Fall into Fun: Everything You Need to Know! Get ready for an unforgettable afternoon of fun and excitement at this year’s Fall Festival! As a major PTA-sponsored event, we’re pulling out all the stops to create a memorable experience for our Kilmer community. With a variety of games, activities, and delicious treats, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. We hope all Kilmer students can attend, even if just for part of the time, to celebrate the season and connect with friends and family. Don't miss out! Date and Time: Friday, October 18th, 2:15 PM- 5:00 PM Location: Kilmer Middle, right after school Important Details: - The Festival begins right after school and runs until 5 PM.
- Students who stay after school must arrange their own transportation home, as no late bus is available.
- Students may also go home and return later, but must be accompanied by an adult when re-entering.
- The Festival is free to attend and features five age-appropriate inflatables, a DJ, a photo booth, and various games—designed for middle schoolers to enjoy.
- Food will be available for purchase, so students should bring cash, a credit card, or access to Apple Pay. Options include Paisano's pizza ($5 per slice), Ben & Jerry’s ice cream ($5 per serving), and additional snacks and drinks from the Kilmer School Store priced between $1 and $3.
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Inflatable Fun for Everyone! |
Fall Festival: Volunteers Needed! For the Fall Festival, we need many volunteers to help with the flow of lines for the inflatables and food trucks! Please plan to arrive at 2:00. Thank you for volunteering! |
| PTA Membership Drive: Enter to Win $200 in Amazon Gift Cards! Joining the PTA is one of the best ways to support our students, teachers, and school community. For just $20 per family per year, you can help shape the activities and initiatives that make Kilmer such a wonderful place to learn and grow. Exciting News: Amazon Gift Card Raffle!
As a thank you for your support, we’ll be raffling off two $100 Amazon gift cards! - Join the PTA before 8:30 AM on Tuesday, October 15th, and you’ll be automatically entered into a drawing for a $100 Amazon gift card.
- Donate to Friends of Kilmer, and you’ll have the chance to win an additional $100 Amazon gift card. This drawing will take place at our next PTA meeting on October 15th at 7:00 PM. (No need to be present to win!)
Already a member? No worries, you're already entered into the raffle! Click HERE to purchase your PTA membership and contribute. Thank you for your support and good luck! |
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| Donate to “Stock the Fridge” Thank you to everyone who has already donated to the PTA's Teacher Appreciation Fund! This money will be used for Teacher Appreciation Week in May. We are now focused on ways to show our amazing Kilmer teachers and staff how much we appreciate them throughout the year. The Kilmer Middle School PTA is thrilled to relaunch our "Stock the Fridge" initiative! Throughout the school year, the Hospitality Committee will stock the teacher's lounge with snacks, drinks, and grab-and-go treats for our hardworking staff seven times, with a budget of approximately $700. If you'd like to contribute, you also have the opportunity to leave a personal message for our teachers and staff. We’ll print and share your notes throughout the year to brighten their days. Thank you for your generous support in helping us show appreciation to our incredible staff! Donate HERE! |
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| October Kilmer Food Pantry Notice Today's world produces enough food that not one person should go hungry, and yet around the world, 805 million live with hunger daily. As you may know, food insecurity can significantly impact a child's education in several ways: - Academic performance: Lower grades, test scores, and graduation rates; difficulties in math and reading
- Social and emotional development: Challenges in forming friendships and bonds; increased risk of anxiety and depression
- Cognitive development: Affected concentration, memory, mood, and motor skills
- Physical health: Potential malnutrition, impacting physical growth and brain development
Let's ensure our Kilmer families don't go hungry! We can't do this without the generosity and support of our Kilmer Middle School community. There are many ways to support food insecurity at Kilmer. Here's how you can help now! - Donate non-perishable food items from our Amazon wishlist. Items will be delivered directly to Kilmer Middle.
- Donate non-perishable items on the marked carts in the main office (See suggestions below for ideas).
- Donate funds directly to the PTA and we’ll do the shopping for you!
