Hello, Panthers! We’ve reached the end of the first quarter!
As a reminder, Thursday will be a 2-hour early release to celebrate the close of the quarter. We look forward to welcoming students back on Wednesday, November 6, to kick off the second quarter.
Congratulations to our Stone cross country team for completing their season with a strong showing at the FCPS Middle School Cross Country Championship Meet this past Saturday at Liberty Middle School! We are so proud of their hard work and can't wait to see their progress in the Spring Track season.
A special shout-out goes to our National Junior Honor Society and the many students who participated in last week’s Walk to End Hunger. Together, they raised $1,125 and collected 250 pounds of food and toiletries to support our community partner, Western Fairfax Christian Ministries. Thank you for making a difference!
Tuesday, October 29, marks our last fall basketball game of the season. Tip-off is at 6 p.m. at Rocky Run Middle School—hope to see you there!
Let's make it a great week, Panthers!
Sonya Williams
Principal
Reminder that we have one more week for teachers and parents to submit their favorite past Halloween costumes for our 'Ghosts of Halloweens Past' Costume Challenge. (Voting begins Monday!)
Here is the link to see their awesome costumes and entry to win our Amazon gift card! https://www.KidBizInc.com/Halloween
Looking forward to our great November challenges including:
1) Salute to Service
2) 'Best in Show' Pets Challenge
3) 'Thanks for Giving'
 Thursday, October 31, 2024: 2 Hour Early Release
Friday, November 1, 2024: HOLIDAY
Monday, November 4, 2024: Teacher Workday/Student Holiday
Tuesday, November 5, 2024: Teacher Workday/Student Holiday
Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Stone Middle School Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this google link.
All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in one more of the criteria for that award category. The google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards. The eligibility requirements are below.
Outstanding Teacher
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding New Teacher
Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding Principal
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district)
Outstanding New Principal
Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district)
Outstanding Leader
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as a Schedule-C or School-Based Administrator scale employee (that is not the building principal) at their current location
Common positions in this category: Assistant and Associate Principals, Director of Student Activities, Director of Student Services
Outstanding Professional Employee
Eligibility: At least one year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership at their current location
Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, After-School Specialist, MTSS Coordinator, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Safety and Security Specialist, Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role in a school, Special Education Department Chairs that teach less than 50% of their time, Reading Specialists that do not have a regular course load/do not give grades
Outstanding Operational Employee
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee at their current location
Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, All Parent Liaisons
The deadline to submit a nomination is Tuesday, November 5, 2024
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Levy, Assistant Principal, at edlevy@fcps.edu
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.
Hunger is an unwelcome guest this holiday season.
For many families in our school community struggling financially, providing daily meals is difficult and a special holiday meal can become a source of worry and stress. Help a local family know the joy of gathering together for a holiday meal. We’re partnering with Food For Neighbors to provide $50 grocery store gift cards to our most vulnerable families. Visit the Food For Neighbors’ website to learn how you can help. Thank you for your generosity.
Learn more here: www.foodforneighbors.org/home/holiday-meals/
Parents and guardians did you know you can report full-day absences for the current school day and the next four school days using ParentVUE?
This convenient option is available using your ParentVUE account and can be accessed using your ParentVUE mobile app or a web browser. Instructions on how to submit attendance through ParentVUE can be found on the FCPS website here
- Log into ParentVUE
- Click the “Report Absence” button next to the student's name to open the Report Attendance screen. You can also find this button inside the Attendance module at the top right corner.
* The Start Date field will be pre-populated with today’s date. Select the End Date only if you are reporting an absence for multiple school days.
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Select A Reason from the dropdown menu:
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Report Illness Abs (fever, cough, sore throat, flu, etc.).
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Report Absence (anything not health-related)
Provide details for the student’s absence in the Note box. This information helps the school process your request quickly and reduces the need for a phone call.
Upload Documentation, if available, using the “Add doctor’s note or document” button.
Click Save. The information will be reported to the school and updated.
If you do not have a ParentVUE account, please email Mrs. Amy Copeland at alcopeland1@fcps.edu to obtain your activation code.
For absences that extend beyond this five-day window, as well as for late arrivals and early dismissals, please contact the school's attendance office directly at 703-631-5501 or cggreygor@fcps.edu.
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets (in the upper right corner after logging in). Please complete it as soon as possible.
For any families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE, schools will provide paper forms starting Wednesday, November 13. Paper forms should be returned by Wednesday, December 4.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. Information from this survey resulted in more than $4 million in funding last year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
For more information, please watch this video on Impact Aid and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.
Learn how to activate your SIS ParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey.
Need to Register for ParentVUE?
Technical support for using ParentVUE or completing the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type Federal Impact Aid Survey under Issue Description. Or, call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid invites you to share your thoughts and ask questions at the final community conversation this fall. It will be held Wednesday, October 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Herndon Middle School. Click the date to register. Childcare and language interpretation services will be provided.
Safeway Pharmacy will host immunization clinics for any FCPS student age 18 or younger at Frost Middle School on Monday, October 28, and Tuesday, October 29, from 3 to 7 p.m.
Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are highly encouraged to avoid wait times. A parent or guardian must accompany walk-in students age 18 or younger to provide consent. Learn more about immunization resources and registering in other languages for the Safeway clinic.
Students age 19 and older may access free immunizations at their middle/high school immunization clinic, the Fairfax County Health Department or through other community resources.
Elementary School Clinics
The Fairfax County Health Department will provide immunizations for FCPS elementary students on limited early release Mondays at their district offices. All school-required immunizations will be offered at no cost. Call 703-246-7100 to make your appointment.
Middle and High School Clinics
FCPS is partnering with the health department to host immunization clinics at middle and high schools. Clinics will take place during the school day. Students may only participate in the clinic at the school where they are enrolled. Parental/caregiver consent is required for students to receive immunizations.
Please check the Immunization Resources page for clinic locations, dates, and how to submit a consent form.
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:
- Federal Impact Aid Survey
- Football Players Tackle Literacy
- Tips to Keep Children Safe
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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