Stenwood Hive Happenings


Hive Happenings Newsletter


Dear Stenwood Families,

We hope your family had a joyful and safe Thanksgiving.  We appreciated the time to connect and focus on loved ones, and we hope you did, too.  Before leaving on break, we had a special time celebrating the successful Help the Hive Drive with our wacky principal stunt!  We hope you appreciate the pictures included below and our highlight reel!

With the cold weather here, please let us know if your child is in need of a warm winter coat. Please reach out to the office or our school counselors, Anoma Hapangama (ashapangama@fcps.edu) and Tammy Berick (tsberick@fcps.edu) with your needs, as we hope to assist you.

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

  • Advanced Academic Programs- Deadline 12/15 *DUE SOON/UPDATED*
  • 4th-6th Grade FLE Lessons - Week of December 13th *NEW*
  • Test Scores Available in ParentVue *NEW*
  • Optional Screening Testing for Students Not Fully Vaccinated *UPDATED*
  • Vaccine Availability for Children Ages 5-11 *UPDATED*
  • Book Fair Online – ONLY 1 WEEK LEFT! *NEW*

  • Battle of the Books *NEW*
  • Yearbook - Ordering Now Open, Deadline 1/14/22  *REMINDER*
  • FCPS is Hiring - Monitors, Subs, Bus Drivers *REMINDER*
  • Positivity Project: Knowing My Words and Actions Affect Others
  • Daily Symptom Check *REMINDER*
  • Tech Resource: Stenwood Stingers YouTube Channel!
  • School Meals and Free/Reduced Lunch Applications

 

Sincerely,

 

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

 

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


Advanced Academic Programs - Deadline 12/15

Level IV AAP Referrals for students in grades 2-6 for placement in the 2022-2023 school year are due no later than December 15th, 2021. Referrals can be submitted to the office or electronically emailed to Kaleigh Hartman kkhartman@fcps.edu, Erica Riley esriley@fcps.edu, and Meredith Mitchell mamitchell@fcps.edu any time between now and December 15th. If submitted electronically, you will receive an email confirmation from Mrs. Riley or Dr. Mitchell within 48 business hours. Contact us 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.


4th-6th Grade FLE Lessons -

Week of December 13th

At the beginning of the school year, our school community was informed about Family Life Education and families were given the opportunity to complete an opt out form.  During the week of December 13th, our 4th-6th grade classrooms will be conducting HGD lessons for all participating students. Please reach out to your child’s teacher and/or our FLE coordinator, Meredith Mitchell (mamitchell@fcps.edu), if you have any questions regarding instruction or if you would like to submit an opt out form.


Test Scores Available in ParentVue

This school year, test scores will be populated in ParentVue Accounts.  Log in here to access fall iReady scores for all students in grades 1-6.  Additional score reports will be accessible to you via ParentVue as soon as they are made available.  If you have any questions regarding your child’s scores, please contact your child’s teacher.

Most of our Stenwood families have already activated the SIS ParentVUE account.  If you are unable to login to your account, you may need to reset your password on the SIS Parent Account login page (https://sisparent.fcps.edu):  

  • Select the “Forgot Password” button.  
  • Your username is the primary email address you have on file with us in our Student Information System.  
  • More information is available here

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 Fridays from 8:45 - 9:30am 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.  

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. 


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 Online – ONLY 1 WEEK LEFT!

Book Fair

Only one week left for the Stenwood Online Book Fair!  If you missed your opportunity in person or your book was sold out, now’s your chance to get some books.  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

Battle of the Books

Battle of the Books

Battle of the Books is Friday, December 10th at 9:00 am.  Join us to watch as the 5th and 6th grade teams  battle for the Stenie Cup!  Families can watch the event live on Zoom.  Similar to BTSN and conferences, all participants will join a waiting room and be admitted to the event by 8:55 am. 

Can’t watch it live?  No worries!  A recording of the Battle of the Books will be posted in the All Parents Stenwood Elementary Schoology course (login credentials are the same as SIS accounts) and sent out in next week’s Hive Happenings.


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:

Knowing My Words and Actions Affect Others

PP

This week, we are working on ONE of the FIVE overarching components of the Positivity Project. Knowing that everything you do and say can affect others - and your relationships with them.

 

“Solid character will reflect itself in consistent behavior, while poor character will seek to hide behind deceptive words and actions.”  

                                                          ~Myles Munroe

 

Often times, knowing something and acting like you know it doesn’t line up with each other. For example, you know that your words and actions impact other people, but your behavior doesn’t always show that understanding.

What does it look like to KNOW that your words and actions impact others?


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


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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

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