Hive Happenings Newsletter

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 6^th 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 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th 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
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
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

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 24^th 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 23^rd 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!

This fundraiser for the library will be April 17^th-24^th. 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