Good evening Stone Families,

The Principal's Message is now moving to Fridays!

The past week included valuable learning experiences:

• 8th Graders: Traveled to Finance Park to learn about money management and life events.

• 7th Graders: Started a new quarter while enjoying the building primarily to themselves.

💡 Principal's Coffee: Planning Strategies

I hosted a Coffee event to share strategies for helping students plan for assignments and deadlines.

• The PTSA is selling student planners in the main office for $10 as a great organizational tool.

Key strategies shared for student success:

• Review Schoology often for assignments and calendar updates.

• Review SIS Student Vue & Parent Vue to monitor grades.

• Stay after school for teacher support.

• Utilize the re-take policy for summative assessments to improve grades.

• Review class materials and notes weekly.

Students who need more support are encouraged to see their school counselor.

STUDENT RECOGNITIONS:
Congratulations to Lucy C, Dewitt L, John  P, and Bella Lfor auditioning for District 11 Honors Orchestra on October 30th! John P and Lucy C will be representing Stone at the District Orchestra event at GMU in January, and Bella will be an alternate for the event. Please join me in congratulating these students on their hard work and achievements!”

NEW SAFETY PROCEDURES:
As part of the ongoing commitment to strengthening layered safety and security programs, Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) will continue to phase in a weapons detection system. 

To recap, this weapons detection system is the latest effort to strengthen our layered safety and security programs. It is similar to ones that have been used at sporting events and concerts for many years. We are preparing for implementation at Stone Middle School

Before Stone Middle School begins using the system in an official capacity, we wanted to give students and staff a chance to test it out and see it in person. We will be conducting a practice session via Health and PE classes on Monday November 10th and Wednesday November 12th to prepare students as much as possible for implementation. Details on when we will officially start using the system will be shared soon.

Earlier this year, several of our high school students joined Dr. Reid for a video discussion about school safety and to test out the new system. If you have additional questions after reading the FAQs, you can submit them online to our Chief of Safety and Security Office. 

FCPS is taking every precaution necessary to provide every student, including the students here at Stone Middle School, a safe and secure learning environment. I want to acknowledge and thank our families, students, and staff for being flexible and embracing this new layer to our school’s overall safety.

FEDERAL IMPACT AID:
The Federal Impact Aid form is now available through your SIS ParentVUE account, including access via both the mobile app and web browsers.

We kindly ask that you complete the form electronically by Friday, December 12th, 2025. If you're unable to do so online, a printed copy will be sent home with your student on Friday, November 14, 2025. If the form is completed online, you do not need to complete the printed form. 

1st Quarter Report Cards **UPDATE**

FCPS has updated their requirement for Report Card mailings as stated in our previous message.  Quarter 1 report cards will be posted to SIS StudentVUE and ParentVUE and ONLY mailed directly to families without ParentVUE accounts  on Friday, November 14th.  Questions?  Email ALCopeland1@fcps.edu 

SAVE THE DATE: Curriculum Night - Wednesday, February 5th at 6pm

This program is designed for parents to learn about the 7th and 8th grade curriculum offered at Stone MS.

Let's have a great spirited week Panthers,
Sonya Williams 

Principal 

Every Day Is a Stepping Stone to Success

Attendance is an important life skill that will help your child later in life. It’s a good habit to build now that will help them graduate on time and help them with time management. Parents and families can play a big role in helping kick-start good attendance habits.

Please take a look at the FCPS Calendar. Try to schedule any trips or family events on weekends and school holidays. Keep in mind that absences add up quickly. Students who are absent 10% of the school year (or just two days per month) are considered “chronically absent.”

When possible, schedule appointments for your child outside of school hours. If your child needs to miss school because of an illness or appointment, you must report the absence to our school.

Veteran's Day Tuesday, November 11th is a holiday and schools will be closed for students and staff.

We have our Pep Rally Spirit Week next week! Make sure to organize your outfits now and get ready to dress up! There will be prizes at lunches for the best dressed! 

Monday Cozy Day

Tuesday No School

Wednesday Jersey Day

Thursday Dress as your favorite holiday

Friday Blue (7th) vs Black (8th)

November is.....

