From the Principal’s Desk
Dear Cub Run Families,
This has been a busy week preparing to welcome more Cubbies for 4-day, in-person learning. I thank you for your patience and support of our teachers as we prepare to open our doors next week to your children. We are so excited to have them back!
Below, you will find book recommendations in honor of April as the Month of the Military Child. As a former military child myself, I know firsthand the sacrifices that families make while supporting their family members in the military. We often hear “Thank you for your service” said to military members across the country, and we are so grateful for their dedication in keeping our country safe. This month, we are also reminded to thank spouses, partners, and children for their “service” as well!
This week also brought the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial in Minneapolis. We know that there are a range of emotions and questions that our students may have as they hear the news and discussions at home and in their communities. There is a palpable sense of hope and renewed trust in our justice system that is being felt by people across our nation, including law enforcement officers who are dedicated to serving their communities with equity and compassion. At the same time, we know that there is still much work that needs to be done to ensure that all Americans feel safe, valued, and welcome in their own country. At Cub Run, our dedicated staff works everyday to help all of our Cubbies feel included, valued, seen, and heard as a valued part of our school community. If you are looking for resources to help navigate conversations about race and equity with children, we recommend this source from Amaze Works and this one from the Center for Racial Justice in Education. As always, please reach out if you have questions or need support; we are here to help.
Warm regards,
Natalie Lorenzi
Principal
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More than 14,000 military-connected youth call FCPS home! |
April is the Month of the Military Child, providing an opportunity to recognize and honor the service of Virginia’s youngest heroes. We hope you will enjoy these book recommendations for sharing with your family to honor the sacrifices made by members of the military and their families.
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The story of military homecomings, Greg Ruth's Coming Home focuses on a boy reuniting with his military mother, as well as other reunions (and dogs!).
Every day, soldiers leave their families to protect others. We love them. We miss them when they're gone.And we want them all to come home. They are our heroes.
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When a soldier's work takes him half-way around the world, he enlists the help of the North Star for a nightly game of catch with his son.
Night Catch is a timeless story that connects families while they are apart and offers comforting hope for their reunion.
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In Sara Lewis Holmes’ novel Operation Yes, no one in her sixth-grade class knows quite what to make of Ms. Loupe, with her short hair, her taped square "stage" on the floor, and the interest in improvisational theatre. After all, their school is on an Air Force base, a place that values discipline more than improv. But her students soon come to love her fresh approach, and when her dear brother goes missing in Afghanistan, and Ms. Loupe herself breaks down, they band together to support their teacher. What starts as a class fundraiser expands into a nationwide effort for all injured troops, and an amazing vision of community and hope.
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SOL Testing Information and Intent Form
Across Virginia, students will be taking ‘Standards of Learning’ tests (SOLs) this spring. Federal and state education departments have decided not to cancel this year’s assessments. In Fairfax County Public Schools, testing for grades 3-6 will be scheduled between April 26 and June 4, 2021. Cub Run’s SOL testing schedule is as follows:
- Reading Test, All Grades
- In-person Tuesday/Wednesday students: Tuesday, May 11
- In-Person Tuesday-Friday students: Tuesday, May 11
- In-person Thursday/Friday students: Thursday, May 13
- Fully virtual students: Monday, May 17
- Math Test, All Grades
- In-person Tuesday/Wednesday students: Tuesday, May 18
- In-Person Tuesday-Friday students: Tuesday, May 18
- In-person Thursday/Friday students: Thursday, May 20
- Fully virtual students: Monday, May 24
- Science Test, Grade 5 only
- In-person Tuesday/Wednesday students: Tuesday, May 4
- In-Person Tuesday-Friday students: Tuesday, May 4
- In-person Thursday/Friday students: Thursday, May 6
- Fully virtual students: Monday, May 10
All SOL tests must be taken in-person at school. If your child is currently attending school in-person, testing will be scheduled on days when they are already in the building. Students who are attending school fully virtually, can come in to test on Mondays (per the schedule above). Bus transportation can be arranged, if needed.
