A Mssage from Principal Steven McFarlane
Kilmer Community,
We began Positive Referrals this week to celebrate positive behavior demonstrated by our students. Small actions add up, and it’s a great feeling being able to recognize students who make 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 a few of the Positive Referrals submitted by staff for our students in the weekly newsletter (see below).
Also, don’t forget Back-to-School Night is coming up on Thursday, September 17, from 6-8 PM.
Finally, I’m hosting a Principal Coffee next week on Wednesday, September 9th at 9:30 AM at Kilmer. I’ll spend some time highlighting a few things about Kilmer, as well as answering questions.
I hope everyone has a fantastic long Labor Day weekend. As always, reach out if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Steven McFarlane
Principal
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Here are just a few of the Positive Referrals received by our Kilmer Cougars from staff members this week!
Alexandra H. - Thanks for your help in making sure the cellists around you knew their fingerings/tuning! Your leadership does not go unnoticed.
Yahya A. - Yahya was super helpful in helping us figure out why iReady wasn't working for some students. Thanks Yahya!
Kamron M. - On a day with a substitute, I walked into class and Kamron was helping by going over the assignment slide by slide and patiently reviewing it with his peers who needed help.
Jack M. - Happy Birthday! Also, thank you for humoring me and filling in your agenda even though you had already done the assignment.
 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 10 - After School Activities Fair from 4:00-6:00 PM in the gym at Kilmer MS.
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September 14 - After School activities begin; Late buses begin at 4:45 PM and will run Mondays through Thursdays
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September 15 - Auditions for the Fall Musical start and continue through the week
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September 17 - Back-to-School Night at Kilmer MS, 6:00-8:00 PM
- Please note - because of Back-to-School-Night, there will be no After School Program on 9/17
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October 7 - Save the Date! Thomas Jefferson High School Student/Parent Information Night, see blurb below for more information
Students in art classes participated in fun team-building games to get to know each other and to identify collaboration strategies.
Students in math class practiced their problem-solving skills by demonstrating their work on whiteboards around the classroom.
Students were excited for the opportunity to have outdoor lunches this week!
Return Periods & Learning Seminar
Beginning September 8, students will see Learning Seminar 1–7 (Periods 11–17) on their schedules in SIS StudentVUE. These are our Return Periods and correspond directly with students’ regular Periods 1–7 classes, including the same teacher and classroom.
Return Period courses will also appear in Schoology but will not be used for instruction. Students can move these courses to the end of their Schoology course list to keep their active academic courses at the top.
Hall Locker Assignments
Hall lockers are optional. Students who requested a locker will receive their locker number and combination by Friday, September 11. Locker information will be available in SIS StudentVUE and ParentVUE in the Student Info tab.
Staff will be available to help students open their lockers as needed. If a student experiences a problem with their assigned locker, they can visit Student Services for assistance.
Thomas Jefferson High School Student/Parent Information Night
The TJHSST Information night is scheduled for Wednesday, October 7, from 5 - 6 PM in the Kilmer Cafeteria. All current 8th grade students interested in applying for the Freshman round of the Thomas Jefferson High School of Science and Technology may join us for a one hour presentation given by a TJHSST representative in the Kilmer Cafeteria. The majority of the hour will be dedicated to a question and answer session, so we recommend that you review admissions information on the website prior to the session. If you have any questions about this event, please contact your student’s counselor.
Our Fall Musical Has Been Announced!
We are thrilled to announce that this year’s musical will be Disney’s High School Musical JR.! Get ready for a fun-filled production featuring memorable songs, energetic choreography, and plenty of opportunities for students to shine both onstage and behind the scenes!
Auditions will take place September 15th, 16th, and 17th. More information about audition materials, preparation, and the audition schedule will be available in the audition packet, which students may pick up starting Tuesday, September 8th.
For parents and guardians who have questions or concerns about the audition process, there will be a Parent Interest Meeting on Tuesday, September 8th via Zoom. This meeting is a great opportunity to learn more about auditions, expectations, rehearsal commitments, and how students can get involved.
If you have questions that you would like to discuss before the meeting, please feel free to email Nikisha Kozik at nkozik@fcps.edu. We can't wait to get started and bring High School Musical JR. to life!
TheatreMania 2026 - Calling all middle school students!
TheatreMania is back for 2026! On Saturday, November 7, middle school students from across the county will gather at Kilmer Middle School for a fun-filled day of hands-on theatre workshops led by theatre professionals.
Students will participate in four different workshops and have the opportunity to explore a variety of theatre experiences, including acting, dance, vocal performance, improv, technical theatre, design, directing, and more.
TheatreMania is open to students of all experience levels. Students do not need to be advanced performers—or even consider themselves "theatre kids"—to participate. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to try something new, develop their creativity, meet other students who share their interests, and learn from working theatre professionals.
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Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
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Location: Kilmer Middle School
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Cost: $25 per student; students register at: https://forms.gle/QbvT43xzmfaJEfav8
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Registration deadline: October 24th
SEL Screener Participation: Social and Emotional Learning Screening
Students in grades 3-12 use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. These skills include achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. Students also share how successful their school and community are at making them feel valued, included, and supported.
Students will participate in the Spring SEL screener during Advisory on Wednesday, October 7. You can opt your child out of participating in the SEL Screener. The opt-out applies to the current school year and must be completed annually. For more information about the SEL Screener, access to its content, and the opt-out form, please click on the following link: Social Emotional Learning Screener (SEL).
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 Fundraiser: Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream
Celebrate the start of the school year by making a stop at Jeni’s Ice Cream, located at The Boro! Enjoy your favorite scoops of ice cream while supporting the PTA.
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Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
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Time: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
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Location: 1669C Silver Hill Drive, McLean
Mention “Kilmer Middle School” and 25% of your purchase will be donated back to the Kilmer PTA.
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 in the gym at Kilmer to learn about clubs and meet sponsors.
- Cross Country Parent Info Sessions (2) - 4:30 PM 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.
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
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 smartwatches, 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 Po | 
