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Stone Families,
A quick reminder: there is no school for students on Monday, October 14, 2024. Our staff will be engaged in a professional learning day, and as a result, Stone Middle School’s office will be closed.
Upcoming Events:
- This week will conclude with our first pep rally of the year! Since this is new for many students, please take a moment to talk with them about the importance of positive cheering and supporting their peers during the various pep rally activities.
- Stone After School Program basketball team will face the Liberty Lions this Thursday at 6:00 PM at Stone Middle School. Tickets are $5 (cash only at the door), and the games typically conclude by 7:30 PM. Please ensure timely pick-up of your student, as we have a full day of school the next day.
- Stone Cross Country will be competing on Saturday at 8:30am at Franklin MS. Please come out and cheer on our runners.
Reminders:
We’ve noticed an increasing number of students violating our “Away for the Day” device policy and arriving late to class. Our administrative team will review the data this week, and students may be assigned detentions based on repeated infractions. Please continue to partner with us by discussing the importance of keeping devices away during school hours and arriving to class on time.
Let’s make it a great week, Panthers!
Sincerely,
Sonya Williams
Principal
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Our Health & PE teachers are amazing at Stone MS. They often jump right in and play along with the students encouraging physical fitness. Can you spot Mr. Checkosky? oh....and a certain Principal joined the game as goalie..LOL! |
Digital Citizenship Week is THIS WEEK!
Our theme of "Always Choose Kindness Online" encourages our students to practice respectful and compassionate behavior in their digital interactions. Throughout spirit week, students will participate in lessons and discussions focused on creating a positive online environment, with the goal of continuing these important lessons all year long. We invite you to join us in reinforcing the significance of kindness in your child's online activities. Stay tuned for tips to encourage responsible tech use at home. Together, we can help our students navigate the digital world with empathy and respect. Thank you for your continued support!
Multiple studies show that school lunches are important in supporting overall student health by improving students’ diets and combating food insecurity. Students who eat school lunches consume more fruit, vegetables, and fiber than their peers.
This School Lunch Week, FCPS Food and Nutrition Services reminds families that they are dedicated to providing flavorful, healthy, sustainable, and student-focused meals. Also, new menu items have been launched this year based on student feedback.
Want to know what’s for breakfast or lunch? Nutrition Services now has printable menus.
The Fairfax County Youth Survey, a collaboration between the Fairfax County School Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, is a comprehensive, anonymous, and voluntary survey given each year to students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12. The survey examines behaviors, experiences, and other factors that influence the health and well-being of Fairfax County's youth. The results, published each year at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/youthsurvey, identify trends and areas of need, providing a snapshot of the county's youth and serving as a barometer of the community's effectiveness in fostering healthy choices in young people.
Stone Middle School will be administering the Fairfax County Youth Survey on Friday, November 15 during flex-back and panther block.
While it is our hope that as many students as possible will participate, if you do not wish for your child to take part in the Youth Survey, please complete the form linked here and return it to your child's school counselor no later than November 8, 2024. If you have already opted your child out of this survey using the Parental Digital Consent Portal you do not need to provide additional information to the school counselor.
 The carnival will be in the auditorium from 4-8pm featuring games, princess and pirate meet and greets! Costumes encouraged. Come anytime!
The escape room (for ages 12 and up) in the Blackbox classroom from 4-8pm. Sign up for the escape room with the QR code on the flyer or by this LINK.
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As we quickly approach the end of the first quarter, please remember if your student needs additional support or to make up work, please have your student stay after school on Tuesday for TEACHER TUESDAY! |
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:
Events take place from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Childcare and language interpretation services will be provided.
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming Oct 14–Oct 21. Our students are excited to shop for their own books and every purchase at the Fair benefits our school! For more info, visit https://scholastic.com/bf/stonemiddleschool.
Parents and caregivers can report full-day absences for the current school day and the next four school days using ParentVUE. For absences that extend beyond this five-day window, parents and caregivers must report these directly to the school by calling the attendance line or using the attendance email. Parents and caregivers must also report late arrivals and early dismissals directly to the school, as partial-day absences cannot be recorded in ParentVUE.
All middle and high schools in FCPS teach students about mental health and how to seek help if they are worried about themselves or a friend. All schools use an evidence-based program called Signs of Suicide (SOS). The program teaches students about this difficult topic and encourages them to seek help.
SOS has been used by thousands of schools over the past few decades. Studies have shown that it effectively teaches students about depression and suicide while reducing the number of students’ self-reported suicide attempts.
Through the program, students learn:
- that depression is treatable, so they are encouraged to seek help
- how to identify depression and potential suicide risk in themselves or a friend
- to ACT (Acknowledge, Care and Tell a trusted adult) if concerned about themselves or a friend
- who they can turn to at school for help, if they need it
Students will watch age-appropriate video clips and participate in a guided discussion about depression, suicide, and what to do if they are concerned about a friend.
Following the video, students will complete a brief depression screening tool. This tool cannot provide a diagnosis of depression but does indicate whether a young person should be referred for evaluation by a mental health professional.
We encourage you to visit www.sossignsofsuicide.org/parent for information on warning signs for youth suicide, useful resources, and some of the key messages students will learn. You can also view this parent video or visit this site to learn more about how you can continue this important conversation at home. If you’d like to come to Stone to preview this lesson, please complete this RSVP form and we will reach out to you with a date/time for the preview.
At Stone, the SOS lesson and accompanying screening will occur for all 7th grade students on Tuesday, October 22nd.
We recognize that you may have opted your child out of this program through the Parent Digital Consent tool (PDC). If you did not complete opt out using the PDC and would still like to do so you can opt out of this lesson by Tuesday, October 15th by emailing Tami Brumett, Director of Student Services at TLBrumett@fcps.edu or feel free to call me with any questions in regard to this screening at 703-631-5527.
 Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, October 26, 2024 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
What is “DRUG TAKE BACK DAY” ?
- Drop off unused or expired medications at the locations listed or scan the QR code to find other drop off locations
- Accepted items: prescription and non-prescription pills, e-cigarettes and vaping devices with batteries removed, small liquid packs/pods for e-cigarettes and vaping devices, prescription ointments, and medications for pets.
- Not accepted: illegal drugs, pressurized canisters [inhalers/aerosol cans], needles, large sources of liquids, non-prescription ointments, and lotions.
- Disposal is FREE, convenient, confidential, and safe.
- Safe handling of unused or expired medications:
- Protects the environment.
- Prevents accidental poisoning.
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:
- Learn About Lexia for Literacy
- The Power of School Lunches
- Upcoming Community Conversations
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, sign up today.
Stone Quick Links
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