![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/_fr/notebooks2.18b3e01e.jpg)
Stingray Scoop
What's happening at Stone Hill Middle School? January 21
Dear Stone Hill Community,
I hope all have enjoyed some down time with our recent snow days. It was a true winter wonderland and we certainly enjoyed our Band 6 Concert on the one day we were in school last week! Please enjoy the photos attached and thank you to Mr. Morton and Mr. Fye for getting our woodwinds and percussion students ready for what turned out to be an admirable concert and display of talent!
We have a busy week ahead of us. Please note the following important dates
January 22 – Student Holiday (Teacher Work Day)
January 23 - AMC 8 Test
January 24 - Spelling Bee
January 24 - Newsies Musical Auditions
January 25 - Rising 7th & 8th Grade Parent Information Night (5:30 PM)
January 31 & February 1 - World Language Round Robin (see flyer below)
February 1 - Rising 6th Grade Parent Night (5:30 PM)
As you know we had hoped to launch No Name-Calling Week last week; however, we intend to do so this week. No Name-Calling Week is an annual week of educational activities aimed at ending name- calling of all kinds. As part of our ongoing efforts to eliminate bullying, we are putting a spotlight on providing students tools and inspiration to further commit to a zero tolerance of name calling. Please join Spirit Week:
TUESDAY: We are ONE - Wear Stone Hill Spirit wear to show we are one
WEDNESDAY: Wear pink or blue for Kindness, compassion, warmth, and empathy
THURSDAY: Bows & Bow Tie to show how we are tied together
FRIDAY: Positive Message Day as we commit to No Name-Calling
All parents should have received an email with the link to the VA Speak Up Survey. Your students will be completing the student version of the survey during their resource block.
Speak Up is an annual research project conducted by Project Tomorrow, a national education nonprofit group that collects and reports on the views of K-12 students, teachers, administrators, and parents on education and technology. LCPS will use the data to inform planning for technology infrastructure and professional learning. Thank you for your input.
New Stingray Reports will be posted next week:
These reports highlight the learning that is taking place as we wrap up Q2 and the first semester!
In your conversations at home in the new year, please ask your student to share how they can be respectful, responsible, and ready in their classrooms, in the hallway, and on the bus.
As a reminder, school is closed tomorrow as it is a Teacher Work Day and we will see our students back on campus on Tuesday, January 23rd.
In service to you and our Stingray Community,
Rohini Tohan
Principal
Band 6 Concert Photos
Congratulations to our Classroom Spelling Bee Winners
Stone Hill Dramatic Arts
Musical Auditions and Tech Interest
Stone Hill Dramatic Arts Musical Auditions and Tech Interest
DRAMATIC ARTS PRESENTS NEWSIES JR!
Audition Information:
Auditions will take place January 24th after school in the auditorium. This is open to ALL Stone Hill students.
Students will have the opportunity to come on stage and perform their chosen song. When they are done they will stay in the audience to support all other students auditioning. Expectations include: staying quiet during auditions, absolutely no filming or photographing other auditions, and being supportive of all other students. Auditions will run past the activity bus time. Students who must take the activity bus will be moved to the front of the line.
Audition Songs (Please Prepare 1):
Just a Pretty Face (00:00 - 00:30)
Watch What Happens (00:00 - 00:30)
The World Will Know (00:00 - 00:30)
Santa Fe (00:00 - 00:30)
If Students are offered a spot (acting or tech) in the show, students and parents will be notified by email by January 26th and have until 11:59pm on January 28th to accept their role. Parents will fill out a Permission Click with the official Stone Hill Dramatic Arts policies. Once students accept their spot. You will receive an email from the financial technician for Stone Hill to pay the club dues of $150.
Audition Sign Up Form (Please fill out this form prior to auditions)
Tech Crew Interest Form (If interested, please complete by 11:59pm on January 26, 2024)
Parent Volunteer Interest Form (We’re always looking for parent volunteers)
World Language Round Robin Information
Is your child still deciding on which language they will take next year? Our World Languages team will be offering sample lessons for all languages offered at Stone Hill on 1/31 and 2/1. See the attached flyer for more information and use this link to sign your child up.
Transition Events 2024
Parent Night will be held at SHMS on January 25th at 5:30 pm.
Rising 8th grade (current 7th grade families) will be in the Auditorium
Rising 7th Grade (current 6th grade families) will be in the Cafeteria
Curriculum Night will include:
Presentations on curriculum/course offerings for each grade level, graduation requirements, elective choices that tie into those graduation requirements, and county programs available to apply for as an 8th grader
Presentations will also include detailed information on the Course selection process, timelines, and parent portal access for elective choice decisions.
Math Department Chairs will present on the Math progressions and how recommendations are made for placements
World Language Department Chair will present on World Language options, and benefits of taking a world language in middle school
Attendance & Bus Reminders
A reminder from LCPS’s Transportation Department: Bus riders should ride their assigned bus and always arrive at their bus stop 5 minutes early. Please help your student(s) get out of the door on time.
We regularly generate an attendance report to monitor student attendance and identify any patterns of excessive absences, tardies, and/or early dismissals.
