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Hive Happenings Newsletter

Dear Stenwood Families,

Since the beginning of the school year, we've been highlighting the attributes from our CARES Expectations each week. Today, we wrap-up with Self-Control. Throughout the school, this means respecting the learning and personal space of others. Stingers also show self-control by using the appropriate voice volume level throughout the building to make sure everyone can focus on their learning. And in the bathroom, it means being “quick, quiet, and clean.” 

On Wednesday, our 5^th graders enjoyed an in-school field trip to learn all about the Watershed. Between learning about corn and the watershed, we are hard-pressed to be smarter than a Stenwood 5^th grader!

If you were not able to join us this morning to learn more about Advanced Academics services in FCPS, we have updated that section to include the slide deck and a recording of the information shared. On Friday, October 10^th, Mrs. Hartman will be offering a session on the full-time services screening and identification process.

As a reminder, Wednesday, October 1^st, will be an evening-only observance day for Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism. There is school that day, but important events will not occur after school. Thursday, October 2^nd, is a holiday and schools and offices will be closed.

Below you will find information about the following items:

• Annual Hearing and Vision Screening - NEW
• This is Us Night – NEW
• Benchmark: Halfway Through Learning About Life Science in Language Arts - NEW
• Webinar Offerings for Parents - NEW
• Holidays and Observations Drawing Contest - Reminder
• Volunteering at Stenwood - Reminder
• Kiss N Ride Reminders - Reminder
• Walkers Reminders - Reminder
• Advanced Academics Programs Upcoming Information Sessions – Updated
• Blue Star Welcome Week - NEW
• Yom Kippur - NEW
• New Fall Menu Items - NEW
• FCPS School Start Times - Now Open - Reminder
• FCPS Boundary Review - Reminder
• Bond Referendum - Reminder
• Lightspeed - Reminder
• School Meals and Free/Reduced Lunch Applications - Reminder
• Stenwood PTA - Reminder

Sincerely,

Erica Riley, Principal
esriley@fcps.edu 

Bryan Case, Assistant Principal 
bgcase@fcps.edu

Annual Hearing and Vision Screening

The vision and hearing screening will be held on October 9^th (3^rd grade), October 14^th (kindergarten), and students who are new to FCPS (across both days). The purpose of screening is to identify students who need further evaluation due to difficulty seeing the screening chart or hearing the screening tones. If your child wears glasses, please be sure that glasses are at school on screening day. 

Parents will be notified by letter if screening results indicate that further evaluation is needed. Prompt follow-up with your health care provider is recommended as vision and hearing difficulties can interfere with learning. 

If you would like to assist as a “Volunteer” with the screening process, please contact Nino Bravo (our School Health Aide) at nbravo@fcps.edu or 703-208-7610 or Adriana Rota (Family Liaison) at agrota@fcps.edu or 703-208-7618. 

This is Us Night

Benchmark

📚 Halfway Through Learning About Life Science

in Language Arts 📚

We are halfway through Benchmark Unit 1 in Language Arts! Across grade levels, students have explored where plants and animals live and how they grow and change. 

Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:

• Question: What has been your favorite reading in this unit so far and why?
• Activity: Have your child imagine they are an animal and write or dictate a short story about their day.

At the end of the unit, your child will take their unit magazine home. The magazine includes an activity calendar with fun ways to help students build on what they’re learning at each grade level. You can also find information on how to support your child’s reading at home on the Benchmark Families website. 

Webinar Offerings for Parents

Supporting Your Child with Dyslexia: October 15^th, 10-11:30 a.m.

• Join us for an informative webinar on Dyslexia Awareness, designed for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) families. This session will provide essential information about dyslexia and the resources available within FCPS to support students with this learning difference.
• What You'll Learn: 
• Understanding Dyslexia: Gain a clear understanding of what dyslexia is, its common signs, and how it can affect students' reading, writing, and spelling.
• FCPS Support Systems: Learn about the various supports and interventions FCPS provides, including evidence-based, structured literacy approaches and the role of reading specialists.
• Virginia Literacy Act: Discover how the new Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) and FCPS's Equitable Access to Literacy (EAL) Plan are changing literacy instruction to benefit all learners, especially those with dyslexia.
• Resources for Families: We'll share practical tools and strategies you can use at home to support your child's literacy development and partner effectively with their school.
• This webinar aims to empower families with knowledge and resources to help their students with dyslexia succeed.
• Register here

Reading Plans and Your Student: October 22^nd, 10-11:30 a.m.

