October was first declared as National Bullying Prevention Month in 2006. Since then, October has been a time to acknowledge that bullying has devastating effects on children and families such as school avoidance, loss of self-esteem, increased anxiety, and depression. Bullying can occur in multiple ways. It can be verbal, physical, through social exclusion, or via digital sources like email, texts, or social media. Unlike mutual teasing or fighting, bullying occurs when one person or a group of people is perceived as being more powerful than another and takes advantage of that power through repeated physical assaults, threats of harm, intimidation, or by purposefully excluding a person from a valued social group. Being bullied can severely affect the person’s self-image, social interactions, and school performance and can lead to mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and substance use, and even suicidal thoughts and behaviors.
In 2015, about 21 percent of students ages 12–18 reported being bullied at school during the school year. Of students ages 12–18, about 13 percent reported that they were made fun of, called names, or insulted; 12 percent reported being the subject of rumors; 5 percent reported that they were pushed, shoved, tripped, or spit on; and 5 percent reported being excluded from activities on purpose. Additionally, 4 percent of students reported being threatened with harm, 3 percent reported that others tried to make them do things they did not want to do, and 2 percent reported that their property was destroyed by others on purpose.
To learn more:
https://www.nctsn.org/resources/public-awareness/national-bullying-prevention-month
October is National Principal's Month. Join us in sharing some love for our very own, Dr. Bailey!
Farm to school enriches the connection communities have with fresh, healthy food and local food producers by changing food purchasing and education practices at schools and early care and education settings.
For more information:
https://www.farmtoschool.org/
Reposting harmful or violent content only spreads fear. Do your part—Report it, don’t repost! #ReportNotRepost
Weekly Updates 9/30- 10/4
Good Evening Holmes Families!
Here are the events listed below coming up this week.
It is AMAZING to be back at work. Thank you for all the well wishes and support! I am doing some half days and trying to get back into the swing of it. I have missed these students dearly and have enjoyed meeting our 6th graders.
This Week:
9/30-Soccer home against WRMS *Don’t forget to remind them that if they are planning on staying for a home game that they need to turn in a game permission form to the office or their core teacher by 10:00 the morning of the game.”
9/30- Softball/Tennis home against RCMS
10/1- Soccer home against RMS (rescheduled)
10/1- Softball/Tennis home against WRMS (rescheduled)
10/2- Happy National Custodian Day!
10/2- Softball/Tennis Away at WRMS
10/3- Football Away at RMS
10/3- 7th Grade Career Field Trip
Upcoming Dates:
10/7 and 10/8- 8th Grade Courthouse Visit Trip
10/7-Football home against RCMS (rescheduled)
-Soccer away at RCMS
10/9- School Picture Day
10/9-Soccer away at RMS
-Softball/Tennis away at Dillard Middle
10/10- 8th Grade Vision Screening: The annual mass vision screening using a vision chart by our school nurse is scheduled for Thursday, 10/10/24 for all 8th graders. If your student wears glasses or contacts, please ensure they are worn to school during this screening. If you do not wish for your student to participate in this screening, please notify your student's homeroom teacher by October 10 at 8am.
10/10- Soccer home against Dillard Middle (rescheduled)
-Softball home against FHE Hawks (non-conference game)
10/14-Soccer away at Dillard Middle
-Softball/Tennis home against RMS
-Football playoffs begin
10/15- Tennis/Softball home against Dillard Middle (rescheduled)
10/16-Soccer/Softball/Tennis Playoffs begin
10/17-Football Semi-Finals
10/21-Soccer/Softball/Tennis Semi-Finals
10/23-Soccer/Softball/Tennis Championship
10/24-Football Championship
10/25- Early Release
10/25- PBIS Celebration Day
10/28- Teacher Work Day
Sports this week!
HMS is proud to share that our amazing band teacher, Mrs. Pugh, was RCS runner up for teacher of the year! Way to go Mrs. Pugh!
