Stingray Scoop

Dear Stone Hill Middle School Families,

We are looking forward to welcoming our students and staff to school tomorrow and getting back into routine as LCPS resumes regular operations on Monday, January 13. We appreciate everyone's flexibility and understanding during this time.

Thank you to our students who successfully performed an excerpt of their Fall Musical Mean Girls, Jr. at the Thespian Festival in McLean this weekend. (see photo below).

Stone Hill Dramatic Arts received the following awards:

• Best Vocal Work - Middle School
• Best Costumes - Middle School
• Top Actors - Nixana Dreschler & Gabby Laurenzano
• All Star Actors - Ivy Snyder, Arya Mohler, Autumn Buona, Rosa Lodha

Thank you to parents for their support and a huge shout out to our drama club sponsor and Jr. Thespian Society Director, Mr. Andy Schlaf for all his hard work!

Did you make a New Year’s resolution? At Stone Hill, we made a resolution to improve school attendance! We hope you will join us in this commitment. Did you know that school accreditation is tied to school attendance? School accreditation, which is authorized by the Virginia Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Education, ensures a certain level of academic quality. This new year, we remind all members of our community that we are in this together. Encourage your student to attend school every day and be someone their teachers and classmates can count on being present!

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) has launched a podcast to share the division’s news and stories. Feedback from families and staff has shown a significant desire for more positive and uplifting stories about the school division, including its students and staff. Now listeners can tune in every Thursday to a new episode on topics surrounding our work, initiatives and successes. The LCPS Podcast can be accessed at www.lcps.org/podcast and is available on all major streaming services.

We are One. We are Strong. We are Stone Hill.

In service to you and our Stingray community,

Rohini Tohan, Principal

Monday, January 13th

• B-day
• Activity Buses

Tuesday, January 14th

• A-day

Wednesday, January 15th

• B-day
• Activity Buses
• SHMS Spelling Bee, 3:45 PM, SHM Library (for those who qualify)

Thursday,January 16th

• A-day
• Activity Buses
• Rising 9th Grade Curriculum Night, 6:30 PM @ Rock Ridge HS
• 6th Grade (Green) Band Concert, 6:30 PM @ SHM
• 6th Grade (Maroon) Band Concert, 7:30 PM @ SHM

Friday, January 17th

• B-day

• January 20th ~ No School: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• January 21st ~ AMC 8 Test after school (sign-up closed in December)
• January 22nd ~ *Snow Date* for Spelling Bee
• January 23rd ~ Strings 6 Concert, 7:30 PM @ SHM
• January 24th ~ Final Day of Quarter 2 and First Semester
• January 27-28 ~ No School: Student Holidays
• January 29th ~ No School: Lunar New Year
• January 30th ~ First Day of Quarter 3 and Second Semester
• February 4th ~ Reading MAP Test
• February 5th ~ Math MAP Test

Weeks of December 16, 2024 to January 10, 2025

(Updated Stingray Reports will be shared early this week)

Stingray Reports are a snapshot for families of what students will be learning in class during these weeks. Don’t forget to check out the “Show & Tell” sections, which include great conversation starters to ask your student at home!

All 7th and 8th grade students will be engaging with course planner through SchooLinks starting this week in School Counseling Lessons. During this time, school counselors will be providing lessons on the course offerings for the following school year. Seventh and eighth grade students will also begin planning through high school graduation. At this time, students will be able to select courses they want to take next year (four content area classes and electives). Once a student has met with their counselor and planned their options, communication will be shared for you as the parent/guardian to go in and review the choices. Students will have the option to go in and change their courses until February 28th. It is encouraged that parents/guardians collaborate with classroom teachers and school counselors to ensure that their student is planning course to have a successful school year.

Parents/guardians can access SchooLinks through ParentVUE. There is a tab labeled “Schoology and SchooLinks”. This will link parents/guardians directly to the SchooLinks platform. Parents/guardians do not need a claim code to access the platform. Please view the Onboarding Directions in either English or Spanish. Please view the guide to Review Student Course Plan in English or Spanish.

As a reminder, The Office of School Counseling Services will offer a virtual Course Planner Learning Session for Parents/Guardians on Wednesday, January 15th, 2025.