National Career Development Month

By enrolling in a Career and Technical Education (CTE) course or program, students learn the technical applications of many occupations while preparing for higher education or entry-level employment. A core program of CTE courses is offered in every middle and high school. Based on the needs of the populations served, each school determines optional courses to be offered. Learn more about Academies and Specialized Programs.

Native American Heritage Month

Native American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate rich and diverse cultures, traditions, and histories and to acknowledge the important contributions of Native Americans. It is also a time to raise a general awareness about the unique challenges they have faced both historically and in the present, and the ways in which tribal citizens have worked to conquer these challenges.Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.

November Is National Family Engagement Month

Family Engagement Month is a time to remember that parents and caregivers are children’s first and most important teachers, advocates, and nurturers. 

The FCPS Family Academy supports the continued success and well-being of each and every student within the FCPS community. The Academy offers a variety of positive and engaging learning opportunities and meaningful connections to transform the FCPS experience into a welcoming environment for all families.

FCPS Family Café Series: Support Your Child’s Growth and LearningThe FCPS Family Academy announces the launch of a monthly series called the FCPS Family Café. These fun and helpful sessions are designed to keep families informed and involved in their child’s education. At Family Café, parents are key partners in helping children succeed. Click on a topic below to register to attend. 

• The Connected Family: Navigating the Digital World TogetherThursday, November 13, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Herndon Middle School

• Introduction to Career Pathways for StudentsTuesday, November 18, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Key Middle School

✨ FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan Pillar B: Vibrant Home, School, and Community Partnerships, reminds us to empower families through trusting partnerships that sustain a safe, inclusive culture for learning. 

Volunteer Registration Update

Due to the overwhelming response from our community, FCPS is temporarily pausing fingerprint requirements for most Level 3 volunteers. 

If you are scheduled for an upcoming fingerprinting appointment, please cancel your appointment unless you are a mentor, host parent, or non-parent volunteer having frequent, direct, and unsupervised contact with students, which will still require fingerprinting. FCPS will be charged if individuals miss a fingerprinting appointment without canceling in advance.

Those who have already been fingerprinted will be processed to be eligible for all Level 3 opportunities. ​​​​​​​

Field trip chaperone opportunities will now be classified as Level 2 (not requiring a background check). 

To ensure continuous safety, all new volunteers are required to sign a Volunteer Certification Statement. This statement is a legal attestation confirming you have no history of violent felonies, physical/sexual crimes against children, or crimes of moral turpitude.

Want to volunteer? Visit Volunteer FCPS to find and sign up for volunteer opportunities. Contact Volunteers@fcps.edu with any questions. 

Tutoring Resources for Families

Some families may be looking for additional resources to help support their child’s academic success. The FCPS Family Resource Center (FRC) maintains a list of FCPS employees who hold a valid Virginia teaching credential and who are available to hire as tutors. This list is a resource offered by the FRC, but families are responsible for contacting and working directly with the tutors. This list is not approved by FCPS and is only meant to be a resource to families.

FCPS also partners with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors' services, at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests.

Apply Anytime for Free and Reduced-Price Meals

Families are encouraged to apply for free and reduced-price meals at any time during the school year. 

If your income changes — for example, due to a furlough, layoff, or job loss — you may become newly eligible. Once approved, your benefits stay active for the rest of the school year and for the first 30 days of the next school year.

Students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals or attend a Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) school receive free breakfast and lunch every school day. It’s a great way to make your food budget go further and save time from packing meals. Learn more about FCPS Food and Nutrition. 

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. 

Find more community resources available to families.

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:

• State Standards of Learning (SOL) Changes
• PSAT/SAT School Day Scores Available
• Resources for Families 

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, sign up today. 

Stone Quick Links

• Family Information Phone Lines (Multiple Languages)
• PTSA
• Staff Directory
• Staff Kudos/FCPS Cares
• Technology Support

5500 Sully Park Dr Centreville, VA 20120 | Main Office: 703-631-5500
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