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Daniels Run Families,
Welcome back assistant principal Lauren Hein! Mrs. Hein has been out on maternity leave and returned to Daniels Run on Tuesday. The staff and students are glad to have her back!
Winter weather closings and delays test our flexibility and I want to say thank you to all of our families for their flexibility. I know firsthand that delays and cancellations can cause a burden in terms of daycare, transportation etc. and I appreciate your support of our students and staff. You can use this link to get more information about how FCPS makes decisions regarding winter weather.
https://www.fcps.edu/resourcessafety-and-transportation/weather-cancellation-procedures
Relationships and having a connection to school are critical to student success. Our school counselors, Brooke Nichols and Louise Robinson, have done a fantastic job coordinating mentors for our MentorWorks program. A number of our mentors are members of the City of Fairfax Fire Department and Police Department. Thank you for your commitment to our students!
It was a pleasure meeting a number of parents/guardians at the meet and greet this past Wednesday and I look forward to meeting many more at the PTA meeting on January 31st.
Enjoy the weekend!
Chris Smith
Principal
Resources for Families
We know that many of our Daniels Run families are impacted by the Federal Government furloughs and have compiled a variety of supports for children and families. Listed below are some links to local resources available (with government employee identification) to furloughed workers and their families. If you would like to be included in the Daniels Run ES weekly Food 4 Thought program, please let us know. Additionally, FCPS has released information that breakfast, and lunch will be provided to all students, regardless of ability to pay or temporary financial circumstances, and unpaid cafeteria balances will be allowed to accrue during this time. If you need further supports, please contact our School Social Worker (703-279-8462) or the Family Resource Center (703-279-8441).
Lockdown Drill
At Daniels Run, our number one responsibility is to ensure the safety of our students and staff at all times. We continually work with city and county leaders to ensure coordinated responses to potential safety concerns and we practice emergency drills on a regular basis throughout the school year
On Monday, we will conduct a lockdown drill. The purpose of a lockdown is to protect against intruders in the school building. Prior to Monday, teachers talked to our students to prepare them for our drill.
During a lockdown drill:
- Students stay in place with a teacher or staff member.
- Students and teachers remain in locked classrooms, unobservable from outside (lights-off, window blinds closed, door windows obscured with paper).
- Students and staff members disregard fire alarms.
- No one enters or exits the school, except public safety personnel.
- Persons in trailers remain in locked trailers.
 Lanier Middle School Curriculum Night & Elective Open House
Tuesday, January 29
6:00pm - 8:00pm
To find out more: 2019 Lanier Middle School Curriculum Night Invitation
Absences!
With the New Year, we want to take a moment to remind everyone of the importance of regular attendance for our students. Missing just 10% of school can impact academic and social success and it can happen before you know it. Students who attend school daily are more likely to be successful in the classroom and to eventually graduate on time. FCPS and Daniels Run Elementary School are committed to working with parents and students to address and encourage strong attendance. Please check out Dr. Brabrand’s recent message on the importance of regular attendance in FCPS (https://www.fcps.edu/attendance ). The Commonwealth of Virginia requires that all children between the ages of 5 and 18 attend school on a regular basis. In order to work together, you can expect a call from the school if your child is missing 10% or more school days or if they arrive late or leave early for that same percentage. We are happy to partner with you and work together to ensure your child is attending school on a regular basis. Feel free to contact your child’s school counselor or the school social worker with any concerns or questions about attendance. They have lots of ideas about how to support families and children.
We do also understand that some absences are unavoidable and that children do become sick and need to stay home occasionally, but it is important that they are in school as often as possible. Please be sure to call the Daniels Run attendance line at 703-279-8484 to report any absences.
