The Thunder

Stony Point Elementary School has two more opportunities for holiday donations this year.

1.The Stony Point Secret Holiday Shoppe. This is an annual event we hold every year - and a perfect time for you to clean out some closets! We are collecting new or very gently used items to set up our very own Dragon Boutique. During the week of December 11 - 15, all Stony Point students will visit the store to pick out one item for someone special in their lives. The students love to shop for someone else and surprise them with a gift for the holiday season. Donations could include but aren't limited to: lotions, socks, candles, housewares, scarves, gloves, books, belts, jewelry, purses, bags, sports items, decorations, ornaments, etc. You can drop off items in the office by December 8th.

2. Lilypads. Stony Point 5th grade is partnering with a local non-profit called Lilypads Housing. The 5th grade is putting together boxes called Sunshine for Siblings that provide activities for the siblings of children who are being treated at UVA. Sunshine boxes are a way to keep siblings entertained as their parents attend appointments and interact with medical professionals. You can also drop these donations off at the Stony Point main office by December 15th.

We are excited to share with you that our school division is adopting a new reading program for next school year. As part of the process, our English Language Arts Adoption Committee has narrowed to two options: HMH Into Reading and Benchmark Advance. You are invited to provide feedback on each of these programs.

Please click on each of the links below to go to the caregiver resources offered by each program.

Benchmark Advance

HMH Into Reading

Once you are ready, please provide feedback by using the survey linked below. The survey is available in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, Pashto, and Dari.

ELA Adoption Caregiver/Community Survey

If you are interested in looking at the entire program, there are K-5 kits available in the school. You are welcome to come to school to look at these and fill out the feedback survey at school. It’s very helpful to contact the school ahead of time to let us know you are coming to review the programs. The caregiver feedback survey deadline is December 8th.

Click HERE to view The Spotlight, a newsletter put together by our Essentials team highlighting what your child has been working on in Art, Music, P.E., STEAM, and Library.

Join the Stony Point PTO for their next meeting in the school library on Wednesday December 6th from 6:30-8:00 PM. Meeting topics will include updates from internal SPES committees about fundraising, school enrichment, and community and family engagement as well as updates from Stony Point representatives on external committees (ACPS Family Council, Special Education Advisory Committee, Families Helping Families, Redistricting Committee).

Nominations are now open through January 24, 2023 for this year's Golden Apple Awards, a program designed to honor outstanding teachers in public and private schools in Albemarle County and Charlottesville City. Each Golden Apple recipient will receive a $500 grant, which can be used for classroom materials or to support the recipient’s professional development. Click HERE to view the nomination criteria and directions for how to nominate a fantastic Stony Point educator!

Click HERE to view literacy resources from UVA's Virginia Literacy Partnerships site to support your child at home in reading. These resources were introduced in Ms. Heckathorn's presentation on the Science of Reading during Camp Out for Reading!

Spring 2024 registration for baseball with Northside Cal Ripken League is now open! Co-ed Baseball is available for ages 4 to 12. Practices start mid-March and the regular season wraps up by the beginning of June. Practices and weekend games take place primarily at Hollymead, Baker Butler, and Woodbrook Elementary. Further information, along with the registration link, is available on the website: https://www.playnorthside.org/

This calendar will continually be added to and updated as the year goes on and new events are scheduled. Bold items are events or special information and italicized items are days where students do not have school.

• Wednesday December 6: PTO Meeting (6:30-8:00 PM)
• Thursday December 7: Grades 3-5 Math Winter Growth Assessment
• Friday December 8: Grades 3-5 Reading Winter Growth Assessment
• Wednesday December 13th at 6:30 PM: Grades 3-5 Winter Music Performance
• Monday December 18-Monday January 1: No School for Students (Winter Break)
• Wednesday January 3: PTO Meeting (6:30-8:00 PM)
• Monday January 15: No School for Students (Holiday)
• Thursday January 25: No School for Students (Teacher Professional Learning Day)
• Friday January 26: No School for Students (Teacher Work Day)
• Wednesday February 7: PTO Meeting (6:30-8:00 PM)
• Wednesday February 21 from 6:00-7:30: Dragon Dinner
• Wednesday March 13: PTO Meeting (6:30-8:00 PM)
• Tuesday March 26th from 6:30-7:30: STEAM Night
• Friday March 29: No School for Students (Teacher Work Day)
• Monday April 1-Friday April 5: No School for Students (Spring Break)
• Wednesday April 10: PTO Meeting (6:30-8:00 PM)
• Monday April 29: No School for Students (Teacher Professional Learning Day)
• Wednesday May 1: PTO Meeting (6:30-8:00 PM)
• Thursday May 2: K-2 Music Performance at 6:00 PM
• Monday May 27: No School for Students (Holiday)
• Friday May 31: Quest Fest (during the school day)
• Tuesday June 4: TENTATIVE Field Day (during the school day)
• Friday June 7: 1/2 Day for Students and Last Day of School