Harmony Newsletter

Aug 10 – First Day Back for Teachers

Aug 12 - Families will be able to login to PVUE and SVUE on Wednesday, August 12th to see classroom teachers, schedule, and bus information.

Aug 12 – Harmony’s Open House (set up lockers) and Meet the Teachers events (both from 1:30 to 4:30). See details below.

Aug 17 – First Day of School for Students

Aug 17 - All 6th Grade students will receive a new LCPS Chromebook

Aug 19 - "Dean Talks" Begin in Resource

Aug 25 - MAP (Reading)

Aug 26 - MAP (Reading)

Aug 27 - MAP (Math)

Aug 28 - MAP (Math)

Sept 2 - Fall Pictures (details in future newsletters)

Sept 4 - Student Holiday

Sept 7 - Holiday

Sept 8 - 8th Grade "Special Programs" Assembly (reviews high school course options)

Sept 21 - Holiday

Oct 12 - Holiday

Oct 15 - Picture Retakes

Oct 28 - End of Quarter

Oct 29 - Student Holiday

Oct 30 - Student Holiday

Nov 3 - Student Holiday

Nov 4 - Student Holiday

At Harmony MS, safety ranks above all others. Many preventative programs are in place to help students and staff deal with any issues that arise.

• In addition to all required state drills (fire, tornado, earthquake, lockdown, secure the building, shelter in place), our school reviews six “scenarios” with the students throughout the year. Our goal is for all students to reflect on these scenarios and know what to do.

• #1. What should you do if your teacher has a medical emergency and there are no other adults in the room?

• #2. What to do if you are in the hallway during an emergency...

• #3. What to do if you are in the cafeteria during an emergency...

• #4. What should you do if an adult knocks on an exterior door and wants you to let them in...?

• #5. What to do in an emergency if you have a substitute...

• #6. See Something...Say Something and always be observant.

Contact names for questions or concerns are below:

• School Security Officer, (SSO), Josh Stillwell (joshua.stillwell@lcps.org)
• Dean and School Safety Contact, Justin Dailey (justin.dailey@lcps.org)
• Principal, Eric Stewart (eric.stewart@lcps.org)
• School Resource Office (SRO), Loudoun County Deputy Chris Salter (christopher.salter@loudoun.gov)
• School Phone is 540-751-2500 (then dial zero to reach the main office)

Here are some of this summer's newsletters you may have missed:

July 13, 2026 - an email was sent to all parents about the required LCPS Title IX presentations in September
July 8, 2026

The first step for families for the new school year is to log in to ParentVUE and update your student’s information. This process of updating student information is called online verification.

This required annual update of student information must be completed before you can view your student’s school and bus schedules when they become available on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

At Harmony MS, rigorous teaching and learning is built on three core priorities: authentic student lesson engagement, student ownership, and student self-reflection on learning. We empower students to take ownership of their learning while staff purposefully build safe, supportive relationships.

To sustain our work, our schedules provide built in time for teacher collaboration on lessons, common assessments, and small group interventions.

These focus areas are seamlessly woven into the LCPS Instructional Framework launched in August 2025.

Open House / Back to School Night

Aug 12 – Harmony’s Open House (set up lockers) and Meet the Teachers events (both from 1:30 to 4:30).

Due to size and similar but later schedule at Woodgrove HS, we ask you follow this schedule:

1:30 to 2:30 (Last name starts with A to G)

2:30 to 3:30 (Last name starts with H to O)

3:30 to 4:30 (Last name starts with P to Z)

(We will close at 4:30 and this will allow parents with WHS students to head over to WHS to meet their teachers)

At Harmony MS, our goal is to have all staff and students to have the support they need to feel safe, happy, and cared for in school. Climate is creating and maintaining a sense of belonging.

Specific activities are articulated here: Link to Recognition Programs.

Each summer we love to see and share pictures of our community summer adventures. We are happy to review your family pictures for possible inclusion in this newsletter and perhaps even a frame in the school hallways during the year. (Pictured - Mr. Josh Stillwell, School Security Officer, in Florida on a family fishing trip)

If you would like to participate, please send pictures and brief story (where traveled) to eric.stewart@lcps.org.

Jackson and Hailey Adams explored Acadia National Park and Portland, Maine this summer.

Unlike many western national parks formed entirely from federal public land, Acadia was created through private land donations by local residents and philanthropic summer visitors—including John D. Rockefeller Jr.

He designed the park's iconic carriage road system, complete with 16 hand-crafted granite bridges, specifically so visitors could explore the island's interior without motor vehicles.

Gracie Singleton was in Copenhagen, Denmark.

She and her family have loved the pastries and the small healthy dishes. They saw the palace guard change ("which was cool").

And, they have been riding bikes everywhere and that seems to be the main way to travel there. It’s the happiest country in the world and it shows. "People are very happy here."

They also enjoyed Malmo, Sweden and the Baltic Sea.

Rising 6th Grade, Mia Schult, visited her uncle's hometown in Poland. One of the stops they took was to the Memorial and Museum Auschwitz- Birkenau. "When we were there, we had to be respectful because Auschwitz used to be a concentration camp, and many innocent people died there."

"Out of respect we didnt take any pictures inside, but I wanted to share a picture of me in front of the museum entrance. I want to honor all the innocent lives that were stolen here and remember all the victims of the Holocaust."

