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Hello Stenwood Families,
We had a wonderful Bee Kind Week! We kicked it off with a first ever Hive Families Whole School Meeting. We celebrated the Kindness we have shown to each other in our Hive Families and staff members played Minute-To-Win-It Games and modeled how to be kind whether you win or lose.
In other fun news:
- We showed our support to our Military Connected Families on Wednesday for PurpleUp! Day
- We celebrated our Stingers who show Responsibility at our CARES Pizza Lunch on Wednesday
- Some of Stingers gathered with their families to enjoy their artwork displayed at the Marshall Pyramid Art Show
- Many Band and Strings students performed at Solo and Ensemble at Cooper MS Thursday and Friday
- We will have 6th grader singers representing Stenwood at the All County Chorus Festival Saturday at Lake Braddock SS
We look forward to seeing many of you at Sunday’s Bee Kind Run! And again, on Thursday night at our This Is Me Night!
Parents of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders, you should have received an email this morning about band and strings enrollment, please complete before Wednesday, 4/29.
 Below you will find information about the following items:
- Optional: Class Placement Input for the 2026-2027 School Year - Reminder
- This is Me Night - Reminder
- Spring Book Fair! - Reminder
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Benchmark: Finishing Up Journeys and Themes in Language Arts - NEW
- Updates to 2026-27 School Year Calendar - NEW
- Support Your Children During Important Spring Assessments - NEW
- Make Your Voice Heard on the FY 2027 Budget - NEW
- Theravada New Year - NEW
- Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid - Reminder
- Pre-K and Early Head Start Programs - Reminder
- Yearbook Ordering - DEADLINE TODAY!
- Original, Makeup, & Retake Pictures Are Now Online! - Reminder
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Holidays and Observations Drawing Contest - Reminder
- School Meals and Free/Reduced Lunch Applications - Reminder
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Stenwood PTA - Reminder
 Sincerely,
Erica Riley, Principal
esriley@fcps.edu
Bryan Case, Assistant Principal
bgcase@fcps.edu
Optional: Class Placement Input for the
2026-27 School Year
If your child is returning to Stenwood next school year, we offer you the opportunity to share any comments you would like regarding class placements. If you know that your family will not be joining us for the 2026-27 school year, please reach out to Ms. Burke, mpburke@fcps.edu or 703-208-7600 to let us know.
Our staff will be working on tentative class groupings this spring, with classroom assignments finalized in late August. As we make these placements, we consider many factors including individual student information, teacher input, and social relationships. Every class will have a blend of children with diverse needs, personalities, and learning interests. Due to the many factors we must consider in creating classroom placements, including the reassignment of some teachers to a different grade level and the hiring of new teachers, requests for a specific teacher cannot be honored.
If you have information that you believe is pertinent to your child’s placement for next year, please complete the optional Class Placement Input Form by Friday, April 24th for it to be taken into consideration. There is no need to complete the form if you do not have any information you would like us to consider. Thank you.
This is Me Night - This coming Thursday!
"This is Me" Night!
We are so excited for our second annual "This is Me" Night!
Date: April 23rd Time: 5:00 - 7:00pm
"This is Me" Night is all about celebrating our students and their individual achievements! Each student will showcase something they’ve worked on in school this year that they’re especially proud of—whether it’s a project, piece of art, writing, or another accomplishment. It will be a museum style format where families can walk around the building and visit classrooms to see work at all grade levels. Student attendance the night of the event is optional. Students will not be presenting their work, this will allow students to visit other classrooms with their families.
What do parents need to do? Nothing at all! Everything for the event will be prepared during the school day. Just come, enjoy, and celebrate your child’s achievements and the success of all our Stenwood Stingers!
How is this different from "This is Us" Night? While "This is Us" celebrates our diverse cultures and heritage, "This is Me" shines a light on the personal pride each student feels in their work and growth this school year.
We can’t wait to see you there and share these proud moments together!
We have aligned this event with the book fair, which will be open in the library at the same time.
The Spring Book Fair is Coming!
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This fundraiser for the library will be April 17th-24th. Students will be able to browse the book fair, make wish lists, and then purchase books for themselves and/or their teachers. But before all this can happen - we need volunteers to help out! |
Please consider signing up for a slot or two, book fair is a wonderful opportunity to meet other parents, get a sneak peek at the books, and just have an all-around good time. As always, please contact Mrs. Cole with any questions you might have. Sign up to volunteer here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805044DA8AC2DA46-63164868-stenwood
📚 Finishing Up Journeys and Themes in Language Arts 📚
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Benchmark Unit 6 in Language Arts is coming to a close! Over the last several weeks, our students have learned, read, and written about the different lessons that stories across cultures can teach us. |
 Connect with your child’s learning at school with these fun questions and hands-on activities at home:
- Question: If you could go on an adventure like one of the characters you’ve read about in this unit, which one would it be and why?