The first session is designed for parents and guardians of 6th grade students and will start at 6 p.m. Here is the webinar link if you are able to attend.

The second session is designed for parents and guardians of 7th through 11th grade students and will start at 7pm. Here is the webinar link if you are able to attend.

If you have any questions, please reach out to your school counselor.

Stone Hill wishes a very happy birthday to all of our amazing students who were born in the month of January! We hope you enjoy your special day!

REGISTRATIONS FOR SHMS PTO OFFERED SPRING ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS OPENS SOON

As Fall Enrichment Programs are wrapping up by the end of January, SHMS PTO is excited to announce that our Spring Enrichment Programs will be opening for registration for paid PTO members(Supreme and Ruby) from Jan 26th, 2025 @9 pm till Feb 7th. For all others, the registrations will open after that. For Spring, there will be a “New” program - Business Plan and an advanced version of Financial Literacy with more interactive activites. More details about these programs will be available on the PTO website https://www.shmspto.org/initiatives.

Stone Hill Middle School PTO Fundraiser is STILL ON!!

🎬 Enjoy movies with a purpose! 🎬SHMSPTO is giving you the best reason to head to the cinema. Until February 23, 25% of each Regal Movie Ticket Bundle (2 tickets. No expiration) you purchase will be donated back to SHMSPTO, when you buy via our fundraising sales page.

Treat yourself, your friends, and family to an unforgettable movie night in support of a great cause!

Grab your tickets here: grouprai.se/regalcinemas52469s

School Store

🍬 Sweet News for All Students! 🍬

We’ve got something new and exciting just for YOU! 🎉 Our school store has just dropped some brand-new candies that’s sure to make your day.! ✨

Upcoming at StoneHill PTO

Spring Enrichment Programs - To be announced soon!

General Body PTO Meeting - February 11th, 2025

March Madness - March 7th, 2025 (Joint event with Rosa Lee Carter Elementary School).

Bus riders should ride their assigned bus and always arrive at their bus stop five minutes early. Please help your student(s) get out of the door on time. Parents are also requested to periodically check transportation information throughout the school year for any changes. Parents will be emailed by LCPS Transportation when changes are made to their student’s transportation.

Carline parents: We thank you for your patience and cooperation in helping to make our car line a safe and efficient area during the morning drop off and afternoon pick up.

Please follow directions displayed on signage and from all car line staff. Please pull as far forward as possible towards the stop sign in order to keep the flow of traffic moving.

Designated walking zone: Only students who live within our designated walking zone are permitted to walk home. If LCPS Transportation has assigned your student a bus, they must either take the bus to and from school or be transported by car.

Exiting the building at dismissal: All student walkers should leave the building through the [B2 door/front of the building], located on the side of the building by the cafeteria. Students should walk either directly to their community behind the school or down the sidewalks in front of the school, as applicable. No student should ever cross Evergreen Ridge Dr. as there are no crosswalks, making it a safety hazard for both students and drivers.

All parents/guardians should report attendance, including absences and early dismissals, in ParentVue. Instructions with how-to videos are available on our website or by clicking here.

As a reminder for the 2024-2025 school year, there have been some changes to the counseling assignments. Please note who your child’s counselor will be this year based on your child’s last names across ALL grades.

LCPS is proud to provide free access to a suite of online learning resources available on the Varsity Tutors platform. To learn more about Varsity Tutors, a free, on-demand online tutoring service available to ALL LCPS students in Grades K-12, click here.

The SNAP in Schools initiative from the Virginia Department of Social Service, which is based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), helps develop partnerships to bridge the gap of food insecurity among school-aged children. The objectives of SNAP in Schools are to reduce food insecurity in school-aged children, to increase the number of students directly certified for free school meals through SNAP, and to increase the number of students eligible without application for the summer EBT program.

Please advise families who could benefit from this program to access the CommonHelp portal link to submit online SNAP applications.

Please also share the flyer below with your families:

• English
• Spanish

Email: rohini.tohan@lcps.org
Website: www.lcps.org/SHMS
Phone: 703-957-4420
X (formerly Twitter): @StoneHillMiddle