We have identified an increase in the number of tardies to school where parents are dropping off students after the start of the school day. Consistent school attendance is crucial for student success, as it directly impacts academic achievement and overall educational progress. When students are absent/tardy, they miss out on valuable instructional time and the opportunity to fully engage in their learning.
It is the school’s responsibility to keep parents informed about their student’s attendance. We ask for your cooperation to ensure your student(s) arrives promptly and is present in the classroom between 8:50 AM and 3:38 PM.
Thank you for your support, understanding and cooperation
AMC - 8 Test Information
The AMC-8 will be given after school on January 23, 2024. The Payment Portal was posted on the Stone Hill Website for over 4 weeks and is now closed on December 1st, 2023. However, if you missed regisering please reach out to Mr. Wurst.
Updates from our Parent Liasion Lauren McCreary
Fentanyl Awareness Message
Health & Medical Sciences Academy and the International Baccalaureate program information:
- IB Information Night Flyer:
- Arabic, English, Farsi, Spanish, Vietnamese
- HAMSci Information Night Flyer:
- Arabic, English, Farsi, Spanish, Vietnamese
- Special Programs Interest Window PDF
The 6th Annual One LCPS: United for Wellness Mental Health and Wellness Conference is scheduled:
Date: Saturday, January 27th, 2024
Location: Riverside High School
Time: 9:30am to 2:00pm
Yearbook Information
Please Note: Attendance Updates and Reminders for 2023-2024
- In extended absence cases of illness, a doctor's note will be required and the absence will be documented as EXCUSED.
- In cases of bereavement, educational travel, religious travel, these will be documented in the student record as EXCUSED, and we continue to communicate and connect teachers with parents and students to lessen the academic impact.
- In extended absence cases of vacation, these will be documented as UNEXCUSED in the academic record and communicated to the Loudoun County Attendance Officer.
We are encourgaing all parents to report attendance in Parentvue. We will no longer have the absentee line and all attendance needs to be reported in parentvue going forward. Instructions with how to videos have been posted on our website for your convenience. Thank you!
Counselor Corner Updates
County-wide Mental Health and Wellness Presentations
Parents please see the flier for information about upcoming mental health and wellness presentations offered by the county.
Please help us encourge reading at home.
Safety First!
Carline parents - We thank you for your patience and cooperation in helping to make our carline a safe and productive area in the morning drop off and afternoon pick up.
Please follow directions displayed on signage and from all carline staff. Please pull as far forward as possible towards the stop sign in order to keep the flow of traffic moving.
Message from the PTO
SHMS PTO NEWSLETTER
Please join us for our next PTO general body meeting Tuesday, February 6th at 6pm in the SMHS Library.
PTO meeting dates for the 2023-2024 SY:
Tuesday, 2/6/2024; 6pm
Tuesday, 4/16/2024; 6pm
March Madness – Friday, March 8th, 6pm
Families and students, come join us in cheering on the teachers and staff at SHMS as they face off in an exciting volleyball match against our neighbors, the Rosa Lee Carter Elementary school team! This event will take place in the Rock Ridge HS gymnasium.
We are also in need of volunteers to run concessions, ticket sales and spirit wear sales for this event. If you could volunteer your time while your student watches the game, we would greatly appreciate it! Please follow this link to sign up and volunteer for this event.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050848AEAE2DA2F49-47225407-march
SAVE THE DATE!!! - NOVA Math Team Tournament
Please mark your calendars for the NOVA Math Team Tournament, hosted by the SHMS PTO. This event is scheduled for Saturday, May 4th, 2024, at Stone Hill Middle School. We highly encourage students to seize this opportunity and participate in the tournament. Registration information, along with payment details, will be made available soon.
For additional information, please visit the following page:
SHMS PTO MOEMS Math Team Tournament
https://www.shmspto.org/initiatives
School Store
The school store is open Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 8am-9am. We have spirit wear (hoodies, long and short sleeve t shirts), drawstring backpacks, candies, and more! Please stop by and visit us.
PTO Donations
We're reaching out to our wonderful community for support!
PTO is seeking donations to make our school events, including upcoming grade dances for our students and gifts for Teacher Appreciation Week, extra special. Your generosity plays a crucial role in making these moments memorable for our students and teachers alike. Every contribution, big or small, helps us create a vibrant and connected school environment.
These events not only bring joy to our students but also foster a strong sense of community. Your financial assistance ensures that we can continue organizing these cherished activities.
To contribute, please use the link below and choose your student(s) grade level(s) and advisory teacher(s).
https://forms.gle/bTEvvWsScHzjTbKB6
The advisory class with the highest contribution will receive donuts during advisory block! Winners will be announced at the end of January.
Together, let's create lasting memories for our middle school community. Thank you for your unwavering support!
PTO Membership
If you are interested in joining PTO, please click on the following link: SHMS PTO Membership Registration Form 2023-2024 (google.com)
Keep up to date with the latest PTO events and meeting information!
Follow us on
Facebook: @stonehillpto
Twitter: @shms_pto
Access to Free/Reduced Meal Application
Stone Hill Middle School Regular Bell Schedule
Stingray Scoop - Stone Hill Middle School's Newsletter
Email: rtohan@lcps.org
Website: www.lcps.org/SHMS
Phone: 703-957-4420
Twitter: @StoneHillMiddle