Stenwood Hive Happenings


Hive Happenings Newsletter


Dear Stenwood Families, 

We can’t wait to see many of you tonight at Family Fun Night!  The PTA has arranged for multiple food trucks and fun!  Bingo is free!  Please remember this is a family event and parent supervision is required, this is not a drop off event.  

There is a lot of information included below, please take a minute to review the information that applies to your family.

See below for more information about: 

  • Principal’s Coffee Monday @ 9am (Virtual) - How to Support your Reader - Reminder
  • Upcoming Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Feedback Form - Reminder
  • Stenwood Parent Reminder Texts - Reminder
  • SOL Schedule for Grade 3-6 Students - Reminder
  • Kiss N Ride/Walkers Reminders - NEW
  • Purple Up! - NEW
  • Magnet School Application and Lottery Information - Reminder
  • Spring Photos Are Now Online! - NEW
  • Kilmer MS Presents Into the Woods - NEW
  • Kindergarten Registration for 2023-24 School Year Now Available - Reminder
  • Positivity Project: Identifying and Appreciating the Good in Others

  • School Meals/Menu and Free/Reduced Lunch Applications - Reminder

 

Sincerely,

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

Meredith Mitchell, Assistant Principal 
mamitchell@fcps.edu


Principal’s Coffee - How to Support your Reader

In a previous session, we shared about the shift in instruction in FCPS to the Science of Reading, if you missed that session, you can find the slidedeck and recording below. We would now like to invite you to a session to learn more about how you can support your reader at home.  

We are going to offer two sessions, one for students who are emergent/beginning readers, this will be geared to students who are mainly in Kindergarten - 2nd grade and a session for proficient readers - this session will be geared towards students in the upper grades. Please feel free to join us for one or both sessions.  The sessions will be recorded for those who are not able to attend at the times listed below.  

 

Emergent/beginning readers - March 13th at 9am

Here is the link to join us:  https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/s/96883693868

 

Proficient readers - March 20th at 9am

 

Shifts in Literacy Instruction

            Slidedeck

            Recording:

https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/rec/play/K74umzJ46C806WhyNO38id2fCiU8LsnxNrhHon0WGV1yroWTMcMOIV6wjP6mvjy5l5dOWFjTLvav600x.o2kCPUvPUhzZIMF0

            Passcode: %JB*5Aw95x


Upcoming Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Feedback Form

On Monday, March 13th, Stenwood parents/guardians will be contacted through email with a link to the FCPS Principal Evaluation Parent/Guardian Feedback Form Online. This questionnaire is part of the Performance Evaluation Program and offers parents/guardians an opportunity to provide anonymous input about various topics related to our school. These topics include instructional leadership, school climate, management (human resources and organizational), communication and community relations, culturally responsive and equitable leadership, and professionalism.  

The questionnaire will be collected online between March 13th and March 24th. When you receive an email from FCPS Surveys, please take a few minutes to complete the questionnaire. Your opinions matter! 


Stenwood Parent Reminder Texts

Do you ever feel like you need a quick reminder about a spirit day or upcoming school event?  We are creating a new TalkingPoints group that you can sign up for that will provide those quick reminders to come to you in a text because we know there is a lot to keep track of!  If you would like to join, please fill out this form


SOL Schedule for Grade 3-6 Students

SOL testing will be taking place in the month of May this year for students in grades 3-6. The SOL assessments are content assessments that measure a student’s growth in Reading, Mathematics, and Science (5th grade only). These tests will be conducted during the morning of the dates listed in the table below. Please mark your calendar - it is important that your child attend school on the dates designated for them to test.  Please ensure your child gets plenty of rest the night prior.

SOL

Kiss N Ride Reminders

Some reminders from our Parent Handbook regarding student drop off and using Kiss N’ Ride.  These are in place for safety reasons.  We respectfully ask that you follow these if choosing to use Kiss N’ Ride. 

  • Kiss N’ Ride opens at 8:20 and closes at 8:38 in the morning.  There is not supervision in the Kiss N’ Ride loop prior to 8:20.  
  • Pull forward as far as possible before loading or unloading and drivers should remain in their car. 
  • If your child is still in a car seat or child restraint, please practice with your child so they can begin to become independent in getting out of their seat.
  • Load and unload from the passenger side of the car only.
  • Do not pass other cars that are loading or unloading.
  • Do not park in the Kiss N’ Ride lane and leave your car unattended.
  • Exit the Kiss N’ Ride promptly after loading or unloading children.
  • Look carefully for students who may be crossing the street.
  • Be considerate to our neighbors who live in our Kiss N’ Ride area. 
  • Please only turn right into the Kiss N’ Ride loop, and right out of the loop.  Turning left causes back up and congestion.  The map below will help you navigate the appropriate route.
  • If you park on surrounding streets, please remember that it is permit only parking and you must abide by the parking laws.  