Mr. Jake Pantaleo returns home to help the Harmony staff this fall after having been a student here in the late 2009's. He will join sisters Hannah and Sarah, and mother Laura, who have or also work(ed) here.

We look forward to seeing his skills as a SPED Teaching Assistant and helping our students.

The Woodgrove PTSO warmly invites you to attend the upcoming workshop on IEPs and 504 plans.

Cracking the Code: 504s and IEPs

Wednesday, September 16, 2026, Woodgrove High School

6:30 - 7:30 PM, Register here: https://peatc.org/event/cracking-the-code-504s-and-ieps-4/

Natalie Metzler, M.Ed. | Family Liaison

Loudoun County Public Schools | Woodgrove High School

Rhys (8th) and India (6th) Nichols were able to attend a FIFA World Cup match in Atlanta GA. It was Czechia vs. South Africa.

While in Atlanta, they also toured the Coca-Cola museum and the Aquarium. On the way home they toured the Biltmore in NC.

"Older daughter, Caelyn, is going into 10th grade and Lily is starting at Harmony in 2 weeks."

Mom and Dad went on a cruise to Grand Cayman 20 years ago 2 months after Hurricane Ivan (Cat 5 at landfall) came through. Grand Cayman took a direct hit and they had A LOT of damage

Fast forward 20 years! We went and stayed on Seven Mile Beach for 10 days. The picture is from our trip to the Cayman Parrot Sanctuary. Parrots, Cockatiels, Cockatoos, Snakes, Hermit Crabs, Agouti (which is a Cayman Rabbit and is related to the capybara), Guinea Pigs and our favorite the Sun Conures."

"Some of these animals will be released back into the wild but many of them were pets surrendered by their owners or have medical conditions that will not allow them to be released. Lily is holding a snake in the picture!"

Harmony Guitar Teacher, Mr. Hart Wells, just returned from a family 16 day excursion across the U.S. They called it the "Plains, Trains, and Automobiles" trip. Flights to Seattle and San Francisco. Driving to Las Vegas. RV camping from Vegas to Forth Worth (stops at Grand Canyon, Painted Desert, Roswell, White Sands, and Carlsbad Caverns). Driving to New Orleans. Train from New Orlens to DC.

He says, "It was awesome!!" Daughters Kennedy (a WHS junior) and Waverly (a Hillsboro 3rd grader) joined mom and dad on this unique adventure.

Beth Fuller's son Colin (former HMS student) explored Australia in June with UVA's Club basketball team. He was a part of a grant called "Sports Diplomacy" and worked with Hoops 4 Health.

Not only did he play some great basketball, he got to travel to Sydney, Alice Springs and Darwin and cuddle with some baby rescue kangaroos.

Maile Tran’s last year at Harmony started off with a trip to Europe!

"This summer we traveled to Italy and France. We stopped in Rome, Lake Garda, Verona, Venice, Nice, and Monaco! Quite the excursion. Here is a photo from Rome for consideration."

On Tuesday, June 23, 2026, the School Board voted to update the Student Dress Code, Policy 8270. The updates were considered thoughtfully, with community feedback informing the School Board and staff’s recommendations, and are now in effect.

We wanted to let you know about the changes so you can ensure your student is aware of the changes and help them choose clothing that meets the updated guidelines. Please reach out if you have any questions or if your family needs any support meeting these updated requirements.

Below are some notable changes in effect this fall:

• Students’ clothing must be non-transparent and meet additional coverage requirements:

• Tops must cover the sides, mid-back, and lower back; extend to the waist; and feature a neckline that does not extend below the imaginary horizontal line connecting the armpits.

• Bottoms (e.g., pants, sweatpants, shorts, skirt or leggings) must provide full coverage of the lower torso and buttocks.

• One-piece outfits, such as jumpsuits or dresses that meet coverage requirements, are also acceptable.

• Shoes must be worn.

• Students may wear hats or other headwear that does not obscure the face. The hood must be worn down on a hoodie. Attire of religious, cultural or ethnic significance, e.g., head coverings and hairstyles, is permitted.

• For physical education, tops and bottoms must meet coverage requirements; shoes must have a closed-toe and heel, and be securely fastened to the foot.

• Note: Other classes may also have separate clothing requirements for safety purposes.
  
  

• Students may not:

• Wear blankets or robes to school. (Pajama tops and bottoms that meet coverage requirements are allowed.)

• Wear clothing that intentionally exposes undergarments. (The unintentional exposure of undergarments will not result in disciplinary action.)

We wanted to share this summary of the updates to Policy 8270 to help you prepare your student for success. Please reach out to school staff with questions. We look forward to seeing your student soon!

Read the updated Student Dress Code, Policy 8270, and find all School Board policies at www.lcps.org/policyreview.

Principal Newsletters: https://www.lcps.org/o/hrm/page/harmony-newsletters

School Website: https://www.lcps.org/o/hrm

LCPS School Calendars: Documents | Loudoun County Public Schools

Everything You Need to Know About Dismissals, Buses, Car Rider Lines, and More

Sign up for ParentVue: https://www.lcps.org/PVUE

Join the PTA or Order Spirit Wear: https://www.lcps.org/o/hrm/article/2360486