Hive Happenings Newsletter

Dear Stenwood Families,

As we had shared last week, January is full of holidays and workdays, so please take a look at the section below that summarizes the impact on the school schedule. 

We’d like to thank everyone who has submitted their Intention Form already.  The deadline for this form is TODAY, Friday, January 15th, and your response now will save our office staff countless hours of follow up.  While we are looking for a response from every parent on this item, there are two additional items with deadlines today:  1) Yearbook Orders and 2) FCPS’ Schoology Survey.  This is the LAST CHANCE for a yearbook order for this school year, so please make sure to take care of that item as our vendor will not honor late requests.

Also in today’s newsletter: 

• January Schedule Impacts (*NEW*)
• Student Learning Materials Distribution - Monday, Jan 25th (*NEW*)
• Response Needed: Intention Form for SY2021 - 2022 (*DUE TODAY*)
• Order Your Yearbook Today (*DUE TODAY*)
• Schoology Survey (*DUE TODAY*)
• 7^th Grade Transition Plans
• Mrs. Riley’s Read Alouds - New Look!
• Employment Opportunity: Work for FCPS
• Positivity Project: Perseverance
• Summer Enrichment: Tech Adventure Camp (*NEW*)
• Curbside Library Checkout - (*Announcement*)
• Library Mystery Bags
• Don't Forget to Return Your Library Books
• Technology Help for Families 
• Grab and Go Sites

Mark your calendars for the next student learning materials distribution which will take place in a morning and afternoon block on Monday, January 25th.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Erica Riley, Principal
esriley@fcps.edu 
Twitter @esriley1

Meredith Mitchell, Assistant Principal 
mamitchell@fcps.edu
Twitter @MereMitchellAP

January Schedule Impacts

• Monday, Jan 18^th – School Holiday
• Tuesday, Jan 19^th – Regular School Day
• Wednesday, Jan 20^th – School Holiday
• Thursday, Jan 21^st – Regular School Day
• Friday, Jan 22^nd – 2 hour Early Release (Instruction ends at 1:20PM)
• Monday, Jan 25^th - Teacher Workday (No Morning Meeting/ No independent work/ Student Learning Materials Distribution Day)
• Tues - Fri, Jan 26^th - 29^th - Regular School Days

Student Learning Materials Distribution

Monday, January 25^th

We will be doing our next round of distribution on Monday, January 25^th. We will be distributing materials in two blocks:

Monday, Jan 25^th from 8:30 - 10:00AM

Monday, Jan 25^th from 3:00 - 4:30PM

During last distribution, we sent home signs with our In Person primary grade students to use for Kiss N Ride.  If you have one of those, please hold it up when you come through to help speed up the process.  We also will be trying a new system to hopefully help alleviate congestion on Carnegie, so please pay attention to any signs or directions from staff that you see.  

Response Needed: Intention Form for SY2021-22

DUE TODAY!

To ensure adequate staffing for the 2021-2022 school year, we are asking all Stenwood families to fill out this Student Intention Survey.  We request this form be completed by all families by Friday, January 15^th, 2021.

STUDENT INTENTION SURVEY FORM FOR ALL STENWOOD FAMILIES

Also included in this survey is a question regarding any preschool children you may have who will be attending Kindergarten at Stenwood in 2021-2022.  If you have any neighbors with preschoolers who have no other children attending our school, please share this form for them to complete and return to our school by January 15^th, 2021.  The preschool children survey forms can be submitted via email to Sonja Hunt, snhunt@fcps.edu. 

Our Kindergarten Parent/Student Orientation meeting will be held on Monday, March 15^th, 2021 from 8:30 – 10:00AM.  We will be sending information about this meeting to those who complete the Intention Form or who call the school indicating interest in our 2021-2022 kindergarten program.

Order Your Yearbook Today!

DUE TODAY!

Yearbooks are sold ONLY online; they can be purchased for $16.25 using a credit card or PayPal account.  Yearbooks and order options will be delivered to the school at the end of the school year. Simply go to yearbookforever.com and enter our school name.

DEADLINE IS January 15^th, 2021 FOR ALL YEARBOOK ORDERS!!!

We need your help filling up the yearbook with photos from this year!  We are looking for photos showing:

• Fall Festivities
• Winter Photos
• Virtual Work Space
• Winter Break Photos
• Ringing in the New Year.
• And anything else you want!

You can upload the photos 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!

Schoology Survey

DUE TODAY!

Thank you for participating in our Schoology pilot year. FCPS would like you to take a short survey about your experience. Your answers will help FCPS make any necessary improvements as we prepare all schools to begin using Schoology in the 2021-22 school year. The survey will take between 5-10 minutes to complete.

Please complete the survey by Friday, January 15^th, 2021.

Survey link: Family Pilot Year Schoology Feedback

Thank you for your valuable time and important ideas.

7^th Grade Transition Plans

Dear Parents and Guardians of Rising 7^th Graders,

It’s that time of year where your children start the transition process for Middle School! You may have received the following information via post mail or e-notify from Kilmer and Thoreau too, but just in case we are putting it in Hive Happenings for your convenience. Below are the Rising 7^th grade events that are happening at Kilmer and Thoreau soon.

Note: Parents of students eligible for Level IV services:  If you are living in the Thoreau boundaries, your child is eligible to attend Kilmer as their assigned center school.  You may also send your child to Thoreau for Local Level IV services. You may want to attend the Kilmer and Thoreau events as you make your decision. They are all virtual so hopefully this will provide some flexibility. They will provide information on this process.

