year, so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.

Lightspeed Parent Report

Kilmer PTA

Hello Kilmer Families! 

We can't believe the first day of Kilmer MS is just around the corner! The Kilmer PTA is planning some exciting events for the fall that will help the students and their families get acclimated, have fun, and build community. We will be promoting these events through both Kilmer's brand new facebook group and our email newsletter. Please be sure to sign up for one or ideally both so you can stay in-the-know! Unless you opt-in, you will not hear from us!

  1. Click here to join the new Kilmer PTA facebook group. The group is private and limited to Kilmer families and staff - so please be sure to answer the security questions so we can approve your membership. You may also use this group to post questions and other information related to Kilmer.
  2. Kilmer has a brand new website through Membership Toolkit. When you visit this site, please be sure to create an account and add in your information for the student directory. Joining the Kilmer website is free and will allow you to receive the Kilmer PTA's email newsletter as well as access the student directory. Please be sure to add your email - and you will be able to select what, if any, information is made public to the other Kilmer families. Any shared emails will only be used to send Kilmer PTA related info. 
  3. While on our website, you will be able to JOIN THE PTA! Kilmer PTA membership is only $20 for families and $10 for teachers. The Kilmer PTA relies on membership funds to host fun events for students including the Fall and Spring Festivals, support teacher appreciation, and so much more! Joining the PTA does not require you to volunteer in any way - but we'd love to have your help if you would like to get involved!

We are looking forward to a wonderful year! To get more involved with the PTA or if you have any questions, please reach out to us!

Wendy Rosner - [email protected]

Laura Roper - [email protected]

Mandy Ryan - [email protected]

8100 Wolftrap Road Vienna, VA 22182 | Phone: 703-846-8800

Attendance: 703-846-8888 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

Kilmer MS Newsletter - August 9, 2024

GovDelivery3 months ago

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

A message from Principal Steven McFarlane

Kilmer Community,

This week our building came alive! We’ve had hundreds of new students participating in the Shifting Gears program. It’s hard not to smile watching how excited students are as they bounce through the halls with joy. A big thank you to the many Kilmer staff members working to support Shifting Gears, and thanks to Phil Prevost for planning and leading this work. 

Yesterday, our new-to-Kilmer staff reported to the building, and the whole staff reports on Monday. The week ahead is an important time for us as we reconnect, and plan and prepare for the year ahead.

A reminder about Kilmer’s Open House on Thursday, August 15. We are strongly encouraging 7th grade students to attend between 2:00-4:00 pm and 8th grade students to attend between 4:00-5:00 pm. We recognize there may be students who are siblings or extenuating circumstances preventing a student from attending during their designated time. We would like families to follow these timeframes to the greatest extent possible, but understand if you must come at a different time because of family schedules/commitments.

Lastly, students can view their class schedule prior to the Open House through SIS StudentVUE beginning at 6:00 am on Thursday, August 15. StudentVue can be accessed through students’ FCPS laptops or through the SIS StudentVUE mobile app. Class schedules will also be visible for parents in SIS ParentVUE. Please add the mobile apps to your phones prior to Open House to assist your child with locating their classes. School maps will also be available. 

Have a great weekend. As always, reach out if you have any questions. 

Sincerely, 

Steven McFarlane

Principal

Kilmer at a Glance

Upcoming Dates:

  • August 15 - Open House for 7th & 8th grade, 2-5 PM. 
  • August 30 & September 2 - Labor Day, 4-day weekend
  • September 5 - Save the Date! Back-to-School Night at Kilmer MS 6pm - 8pm, more details to follow.
  • FCPS School Calendar 2024-25
Picture(s) of the Week

It was awesome seeing students from all of our feeder elementary schools getting to know each other during Shifting Gears

Important Information

Kilmer Open House and Class Schedules

Kilmer’s Open House sets an inviting atmosphere and welcoming tone for the school year. We will hold one Open House event for both grade levels on Thursday, August 17 from 2:00-5:00 pm. We are encouraging 7th grade students and families to attend the event between 2:00 - 4:00 pm and 8th grade students and families to attend between 4:00-5:00 pm. During our Open House event, students will pick up their FCPS laptop, locate their classes throughout the building, and meet Kilmer staff. The clinic will also be open to drop off medications. 

