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Hello Stenwood Families,
Thank you to our amazing PE teachers, Mrs. Udasco and Mrs. Opsahl, for an amazing Field Day! It was such a beautiful fall day filled with so many smiles and laughter. We really appreciate all the effort it takes to run such a successful day.
It's hard to believe that we are finishing up our 1st Quarter next week. The end of the first quarter is when we hold our annual Parent/Teacher Conferences. If you haven't had a chance to sign up, please make sure to find the sign-up link in your child’s teacher’s weekly emails. This is a great opportunity to hear about how your child is doing academically and socially and to get information about the academic screener assessments your child may have already taken this school year.
Next week’s schedule includes a couple of early releases.
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Wednesday is the next scheduled 3-hour early release. We have everyone’s responses from the survey completed in late August/early September, so your child will be dismissed at 12:30 or 3:30 depending on what you indicated.
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Friday is a 2-hour early release with no childcare.
Schools are closed for students on Monday, November 3rd, for a school planning day, and Tuesday, November 4th, for a teacher workday.
Below you will find information about the following items:
Sincerely,
Erica Riley, Principal
esriley@fcps.edu
Bryan Case, Assistant Principal
bgcase@fcps.edu
A Thank You From Our PE Team
We would like to sincerely express our heartfelt appreciation to the PTA and all of the wonderful volunteers whose efforts contributed greatly to the success of our Field Day event yesterday. We are especially grateful to Mrs. Dietz and Mrs. Cave for their invaluable support in making the day possible. Stenwood is truly fortunate to have such caring and dedicated families, and we are deeply thankful for the generous support we received to make our special day memorable.
Complete Your Federal Impact Aid Survey
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available in SIS ParentVUE under Online Packets, which is in the upper right corner of the screen after logging in. Please complete it as soon as possible. We will provide paper forms to families who have not completed the survey in ParentVUE starting Wednesday, November 12th.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important. This year, FCPS expects to receive approximately $4 million in Impact Aid funding. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
For more information, visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page.
Register for ParentVUE
Learn how to activate your SISParentVUE account, so you can easily submit your survey and have access to other helpful information about your child.
Technical support for using ParentVUE or submitting the survey online is available by submitting a Parent Support Request ticket. Select SISParent in the Application dropdown menu and type “Federal Impact Aid Survey” in the Issue Description section. You may also call the Parent Technology Help Desk at 833-921-3277 (833-921-FCPS).
Thanksgiving Lunch - RSVP by 10/31
It is time to start planning for Stenwood’s Annual Thanksgiving Lunch! On Wednesday, November 19th, all students are invited to have their families come join them for a Thanksgiving Lunch. Below is the schedule, your child’s lunch time is different from the normal lunch schedule.
 Please RSVP by Friday, 10/31 using this link. Mrs. Schmid, our cafeteria manager, needs to place her food order.
If you would like to volunteer, please sign up using this link. Volunteers will be helping with visitor check-in and meal serving. Do not sign up during your child’s lunch block. Please also do not plan to have younger siblings with you if you are volunteering.
Early Release Wednesday - October 29th
A reminder that our next Early Release Wednesday is in a couple of weeks. Students will be released based on the selection that was made earlier this year. A reminder will be sent to families on 10/27.
Storybook Pumpkin Festival Continues!
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We have one more week where students can share their love of books by decorating a pumpkin as a favorite storybook character. Students can decorate a pumpkin (one small enough for them to carry) and bring it to the library anytime between October 15th-October 30th, where it will be on display for all to see. (If your student wants to keep their pumpkin, they need to take it home before the end of the school day on 10/31). |
Students should also include a “clue card” with 3 clues for everyone to guess the character and book. On the reverse side of the card should be the answer along with the student’s name. You can find the official guidelines and a slide show of previous years’ pumpkins in the Library Schoology Course. |
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PS…please don’t carve the pumpkins! As always, contact Mrs. Cole with any questions you might have. |
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 1st of each month for holidays occurring the following month. For instance, since Lunar New Year is in February in 2026, drawings for it would be due by January 1st (but the 5th since we are on Winter Break). 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!
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
Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) Parent Informational Meetings:
- AAP Continuum of Services
- Geared for parents of 2nd-6th graders interested in referring their child for full-time AAP services.
- Questions? Please reach out to Kaleigh Hartman at kkhartman@fcps.edu
- Referrals for full-time services for the 2026-27 school year are due no later than December 15th, 2025. Since Mrs. Hartman will be on maternity leave, please email your child’s completed referral to Erica Riley, esriley@fcps.edu, Michelle Burke, mpburke@fcps.edu, and your child’s classroom teacher. You will receive confirmation once it has been reviewed for completion of all required parts. Here are links to the Referral Form (required) and the Parent Guardian Questionnaire (optional, but recommended).
🩹 Immunization Events for FCPS Students
FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will be providing school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students with no out-of-pocket costs. Immunization clinics will take place from 3 to 6:30 p.m. at Willow Oaks Administrative Center on:
- Thursday, November 6th
- Tuesday, November 18th
- Wednesday, November 19th
- Thursday, November 20th
A clinic will also take place at Frost Middle School on Saturday, November 15th, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Additional dates will be made available throughout the school year.
Participation is voluntary. Parents or guardians may schedule an appointment for their student. Learn more about immunization resources.
FCPS AI Conversation
Meeting the Moment: FCPS Forward — AI, a conversation with division leadership, which will take place Monday, November 3rd, from 6 to 8 p.m., at West Springfield High School. Attend to:
- Learn about the opportunities and challenges of AI in education.
- Explore how AI can support FCPS student achievement and workforce readiness.
- Engage in a thought-provoking panel and keynotes.
- Help shape the future of innovation at Fairfax County Public Schools.
Agenda details will be shared with registered participants in the coming weeks. Contact DITEvents@fcps.edu with any questions.
Bond Referendums Support Communities
Each year, the School Board and FCPS staff members work with the community to develop an updated, five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for school building and renovation projects. To develop the CIP, the school system assesses changes in expected enrollments, academic programs, and facility conditions to determine priorities for new construction, renovations, and other capital facility projects. The School Board then evaluates the affordability of these school needs against other countywide requirements to determine the bond proposal.
Because of this, while FCPS and the School Board generally try to follow the CIP, changes can be made year-over-year depending on the evolving needs of the school division.
The School Board is committed to protecting the community’s investment in schools and other buildings, which have a combined present value approaching $9 billion. Not only do these facilities wear out over time, but they also become outdated, both technologically and instructionally. FCPS renovates its schools to ensure that students, countywide, have effective and efficient learning environments to thrive and grow.
Read more about the FCPS 2025 Bond Referendum. Learn more about registering to vote. Make a voting plan and vote on Tuesday, November 4th.
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 $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).
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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 Elementary PTA
We hope you join our amazing PTA! stenwoodpta.membershiptoolkit.com
Stenwood Field Day!
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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