Learn more at the PTA website. For more information, contact KMS Food Pantry. |
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Cooky Bysura and her son Kypton |
Volunteer at the After-School Store We’re excited to announce that the After-School Store is open, offering a variety of snacks to hungry students every Tuesday and Thursday from the end of the school day until 3:45 PM. We accept cash, tap-to-pay credit cards, and Google/Apple Pay, making it convenient for everyone. Students are thrilled to have the store back, but we need parent volunteers to keep it running smoothly. Volunteering is simple—the inventory is organized and ready in the school store closet. Plus, if you sign up to help out with your child, they can earn service hours! Prices range from $1 to $3, so there’s something for everyone. Sign up today and support our school community! Sign up to volunteer with your child! Please note that we need at least one adult per shift. |
| October PTA Meeting Join us for our next PTA meeting on Tuesday, October 15, at 7 PM. Whether you prefer to attend in person or online, we’ve got you covered! Come hear important updates, share your thoughts, and connect with other parents and staff. We hope to see you there! A link to the meeting will be shared closer to the date. |
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| Fundraiser at Plaka Grill Date: Wednesday, October 23rd (the same night as the Vienna Halloween Parade)
Time: All Day Locations:
Plaka Grill Vienna
110 Lawyers Road NW, Vienna, VA
(703) 319-3131 Plaka Grill Falls Church
1216 West Broad Street, Falls Church, VA
(703) 639-0161 Description:
Join us on Wednesday, October 23rd, for a delicious way to support Kilmer Middle School! Both Plaka Grill locations (Vienna and Falls Church) are generously hosting an all-day fundraiser in conjunction with the 78th Annual Town of Vienna Halloween Parade. If you're looking for an easy dining option right before or during the parade, you can support your school at the same time! How to Participate:
When ordering in person or over the phone, make sure to mention "Kilmer MS fundraiser." If you’re ordering online, please write "Kilmer MS fundraiser" in the "Special Requests" section. Please Note: Purchases made through third-party delivery services like Door Dash or Uber Eats are not eligible for this fundraiser. This is a great opportunity to enjoy some tasty food while supporting our school community. Spread the word, and we hope to see you there! |
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| Volunteers Needed: 8th grade Finance Park Field Trip Dear Parents – we need your help! After a brief unit on financial literacy taught in Civics classes in the coming weeks, all 8th grade students will embark on a field trip to Finance Park in mid-October to put what they've learned to good use. We are critically in need of parent and guardian support to make this trip a success, and we would really appreciate it if you could join us! Parents who have accompanied us in the past have given very high reviews of the experience, and some have even come back in subsequent years to join us again. Please visit the Finance Park website for more details and click here to volunteer. Thanks in advance for your help! – Rob Paine, 8th Grade Civics Teacher |
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Enter the Reflections Art Contest Calling all creatives! Is your student into art, photography, music, dance, film, or writing? Enter the Reflections Art Contest! This year’s theme is “Accepting Imperfection”! Please contact Reflections@kilmerpta.org for more information. Deadline for entries is November 15. |
Parenting a Child with ADHD: How to Help Your Child Flourish Intended For: Parents of Children with ADHD Date/Time: Tuesday, October 15th, 7:30pm ET. Webinar via Zoom: Webinar will be recorded and sent to you if this time is inconvenient. Cost: FREE In this free 60-minute webinar and Q&A, our experienced child therapists will help you understand common signs of ADHD in children and teens, and provide you with practical tools to support your child. We’ll teach you how to tap into your child’s unique strengths and respond to their behaviors with patience and understanding to set the stage for success. This webinar is designed for parents of children who may: • Get easily distracted • Frequently misplace items • Have trouble following directions • Routinely interrupt or blurt things out • Struggle to sit still • Daydream when they should be paying attention • Seem to have boundless energy Join us to learn proven strategies that work, so your child can thrive and you can feel more confident in your parenting. |
Workshop: Proven Systems for Solving Disorganization, Procrastination, and Missed Deadlines Patterns of disorganization, procrastination, and late assignments wear down and discourage many parents of students as the school year grinds on. But it doesn’t have to be this way! It’s essential to recognize that these struggles bring with them opportunities for academic growth and positive transformation — and it’s all possible through the power of thoughtful systems. Join us for this FREE workshop on October 16th, where Ann Dolin will share her expert advice and practical strategies to support your child’s success and transform school-related stress into triumphs this school year. The workshop is open to middle and high school parents. Participants will learn: - Strategies to help your student stay on top of their work and maintain order with easy-to-implement organizational routines
- Uncover which type of procrastinator your child is, from crisis-maker to dreamer, and get personalized solutions for each procrastination style.
- How your child can effectively use a calendar system to combat procrastination and ensure assignments are turned in on time
- Communication starters to develop a relationship of trust at the start of the school year and how to nurture it for a smooth academic journey
Empower your child to succeed! Please register so we can plan for seating and light refreshments. Reserve your spot today! |
Costumes for Kids Fall Volunteer Festival Looking for a fun and meaningful way to earn community service hours? Sign up for the Costumes for Kids Fall Volunteer Festival, hosted by Kids Give Back, which is the perfect opportunity for Kilmer students and their families to volunteer together! Kids Give Back will be preparing 100+ storybook character costumes for children in low-resource communities and pairing each costume with a book and tote bag. Every hour you spend volunteering helps bring a smile to a child’s face! What’s Included:- Costume-making stations (create costumes for characters like Fairy, Sonic, Minion, Superman, and more!)
- Face painting
- Games & Crafts
- Music
Snacks, drinks, and raffle tickets will be available for purchase. Ticket Prices:- $12/Individual
- $44/Group of 4
- $110/Group of 10
- $150/Group of 15
Purchase your tickets today! Want to make an even bigger impact? For just $30, you can sponsor a costume, book, and tote bag for a child! |
Vienna Jammers at the Halloween Parade Get ready for some spooky fun! The Vienna Jammers percussion ensemble will be performing live in the Town of Vienna's Halloween parade on Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2024, bringing our drums and marimbas to life with thrilling beats! Come cheer on your fellow Kilmer Cougars and enjoy the Halloween spirit! |
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