 Dear Stone Families,
Welcome back, and here’s to a wonderful start to 2026.
I hope this message finds you and your loved ones well and refreshed after the winter vacation and holiday season. As we welcome our students back to school, I want to wish you a very Happy New Year and extend my best wishes for a healthy, joyful, and successful 2026.
The start of a new year offers a meaningful opportunity for a fresh beginning. As we move forward together, our staff remains deeply committed to providing a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment for every child. The months ahead will be filled with opportunities for academic growth, personal development, and celebration of student achievements.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We value the important role families play in our shared work, and we look forward to a strong and positive year ahead.
Let’s have a great week Panthers,
Sonya Williams
Principal
❄️ Prepare for Winter Weather
Winter weather will be here before you know it! Watch this video to see how weather closing decisions are made at FCPS.
FCPS’ website is generally the first place to find out about emergency weather closings. Other communication channels will be used as quickly as possible, including email, text, social media, the new FCPS mobile app, and news stations. Learn more about how schedule changes are communicated.
Be sure to plan for the winter season. Update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE, bookmark the FCPS website, and arrange emergency child care if needed.
 National Mentoring Month
Imagine a world where young people feel empowered, encouraged, and understood. Mentors can make that world a reality by helping young people find and follow their passions, excel in school, and thrive wherever they are.Learn more about Mentoring Month.
Research has shown that young people with at least one trusted mentor are less likely to skip school, less likely to use illegal drugs or drink alcohol, and more prepared to enter college or the workforce. Yet one in three children lack a mentor.
All it takes is one person to serve as a trusted adult to help change a young person’s path in life. Mentors provide attention, support, and enrichment, and help connect their mentees to resources that may help them on their journey in life.
The FCPS MentorWorks program matches mentors with students in schools near where they live or work. They meet for at least 30 minutes a week. Learn more about how to become a mentor for an FCPS student. Contact Martha Macdonald, mentoring specialist, for additional information at mmacdonald@fcps.edu.
Family Resource Center
FCPS is offering a variety of free family learning sessions this January to help parents support their children’s academic, social, and emotional well-being. These upcoming workshops will provide practical strategies, expert guidance, and valuable resources for families of all ages. We invite parents and caregivers to take advantage of these opportunities to strengthen home–school partnerships and help students thrive in the new year.
Futures Planning in Unique Circumstances: What Resources are Available and What Plans Do I Need to Put in Place for my Special Needs Child?
January 9 from 10-11:30 a.m. Session 1 (virtual)
Participants will examine essential steps in the caregivers’ financial plan, with an emphasis on estate planning, retirement considerations, and long-term care needs. This will help families establish a strong financial foundation to effectively support their children's well-being.
Register here
How to Develop Motivation with Your Child
January 16 from 10-11:30 a.m.
Join us to learn strategies for teaching your child adaptability, resilience, and problem-solving. We'll cover practical ways to navigate unexpected changes, manage disappointments, and help your child thrive in uncertainty.
Register here
Futures Planning Workshop-Creating the Framework for Futures Planning
January 23 from 10-12 PM Session 2 (In-person)
2334 Gallows Road, Room 100
Dunn Loring, VA 22027
In this in person session, participants will have access to a hands-on, thought-provoking workshop geared to get them started with effectively taking long term care of their children with special needs.
Register here
Tips to Reduce Parent Stress and Anxiety
January 27 from 10-11:30 a.m.
Join Rachel Bailey as she discusses how parenting today can feel like a constant cycle of pressure, guilt, and second-guessing. In this workshop, you will learn why certain situations feel so overwhelming (it’s not just the situation itself!) as well as specific strategies to reduce the overwhelm. You’ll also learn how to respond from a place of steadiness rather than reactivity, resulting in less anxiety, more confidence, and a greater sense of ease in everyday parenting.
Register here
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Visit the family resource center
Dr. Larry Bussey Family and Community Library
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Come browse the vast selection of books available at the Family Resource Center’s Dr. Larry Bussey Family and Community Library.
Easy Book Borrowing Options: Visit us in personBrowse our collection onlineRequest books via email
The Family Resource Center (FRC) staff is available to assist and offer recommendations. For families unable to visit in person, the FRC staff will arrange to deliver the requested books directly to your local school.
All families can return borrowed books at their neighborhood school.
Stone Quick Links
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