Stenwood Hive Happenings

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Hive Happenings Newsletter

Hello Stenwood Families,

Well it looks like our snow lovers had one more win up their sleeves Monday this week. These Spring temperatures today and into the weekend make it seem like we’ve broken through. But there’s another weather event that our Winter Weather lovers are sure to be keeping an eye on. We will see if next week brings about a five day week!

This week we continued our PTA Science Labs. The labs that should have taken place on Monday are re-scheduled for a few weeks away. Fingers crossed!

Today, we had a wonderful Hive Family day where we learned from one another and talked about how all of our brains are different. You can ask your child what they enjoyed about our readaloud, Together A Forest. You can also ask them about how they like to learn and what makes them happy and what they learned from Hive Family members about how they learn and what makes them happy too.

We also had many Stingers showcasing their favorite iconic characters for books, TV, and films on Iconic Character Day. Enjoy more pictures below.

Below you will find information about the following items:

Stingers are Readers Week 2026 - NEXT WEEK
Purple Up! - Reminder
New Visitor Management System- Raptor Safe - Reminder
Ramadan Accommodations - Reminder
Fasting Meal Kits - Reminder
Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid - NEW
School Breakfast Week - NEW
Pre-K and Early Head Start Programs - NEW
Yearbook Ordering - Reminder
Benchmark: Halfway Through Exploring Technology and Society in Language Arts - NEW
Summer Learning and Fun for Students - Reminder
Community Peers Preschool Program - Final Reminder
Original, Makeup, & Retake Pictures Are Now Online! - Reminder
Dual Language Immersion - Final 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

Stingers are Readers Week 2026

March 3^rd - March 6^th

Join us next week while we show our love for reading by participating in book-themed spirit days!

Monday, March 2^nd: Books Brighten Our World - Wear Bright Colors or Tie-Dye!

Tuesday, March 3^rd: Hats Off to Reading - Wear Your Favorite Hat!

Wednesday, March 4^th: Wordy Wednesday - Wear a Shirt We Have to Read!

Thursday, March 5^th: Curl Up With a Good Book - Wear Your Favorite Pajamas! (school appropriate)

Friday, March 6^th: Stingers Are Readers - Wear Your Favorite Stenwood Spirit Wear!

Purple Up!

April is the Month of the Military Child, and FCPS will be celebrating Purple Up! Day on Wednesday, April 15^th, 2026. This is a special day for us to come together and wear purple as a visible gesture of support for our military-connected youth. In our store, the following items are available:

T-shirt

Hoodie

Pajama pants

Key chain

Yard sign

The online store will be open Monday, February 16^th, 2026, through Monday, March 9^th, 2026.

https://www.customink.com/s/fcps-purple-up-spirit-wear-store

New Visitor Management System - Raptor Safe

Raptor Safe is 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!

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.

Ramadan Accommodations

During Ramadan, 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:

March 2^nd, 2026 for the week of March 9^th, 2026
March 9^th, 2026 for the week of March 16^th, 2026

Community Conversations: Share Your Thoughts With Dr. Reid

As a listening leader, connecting with community members across our school division is critical to FCPS Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid. Her Community Conversations are opportunities for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) on:

Tuesday, March 3^rd, at Waples Mill Elementary School.
Tuesday, March 17^th, from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m., at Glen Forest Elementary School.
Monday, March 23^rd, at Ravensworth Elementary School.
Monday, April 13^th, at Belle View Elementary School.
Monday, April 20^th, at Westgate Elementary School.
Wednesday, April 22^nd, at Crestwood Elementary School.

Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Visit the superintendent’s engagement page for the most up-to-date information.

School Breakfast Week

Celebrating the Power of School Breakfast

Multiple studies show that school breakfast is important in supporting overall student health by improving students’ diets and combating food insecurity. Also, students who eat school breakfast consume more fruit and fiber than their peers.

This National School Breakfast Week, FCPS Food and Nutrition Services reminds families that they are dedicated to providing flavorful, healthy, sustainable, and student-focused meals. New menu items have been launched this year based on student feedback.

Would you like to know what’s for breakfast? View Nutrition Services’ printable menus.

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).

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.