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Dear Stenwood Families,
We are excited to welcome our in-person Kindergarteners next week and are so grateful for our staff and community who have worked together to make this transition possible. As a reminder, the phase-in of student groups will necessitate some schedule changes, including a change next week to the grade level lunch bunches which will now be held once a week instead of daily:
At last night’s School Board meeting, Dr. Brabrand shared updated timelines for the return of Cohort 6 (1st and 2nd grade) and Cohort 7 (3rd - 6th grade). Cohort 6 is now scheduled to return the week of 12/7. Cohort 7 has a scheduled return date of 1/11. These dates continue to be tentative based on health and staffing metrics. Please review the School Board Meeting slidedeck for additional information about the plan for Return to School.
We are communicating directly with parents of students who are in grade levels that are phasing-in, so please be mindful of eNotify messages you receive from our school, as they contain important planning information and often require your response to help us plan for a smooth transition.
Also in today’s newsletter:
- Monday Enrichment Schedule and Virtual Assembly
- FCPS Family Guide for Return to School
- Stenwood ES Playground - Reminder
- AAP Level IV Full-Time Services Screening Information (Grades 2-6)
- Positivity Project: Gratitude
- Yearbook Information and Fall Picture Day Opportunity
- Stenwood Online Book Fair is Now Open for Business!!!
- Library Mystery Bags
- Don't Forget to Return Your Library Books!
- Technology Help for Families
- Grab and Go Sites - Updated Schedule
We hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Sincerely,
Erica Riley, Principal
esriley@fcps.edu
Twitter @esriley1
Meredith Mitchell, Assistant Principal
mamitchell@fcps.edu
Twitter @MereMitchellAP
Monday Enrichment Schedule and
Virtual Assembly
Sessions can be found in the All Students course in Schoology. Once there, click the Collaborate Ultra tab to locate the live sessions.
Click here to view the schedule!
Please note the special asynchronous enrichment that will also be posted in the All Students Course on Monday!
“Rethinking Thanksgiving: History, Holidays, and Gratitude”
Watch a webinar with authors Kate Messner and Traci McClellan-Sorell as they debunk traditional perceptions about Native Americans, Pilgrims, and the first Thanksgiving. Kate Messner is the author of “History Smashers: Mayflower” which deals with the real, documented history of that time period and Traci McClellan-Sorell is the author of “We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga” which shares and celebrates Cherokee traditions of gratitude. Join them as they provide a more inclusive view of the myth of the “First Thanksgiving.”
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Virtual MadScience Assembly: Monday, Nov 23rd at 1:30pm
Reactions in Action:
A perfect blend of chemistry and physics, with a focus on things that light up and glow. Children will enjoy reactions that produce light including the world of ultraviolet light. They will watch in amazement as real money disappears in a flash. Finally, we conclude with a grand finale fitting for the occasion - our indoor fireworks show!
FCPS Family Guide for Return to School
Fairfax County Public Schools is partnering with families to ensure we keep students and staff safe and healthy as we return to school buildings for learning. Working together, we will follow recommended health guidance that focuses on student and staff health, safety, and emotional well-being.
The FCPS Family Guide for Return to School has a wealth of information on topics like concurrent instruction, lunch, the mandatory mask policy, recess, laptops, health protocols, and more.
FCPS Family Guide for Return to School
Here is more information on how Concurrent Instruction will look in our Stenwood classrooms.
For students who are returning for in-person learning, families must complete the Health Screening Commitment form prior to the first day of when your child will return. Please email the Health Commitment Form to snhunt@fcps.edu.
Health Commitment Form- English
Health Commitment Form- Arabic
Health Commitment Form- Chinese
Health Commitment Form- Farsi
Health Commitment Form- Spanish
Health Commitment Form- Urdu
Stenwood ES Playground - Reminder
We kindly ask that you do not bring your children to the Stenwood ES playground to play during school hours beginning Monday, November 16th. As we welcome more children and adults back to our buildings, they will utilize the outdoor spaces.
Mondays: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Tuesday - Friday: 8:20am - 3:40pm
AAP Level IV Full-Time Services Screening Information (Grades 2 - 6)
If you would like to have your child screened for possible eligibility for AAP Level IV services, beginning in the 2021-22 school year, please email the following documents to Mrs. Riley (esriley@fcps.edu) and Mrs. Herendeen (ppherendeen@fcps.edu) no later than December 1, 2020.
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AAP Level IV Referral Form - required
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Parent/Guardian Questionnaire – optional
- 1-4 pages of work samples – optional
- Must be able to print onto 8.5x11” paper
- Shows your child’s advanced academic abilities and/or creative & critical thinking
- Include a short description of the work
Important message for families of students in 2nd grade – the FCPS AAP office has not yet released the benchmark score for the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT) which means we do not yet have a 2nd grade screening pool. Please note, students in the screening pool will be automatically screened, but families should not wait for the pool list to submit the above documents. If you wish to have your child screened, please begin preparing the documents.
For more information regarding all AAP Levels of Service, you may reference the following: Recording from October 1st
For more information regarding AAP Level IV screening, you may reference the following: Recording and Slides from October 15th
Please contact Mrs. Herendeen with any specific questions you may have. Thank you!
Positivity Project: Gratitude
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This week, we are focusing on Gratitude. You are aware of and thankful for good things that happen.
