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Dear Stone Families,
As we began the new year, our return to school did not start in the way we had hoped. During the first week back, we experienced a small number of student incidents within the building. These were isolated events involving conflicts between individual students.
I want to reassure you that Stone Middle School remains a safe school. Our staff responded promptly and appropriately, and we continue to do everything in our power to de-escalate situations and prevent conflicts from escalating. When students are involved in fights or altercations, consequences are issued in accordance with FCPS guidelines. These incidents involved fewer than 1% of our total student population.
How can families help?
- Please speak with your child about the importance of not running toward or gathering around a potential conflict.
- Encourage your child to report any concerns they hear about to a trusted adult as soon as possible so we can intervene early and problem-solve with students.
Moving forward, we will be scheduling a mid-year session with all students to review FCPS Student Rights & Responsibilities and Stone Middle School’s expectations for student behavior. We are fortunate to have school counselors, a school psychologist, a school social worker, and many caring adults who are available to help students resolve conflicts before they escalate.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly or join us at the February Principal Coffee for further discussion.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support.
Sincerely,
Sonya Williams
Principal
 Student Services Updates
Quarter 2
We are quickly approaching the end of the 2nd quarter, January 29th. With that in mind, I would like to take this opportunity to remind families of the resources available to your students.
- Grades and missing assignments available in SIS ParentVue
- After School Assistance with their Teacher
- Retake availability for summative assessments such as projects, essays and tests. Any student who received lower than a 90% on the assessment has the opportunity for a reassessment up to 90%.
- Assistance during Flex Back Time at School (Even Days 9:05a to 9:55a)
- Varsity Tutors is an online program available to all FCPS students free of charge. Information can be found at https://www.fcps.edu/varsity-tutors-online-tutoring-services .
Course Selection and Curriculum Nights
Students are meeting with their counselors to discuss course selection for the next school year. Our Stone Middle School Curriculum Night will be held on February 5, 2026 at 6pm. The Westfield High School Curriculum Night for our current 8th grade students will be held on January 13th at 6pm. Families can learn more about course offerings and programs at these events. School-life balance is an important consideration for students as they strive for academic and personal success. All students will be entering course selections into SIS and parents can view course selections in ParentVue/SIS. For questions, please contact your child’s current school counselor.
Ms. Burton (Red & Blue Teams) jaburton@fcps.edu; 703-631-5524
Mr. Garcia (Pink Team) AGarcia1@fcps.edu; 703-631-5523
Ms. Marrefi (White & Black Teams) kmarrefi@fcps.edu; 703-631-5525
For details and the most up-to-date information and timelines, please visit our Stone Course Selection website.
Upcoming Important Events:
January 13- Westfield Curriculum Night
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. Transition information flyer
February 12- 6th Grade Visit to Stone MS - STUDENT ONLY EVENT
🎓 Graduation Requirements and Planning
Planning which courses to take next year — and in future years — must be given considerable thought. Students and families should review the Graduation Requirements and Course Planning webpage to make informed decisions while planning for success in high school and beyond.
The curriculum webpage may also be helpful. Refer to our course catalog and course selection webpages.
🗓️ Mark Your Calendar: Academy Open Houses
FCPS high school academies are holding open houses for interested students. Open houses are a great opportunity to visit classrooms and labs, and meet instructors and academy counselors.
An academy is a center within a high school that offers advanced technical and specialized courses to prepare students for postsecondary education and/or career fields. Academy elective courses provide students with various career experiences, including shadowing, mentoring, or internships with local businesses.
Students can explore more than a dozen career fields through FCPS academies! Watch this video to learn more about academy programs.
View the calendar of Academy Open Houses.
 Westfield High School Curriculum Night
All 8th graders, please plan to attend to Westfield High School's annual curriulum night to learn more about the course offerings at Westfield High School.
When: January 13, 2026
Time: 6pm - 8pm
 After School Programming
There is no after school programming on Friday, January 16th due to the holiday weekend.
 Stone Music Department Fundraiser Night
Chipotle in the Wegman's Shopping Center
Wednesday January 14th 5-9pm
A percentage of the sales are going to support the Stone MS music department.
If you order online for pick up, please use code TXANAQ8
 SYA Ultimate Frisbee
Spring Ultimate Frisbee — There’s Still Time to Sign Up!
SYA is offering a co-ed Ultimate Frisbee program for 5th–8th graders this spring. The season runs from mid-March through early June, with options for practice-only or practice plus tournaments. It’s a fun, active way for kids to learn new skills and play as a team. There’s still time to register—sign up today!
Learning About AI at School
Our students recently participated in a Panther Block lesson about AI chatbots and how they are used in everyday life. As part of this learning, we wanted to share some important information about AI with our families on our website. We will be sharing resources to help explain what AI is, how you and your children might already be using it, how it may be used to help in student learning, and how families can support safe and responsible use at home.
Family Cafe Series
The Family Café Series is a special time for families to come together to learn about important topics that support their child’s growth and learning. These fun and helpful sessions keep families informed and involved in their child’s education—mind, body, and heart.
At Family Café, we believe families are important partners in helping children succeed. We’re excited to learn and grow with you!
Upcoming Family Café Sessions:Navigating The Digital World Together
Join us for a hands-on workshop on how to stay safe online. Families will learn about popular social media apps, how to start meaningful conversations about internet safety, and the seven key topics that matter from kindergarten through adulthood. Read more and register here .
January 12 at Lake Braddock High School - Door #1, Lecture Hall (B135)January 22 at West Potomac High School - Library
Healthy Habits to Reduce the Spread of Flu and Other Germs
Fairfax County is seeing very high levels of influenza (flu) illness. Visits to emergency departments and urgent care centers for flu-like illness have increased, especially among children, and multiple flu outbreaks have occurred in our community and school settings.
Consider these tips from the Fairfax County Health Department to help reduce the spread of flu and other germs.
Follow Our Budget Process
Encourage your neighbors, friends, and community members to follow the FCPS budget process and look for opportunities to share your ideas about funding public education. Key decision dates and engagement opportunities are coming up in the next few weeks:
The Fairfax County delegation to the General Assembly will hold a public hearing regarding the upcoming 2026 session on Saturday, January 10, at 9 a.m. in the Board Auditorium at the Fairfax County Government Center.
Fairfax County residents can sign up in advance to speak at the hearing online or contact the Department of Clerk Services at 703-324-3151, TTY 711, by Thursday, January 8, at noon.
Thursday, January 22, Dr. Reid will present the proposed budget to the School Board.
Visit our budget webpage for more information.
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:
- The FCPS Budget Process
- Course Selection
- Language Immersion Lottery
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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