Students can view their class schedule prior to the open house through SIS StudentVUE beginning at 6:00 am on Thursday, August 15. StudentVue can be accessed through students’ FCPS laptops or through the SIS StudentVUE mobile app. Class schedules will also be visible for parents in SIS ParentVUE. Please add the mobile apps to your phones prior to the open house to assist your child with locating their classes. School maps will also be available. 

If you are unable to attend this event, student laptops will be distributed to students during 1st period on the first day of school. 

Updating Student information through SIS ParentVUE

The Online Verification Update (OVU) packet in SIS ParentVUE allows parents to review and update phone numbers, emergency contacts, and health information (such as health conditions and immunizations). The enrolling parent can access OVU through their SIS ParentVUE account. Parents/Guardians can continue to use traditional paper forms to submit changes to Kilmer Middle School. Paper forms can be submitted to the Kilmer Student Services Office. 

Important:  Do not use the OVU packet if your address has changed or if you moved to another FCPS school.  Contact the Kilmer Student Services Office directly to complete address updates or to withdraw and transfer your student to the new school.

Health Room Information & Medication Drop-off Times

Information about the Health Room and Student Medications have been updated on our school website. If you need to drop-off medications for your student, the Health Room will be open at the following times to receive medication:

  • August 12th from 11:30 am - 2:00 pm
  • August 13th from 7:30 am - 2:00 pm
  • August 15th from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm (Kilmer Open House Day)
  • August 16th from 7:30 am - 2:00 pm

7th Grade Immunization Requirement

All students entering 7th grade will be required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations prior to the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap), Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

  • To meet the Meningococcal (MenACWY) requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 10 or older.      
  • As a parent/guardian, you may decide that your child not receive the HPV vaccination. The school does not require documentation if a parent/guardian elects for their student not to receive the HPV vaccination.

If you have not submitted immunization documentation to your child’s elementary school this past spring or to Kilmer Middle School this summer, please submit an updated immunization record showing that your child has received the missing immunization(s).

If you have questions regarding your child’s immunization status, please contact Gail Wood, Student Services Assistant at [email protected] .

2024-2025 School Supplies

Kilmer Middle School will provide every student with:

  • A Chromebook laptop
  • Laptop case
  • Laptop charger
  • Wired headphones*
    • *Students are welcome to bring in a personal pair of wired headphones to use. Students will not be permitted to use bluetooth devices or wireless earbuds with school laptops or personal devices during the school day. 

Below is a general list of school supplies we recommend students start the year off with. Each teacher will share the supplies needed for their course during the first week of school and students will have until September 3 to bring those items in. If you are in need of school supplies and/or a backpack, please contact our Family Liaison, Jessica Rosas Diego ([email protected]). 

  • Backpack
  • Water bottle
  • Lined loose-leaf paper
  • Spiral notebook 
  • Folder
  • Pens (blue, black)
  • Pencils
  • Post-it notes
  • Ruler
  • Highlighter

Securly Pass

Our biggest priority at Kilmer is the safety of all of our students, including knowing where students are in case of emergencies. To support us in this work, Kilmer, along with many schools across FCPS, will be implementing Securly Pass for the 2024-2025 school year. 

Securly Pass is an online platform that allows Kilmer staff to issue hall passes to students anytime they need to leave a classroom. This new platform helps us to manage how many students are in the hallways during the school day, helps us keep students in the classroom during essential instruction, and creates a safe environment for our students.

Students are able to access Securly Pass through their school-issued device using any web browser. Students may request a pass to leave the classroom or request an appointment with a staff member (counselor, administrator, clinic team, etc.). Staff are able to automatically approve the passes quickly, with limited impact on the instruction of the classroom.

Students will have three hall passes per day for their personal use but can request additional passes from their teachers if the need arises. While students are out of the classroom, the pass system monitors how long they are gone so that teachers can focus on the remaining students in the classroom. Our administrative team and security staff are able to monitor active hall passes building wide to ensure we are able to provide effective supervision in appropriate areas.

