 Good afternoon Stone Panthers,
We’re excited to announce that our fall cross country season has officially kicked off! Our first meet at Hughes MS this past Saturday was a fantastic start, and I couldn’t be prouder of all our runners. Congratulations to our top female finishers: Chelsea U, Layla R, and Eva S, as well as our top male finishers: Nicholas N, Eshan J, and Noah N. We look forward to watching the growth of all our runners throughout the season! Mark your calendars for our next meet at Stone MS on Saturday, September 28th. We would love to see you there cheering on our athletes!
Additionally, we are launching our after-school program this week and hosting our first athletic event. Join us for two exciting basketball games on Thursday, September 26th, starting at 6 PM against Franklin MS. We encourage all Stone Panthers to come out and support their peers, and we expect everyone to demonstrate positive behavior while cheering for our teams.
Let’s make it a great week, Panthers!
Warm regards,
Sonya WilliamsPrincipal
 Blue Star Welcome Week is a nationwide initiative to ensure military families feel a sense of belonging to their school communities. Fairfax County Public Schools will be intentionally celebrating and acknowledging Blue Star Welcome Week.
Blue Star Welcome Week is an opportunity to empower military families to thrive as they serve. There are approximately 13,500 military-connected students enrolled in FCPS. Each year, one-third of our military families transition into or out of our district. Blue Star Welcome Week gives schools an opportunity to welcome and connect with their military families. The goal is to create a sense of belonging and ensure that our military families feel celebrated and welcomed into their school communities.
During Blue Star Welcome Week, we hope to see everyone showcasing their spirit! To make this week extra special, we’re hosting a series of themed dress-up days that you won’t want to miss.
 The Stone After School Program will begin on Tuesday, Sept. 24. We are proud to offer over 20 clubs to start this school year, with more being added at the start of the second quarter. Parents, please make sure you register your student via this link.
Students that ride an AM bus will also be able to take a PM bus after school starting on 9/24 as well. To keep up-to-date with calendar changes, upcoming events, rules and other after-school program related information, please go to StoneAfterSchool.com.
RULES AND PROCEDURES: Staying after school is a privilege! We want everyone that chooses to stay to have a fun and safe time and to enjoy themselves. In order to do so, students must adhere to the following rules set forth to participate.
STUDENTS STAYING AFTER SCHOOL WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO:
- Trash or vandalize the school.
- Curse or use derogatory words.
- Fight and/or bully other students.
- Order food from DoorDash, UberEats, etc.
- Talk in a rude or disrespectful tone to a staff member.
- Return to the building after 2:25pm when the buses leave.
- Use cell phones without the permission of a staff member.
- Leave any supervised club or activity without asking a staff member.
CONSEQUENCES FOR STUDENTS THAT CAN NOT FOLLOW THE RULES:
1st offense: Phone call/email will be made to parent/guardian
2nd offense: Suspension of After School Program for a day
3rd offense: Parent meeting + 3 days out of After School Program
4th offense: Removal of After School program for an extended time
If you have any questions, please reach out to Mr. Nick Anderson at nmanderson@fcps.edu
 School Picture Day is This Week (During PE Classes)!
📅 Date: Wednesday September 25th & Thursday September 26th 2024
📸 Pictures Available: Approximately two weeks after photo day
🛒 Pre-order Online: https://vando.imagequix.com/g1001132504#login
📧 Questions about Ordering? Email us at underclass@vosphoto.com
A Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology admissions information session will be held at Stone MS on Wednesday, September 25th at 6 PM in the theater.
Monday, Oct 21 Applications Available – 4:00 pm
Wednesday, Nov 13 Last Day to Begin New Application by 4:00 pm
Friday, Nov 15 Application Submission Deadline – 4:00 pm
Vision and hearing screening will be held on October 28th and October 29th for all 7th graders and students who are new to FCPS. The purpose of screening is to identify students who need further evaluation due to difficulty seeing the screening chart or hearing the screening tones. If your student wears glasses, please be sure that glasses are at school on screening day.
Parents will be notified by letter if screening results indicate that further evaluation is needed. Prompt follow-up with your health care provider is recommended as vision and hearing difficulties can interfere with learning. If you have any questions, please call the health room at 703-631-5530 to speak with the public health nurse, Reggie Santiago or with the school health aide, Brenda Glenn.
Stone Middle School will host a School Site Immunization Clinic on October 8, 2024, in collaboration with the Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD). Only students enrolled at Stone Middle School may participate in the clinic.
The following immunizations will be offered during school hours at the School Immunization Clinic:
- Meningococcal Conjugate (MenACWY) Vaccine
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine
- Tetanus, Diphtheria, & Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine
Find additional information for each vaccine.
If you would like your child to receive immunizations as part of the School Site Immunization Clinic, you must first provide:
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Permission via a signed Adolescent Vaccine Clinic Consent Form, which can be found in the Middle and High School Clinics section on this webpage.
- A copy of their immunization records (if available).
- A copy of the front and back of their insurance card (if applicable). Insurance is not required.
Please bring your signed consent form to our front office by September 30, 2024 in order for your child to participate. If your child is insured, please submit a copy of the front and back of your child’s insurance to our front office as well. You may contact our school’s public health nurse, Reggie Santiago at rsantiago@fcps.edu with any immunization questions.
FCPS is committed to supporting the mental wellness of all students. The Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener helps our students share their perspectives on how their schools and communities support them and help them develop the skills they need to succeed.
