Stingray Scoop

Dear Stone Hill Middle School Families,

I hope this message finds you well. As you know, course selection process for the 25-25 school year has started. This week we are excited to host our rising 7th and 8th grade families to our Parent Information Night on Thursday, February 13 from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. Please see the flyer below. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about our academic programs, extracurricular activities, support services, and what to expect in the next academic school year. We look forward to seeing you there!

I also want to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude to Deputy Shelow, our School Resource Officer, for his dedicated service and commitment to our students and school community. Friday is SRO Appreciation Day, and we are pleased to have the opportunity to show our thanks for the support, guidance, and positive interactions of Deputy Shelow on our campus. We appreciate working together to ensure a safe and supportive learning environment for everyone.

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

In service to you and our Stingray community,

Rohini Tohan, Principal

Monday, February 10th

• B-day
• Activity Buses

Tuesday, February 11th

• A-day

Wednesday, February 12th

• B-day
• Activity Buses

Thursday, February 13th

• A-day
• Activity Buses
• Rising 7th & 8th Grade Parent Night, 5:30-7:00 pm @ SHMS

Friday, February 14th

• B-day

• February 17th ~ No School: Presidents Day
• February 25th ~ Quarter 3 Interim Date
• February 25th ~ VML Math Test, after school @ SHMS
• March 13th~ Culture Night @ SHMS (save the date!)
• March 31st ~ No School: Eid al Fitr
• April 3rd ~ Last Day of Quarter 3
• April 4th ~ No School: Student Holiday
• April 7th ~ No School: Student Holiday
• April 14-18 ~ No School: Spring Break

Weeks of February 10-21, 2025

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!

Stone Hill MS is excited to offer a community book club using the graphic novel A Sky of Paper Stars by Susie Yi. This book features a young Korean American girl named Yuna who struggles with grief and guilt after her grandmother passes away. Yuna blames herself for her grandmother’s death, and she tasks herself with making 1,000 folded paper stars to cast a wish and bring her back to life.

For this club, we ask that students read the book with their families and then come to the library to discuss the story, read a nonfiction connection, and learn to make paper stars of their own! We will also enjoy some yummy breakfast refreshments.

The cost to attend is $5 per person. This will cover the food and crafting activity. We recommend that families get the book from the Loudoun County Public Library or their favorite book seller. If cost is prohibitive and the book is not available at the library, please reach out to david.geiger@lcps.org or rachel.heron@lcps.org for assistance. What would you wish for with 1,000 paper stars?

Signups will close on February 14th.

Attention world travelers: Are you interested in a spring break trip to Japan in 2026? Then you’re in luck! Stone Hill Middle School is taking a journey around the world. Middle school travelers (and their parents!) will get to learn taiko drumming, explore a bamboo forest, visit ancient castles, go to a Pokémon center, enjoy time in the Harajuku shopping district, and more. Students can get informational fliers from their advisory teachers or from the Tour Group Leader, Mr. Geiger, in the library.

Use the link below to register for our informational meeting on February 20th at 6:00 pm in the Stone Hill MS auditorium. We will discuss itinerary, flights, hotels, meals, cost, fundraising, scholarships, and more. We hope to see you there. Our plane takes off in 14 months, and we already cannot wait to get started.

RSVP for the informational meeting: bit.ly/4h2ebQE

Stone Hill will offer the VML Math League Test on Tuesday, February 25th after school. Please register for this test using the link below. The test will be given in Grade Level Houses and parent pick-up will be at 4:30. There is no cost and registration closes on February 20th.

VML Registration Link

At this time, students are still 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.

If you missed the Curriculum Night last week at Rock Ridge High School, we encourage you to review this Rising 9th Grade presentation.

If you have questions about your student's course options for 9th grade, please reach out to your student's school counselor.

Enrichment Programs - Late Registration Open!

Thank you for your enthusiastic response to our PTO offered Enrichment Programs! General registrations are now closed, but we are happy to announce that late registration is still open for a limited time. If you haven’t signed up yet, this is your last chance to enroll your student in our exciting programs! Spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

📌 How to Register:

• Visit SHMS Enrichment Programs
• Late Registration Due Dates are below:
  • Business Plan - Feb. 9, 2025
  • AMC 8/AMC 10 - Feb. 10, 2025
  • Financial Literacy 2.0 - Feb. 11, 2025
  • Robotics Prep - FLL - 6th - 8th Grade - Feb. 12, 2025

For any questions, please reach out to initiatives-team@shmspto.org. More details about these programs are available on the PTO website https://www.shmspto.org/initiatives.

Join Us for the NOVA Math Tournament!

SHMS PTO is excited to announce that we are organizing NOVA Math Tournament, and we invite all math enthusiasts to participate!

This tournament is a fantastic opportunity for students to challenge themselves, showcase their problem-solving skills, and have fun while exploring the world of mathematics. Whether your child is a math whiz or simply loves numbers, this event promises to be an engaging and rewarding experience.

Event Details:
📅 Date: Sunday, May 4th
🕒 Time: 9:00am - 3:00pm
📍 Location: Stone Hill Middle School

Who Can Participate?
The tournament is open to students of Grades 6-8.

Why Join?

• Boost critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Compete in a friendly, supportive environment
• Receive recognition for achievement
• Have fun with peers who share a love for math!

How to Register:
To secure your spot, visit https://forms.gle/pUgRNBqU6fbX5k9h9 and complete the registration by April 15, 2025. Space is limited, so don’t wait! Let’s make this tournament a memorable and enriching experience for our students. We look forward to seeing our young mathematicians shine!

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to initiatives-team@shmspto.org.

For more information visit: https://www.shmspto.org/math

STONE HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL PTO FUNDRAISER

🎬 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

Buy your tickets → https://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.! ✨

🌟 Help Us Celebrate LCPS Superstars! 🌟

Do you know an incredible Teacher, inspiring Principal, or outstanding New Teacher who’s making a difference in our schools? Now’s your chance to give them the recognition they deserve!

The 2024-2025 LCPS Annual Awards Program is open for nominations!
✅ Who can nominate? Staff, parents, students, and community members (no self-nominations, please).
✅ What do we need? Just complete the Nomination Form and tell us why your nominee shines! Criteria/Guiding Questions for each category
✅ Deadline: All nominations are due by 5:00 PM on Friday, March 7, 2025.

A panel of LCPS staff and community members will review nominations and select winners based on their exceptional performance and impact. Let’s honor those who inspire, lead, and make learning extraordinary. Questions? Reach out to Carrie.Simms@lcps.org. Nominate today and help us celebrate the heart of LCPS! 🎉

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

William & Mary School of Education is excited to announce their 2025 Saturday/Summer Enrichment (SEP) classes! They have a lot of new classes, lower prices, and more summer class options.

Please use this link to check out the SEP page for more information!

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