 Dear Stone Families,
It is our final week of school for 2025—time truly is flying by. This past week, we said “see you later” to our beloved Officer Swartz as he retired from the Fairfax County Police Department. We are grateful for his years of service to our school community and wish him all the best as he enjoys time with his family.
8th Grade Families: FCPS will be opening a new high school for the 2026–27 school year. This high school will be an optional choice for rising 9th graders. On Tuesday, December 17, Mr. Dave Jagels, Planning Principal, will visit students during Panther Block. If students have questions about the new western high school, please have them submit them using the link posted in Schoology: https://forms.gle/TQwVFsVZ2BfDZzhU9
Music: As we wrap up the semester, our talented music students will be performing throughout the week. All concerts will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the gym. We hope to see you there.
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Tuesday, December 16: Orchestra Concert
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Wednesday, December 17: Choir Concert
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Thursday, December 18: Band Concert
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Friday, December 19: Music Assembly for Students (during schoolday)
Winter Break Spirit Week
To celebrate our last week of school in 2025, we are having a full filled spirit week.
Polar Express Monday: Wear your cozy pajamas and bring a blanket
Times Square Tuesday: Wear black, silver and gold or your new year's best
Candy Cane Wednesday: Wear read and white
Holiday Thursday: Wear holiday headwear and ugly sweater
Fun Friday: Wear red for Rudolph or green for the Grinch
Winter Break Reminder: Stone Middle School will be closed for Winter Break from December 22 through January 2. School will reopen on Monday, January 5, at 7:00 a.m. It will be an Odd Day for students.
Let's have a great week Panthers,
Sonya Williams
Principal
Student Services Updates
Once we return from the winter break all Stone students will begin the Academic Advising the course selection process for the 26-27 school year. For details and the most up-to-date information, please visit our Stone Course Selection website.
Upcoming Important Events:
January 13- Westfield HS Curriculum Night for details, see their website
February 5- Stone MS Curriculum Night -this program is designed for parents to learn about the 7th and 8th grade curriculum offered at Stone MS.
February 12- 6th Grade field trip to Stone MS
College/Career Week
We are excited to announce the successful conclusion of our College and Career Week! It was a highly informative and engaging week for our students, and we want to extend a huge thank you to our counselors for their amazing work in putting together such a valuable experience.
Throughout the week, students gained crucial knowledge about several key topics:
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Academic Importance: Students learned about the importance of GPA and getting involved in extracurricular activities to build a strong profile.
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Future Planning: They explored different college majors and career paths.
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Career Day Success: We had a highly successful Career Day on Thursday, featuring professionals from a wide variety of fields who shared their experiences and insights.
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Knowledge Check: We wrapped up the week today with an exciting College Jeopardy game, testing their newly acquired knowledge about college life and application processes.
🗣️ Conversation Starters for Home
To keep the momentum going, here are three key things you can talk about with your student this weekend:
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Review Their Future Goals: Ask your student what major or career field they found most interesting during the week and why. This is a great way to start discussing potential long-term goals.
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Discuss Involvement: Talk about the connection between GPA/extracurricular involvement and college applications. Brainstorm one or two new clubs, sports, or volunteer opportunities they might be interested in exploring to strengthen their involvement.
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Reflect on Career Day: Have your student tell you about one specific person or field they learned about on Career Day. Ask them what skills that professional mentioned were most important for success in that career.
 After School Programming Updates
Due to music concerts throughout this week there will be no gym use during after school programming, Tuesday through Thursday.
 Stone PTSA News/Updates
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Winter Break (Student Holiday)
As a reminder, winter break will be held Monday, December 22, to Friday, January 2. To help make sure you and your children have a restful break, we have asked that no homework be assigned during this time. Teachers may assign long-range assignments in the weeks ahead of the break, allowing students to practice time management skills, but no assignments will be due immediately following the break. We look forward to welcoming students back in the new year.Classes resume on Monday, January 5, 2026. See the complete school year calendar.
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FCPS Updates
Reporting Student Absences
We are committed to partnering with families to promote positive attendance habits. Whenever your child is unable to attend school, please let us know. Reporting absences helps our staff support students and connect them with resources they may need.
Full-day absences can be reported in SIS ParentVUE. Parents can also report absences by [add any other method of reporting absences at your school].
Parents may monitor their child’s attendance records in SIS ParentVUE.
Attendance Codes in SIS ParentVUE Explained
Attendance codes in SIS ParentVUE are assigned by school staff to better identify the reasons behind student absences. This allows us to respond thoughtfully and provide appropriate support. Visit the FCPS Attendance Policy webpage to learn more about the codes.