Bell Schedule

Link to the bell schedule on the Kilmer Website (PDF link included on the site for families who want to download and/or print)

Parent Digital Consent - Forms

Beginning August 1, many of the parental consent and opt-out forms will be made available through a new Parent Digital Consent System. A parent or guardian will need to log-in using their SIS ParentVue username (email address) and password. If you have just registered your SIS ParentVUE account you will need to wait 24 hours before you can log in to the Digital Consent System. The SIS ParentVUE Account Overview page has information about registration and how to get support with your account.

Some forms in the system are required (like the Digital Resource Consent), while others, like the Family Education Opt-out form, are optional. If you have more than one child in FCPS, you must fill out the forms for each.

Cell Phones 

Last week Kilmer families received an email about our school’s participation in FCPS’ cell phone storage pilot program. Kilmer is not one of the identified middle schools using Yondr pouches to secure cell phones during the school day, but is part of the “control group” implementing FCPS’ current cell phone usage policy. Middle schools in the control group will be focused on consistent implementation of the policy and documentation in SIS. Under the policy cell phones, tablets, and accessories like airpods must be off and away (in a backpack or locker) from 7:30am-2:15pm. As part of the first few weeks of school, we will support learning around these expectations and routines with our teachers and students. We will also provide opportunities to partner and communicate with our families about how this will look at Kilmer.

Middle School Sports – Cross Country

Kilmer hosts Fall Cross Country as a part of FCPS Middle School Athletics Program and is open to all–no experience required! Practices will be held after school beginning in September (details forthcoming).Late Bus Transportation is provided at 4:45pm. Cross Country Meets begin September 21st (tentative). Students must participate in at least 3 practices prior to competing.

What Is Required? Students and parents will need to complete these steps prior to participating, including:

Kilmer Afterschool Registration Form (Must be signed into student’s FCPS Google Account)

FALL 2024 Middle School Sports Participant Registration Form

Each Student-Athlete and a Parent/Guardian will review the FCPS Middle School Sports Athletic Health Education Program prior to the student’s participation in middle school athletic activities.

  • Check ‘I Agree’ button to indicate this was completed
  • Link embedded near end of Registration Form (second to last question…Health Education Program)

Once completed, the forms below must be submitted to the Main Office collection box for Ms. Kardelis, After-School Program Specialist to review and process:

FCPS Middle School Sports Athletic Participation/Parental Consent/Physical Examination Form (PPE). The exam must be completed by a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant. Please note that the form must be dated on or after May 1, 2024, for the 2024-2025 school year. Student-Athletes in FCPS are required to be covered by medical insurance.

Emergency Care Card information

8100 Wolftrap Road Vienna, VA 22182 | Phone: 703-846-8800

Attendance: 703-846-8888 | Web | Twitter | Facebook

Kilmer MS Newsletter - August 2, 2024

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A message from Principal Steven McFarlane

Kilmer Community,

Each week I’ll send out a newsletter on Friday afternoons sharing highlights from the week and important information and updates. If you have received this message you’re already signed up for our weekly newsletter, but please share THIS link with others who may want to receive Kilmer’s weekly newsletter. 

This summer we’ve been hard at work preparing to welcome staff and students for the 2024-25 school year. As a reminder, 

registration is OPEN for our Rising 7th Grade Shifting Gears Program scheduled for August 7th or 8th (The afternoon session on August 8th is full) from 8 AM - 12 PM. These are identical Shifting Gears sessions, and students should only attend one session. Shifting Gears is a transition program offered for ALL rising 7th grade students at Kilmer Middle School. Students will get to meet students from other elementary schools, familiarize themselves with Kilmer’s campus, receive their FCPS laptop, and learn what it’s like to be a middle school student. If you haven’t already, please access this link to select the session that works best with your child’s summer schedule. 

Lastly, don’t forget about Kilmer’s Open House on Thursday, August 15. We are strongly encouraging 7th grade students to attend between 2:00-4:00 pm and 8th grade students to attend between 4:00-5:00 pm. We recognize there may be students who are siblings or extenuating circumstances preventing a student from attending during their designated time. We would like families to follow these timeframes to the greatest extent possible, but understand if you must come at a different time because of family schedules/commitments.

