Holmes Middle School (Livonia, Michigan)

Holmes Middle School is a middle school in Livonia, Michigan and run by the public schools thereof. It is home to the Hawks athletic team and a sister school to Emerson Middle School and Frost Middle School.

History

Holmes Middle School was established in 1965, but until it opened in January 1967, classes were held in three locations around Livonia. The school is named after Oliver Wendell Holmes, and is a North Central Accredited School. Through the years, it has expanded tremedously as far as offered classes and resources. At the beginning of the year, new computers were donated for the library. During the fourth quarter, new computers were donated for in the open computer lab. Since the district was planning to purchase new computers at the end of the 2007-2008 school year, these have saved it a tremendous amount of money.

Academics

Holmes Middle School offers Advanced Mathematics (PreAlgebra in the seventh grade, Algebra 1 in the eighth grade) as well as Advanced Language Arts.

Required courses for the seventh grade are Mathematics (from which students may be exempted if they test into Advanced Mathematics), Social Studies, Science, Language Arts (which, like mathematics, may be substituted for Advanced Language Arts), Computer Tech, Health, and Physical Education. Health, Computer Tech, and Physical Education are only ten weeks in length, whereas Math, Social Studies, Science, and Language Arts are to be taken during the entire school year. In eighth grade, students are required to take Language Arts or Advanced Language Arts, Mathematics or Advanced Mathematics (both depending upon which course was taken in seventh grade), Social Studies, and Science. In addition to these full year courses, the only partial-year course required in the eighth grade is Physical Education. However, unlike the Physical Education in the seventh grade, Physical Education in the eighth grade is to be taken for twenty weeks (out of the forty week school year).

Other than required courses, students in the seventh grade are required to take 1 of any five ten week courses of their choice, or 2)one full year elective (Spanish, French, German, Orchestra, Cadet Band, or Concert Band. Likewise, in the eighth grade, students are required to take 1) one full year elective (German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Concert Band, Cadet Band, Orchestra, or Jazz Band), 2) two of any of the full year electives previously mentioned without taking Physical Education, or 3) three partial-year electives, which, unlike those in the seventh grade, are twenty weeks instead of ten.

Athletics

The name of Holmes Middle School's athletic team is the Hawks. The first sports available in the year are touch football for boys, cross-country for both boys and girls, and volleyball for girls which begin with the school year. After the end of these seasons, the basketball season begins for boys only. Following this, the girls basketball and boys wrestling seasons begin. To finish up the school year, track and field begins for both boys and girls, and softball for girls only. Recently the School Record and City Record for The Fastest Girls 3200 meter relay has been beaten.

The athletic teams at Holmes Middles School compete against the other two middle schools in the Livonia Public Schools district, Frost Middle School and Emerson Middle School. But sometimes there is the rare case that they compete outside the city. For cross-country the boys and girls both traveled to South Lyon, Michigan to compete with three other county's. This meet was the Tri-County meet in which Holmes competed against teams from around the tri county area.

Other Activities

During the school year, several activity nights are held. At these there is music, dancing, and other such activities.

The Lunch Program

The Lunch Program at Holmes Middle School provides hot lunch daily during the lunch period. Lunch costs $3 for a hot entreė, two drinks, and a side dish. Lunch varies based on what is being offered that day. Students may pay in cash or load their student ID cards with cash for purchasing lunch. On some Fridays the staff may have a slide show for the students to watch. The slide show is just pictures of their fellow classmates.

The Library

Holmes Middle School has a library for use by the students and staff reference. Books and internet access are available. If books are not returned in time, fines will occur.

Disciplinary Action

If students violate the Student Handbook that they signed at the beginning of the year Disciplinary action will occur. Problems like Teasing, and Horseplay are common reasons for action to take place. Punishment varies from Going to the Planning Room (Detention)to going to see the Assistant Principal to In school Suspension and Out of school Suspension.