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Dear Stenwood Families,
We are 11 days into Help the Hive and we are just under 40% to PTA’s goal! Thank you to all that have already donated. The PTA uses the funds to support so many programs across Stenwood in addition to the fun free events they host throughout the year.
What do you love about Stenwood… It was very clear that our wonderful community and amazing staff are the best things about Stenwood! Thank you to all who filled out the quick one question survey this last week.
Thank you to all of our 1st grade family members who joined us for our 1st grade invite today. Our students loved working with you to do pumpkin measuring, apple stamping, and a scavenger hunt.
Most of our 2nd grade students completed their 3 days of CogAT testing today. Thank you to the second grade team and other staff members who helped this to be a smooth testing window.
It was fun to see all of the spirit wear around digital citizenship and digital citizenship is complex and critical in our digital heavy world. During conversations at PTA and Power of Our Words, families have shared that they would appreciate resources to help navigate everything. FCPS has extensive resources here, https://www.fcps.edu/services/technology/digital-citizenship-guidance-technology-use. On the left hand is a menu that includes Videos and Forms which have recorded Webinars and contracts you can use in your house.
Next week is Field Day! If you ordered a grade level shirt, it will be delivered to your child’s classroom before Wednesday. Please make sure your child has a labeled water bottle and appropriate footwear for Wednesday.
Looking ahead to the end of October and beginning of November, we have a lot of upcoming calendar impacts: October 28th is our 3 hour early release Monday (with limited supervision). October 31st is a 2 hour early release, everyone needs to go home. November 1st is a holiday to observe Diwali and All Saints Day. November 4th and 5th are student holidays for the end of the quarter. You should have already received information about conferences from your child’s teacher.
Below you will find additional information about:
Sincerely,
Erica Riley, Principal
esriley@fcps.edu
Bryan Case, Assistant Principal
bgcase@fcps.edu
Staffing Updates
We unfortunately have had a couple staff members who have resigned since the beginning of the year. Smarti Tangchendang, one of our instructional assistants and Wendi Carroll, one of our special education teachers, have resigned. Good news - Mrs. Carroll is still a parent and neighbor! We have welcomed Mai Issa, an instructional assistant. We are in the final stages of hiring a special education teacher and additional instructional assistant. We also will be welcoming Adriana Rota, our new family liaison. She will be starting with us the week of 10/28.
2024 Thanksgiving Lunch
It is time to start planning for Stenwood’s Annual Thanksgiving Lunch! On Thursday, November 21st, all students are invited to have their families come join them for a Thanksgiving Lunch. Below is the schedule, your child’s lunch time is different from the normal lunch schedule.
 Please RSVP by Friday, 10/25 using this link. Mrs. Schmid, our cafeteria manager, needs to place her food order.
If you would like to volunteer, please sign up using this link. Volunteers will be helping with visitor check-in and meal serving. Do not sign up during your child’s lunch block. Please also do not plan to have younger siblings with you if you are volunteering.
Advanced Academic Program (AAP) Information Sessions
If you were unable to the meeting regarding the Continuum of Service in FCPS here is the link to a recorded slide deck: https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/rec/share/9weKvqEOCEXBUJrVTZhsXG1vagXQEZ0839JpQjt4B9wz9l9W8LaXT-BMEL8xqsRT.tvDFjq0DnsjmPk0g
Passcode: k?Y572EKAY
If you were unable to unable to join us for the session on Full-Time AAP Services and screening process today, here is the recorded slide deck:
https://myfcpsk12.zoom.us/rec/share/YsxNIqbXk-146uVH8egDlrnySQ7kHSNAL80FN2SK6WsCuPs5sDcXxDod_X_3IV4.lcIEGXVmJbS9eijb
Passcode: z92H.crpR&
As shared in both sessions, the Full-Time Services Referral deadline is December 15th, though Mrs. Hartman would love families who are planning to refer to turn them in December 9th - 13th if not before to ensure she has enough time to review that all required parts have been submitted before winter break begins.
