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Stone Families,
I have a serious concern that was brought to my attention this week. We have received reports that some of our students have been walking on the pond across from the school. Please talk to your students about safety. While the pond might seem frozen, you never know when the ice could break. It is not safe, and the pond is not consistently monitored by the school or the neighborhood.
Once again, there is a lot of talk about inclement weather throughout this week. Please monitor our school social media sites, local news, and the FCPS website for updates and announcements.
Due to the upcoming President’s Day holiday, there will be NO After School Programming on Friday, February 14th.
On Tuesday, February 11, 2025, there will be a general membership PTSA meeting. Our speaker is Mr. Nick Anderson, After School Program Specialist. Mr. Anderson will be presenting information related to school sports and activities. The meeting will take place at 7 PM in the school library with a virtual option. Please note that if the school is closed due to weather, the meeting will be virtual only.
PTSA General Meeting Link for 2/11/2025
This week, we honor Officer Virgil Swartz, our school resource officer. Officer Swartz not only protects our school every day, but he has also built strong community relationships throughout the Stone community. We are blessed to have him here at Stone Middle School. Thank you for your service and dedication to our community, Officer Swartz!
Let’s have a great week, Panthers!
Sonya Williams
Principal
 Congratulations, Ms. Klosky!
We are proud to share that our Civics teacher, Ms. Klosky has been named Outstanding New Teacher for the Westfield Pyramid. We are so proud of Ms. Klosky and so appreciative of all her efforts for her students and the Stone MS Community. Ms. Klosky’s nomination will now move forward to the regional level.
Student Services Update
Last Wednesday evening, our staff was excited to welcome parents of Rising 7th and 8th grade students to learn about Course Curriculum and Course offerings for next year at Stone. All program materials and information have been posted on the Stone Academic Advising website under the Curriculum Night tab.
Our school counseling team will be visiting all 6th grade students at their elementary schools next week to present course selection information and provide course selection materials for parent review. We look forward to welcoming all of our Future Panthers!
Our Elementary Visit for 6th graders to visit Stone that was originally scheduled for Thursday, February 6th has been postponed due to the FCPS delay. We are working on a rescheduled date and will communicate that date in the upcoming weeks! If you have questions, please reach out to our Director of Student Services, Tami Brumett at TLBrumett@fcps.edu or 703-631-5527.
8th Grade Academic Advising
Our counseling team is finishing up 1:1 academic advising sessions with 8th graders. Parents, please check your child’s course requests in ParentVue by looking under the Course Requests tab. Reach out to your child’s school counselor with any questions.
7th Grade Academic Advising
February 24 - March 14 - Academic Advising
Stone counselors will meet 1:1 with each 7th grade student through their English classes to complete course selection. Parents, please check your child’s course requests in ParentVue by looking under the Course Requests tab. Reach out to your child’s school counselor with any questions.
🔊 Students Invited to Share Their Voices at the 2025 Family Summit
The 2025 FCPS Family Summit will take place on Saturday, March 15, at South Lakes High School. Visit the Family Summit webpage for more information.
At the event, FCPS students are invited to showcase projects and advocacy efforts around inclusivity in schools. This is a great resume-building opportunity, and students can earn service hours as well. Students can share their work in a share-fair environment through posters, essays, videos, songs, or art. They will interact with attendees through conversations about their work, ideas, and efforts to foster inclusivity in school communities.
To participate, please fill out this Google Form — where you can also see a list of possible projects — by Monday, February 17. More information will be provided when your submission is received. Reach out to Manuel Gomez Portillo with any questions.
✨ Centering student voice is part of FCPS’ Strategic Plan Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered.
Breaking Down the Budget
More than 85% of the budget is dedicated to instruction and reflects the needs of our community’s young people in response to the changing world around us. Budget priorities include providing competitive compensation for all employees, including a 7% salary increase for all staff. The majority of the budget increase is dedicated to that proposed 7% pay increase.
Our families want their children in high-quality schools with the best teachers who provide rigorous academic experiences. We must provide competitive compensation to attract and retain our outstanding educators, administrators, and other school-based and operational staff dedicated to the success of our students.
The proposed 7% salary increase would likely move FCPS to the highest starting salary for teachers with a master's degree among our neighboring counties and greatly improve our recruitment efforts amidst an ongoing teacher shortage. Visit the Budget webpage for more information.
FCPS Proposed Budget Progress
The Fairfax County School Board discussed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Proposed Budget at their work session on February 4. They discussed details regarding student enrollment and investments in students requiring additional support, market comparison data for surrounding school divisions, and an update on progress toward achieving the Baldrige Award for Performance Excellence. Baldrige is a framework used to assess and improve organizational performance across various sectors, including education.
The School Board also held a public hearing on the FY 2026 Proposed Budget on Tuesday, February 4, where they invited the community to share their feedback on the budget.
On Tuesday, February 18, the Fairfax County executive will present the county’s Advertised Budget, and the Fairfax County School Board will hold a work session on the FCPS FY 2026 Proposed Budget. View FCPS’ Budget Development Calendar.
Make Sure Your Children Are Up-to-Date on Immunizations
Please make sure your child has all of their necessary immunizations. Remember, all students are required to be immunized against certain diseases to attend school in Virginia. This is an important part of keeping children healthy!
Starting Monday, May 19, students who have not provided proof of immunization may not be allowed to attend school. You can check your child’s immunization status and submit updated immunization information by accessing SIS ParentVUE.
Please check with your healthcare provider to make sure your child is up to date on required immunizations for the 2024-25 school year. If your child needs an immunization, make an appointment with your healthcare provider, visit the Fairfax County Health Department website for a list of child immunization clinics, or view other Immunization Resources. Be wise and immunize!
Upcoming Student Experience Survey at Stone Middle School
Our school will participate in the FCPS Student Experience Survey. This survey will gather important feedback from students about their school experiences to help FCPS make meaningful improvements.
All students in grades 6-12, except those who have opted out, will receive a link to the survey in their FCPS email on February 24. We will administer the survey during the school day on March 5, 2025. Any student may take the survey at home, if they are unable to take the survey during the school day. You will receive a communication with details on how to preview the survey and opt your child out, if you choose.
We believe it's important to hear from our students about what we're doing well and where we can improve. This work also aligns with the five equity commitments in FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan, which focus on amplifying student voice and experiences as we work toward meeting plan goals.
Black History Month Kick-Off Celebration (Note: Date Change)
FCPS’ Chief Equity Office invites the community to an Inaugural Black History Month Kickoff Celebration on Wednesday, February 19, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Carter G. Woodson High School.
The event begins with a light reception followed by a formal program, From the Threads of Our Past to the Fabric of Our Future. The program will honor the enduring contributions of Black history and culture while envisioning a future rooted in equity and excellence. It will include inspiring performances, personal stories, reflections, and opportunities to connect and celebrate. The event is open to the entire community.
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:
- Proposed Budget Progress
- Apply for Dual Immersion and Magnet Lotteries
- Black History Month Event
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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