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September 18, 2025
Hello, Hollymead Families!
We hope the days approaching fall are finding all of you well! Hollymead is busier than ever as the teachers and staff work together to make sure every child is having a successful learning experience in their classrooms and learning spaces. At Hollymead, we continue to live our vision of Learning for All!
There are lots of details below about next week's School Wide Morning Meeting, completing necessary student verification and the ACPS Race Matters in Schools series and the Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)!
Have a terrific day!
Joe McCauley & Kim Gentry
Hollymead Administrative Team
School Wide Morning Meeting Next Week Hosted by 5th Grade!!!
Thursday, September 25 at 8:00AM
ALL ARE WELCOME!
For all SWMM events, you will check in upon arriving at the school in the front office.
IMPORTANT!!! Student Verification is Due for Completion by September 26, 2025.
At the start of each school year, it's essential that you complete the Student Registration Verification process for each of your children enrolled in ACPS. This crucial step ensures we have the most accurate and up-to-date information for your child. The process takes just a few minutes, and you can easily complete it through the PowerSchool Parent Portal.
Note: If you don’t have a Parent Portal account, please contact the school for assistance.
Why is this important?
Stay Connected: Ensure we have the correct contact details to reach you in an emergency, keep you updated on your child’s progress, and share school news via BrightArrow’s voice, email, and text alerts and real-time, two-way communication through Remind.
Complete Required Agreements: Confirm or update any necessary permissions and agreements.
Smooth Start: Avoid any last-minute issues by verifying your information before the deadline.
Who should complete the process?
Parents and guardians of currently enrolled students should complete the Registration Verification process. If your child is a new student this year and you’ve recently completed an online registration form, you don’t need to complete the Registration Verification unless your information has changed since you submitted the registration form.
Information on the Special Education Advisory Committee
New Visitor Sign-in System for ACPS Schools
You may have noticed that Hollymead, along with all schools in ACPS has begun using VisitorSafe, a new visitor check-in system from Raptor Technologies. This replaces our old check-in system. VisitorSafe helps us keep our school safe and makes check-in faster for families and guests.
How It Works:
How It Works:
When you visit during the school day:
Check in at the front office or kiosk. If you have a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license or passport, scan it. The system will take your photo, ask you to choose your reason for visiting, and print a personalized visitor badge.
If you do not have a government-issued photo ID, our front office staff can type your information into the system and print your badge.
How VisitorSafe Helps Keep Our School Safe
How VisitorSafe Helps Keep Our School Safe
VisitorSafe checks all visitor names against sex offender registries in all 50 U.S. states and any safety lists set by the school or division, such as custody orders or banned visitor lists. If a visitor is flagged as a safety risk, school officials are notified immediately.
Additionally, VisitorSafe helps our school by keeping accurate records of who is in the building in real time and making check-in faster and easier for families, volunteers, and guests.
Sign-In for School Wide Events -
In addition to regular sign-in, VisitorSafe technology allows for an efficient and secure sign in for school events where multiple families arrive at the same time. Families will be provided a link in a school communication that allows you to register in advance for an event. Once signed up for the event, you will be provided a barcode. When arriving at the school the day of the event, families will simply scan their barcode to sign and and sign out. This process will allow for continued safety of our school community during larger school wide events such as concerts and assemblies when families are invited. Here is a Digital Walkthrough of how registering for an event works! Note: We will not use this system for School Wide Morning Meetings.
Race Matters in School Community Series 2025-26
Each year ACPS, in partnership with the Counseling Alliance of Virginia, hosts the Race Matters in Schools learning series, a learning experience and community conversation to help foster an anti-racist and inclusive environment for all students and families.
The information and free registration is through the Counseling Alliance of Virginia (CAVA) website, and ACPS is organizing/sponsoring the series. This year meetings will be in the Hollymead library on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month, starting in October 14 and going through April.
All families are welcome to join and engage!
School Family Lunch Visits
At Hollymead, we have a practice that allows families to come to school from time to time and have lunch with their children. Below is an outline of the essential procedures for a positive experience for you, your children and their peers:
Make sure to sign in at the Front Office and get a Visitor’s Badge
Please wait for your child’s class to come to the Cafeteria
Be sure to sit with your child(ren) at the cafe tables along the side
Please refrain from any cell phone use (taking pictures, sharing videos, etc) due to the privacy needs of students
At the end of lunch, please have your child line up with their peers and then exit the cafeteria.
Please do not walk your child to their classroom as this causes a disruption to the transition and to their classroom environment.
Hollymead Lunch Schedule:
11:10-11:35 - Kindergarten
11:15-11:40 - 3rd Grade
11:40-12:05 - 1st Grade
11:45-12:10 - 2nd Grade
12:20-12:45 - 4th Grade
12:15-12:40 - 5th Grade
Family Lunchtime Visit FAQs:
Q: Can I have lunch with more than one of my children?
A: Yes! If they are in the same grade, or in grades that eat at the same time, you certainly may. If not, we ask that you eat separately and keep with the lunch schedule above.
Q: Can I invite one of my child’s friends to join us?
A: We ask that you take this as an opportunity for special time with your child. Inviting peers can often leave other peers feeling left out.
Q: Can I sit with my child at their table?
A: Please sit at the high cafe tables with your child along the side of the cafeteria.
Q: Can I bring birthday treats to lunch?
A: We do allow modest treats to be shared by parents. Please check with your child’s teacher about any potential allergies of any students in the classroom and avoid foods that may contain them.
When all are in keeping with these practices, it truly helps make lunchtime a fun and orderly time for all of our learners. We look forward to seeing you throughout the school year!
Free and Reduced Lunch Applications
Families can go to the Child Nutrition Page to fill out the application (linked here). To apply for the free and reduced lunch program, you must submit a new application each school year. This is required even if your child qualified in the past. Applications, both online and in paper form, can be found on the ACPS Child Nutrition webpage.
Student Lunch Accounts
To put money on your students lunch account, use this site to monitor and add funds as you need: www.mySchoolBucks.com
School Wide Morning Meeting Calendar
SWMM Schedule - Last Friday of Every Month
September 25 - Hosted by 5th Grade
October 24 - Hosted by 3rd Grade
November 21 - Hosted by 4th Grade
December 18 - Thursday Dec 18th SWA(fternoon)M - Collaborative Winter Holiday Sing-Along
January 30 - Hosted by 1st Grade
February 27 - Hosted by the Specials Team
March 27 - Hosted by 2nd Grade
April 24 - Hosted by Kindergarten
May 28 - Hosted by the Intervention Team
PTO CORNER
Click here for the latest edition of Hornet Happenings: Hollymead PTO Newsletter
Click on the link above to view our list of recommended school supplies by grade level.
Click on the link above to view the wish list of essential supplies for classrooms.
Click on the link above to view the wish list of snacks for classrooms.
Calendar Dates
Teacher Workday NO SCHOOL - Friday, September 26
First Quarter Ends - Friday, October 10
Teacher Workday NO SCHOOL - Monday, October 13
Teacher Workday NO SCHOOL - Tuesday, October 14
Family Conferences - October 21-22 - Details to come form your child's teacher
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