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Hive Happenings Newsletter

Hello Stenwood Families,

In this first week of May, we think that Spring has FINALLY settled in. Thank you to our PTA who celebrated our wonderful teachers and staff with a Boom-themed Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week and thank you to all of you who donated to make that happen. Thank you also to the class parents and other families that made sure our teachers and staff felt the love this week.  

Our Stingers and their teachers were BUSY BEES!  On Monday, we had not one, but TWO field trips. 1^st grade went to the zoo and got to meet their brand new baby elephant! It was the talk of the trip and the talk of the school when they returned.  5^th grade also headed downtown Monday to the Air and Space Museum. They enjoyed the space and planet area, all the different rocket engines, and the exhibit that went over future space endeavors.

Wednesday, we had a bit of a rainy Bike & Roll to school day ahead of our first day of SOL testing of the year. The 5^th and 6^th graders did a fantastic job on their Reading SOLs on Wednesday. And on Thursday, 3^rd and 4^th grade followed suit and rocked their Reading SOLs. They will all take on their Math SOLs next week on Thursday and Friday.

Don’t forget about our final Early Release Wednesday of the year next week. More info below. Have a wonderful weekend!  Happy Mother’s Day to all of our Stenwood Moms! 

Below you will find information about the following items:

• Upcoming Early Release Wednesday - May 13^th - Reminder
• Support Your Children During Important Spring Assessments - Reminder
• Spring Pictures Are Now Online! - Reminder
• Summer Extravaganza - Reminder
• Nominations Open for the Bussey Memorial Equity Award - Reminder
• Required Immunizations - Reminder
• Pre-K and Early Head Start Programs - Reminder
• FCPS Caters to Food Allergies - NEW
• FCPS App - NEW
• Holidays and Observations Drawing Contest - Reminder
• School Meals and Free/Reduced Lunch Applications - Reminder
• Stenwood PTA - Reminder

Sincerely,

Erica Riley, Principal
esriley@fcps.edu 

Bryan Case, Assistant Principal 
bgcase@fcps.edu

Final Early Release Wednesday

May 13^th will be our final Early Release Wednesday with a 3 hour early dismissal.  Students will be released based on the selection that was made earlier this year. At this time, changes cannot be made for 5/13.  If you would like to pick your child up early, you may come to the office at 1pm.  

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 3^rd through 6^th grades:

                Thursday, May 14^th - 5^th and 6^th grade Math (includes Algebra)

                Friday, May 15^th - 3^rd and 4^th grade Math

                Monday, May 18^th - Math make-ups

                Wednesday, May 20^th - 5^th grade Science

                Thursday, May 21^st - Make-ups for all subjects

Learn more about how to support your child.. 

Spring Pictures Are Now Online!

Order yours today at https://shop.imagequix.com/g1001355990!

Use your student ID when prompted for the online code.

For questions regarding school pictures please email: underclass@vosphoto.com

Discover Exciting Summer Learning Activities and Ideas

Discover Exciting Summer Learning Activities and Ideas

Join Fairfax County Public Schools for a free, family-friendly community celebration filled with hands-on STEM, arts, and creative experiences for students of all ages. This year’s Summer Extravaganza takes place on Saturday, June 6^th, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Woodson High School. 

Explore summer learning resources and connect with FCPS offices and community partners. Don’t miss the Student Market and a full day of engaging activities designed to spark learning, growth, and inspiration for the whole family. 

For more information, visit the Summer Extravaganza webpage.

Nominations Open for the Bussey Memorial Equity Award

Nominations are now open for the 2026 Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award. This award recognizes an employee, student, or community member who has demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved.

Any staff, student, or community member can nominate an individual for the award. All nomination materials must be submitted by Monday, May 18^th.  

The Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) sponsors this award to honor the legacy of Dr. Bussey, a founding member of the MSAOC and a longtime advocate for students and families. 

Full details and the nomination information form can be found at the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award webpage. 

Required Immunizations for Rising 7^th and Rising 12^th Graders

The following immunizations are required for students entering 7^th and 12^th grade each school year. 

All students entering 7^th grade are required to receive one dose of each of the following immunizations prior to the beginning of school: Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis booster (Tdap), Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY), and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. 

• To meet the Tdap requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 7 or older.
• To meet the MenACWY requirement, the vaccination must be administered at age 10 or older.
• To meet the HPV requirement, the vaccination should be given between the ages of 11 to 12 or as early as 9 years old. 

1.  As a parent/guardian, you may decide that your child will not receive the HPV vaccination. The school does not require documentation if a parent/guardian elects for their student not to receive the HPV vaccination.

All students entering 12^th grade are to receive two doses of the Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) prior to the beginning of school. To meet the MenACWY 12^th grade requirement, one dose must be administered at age 16 or older. 

Parents and guardians are encouraged to plan ahead by scheduling an appointment with your child’s health care provider now to avoid the rush this summer. Please consider getting your child’s immunizations early so that they can attend school in the fall. Summer is a busy time for families and healthcare providers. As long as your child meets the age requirements listed above, they can be immunized at any time.

Immunization Events for FCPS Students FCPS, in partnership with Inspire Health Alliance, will provide school-required immunizations and optional flu shots for all FCPS students at no out-of-pocket cost. Multiple events will take place at designated FCPS locations. 

Dates will be made available throughout the school year. Parents or guardians may view upcoming events and schedule an appointment for their student. Participation is voluntary. Additional immunization resources are also available. 

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).

FCPS Caters to Food Allergies

May is Food Allergy Awareness Month. The FCPS Office of Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) works to ensure every student has access to safe and nutritious school meals. Since 1 in 13 children in the U.S. has a food allergy, FNS works closely with families to provide reasonable meal accommodations for students whose medical needs affect what they can eat at school.

To support students appropriately and safely, families are asked to submit medical documentation to FNS from a U.S. licensed health care provider so we can tailor meals to each child’s needs.

Learn more about the documentation required and the steps to develop a safe menu for students.  

📱 Stay up to Date With the FCPS Mobile App!

The FCPS mobile app offers a customized platform to help keep families connected and informed directly from their smartphones. You can download the Fairfax County Public Schools mobile app by going to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and searching for “FCPS.” 

With the app, you can:

• Stay up to date: Get the latest news from Stenwood and FCPS.
• View school calendars: See events, activities, holidays, and early dismissals.
• Check school menus: See what’s for lunch and breakfast today, tomorrow, or next week.
• Tap to contact: Quickly call attendance lines or email school staff.
• Access key links: Jump to ParentVUE, Schoology, and the FCPS website in one tap.

Users can access updates and content without having to sign in, making it easy for everyone to stay informed. 

Learn more about the mobile app, including feedback from parents.

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

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).

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

5^th Grade Field Trip to the Air and Space Museum!

Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week!

Staff Art Show!

Stay Connected Here are a few ways to stay connected with all the happenings at Stenwood ES

Facebook facebook.com/StenwoodElementary

Instagram @stenwoodelementary

Website stenwoodes.fcps.edu

PTA Facebook facebook.com/StenwoodElementaryPTA

2620 Gallows Road Vienna, VA 22180 |  Main Office: 703.208.7600
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