Good Morning Students and Families,
It was a very eventful week as we kicked off the last quarter of the school year. We were welcomed back to so many beautiful updates as part of our main lobby and library redesign. It was wonderful to watch how excited our students were as they came into the building on Monday to see the new Panther, flags representing the birth countries of our students, and the new “Home of the Panthers” sign. A huge thank you to Stone parent, Ian Knox of Allegra Designs, for his creativity and hard work! I look forward to sharing more updates in the coming weeks.
Our choral, band and orchestra students had the opportunity to perform the National Anthem to begin last Thursday’s School Board meeting. As always, our students and directors continue to shine in yet another great collaborative effort. I am so proud of all their hard work and efforts.
We are in the final countdown as it relates to the end of the year. In an effort to keep everyone informed, please check our website, as we hope to keep everything updated in one place. You can find all this information here: Events for the remainder of the school year.
This week, we celebrate Month of the Military Child with a Purple Up Day on Wednesday, April 20. We encourage all students and staff to wear purple as we honor and celebrate our military-connected youth and families. On behalf of the Stone community, we thank all of our military-connected families for your sacrifice and service. We also celebrate Autism Acceptance and will have a Tie-Dye Day on Friday, April 22. Students will receive more information on these two days, as well as our upcoming Wellness & Makers Week. Please see below for more information on how you can provide donations.
As always, I am so grateful for your continued support. I look forward to the many moments of celebration and joy as we close out this school year maintaining our focus on family, student success and growth.
Please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly (mcnorris@fcps.edu) if you have any questions, suggestions or feedback.
Have a nice weekend,
Meredith Norris
Principal
Stone Middle School
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Portrait of a Panther
It was another exciting week at Stone, with a lot of opportunities to be outside for learning. Check out this week's portrait of a panther winners, who continue to work hard and engage in their classes, in particular some shining stars in Health and PE.
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Wellness Carts Feature
As part of our additional ESSR funding, our Student Services team has put together wellness carts. Wellness carts are stocked with a variety of activities and resources students and staff can access as a way to relax and decompress. Check out the link above for more information.
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Makers Week: Donations accepted all this week!
Calling for donations! In celebration of School Library Month in April, the library will hold a Makers Week. The library is asking for donations to help make this a success for our students. To see the items needed to donate, please click the link above and drop them off in the main off this week.
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After School Clubs - 4th Quarter
We crowned our Spring Futsal Champions this last week...our students had so much fun with the indoor soccer league. With the new quarter brings new after school clubs beginning April 25! Check out what’s being offered for the fourth quarter and get signed up today! See the link above for more information.
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Nothing Bundt Cakes Fundraiser: April 20
Check out this great fundraiser in time for Mother’s Day and other May events sponsored by our PTA. Please click the link above for more information.
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Family Engagement
The Hidden in Plain Sight (HIPS) Program, April 22
An IN-PERSON interactive program for adults to be educated about the signs of risky behavior in teens and young adults. It touches on drug and alcohol use, mental health concerns, eating disorders, risky sexual behaviors and more. Please click the link above for more information.
Free School Physicals for Students (April-August)
Together with Inova Cares Clinic for Families, Partnership for Healthier Communities is scheduling free school physicals for students who are uninsured or have Virginia Medicaid. This will take place at Inova Cares Clinic for Families in Manassas, VA and occur until August. Partnership for Healthier Communities will be on-site to screen and enroll qualifying families in Medicaid.
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Student Services Update
April 2 - May 1 is Ramadan, one of the holiest times on the Islamic calendar. If your child needs an alternative space for lunch or prayer during this time, we will accommodate them.
Quarter 3 report cards will be sent home with students on Monday, April 18th and also viewable through Parent Vue and Student Vue applications.
Please email your child's school counselor or our Director of Student Services, Tami Brumett at TLBrumett@fcps.edu if you have any questions regarding the topics above.
Standards of Learning (SOL) Spring Testing
As part of the Virginia State Assessment Program, Stone students will take the Standards of Learning (SOL) standardized tests in Reading, Mathematics, and Science.
The Spring SOL testing dates can be found below and also on our website:
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Reading 7 & 8: Wednesday, May 11
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Math 7 & 8: Friday, May 13
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Science 8: Thursday, May 19 and Friday, May 20
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Retakes (if eligible): Tuesday, May 24 - Friday, May 27
If you have any questions regarding testing, please contact Stone’s school test coordinator, Kristina O’Boyle at 703.631.5968 or kmoboyle@fcps.edu.
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 Students from our Panther News team were able to check out the Nancy Sprague Center... they learned so many new things & were able to produce this Monday's show!
 Members of our band, choral and orchestra ensembles did an incredible job performing the National Anthem before the School Board meeting. Thank you to our talented students, directors and families for all your hard work and support!
 More action shots from the Panther News crew and their field trip to Sprague Center!
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