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Dear Stenwood Families,
We had a short but wonderful week in the Hive this week. Our teachers have been doing an amazing job of connecting with you all as we had conferences to wrap up the first quarter. We are so appreciative of their hard work and partnership with you all.
When students came back Wednesday morning, we had a schoolwide morning meeting to celebrate as a community and to reflect on our CARES expectations at Stenwood. CARES stands for Cooperation, Assertiveness, Responsibility, Empathy, and Self-Control. We were able to read a collective morning message, greet one another, share ways we see CARES, and do a hilarious full-school rendition of Aroostasha.
Thursday night had the hallways buzzing and the cafeteria full of the wonderful sounds and smells of our This Is Us Night. Thank you to all of the students and their families that shared their foods and traditions so we all can see a fuller picture of who we are as a Stenwood Stinger Family. An extra thank you goes out to the PTA and their fantastic volunteers for organizing such a fantastic night.
Finally, this morning, we hosted over twenty active duty and retired service men and women in honor of Veteran’s Day at our Veteran’s Day Breakfast. Lieutenant Colonel Luke Shibilski shared a message on the morning news with all students and our guests were invited to join their child’s morning meeting in the classroom where some veteran’s focused conversations and activities took place.
This week was also National School Psychology Week. Thank you to our School Psychologist Ms. Barnes for her critical work that she does in helping our students thrive by supporting their well-being and learning.
Remember that November is Family Engagement Month. Next week shapes up to be another busy one in the hive with the Book Fair, our Bee Kind Spirit Week, the SCA Winter Drive, PTA Silver Diner Night, and the return of Thanksgiving Lunch. See information below about all of these opportunities to join the fun in the hive next week below.
Below you will find additional information about:
Have a great weekend!
Sincerely,
Erica Riley, Principal
esriley@fcps.edu
Bryan Case, Assistant Principal
bgcase@fcps.edu
Federal Impact Aid Form – Please Complete Today
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid for each child. We are still missing several Federal Impact Aid Forms. The survey is available online through SIS ParentVUE. Submitting this form is important because information from this survey results in an additional $3 million in grants each year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
In order to access the survey, please log into your SIS ParentVue account, select the ‘Online Packets’ tab on the top right of the screen, in the dropdown menu, select the ‘2023-2024 Federal Impact Aid Survey’ and then click on the ‘Begin Registration’ button in the bottom center of the screen. All responses are confidential.
Thanksgiving Lunch Volunteers Still Needed!
We still have a few spots we need filled to help Thanksgiving Lunch run smoothly. If you have not already, please consider signing up for a block of time. Please avoid signing up during your child’s lunch.
Sign up to Volunteer for Stenwood’s Thanksgiving Lunch
Bee Kind Spirit Week - November 13th - November 17th
Stenwood Fall Book Fair - Next Week!
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The Stenwood Library is holding its Fall Book Fair next week! Students will be able to browse the fair and make a wish list on Monday and Tuesday, then be able to buy books on Wednesday through Friday. Since the Thanksgiving luncheon is on Wednesday, parents are invited to bring their child to the book fair to purchase books after lunch is over. We ask that you wait until the teacher picks up the class, so that the teacher knows where students are. |
If you want to avoid the rush of Wednesday, parents (and their students) are invited to shop in person after school. The book fair will be open after school Tuesday from 3:30 - 5:00pm. This is the only day we’ll be open after school. Please note: You will need to enter the library from door 8 on the playground and come directly into the library from the back.
As always, please contact Mrs. Cole with any questions you might have.
SCA Winter Drive
Stenwood SCA will host a Winter Clothing Drive next week November 13th-17th. We will be accepting warm items such as coats, hats, gloves, mittens, warm socks, and scarves. All items will be donated to students at our sister school, Graham Road Elementary. Thank you for your support!
Stenwood Go Club
We are hoping to start a before-school Go Club for our Stenwood students. For those unfamiliar, Go is an abstract strategy board game invented in China more than 4,500 years ago and enjoyed by millions of players worldwide.
Please contact Mr. Case if you are able to volunteer as a parent sponsor for this before-school club once a week. Experience and familiarity with the game is not necessary.
AAP Quarterly Newsletter
Click here to check out this quarters AAP Newsletter!
