For Violence Prevention Month, Herndon Middle School is uniting together to help fellow members of our community. Shelter House has been providing emergency services and housing within the community for over 30 years. Their mission is to prevent homelessness and domestic violence by providing crisis intervention, safe housing, and supportive services while engaging with the community and making effective relationships throughout the area. Read more about the types of donations we're looking for here.

In Fairfax County schools, county agencies and families are working together to create an environment where children and youth can safely learn, work, and play. Similar to our message containing information about the 13 Reasons Why NETFLIX program and the Blue Whale Challenge, we are sending this communication to alert you to a recent rise in new games and social media challenges that encourage young people to participate in harmful behavior. Please click here to read about this recent online concern and what you can do to address it with your child.

There are presentations for all boys scheduled on March 25th and 26th during Health and PE classes. These presentations are sponsored by the Student Services Department. They will be delivered by positive male role models within our building and will focus on improving choices and options for boys as they navigate issues in middle school. Some of these issues will include the use of social media, bullying, using positive language and asserting an opinion. The goal is to make this comfortable and gender specific to help encourage frank conversations and trouble shoot solutions together.

The PE Department made a couple changes to our PE syllabus that we want you to be aware of.

We are in need of parent volunteers for our 8th grade field trip to Finance Park. The dates are April 9th, 10th, and 11th. The hours are from 8:00 to 12:30, and you provide your own transportation. If you are able to volunteer or you need more details, please email Catherine Durand at cjdurand@fcps.edu.

HMS Student Services is excited for the opportunity to bring The Beautiful Tomorrow Assembly to our school on Wednesday, May 2nd as part of our Stress Less Week activities. The program is a high energy program and is aimed to promote peace, hope and empowerment in our youth. More information can be found at: https://beautifultomorrowassembly.com/

There will be an assembly for all 7th grade girls during HawkTime on March 27th and an assembly for all 8th grade girls on March 29th. These assemblies sponsored by Student Services, will focus on improving choices and options for girls as they navigate issues in middle school including use of social media, bullying, using positive language and asserting an opinion. The goal is to make this comfortable and gender specific to help encourage frank conversations and trouble shoot solutions together. Click to read more.

Thank you to the Herndon Rotary for partnering with us and the Rotary Writing Contest. Herndon Rotary awarded certificates to 21 students who submitted essays to the writing contest. Three students were awarded monetary awards and the first place winner will be competing at the district level!