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Dear Stenwood Families,
Wow! What an absolutely wonderful week it has been! We know that while the first week of school is so exciting, it can be a lot. This is true for your child, and for you. Thank you all for helping your children be ready for their first week in the Hive. Those long days back at school are a big adjustment for all of us, especially our littlest Stingers. Keep up those routines and we know that in the next few weeks, it will become easier for you and your child.
Today, our 4th, 5th, and 6th graders had a chance to hear the band, chorus, and orchestra from Marshall High School. See pictures below.
Next week, on Wednesday night, August 28th, we will be hosting our in-person Back to School Night. Below are the details for the two sessions. This is a parent-only event.
Also on Wednesday next week, we have Fall school picture day. The fall picture day is only for individual portraits.
Lastly, we are excited to tell you about Hive Families, a new thing we’re doing in the Hive this year to support students in building community outside of their classroom and increase their sense of belonging. See more details below.
- Coming Next Week - Hive Families - NEW
- Kiss N Ride Reminders - NEW
- Parking Reminders - NEW
- Parent Volunteer Survey - Reminder
- Back to School Night - This coming week!
- Marshall Pyramid Statement - NEW
- Fall Picture Day - This coming week!
- A Note From the Librarian, Mrs. Cole - Reminder
- School Meals and Free/Reduced Lunch Applications
- Emergency Care Information
- Activating your SIS ParentVue Account
- Parent Digital Consent System
- Lightspeed Parent Reports - NEW
- What is Schoology
- Stenwood is Hiring!
- Stenwood PTA
Sincerely,
Erica Riley, Principal
esriley@fcps.edu
Bryan Case, Assistant Principal
bgcase@fcps.edu
Hive Families
We are very excited to share with you about something new in the Hive: Hive Families! Hive Families are small groups of about 10 students, made up of all grade levels from Kindergarten up to 6th grade. Hive Families will meet together monthly with a Stenwood staff member who will lead the group in community building activities. Our hope is that connecting students across grade levels and with another trusted adult in community building will enable all of our Stingers to be safe, supported, included, and empowered.
The first Hive Family meetings will take place next Thursday afternoon, August 29th from 2:45-3:15PM. We encourage you to make sure that your student is in attendance so they can meet their new, smaller Hive within the big Hive!
Kiss N’ Ride Reminders
Please remember that Kiss N’ Ride is offered as a courtesy to our parents, we ask that if you choose to use this, please follow these safety procedures (the first three have been the biggest issues so far this year):
- Approach the back circle of the school by turning onto Carnegie Drive from Cottage Street. Enter the back circle on Citadel Place by turning right from Carnegie. Exit the circle by turning right on Carnegie, then proceed to Bucknell Dr. and back to Cottage. This one-way pattern will help reduce traffic congestion, the map is below to help illustrate the pattern.
- Do not pass other cars that are loading or unloading.
- Be considerate to our neighbors who live in our Kiss N’ Ride area. When you are leaving the Kiss N’ Ride area, please remember that there are student pedestrians and the speed limit is 25 MPH.
- We have requested the FCPD to evaluate the need for a FCPD Crossing Guard at this intersection, however it was denied because it is our families creating the traffic and not external traffic. Please be cautious of our students as they cross.
- 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 park in the Kiss N’ Ride lane and leave your car unattended.
- Neighborhood parking is by permit only. Carnegie Drive is very narrow and difficult to maintain two lanes if cars are parked on both sides. If you have permit parking, please consider parking on Bucknell which is wider and walking.
- Exit the Kiss N’ Ride promptly after loading or unloading children.
- Look carefully for students who may be crossing the street.
- In the afternoon, do not park along Carnegie Drive and wait for your child. This adds to traffic congestion.
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.
Parking Reminders
If you choose to park on Carnegie and walk up for arrival and/or dismissal, please know that the streets directly behind Stenwood are permit parking only. In addition, please be respectful of our neighbors. Please do not block driveways or crosswalks. During grade-level and schoolwide events, we do work with the Fairfax County Police Department to get permission for families to park in the neighborhood. When advertising events, we will communicate if the parking in the neighborhood has been coordinated. That exemption is not in place for arrival or dismissal.
Parent Volunteer Survey
If you are interested in volunteering throughout the year, please complete this survey. It includes opportunities to volunteer as a class parent, as well as in the library, cafeteria, and with the PTA.
Back to School Night - Next Wednesday!
Back to School Night on Wednesday, 8/28 from 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Please join your child’s teacher for Back to School Night. This session will focus on curriculum, specific grade level information, and Family Life Education information.
Here is the schedule for the evening:
Session 1:
6:00 - 6:40pm
* Transition Time: 6:40 - 6:50pm *
Session 2 (repeat of Session 1):
6:50 - 7:30pm
This is an adult-only event; we ask that you arrange childcare for your children so you can attend fully to the information being presented.