• This 1.5-hour webinar is designed to help parents and caregivers understand the new reading plans in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). Parents will learn about:
• What a reading plan is: A reading plan is a support system for students who are not meeting literacy benchmarks. It outlines specific, evidence-based instruction and interventions to help them improve their reading skills.
• Who requires a reading plan: All students from kindergarten through eighth grade who are identified as needing additional support based on literacy assessments will receive a reading plan. This is part of a broader effort by FCPS to implement the Virginia Literacy Act.
• How schools will support students: The webinar will explain how FCPS is using a science-based reading approach and will discuss the role of reading specialists, the curriculum used, and the assessments to monitor student progress.
• Resources and tools for parents: Parents will leave with practical resources and tools they can use at home to support their child's literacy development. The webinar aims to empower families to be active partners in their child's reading journey.
• Register here

Holidays and Observations Drawing Contest

Our Equity Team is hosting an ongoing drawing contest to celebrate all the holidays and observations throughout the year.

Submission Details: For the first half of the year, we will collect submissions on the 1^st of each month for holidays occurring the following month. For instance, since Veterans' Day is on November 11^th, drawings for it would be due by October 1^st. You're welcome to turn in your artwork early—just drop it in the box in the office!  

What Happens Next? The winning drawing will be featured in our newsletter and on our social media. All other submissions will be proudly displayed in our hallways for everyone to enjoy!

Missing a Holiday? If your family celebrates a holiday or observance that isn't on our list, please feel free to include it!

Ready to Draw? You can pick up a template paper for the contest in your classroom or the office, and it is posted on our website for easy access.   We can’t wait to see the incredible artwork from our Stenwood artists!

Volunteering at Stenwood

At Stenwood, our volunteers are a vital part of our school community. We deeply value the time and care they give to our students. 

Recent updates to FCPS’ volunteer process focus on one primary goal: keeping students safe.  If you plan on volunteering to chaperone at any point during the school year, we encourage you to start your application now, https://fcps.samaritan.com/custom/501/opp_details/1134.  If you plan on volunteering at school, but know you will not be chaperoning a field trip, you can start your application with this link: https://fcps.samaritan.com/custom/501/affiliation_details/3250. 

These updates — such as checks against the sex offender registry and, in some cases, criminal background checks — are safety measures that will help us maintain a secure and supportive learning environment for every student in our care. 

We encourage all our parents and community members interested in supporting our students by volunteering at school to visit the links above, click “Learn More,” and then “Sign Up.” After you create a profile, you will view an orientation video and complete a volunteer application. 

Volunteer FCPS ensures a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment at all of our schools. All volunteers must be registered in Volunteer FCPS. This includes individuals who volunteer to chaperone on field trips, work at book fairs, and help out regularly in classrooms, libraries, or cafeterias. Volunteers who work unsupervised with students will also be required to undergo a background check.

We understand these changes may seem disruptive, especially for long-time volunteers. Our intent is to ensure that our students feel safe and supported with each and every person they encounter at school.

As a reminder, all volunteers — and visitors to a school — are required to sign in by scanning their ID at our Visitor Management System. Visit the Volunteer FCPS Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more. 

Kiss N’ Ride Reminders

If you choose to park on Carnegie and walk up for arrival and/or dismissal, please know that the streets directly behind Stenwood are permit parking only.  In addition, please be respectful of our neighbors.  Please do not block driveways or crosswalks.  During grade-level and schoolwide events, we do work with the Fairfax County Police Department to get permission for families to park in the neighborhood.  When advertising events, we will communicate if the parking in the neighborhood has been coordinated. That exemption is not in place for arrival or dismissal.  FCPD began issuing warnings for both parking without a permit and illegal parking.  Several neighbors have reached out with their concerns, please help Stenwood be a good neighbor to our Stenwood neighbors.

Walkers Reminders

Parents picking up their children at dismissal, please make sure to wait on the blacktop so that our walkways to the cars and special transportation vans are clear.  Please also remember that FCPS Schools have a No Dogs Allowed policy.  If you are walking with your dog, please stop at the entrance to the loop to keep them off FCPS property. 

Advanced Academics Programs Upcoming Information Sessions and More

Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) Parent Informational Meetings:

• AAP Continuum of Services – Slidedeck and Recording

  • Passcode: ^PC.&Rzs?4

• Full-Time AAP Screening & Identification – Friday, October 10^th 8:45-9:30
  • Geared for parents of 2^nd-6^th graders interested in referring their child for full-time AAP services.
• Questions? Please reach out to Kaleigh Hartman at kkhartman@fcps.edu

Blue Star Welcome Week

Every year, approximately 600,000 military-connected families relocate, and schools are a primary way they get integrated into their new location. Most of these families move to new duty stations, while some transition out of the military and others transition in. Most of these moves take place over the summer, and Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to ensuring our military families feel welcomed and a sense of belonging to their local community. 