“The real gift of gratitude is that the more grateful you are, the more present you become.”
~Robert Holden
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Questions you might enjoy talking about:
- What are the easiest things to be grateful for? What are the most difficult?
- What are some benefits of gratitude?
- How does it make you feel to think that others are grateful for you?
Yearbook Information and Fall Picture Day Opportunity
Yes, We Will Have A Yearbook!
Students and families may not have a connection to the physical brick and mortar school building yet, but we are still Stenwood Stingers just the same!
To capture this unusual year and to make our yearbook a reality, we need photos of our beautiful stingers in their individual learning hives. Therefore, we are calling on our community for some help!
Each week, we will be asking for different photos to be uploaded to Yearbook Snap. Access Code: stenwood.
We will also be asking to collect photos from you, we ask that they are either camera images or cell phone photos without the live feature attached. If you upload photos and the ending is .HEIC instead of .JPG, we are unable to use them in the yearbook. We look forward to seeing everyone’s photo in the yearbook this year!
Feel free to send us any snapshots from the first day of school and beyond!
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Also… Mark your calendars and SIGN UP TODAY!!! Stenwood will be offering an optional, socially distanced picture day opportunity on Monday, November 23rd and Monday, November 30th from 8am - 3pm. |
Photos will take place in the cafeteria, one child at a time. Please wait in your car in the Stenwood front parking lot until your scheduled appointment time. Students ONLY will enter the building and will wear their mask until in place for their picture. A parent or guardian must complete a health screening form before children enter the building.
Click HERE to create an account and sign up for a portrait time for each Stenwood child in your household.
Use this link to order your portraits!
Stenwood Online Book Fair is Now Open for Business!!!
If it’s November, then it’s Book Fair time! While we can’t be in person, we can still enjoy great books and educational games. Stenwood has partnered with our local vendor, Bookworm Central, to provide more reading and learning opportunities for your child. |
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The book fair will be open from November 9th through November 23rd and will offer free shipping on orders $30.00 and above. The Stenwood library receives a portion of all proceeds to purchase more books for our library. Please take time to explore our book fair and as always, please contact Mrs. Cole with any questions.
Library Mystery Bags
Need new books? Not sure what to search for in the catalog? Well, look no further – Mrs. Cole to the rescue! Fill out the appropriate grade level form and she’ll put together a “Mystery Bag” for your child. It might be great, or maybe not – but trying new things is what education and reading are all about.
(Note: Separate forms for K-2 and Grades 3-6)
Grades K-2 "Library Mystery Bags"
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Please fill out this form (Gr K-2) if you would like to request a "Mystery Bag" from the Stenwood Library. The "Mystery Bag" will include 5 books selected by Mrs. Cole. It may include a combination of Picture books, "I Can Read" books, Quick Reads (early chapter books) and/or Nonfiction books. |
Grades 3-6 "Library Mystery Bags"
If you need inspiration, you can look at the included pictures and/or access the Library/Materials Schoology course for a look at previous years’ pumpkins. As always, please contact Mrs. Cole if you have any questions.
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Please fill out this form (Gr 3-6) if you would like to request a "Mystery Bag" from the Stenwood Library. The "Mystery Bag" will include 3 books selected by Mrs. Cole.
Remember, if you have a specific book you are looking for, please log into the Destiny Catalog to place a book on hold. (Directions are in your grade level folder here in the Library Course.)
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WAIT FOR AN EMAIL BEFORE COMING TO STENWOOD
TO PICK UP BOOKS.
If you have a Yahoo email account, please check your spam folder. Yahoo is blocking emails automatically generated by the library software. If you are concerned that you missed a pick up time, please contact Mrs. Cole.
Questions? Please contact Mrs. Cole, our librarian, if you have any questions.
Don’t Forget to Return Your Library Books!
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While Mrs. Cole is happy that students are getting books during virtual education, she’s really happy when they come back so other students can enjoy them! You can return books during curbside pickup when school is in session: Mondays from 2:30-3:30pm and Thursdays from 3:45-4:30pm.
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If your child doesn’t know what has been checked out, they can log into Destiny Discover and see what they have checked out. As always, contact Mrs. Cole with any questions you have.
Technology Help for Families
There are a wealth of resources available on the Stenwood website to assist with technology questions, including: setting up your SIS Parent Account, logging into and navigating Schoology, and resetting student passwords. You can find all that information and more here:
Stenwood ES: Return to School 2020
You can also find tech help and tips on our YouTube Channel:
Return to School Resources - YouTube Playlist
Parent Technology Help Desk: 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS)
Grab and Go Sites - Updated Schedule
Here are the updated schedules for our food distribution routes:
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Breakfast and lunch meals are offered Monday through Friday (excluding holidays). Breakfast and lunch are served at the same time. Breakfast and lunch are also offered at no cost to any student who attends in-person instruction at a school Monday-Friday. Meals for Saturday and Sunday are offered at sites and on bus routes every Friday. |
More information is available online here, or by calling the Office of Food and Nutrition Services at 703-813-4800.
Free/Reduced Lunch Applications are available for those who qualify and wish to initiate or renew their applications for the 20-21 school year. Your child(ren)’s application from last school year is only good for the first few days of this school year. You must send in a new household application for each school year. The application is available HERE.
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