Stenwood Hive Happenings

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Hive Happenings Newsletter

Dear Stenwood Families,

Two of the things we love to do is celebrate our students and build community and we did both of those things today! We honored our first Cares Pizza Lunch winners for Cooperation. Each month, teachers nominate students who have shown consistency or growth in a different component of CARES. Students can show cooperation in many ways throughout the building, for example: in the hallway it includes keeping our hands to ourselves, eyes forward, and following the teachers directions. At recess it looks like: being a good sport and listening to all teachers and staff. During the first few weeks of school our teachers make sure we learn and practice CARES in all of our spaces.

We also had our first Hive Families of the year! Our Kindergarteners and new students got to meet their new Hive Families. Each family had a random Buzz word assigned to them and they reflected on things that they enjoy that have that Buzz word in common. Words included things like Curiosity, Creativity, and Compassion. Hive Families is an important part of our “You Belong Here” focus this year, building a sense of belonging in our school community. Hive Families meet once a month in groups of about 8 to 12 students across grade levels with the guidance of a Stenwood staff member. Each time they come together, they focus on community building and our interconnectedness.

Earlier this week, our 5^th grade students investigated the organisms around us at Stenwood as part of their Meaningful Watershed Experience. Visitors from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association led our students throughout our property to connect them with their local environment and equip them to make decisions and take actions that contribute to stronger and more sustainable communities.

We look forward to seeing many of you tonight at the PTA’s Ice Cream Social! As a reminder, Monday is a holiday for Yom Kippur, all schools and offices will be closed.

Holidays and Observations Drawing Contest - NEW

Parking Reminders - Reminder

Raptor Visitor Management System - Reminder

Advanced Academic Programs - Updated

Yom Kippur - NEW

National Hispanic Heritage Month - NEW

Superintendent Community Conversations - Reminder

Family Information Phone Lines - Reminder

School Meals and Free/Reduced Lunch Applications

Stenwood PTA

Erica Riley, Principal esriley@fcps.edu

Bryan Case, Assistant Principal bgcase@fcps.edu

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 Lunar New Year is in February in 2026, drawings for it would be due by January 1^st (but the 4^th since we are on Winter Break). 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!

Parking Reminders

If you choose to park on Carnegie and walk up for arrival and/or dismissal, please know that the streets directly behind Stenwood are permit parking only. In addition, please be respectful of our neighbors. Please do not block driveways or crosswalks. If you do have a permit, please do not park on the Stenwood side of the street as that hinders the flow of traffic. During grade-level and schoolwide events, we do work with the Fairfax County Police Department to get permission for families to park in the neighborhood. When advertising events, we will communicate if the parking in the neighborhood has been coordinated. That exemption is not in place for arrival or dismissal.

Sign Up for the Raptor App

We encourage all families to download and register on the Raptor App. Raptor is the visitor management system FCPS adopted midyear last year. If you have already registered, you do not need to register again. Family members who are not registered on the app will need to present a valid ID each time they visit Stenwood.

To strengthen campus security, FCPS has disabled the "I Don’t Have An ID" option on all Raptor kiosks. All visitors without a valid ID must report directly to the front office staff. The system allows staff to manually enter visitor details once; however, visitors will not be permitted to enter the building on any subsequent visits without a valid ID.

If you need assistance registering for the Raptor App, please contact the front office at 703-208-7600.

Advanced Academic Programs

Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction. A continuum of Advanced Academic Programs (AAP) services is available to students in Grades K to 12 and is designed to match services to each student’s unique academic needs.

Identification for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP services occurs throughout the school year. Full-Time AAP services have two identification cycles:

Fall identification: Students in grades 3 to 7 who have enrolled in FCPS since January may be referred by October 15^th.
Spring identification: Any FCPS student in Grades 2 to 7 may be referred by December 15^th.

FCPS uses ability testing as one consideration in the holistic identification process for AAP services:

All students in Grade 2 take the Naglieri General Ability Test (NGAT).
Students in Grades 3 to 6 who do not have a multi-domain ability test score take the NGAT.
Students in Grades 3 to 6 may retake an ability test one time. Families may request the ability test retake by contacting Bryan Case, school testing coordinator, at bgcase@fcps.edu by September 30^th.

Families are invited to attend two AAP information meetings led by Kaleigh Hartman, our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART):

AAP Continuum of Services: Friday, September 25^th at 8:45am in the cafeteria. Families will learn about the continuum of advanced academic services available to FCPS students.
Full-Time AAP Identification: Friday, October 9^th at 8:45am in the cafeteria. Families will learn about the referral and identification processes for Full-Time AAP services.

Twice Exceptional Students

Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction. Twice-Exceptional (2e) learners are students who are gifted and have learning challenges or disabilities.

Families can learn more about 2e learners, how to support them, and how to partner with schools on the 2e webpage, which also includes a link to the Special Education Handbook.

New information has been added under the heading Supporting 2e Learners in FCPS.

For more information, please contact Kaleigh Hartman, AART, at kkhartman@fcps.edu or visit the FCPS Advanced Academic Programs webpage.

Yom Kippur

May all in our Jewish community observing Yom Kippur have an easy and meaningful fast. Yom Kippur is the holiest day of the Jewish year.

National Hispanic Heritage Month

From September 15^th to October 15^th, FCPS recognizes and celebrates the histories and cultures of the members of our community who trace their heritage to Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS. Learn more about National Hispanic Heritage Month.

Superintendent Community Conversations

Join us for a series of Community Conversations that will be held across the school division. Share your thoughts with Dr. Reid and ask her questions. Click on the date to register for any of the following events:

Family Information Phone Lines

Family Information Line Available in Nine Languages

Parents/caregivers who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, English, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese may call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS. View the list of phone numbers.

Spanish:

Línea Telefónica de Información para Padres Disponible en Nueve Idiomas

Padres/cuidadores que hablan Amárico, Árabe, Chino, Farsi, Coreano, Español, Urdu o Vietnamita pueden llamar a una línea telefónica de información para obtener información general sobre FCPS. Vea la lista de números de teléfono.

Korean:

학부모 정보 전화는 8가지 언어로 제공됩니다.암하라어, 아랍어, 중국어, 페르시아어, 한국어, 스페인어, 우르두어, 베트남어를 할 줄 아는 보호자는 전화 안내 라인에 전화하여 FCPS에 대한 일반적인 정보를 얻을 수 있습니다. 또한 자녀의 학교와의 의사소통에 대한 지원도 받을 수 있습니다. 전화번호 목록 보기.

School Meals and Free/ Reduced Lunch Applications

Help Your Child Navigate the Lunch Line

Check out some tips to help your child get through the lunch line quickly and have more time to eat:

Teach your child their student ID number to receive meals at school.
Sign up for and add money to MySchoolBucks to purchase meals at school.
Apply for free and reduced-price meals. Students who were approved for free and reduced-price meals last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should submit a new application as soon as possible, so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.

If your child has any food allergies, learn how to submit accommodations for dietary restrictions and allergens.

Breakfast and Lunch

Breakfast will be $1.75. Lunch will be $3.75, 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://schools.mealviewer.com/school/StenwoodElementary.

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! If you are interested in volunteering to be a class parent, volunteering in our cafeteria or library, OR just looking to stay connected with the great work of our PTA, you can fill out a survey that will be sent out once class placements have been communicated.