The screener is offered to all students in grades 3 through 12 in the fall and spring. It addresses skills such as achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. Students also share how successful their school and community are at making them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to plan programming for the division, schools, and individual students.
After each screening, results will be available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families who don’t have a ParentVUE account. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.
Families who wish to opt their child out may do so by completing the opt-out form in the Annual Notice packet or SIS ParentVUE. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage or contact our front office.
Please note that the SEL Screener is not the same as the anonymous Fairfax County Youth Survey, which will take place later this fall.
Parents, please take the time to verify and update your student's Emergency Contact Information and Parent Contact Information. This information can be viewed and updated online through your ParentVUE account.
The Online Verification Update packet or OVU will allow parents to review and update phone numbers, emergency contacts and health information (such as health conditions and immunizations) for students in grades PS/HS and kindergarten through 12th grade.
Step by step instructions below.
- Open the SIS ParentVUE Account Access page https://sisparent.fcps.edu/pvue and enter your username and password.
- Select ‘Online Packets’ at the top right corner.
- The ‘Select a packet to Begin’ page will display. Select the Online Verification/Update packet from the dropdown menu.
- There will be 7 sections you will need to review/update before submitting your packet.
- As you complete each area, use the Previous or Save And Continue buttons at the bottom to navigate between pages. Do not use the browser back and forward buttons.
- A green check mark means the page is complete.
- An orange exclamation mark means the page is in progress.
Don’t have a ParentVUE account? No problem! Please email Mrs. Amy Copeland at alcopeland1@fcps.edu to obtain your activation code.
Thank you for taking the time to ensure we have the most updated contact information.
Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:
- Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
- Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
- Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
- Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
- A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
- Alcohol or drug use.
- Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family.
- Thoughts of harming themselves or others.
If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. Please contact our Stone Student Services department at 703-631-5500, to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Find additional ways to support your child’s wellness.
If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services at 703-573-5679.
Students who are proficient in a language other than English can assess language proficiency and earn up to 3 high school world language credits by taking the World Language Credit by Exam. To learn more about the exam and how earned credits work, please visit the FCPS World Languages Credit by Exam website. Please have your child register with their school counselor by October 4th.
Katie Marrefi, Last Name Alpha A-G
Armando Garcia, Last Name Alpha H-O
Marissa Luper, Last Names Alpha P-Z
An exciting opportunity for 7th grade students (age 13 or 14 on the first day of session) who are residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia to page for the Virginia Senate.
This program is designed to provide a foundation of knowledge for the next civic leaders. Middle school students accepted into the program will have the chance to learn work skills like answering the phone, providing concierge services, and speaking to the public. The class will also involve team-building scenarios to enhance leadership and decision-making skills.
There will be specialized sessions about various topics, including cyber security, management, current events, and even life after the Senate Page Program. For more information regarding the Senate Page Program, including the application, please visit https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://capclass.virginiageneralassembly.gov/PagePrograms/PagePrograms.html__;!!Pwvz7ORF!J5sbo93LE7jEtNDLnKFgpdIr1NX2ANLIC0eXYOBr8UWhgAfNpGe0y18Dgm6Fm9_S2XTqSJ-7kLin9axFnX8lvHGOceU$
or email kthames@senate.virginia.gov.
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid will host a series of Community Conversations this fall. She invites you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Click the dates below to register for any of the following conversations:
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Monday, September 23, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Newington Forest Elementary School.
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Monday, September 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School.
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Monday, October 14, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Fairhill Elementary School.
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Monday, October 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Virginia Run Elementary School.
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Wednesday, October 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Herndon Middle School.
Events will take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Childcare and language interpretation services will be provided.
Fairfax County Public Schools is proud of its caring culture and strives to provide a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for all students and families. The FCPS Trust Policy solidifies this commitment and aligns with Fairfax County Goverment's Public Trust and Confidentiality Policy. It ensures that FCPS students and families can access FCPS benefits and services without fear that information will be disclosed, directly or indirectly, to federal immigration officials. Please visit FCPS’ Trust Policy webpage to learn more about the policy and regulation in multiple languages.
As part of our commitment to keeping you informed about your child's progress and well-being, we encourage you to regularly check your student's daily attendance online in ParentVUE.
Why It’s Important:
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Stay Updated: Regularly monitoring attendance helps you stay informed about your child's school presence and any potential issues that may arise.
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Support Learning: By keeping track of attendance, you can ensure that your child is attending school regularly and receiving the full benefit of their education.
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Address Issues Early: Early awareness of any attendance concerns allows for timely intervention and support to address any issues that may affect your child's learning experience.
How to Check Attendance:
Visit ParentVUE Log in page: Use your login credentials to access the ParentVUE portal. If you don’t have an account or need assistance with logging in, please contact alcopeland1@fcps.edu for an activation code.
Navigate to Attendance: Once logged in, go to the "Attendance" section to view your child’s daily records. Period attendance is found on this page. More information about absences and late arrivals can be found by clicking on the date; please note that in some cases there will be a delay as information is entered by the school.
Review and Take Action: Review the attendance details and contact the school if you have any questions. You can report your student’s absence using ParentVue, calling 703-631-5555 or by sending an email to StoneMiddle.Attendance@fcps.edu Attendance procedures and policies are available on our school website.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Your involvement is crucial in supporting your child's educational journey. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s counselor or administrator.
District News/In Case You Missed It (ICYMI)
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Accessing Intervention Plans
- Students to Be Surveyed on Social-Emotional Learning
- Update Immunizations Today!
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, sign up today.
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