Stingray Scoop

Dear Stone Hill Middle School Families,

We are looking forward to another great week together and hope that all our Stingrays will join the spirit week planned to close out the 2024 year strong and shine bright with each day's focus. As we prepare for Winter Break (Monday, Dec. 23 through Friday, January 3), I’d like to take this opportunity to thank you and your student for the many joys we share each day. Our Stone Hill community is remarkable! Over the past several weeks, our students and our school community have come together for events like the Winter Wonderland, and we've seen the incredible talent of our student musicians during our winter concerts. It is truly wonderful to witness the growth, learning and connection taking place in our school community.

All of this would not be possible without your firm support in ensuring that your student comes to school every day on time and ready to learn. I know that in the new year, our school community will continue to excel. I hope we can also continue to count on you to help make our mission of providing the best education for our students a success. Thank you again for your support and partnership.

On behalf of the entire Stone Hill staff, I wish you and your student a safe and relaxing Winter Break, and we look forward to welcoming our students back on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025.

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

In service to you and our Stingray community,

Rohini Tohan, Principal

Monday, December 16th

• B-day
• Spirit Week ~ Comfy Day
• Beauty & the Beast, Jr. Auditions, 3:45-6:00 pm (Information below)
• Activity Buses

Tuesday, December 17th

• A-day
• Spirit Week ~ Character Day

Wednesday, December 18th

• B-day
• Spirit Week ~ Snow Day
• Beauty & the Beast, Jr. Auditions, 3:45-6:00 pm (Information below)
• Activity Buses
• 7th Grade Chorus Concert, 6:30 PM, Stone Hill Auditorium

Thursday, December 19th

• A-day
• Spirit Week ~ Flannel Day
• Activity Buses
• 8th Grade Chorus Concert, 6:30 PM, Stone Hill Auditorium

Friday, December 20th

• B-day
• Spirit Week ~ Festive Friday

• December 23rd to January 3rd ~ Winter Break
• January 6th ~ Classes Resume
• January 9th ~ Curriculum Night, 6:30 pm, Rock Ridge High School
• January 15th ~ SHMS Spelling Bee, 3:45 pm, SHMS Library (for those who qualify)
• January 16th ~ 6th Grade Band Concert, 6:00 pm, SHMS Auditorium
• January 20th ~ No School- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• January 21st ~ AMC 8 Test

Weeks of December 16, 2024 to January 10, 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!

Congratulations to our outstanding musicians on successful concerts last week in Strings, 7th Grade Band, Jazz Band, and Guitar. We are so proud of your accomplishments and you all sounded incredible! We are especially grateful for the caring support of our music department and the leaders from last week's concerts: Dr. Dunlap, Mr. Fye, Mr. Maeshiro, and Mr. Morton!

We will be hosting a Scholastic Book Fair December 10-17. Get a sneak peek of some of what we’ll have in this digital flyer! Students will have a chance to shop at the bookfair during the school day with their English class or during Resource.

You are invited to join the cast and crew of Beauty and the Beast Jr.

Presented by Stone Hill Dramatic Arts!

Auditions will take place in the Stone Hill Cafeteria on December 16th and December 18th after school from 3:45 to 6:00. If you need to take the activity bus, you will be given priority over those that can stay longer. Auditions are only required for those that would like an acting role, if you are interested in tech crew, you do not need to audition, but you do need to fill out the form below for tech crew.

CLICK HERE to view all of the important information and see how to register for an audition!

Stone Hill will offer the AMC-8 on Tuesday, January 21st after school. To sign up, please use this payment portal link. The portal will close on Dec. 15th.

Yearbooks are on sale! Buy one before we run out.

We already have a full academic quarter’s worth of memories to put in the 2024-2025 yearbook, and we’re excited to make more! Buy a yearbook so you can look back on our fantastic journey at the end of the year. There is a limited number of yearbooks available to purchase, so buy yours today before we run out!

Purchase at YearbookOrderCenter.com with the code 13630.

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

Look out for STONE HILL MIDDLE SCHOOL PTO Spring Enrichment Program Starting Feb 10, 2025. The details will be published on PTO site by end of this year.

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.! ✨

Message from PTO President

SHMS PTO encourages all Stone Hill families to connect with the PTO by participating in PTO organized events, initiatives and volunteering activities. SHMS PTO also encourages Stone Hill families to join the PTO Board and help not only serve but enrich Stone Hill student and parent community with your vision and thought leadership. Please connect with us at pto-board@shmspto.org. Learn more about SHMS PTO and the activities they currently run at www.shmspto.org.

We appreciate your Support!

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