For any SOL assessments this spring, parents/guardians have the right to refuse testing for their child(ren). The Right to Refuse Assessments webpage (https://www.fcps.edu/node/34277) offers information and considerations as you make this decision. If you choose to refuse the grade 3-6 SOL reading or mathematics test for your child, you will have the opportunity for them to complete an alternative, non-SOL test at home. However, please note that this test is not required. The ‘Virginia Remote Student Progress Monitoring Test’ will provide information about strengths and areas for growth in grade level content standards. More information about this option will be provided as soon as it is available.
As we prepare for spring assessments, we need to collect information about your intentions for your child’s participation in the SOLs, as all tests must be completed in-person at Cub Run. We are asking that ALL parents/guardians of all 3rd-6th Graders, please complete the following form by Friday, 4/23: https://forms.gle/2PXNK7gMjFcMSfis5 Please complete the form once for each child in 3rd-6th Grade. If your child is currently attending school in-person and we do not receive a response to the SOL participation intention form by this Friday, 4/23, we will plan to administer the SOLs to your child per the schedule above. Even if you’ve already conveyed a ‘refusal to test’ to the school for your child, we ask that you still complete this form to ensure that we have a concise accounting of everyone’s intention. This information will also help us in our logistical planning for administering the tests – including transportation, which is available to students who are remaining fully virtual and only provided on Mondays. Please contact the main office (703-633-7500) if you need help accessing or completing the form.
All testing will begin in the morning. We know that some of our students are fasting in honor of Ramadan this month. If you have any questions or concerns about your child testing during Ramadan, please reach out to our School Testing Coordinators Shelia Sobeski (sdsobeski@fcps.edu) or Jonathan Magwire (jmmagwire@fcps.edu).
يرجى النقر على الرابط التالي لقراءة الرسالة بلغة أخرى:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-hLiIYnPkQPjYsDftQjl-0yNOYbBUpXu?usp=sharing
이 메시지를 다른 언어로 확인하려면 다음 링크를 클릭하시기 바랍니다:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-hLiIYnPkQPjYsDftQjl-0yNOYbBUpXu?usp=sharing
Por favor, hagan clic en el siguiente enlace para ver este mensaje en otro idioma:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-hLiIYnPkQPjYsDftQjl-0yNOYbBUpXu?usp=sharing
مختلف زبان میں یہ میسج ملاحظہ کرنے کے لیئے، براہ مہربانی درج ذیل لنک پر کلک کریں:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-hLiIYnPkQPjYsDftQjl-0yNOYbBUpXu?usp=sharing
Xin vui lòng nhấp vào đường kết nối dưới đây để xem nội dung thông tin bằng ngôn ngữ khác:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-hLiIYnPkQPjYsDftQjl-0yNOYbBUpXu?usp=sharing
Spring Universal Screener (iReady) Testing
Kindergarten through 2nd Grade students will be taking the Reading iReady diagnostic next week (4/26-30). 1st & 2nd Grade students will be taking the Math iReady diagnostic during the week of May 3rd. Select 3rd-6th Graders will be taking the iReady diagnostics in late May / early June, after the Virginia ‘Standards of Learning’ (SOLs) are complete. If you have any questions, please reach out to your child’s teacher or Cub Run’s School Testing Coordinators: Shelia Sobeski (sdsobeski@fcps.edu) and Jonathan Magwire (jmmagwire@fcps.edu).
PreK and Early Head Start Accepting Applications for SY 2021-22
FCPS PreK and Early Head Start is now accepting applications for School Year 2021-22! Please watch this video to see if your 3 or 4 year old may qualify for PreK. To apply online: www.fcps.edu search: PreK Email: fcpsprekoffice@fcps.edu
For more information call our English Line: 703-208-7900
¡FCPS PreK y Early Head Start ya está aceptando aplicaciones para el año escolar 2021-22! Por favor mire este video para ver si su hijo de 3 o 4 años puede calificar para PreK. Para aplicar en línea: www.fcps.edu busque: PreK Correo electrónico: fcpsprekoffice@fcps.edu
Para más información llame a la línea de español: 703-208-7901
The Office of Transportation Services
The Office of Transportation Services identified a technical error with some student transportation records. Students who have not received their 4-day transportation schedule may utilize their current bus assignment for all 4 days of transportation. Please check your ParentVue account and follow up with your school by today, April 22nd, to receive your updated transportation schedule.