Should you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact Ms. Hapangama at ashapangama@fcps.edu

Kilmer MS Rising 7^th Grade Spring Transition Plan 

KMS Rising 7^th grade Curriculum Night for Parents & Students

Thursday, Feb 4^th, 2021 Parent and Student session from 6:00 PM, BBCU link

     *Additional sessions for AAP level IV program, ESOL, and Special Education (TBD)

This virtual event will provide both students and parents the opportunity to learn about Kilmer Middle School and the curricular options for the 2021-2022 school year. The event will begin with a live presentation via BBCU (Blackboard Collaborate Ultra) for parents and students. After the presentation, parents and students will be encouraged to explore our virtual curriculum night resources on the Kilmer website including the 2021-2022 course catalogue and curriculum videos created by our Kilmer teachers. Additional information will be shared leading up to this event including the BBCU presentation link, our virtual curriculum night website, and a course selection sheet listing course options for seventh grade.

6^th Grade Course Registration Lessons

Feb. 8^th - 29^th, 2021

     *Stay Tuned for specific date for when Kilmer Counselors will visit STENWOOD

• Kilmer Middle School counselors will be scheduling a virtual visit to each feeder elementary school to complete the course registration process with 6^th grade students and provide the opportunity for students to ask questions about their upcoming transition to middle school
• Kilmer School Counselors will meet with 6^th grade students to facilitate the SIS StudentVUE Online Course Selection sign up. Prior to this lesson, community messages will be sent to encourage students and parents to select course options and communicate with 6^th grade teachers regarding recommendations.

If you have further questions about the course registration process and curriculum event, please contact Sarah Groh, Director of Student Services at sfgroh@fcps.edu.

Thoreau MS Rising 7^th Grade Spring Transition Plan 

Community Based Level IV Advanced Academic Programs Information Session (Virtual)

Thursday February 11^th, 2021 5:30-6:15 PM.

     *Link will be advertised closer to the date.

Rising 7^th Grade Parent Information session with Thoreau Administration and Counseling Team (Virtual)

Thursday February 11^th, 2021 5:30-6:15 PM.

     *Link will be advertised closer to the date.

*Note same date!

Core Curriculum Elective Offerings and Specialized Programs Google Site

Week of February 8^th, 2021

     *Google Site will go live. Link will be advertised closer to the date.

Elementary School Visits

February 8^th - 26^th, 2021

     *Stay Tuned for specific date for when Thoreau Counselors will visit STENWOOD. Link will be advertised closer to the date.

If you have further questions about the course registration process and events, please contact Rebecca Aguilar, Director of Student Services at RJAguilar1@fcps.edu

Mrs. Riley’s Read Alouds - New Look! 

Mrs. Riley has reorganized her read alouds on Schoology to hopefully make it easier for students to navigate.  There are tons of picture books if you are looking for a good read aloud.  They all can be found on the All Students Schoology site.  Mrs. Riley posts one new book each week (usually on Mondays).  She also has started the Battle Book Lions and Liars for upper grade students.  

Employment Opportunity: Work for FCPS!

New employment opportunity in Fairfax County Public Schools

FCPS schools and centers will be hiring classroom monitors to provide in-person classroom assistance for students when a staff member remains virtual.  If you would like more information about the position, please review the job description and qualifications online and apply if interested. Please feel free to share information about this opportunity with anyone else you think may be interested.

If you are interested in supporting Stenwood ES as classroom monitor during in person learning two days per week, please reach out to us directly, as well!

            FPCS is seeking individuals to serve as substitute teachers!

Are you or somebody you know interested in substitute teaching with FCPS? Apply here or attend one of our Friday information sessions to learn more! To sign up for a session, visit our substitute information page here. Say Yes 2 FCPS!

Positivity Project: Perseverance

This week, we are focusing on Perseverance. You complete what you start despite obstacles. You never give up. “It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up.”                                          ~Babe Ruth

Questions you might enjoy talking about:

• What is involved in perseverance?
• How is perseverance related to teamwork? Creativity? Optimism?
• How can growth-mindset hep as you think about perseverance?

Summer Enrichment: Tech Adventure Camp

The Career and Technical Education (CTE) office is once again planning an engaging summer enrichment program for students! For our current 2^nd to 6^th grade students, FCPS is offering Tech Adventure Camp. Please see the flyer below for details.

Tech Adventure Camp Flyer

Curbside Library Checkout

NO Curbside Pickup/Drop off on Monday, January 18^th.  We will resume on Thursday, January 21^st

Stingers can now go to Destiny Discover, the library catalog, and put books on hold!

Please note that the catalog may give you a pop-up message saying the book is ready – do not believe it!  Only come to the school AFTER you receive an email from us letting you know the items are ready and what time you’ll be able to pick them up. Be sure to mark your calendar because after one week, the books will be returned to the library so other students may enjoy them. Click here for directions on how to put books on hold.  Need to return books?  You may return library books on Mondays from 2:30-3:30PM and Thursdays from 3:45-4:30PM.  Drop off location will be in the Kiss-n-Ride loop in the back of the school. As always, please contact Mrs. Cole, our librarian, if you have 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"

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.

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.)

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!

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. See information above.

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

Here are the updated schedules for our food distribution routes:

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. 

Stay Connected Here are a few ways to stay connected with all the happenings at Stenwood ES WEBSITE: Stenwood ES TWITTER: @StenwoodES FACEBOOK (PTA): StenwoodPTA

2620 Gallows Road Vienna, VA 22180 |  Main Office: 703.208.7600
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