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Dear Stenwood Families,
We kicked off the 2nd quarter with a short 3-day week this week. But that didn’t mean that there wasn’t plenty going on in the Hive.
On Wednesday, 4th graders took a trip to the Kennedy Center to enjoy a performance by the National Symphony Orchestra.
Thursday morning, we had our first whole school meeting of the school year. We focused on school-wide our CARES expectation of Assertion, encouraging Stingers to “Speak Up!” when they know something is not right. We structure our whole school meetings to mirror the structure of our morning meetings in our classroom. We started with a schoolwide morning message that each grade level read parts of, we had a greeting, and then enjoyed hearing members of the CARES Club read the book Speak Up. This book ties in really well with the work we have been doing with Power of Our Words. We closed our assembly watching a Kid President Video about how to disagree respectfully with someone. Again, we are working on teaching positive peer communication and what to do if that is not happening.
Mrs. Riley and Mr. Case also fulfilled their Wacky Principal Stunt on Thursday, which was one of the school-wide rewards for your support with PTA’s Help the Hive. Students were shocked to see us with blue and yellow Stenwood colors through our hair!
2nd grade families joined their students on Thursday afternoon for a Family Invite for some fun Math Games! We love having families see the learning our students are engaging in here at Stenwood.
Our staff were also busy in the Hive on Monday and Tuesday, teachers met with families, as they have been for several weeks, giving updates on student learning and progress from the first quarter. In addition to what was shared when you met with your child’s teacher, please see the update below from the FCPS Language Arts office for how you can best understand your child’s reading and writing grades, and how you can support your child’s growth at home. Next Wednesday, progress reports will be sent home.
Today, we honored our Veterans in a few different ways. Thanks to all who contributed to our Stenwood Wall of Heroes, featured in our front hallway. If you have not had a chance to send them in, please continue to send them in next week. We thank you, your family members, and your friends for your service to our country. For those of you who are Veterans, we thank you for the sacrifices you have made to keep us all safe. We thank you for defending our rights. And thank you for the things you carry that only those who have served and their loved ones can truly know from experience. We have sent home bags of gratitude with our military-connected students today. It’s a small token of our appreciation, but we could never thank you and your families enough. Please enjoy this video from many of our Stenwood students expressing our gratitude.
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Monday, November 11th, is the Veterans Day holiday and schools will be closed for students. Read about the history of Veterans Day. We will see all of our Stingers back in the Hive on Tuesday, November 12th.
Below you will find additional information about:
- Before School/After School Supervision Reminder - Reminder
- Thanksgiving Lunch Volunteers - Reminder
- Elementary School Language Arts Grading Update - NEW
- Boundary Review Community Meetings Start This Month - NEW
- Advanced Academic Program (AAP) Full-Time Services Referral Deadline - Reminder
- Stenwood Book Fair! - NEW
- Federal Impact Aid Form - Reminder
- School Meals and Free/Reduced Lunch Applications - Reminder
- Stenwood is Hiring!
- Stenwood PTA
Sincerely,
Erica Riley, Principal
esriley@fcps.edu
Bryan Case, Assistant Principal
bgcase@fcps.edu
Before School/After School Supervision Reminder
Students should not arrive at school before 8:20 a.m., and no later than 8:35 a.m. Our staff is on morning duty from 8:20-8:38 a.m. There will be no supervision prior to 8:20 a.m.
Walkers must walk home at the end of the school day. Students may not stay on the playground at the end of the day without parental supervision and/or checking in at home first. If students stay, parental supervision is expected to ensure safety and monitor behavior.
As a reminder from last year - during the school day, students are not permitted to climb the fence, crawl under the fence, or go behind the fence. The students do follow these expectations during the school day. If you have different expectations when you are supervising, please be responsible for your child’s behavior.
2024 Thanksgiving Lunch Volunteers
Stenwood’s Annual Thanksgiving Lunch will take place on Thursday, November 21st. Family sign-ups are now closed after being in the Hive Happenings for the last few weeks..
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.
Elementary School Language Arts Grading Updates
Our teachers have been hard at work teaching with the new Language Arts curriculum, and we are excited to help all of our students become strong readers and writers! This year we also have new assessments, which is how we check if your student needs extra help with reading and writing, and new Standards of Learning (SOLs).
Because of these changes, we are now teaching all of the Language Arts skills your child needs to know (and checking if they need extra help) throughout the whole school year, instead of different skills each quarter. While these skills will be new to your child in the beginning of the year, the goal is for your child to grow strong in all of their new skills by the end of the year.
This means that when you get your child’s progress report next month, it might look different. Your child’s teacher will give you more information on the new progress reporting and how we’re making sure your child is getting any extra help they might need. You can also find more information on FCPS’ Grading and Reporting webpage.
We will also have new ways for you to help your child practice their reading and writing skills at home. These resources are coming soon!
Boundary Review Community Meetings Start This Month
FCPS has started the process of reviewing school boundaries across the division. This important work will help the district better support student population growth, changes in school capacity, and evolving community needs. Community input is vital to this process. With that in mind, FCPS, in partnership with Thru Consulting, will be hosting a series of community meetings in each of FCPS’ six regions. Participants are encouraged to share their thoughts, ask questions, and learn more about the boundary review process.
Please visit FCPS’ website for meeting dates, locations, and other information. Sign up for the School Boundary Review newsletter for updates.
Advanced Academic Program (AAP) Full-Time Services Referral Deadline
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.
The Fall Book Fair is Coming!
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This fundraiser for the library will be November 18th - 22nd. Students will be able to browse the book fair, make wish lists, and then purchase books for themselves and/or their teachers. But before all this can happen - we need volunteers to help out! Please consider signing up for a slot or two. The book fair is a wonderful opportunity to meet other parents, get a sneak peek at the books, and just have an all-around good time. |
 As always, please contact Mrs. Cole with any questions you might have.
Signup Genius Link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805044DA8AC2DA46-52600711-2024
Federal Impact Aid Form
FCPS is 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.
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.
Preschool Trick or Treating Activity!
Kindergarten Celebrating 50 Days of School - 1950's Style!
2nd Grade Family Invite!
Math Games
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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