Stenwood Hive Happenings

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Hive Happenings Newsletter

Hello Stenwood Families,

We had a wonderful week here in the Hive.

On Tuesday, our 6^th graders took their Metro Field Trip to the Natural History and American History Museums.

We had our last Hive Families of the year on Wednesday morning. We played some games, said goodbye to the 6^th graders who are leaving our Stenwood families, and wrote letters to future Hive Family members.

Thursday night, our Band and Strings students did a fantastic job with their Spring Concert! Here is the video in case you missed it, String and Band Concert Video.

And Friday morning, our Band treated us to an Assembly with their Spring Concert Music, closing with the always popular “Let’s Go Band!”

We closed out the week with one of our favorite annual end of school year traditions, the Marshall High School Grad Walk. Former Stingers, who are a part of the GCMHS Class of 2026, returned to the Hive to walk through the hallway in their cap and gowns and gathered together one last time in the gym. They answered questions about high school and beyond for our 6^th graders and got to re-connect with some of their old teachers. Best of luck Class of 2026!

Farewells - it is that time of year when we know there are some goodbyes we have to say. We are always sad to lose beloved Stingers, both staff and students, but once a Stinger, always a Stinger.

Congratulations to Mrs. Cole who will be retiring at the end of this school year.
Congratulations to Ms. Higdon who will be getting married over the summer and moving to North Carolina.
Mrs. Ludin and family are relocating back to California.
Mrs. Pineda is returning to school full-time to work on becoming a Social Worker.
Ms. Vasquez is relocating with her family.
Congratulations to Mr. Loi who retired earlier this week.

We know the end of the year is packed with events. Here is what we have coming up:

Final PTA Meeting and Volunteer Celebration - June 9^th
K-5 Class Parties - June 12^th, your class parent should be sending an email with more information
Variety Show - June 16^th
6^th Grade Party - June 16^th
6^th Grade Promotion Ceremony - June 17^th
Last Day of School - 2 hour early release - June 17^th

Below you will find information about the following items:

Library News - NEW
Summer Laptop Requests - Reminder
Medication Pick Up Reminder -Reminder
Supply Kit Ordering Open - Reminder
FCPS Calendar Survey - NEW
Summer Resources Help Students Stay Curious, Healthy, and Busy - NEW
Summer Meals for Students - NEW
Third Annual FCPS Puzzle Hunt Encourages Active Family Fun -Reminder
Now Hiring: Substitute Instructional Assistants for the 2026–2027 School Year for Marshall Pyramid | Apply Now
Please Check Your Student’s Lunch Balance - Reminder
Summer Extravaganza - Reminder
Summer Immunization Events for All FCPS Students - 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

Library News

Ms. Cole reports that we had over 20,000 books checked out this year! That is amazing and it’s true that Stingers are Readers! However, all good things must come to an end, and Ms. Cole needs all library books returned as soon as possible. All library books are now overdue. If you are unsure if your student has library books checked out, your student can log into Destiny Discover through Schoology and check their account. You may also check with Ms. Cole (nhcole@fcps.edu). If you can’t find your library books, then you can pay for them via exact change or a check made payable to Stenwood ES. Please send the payment to the library. Thank you for supporting the library and encouraging your students to read.

Summer Laptop Request

We would like to offer access to families who would like to take home a school laptop over the summer to use for academic purposes. If you would like to have a laptop checked out to your child(ren), please complete this form by Wednesday, June 3^rd. The laptop will be sent home with a charger in a protective sleeve with your child during the last week of school. You will be required to return it on August 4^th, we will be offering a drop off window. If you need to return it before August 4^th, reach out to Craig Fenton cefenton@fcps.edu and Jackie Krum jekrum@fcps.edu. This will allow sufficient time for our technology team to reimage every machine for the new school year.

Medication Pick Up Reminder

The school health room is reminding parents and guardians that all medication stored in the health room must be picked up no later than the student dismissal time on the last day of school. Medication left in the health room after that time will be destroyed. It is school policy that medications must be picked up by the parent or guardian. Medication cannot be sent home with your student. If your student will be enrolled in a summer program sponsored by Fairfax County Public Schools, the existing medication authorization form(s) may be used for the summer program, but you will need to pick up the medication on the last day of school and deliver the medication and completed forms to the summer learning site on the first day of the summer program. Please let the health room know if you would like a copy of the form(s).