Car riders must use the Kiss N’ Ride area on Citadel Place behind the school. For safety reasons, the front driveway is restricted to bus traffic in the morning and afternoon. Parents are not permitted to drop students off or use the circular driveway in front of the school.

If you arrive to Kiss N’ Ride after 8:38, you will need to drive around to the front of the school, park, and sign your child in.  

KNR

Walker Reminders

As we shared last week, we do expect that walkers walk home immediately after school unless there is a parent or guardian at Stenwood to provide supervision.  

We have also had some recent questions about crosswalks and our crossing guard.  Unfortunately, crosswalks are only permitted where there are ADA accessible ramps (not driveways) which is why some were eliminated in the recent repaving.  If your child is a walker, please make sure you have reviewed the safest route for them.  If you notice Ms. Janet, our crossing guard, is not at her post, please call the front office so we can notify the Fairfax County Police Department and hopefully get an officer to cover the post.  


FCPS 2023 Purple Up! T-Shirt

April is the Month of the Military Child, a time to recognize children from military families for their contributions and sacrifices. FCPS is inviting all students, families, school employees, and community members to “Purple Up!” by wearing purple on April 19th for military children. For those who are interested, a special FCPS Purple Up! t-shirt is available for order now through March 16th: Order Here


Magnet School Application and Lottery Information

The Magnet Program registration window will be open from Wednesday March 1st, through Wednesday, April 12th, 2023.  No late applications are accepted.

https://www.fcps.edu/registration/elementary-magnet-school-lottery


Spring Photos Are Now Online!

VoN

 

Spring Portraits are now available to view and order online! 

All orders will include free shipping for the next two weeks.

Please visit: vosphoto.com/uc

Use your student ID when prompted for the online code.

For questions/concerns regarding school pictures, please email: underclass@vosphoto.com


Kilmer MS Presents Into the Woods

Into the Woods

2023 - 24 Kindergarten Registration

Our Kindergarten registration for the 2023-2024 school year is now open.  Please use the online portal to submit your initial information and our registrar, Mrs. Hunt, will follow up with you.  

K REG

If you have a child at home who will be five by September 30th, please register now.  If you have any neighbors with rising kindergartners, please send this information to them, as well.  


Positivity Project: Identifying and Appreciating the Good in Others

PP

This week, we are working on ONE of the FIVE overarching pillars of the Positivity Project. Identifying and appreciating the good in others can sometimes be difficult to do if we are too focused on ourselves.

 

“It’s not the failure of others to appreciate your abilities that should trouble you, but rather your failure to appreciate theirs.”  

           ~Confucius

 

Questions you might enjoy talking about:

  • What is expressing appreciation?
  • Why does it take COURAGE to express appreciation?
  • What are some ways you can show appreciation of others?
  • How does it make you feel when someone expresses appreciation?

School Meals and

Free/Reduced Lunch Applications

Food

Breakfast and Lunch

Breakfast and lunch are NO longer provided at no cost.  Breakfast will be $1.75.  Lunch will be $3.25, milk $0.60.  Breakfast and lunch will be served beginning the first day of school.  Money can be added to your child(ren)’s accounts using www.myschoolbucks.com.  You can also write a check to Stenwood Food Services and deliver it to our Food Services Manager at Open House.   You can find the menu for breakfast and lunch at https://fcps.nutrislice.com/menu/stenwood-elementary.  

Free and Reduced-Price Status

Students eligible for free or reduced-price meals will continue to receive these benefits through the end of September.   A new application must be filled out each new school year and forms are available  online now: https://www.fcps.edu/resources/student-safety-and-wellness/food-and-nutrition-programs/free-and-reduced-price-meals.  Applications are accepted at any time, but we encourage you to apply or renew your application before the end of September. Call (703) 813-4800 if you need help. This must be completed for eligible students to receive free meals.  


Photo Header

Fun in AAP!

AAP

AAP

AAP

AAP

AAP

Stay Connected

Here are a few ways to stay connected with all the happenings at Stenwood ES

WEBSITE: Stenwood ES

TWITTER: @StenwoodES

FACEBOOK: Stenwood Elementary

FACEBOOK (PTA): StenwoodPTA

SM