Vision and Hearing Screenings Required for Virtual Only students in Kindergarten, 3rd grade and New to County.
For Virtual Only students in Kindergarten, 3rd grade and student new to the county, vision and hearing screenings are required. If you elect to have your child(ren) screened, you may click on the link here to schedule a time for their screening.
If you elect NOT to have your child(ren) screened, you may click on this link to sign the opt-out form. This will exempt your child from the screenings this year. You may submit the form to Diana Jimenez at dljimenez1@fcps.edu.
Elementary Family Life Education (FLE) Instruction
FLE includes two units of instruction: Emotional & Social Health (ESH) and Human Growth and Development (HGD). Please review below for important information on both units of instruction.
Emotional & Social Health (ESH):
- Grades K-6
- K-3 instructed in quarter 2; 4-6 instructed in quarter 3
- All ESH lessons should be taught. This includes the topic of child abuse.
- Child Protective Services (CPS) is reporting a decrease in the number of reports for suspicion of child abuse and believes abuse is being underreported due to the ongoing pandemic.
- Instruction on child abuse provides students with valuable information and resources for help and can raise awareness of this issue in the community.
- Teachers are encouraged to make their school counselor aware of when this instruction will take place and invite the school counselor to participate in the instruction with them.
- Teachers are encouraged to collaborate with the school counselor(s), school social worker, and/or school psychologist to plan instruction.
Human Growth and Development (HGD):
- Grades 4-6
- Though typically instructed prior to winter break, for the 2020-21 school year, it is recommended that schools delay HGD until the second semester.
- Schools may instruct HGD the week prior to spring break or identify another time during second semester that works for their community.
- Schools are encouraged to continue teaching all HGD lessons; however, the following modifications are possible this school year:
- Grade 5 can be limited to lesson 1 & 2 (Puberty and Reproductive Systems)
- Grade 6 can omit lesson 4 (Sexually Transmitted Infections)
- If changes are made to instruction, clear communication must be made to parents.
As a reminder, FLE instruction will be delivered by the classroom teacher. Additionally, schools must hold a parent preview night a minimum of two weeks prior to beginning FLE instruction. Parent preview night will be held virtually, and a slide presentation has been sent to all FLE administrators for use during preview night. Schools are also asked to send a reminder to parents/guardians one week prior to the start of FLE instruction.
Opt-out letters and forms, parent preview night letters, and confirmation of opt-out requests are available at http://fcpsnet.fcps.edu/is/hpe/index.html. Parents/guardians wishing to opt their child out of FLE instruction may return the completed opt-out form either in hardcopy or attached to an email. Parents/guardians may also send an email stating the lesson(s) they are opting out of.
SCA
The SCA Sponsored Hat Drive will be EXTENDED through April 23rd!
Please donate new hats to the bin in the lobby or the bin outside door 1. Hats will be given to https://ellieshats.org/.
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The Positivity Project
This week Cub Run has been learning about APPRECIATION OF BEAUTY & EXCELLENCE.
Next week, we will begin learning about PURPOSE. Connection/purpose gives individuals the sense that they are put on this earth for a reason and that they are somehow connected with humanity or the universe.
Click the link for P2 for Families! The password is “P2.” https://posproject.org/p2-for-families/
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Save the Dates: |
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Apr. 1-30 - School Library Month
Apr. 22 - Earth Day
Apr. 26-30 - Reading iReady Testing Kindergarten - 2nd Grade
Apr. 26-Jun 4 - SOL Testing 3rd - 6th Grade
May 3-7 - Math iReady Testing 1st Grade -2nd Grade
May 3-7 - Teacher Appreciation Week
May 4-24 - SOL Testing
May 7 - Lunch School Hero Day
May 10 - 6th Grade FLE Lesson
May 11 - PTA Meeting 7:00pm
May 12 - Interims Sent Home
May 12 - School Nurse Day
May 31 - Memorial Day Holiday
Jun. 7 - 4th Grade & 5th Grade FLE Lesson
Jun. 11 - Last Day of School
Be Informed, Stay Involved!
How-To Videos for Parents and Students as they Return to School
Mask-Wearing
Return to School Daily Procedures
ParentVue
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