September 4, 2019
Greetings VRES Families,
Welcome returning Vikings and new families to Virginia Run ES! Our school opening was smooth and successful. Our staff really enjoyed spending time with students and families who participated in the Welcome Walk! What a great way to meet your teacher and kick-off a new school year. Currently, students are working on classroom routines and procedures and student learning continues to be our top priority. This year, our theme is “We are 1 VRES!” While appreciating our diversity, we will also connect through our similarities as we work closer together as a school community.
I want to share a few updates as we begin the new school year. First, I want to stress the importance of students attending school regularly. Research shows there is a high correlation between student success and regular attendance. Thank you for sending your students to school daily and supporting the school in helping your child reach success! Second, we have a few new programs and resources this year that will help us to dig deeper into academics. During the school year, all students will participate in the Positivity Project. Students will learn the significance of positive character traits and how to incorporate them into their daily lives. In addition, fourth and fifth grades will have the support of a STEAM teacher who will be working with classes monthly. Finally, our parent liaison, Diana Archila, will support our school five days a week! We are working hard to bridge the gap between home and school communication. As a result, I have asked all teams to provide updates to parents on Blackboard or another electronic communication every two weeks. I believe it is important for you to know what your child is learning along with ways you can support him/her to be successful.
I am SO excited to see many of you tonight for our annual Back-to-School Night. Specialists will be available to meet with parents at 6 pm in the library and we will host parents for two sessions including one beginning at 6:30 pm and the other at 7:15 pm. I hope to see you there!
Best wishes!
Ms. Bumbrey
Back to School Night
Back to School Night is on Wednesday, September 4th for all grade levels K-6. At 6:00 pm, parents are invited to the library to “Meet the Specialist.” You will be able to meet the librarian along with the art, music, and physical education teachers who work with your students. Additionally, our counselors will be on hand. Teachers will be in their classrooms at 6:30 pm to greet you for session 1. We ask that parents refrain from arriving at the classrooms earlier than 6:30 pm to allow teachers time to prepare for their presentations. There will be another 45 minute information session starting at 7:15 pm in each classroom so that families with multiple children can attend more than one session.
Parking will be limited. Please consider walking if you live close to the school. We ask that children do not attend this evening event.
In this busy world, it is difficult to do all that is asked of us, but one evening at Back-to-School Night will put you in personal touch with teachers who will be working with you to ensure your son’s or daughter’s success.
You are the most important people in your son’s or daughter’s life. Here at Virginia Run Elementary School we know the value of parent involvement. We will all do a better job with our students if we communicate throughout the year.
New Parent Coffee
On Friday, September 6, from 9:15 am until 10:30 am, the PTA and administrators will host a coffee for parents new to Virginia Run Elementary School in the cafeteria. All new parents (and non school-age children) are welcome to join us. You will have the opportunity to meet Mrs. Bumbrey, our Principal, and Mr. Skerker, our Assistant Principal. Our PTA members will be available to answer any questions about the community and to offer assistance to new families. Please RSVP by calling the main office at 703-988-8900. We hope to see you there.
Volunteer/Visitor Computer Check-In
It is important for all visitors to have a government issued ID when visiting the school.
Please be aware that the office staff will be asking visitors, prior to providing access to the school building, the purpose of their visit.
When you come into the school, either to volunteer in the classroom, have lunch with your child, or attend a meeting, you MUST register on the computer located in the office. If you are “working” at the school on a VOLUNTEER basis, please check IN and OUT as a VOLUNTEER. If you are coming to visit your child at lunch and are not “working” or “volunteering” in some way, then you must check IN and OUT as a VISITOR. The only time you would manually sign in as a VISITOR or VOLUNTEER is if the computer is down. You will continue to manually sign your child in/out when your child is TARDY or LEAVING EARLY.
Thanks for your cooperation in this matter.
TESTING
In November, the Naglieri Nonverbal Ability Test (NNAT) is administered to all FCPS first grade students. In October, the CogAT-Custom Form is administered to all FCPS second grade students. During the fall testing cycle, the NNAT and/or Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) may be administered to students in grades 3-6 who do not have an ability test score. Parents or guardians may exercise a one-time retest option during the fall testing cycle. If you have a student in grades 3-6 and are interested in exercising your one-time retest option, please email Mrs. Sesso at vmsesso@fcps.edu by September 17, 2019.
Here Comes the Bus - App Now Available
Here Comes the Bus® is now available. This is a school bus tracking app that provides parents and guardians with real-time bus locations through text or email alerts. Here Comes the Bus® combines GPS and bus routing data in an easy-to-use, customizable app that works on one or multiple devices including smartphones, tablets, or desktop computers. Please visit our website at https://virginiarunes.fcps.edu/ to get started.
Family Life Education Instructional Program Information
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) provides a comprehensive, sequential Family Life Education (FLE) program for students in grades kindergarten through grade twelve. Instruction is seen as a partnership among parents and guardians, the school, and the community in supporting the learning essential to the development of strong families, positive relationships, and a healthy community.
Parents/guardians may choose to opt their child out of all or part of the Family Life Education program. Students who are opted out are provided with age-appropriate, nonpunitive alternative health instruction, and every effort is made to foster respect for family choices. If you wish to opt your child out of all or part of FLE for this school year, opt out forms were included in your child’s back-to-school/orientation packets and are available online for Elementary (K-6) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-school-academics-k-6/elementary-family-life-education , Middle School (7-8) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/middle-school-academics-7-8/family-life-education-fle, and High School (9-12) https://www.fcps.edu/academics/high-school-academics-9-12/family-life-education-fle. Please fill in the opt-out form and return it to your child’s school prior to Family Life Education instruction.
Detailed grade-level program descriptions are available online at Elementary (K-6) , Middle School (7-8) , and High School (9-12). FLE grade level-specific lessons and media that FCPS has streaming rights for are available for parents online in FCPS 24-7 (Blackboard) Parent View https://fcps.blackboard.com/. Account information is available at your local school or online at http://www.fcps.edu/is/instructionaltechnology/247help/parents.shtml. Grade level-specific lessons are also available at the Fairfax County Regional Library in the City of Fairfax (this location does not have media). Grade level-specific lessons and media that is not streamed online are available for review at your child’s school library. Due to copyright permissions, we are unable to stream all media online.
Program questions may be addressed at your child’s school or by contacting Instructional Services at 571-423-4550 or by contacting Elizabeth Payne, Health and Physical Education Coordinator at etpayne@fcps.edu.
Check out our Virginia Run student's artwork on display in the current school lunch menu!
Evie C. (tomatoes)
Tyler D. (oranges)
Kendall J. (apples)
Congratulations!
Calendar
September 4 – Back to School Night, 6:30 pm, Meet the Specialists at 6:00 pm
September 6 – New Parent Coffee, 9:15 am, Cafeteria
September 17 – Spirit Night, TBD
September 24 – PTA Meeting, 7:00 pm, Library
September 30 – AAP Parent Information Meeting, 7:00 pm, Library
|
