English | Español | አማርኛ | 中文 | 한국어 | Tiếng Việt | العربية | فارسی | اردو

Hive Happenings Newsletter

Hello Stenwood Families,

It is so hard to believe that the school year is already one quarter of the way over! We ended the quarter with a great week!

• On Monday, our first graders took a field trip to Cub Run Rec Center to learn about the life cycle of trees.
• On Wednesday, our SCA, Patrols, and CARES Club all met, as we do every early release Wednesday morning.
• On Thursday, fourth graders showed off their PBL Museum at a Family Invite, and our preschool students had a virtual invite with their families.
• And finally, today, Kindergarten held their Pumpkin Centers Family Invite this morning.

If you have not yet done so, please make sure that you RSVP by today’s deadline for our Thanksgiving Lunch on November 19^th. See information below.

With Thanksgiving coming up, it brings about a spirit of gratitude. We want to take a moment to thank our teachers for the work they put into planning for conferences and sharing with you, as families, the wonderful things your child brings to our school community and their classroom community, along with sharing their progress so far this year. We thank you for your partnership each and every day.

Also, since many of you are coming into the building anyway for conferences, please be sure to visit the “Lost and Found” when you are here. While we love the changing of seasons, chilly Fall mornings when combined with crisp sunny afternoons lead to many left behind jackets and sweatshirts. Please see the picture below and help us out with doing a little finding to help balance out the losing in the “Lost and Found.”

Today, Friday, October 31^st, is the last day of the first quarter, and a two-hour early release for students.

This Sunday, November 2^nd, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time ends. Don’t forget to move your clocks back one hour!

Schools are closed for students on Monday, November 3^rd, for a school planning day, and Tuesday, November 4^th, for a teacher workday.

Below you will find information about the following items:

• Thanksgiving Lunch - RSVP by 10/31 - DUE TODAY
• 3 Hour Early Release - 11/12 - Reminder
• Impact Aid Survey - Reminder
• Holidays and Observations Drawing Contest - Reminder
• Kiss N Ride/Walkers Reminders - Reminder
• Advanced Academics Programs Information Sessions - Recordings - Reminder
• Stenwood Lost and Found - Updated Reminder
• All Saints Day and Día de los Muertos - NEW
• FCPS Mobile App - NEW
• Resources for Furloughed Families - NEW
• Family Academy - NEW
• 🩹 Immunization Events for FCPS Students - NEW
• FCPS AI Conversation - Reminder
• Bond Referendum - Updated
• 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

Thanksgiving Lunch - SIGN UP DEADLINE TODAY

It is time to start planning for Stenwood’s Annual Thanksgiving Lunch! On Wednesday, November 19^th, 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 TODAY 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 - November 12^th

A reminder that our next Early Release Wednesday is November 12^th.  Students will be released based on the selection that was made earlier this year, any requests for changes need to submitted by Wednesday 11/5 to allow for us to safely account for all students.  A reminder will be sent to families on 11/10. 

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 12^th.

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).

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 Lunar New Year is in February in 2026, drawings for it would be due by January 1^st (but the 5^th 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/Walkers 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, crosswalks, or move trash cans.  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.

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 
  • Recording
  • Passcode: ^PC.&Rzs?4
• Geared for parents of 2nd-6th graders interested in referring their child for full-time AAP services.
  • Recording
  • Passcode: !i$qt4Am4t

• 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 15^th, 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).

Stenwood Lost and Found

If you are coming into the building over the next week for conferences, please stop by the Lost and Found to look for some of your children’s lost items. There is a lot there to find!

All Saints Day and Día de los Muertos

This week we recognize those in our community observing All Saints Day and Día de los Muertos. For Catholics, All Saints Day (November 1^st) is a special Holy Day and celebrates all those who are with God in Heaven, known and unknown. All Souls Day (November 2^nd), known in Mexico and Latin America as Día de los Muertos, is a day of remembrance and prayer for all those who have died, especially for the souls who may be in purgatory. These special days are celebrated by Catholics, Anglicans, and some Protestants throughout the world.

📱Download the New FCPS Mobile App!

The FCPS mobile app offers a customized platform to help keep families connected and informed, directly from their smartphones. You can download the Fairfax County Public Schools mobile app by going to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and searching for “FCPS.” 

With the app you can:

• Stay up-to-date: Get the latest news from schools and FCPS.
• View school calendars: See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals.
• Check school menus: See what’s for lunch and breakfast today, tomorrow, or next week.
• Tap to contact: Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
• Access key links: Jump to ParentVUE, Schoology, and the FCPS website in one tap.

Users can access updates and content without having to sign in, making it easy for everyone to stay informed. 

Learn more about the new mobile app, including feedback from parents.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. 

Resources for Furloughed Families

Impact of Federal Shutdown on Local Community

Fairfax County is home to around 80,000 federal employees and thousands of federal contractors. Its Federal Workforce Resource Hub is intended to help navigate current and future issues for residents, government employees, active military/veterans, contractors, nonprofits and businesses who may be affected by actions, changes, or disruptions to federal services or employment.

Community Resources for Families in Need

Through partnerships with community-based organizations and other Fairfax County agencies, Fairfax County Coordinated Services Planning (CSP) provides information, referrals, and advocacy to help individuals connect with services, including: basic needs (food, shelter, clothing), financial assistance, health care services, and referrals to services and resources.

Visit the CSP website or call 703-222-0880 for assistance. 

How to Access or Donate Food to Those in Need

View the Emergency Food Access Providers webpage to see where to access food or donate to your local food bank.

Family Academy Offers Opportunities to Support Parents and Guardians

The FCPS Family Academy offers resources and in-person and virtual classes, workshops, webinars, and programs for families. The following webinars and workshops will take place in November:

• ABA Family Training: Prioritizing Skills to Teach at Home
• Co-Parenting: Two Parents, Two Homes (in Spanish)
• Supporting Your Military-Connected Student in Secondary School 
• Moving on to Life in the Community

Other Family Resource Center webinars will cover topics such as communication with twice exceptional children, family engagement in the special education process, restorative justice practices in schools and at home, and improving routines. 

Visit the Family Academy Catalog to learn more about these and other resources. 

🩹 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 6^th
• Tuesday, November 18^th
• Wednesday, November 19^th
• Thursday, November 20^th

A clinic will also take place at Frost Middle School on Saturday, November 15^th, 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. 

How AI Is Shaping Teaching and Learning

Meeting the Moment: FCPS Forward — AI, a conversation with division leadership, which will take place Monday, November 3^rd, 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. 

🗳️ Election Day is Next Week.

Make a Voting Plan!

The 2025 Bond Referendum will be on the ballot on Tuesday, November 4^th. Remember to vote. Learn how bonds help build strong communities. 

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

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
Attendance Email | Transportation Email | Web | Twitter