8th Grade Vision Screening
8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
The annual mass vision screening using a vision chart by our school nurse is scheduled for Thursday, 10/10/24 for all 8th graders. If your student wears glasses or contacts, please ensure they are worn to school during this screening. If you do not wish for your student to participate in this screening, please notify your student's homeroom teacher by October 10 at 8am. Thank you.
Family Health and Fitness Day USA is on the last Saturday of September and it’s a day that promotes physical activity and health with your loved ones.
HMS Junior Beta Club is collecting can tabs for Ronald McDonald House. Please collect tabs and send them with your student, or drop them off yourself.
You can find out more about the Ronald McDonald House Charities by following this link:
https://rmhc.org/
Rockingham County Schools will be CLOSED for students and an optional teacher workday tomorrow, September 27th, due to Hurricane Helene.
Rockingham County Schools will be CLOSED for students and an optional teacher workday tomorrow, September 27th, due to Hurricane Helene.
Huge congratulations to Ms. Laura Carter from RECHS for being named Rockingham County Schools' Principal of the Year! 🏆 Your dedication and leadership inspire us all. Here's to more success and excellence in education!
Information At Today's Athletic Events
Today's soccer, softball, and tennis matches have been canceled due to field conditions.
Also, our home football game tomorrow has been canceled.
Huge congrats to Ms. Crystal Golden, Rockingham County Schools' Teacher of the Year, and Mrs. Christy Hensley, CTE Teacher of the Year! 🍎 Your passion, dedication and commitment to our students shine every day. Thank you for all you do!
Big shoutout to Ms. Larinda Neal for being named Rockingham County Schools' Assistant Principal of the Year! 🌟 Your hard work, dedication, and leadership make such a difference every day. Congrats on this well-deserved honor!
Mustang Academic Night Is Tonight
Our Mustang Academic Night is TONIGHT from 6:00-7:00 p.m. Come out to talk to your child's teachers, pick up your child's progress report, and learn about the curriculum, Title 1, SchoolConnect, and Canvas. We hope to see you there!
Sports Information for the week of September 23.
Good Evening Mustang Families,
This is Mr. Bulla, Assistant Principal, with your weekly announcements:
- Junior Beta club is collecting can tabs for the Ronald McDonald House to support families in need. If anyone is interested in participating, they can drop off their collected tabs at the front office during school hours.
- Sports This Week:
Monday-Soccer at home against Reidsville Middle. Softball and Tennis is away at Reidsville Middle.
Wednesday-Soccer, softball, and tennis are at home against Dillard Middle. Thursday-Football at home against Rock Middle (This is our 8th grade night).
All games starts at 4:00 p.m. Don't forget that if you are planning on staying after school for any home sports game that you must turn in a game permission form by 10:00 a.m. the day of the game to either your core 1 teacher or the front office. Also - if students do not stay after school, they cannot be dropped off at the game. They must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- Our Mustang Academic Title 1 Night is this Tuesday from 6-7 p.m. Come meet your child's teacher, pick up your child's progress report, and learn about the curriculum, SchoolConnect (formerly ClassTag), Canvas, and the importance of Title 1. If you have questions about getting connected to the school, accessing your student's Canvas, or any other school related questions, we will be happy to assist you and you can speak with someone regarding this. We hope you can join us!
- Some bus information for this week - Bus 336's AFTERNOON driver will be out this week. We have Monday and Tuesday currently covered by a double route. That means the driver will go out and do their normal route, and then return to school to pick up bus 336 students and take them home. They will be delayed in getting home. Bus 97 will not have a driver on Tuesday afternoon and we are currently working to get that covered, or provide a double route. We will keep you posted on CampusConnect or you can call the school.
- This Wednesday, the 25th, we welcome Dr. Bailey, our principal back from Medical Leave! She is very excited to be returning to school and getting back with the students and families and teachers of Holmes. Please join me by welcoming her back to our school!
As always - if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the school and remember - there's no place like Holmes!
--
Justin M. Bulla
Assistant Principal
Holmes Middle School
Sadly, our world is not always a safe place for our children. Come and learn what you can do to keep them safe.
