A Mssage from Principal Steven McFarlane
Kilmer Community,
It’s amazing how quickly students settle into our Kilmer routines. As educators, we know how important it is to teach, and reteach, expectations to students to ensure that they have a safe and supportive learning environment. Students have done an awesome job learning how to safely navigate the hallways, use their cell phone pouches, transition to/from recess, as well as transition to/from lunches. Additionally, teachers have been teaching expectations in 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.
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. Students who are recognized by a staff member during the week will receive a special note on Thursday/Friday. Along with the note, students will also receive a voucher to redeem for a reward during lunch on Fridays. We will showcase a copy of the note in the Main Hall to inspire other students to make positive choices.
Sincerely,
Steven McFarlane
Principal
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 Upcoming Dates:
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September 4 - September 7 - Labor Day, 4-day weekend
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September 9 - Principal Coffee - come to Kilmer from 9:30-10:30 AM and meet/talk with the principal. Principal McFarlane will give an overview of how Kilmer operates, followed by Q&A.
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September 14 - Afterschool activities begin; Late buses begin at 4:45 PM and will run Mondays through Thursdays
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September 17 - Back-to-School Night at Kilmer MS, 6:00-8:00 PM, more details to come.
- Please note - because of Back-to-School-Night, there will be NO After School Program on 9/17
The Kilmer MS Orchestra program under the Direction of Robert Katz has been distinguished by the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association as a program of honor. This award is given to Orchestra programs that receive Superior Ratings at state assessment and display excellence in performance at Solo and Ensemble and District Orchestra. Congrats to Mr. Katz and our Kilmer Orchestra students!
After a few days of learning about, and practicing, our recess procedures, students got outside to play football, basketball, soccer, frisbee, or just hang out with their friends.
This week many of our 7th graders participated in the Kilmer Library’s orientation. Students learned about all that the library has to offer by completing an escape room activity. They also got the chance to explore the library’s collection and check out books. More 7th graders are headed to the library in the upcoming weeks!
Cell Phone Pouches
On Wednesday, students received their assigned pouch, learned about cell phone expectations and consequences (see below), and practiced locking and opening their pouches. As a reminder, cell phones and devices must be off and personally stored in a student’s assigned cell phone pouch from 7:30 AM–2:15 PM. Devices include smart watches, earbuds, headsets, smart glasses, tablets and e-readers, and any other items connected to the internet. If a device is too large to fit into the pouch, it must be off and personally stored (i.e., in backpacks or locker) for the duration of the school day.
During the lesson, students who do not have a cell phone or who have an approved medical accommodation were instructed to return their pouch. Administrators will follow up with parents to confirm their student does not need a pouch. If a student's cell phone status changes at any point during the school year, please contact your child’s administrator. We appreciate your support in reinforcing these expectations at home!
Cell Phone Policy Violations
For all cell phone violations, parents/caregivers are notified by email and the student picks up their phone from the front office at the end of the school day, along with the following consequences:
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1st Violation - A warning is logged into SIS
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2nd Violation - A detention is scheduled and logged into SIS.
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3rd Violation - Two days of detention are scheduled and logged into SIS. Parents/caregivers are notified by email to schedule a conference with the administrator.
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4th+ Violation - Three days of detention are scheduled. Phone privileges at school are lost for up to 20 school days and logged into SIS. Parents/caregivers are notified that the student will check their phone in at the front office each morning.
Open Gate
Students have done a great job adjusting to our arrival procedures, which include going through Open Gate metal detectors. We've shared this guidance with students (see below). Please remind your students to only bring what they need for school, and if they have any of these items they need to be removed from their backpacks and passed around the metal detectors.
- All 3-ring binders
- Laptops
- Metal water bottles
- Umbrellas
- Glasses cases
- Metal rulers
- Hole punches
- Compass kit
- Metal/Tin colored pencil boxes
- Scissors
- Staplers
Bus Reminders - ID Cards & Transportation Contact Information
Students received their new student bus ID cards today, during their 2nd Period class. Students who ride a school bus will tap on and tap off the bus every day using their new student ID card. If your student did not receive a bus ID card and does ride the bus to or from school, they may come to the Main Office to request a card.
Student bus information is available in SIS StudentVue and ParentVue. FCPS Transportation coordinates all information regarding buses. If you have questions or need to inquire about exceptions such as dual custody, please contact FCPS Transportation at:
Lockers
Hall lockers are optional, and very few students use them. In recent years, many students who request a locker ultimately choose not to use it. However, next week, students will have the option to request a hall locker. A locker request form will be posted in Schoology on Monday, August 31. Students will have one week to submit their request. Locker assignments and combinations will be available in SIS StudentVUE by September 11. If your child needs a locker sooner, please contact their school counselor.
