 October 2, 2022
Good evening Stone Families,
Our hope is that you are staying safe and dry on this rainy Sunday. Last week, we celebrated the first week of after school programming with a fun-filled spirit week. Hopefully, you follow us on social media so that you can see the various pictures of our students and staff who participated in our daily spirited themes. It was also our first week of testing this school year, with the implementation of the Virginia Growth Assessment (VGA). It went well and kudos to all of you who got your students to school on time so that they got proper testing time. We still have some makeups to complete this week so testing will still be happening in the building on Monday & Tuesday.
This week, we will be celebrating our custodial team in honor of National Custodian Appreciation Day. A big thank you to Mr. Ward, Ms. Trottman, Ms. Veliz, Mr. Mercedes, Mr. Trinh & Mr. Pham. The building and grounds always look amazing thanks to this team. Throughout the week, our students and staff will be showing our appreciation in various ways concluding with a Blue Out on Friday, October 7th. Please encourage your students to pick up after themselves throughout this week and school year to help out our small but mighty custodial superheroes.
October has several student holidays including this Wednesday, October 5th, so please make sure you are aware of the FCPS school calendar. See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.
October is also National Bullying Prevention Month, LGBTQIA+ History Month & Disability History and Awareness month. Our leadership and Panther news students are leading our awareness and activities throughout the month.
We will welcome a new Stone Panther, Ms. Tiffany Moore, as our Safety & Security Assistant. Ms. Moore comes to us from the Hampton Roads area where she served numerous years as a Deputy Sheriff in the Juvenile & Domestic Courthouse. Ms. Moore will start at Stone on Monday, October 3rd.
Additionally, the Westfield High School homecoming parade will start at Stone Middle School on Friday October 14th at approximately 4:30pm. Please be aware that streets will be blocked and the Stone parking lot will be the staging area for the parade. Please come out and support the community. There will be numerous Stone students and staff walking in the parade this year.
Thank you for your continued support, please stay dry and safe.
Sonya Williams
Principal
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Fairfax County Weekly Updates:
October is National Bullying Prevention Month. To help develop a common understanding of Bullying, below is the FCPS definition.
Bullying in Students Rights and Responsibilities is defined as: “Any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and victim; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma. “Bullying” includes cyberbullying. “Bullying” does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument, or peer conflict.”
For more information on how FCPS handles a bullying situation please visit the FCPS Bullying Prevention and Intervention webpage. Our goal is to ensure all students feel safe and welcomed at school. If you have questions and/or concerns about something that is going on at school, please contact the front office so that they can support you and most importantly your student.
 LGBTQIA+ History Month is recognized in October nationwide. We acknowledge and celebrate that LGBTQIA+ students, staff, and families are an integral component of our nation.
 During October, Disability History and Awareness activities provide an opportunity to create greater public awareness for individuals with disabilities, with the goal of full inclusion in our community.
 Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism. To mark this day, which begins at sundown on Tuesday, October 4, Tuesday is noted as a ½ religious/cultural observance date on the FCPS calendar.
Wednesday, October 5 is a holiday for teachers and students (only 12 month employees report). See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.
 Indigenous Peoples' Day honors the histories, cultures, and contributions of Native peoples, past and present. This year, Monday, Oct. 10 is a student holiday and staff development day. See the complete 2022-23 school year calendar.
Parent Coffee Series: ParentVUE and Schoology
 Join us to learn how to navigate your SIS ParentVUE and Schoology accounts. These two applications will help you better support your student and be able to see what they are studying and how they are doing in their classes. These applications will also provide you with an additional avenue for communication with your child's school and their teachers.
This session is for parents that already have an active SIS ParentVUE account. Please use sign up to RSVP.
 Walk to School Day
Fairfax County Public Schools will participate in International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 12, in an effort to promote physical activity and reduce traffic congestion and pollution near schools.Students and employees are encouraged to bike or walk to school and work where safe to do so on October 12. Parents are encouraged to accompany their children to school, and to work with their school and PTA or PTO to assemble bike trains or walking groups for the event. Schools are encouraged to register online with Walk and Bike to School. Get more information about Walk to School Day.
Our Voices, Our Future
Fairfax County Public Schools is launching the engagement phase that will help us develop our brand new Strategic Plan.
During her Community Conversations listening tour in each high school pyramid, Superintendent Michelle Reid has heard from many of you about your hopes and aspirations for our students. That feedback will become part of our proactive strategic plan that will serve as our North Star—or guide—for the future.
Starting in October, we will be inviting the entire FCPS community to engage in building our shared future. This includes hearing from our parents and caregivers, students, and broader community, as well as surveying students in grades three and above. You will have an opportunity to have your voice heard in one of many sessions (both in-person and virtual) during November and December. We encourage you to join us in this journey by actively participating in the conversation.
For a more detailed overview, visit FCPS’ Strategic Planning webpage.
Model Policy Comment Period
A new proposed model policy (pdf) was recently proposed by the Virginia Department of Education regarding the “privacy, dignity, and respect for all students and parents in Virginia’s Public Schools.” A 30-day public comment period on the model policy began September 26 and closes October 26. You may provide feedback to the Virginia Department of Education on the new drafted policy. If you missed Superintendent Reid’s message regarding the new proposed model policy, please view it on our website.
Social & Emotional Learning Activities and Screener
Students in grades K-2 will no longer participate in the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) screener. Instead, the Child Behavior Rating Scale administered in kindergarten, existing attendance, and behavior data will be used to determine necessary social emotional instruction and supports. School teams will use these measures alongside family input, as they develop their understanding of students’ needs and strategies to support them.Students in grades 3-12 will be able to participate in the SEL screener. School teams and families use this information to develop positive school cultures and support students academically and personally. This year, students will participate in the screener in the fall (October/November) and spring (March). Parents are able to opt their child out of taking the SEL screener. Read more about SEL and signature practices online.
Promoting Digital Wellness
 Access to technology provides limitless opportunities to connect with others, explore diverse perspectives, share and build upon ideas, get involved in the community, and find opportunities. However, many kids are online almost constantly, which poses a number of challenges that impact youth wellness.
In this session we’ll discuss:
- how the attention economy makes technology irresistible
- how adolescent development impacts youth technology use
- how schools and families can build the skills needed to navigate the complexity of online life.
Presented by Tammi Sisk, FCPS Educational Specialist, Educational Technology, and Bethany Demers, FCPS Educational Specialist, Mental Wellness
October 14, 2022 10-11:30 a.m.
Register for Promoting Digital Wellness
Low-Cost Internet for Free and Reduced-Price Eligible Students
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a new FCC program to lower internet costs for families with children who have been eligible for free or reduced-price meals within the last 12 months. A qualifying household will receive $30 per month toward internet services and a one-time discount of up to $100 for a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet. Families can check their eligibility and register at AffordableConnectivity.gov or by calling 877-384-2575.
Visit our Free and Reduced-Price Meals website for more information on the criteria to be eligible and how to apply.
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