Blue Star Welcome Week is an opportunity for our community to welcome our military-connected families and show them our appreciation for their service and sacrifices. Throughout the week, FCPS will help ease their transition through events, messages, actions of welcome, and opportunities to make meaningful connections. Please help us welcome our military families during Blue Star Welcome Week, September 27^th - October 5^th, 2025, and throughout the year! #BlueStarWelcomeWeekFCPS 

Yom Kippur

May all in our Jewish community observing Yom Kippur have an easy and meaningful fast. According to Jewish tradition, Yom Kippur is when God decides each person’s fate, so Jews are encouraged to make amends and ask forgiveness for sins committed during the past year. #OurFCPS

🍲 New Food Items Include Hearty

Homestyle Favorites

Our new menu items debuting in September and October feature hearty homestyle favorites — including veggie chili, pictured above — and fresh global inspiration! Other new additions include:

• Breakfast: Cinnamon apple overnight oats, mini blueberry pancakes, French toast sticks, egg and cheese breakfast quesadillas and tacos, and turkey sausage and cheese bagels.
• Lunch: Teriyaki chicken stir-fry, teriyaki chickenless bites stir-fry, cheesy turkey pepperoni pasta, cheesy pasta with marinara sauce, deep dish pizza, and cheesy fiesta nachos.

FCPS School Start Times

Take the K-12 School Start Times Survey

FCPS is continuing to explore options for adjusting school start times, with the primary goal of starting the middle school day at 8 a.m. or after. In order to minimize any cost for this project, elementary and high school start times would need to shift as well.

Providing feedback opportunities for the community is a critical part of this effort. Since 2024, FCPS’ consultant has hosted five community forums and administered two surveys. That feedback helped in developing two options for adjusting school start times. The options are designed to support student well-being, align with research, and balance transportation logistics.

We invite you to provide input on the two options by taking a short survey. This voluntary survey will close on Tuesday, September 30^th. Visit the FCPS website for more information on adjusting school start times.

Participate in an Upcoming Community Boundary Review Meeting 

As a reminder, FCPS will hold two sets of community boundary review meetings this fall — one in September and another in October. Each set of meetings will focus on two pyramids per meeting. 

All September meetings will include an overview of where FCPS is in the comprehensive boundary review process, an update and opportunity for feedback on school start times, how community input is informing the process, and next steps in the boundary review process. 

The meeting for our pyramid will be held Saturday, September 27^th, 9 to 10 a.m., at Marshall High School (In Person or Virtual). Please register by clicking “in person” or “virtual,” depending on how you would like to participate. 

Child care for in-person participants and language interpretation/translation for all participants will be available as needed. 

Visit the FCPS website for a full list of meeting dates and information about the October meetings.

🏗️ School Bond Referendum on Ballot Tuesday, November 4^th

The $460 million School Bond Referendum — supporting the division and county’s commitment to providing safe and welcoming learning environments for all students — will be on the Tuesday, November 4^th, general election ballot. 

The funding provided by voter-approved bonds is expected to fund projects identified in the FY 2026-30 Capital Improvement Program, which was approved by the School Board in February. 

The building and renovation of our schools is not funded through the division’s operating budget. Voter-approved bonds allow payment for these projects over time. Read more about the 2025 Bond Referendum. Watch this video that explains, “What Is a bond?” 

Make sure you have a voting plan! Learn more about registering to vote.

Lightspeed

🔍 See Where Your Child Goes Online With Lightspeed

Parents can access their child’s activity on FCPS devices through Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service. Parents may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites their child visited. 

The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours.

Learn more about Lightspeed Parent Reports.

School Meals and Free/ Reduced Lunch Applications

Breakfast and Lunch Breakfast will be $1.75.  Lunch will be $3.25, milk $1.00.  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 (these menus do not appear to be available yet).

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 Elementary PTA

We hope you join our amazing PTA! stenwoodpta.membershiptoolkit.com

5^th Grade Watershed Field Trip!

3^rd Grade Pajama Day!

5^th Grade Unit 1 Benchmark ‘Cultivating Natural Resources’ Lesson!

Fun in Art!

Stay Connected Here are a few ways to stay connected with all the happenings at Stenwood ES

Facebook facebook.com/StenwoodElementary

Instagram @stenwoodelementary

Website stenwoodes.fcps.edu

PTA Facebook facebook.com/StenwoodElementaryPTA

2620 Gallows Road Vienna, VA 22180 |  Main Office: 703.208.7600
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