When Your Child Is Sick
It is also important to keep your child home when they are sick. The Can My Child Go to School? webpage provides helpful recommendations on when to keep your child home.
For instance, a child should attend school if they have cold symptoms, as long as they are feeling like they can participate in school activities. However, if they have severe, uncontrolled, or rapid coughing; wheezing; or difficulty breathing, definitely keep them home and contact your health care provider.
Winter Resources for Families
A list of resources has been compiled for students and families in case they or someone they know needs assistance while schools are closed for winter break. Please visit FCPS’ winter resources page for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs.
Even If School Is Closed, Learning Can Continue!
We encourage students to take advantage of fun learning opportunities during the upcoming winter break and on snow days. Consider these winter activities to blend education and play at home.
Meet the Author: Live on Channel 21 and YouTubeTune in to the Fairfax Network on Friday, December 12, at 1 p.m., for Meet the Author with Gabriella Aldeman, author of the bilingual children’s book “Squawk of Spanish.”
Follow Max as he learns to communicate with his Spanish-speaking grandmother and discovers how language can bring families closer together.
Visit the Meet the Author webpage to view previous episodes of the show.
Shape Your Story: Course Selection for Middle and High School Students
Beginning in January 2026, students will meet with their counselors to discuss course selection for next year. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to actively participate in this important process.
As students choose courses, it is important to remind them to consider the following:
- Current academic strengths and habits.
- Graduation requirements (high school students.
- Interests and career and postsecondary goals.
- Personal well-being.
- Extracurricular activities and other commitments that may impact students’ time and energy.
School-life balance is an important consideration as students strive for academic and personal success. Families may contact their student’s school counselor with questions.
Graduation Requirements and Planning
FCPS’ Graduation Requirements and Course Planning page provides information that students and families can preview to make informed decisions while planning for success in high school and beyond. For additional support in tracking these requirements, families can now log into ParentVUE to monitor their student's progress toward graduation.
Reviewing the Program of Studies may also be helpful. Be sure to refer to our course catalog and course selection information.
Preparing for Tough Conversations With Teens
Are you planning on spending more time with your teen over winter break? Or are they planning to spend time away from you with friends? Now may be a good time to talk to them about fentanyl and overdose.
Discussing tough topics like fentanyl and other drugs can feel challenging, no matter how close you are with your child. Explain to your teen that it’s important to learn about fentanyl so they know what to do if a friend overdoses. Prepare in advance with the tips below:
- Set the stage. Choose a casual environment that’s free from distractions. Talk while driving the car, taking a walk, or doing chores together.
- Make it a two-way discussion. Ask open-ended questions.
- Stay patient, and reserve judgment.
- Check in with your child early and often.
Learn how to start an unskippable conversation, and find resources to share with your teen on how to spot an overdose and how to respond.
Support Our Schools: 25 for 2025 Giving Challenge
Join Educate Fairfax’s 25 for 2025 Giving Challenge and help ensure every FCPS student has the tools, support, and inspiration to succeed. Every gift, whether you can give $25 or $2,500, helps students learn while supporting the teachers and staff who make a lasting difference.
Educate Fairfax is the nonprofit education foundation that supports FCPS by providing resources, recognizing outstanding educators, and strengthening connections between schools and the community. Educate Fairfax invests directly in classrooms and programs. Last year, they contributed $1.27 million back into our schools.
The foundation supplied more than 5,000 school supply kits to more than 61 schools, centers, shelters, and Welcome Centers. Its Food for All Campaign packed more than 1,000 snack packs and helped feed more than 350 families over Thanksgiving. Read the Educate Fairfax Annual Report to learn more about their impact.
Together, we can support and encourage all learners and educators and strengthen the future of our schools. Donate to Educate Fairfax today.
 SYA Ultimate Frisbee is open to boys and girls in grades 5–8 and runs from mid-March to early June. Families can choose between a practice-only team or a practice + tournament option for older players. The program offers a low-pressure way for students to learn the sport, stay active, and participate in a team setting. Practices will take place in Centreville (location TBD). More details and registration are available at syasports.org.
 Opportunity Neighborhood Centreville- Winter Check In
A community event for those in need of resources.
When: December 13, 2025
Time: 11am to 1pm
Where: Barros Community Center
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:
- FCPS Showcases Success
- Be Among the First to Hear About School Delays/Closings
- Winter 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
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