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The Principal's Desk!
Greetings Families,
We welcomed back our final group of in-person students, our 3rd through 6th graders, this past week. I want to applaud all of our 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grade students who have either transitioned to in-person instruction, transitioned to a new in-person or virtual teacher or welcomed new students into their in-person or virtual classroom this past week.
We have a two hour early release next Friday, March 26th. This is our final day of school prior to spring break and presents new challenges with students both in-person and virtual. We will keep our daily schedule in tact that day, including our schoolwide break for lunch/recess/screen break from 12:15-1:15pm. All students will have a class meeting with their teacher at 1:15pm prior to our 1:30pm dismissal.
We have taken requests from families to change their students from virtual to in-person school, and we have approved many of these requests depending on space in classrooms. On March 26, we, along with all schools in FCPS will no longer allow any changes from our virtual to in-person program.
Also, on March 26, students who have not yet appeared for in-person school will lose their space in the class and be switched to a virtual class. Please contact Chris Smith (cmsmith@fcps.edu) and Lauren Hein (ldhein@fcps.edu) if you would like to submit a request.
Please contact me directly at cmsmith@fcps.edu or call the main office (703-279-8400) if there is anything our school team can do to support your student and family.
Thanks for your support,
Chris Smith
Daniels Run ES Principal
Return to School Updates:
video #1
video #2
Celebrate a DRES Staff Member - FCPS Cares.
Calendar Reminder: Two-Hour Early Dismissal on March 26; Spring Break Is March 29-April 2
As a reminder, Friday, March 26, is the last day of the third quarter. Students will be dismissed two hours early and attend their in-person or virtual classes as planned.
Spring break is March 29-April 2. Also, Monday, April 5, is a teacher workday and a holiday for students. Teachers will not be available for office hours and students are not expected to complete asynchronous assignments. See the complete 2020-21 school year calendar.
SOL Testing Opt-Out Form
All FCPS students in grades 3-6 will be taking the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) Tests during the months of May and June. GIVEN THE CHALLENGES OF THE PANDEMIC, THE VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (VDOE) IS ALLOWING STUDENTS TO OPT-OUT OF SOL TESTING FOR THIS YEAR. Should you want your student to opt out of testing this year (no penalty against the student), please complete this form by FRIDAY April 9, 2021. This will allow us time to finalize our testing schedule so that we can release those dates.
The SOL tests that will be given this year include:
Grade 3: Reading & Math
Grade 4: Reading & Math
Grade 5: Reading, Math, & Science
Grade 6: Reading & Math
DRES SOL OPT OUT FORM
Meal Distribution During Spring Break
FCPS is committed to providing all students access to meals March 26 through April 5 when there is one early release school day, the week of spring break when schools are closed, and one teacher workday when students are not in school. Extra meal distribution begins March 22. See the food distribution web page for more information.
Additionally, the United States Department of Agriculture announced this week that no-cost breakfast and lunch meals for all students have been extended through September 30.
Let's Meet Our Staff!
Gina Byron
Hello Daniel's Run Families! I'm elated to be back in school and see you in person. I miss all of you, especially at KNR, where I've been for the past 6+ years (my tenure at DR.) I've met numerous families and made lots of friends at KNR. It's one of my favorite things to do, even in the bad weather. I know, odd, right, but I'm truly a people person and love meeting new people and making new friends! Before DR, I worked at Mosby Woods ES, where both my daughters attended ES. In case you don't know me, I'm a General Educational Instructional Assistant (Gen Ed IA). I wear lots of different hats and have very busy days helping a variety of students from PAC to 6th grade. I enjoy working with children because my favorite thing about teaching them is when I hear, "I got", after they understand what I was teaching them. A little about me, I grew up in Vienna, VA. I have a BS in Marketing and a MBA. In my past training and sales jobs, I traveled to 49 states (Alaska is on my bucket list), and various countries. In 1990, I was transferred to San Diego, CA to start a new job. It was an exciting time since I was also married that year. (It's hard to believe I've been married for 30+ years.) My family moved back to Fairfax in 1998. I have two amazing daughters that are both studying medicine. I'm very proud of them! I love to cook, garden, play all sports (especially softball), and I love animals. I hope everybody is as happy as I am to be back. I can't wait to see the rest of you at Daniel's Run!
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Phillip Reid
Hello! I am Philip Reid and this is my second year at Daniels Run as a General Education Instructional Assistant. I am the youngest of 3 children (2 older sisters). My favorite hobbies include watching and playing football/basketball and listening to music. In 2019 I received my bachelor’s degree from Bridgewater College in the field of Business Administration. I'm glad that my path after college brought me here to Daniels Run because I get to work with a great group of people and an awesome group of students, both which make it a joy to come to work each and every day. Go Dragons!