Have a great weekend. As always, reach out if you have any questions. 

Sincerely, 

Steven McFarlane

Principal

Kilmer at a Glance

Upcoming Dates:

  • August 15 - Open House for 7th & 8th grade, 2-5 PM. 
  • August 30 & September 2 - Labor Day, 4-day weekend
  • September 5 - Save the Date! Back-to-School Night at Kilmer MS, more details to follow.
  • FCPS School Calendar 2024-25
Important Information

Last call for Shifting Gears!

Shifting Gears is our 7th grade orientation program that takes place on August 7th and 8th. We still have slots available for Session1 (August 7 from 8 am – 12 pm) and Session 2 ( August 8 from 8 am -12 pm). Session 3 is full. Shifting Gears is a transition program that will be offered this summer for ALL rising seventh grade students at Kilmer Middle School. At Shifting Gears, students will get to meet students from other elementary schools, become comfortable with Kilmer’s campus, and learn what it’s like to be a middle school student. Through fun activities and informative lessons, the program will focus on helping students with the transition to middle school and alleviate concerns students may have. There are three 4-hour Shifting Gears sessions available this summer. Students can only attend one session. Registration is now open on Kilmer's website, or using THIS link. 

8th Grade Student Volunteers Needed for Shifting Gears

Next week, we will host Shifting Gears, our 7th grade orientation program. To ensure the program runs smoothly, we have several rising 8th grade volunteers helping during each session. Mr. Prevost is still seeking a few more volunteers.

We need additional help for:

  • Session 1 on August 7 (8 am – 12 pm)
  • Both sessions on August 8 (8 am – 12 pm and 12 pm – 4 pm)

Bus transportation will be available if needed to and from our feeder elementary school each day. Students who volunteer will earn service hours. If your student is interested, please have them contact Mr. Prevost at [email protected] by Monday, August 5, at 3 pm.

Kilmer Open House and Class Schedules

Kilmer’s Open House sets an inviting atmosphere and welcoming tone for the school year. We will hold one Open House event for both grade levels on Thursday, August 17 from 2:00-5:00 pm. We are encouraging 7th grade students and families to attend the event between 2:00 - 4:00 pm and 8th grade students and families to attend between 4:00 - 5:00 pm. During our Open House event, students will pick up their FCPS laptop, locate their classes throughout the building, and meet Kilmer staff. The clinic will also be open to drop off medications. 

Students can view their class schedule prior to the open house through SIS StudentVUE beginning at 6:00 am on Thursday, August 15. StudentVue can be accessed through students FCPS laptop or through the SIS StudentVUE mobile app. Class schedules will also be visible for parents in SIS ParentVUE. Please add the mobile apps to your phones prior to the open house to assist your child with locating their classes. School maps will also be available.

Updating Student information through SIS ParentVUE

The Online Verification Update (OVU) packet in SIS ParentVUE allows parents to review and update phone numbers, emergency contacts, and health information (such as health conditions and immunizations). The enrolling parent can access OVU through their SIS ParentVUE account. Parents/Guardians can continue to use traditional paper forms to submit changes to Kilmer Middle School. Paper forms can be submitted to the Kilmer Student Services Office. 

Important:  Do not use the OVU packet if your address has changed or if you moved to another FCPS school.  Contact the Kilmer Student Services Office directly to complete address updates or to withdraw and transfer your student to the new school.

7th Grade Immunization Requirement

All students entering 7th grade will be required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations prior to the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap), Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

  • To meet the Meningococcal (MenACWY) requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 10 or older.      
  • As a parent/guardian, you may decide that your child not receive the HPV vaccination. The school does not require documentation if a parent/guardian elects for their student not to receive the HPV vaccination.

If you have not submitted immunization documentation to your child’s elementary school this past spring or to Kilmer Middle School this summer, please submit an updated immunization record showing that your child has received the missing immunization(s).

If you have questions regarding your child’s immunization status, please contact Gail Wood, Student Services Assistant at [email protected] .