- Activity: Ask your child to imagine that they’re going on an adventure. Ask them to draw the items they’ll need to take with them. Would their supplies be different if the adventure was underwater or somewhere very cold?
At the end of the unit, your child will take their unit magazine home. The magazine includes an activity calendar with fun ways to help students build on what they’re learning at each grade level. You can also find information on how to support your child’s reading at home on the Benchmark Families website.
Updates to 2026-27 School Year Calendar
The School Board voted to direct the superintendent to designate Veterans Day as a standard instructional day for the 2026-27 school year. Because this day was added, the 2026-27 school year will now end for students on Wednesday, June 16, 2027. Find additional information on BoardDocs. View the updated complete school year calendar on FCPS’ website.
The last day of school for the current school year — Wednesday, June 17, 2026 — has not changed.
Support Your Children During Important Spring Assessments
Our students will be participating in spring assessments based on their grade level and courses. This includes summative assessments like Standards of Learning (SOL) tests, which measure what a student knows, and progress assessments like Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests, which measure where they are in their learning.
Parents and caregivers can help their children perform their best on these tests by reminding them to get a good night’s sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and the cell phone policy still applies during testing season.
It is important that students attend school on scheduled testing dates. If you are aware of a conflict that may cause your student to miss a test, please notify us as soon as possible. Here is our SOL Schedule for 3rd through 6th grades:
Wednesday, May 6th - 5th and 6th grade Reading
Thursday, May 7th - 3rd and 4th grade Reading
Friday, May 8th - Reading make-ups
Thursday, May 14th - 5th and 6th grade Math (includes Algebra)
Friday, May 15th - 3rd and 4th grade Math
Monday, May 18th - Math make-ups
Wednesday, May 20th - 5th grade Science
Thursday, May 21st- Make-ups for all subjects
Learn more about how to support your child..
Fairfax County Budget Input
About 70% of the FCPS budget comes from the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors is reviewing the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Advertised Budget and considering possible adjustments before adoption in May. Opportunities to provide feedback to the county include Budget Town Hall Meetings airing on Channel 16 on Friday, April 10th, at 6 p.m., (Franconia District).
You can also provide your input during the county’s Budget public hearings on Tuesday, April 14th, at 4 p.m., and Wednesday, April 15th, and Thursday, April 16th, at 3 p.m. at the Government Center Board Auditorium. Register in advance to speak.
Visit the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors website to learn more about the county’s FY 2027 Budget.
Theravada New Year
New Year’s good wishes to our Theravada Buddhist community! Theravada means “the teachings of the elders.” New years celebrations include a water festival in which participants bathe Buddha images and pay respect to their elders.
Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid
As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Her Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) on:
Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.
Pre-K and Early Head Start Programs
FCPS Pre-K and Early Head Start programs provide a high-quality early learning experience for qualifying children with economic and educational risk factors, ages 6 weeks to 4 years, living in Fairfax County.
- Pre-K prioritizes 4-year-old applicants but also accepts applications for children who will be 3 years old by September 30 of the same year.
- Early Head Start is located at three elementary schools — Clearview, Crestwood, and Dogwood — and accepts applications from pregnancy to 2 years old.
Families are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Space is limited and provided based on need, not on a first-come, first-served basis.
Applications are accepted online, by email, by mail, or in person at the program office at 7423 Camp Alger Avenue, Falls Church, Virginia 22042.
If you have a question about the application process or status, please call 703-208-7900 (English) or 703-208-7901 (Spanish).
Yearbook Ordering - DEADLINE TODAY!
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Help your child remember the moments that made this school year special by ordering your copy of the Stenwood Elementary School Yearbook NOW at http://www.yearbookforever.com! The yearbook will feature memories that you and your child will want to look back on for years to come.
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 The company has a set amount they will print, so once they hit the limit, they will not print any additional yearbooks. The deadline has been extended and the new cutoff date to buy one is TODAY, if they are not sold out before then.
Original, Makeup, & Retake Images from Stenwood Elementary School Are Now Online!
 Order yours today at vosphoto.com/underclass!
Use your student ID when prompted for the online code.
For questions regarding school pictures please email: underclass@vosphoto.com
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: We will collect submissions on the 1st of each month for holidays occurring the following month. For instance, since Purple Up Day! is April 15, drawings for it would be due by March 1st. 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!
School Meals and Free/ Reduced Lunch Applications
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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).
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 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
Marshall Pyramid Art Show!
Hive Family Whole School Assembly with Minute-to-Win-It Games!
Stay Connected
Here are a few ways to stay connected with all the happenings at Stenwood ES
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Facebook
facebook.com/StenwoodElementary
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Instagram
@stenwoodelementary
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Website
stenwoodes.fcps.edu
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PTA Facebook
facebook.com/StenwoodElementaryPTA
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