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Dear Stenwood Families,
Stingers are Readers! We celebrated our love of reading in so many ways this week! We know how important reading is to learning everything, so we want to help students find their love of reading. We also know that sometimes we haven’t found that love yet. That is okay, it will take the right book, author, or genre and if we keep testing out different books we will find it! If your child does not love reading yet, feel free to read to them and make sure they catch you reading the things you love to read.
Thank you to Mrs. Enright, our amazing social worker! She is often behind the scenes, but is always here to support your children and your family!
Starting next week, we will begin a schoolwide focus on CARES at recess, specifically helping students with Cooperation and Assertion. Schoolwide lessons will take place focused on the strategy ‘‘Stop, Walk, Talk,’ which can help students to resolve conflicts. While we are focusing specifically on recess, this strategy can be used anywhere. ‘Stop, Walk, Talk’ means that when someone is doing something that is impacting you:
- STOP: Calmly and firmly ask them to ‘Stop’
- WALK: Turn and ‘Walk’ away
- TALK: If those first two steps don’t work, then ‘Talk’ to adult and seek help
Teachers will positively reinforce these behaviors as they see them in action at recess. You may even get a call from Mrs. Riley or Mr. Case over the next month giving a shout out to your student for showing Cooperation and Assertion at recess!
Below you will find additional information about:
- This is Me Night – Updated
- Religious Accommodations - Reminder
- Spring Picture Day - Friday, March 21st! - NEW
- National Women’s History Month - NEW
- National School Social Work Week - NEW
- Daylight Saving Begins (Spring Forward) - NEW
- FCPS Early Childhood Programs - NEW
- Student Fasting Meal Kit - Reminder
- FCPS’ Family Summit - Reminder
- FCPS Summer Programs - 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
This is Me Night
📅 Date: March 27th 🕒
Time: 5:00 - 7:00pm
📍 Location: Stenwood
"This is Me" Night is all about celebrating our students and their individual achievements! Each student will showcase something they’ve worked on in school this year that they’re especially proud of—whether it’s a project, piece of art, writing, or another accomplishment. It will be a museum style format where families can walk around the building and visit classrooms to see work at all grade levels. Student attendance the night of the event is optional. Students will not be presenting their work, this will allow students to visit other classrooms with their families. 💪✨
✨ What do parents need to do? Nothing at all! Everything for the event will be prepared during the school day. Just come, enjoy, and celebrate your child’s achievements and the success of all our Stenwood Stingers! 🎉
How is this different from "This is Us" Night? While "This is Us" celebrates our diverse cultures and heritage, "This is Me" shines a light on the personal pride each student feels in their work and growth this school year. 🌈
We can’t wait to see you there and share these proud moments together! ❤️
We have aligned this event with the book fair, which will be open in the library at the same time.
Our PTA is excited to also have a Maker’s Market open in the cafeteria. This is an opportunity for any of our student entrepreneurs to set up a table to sell their goods. Families who are at Stenwood for This is Me and the book fair are welcome to stop by to purchase goods. We are not charging students to have a table to sell. If there are any parents who run a private business and want to sell, we will be happy to accommodate you. Adults will be charged a fee for having a booth. If you are interested, please reach out to communications@stenwoodpta.org to sign up for a table so we can plan accordingly.
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.
If you were unable to attend our information session/Q&A session, here is the slidedeck.
 Spring Picture Day is coming Friday, March 21st, 2025! Images will be available to view and purchase approximately two weeks following our school's picture day. Stay tuned for availability notifications!
Questions about Picture Day or Ordering? Email Victor O'Neill Studios at underclass@vosphoto.com.
We need 2 volunteers from the community to help navigate the flow.
Volunteers will receive a discount code via email after Picture Day!
For more information or to sign up, please contact Nora Marrero.
National Women’s History Month
Every year, March is designated Women’s History Month by presidential proclamation. The month is set aside to honor women’s contributions in American history. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Read more about Women’s History Month in National Geographic Kids.
National School Social Work Week
March 2nd-8th 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.
Daylight Saving Begins (Spring Forward)
Sunday, March 9th, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time begins. Don’t forget to move your clocks ahead one hour! As a result of the time change, many students will be walking to school or to bus stops in the dark. Help your child stay safe by having them wear reflective clothing and bright or light colors, or add reflective items to their backpacks or clothes. Also, encourage your child to be especially alert for cars that are turning or backing up and not to run into the street or cross between parked cars.
Give Your Kids a Strong Start: Apply for Early Childhood Education Programs
FCPS Pre-K and Early Head Start programs provide a high-quality early learning experience for qualifying children with economic and educational risk factors ages 6 weeks to 4 years living in Fairfax County.
Pre-K prioritizes 4-year-old applicants but also accepts applications for children 3 years old by September 30th. Early Head Start is located at three elementary schools — Clearview, Crestwood, and Dogwood — and accepts applications from expectant mothers and for children 6 weeks to 2 years old.
Families are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, however, space is limited and provided based on need, not “first come, first serve.” Applications are accepted online, by email, by postal mail, or in person at our office at 7423 Camp Alger Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia 22042.
If you have a question about the application process or status, please call 703-208-7900 (English) or 703-208-7901 (Spanish).
Student Fasting Meal Kits for
February 28th - March 28th
Thanks to a new program from the Virginia Department of Education, students who are fasting during the school day between February 28th and March 28th can now take school meal kits home at the end of the day.
Families will need to fill out a weekly Fasting Meals Request Form for their child or children to receive school meal kits. A separate form must be filled out for each week and each student.
To receive meal kits for Friday, February 28th, and the week of March 3rd, please submit the first request form by Monday, February 24th. Visit the FNS webpage for more information, including weekly request forms and deadlines.
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 15th, 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.
🚀 Prepare for a Summer of Learning and Fun
Registration will be available soon for summer camps offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students. Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts (IFTA) 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 10th, and ends Friday, June 6th.
Tech Adventure Camp (TAC) is a week-long exploratory camp designed to allow current K-5 students to explore activities in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), culinary arts, health, trades, and business and marketing areas. Watch this video about CTE camps.
E-IFTA is a weekly arts camp for students in grades 2-5 who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Students take part in four daily classes related to dance, music, theater, and visual art. They work with FCPS fine arts teachers who create fun and engaging classes.
For more information, see the Summer Learning page.
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.
3rd Grade Science Lab!
Stingers are Readers Week!
Books Brighten Our World - Wear bright colors or tie dye!
Hats Off to Reading: Wear your favorite hat!
Wordy Wednesday - Wear a shirt we have to read!
Curl Up With a Good Book - Wear your favorite PJ's!
Stingers Are Readers - Wear your favorite Stenwood spirit wear!
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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