You can find the Referral Form and Parent/Guardian Questionnaire here:
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/advanced-academic-programs-aap/forms-advanced-academic-program-aap
Referrals and optional materials are due no later than December 15th. Mrs. Hartman prefers to receive materials December 9th-13th or earlier to allow her ample time to review the materials and notify parents of any additional information needed or errors found.
- You may email Full-Time referrals and optional materials directly to Kaleigh Hartman at kkhartman@fcps.edu in one email. Hard copies are also accepted.
- You will receive a confirmation email within 1-2 business days.
Federal Impact Aid Form –
In ParentVUE October 21st
Beginning Monday, October 21st, FCPS will be asking all families to fill out a Student-Parent Survey for Federal Impact Aid for each child. 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.
Help FCPS secure funding by helping us identify:
- Military families.
- Federally connected families.
- Families living on a military base.
Please complete one form for each child in your household. Remember that only the enrolling parent can fill out the Impact Aid Survey form.
For families without access to ParentVUE, a paper copy of the form will be sent home with your student starting November 12th. Your information will be kept strictly confidential.
To access the form, please login to SIS ParentVUE, select Online Packets in the top right hand corner, and then click the ‘Federal Impact Aid Survey’ button on the bottom of the page.
If you have multiple children in Fairfax County Public Schools, please make sure to fill out a form for each of your children. You will know you have completed all of the forms when you see a green check next to each of their names on the final screen.
We appreciate you completing the form by December 9th, 2024.
Stenwood Community Book Club
Today, we also held our first Community Book Club of the year. Parents and caregivers met to discuss The Anxious Generation by social psychologist Jonathan Haidt. Our book club conversations are always very engaging and helpful as we all navigate how to support our children in a technology-based world that looks very different from the one many of us grew up in.
Last year, the first book the Stenwood Community Book Club read was Good Inside by clinical and family psychologist Dr. Becky Kennedy. These two authors have actually teamed up to create a short and fantastic resource that you may find useful, even if you haven’t read either book. Click here to access 5 strategies for Parents of The Anxious Generation. The last strategy is to take collective action with your community.
We are already having great conversations in the Community Book Club about this and would love to grow that community even more. If you haven’t already joined the email list, please fill out this form to express your interest and feedback and we will provide you with more details directly. Our next meeting is November 7th at 3:30 pm, in person at Stenwood. The book club is facilitated by Catherine Wideman, Kindergarten Teacher and Tammy Berick, School Counselor. It is open to all parents, guardians and family members who want to join.
The Stenwood Storybook Pumpkin
Festival Is Coming!
It’s that time of year again, where students can share their love of books by decorating a pumpkin as a favorite storybook character. Students can decorate a pumpkin (one small enough for them to carry) and bring it to the library anytime between October 15th-October 30th, where it will be on display for all to see. |
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Students should also include a “clue card” with 3 clues for everyone to guess the character and book. On the reverse side of the card should be the answer along with the student’s name. You can find the official guidelines and a slide show of previous years’ pumpkins in the Library Schoology Course. |
 PS…please don’t carve the pumpkins! As always, contact Mrs. Cole with any questions you might have.
Retake & Make Up Picture Day!
Wednesday November 6th, 2023
 Victor O’Neill Studios is coming back for portrait makeups/retakes!
On Wednesday November 6th, 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
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.
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.
Digital Citizenship Week Spirit Days!
Hat Day - Stay smart and wear your thinking cap
Wear Yellow - CAUTION: Good Choices Ahead
Wear Sweats - Stand Up to Cyber Bullying
Rock some awesome socks - Sock-cessfully Secure Your Digital Footprint
Young Scholars Field Trip - Thinkabit Lab!
AAP Strategy Lab!
1st Grade Family Invite!
Fall Investigation
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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