Stenwood Hive Happenings

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Hive Happenings Newsletter

Hello Stenwood Families,

We want to celebrate our amazing counselors, this week is School Counselor Appreciation Week! Thank you to Mrs. Berick and Ms. Keomalavong for all they do to support everyone in our Hive!

We appreciate your patience and cooperation as we returned to school this week. Even if it had to be shortened and with shortened days, we were able to safely come back together to continue learning and growing together. Please continue to exercise caution when going to and from school in our neighborhood. We will continue to the flow of Kiss N Ride, so please enter Kiss N Ride with a right turn only.

We are now entering the 3^rd quarter. A few beloved events are coming up in the following weeks, including PTA sponsored Science Labs, Valentine’s Day Class Parties, and a snow-delayed 100^th day of school!

We hope to see many of you tonight at the PTA Sweetheart’s Dance. We will be in the gym, so only Door 5, the entrance on the field side of the building, will be open. Again, please be very careful as you come and go, as it will be dark. There is obviously limited parking in the neighborhood, please be respectful of our neighbors, do not block driveways or crosswalks and make sure if you do park on the street that other cars are able to safely pass your parked car.

We realized we have not yet sent out the video from our wonderful Chorus concert, please enjoy!

Below you will find information about the following items:

Ramadan Accommodations - Reminder
Fasting Meal Kits - Reminder - Updated
Assistant Principal Evaluation Feedback - Final Reminder
Next Year’s Intention Form/Rising Kindergarten Information - Reminder
Help Keep Stenwood Phone- and Device-Free! - NEW
Yearbook Ordering - NEW
Warm Up FCPS - NEW
Black History Month - NEW
VBSA School Board Appreciation Month - NEW
Community Peers Preschool Program - Reminder
Coming Soon - New Visitor Management System- Raptor Safe - Reminder
Original, Makeup, & Retake Pictures Are Now Online! - Reminder
Marshall High School STEM Night! - NEW
Dual Language Immersion - Reminder
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

Ramadan Accommodations

As Ramadan approaches, families are encouraged to contact Mr. Case, bgcase@fcps.edu regarding accommodations, including but not limited to those around lunch, prayer/meditation and silent reflection spaces and times, and instruction.

Fasting Meal Kits

From February 18^th to March 19^th, 2026, FCPS allows students fasting during the school day to request take-home meal kits. These kits include a complete school breakfast and lunch to be eaten after the school day ends.

Important Meal Kit Information:

Kits are charged based on a student’s meal status (Free, Reduced, or Paid).
Students may claim one breakfast and one lunch kit per day.
Students who eat a meal at school during the day are not eligible for a take-home kit on the same day.
Kits are distributed at the end of the school day. Students must pick up their own kits; adults are not permitted to collect them.

Parents or guardians must submit a weekly request form via the FCPS FNS website by the deadlines:

February 11^th, 2026 for week of February 18^th, 2026
February 16^th, 2026 for the week of February 23^rd, 2026
February 23^rd, 2026 for the week of March 2^nd, 2026
March 2^nd, 2026 for the week of March 9^th, 2026
March 9^th, 2026 for the week of March 16^th, 2026

Assistant Principal Evaluation Feedback -

Final Reminder

This optional questionnaire is part of the Performance Evaluation Program and offers parents/guardians an opportunity to provide anonymous input about various topics related to our school. These topics include instructional leadership, school climate, management (human resources and organizational), communication and community relations, and professionalism. You will be getting a similar one to provide feedback for Mrs. Riley in the coming months.

The questionnaire will be open from Thursday, January 22^nd - Friday, February 6^th, we are extending the window a few days because of the snow. Please take a few minutes to complete the questionnaire. Your opinions matter!

Next Year’s Intention Forms/Rising Kindergarten Information

A couple of weeks ago, students brought home a Student Intention Form. We are asking families to fill out this form for each child to help us plan for adequate staffing next year. If you need an extra copy please reach out to the office at 703-208-7600.

If you have a child who will turn five on or before September 30^th, 2026, please return the blue form or fill out the Rising Kindergartner form. We have Kindergarten Orientation coming up on April 29^th from 9:15 - 10:00am. If you have any neighbors that have children that turn 5 on or before September 30^th, please let them know to reach out to Ms. Michelle Burke, mpburke@fcps.edu as soon as possible so we can ensure they have all the information they need.

Help Keep Stenwood Phone-and Device Free!