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Positivity Project
Be sure to check out this week’s character trait: Prudence
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MUSIC NEWS:
The Daniels Run International Assemblies will be Friday, March 1. We are looking for parents, students & faculty to share their heritage at the school assembly. Dance, songs, and instrumental performances are welcome. Please contact Miss McCarten (mmmccarten@fcps.edu) if would like to perform. The deadline is Friday, February 15. Performers must be prepared to audition the act for Miss McCarten. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6VdXcK-Wf4
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Technology Tips Workshop – February 6, 2019, 9am-10-am
Join our technology coach, Lawrence Veasley, to learn about Parent Vue/SIS access on smart phones and other devices. Please note that iPhones work best on the FCPS network; some androids cannot connect without using data. Contact the Family Resource Center if you have questions. 703.279.8441.
We want to hear your views on technology and learning!
Starting now, we will be participating in the Speak Up Research Project for Digital Learning. Speak Up is and was the first online research tool designed to help parents share their ideas directly with schools and national policymakers. Speak Up provides parents with a mechanism for expressing their views to the administrators at their child(ren)’s school and district about key issues impacting their child(ren)'s education.
Since 2003, Speak Up has collected and shared the views of more than 5.4 million students, teachers, and parents from all 50 states, as well as internationally. By participating in Speak Up, parents are expressing their views to a wider audience of local, state, and national policy makers as well as the business community—and contributing to the national dialogue about how best to prepare students for the future.
This is an optional survey. To participate, visit: this link and select the Parent option.
All participation is confidential. Questions take about 20 minutes to complete.
We need your input so please 20 minutes to be a part of this important conversation! We appreciate you taking the time to share your views with us!
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JANUARY PTA MEETING
Please save the date for the January PTA meeting on Thursday, January 31st at 7pm. A brief business meeting will be followed by a dessert reception to welcome Mr. Smith, the new DRE
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BOXTOPS
Hello Dragon Families, you did such a great job sending in Boxtops this Fall, we raised $535.00! Keep up the great work clipping those boxtops and turning them in! We are awarding the top 3 classes with prizes again!! Please submit all boxtops to your classroom teachers by Friday, February 15th to help us reach our goal and earn for our school.
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WINTER CARNIVAL
Save the date for the DRE winter carnival on February 9 at 3:30pm. Committees members are still needed to assist with planning games and other fun activities. If you are creative and looking to get involved please email Beth Brixius, drevicepresident@gmail.com.
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BOOK FAIR
It’s Book Fair time! Daniels Run will host a Scholastic Book Fair, Tuesday to Saturday, February 5-9. Students will visit the Book Fair and make purchases during the school day. We will also hold a Family Book Fair event on Saturday, Feb. 9, 3:30-6pm, in conjunction with the PTA Winter Carnival. Mark your calendars and take a break from the festivities to browse some books!
If you love books, or kids, or both!, sign up to volunteer at the Book Fair.
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 BEFORE and AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT
Are you looking for fun things to do before and after school on dreary winter days? The winter season of before- and after-school programs begins this month:
Silver Knights LEGO Robotics Club - Wednesdays after school,
starting Jan. 30, Grades 1-6
Register Here
Silver Knights Coding Club - Thursdays before school,
starting Jan. 31, Grades 2-6
Register Here
Silver Knights Chess Club - Tuesdays before school,
starting Feb. 12, Grades K-6
Register Here
And from the City of Fairfax on Wednesdays after school, starting Feb. 13--
Hip Hop/Zumba Fusion, by NOVA Kids in Motion, Grades K-5
Karate, by Kaizen Karate, Grades K-5
Art Program, by Abrakadoodle Inc., Grades K-6
Register at www.fairfaxva.gov/parksrec,
click on “Online Registration” and search for your class.
- January 25-Teacher Workday-Student Holiday
- January 31-PTA Meeting 07:00pm Library
- February 4-Teacher Workday-Student Holiday
- February 5-9-PTA Scholastic Book Fair
- February 6-Technology Tips Workshop 9:00am-10am
- February 9-Winter Carnival 03:30pm
- February 18-No School-President’s Day
- March 1-International Night
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