Marshall Pyramid Statement
The Marshall Pyramid principals are committed to cultivating a culture of belonging in which all students are valued and their strengths and interests are developed to achieve academic excellence. We model what we ask our staff and students to do with each other as principals.
- We collaborate and problem solve.
- We focus on creating trusting partnerships.
- We make connections and build relationships.
Each school in the Marshall Pyramid is actively committed to building a pre-K through 12th grade framework for our students that embodies educational excellence and a culture of belonging. We look forward to continuing to partner with our students, staff, families, and community in this endeavor and wish everyone a continued safe and happy school year.
Fall Picture Day - Next Wednesday!
  School Picture Day is coming Wednesday, August 28th, 2024! Images will be available to view and purchase approximately two weeks following our school's picture day. Save time and Pre-order online. Questions about Ordering? Email us at underclass@vosphoto.com.
A Note From the Librarian, Mrs. Cole
Welcome to the Stenwood library! I am excited to see all of the students this year. We started checking out books and it went great!
Here is some information about the library:
- Students will come with their class every week for a lesson and checkout.
- Students can keep their books for three weeks.
- Students should return their books as soon as they are finished. They do not need to wait for library class. Each classroom has a library book return cart for students to use.
- Students can renew books as long as no one else is on hold for a book.
- Students have access to the library catalog, Destiny Discover, from the Library Schoology course.
- Overdue notices will be sent out roughly once a month. This is a friendly reminder to look for your books and return them.
- Kindergarten parents, please have them return their book each week. This way they learn the difference between borrowing a book and owning a book.
- Please make sure your child has a safe, dedicated place to keep their library books at home. This way students will always be able to find their books and have them ready to return.
As always, please feel free to contact Ms. Cole with any questions.
School Meals and Free/ Reduced Lunch Applications
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Breakfast and Lunch
Breakfast will be $1.75. Lunch will be $3.25, milk $0.60. 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. During the school year, you can find the menu for breakfast and lunch at https://linqconnect.com/public/menu/ESSF44 .
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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.
Emergency Care Card Form
Emergency Care Card Forms are important in helping us contact you in case of an emergency. Parents can help by assuring that the school has the most up-to-date information.
Please update any information by using the ParentVue/Online Verification Update system. To read more about the OVU, visit the OVU page on the FCPS site. To access your ParentVue to update/verify, visit the ParentVue Login page.
Emergency Care updates are due the first day of school.
Activating Your SIS ParentVUE Account
The SIS (Student Information System) ParentVUE Account is an online tool parents can use to access information about their child’s attendance, report cards, discipline incidents, health information, and more. In ParentVUE, you can also view student progress reports/report cards and SOL scores.
Your secure SIS ParentVUE Account offers you the ability to use one username/password to login to both the SIS ParentVUE Account and Schoology.
Using the SIS ParentVUE account, parents will also be able to view school information, including teacher e-mail addresses, the FCPS calendar, and emergency contact information. Visit the FCPS website and use the search function and keywords “SIS Parent Overview” for more information.
Many of our Stenwood families have already activated your SIS ParentVUE account with the activation key. 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.
Newly enrolled families should have received an activation key for your account. If you have not yet activated your account, please reach out to Michelle Burke (mpburke@fcps.edu) or Brian Spector (bmspector@fcps.edu).
Please take action now to ensure your account is active, so that you won’t miss a beat!
Parent Digital Consent System
New this year, families will use the Parent Digital Consent System to complete some forms that have used paper in the past. You will log in using your ParentVUE Account credentials, There, you will be able complete the Digital Resources Consent form for the school year, which is required for all students. You will also be able to find more information about opt-out forms and complete those forms for your student if you wish.
Lightspeed Parent Report on Child’s FCPS Device Activity
FCPS has tools to help parents know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided at no cost to families by Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service.
Parents may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites their child visited. The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for free access to the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours.
What Is Schoology?
Teachers can use Schoology to post their classroom materials online; to provide a safe forum for students to discuss their ideas and collaborate on projects; and to assign and collect homework electronically. |
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Parent Accounts
A Schoology Parent Account gives you access to:
- Your child’s upcoming assignments (note: Parents can not see FCPS Google Workspace items using their parent account)
- School, class, and group announcements.
Parent accounts will be available in mid-August. To access Schoology, parents will need to have an active SIS/ParentVUE account.
More information on how to login and use Schoology is available online.
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 2024-25 school year, and will directly support classrooms by providing additional supervision to students during lunch or in the classroom. The pay is $17.88/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.
Stenwood Elementary PTA
We hope you join our amazing PTA! If you are interested in volunteering to be a class parent, volunteering in our cafeteria or library, OR just looking to stay connected with the great work of our PTA, you can fill out a survey that will be sent out once class placements have been communicated.
More information about the PTA is available on their website.
First Day of School!
Marshall High School Band, Chorus, & Strings Visit!
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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