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Schoolwide Learning Expectations

Our Students are . . .

Spiritually Active Catholics Who . . .

• Exemplify Christ by practicing Christian virtues
• Act as witnesses of their faith through participation in the Eucharist, prayer, worship, and ministry
• Demonstrate knowledge of the foundation of their faith and Church teachings
• Make moral choices based on their Catholic faith and accept responsibility for those choices

Life Long Learners Who . . .

• Possess a love of knowledge and learning
• Demonstrate a strong foundation in the basic knowledge and skills of all academic areas
• Demonstrate the ability to gain content knowledge through research, reasoning and questioning
• Set reasonable goals and effectively work to accomplish them
• Gain self-awareness and discipline through the study and practice of the arts

Effective Communicators Who . . .

• Read, write, speak, and listen actively
• Recognize, understand and use non-verbal communication
• Use technology to communicate, learn and interact globally

Active Problem Solvers Who . . .

• Gather and analyze information, consider alternatives and make educated decisions
• Observe, experiment, discover and work independently and collaboratively to create solutions
• Use organizational, study, and time-management skills and adapt to an ever-changing environment

Well-Balanced Individuals Who . . .

• Possess self-respect, self-confidence and self-discipline
• Participate in the community with a sense of civic responsibility and global citizenship
• Maintain respectful relationships with their peers and adults
• Understand, appreciate and respect diversity
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle and perform to the best of their abilities

8TH GRADE

• 5 family size boxes of Kleenex (Students A-L)
• 5 Rolls of paper towels (students M-Z)
• iPad stylus (optional by encouraged)
• 1 packages of loose leaf binder paper
• 1 package of graph paper (in math binder)
• 4 red pens (not erasable)
• 20 Mechanical Pencils
• 4 white out tapes
• Pencil bag
• 1 package of 8-12 colored markers (A-L)
• 1 package of 8-12 colored pencils (M-Z)
• 2 glue sticks
• 1 ream of soft white copy paper
• 1 calculator: TI-83+ or TI84 for 8th grade Math only (Please don’t have siblings share.)
• 5 Sturdy book covers to cover large books
• 2- 1 to 1 ½ inch 3 ring binders
  • Black for Math (optional for handwritten notes)
  • ANY COLOR for Religion Portfolio. Plastic cover to insert; use colorful sheet.
• 2 sturdy vinyl bottom pocket folders
  • GREEN for Social Studies
  • BLUE for Language Arts
• 1 RED single subject spiral notebook for Religion

SPANISH

• 1 1/2 ” or 2 ” 3 ring binder WHITE with clear overlay on front
• 5 dividers
• 1 subject 70 sheet college ruled notebook

MUSIC CLASS

• 1” three ring binder
• Pencil bag with zipper and
• holes for 3 ring binder
• 3 sharpened pencils with eraser
• *Note-No need to buy new binder, if your 2018 – 2019 binder is in good condition.

Francesca Smiland (C’99) – I have a passion for teaching mathematics at Holy Family School!  I have been a part of the Holy Family Community most of my life, as a parishioner, a student, a teachers assistant and as a teacher.  As a member of the class of 1999, I would not have predicted my career would lead me to my mission teaching at Holy Family School but I am delighted that it did!  I began working at Holy Family in 2005 and spent the next 13 years there in the Middle School Math program. I had found my passion. I completed my B.A. in Liberal Studies followed by a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Mathematics from Cal State Los Angeles.

In 2018, I spent a year out of the classroom working for Promethean World, training teachers on Interactive Flat Panel technology in the classroom.  I found myself missing the faith community and my students and have joyfully decided to return to the math classroom and to my passion in 2019!

Mrs. Darcie Girmus – Prior to having just been named principal at Holy Family Catholic School, Mrs. Girmus was the middle school science teacher, named assistant principal in 2010 and then Principal from 2014 – 2019 at St. Marks Catholic School in Vienna Virginia. With a combined 32 years of educational experience, she taught 17 years in a public school in Nebraska. In 2003, Mrs. Girmus and her family moved to Virginia from Nebraska where they literally “sold the farm” to fulfill her lifelong dream of teaching in a Catholic School. A graduate of the University of Nebraska, Mrs. Girmus holds degrees in elementary education, curriculum and instruction, and her most recent, Master of Education in Administration and Supervision is from Marymount University. Girmus and her husband Greg, are looking forward to joining our Holy Family Community as parishioners.