Damaged Chromebooks
All students have been given a Chromebook for the 2025-2026 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:
- Chromebook - $444
- Keyboard Replacement - $14
- Laptop Fan - $6
- Top Cover - $30
- Bottom Cover - $30
- Palm rest/Keyboard (all in one) - $52
- Screen - $89
- Chromebook Daughterboard - $19
- Lost Chromebook Charger - $29
- Lost Chromebook Case - $34
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. 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.
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 KilmerMiddle.Attendance@fcps.edu 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. Any student who misses 10% of the school year (18 days or more) whether the absences are unexcused, excused, or pre-arranged, is considered chronically absent and may require additional support or intervention.
Join the PTA and Friends of Kilmer and Enter to Win $100 Amazon Gift Card!
Don’t forget to join the PTA. Memberships are only $20 per family per year. As a thank you, everyone who joins prior to the first PTA meeting on 9/23 is automatically entered to win a $100 Amazon gift card! You can purchase a PTA membership by clicking on this link.
PTA Website
Stay up to date with news and information from the PTA by visiting the PTA website: https://kilmerpta.membershiptoolkit.com/
PTA Executive Board Contact Information
After School Activities
Club and activity offerings vary from year to year - ranging from Dungeons & Dragons to STEM and Drama, Volleyball and Basketball, Battle of the Books and more. A schedule and club descriptions will be available in the coming weeks via Schoology.
Complete the required Afterschool Registration to register for Middle School After-School and Sports Programs.
The Afterschool Program is structured into two session blocks, 2:30 – 3:30 PM and 3:30 – 4:30 PM following the 2:15-2:30 PM Afterschool transition/break in the cafeteria.
Late Bus Transportation is only available after the second session block at approx. 4:45 PM (Afterschool Dismissal) on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
Upcoming Dates
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Thursday, Sept. 10th
- Families are invited to the Afterschool Activities & Community Fair from 4:00-6:00 PM to learn about clubs and meet sponsors.
- Cross Country Parent Info Sessions (2) - 4:30PM OR 5:15 PM
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Monday, Sept. 14th
- First Day of Late Bus Transportation
- All students staying after report to the cafeteria following the 2:15PM bell.
- Cross Country (XC) practice starts; 2:30-3:30 PM on Monday/Wednesday/Thursday
- No tryouts - No experience necessary
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Tuesday, Sept. 15th
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Wednesday, Sept. 16th
- STEM Interest Meeting for Science Olympiad, Math Counts and Technology Student Association (TSA).
Middle School Athletics
As a part of the FCPS Middle School Athletics Program Kilmer will host Fall Cross Country (XC), Winter Volleyball and Spring Track & Field. Coaches and Volunteers Needed! If interested, please contact Ms. Kardelis, our After-School Program Specialist
Steps to participate (including practice):
ALL forms for athletic competitions must now be submitted through FinalForms online registration portal (please do not email or submit paper copies). Families will be notified when the registration window opens via the email address tied to ParentVUE Account.
QUESTIONS? Ask the After-School Program Specialist, Ms. Kardelis (F107).
After School Program Activities Newsletter
Each week Kim 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 kckardelis@fcps.edu.
Return Period
On Blue Days, the Learning Seminar block will be divided into two 40 minute periods and used to cycle students through their regular classes. The Return Period cycle will follow class periods in order, Period 1, Period 2, and so on, with students returning to two classes each Blue Day. When Period 7 is part of the Return Period cycle, the second block will be Learning Seminar. All students are assigned to one of their teachers for Learning Seminar.
Learning Seminar provides time for students to complete assignments and receive academic support, meet with a teacher who has requested to see them, or request a pass to meet with one of their teachers.
Medication Drop-off in the Clinic
If your student needs medications while at school, they must be turned in to the health room. Medications must be dropped off by a parent or guardian and they must be unopened and clearly labeled. You can contact the health room to make an appointment or ask questions by reaching out to our Public Health Nurse, Heather Shrader at hshrader@fcps.edu.
FCPS Update: Student Use of Personal Laptops/Computers
This summer, the FCPS School Board approved a new regulation regarding student use of personal laptops or computers:
“During the instructional day, students may not use personal electronic communication or computing devices. Personal devices include, but are not limited to:
- Personal laptops
- Personal tablets
- Smartphones
- Smartwatches
- Other personal electronic communication or computing devices
Students must use FCPS-issued devices for school-related digital activities during the instructional day.”
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