Please remind your student that cell phones and personal devices (SmartWatches, AirPods, earbuds, headsets, other items connected to the internet) must be off and away for the entire school day (bell to bell).

FCPS’ cell phone policy helps students stay focused, safe, and engaged at school. Visit FCPS’ cell phone policy webpage for more information and answers to frequently asked questions, including consequences for cell phone policy violations and exceptions for students with medical conditions or IEP/504 plans.

If you need to contact your student during the school day, please call our front office at 703-208-7600.

Yearbook Ordering

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.

The company has a set amount they will print, so once they hit the limit, they will not print any additional yearbooks. The cutoff date to buy one is March 6^th, 2026, if they are not sold out before then.

Warm Up FCPS – Divisionwide Spirit Day

Tired of all the cold weather? Let’s warm up with a little school spirit across the division!

Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid is encouraging all FCPS students, teachers, and staff to shake the wrinkles out of their brightest outfits and tropical wear to help brighten everyone’s moods on Thursday, February 19^th, 2026.

Black History Month

Black History Month is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their central role in U.S. history.

Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Learn more about Black History month.

VSBA School Board Appreciation Month

Thank you to the Fairfax County School Board for all they do throughout the year. Want to contact your school board representatives to share your appreciation? Visit their website to find your school board member and contact them.

Community Peers Preschool Program

Stenwood has a community peers preschool program. This program provides opportunities for our students to participate in integration activities with typically developing peers. The program is designed to teach preschoolers with delays and without delays in the same classroom. It can provide young children with a more stimulating environment, teach skills for coping with different situations, and provide the opportunity to learn appropriate social skills.

Our program will invite a limited number of community preschoolers (2 per class), who are ages 3.5 (by September 30^th) to 5 years, to participate in our daily preschool activities.

The children from the community will have the opportunity to make new friends and share experiences with current early childhood special education students. Our students will, in turn, benefit from being with community peers who can model appropriate language, motor, and social skills.

All children learn through their play. Intellectual growth occurs in a social context, influenced strongly by the quality of social interactions. The goal of this program is to encourage active learning and promote social interaction and acceptance through shared experiences between the community children and our preschoolers with special needs. Bus transportation cannot be provided for the community peers. Feel free to contact us for further explanation of our program.

If you are interested in having your child considered for this opportunity, please complete the Community Peers Preschool Program Interest and Information Form by Friday, February 27^th. Stenwood will host a playdate for interested students in late March/early April. If you know of anyone who may be interested and does not receive the Stenwood Hive Happenings, feel free to forward them this information.

Coming Soon - New Visitor Management System - Raptor Safe

FCPS will soon be rolling out Raptor Safe, our new visitor management system. This will be the standard way to sign in at all FCPS schools.

The new system allows you to preregister via the Raptor Safe app, saving you valuable time when checking in for school visits or events! We strongly encourage all family members to download the app and complete their registration today, it will only take a couple of minutes to complete the process!

We will continue to use our current Visitor Management System until we let you know that we have made the official transition.

Registration Options:

Via the App: Search "Raptor Safe" in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. You can also visit raptortech.com/raptorsafe-app/ for direct links.
In Person: If you are unable to register ahead of time, you can still complete the process at the school kiosk. Please ensure you have a valid photo ID with you to check in.

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

Marshall High School STEM Night!

Marshall High School will be hosting its second annual STEM Night February 24^th from 5-8 PM in its cafeteria! Participants include former Stenwood students.

There will be many activities such as DNA pipe cleaner models, Alka-Seltzer lava lamps, science fair presentations, a visit from their robotics team, and many more!

Marshall has also officially launched their YouTube channel @GCMSTEMStars where they will be posting weekly videos about a range of STEM topics.

Apply for Your Child to Learn in Two Languages

FCPS’ 2026-27 Dual Language Immersion (DLI) Program lottery opens on Monday, January 12^th. The program offers students in kindergarten and first grade the opportunity to learn in English and another language — French, German, Japanese, Korean, or Spanish — for half of each instructional day.

The online, countywide lottery is open to Fairfax County residents. Families must have a SIS ParentVUE account. Students not currently enrolled in FCPS should register at their base school before applying for the immersion program.

Families applying for first grade must do so by Thursday, February 12^th, at 4 p.m. Those applying for kindergarten must do so by Monday, March 2^nd, at 4 p.m.

Informational meetings will begin in January. View dates and details on the FCPS calendar. If you have questions, please contact Brigid Williams at 571-423-4600.

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 March 15, drawings for it would be due by February 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: