 Panther of the Month Students
Stone Families,
Last week, we had a wonderful time celebrating our Panther of the Month students, learning about summer opportunities at Virginia Tech and celebrating the end of WIDA testing for approximately 100 students.
Thanks to the generosity of our local community partners, St. Andrews Lutheran Church & Grace Covenant Church, we were able to have a WIDA celebration with games, music and food.
This week, some of our 8th graders will go on a field trip to see Fairfax County Juvenile & Domestic Relations Courthouse with their civics teacher. Our Eco Club will travel to Great Falls Park to learn about recycling and clean water. Our choral students will participate in a pre-assessment concert at Westfield HS (Tuesday at 7pm). Our Orchestra students will participate in their assessments on Saturday at Westfield High School.
March 2-8 is National School Social Work Week. Social workers in FCPS help to prevent social, emotional, and behavioral factors from affecting a student's ability to perform at their best. Their primary goal is to remove barriers that prevent a student from fulfilling their academic potential. Social workers are assigned to every school and center in the school system. Most social workers serve one to two sites. Learn more about the role of social workers in FCPS.
Stone MS is fortunate to have a full time on site school social worker, Ms. Caroline Allen! Thank you Ms. Allen for your dedication to Stone Middle School.
Stone Middle School has been awarded the 2024 Energy Star award in recognition of superior energy performance. Energy Star certified buildings generate fewer greenhouse gas emissions than typical buildings. Thanks to our amazing teachers and custodial staff, we have won this award for several years in a row.
It's going to be a great week of learning, displaying our talents and exploring.
Let's have a great week Panthers,
Sonya Williams
Principal
Stone MS PTSA Fundraiser Spirit Night
Stop by the Chantilly Chick-fil-A for dinner on March 13th to support the fundraising efforts of our Stone MS PTSA.
Stone Boys All-Star Volleyball Team Tryouts start Monday
Tryouts will begin on Monday, March 3 during the B-session of the after-school program (3:25pm) and end on Wednesday. Students will be required to wear sneakers and any additional volleyball gear that you may have. While students aren’t required to attend every day, it’s strongly encouraged that you come out and be seen! This year’s season will be coached by members of the Westfield HS varsity team with assistance by the varsity coaching squad. We look forward to seeing you come out and good luck!
🚀 Prepare for a Summer of Learning and Fun
Registration is open or will be available soon for summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students.
Career and Technical Education and Institute for the Arts Summer Camps
Career and Technical Education camps and Institute for the Arts camps will be held in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. Registration begins for these programs on Monday, March 10, and ends Friday, June 6.
CTE Summer Academy (CSA) is a week-long enrichment program that allows students in grades 6-11 to dive deeper into CTE program areas, develop skills, and begin career exploration. Watch this video about CTE camps.
IFTA is a two- or three-week summer enrichment program for students currently in grades 6-11. Students select from nearly 90 classes in art, dance, Health and Physical Education 9 (graduation requirement), music, and theater.
Earn Credit Toward Graduation This Summer
Take advantage of the opportunity to earn a high school course credit via this summer’s online campus program. Registration is now open. Students must register by Friday, June 6. Mathematics, health and physical education, career and technical education, English, science, social studies, and world language courses are available to eligible middle and high school students.
Summer is a great time for high school students to fulfill the Economics and Personal Finance course requirement. This is a self-directed course where students work independently. The course is available between Monday, June 23, and Friday, July 25. Registration is now open. Students must register by Friday, May 23. For more information, visit this Summer Learning page.
Summer Opportunities: Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech (VT) is offering several summer opportunities for Middle Schoolers. These are excellent programs full of learning & hands on activities, fun & enrichment. Because of the great feedback we have received in the past from some of our students that attended these programs, we would like our Stone families to be aware of these opportunities in case you and your student are interested.
There are 4 programs that apply to our students, one held at the local Arlington, VA campus, and the other three held at their main campus, in Blacksburg, VA. Kids participating at the Blacksburg campus are able to reside at the university during the time of the program and apply for room & board, for the duration of the camp. The programs that have a registration fee offer full & partial scholarships for both the program as well as for room & board are available (on a first come first serve basis). This year, VT is also trying to secure transportation from this area, for students that are signing up for the programs at their Blacksburg, VA campus.
Please feel free to call me and will be happy to guide you.
Thank you,
Denisse Stein, Stone MS Family Liaison
dstein@fcps.edu; 703-631-5901
 Our local community partner is hosting their annual egg hunt and all Stone MS families are invited to attend. This is a FREE event for families in our area.