Send In Your Yearbook Pictures!
We need your pictures for our yearbook. If you did not have your child's school picture taken we would like a phot of just them to include with their grade level.
If you have any pictures of all the learning that has taken place outside the building, we would like those too. We cannot guarantee all pictures will be included (outside of individual student picture) however we will include as many as we can.
Please upload your pictures to our yearbook site using the link below,
Thank you!
Daniels Run Elementary School (shutterfly.com)
Order your 2020-2021 Yearbook!
Social Emotional Learning
The March 15th SEL lesson introduces students to the 4 different emotional zones in The Zones of Regulation curriculum and helps them identify what zone they are in based on how they are feeling. The Clinical Team acted out a skit to illustrate what the blue, green, yellow, and red zones look like. Mrs. Nichols demonstrates Hexagon or Six-Sided Breathing, which is the first of many self-regulation tools the lessons will introduce to students.
https://youtu.be/2GlEK6Xg3-U
AAP News!
SCREENING FOR SCHOOL-BASED (LEVEL II-III) SERVICES
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) offers a continuum of advanced academic services for all students in grades K-8. Learning experiences are designed to develop higher-level thinking through enrichment, acceleration, and extensions of the Program of Studies (POS). Teachers, administrators, and Advanced Academic Resource Teachers (AARTs) work together to provide the following levels of school-based services in each elementary school:
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Critical and Creative Thinking Lessons, Grades K-6 (Level I)
All students in kindergarten through grade six receive level I services which consist of model lessons that are designed to teach critical and creative thinking skills. The lessons are modeled in all classrooms by AARTs and the thinking strategies are then used throughout the year by classroom teachers and other teachers who work with students. Student responses to these model lessons are used as part of the identification process for AAP services. Parents may also practice the thinking strategies during family conversations and activities. A description of the nine critical and creative thinking strategies can be found at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-school-academics-k-6/advanced-academics/critical-and-creative-thinking.
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Differentiated Lessons in Areas of Academic Strength, Grades K-6 (Level II)
The AART collaborates with classroom teachers to provide additional challenge through lessons and resources that extend and enrich the POS. Level II services are part of a talent development pool. Students are rescreened annually to make decisions about the need for this level of service.
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Part-Time Advanced Academic Programs, Grades 3-6 (Level III)
Students identified by a local school screening committee for part-time advanced academic services are challenged through models and strategies designed to extend and enrich the POS in the four core subject areas. Students receive direct instruction from the AART at the local school using curriculum from the AAP Curriculum and Resources to Support the Differentiated Framework. Students identified for Level III services continue to receive level III services through grade 6.
Screening for school-based services can happen at any time during the school year but is done schoolwide in spring to determine services for the next school year. Parents or guardians may initiate the screening for school-based (level II and III) services by submitting the AAP School-Based Services (Level II-III) Referral Form (available at https://www.fcps.edu/registration/advanced-academics-identification-and-placement/elementary-school/current-fcps at the bottom of the page in Forms) to the Advanced Academic Resource Teacher (AART) at Daniels Run Elementary prior to spring screening by Friday, April 30. Multiple criteria are used to screen students for all levels of AAP services. Parents or guardians who submit a referral will be notified by Daniels Run of their student’s eligibility status by May 31.
If a parent or guardian wishes to appeal an ineligible decision, they may submit an appeal with new data for consideration by the local school screening committee. This new information should be submitted to the Daniels Run Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, Ms. Beth McCrodden.
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Beth McCrodden at bamccrodden@fcps.edu .
Here Comes the Bus!
Would you like to check if your child's bus is running late? Fairfax County Public Schools Office of Transportation offers two different ways you can access information on your child's bus arrival information.
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Bus Delay Notification System - This gives you FCPS School Bus Delays for both AM & PM.
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Here Comes the Bus - This is a school bus tracking app that provides parents/guardians with real-time bus locations through text or email alerts. A Student Information System (SIS) parent account is required to download the app. The app tracks the bus route-not the student.
Cloth Masks and Face Coverings
If your child will be returning in person, please review the types of masks that are approved for student use. Students must wear a mask to school. We recommend students have an extra mask in their backpack.
The following cloth masks/face coverings are NOT supported by FCPS:
- Gaiters with a single layer - NEW
- Face masks/face coverings with exhalation valves/vents
- Cloth masks/face coverings with a single layer - NEW
The following cloth masks/face coverings are acceptable and supported by FCPS:
- Gaiters with 2 or more layers - NEW
- Cloth masks/face coverings with 2 or more layers – NEW
Please refer to the following resources for detailed information: Your Guide to Masks.
PTA & Equity Team Book Club
The PTA, in partnership with the equity team at DRES, has selected Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You: A Remix of the National Book Award-Winning Stamped from the Beginning as the next parent book club selection. Join us by reading the book over the next few weeks and participating in this important discussion on April 14th following our PTA meeting.
