Wild Cat ROAR! January 11, 2026

This week we are featuring members from our Reading Team! Starting from left to right: Allison Garrett, Jennifer Loyer, Erica Cohen, Jenn McGovern, and Jule Saraceno. Our reading team includes three reading specialists (Cohen, Loyer, and Saraceno) and tutors, McGovern and Garrett. This team supports students in grades K-5. Phonics and foundational skills are taught along with reading comprehension and writing skills. Two additional tutors will be starting by early February. Student progress is monitored through the MTSS program (multi-tiered system of support) and can be seen in ParentVue. If parents have any questions about their child's reading progress, we encourage parents to contact the child's classroom teacher.

The LCPS School Board voted on boundary changes in December. ALL families who live in Lansdowne are now zoned for Seldens Landing Elementary School. More information will be sent to the impacted families by the end of January. Steuart Weller will lose approximately 100 students. This boundary change will allow for the anticipated growth in One Loudoun, Kincora, and the former Bluemont Nursery area to attend Weller. Seldens Landing which is currently at about 50% capacity will be able to serve all of its neighborhood students. It is always difficult when boundaries change. We hate to see any of our families leave our school. We also understand the importance of being efficient and smart with taxpayer dollars. When Steuart Weller opened in 2008, Seldens Landing was overcrowded. Now it has ample room for the 100 students returning to the Lansdowne school community.

The new Virginia Department of Education School Accountability information has been released. Schools earn points based on how they do in each of the following measures: Student performance on academic tests in reading, math, science, and EL student progress, Student growth in reading and math, and Attendance Rates, adding up to one of four Performance Categories:

Distinguished (90+ points): Exceeding.

On Track (80–89 points): Meeting expectations.

Off Track (65–79 points): Below expectations, receives extra state support.

Needs Intensive Support (<65 points): Significantly below expectations, receives the strongest

state support.

Steuart Weller received a score of 88.6 which is just a fraction below the Distinguished identification. We are considered to be On Track and Meeting Expectations.

“For schools identified by the state as needing additional support, we are committed to providing targeted, data-informed resources and strategies that will empower our teachers and deliver the most impactful support for the students who need it most,” said Chief Academic Officer Dr. Ashley Ellis.

The new state model places more emphasis on student mastery and less on academic growth. This shift can overlook the progress made by English Learners, students with disabilities and others who may show meaningful gains even if they have not yet reached mastery. LCPS will continue to monitor and celebrate student growth, as it remains a vital part of ensuring long-term academic success.

Click below to access the Virginia School Performance and Support Framework Family Guide

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1egfxzAWknuxSOLwQ3nZ0JBih8XLHYOZ7/view

For more information on the support provided to TSI and CSI schools, please see VDOE’s VA Federal Support One Pager. For more information regarding the SPSF Framework, please see VDOE’s SPSF Parent Overview. To learn more about the state accountability ratings, LCPS SOL tests, AP testing, graduation rates, and more, visit VDOE School Quality Profiles.

The school doors open at 7:10am. If you are dropping off your child, it is critical that you use the car loop on the gym side of the building. Once again we are having children dropped off on Exchange Street. Please consider the safety of all children and use the car loop for drop off and pick up unless you are walking! If you are a walker, please use the cross walks. The car loop will close at 7:30. If your car is not in the loop by 7:30, you need to come to the office to sign in your child.

Dismissal Time! The buses are having difficulty getting into the bus lanes due to the line of cars blocking Marblehead Drive from Loudoun County Parkway. Please do not start lining up in the car loop until 2:05pm. Avoid the left turn lane and approach from the other direction. Students are dismissed at 2:15.

As you’ve heard, LCPS is implementing a new phone policy this year (more info below) aimed at reducing distractions in the classroom and improving student well-being. But managing screen time goes beyond the classroom — and we want to support families and staff in doing the same at home.

We want to help families keep their students safe online. LCPS is offering a discount on Bark’s premium app. Bark is the leading tech provider for safe monitoring of kids’ devices. To purchase the app with your 20% discount, just order online and enter the code LOUDOUN.

If you’re looking for more support, sign up for Bark’s newsletter or join their Facebook group: over 628k strong of fellow parents participating in conversations around parenting in today’s tech world. For more information about Bark, please visit lcps.org/bark.

As a reminder, in April 2025, a new Virginia State Law was passed that restricts the use of all personal student technology for students in all grades during the school day. Key terms from this law include:

• "Bell to bell" means after the first bell rings at the start of the school day to begin instructional time until the dismissal bell rings at the end of the school day. "Bell to bell" includes lunch and time in between class periods.
  
  

• "Smart device" means any personal electronic device that can connect to the Internet and wirelessly collect, process, and transmit data, including smart watches, air pods, and tablets.

Learn more about the new phone policy by reading Policy 8655, Student Personal Device Use.

If a student is wearing a smart watch, they will be directed to keep it in their backpack during school hours.

If your child has an outstanding bill on their account, they will not be able to purchase additional items. If you need meal assistance, please contact our Family Liaison, Gladys Palomino.

Or you may submit an online application for free or reduced meals. The online process can be approved typically within 72 hours. The paper application is available in the office, but it takes longer for the approval process.

Use this link: https://linqconnect.com/public/meal-application/new?identifier=243AAV

We will be having a cereal food drive at Steuart Weller starting January 26th and ending February 13th! We are looking for full and unopened cereal boxes to donate to the Loudoun Food Pantry. During Kindness week we will be showing the “Domino Effect of Kindness.” On February 13th, before the cereal is donated, we will line the hallways with the boxes like dominos, so we can learn how donating food is a kind act that can be done in order to help someone else in need. Classes will earn incentives for filling baskets of cereal weekly. We are looking forward to spreading kindness!

K - 1

Ask your student: Why is important to use kind words when talking to others?

2-5

Ask your student: How might using unkind words impact your relationship with a peer?

• PTO NEWS
  Thank you to everyone who generously contributed their time, food donations, and monetary donations to support the teacher appreciation luncheon this week. Your kindness and participation helped make the lunch a wonderful success!
• Snacks teachers lounge: Donate items like chips, granola bars, nuts, treats, gum, and soda or sparkling water. Drop by the office at your convenience.

• Save these dates!
• PTO meeting schedule
• Tuesday, February 3rd at 6:30 pm
• Topic: TBD
• Wednesday, April 8th at 6:30 pm
• Topic: SOL process & prep
• Thursday, June 4th at 6:30 pm
• Topic: Officer election
• Events
• Fun Run - May 15, 2026

• If you have any PTO-related questions or would like to help with planning, please contact us at infoswespto@gmail.com.

Krysti Lloyd, PTO president