2024-2025 School Supplies

Kilmer Middle School will provide every student with:

  • A Chromebook laptop
  • Laptop case
  • Laptop charger
  • Wired headphones*

*Students are welcome to bring in a personal pair of wired headphones to use. Students will not be permitted to use bluetooth devices or wireless earbuds with school laptops or personal devices during the school day. Kilmer will provide wired headphones to all students.  

Below is a general list of school supplies we recommend students start the year off with. Each teacher will share the supplies needed for their course during the first week of school and students will have until September 3 to bring those items in. If you are in need of school supplies and/or a backpack, please contact our Family Liaison, Jessica Rosas Diego ([email protected]). 

  • Backpack
  • Water bottle
  • Lined loose-leaf paper
  • Spiral notebook 
  • Folder
  • Pens (blue, black)
  • Pencils
  • Post-it notes
  • Ruler
  • Highlighter

Securly Pass

Our biggest priority at Kilmer is the safety of all of our students, including knowing where students are in case of emergencies. To support us in this work, Kilmer, along with many schools across FCPS, will be implementing Securly Pass for the 2024-2025 school year. 

Securly Pass is an online platform that allows Kilmer staff to issue hall passes to students anytime they need to leave a classroom. This new platform helps us to manage how many students are in the hallways during the school day, helps us keep students in the classroom during essential instruction, and creates a safe environment for our students.

Students are able to access Securly Pass through their school-issued device using any web browser. Students may request a pass to leave the classroom or request an appointment with a staff member (counselor, administrator, clinic team, etc.). Staff are able to automatically approve the passes quickly, with limited impact on the instruction of the classroom.

Students will have three hall passes per day for their personal use but can request additional passes from their teachers if the need arises. While students are out of the classroom, the pass system monitors how long they are gone so that teachers can focus on the remaining students in the classroom. Our administrative team and security staff are able to monitor active hall passes building wide to ensure we are able to provide effective supervision in appropriate areas.

Bell Schedule

Link to the bell schedule on the Kilmer Website (PDF link included on the site for families who want to download and/or print)

Parent Digital Consent - Forms

Beginning August 1, many of the parental consent and opt-out forms will be made available through a new Parent Digital Consent System. A parent or guardian will need to log-in using their SIS ParentVue username (email address) and password. If you have just registered your SIS ParentVUE account you will need to wait 24 hours before you can log in to the Digital Consent System. The SIS ParentVUE Account Overview page has information about registration and how to get support with your account.

Some forms in the system are required (like the Digital Resource Consent), while others, like the Family Education Opt-out form, are optional. If you have more than one child in FCPS, you must fill out the forms for each.

Cell Phones 

Earlier this week, Kilmer families received an email about our school’s participation in FCPS’ cell phone storage pilot program. Kilmer is not one of the identified middle schools using Yondr pouches to secure cell phones during the school day, but is part of the “control group” implementing FCPS’ current cell phone usage policy. Middle schools in the control group will be focused on consistent implementation of the policy and documentation in SIS. Under the policy cell phones, tablets, and accessories like airpods must be off and away (in a backpack or locker) from 7:30am-2:15pm. As part of the first few weeks of school, we will support learning around these expectations and routines with our teachers and students. We will also provide opportunities to partner and communicate with our families about how this will look at Kilmer. Below you can see a snapshot of what to expect when a student’s phone is confiscated when not following the “off and away” expectation during the school day:

Marshall Pyramid Statement

The Marshall Pyramid principals are committed to cultivating a culture of belonging in which all students are valued and their strengths and interests are developed to achieve academic excellence. We model what we ask our staff and students to do with each other as principals.

  • We collaborate and problem solve.
  • We focus on creating trusting partnerships.
  • We make connections and build relationships.

Each school in the Marshall Pyramid is actively committed to building a pre-K through 12th grade framework for our students that embodies educational excellence and a culture of belonging.  We look forward to continuing to partner with our students, staff, families, and community in this endeavor and wish everyone a continued safe and happy school year.

Multilingual Learners Summit

8100 Wolftrap Road Vienna, VA 22182 | Phone: 703-846-8800

Attendance: 703-846-8888 | Web | Twitter | Facebook