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Dear Stenwood Families,
We want to acknowledge the unspeakable tragedy that affected our community last week. Many in our community are grieving, as the families we lost were deeply connected—not just to us, but to the broader community and even the national figure skating community.
As we all process this heartbreaking loss, I hope you take care of yourselves and each other. Our thoughts and prayers are with the immediate families and with our entire community. There are no words to fully capture this loss, which only underscores how deeply interconnected we all are.
Please know that from the moment we learned of this tragedy, we put support systems in place for our students and staff. Our staff has been, and will continue to, keep a close eye on your children to watch for signs of unusual stress or difficult emotions, so they can refer these students to a member of our crisis support team.
If you feel that your child would benefit from talking with one of our support staff, please call us at 703-208-7600. For after-hours support, please contact the 988 Lifeline by calling or texting 988. You might also find this resource helpful when talking to your child.
As always, reach out with any questions or concerns
This week is School Counselor Appreciation Week - a huge thank you to Mrs. Berick for all she does to support our Stenwood community!
Below you will find additional information about:
- Religious Accommodations – NEW
- Band/Strings Concert
- Community Peers Preschool Program - Reminders
- Student Intentions/Rising Kindergarten - Reminder
- Kiss N Ride - Reminder
- Magnet School Application and Lottery Information - NEW
- Community Boundary Review Meetings - Reminder
- Keeping Kids Warm - Reminder
- Yearbook Ordering Deadline Info - Reminder
- School Meals and Free/Reduced Lunch Applications - Reminder
- Stenwood is Hiring! - Reminder
- Stenwood PTA - Reminder
Sincerely,
Erica Riley, Principal
esriley@fcps.edu
Bryan Case, Assistant Principal
bgcase@fcps.edu
Religious Accommodation Request
Throughout the year, as we celebrate and recognize various cultural holidays and observances, families are encouraged to contact Mr. Case, bgcase@fcps.edu regarding accommodations, including but not limited to those around lunch, prayer/meditation and silent reflection spaces and times, and instruction.
Band and Strings Concert
Thank you to our amazing performers and Mr. Ravel and Mr. Zimmerman for the concerts last week. If you missed them, you can watch them here.
Community Peers Preschool Program
Next year Stenwood will have community peers in our preschool program. This program provides opportunities for our students to participate in integration activities with typically developing peers. The program is designed to teach preschoolers with delays and without delays in the same classroom. It can provide young children with a more stimulating environment, teach skills for coping with different situations, and provide the opportunity to learn appropriate social skills.
Our program will invite a limited number of community preschoolers (2 per class), who are ages 3.5 (by September 30th) to 5 years, to participate in our daily preschool activities.
The children from the community will have the opportunity to make new friends and share experiences with current early childhood special education students. Our students will, in turn, benefit from being with community peers who can model appropriate language, motor, and social skills.
All children learn through their play. Intellectual growth occurs in a social context, influenced strongly by the quality of social interactions. The goal of this program is to encourage active learning and promote social interaction and acceptance through shared experiences between the community children and our preschoolers with special needs. Bus transportation cannot be provided for the community peers. Feel free to contact us for further explanation of our program.
If you are interested in having your child considered for this opportunity, please complete the Community Peers Preschool Program Interest and Information Form by Friday, February 28th. Stenwood will host a playdate for interested students in late March/early April. If you know of anyone who may be interested and does not receive the Stenwood Hive Happenings, feel free to forward them this information.
Student Intention Form and
Rising Kindergarten Form
Today, students brought home a Student Intention Form. We are asking families to fill out this form for each child to help us plan for adequate staffing next year.
If you have a child who will turn five on or before September 30th, 2025, please return the blue form or fill out the Rising Kindergartner form. We have Kindergarten Orientation coming up on April 8th at 9:15am. If you have any neighbors that have children that turn 5 on or before September 30th, please let them know to reach out to Michelle Burke, mpburke@fcps.edu as soon as possible so we can ensure they have all the information they need.