Positivity Project Spirit Week!
Positivity Project spirit week is coming! The week of April 12th, Daniels Run will show #PositivityinAction both in our school classrooms and virtually. More information will be shared after spring break.
Music News!
 SINGING TELEGRAMS FOR SALE
The chorus club is selling virtual singing telegrams. Who would you like to send a song to? Promo here: https://youtu.be/P2OGOZgTf2k Click here to order: https://forms.gle/BZii9QrPGkm4Ph9d7
Musician of the Month: The March Musician of the Month is cellist: Yo Yo Ma. Here’s a video playlist of Yo Yo Ma. Here is a YouTube audio only video.
Favorite Songs KARAOKE: March 25; 4:30PM
Congratulations to the 15 students who were randomly selected. Click here to join the Karaoke Google Classroom on Thursday, March 25. Contact Miss McCarten with any questions.
Grades 4-6 Music:
Grades 4-6 will be attending a virtual orchestral concert this spring. It will be during school. The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra will be performing a special concert for them virtually. All students will be playing or singing along during the concert including songs like Saints Go Marching In and It Don’t Mean a Thing, if it Ain’t Got that Swing. Students are invited to submit videos and/or still photos of their work. Their work might be incorporated into the culminating virtual concert! Student submissions could include students playing on their recorders, describing what jazz means to them, singing, dancing, and displaying artwork inspired by the music they have been studying this year. Please contact Miss McCarten to submit your child’s video or still photo.
Summer Enrichment Programs through The College of William and Mary
William & Mary’s SEP is an academically challenging program with an emphasis on inquiry-based learning for students. The program is not meant to replace the regular school curriculum; rather, it recognizes the importance of allowing able children to explore additional specialized areas of science, mathematics, humanities, and the arts. Click for More Information.
Summer 2021 SEP registration is now open for students in grades 2-12. William & Mary’s Center for Gifted Education is excited to offer 2 weeks of virtual opportunities with courses available in the morning and afternoon each week. We have virtual courses available in the areas of robotics, civics, STEM, coding, writing, social science, and many more. Please see our Summer 2021 brochure for more information.
FCPS Cares!
FCPS CARES is an opportunity for staff, parents, students, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others. Every month, a nominated employee from each region and Central Offices will be recognized as an FCPS CARES of the Month recipient. We’ll share their names in Employee News, and they will also have access to a new FCPS CARES banner for their profile photo in Outlook. Watch this video to learn more about FCPS CARES. We also encourage you to acknowledge a staff member who has gone above and beyond
Qualcomm Thinkabit Summer Camp
Have you ever wanted to build a robot to clean your room or take out the trash, but didn't know where to start? Or have an idea for an app that will make you rich but are stuck on the details of creating it? Then the Katherine Johnson Middle School Thinkabit summer camp presented by Qualcomm is the place for you! This summer’s camps will be held virtually.
Current 5th and 6th graders may apply to this camp using their FCPS Google account by April 9, 2021 - https://forms.gle/3uePk8ypry4X65xW6
Please direct any questions to Kelsea Owens – kfowens@fcps.edu
 These materials are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Fairfax County School Board, the superintendent, or this school
We thank Merrifield Orthodontics and Jones Family Dentistry for their support.
These materials are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Fairfax County School Board, the superintendent, or this school
PTA NEWS!
Please Donate - PTA No Fuss Fundraiser
It's time for the DRE No-Fuss Fundraiser, and it means just that - no fuss, no selling, and no need to ask your family or neighbors to buy anything! Just send a donation-- It's quick, easy, AND it will make a huge difference for the students and staff at Daniels Run! Help us in our mission to enhance education and promote school spirit.
Daniels Run Elementary PTA is a 501(c)3 non-profit association. All contributions are 100% tax deductible and directly support PTA programs. Donate online at https://dres.memberhub.store/store/items/60348 or visit www.danielsrunpta.org for more information.
Get More involved in PTA for 2021-2022
It is time once again for the PTA Nominating Committee to recruit candidates for next year's PTA Board. Being in a PTA leadership position is rewarding, important and fun! The Board is a great way to get involved at Daniels Run, get to know our staff and admins, work with other parents, and support our students and school community. 2021-2022 will be an important year in defining what PTA can be for DRES. Please join us! Visit www.danielsrunpta.org/getinvolved or email drenominatingcommittee@gmail.com for more information.
https://dres.memberhub.store/store/items/60348
https://dres.memberhub.store/store/items/60348
Important Dates
March 26-Two Hour Early Release-Dismissal at 1:30
March 29-April 2-Spring Break
April 5-Teacher Workday; no school for students
April 14-PTA Meeting & Book Club
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