EVENT DETAILS:
Location: London Towne Elementary grounds
Date: Saturday, April 19, 2025
Time: 10 AM - 12 PM
Pre-Registration: Text the word EGGHUNT to 82155
Food, fun activities, egg hunts, and more. Baskets will be provided!
School Board Town Hall Meeting
On behalf of School Board Member Seema Dixit and Supervisor Kathy Smith, you are invited to attend their joint Sully District Budget town hall on Monday, March 10th, 2025, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. The town hall will be held in the Rocky Run Middle School Lecture Hall. All Sully District families, staff, students, and community members are welcome.
Please join Sully District Supervisor Kathy Smith and me for a joint town hall as we present the proposed FY 2026 Budgets and take your comments. If you would like to ask a question regarding the FY26 Budget, please send an email to Sully@FairfaxCounty.gov with "Budget Town Hall" in the subject.
Detailed information about the FCPS FY26 Budget can be found on our website.
When: Monday, March 10, 2025
Time: 7 - 9 pm EST
Where: Rocky Run Middle School Lecture Hall
Address: 4400 Stringfellow Road, Chantilly, VA 20151
*If American Sign Language or language interpretation is needed, please submit your request by March 6th.
2025 Family Summit - Beyond Labels: Nurturing a Culture of Belonging! (an Extension of the Special Education Conference)
Families, educators, and community members are invited to the 2025 FCPS Family Summit: Beyond Labels: Nurturing a Culture of Belonging. Fairfax County Public Schools will be hosting the free, in-person event in collaboration with valued community partners. The summit will be held Saturday, March 15, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. at South Lakes High School.
This event will feature:
- Opening Session: Julie Causton and Kristie Pretti-Frontczak — best-selling authors, motivational speakers, and advocates for inclusion — will share practical tools and evidence-based strategies to empower and assist all families, with a special emphasis on parents of students with individual education programs (IEPs) and 504 Plans.
- Breakout Sessions: Learn more about special education and global topics that benefit all families.
- Student Showcase: FCPS students will share their efforts in fostering inclusivity through posters, essays, videos, songs, art, and other mediums.
- Exhibitor Hall: Discover valuable resources and services in the community to support families.
- Networking Opportunities: Connect with other families, staff, and community partners.
Childcare will be provided. Special education staff will be available to care for children with high support needs. You may sign up for childcare during the registration process.
Learn more about this event and register today! Contact FamilySummit@fcps.edu for more information.
If Your Child Shows Signs of a Possible Eating Disorder
If you think your child may be showing signs of a possible eating disorder, please contact your doctor, school nurse, or one of the resources listed below. A child with an eating disorder should be seen by someone who understands the treatment of eating disorders. The earlier a person with an eating disorder seeks treatment, the greater the likelihood of physical and emotional recovery.
See more information here: https://www.fcps.edu/services/community-resources/healthcare-resources/mental-health-and-well-being/eating-disorders
🗣️ Connect With Your Kids: Simple Steps to Stronger Communication
Teens skip things that don't interest them, including lectures from their parents. How do you connect with your children and really know what's going on in their lives? How can you become “unskippable”?
Effective communication can build trust and understanding, but it takes thought, planning, and effort.
The latest Healthy Minds Blog offers practical strategies to improve communication and build strong, lasting relationships:
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Ditch distractions and create a safe space where your child feels comfortable opening up.
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Listen actively and validate their feelings, even if you don't agree.
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Ask "how" questions instead of "what" questions to get them talking about their experiences.
For more tips and techniques, read the full article on the Healthy Minds Blog, which shares information related to youth mental health and wellness.
For support on talking with your teen about difficult subjects like fentanyl, discover how to Become Unskippable.
 🌟 Your child deserves the best teachers, safe schools, and the resources to achieve their highest academic potential! On Feb. 20, the School Board unanimously approved the FY 2026 Advertised Budget to invest in what works: competitive salaries to attract top educators, expanded learning opportunities, and school safety improvements.
Now, it’s time for the next step! The budget moves to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, with opportunities for the community to provide feedback from Feb. 24 through April, before a final vote in May.
📖 Learn more about the FY 2026 Advertised Budget: bit.ly/26AdvBudgetFCPS
📊 See the budget documents and timeline: bit.ly/FCPS-FY2026-Budget
#InvestInExcellence
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:
- Summer Camps and Learning Opportunities
- Supporting Academic Growth
- Preparing for Tough Conversations With Your Child
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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