Kiss N Ride Reminders
Please remember that Kiss N’ Ride is offered as a courtesy to our parents, we ask that if you choose to use this, please follow these safety procedures (the first three have been the biggest issues so far this year):
- Approach the back circle of the school by turning onto Carnegie Drive from Cottage Street. Enter the back circle on Citadel Place by turning right from Carnegie. Exit the circle by turning right on Carnegie, then proceed to Bucknell Dr. and back to Cottage. This one-way pattern will help reduce traffic congestion, the map is below to help illustrate the pattern.
- Do not pass other cars that are loading or unloading.
- Be considerate to our neighbors who live in our Kiss N’ Ride area. When you are leaving the Kiss N’ Ride area, please remember that there are student pedestrians and the speed limit is 25 MPH.
- We have requested the FCPD to evaluate the need for a FCPD Crossing Guard at this intersection, however it was denied because it is our families creating the traffic and not external traffic. Please be cautious of our students as they cross.
- Pull forward as far as possible before loading or unloading and drivers should remain in their car.
- If your child is still in a car seat or child restraint, please practice with your child so they can begin to become independent in getting out of their seat.
- Load and unload from the passenger side of the car only.
- Neighborhood parking is by permit only. Carnegie Drive is very narrow and difficult to maintain two lanes if cars are parked on both sides. If you have permit parking, please consider parking on Bucknell which is wider and walking.
- Exit the Kiss N’ Ride promptly after loading or unloading children.
- Look carefully for students who may be crossing the street.
- In the afternoon, do not park along Carnegie Drive and wait for your child. This adds to traffic congestion.
In addition, at the end of the day, we are also going to ask that all parents shift to waiting on the blacktop for your child(ren). This allows for students who are walking or getting into their car to have a clear path.
Magnet School Application and Lottery Information
The Magnet Program registration window will open Tuesday, March 4th, 2025, and close Friday, April 4th, 2025. No late applications are accepted.
To learn more about the programs and the registration process, families are encouraged to attend one of the Parent Information Nights:
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Hunters Woods Elementary, February 18th, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. (In-person)
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Bailey’s Primary Elementary School and Bailey’s Upper Elementary School, February 20th, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. (In-person)
- Location is at Bailey’s Primary Elementary School
Community Boundary Review Meetings
Virtual Meetings
If you have not been able to attend an FCPS Community Boundary Review meeting yet, it’s not too late! The following virtual meetings will have the same format and information available as the previous in-person meetings:
Click one of the dates above to register and receive your unique Zoom link. Each virtual meeting will be capped at 400 participants to help provide a meaningful experience for all. Language interpretation will be available. Learn about FCPS’ Comprehensive Boundary Review. Sign up for the School Boundary Review newsletter for updates.
Meeting Slide Presentation
English Other languages coming soon.
Meeting Agenda
Arabic | Chinese | English | Korean | Spanish | Urdu | Vietnamese
Keep Your Child Warm During Outdoor Activities
Winter weather is here! As a reminder, please make sure your child is dressed appropriately with a warm coat and other cold-weather clothing, so they can comfortably enjoy time outdoors. We monitor the weather for low temperatures, wind chill advisories and warnings, and weather advisories that may prevent children from being outside for activities like recess or physical education.
Visit Fairfax County’s website for Winter Weather/Extreme Cold safety tips.
If you need assistance getting cold-weather clothing for your family, please contact our family liaison, Adriana Rota at agrota@fcps.edu. You may also contact Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) at 703-222-0880. Their multilingual staff can assist with any challenges you are facing, including food, shelter, employment, financial assistance, and health care.
Yearbook Ordering
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Help your child remember the moments that made this school year special by ordering your copy of the Stenwood Elementary School Yearbook NOW at http://www.yearbookforever.com! The yearbook will feature memories that you and your child will want to look back on for years to come. |
 The company has a set amount they will print, so once they hit the limit, they will not print any additional yearbooks. The cutoff date to buy one is February 28th, 2024, if they are not sold out before then.
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.
Stenwood Band Concert!
Stenwood Strings Concert!
CARES Pizza Luncheon! -
Cooperation
3rd Grade Family Invite!
Cities Project
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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