Parent Book Club
For Quarter 2, we will be reading How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber and Elaine Mazlich. Books are selected based on your input and interest and are related to parenting skills and raising school-aged children. If you aren’t already on the email list, please fill out this form to express your interest and feedback and we will provide you with more details directly. The book club is facilitated by Tammy Berick, School Counselor and Catherine Wideman, Kindergarten Teacher and all parents who want to join!
Diwali
We wish a fun Diwali to all celebrating! Diwali is a festival of lights and one of the major festivals celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs & some Buddhists. The festival represents the symbolic victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and good over evil. This year's Diwali artwork was created by Chantilly High School student Rijuta D. as part of the FCPS Observance Design Challenge for Students.
Yearbook Ordering
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Help your child remember the moments that made this school year special by ordering your copy of the Stenwood Elementary School Yearbook NOW at http://www.yearbookforever.com! |
The yearbook will feature memories that you and your child will want to look back on for years to come.
The cutoff date to buy one is February 28th, 2024. BUY NOW!
Retake & Make Up Picture Day!
Wednesday November 29th, 2023
Victor O’Neill Studios is coming back for portrait makeups/retakes!
On Wednesday November 29th, students who were absent for the original session, new/transfer students, and those who were unsatisfied with their original portrait will have the opportunity to make them up.
Students who previously purchased a photo package and would like to retake their photo MUST return their original photo package to the photographer in order to receive a new package.
No purchase is necessary to retake photos. The new portrait will replace their original yearbook portrait and then be available for purchase.
Anyone who has not ordered can still do so using this link. Use your student ID when prompted for the online code.
Feel free to contact Victor O’Neill Studios with any questions or concerns:
underclass@vosphoto.com | (703) 532-0013
Advanced Academic Program (AAP)
Referral Information
Level IV (Full-Time) Referral window is open now and closes December 15th. All forms and optional materials are due no later than December 15th at 11:59pm. Since Winter Break will have has started Mrs. Hartman graciously requests that referrals and optional materials be sent to her by Wednesday, December 13th. This will provide her time to review the documents and notify parents of any additional information needed or errors found.
If you missed the information sessions, the information can be found in our Stenwood Parent/Guardian Schoology Site.
Community Review of Elementary English Language Arts Basal Instructional Resources
Fairfax County Public Schools will adopt new Elementary School Language Arts Basal Instructional Resources for the 2024-2025 school year. A review committee composed of community members, administrators, and teachers met in August to review the state-approved Cycle I materials. The committee will re-convene in January to review the state-approved Cycle II instructional materials under consideration. Public review of the recommended materials is part of the process for selecting new resources.
Elementary English Language Arts basal instructional resources may be accessed in person and online from November 15th, 2023, until noon on December 15th, 2023. Digital materials for public review and comment will be available on the Elementary Language Arts Basal Resource Review website. Those reviewing instructional materials may complete an electronic comment sheet that will be available on the website during the review period.
Hard copies of instructional materials will be available for review at:
Pimmit Hills Center, Room 207
7510 Lisle Avenue
Falls Church, VA 22043
Materials may be reviewed at Pimmit Hills Center Monday - Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Visitors should enter through door #4 and check in at the main office or with the building coordinator on duty.
All community feedback will be shared with the review committee and with School Board members before the vote at the School Board regular meeting.
Nutrislice Menu and Free/ Reduced Lunch Applications
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.
Stenwood is Hiring!
We are looking to hire Classroom Monitors and Substitutes! If you are interested in any of these positions, please reach out if you have any questions or if you want more information. Here is a link to FCPS’ application portal.
Classroom Monitors: Monitors will work every day students attend throughout the 2023-24 school year, and will directly support classrooms by providing additional supervision to students during lunch or in the classroom. The pay is $16.85/hour. Teachers will provide directions/assignments for monitors and students to complete. Please apply here and email me at esriley@fcps.edu so we can schedule a time to talk more. Please share this opportunity with others who might be interested. All FCPS schools are looking to hire for this position.
Veteran's Day Breakfast!
Stay Connected
Here are a few ways to stay connected with all the happenings at Stenwood ES
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Facebook
facebook.com/StenwoodElementary
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Instagram
@stenwoodelementary
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Website
stenwoodes.fcps.edu
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PTA Facebook
facebook.com/StenwoodElementaryPTA
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