Stingray Scoop

Dear Stone Hill Middle School Families,

As we approach the end of January, I wanted to take a moment to remind everyone that Monday, January 20th, is a school holiday in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This day serves as a time for reflection on Dr. King's work and the importance of his contributions to civil rights and social justice.

Additionally, this week marks the final stretch of the quarter as Quarter 2 ends on Friday, January 24th. It's crucial for our students to stay focused on their schoolwork and ensure that all assignments are completed and submitted on time. Please encourage your children to take advantage of Ownership Time after school if needed. Teachers are available to provide support, so please don't hesitate to reach out if you need assistance. Let's work together to finish the quarter strong!

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our school community. Have a wonderful three-day weekend!

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

In service to you and our Stingray community,

Rohini Tohan, Principal

Monday, January 20th

• No School ~ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Tuesday, January 21st

• A-day
• AMC 8 Test after school (sign-up closed in December)

Wednesday, January 22nd

• B-day
• Activity Buses

Thursday,January 23rd

• A-day
• Activity Buses
• Strings 6 Concert, 7:30 PM @ SHM

Friday, January 24th

• B-day
• 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 ~ Math MAP Test
• February 5th ~ Reading MAP Test

Weeks of January 13-24, 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!

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.

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.

All students who registered for the AMC-8 need to make sure to register at the AMC-8 website. Mr. Wurst sent an email to all parents and/or students who have registered to take the AMC-8 after school on Tuesday, January 21st.

Learn strategies to support your student’s mental health, academic and social engagement and overall wellness at the United for Wellness Conference and Resource Fair, LCPS’ 7th annual mental health and wellness event, on Saturday, Jan. 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Watson Mountain Middle School.

This event reflects LCPS’ focus on supporting all areas of student health. The conference will feature more than 40 school mental health professionals and community partners as they share tips and strategies for promoting mental health and wellness. It will also include a resource fair with local businesses and nonprofits offering services and guidance to support your family.

See the full schedule of speakers and register to attend sessions. There will be food trucks, music and so much more! We look forward to seeing you at the United for Wellness Conference and Resource Fair. You won’t want to miss it!

On Wednesday, January 15th, 31 Stone Hill Stingray finalists in grades 6-8 competed against each other for the title of SHMS Spelling Bee Champion. In the end, 8th grader, Vishwa Srungavarapu, was declared the 2025 SHMS Spelling Bee Champion in the 7th round of the competition. His winning word was "kippers" (male salmon or sea trout during or after the spawning season). Next month, Vishwa will continue on to the Regional Qualifier round. We wish him the best of luck on his spelling journey, and we are so proud of him! Congratulations, Vishwa!

Runner-up: Ahana Shastri (8th grader)

We also want to thank our wonderful English Subject Area Lead Teacher, Mrs. Young, and all of our staff judges and pronouncer for all the work they put in to support our SHMS Spelling Bee!

Congratulations to all of our 6th grade band students for two fantastic concerts last Thursday night! We are so proud of how far you've come in learning your instruments since the beginning of the year. Thank you to Mr. Morton and Mr. Fye for all you do to lead these musicians!

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).

Due to the recent snow day closures, we have extended the registration deadline for the Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition. The new deadline is January 22, 2025. Students can register at www.loudounyouth.org.

The Division of EL FACE Office, in collaboration with the EL Specialists, is pleased to share the WIDA ACCESS Family Information Resource in the top 3 languages: Spanish, Arabic, and Farsi/Dari.

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