Order Your 26/27 School Supplies Online!

Save time and money on back-to-school supplies for 2026-27 and support your school community with Sprout School Supply Kits.

Order Online: Order Online Here
School Code: SES005
Order Deadline: July 7^th, 2026

Kits will be delivered to Stenwood prior to the 1st day of school. Watch school communications for details.

FCPS Calendar Survey

FCPS values your input as we plan future school calendars. On Friday, June 5^th, all caregivers and FCPS staff will receive an email from noreply@fcps.edu containing a unique link to complete the FCPS Calendar Survey.

Your feedback matters. Please take a few minutes to share your priorities and perspectives by Monday, June 22^nd, at 11:59 p.m.

Your individual responses will be kept confidential and will not be shared with school staff or used in any way that identifies you or your student. Only aggregate, summary-level results will be reported to the Fairfax County School Board.

If you do not receive a link to the survey or have technical difficulties completing the survey, please contact the FCPS Office of Research and Program Evaluation.

Summer Resources Help Students Stay Curious, Healthy, and Busy

FCPS’ Summer Resource Guide has activities and tips on a variety of subjects and interests, from camps and activities to health and safety resources.

Be sure to check back over the summer, as more resources may be added.

Learning Doesn’t Take a Vacation and Neither Does Fun! The FCPS Summer Learning webpage offers ideas and strategies for families to keep students curious until August. Summer is the perfect time to help your student explore new interests, reinforce concepts, and stay engaged!

Summer Meals for Students

Starting Monday, June 22^nd, no-cost meals will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis at the sites and times listed on the FCPS Summer Food Service Program webpage. Students must remain on site while eating their meals.

This year, thanks to generous support from Educate Fairfax, families may also receive one no-cost breakfast and lunch per adult at the following elementary schools: Braddock, Dogwood, Glen Forest, Hutchison, Hybla Valley, and London Towne.

Summer sites will continue to be added, so please check the Summer Food webpage regularly for updates.

Third Annual FCPS Puzzle Hunt Encourages Active Family Fun

The Solving Fun Puzzle Pals have been busy getting ready for the 3^rd Annual Fairfax County Public Schools Puzzle Hunt, and it kicks off in only three weeks!

This free event is open to solvers of all ages and is a great way to keep students and families engaged in fun, creative problem-solving over the summer. It also teaches bike and pedestrian safety and encourages active transportation.

New this year: The school with the most solvers will win a special visit from Sue Doku! Sign up for the Puzzle Hunt!

Now Hiring: Substitute Instructional Assistants for the 2026–2027 School Year for Marshall Pyramid | Apply Now

The Marshall Pyramid is seeking individuals who can provide continuity of instructional teaching as a substitute instructional assistant. Able to inspire, enable and empower students to meet high academic standards. The position offers:

✔ Flexible schedule ✔ Make a difference in your local community ✔ Great for people with a passion for teaching/assisting students

Join our team and support student learning!

Apply today! For details, visit the FCPS Substitute Employment Website. When applying, search “Substitute” and select the Marshall pyramid posting.

Please Check Your Student’s Lunch Balance

It’s a busy time of year, and we know many priorities are on your plate. As we approach the end of the school year, it is important to check your student’s MySchoolBucks account and pay any remaining school meal balance.

Free and Reduced-Price Meals

Families who earn less than 185% of the poverty level qualify for free and reduced-price meals (FRM). However, an application must be completed and submitted each school year to receive that benefit. The application for the 2026-27 school year will be available this summer.

If you have a current balance and think you may be eligible for free and reduced-price meals, please fill out the FRM application for the 2025-26 school year.

Summer Extravaganza

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.

Summer Immunization Events for All FCPS Students

Inspire Health Alliance, in partnership with FCPS, will be providing school-required immunizations this summer. Immunizations will be provided at no out-of-pocket cost to students or families. Registering families will be required to provide insurance information, if applicable, but students without insurance may still participate.

Visit the FCPS and Inspire Health Alliance Student Immunization Events webpage for dates, times, and locations. Additional event dates will be made available and shared four to five weeks prior to the event on the webpage. Additional immunization resources are also available.

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 1^st of each month for holidays occurring the following month. For instance, since Purple Up Day! is April 15^th, drawings for it would be due by March 1^st. 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