Stenwood Hive Happenings


Hive Happenings Newsletter


Dear Stenwood Families,

Next week is Thanksgiving and know that we are so grateful for YOU!  We know this year began with some uncertainty, but we are amazed in the ways that our community, students, and staff have worked together to keep each other safe and continue learning and growing here at school. We wish everyone a wonderful break. We will be back with our next Hive Happenings on Friday, December 3rd.   

As a reminder, schools and offices will be closed November 24-26. Classes will resume on Monday, November 29. See the complete 2021-22 school year calendar.

For the families who signed up for Covid Screening Testing, there will be no on-site testing during the short week next week.

On Tuesday of next week we will be celebrating the successful Help the Hive Drive with our wacky principal stunt!  Don’t worry, we will be sending out lots of pictures! 

Here are some additional items included in today’s newsletter:

  • Reduction in Student Quarantine Period *NEW*
  • Optional Screening Testing for Students Not Fully Vaccinated *UPDATED*
  • Advanced Academic Programs- Deadline 12/15 *REMINDER*
  • Vaccine Availability for Children Ages 5-11 *UPDATED*
  • Book Fair News! *UPDATED*

  • Square 1 Art! *UPDATED*

  • Yearbook - Ordering Now Open, Deadline 1/14/22  *REMINDER*
  • FCPS is Hiring - Monitors, Subs, Bus Drivers *REMINDER*
  • Positivity Project: Gratitude
  • Daily Symptom Check *REMINDER*
  • Tech Resource: Stenwood Stingers YouTube Channel!
  • School Meals and Free/Reduced Lunch Applications

We are also grateful for the extra helping hands we have had around Stenwood the last few weeks.  Your child may have mentioned some new faces around Stenwood, and below we’ve introduced our incredible new team members!

Staff

Sincerely,

 

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

 

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


Reduction in Student Quarantine Period

With the start of the national rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations for children ages 5-11 and a drop in the Fairfax County transmission rate from “substantial” to “moderate,” we are adjusting some of the layered prevention strategies that have helped keep the rate of in-school transmission of COVID-19 at just 0.02%.

  • Unvaccinated students who are exposed to COVID-19 in a school setting may quarantine for 10 days, instead of 14 days
  • Students will be notified of the day they may return to the classroom via the pause letter.
  • If you do not have a pause letter from your school, you will need to quarantine for 14 days, per the requirement of the Fairfax County Health Department.   

More information is available online.


Optional Screening Testing for Students Not Fully Vaccinated

Optional COVID-19 screening testing will begin the week of November 15 for students who are not fully vaccinated. FCPS is partnering with LongView International Technology Solutions, Inc. (LTS) to provide testing services for students. 

Optional screening testing for Stenwood students will take place on Tuesdays from 8:30 to 11am at school. Staff at our school will work with all students to ensure they are scheduled to access COVID testing with LTS during the timeframe they are scheduled to be at our school.

One-time parent/legal guardian consent is required to begin COVID screening testing for a student to be tested at school. You may withdraw your consent for testing at any time. If you want your child to begin participating in COVID-19 screening testing, you must pre-register your child(ren) and provide consent using the LTS secure online portal. If you do not want your child to participate in COVID-19 screening testing, no action is required. You will have the option each week to update your child’s vaccination and consent for testing.  There will be no student COVID-19 screening testing the week of November 22 due to the Thanksgiving break.

For all the details about optional COVID-19 screening testing, visit the FCPS website and review the FCPS COVID-19 Screening Testing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document.

Screening testing is a recommended layered prevention strategy that keeps Stenwood safe for in-person learning. Thank you for considering enrolling your child. 


Advanced Academic Programs - Deadline 12/15

evel IV AAP Referrals for students in grades 2-6 for placement in the 2022-2023 school year are due no later than December 15, 2021. Referrals can be submitted to the office or electronically emailed to Kaleigh Hartman at kkhartman@fcps.edu any time between now and December 15th. If submitted electronically, you will receive an email confirmation from Mrs. Hartman within 48 business hours. Contact her if you have not received a confirmation. No late referrals can be accepted.  

Level IV Referral Form and Parent/Guardian Questionnaire can be found here.

  • Parents may submit up to 2 – 8.5 x 11 single sided pages of work samples. It is recommended that parents write a brief description on the sample.

Submitting a referral form for AAP Level IV will initiate a process that begins at the local school and is then completed at the central office level. Our school will put together a portfolio that includes multiple data which are considered holistically. At the central office level, a committee of professionals from various schools review materials to determine eligibility for level IV placement. Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April.


Vaccine Availability for Children Ages 5-11

VaxUpVaccine

The Fairfax Health District and Fairfax County Public Schools are hosting free COVID-19 vaccine clinics at 10 schools for students 5-11 years of age. Children do not need to be an FCPS student to attend these clinics. Vaccines will not be available for those 12 years and older. Children must be accompanied by a parent or another responsible adult at all community vaccination sites.

The Fairfax County Health Department’s webpage has information about the clinics and resources for finding and scheduling a vaccine appointment. Up-to-date information about vaccination opportunities is available on our website


Book Fair News!

Book Fair

Thank you to everyone who supported book fair this week, it was a great success.  But don’t worry if you missed your opportunity or your book was sold out.  The online Stenwood Book Fair is now open!  Click here to visit our online fair – and feel free to send the link to grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends.  Orders $40 and over ship free, otherwise there will be a flat $4.99 shipping fee. The online fair will be open until December 10th, so don’t delay! 

By purchasing books in-person or at the online fair you are not only helping the library but you are also supporting a local business, Bookworm Central. As always, contact Mrs. Cole with any questions you may have.

Bookworm Central Logo

Square 1 Art!

Square 1

 

A reminder that Square 1 Art paper orders are due on Monday, November 22nd. Online or phone orders can be submitted until Saturday, November 27th.

 


BUY YOUR YEARBOOK TODAY!!!

Yearbook

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 14th, 2022 FOR ALL YEARBOOK ORDERS.


Employment Opportunity: Work for FCPS

Employment opportunity in Fairfax County Public Schools

FCPS schools and centers is hiring classroom monitors to provide in-person additional supervision to students both in the classroom and at lunch.  If you would like more information about the position, please review the job description and qualifications if interested. Please feel free to share information about this opportunity with anyone else you think may be interested.  Click here to apply. 

FPCS is seeking individuals to serve as substitute teachers!

Are you or somebody you know interested in substitute teaching with FCPS?  Visit our substitute information page here. Say Yes 2 FCPS!

FCPS is also still hiring bus drivers! 

Visit the Bus Driver information page for more information.


Positivity Project: Gratitude

PP

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

 

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?

Daily Symptom Check

Parents are asked to screen their children every morning before sending them to school.  If you have any questions about whether your child is able to come to school based on symptoms or exposure, please call the office. 

  • Feeling feverish and/or having chills – documented temperature of 100.4°F or higher? 
  • Has there been any use of fever reducing medication within the last 24 hours? 
  • A new cough that is not due to another health condition? 
  • Nasal congestion or runny nose?
  • New shortness of breath or difficulty breathing that is not due to another health condition? 
  • New chills that are not due to another health condition? 
  • A new sore throat that is not due to another health condition? 
  • New muscle aches that are not due to another health condition, or that may have been caused by a specific activity (such as physical exercise)? 
  • Fatigue (more tired than usual)? 
  • Headache? 
  • A new loss of taste or smell? 
  • Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting? 
  • New onset of poor appetite or poor feeding? 
  • Have you had a positive test for the virus that causes COVID-19 disease within the past 10 days?
  • Were you currently tested for COVID-19 because you were sick and are still waiting for the lab results?
  • In the past 14 days, have you had close contact (within about 6 feet for 15 minutes or more) with someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19? 

Persons who have been fully vaccinated and are identified as a close contact to a COVID case do NOT need to quarantine if they meet the following criteria: 

  • Fully vaccinated 
  • ≥14 days since last dose 
  • Asymptomatic

You can view and print a hard copy of this screening at this link: https://www.fcps.edu/sites/default/files/media/forms/HealthScreeningQuestionnaire.pdf


Tech Resource: Stenwood Stingers YouTube Channel!

YouTube

The Stenwood Stingers YouTube Channel is a great resource for all your tech questions!


School Meals and

Free/Reduced Lunch Applications

Each student is eligible for one no-cost breakfast and one no-cost lunch each school day. Check out the  FCPS school meals menus.  If your student would like to purchase additional meals or a la carte items, they will need to pay. An additional meal is $4.50.

The best way to purchase items this year is to use MySchoolBucks. Set up your student’s MySchoolBucks account and help them memorize their pin. If you have questions about MySchoolBucks, our front office staff can help.  

Free/Reduced Lunch Applications are available for those who qualify and wish to initiate or renew their applications for the 21-22 school year.  While a school breakfast and lunch are provided at no cost this school year, your family may benefit from keeping your application up to date. The application is available HERE


Welcome Image

HH Jamestown Picture

HH Jamestown Picture

HH Jamestown Picture

HH Jamestown Picture

HH Jamestown Picture

HH Jamestown Picture

HH Jamestown Picture

Book Fair Pictures

Book Fair Pictures

Book Fair Pictures

Book Fair Pictures

Book Fair Pictures

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

SM