For a translated version of this newsletter, please click HERE. Next click on the language con in the upper left corner to choose your preferred language.
Para obtener una versión traducida de este mensaje, haga clic AQUÍ. Luego, haga clic en el icono IDIOMA en la esquina superior izquierda para elegir su idioma preferido.
From the desk of Mr. Smith!
Dear DRES Families,
Thank you for your flexibility, patience and help as we navigated our first virtual "snow" day. A reminder that students do have school on Monday and we will return to normal operations on Tuesday, January 25th. I will be taking my son to visit some colleges over the next few days and will respond to any email or phone messages on Tuesday.
Always feel free to contact me directly at cmsmith@fcps.edu if you have any questions, concerns, or if there is anything our team can do to support you.
Chris Smith
DRES Principal
2022-2023 Kindergarten Survey
We need your help in projecting the Kindergarten enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year. Virginia Law, section 22.1-254, requires that children who will reach their fifth birthday on or before September 30, 2022, must be enrolled in Kindergarten for the 2022-2023 school year unless the parent or guardian notifies the school in writing that they do not wish the child to attend school until the following year.
If you have a child who will be five years old on or before September 30, 2022, please complete this form and return it no later than February 11, 2022. If any of your neighbors have children who will be eligible for Kindergarten, please share this information with them, as we are especially interested in reaching those Daniels Run families who do not have children currently attending school.
The information on this survey will help the school plan for adequate facilities and personnel for the 2022-2023 school year. Please email the completed form to Ashya Otero at amotero@fcps.edu. We thank you in advance for returning the form no later than February 11, 2022.
COVID Vaccination Status
You may wish to voluntarily share your child’s COVID-19 vaccination information with Daniels Run ES. However, we do not require your child’s vaccination information and no school employee will ask for your child’s vaccination status. If you would like to provide us with your child’s vaccination status, please bring your child’s COVID-19 vaccination card or a photocopy of the card to Aysha Otero in the front office. COVID-19 vaccination documentation contains Protected Health Information and should not be emailed.
Counselor's Corner
Dear DRES Families,
Happy 2022! I write this as 8” of snow blankets our sidewalks and lawns, giving kids and adults all over a little boost of unexpected joy. We hope this January Counselor Corner finds you well—both emotionally and physically.
So… what have the school counselors been up to--you ask-- in terms of counseling activities for all Daniels Run Students? Ashleigh Fisher and I are wrapping up Lessons 10 and 11 in the Second Step curriculum in January, which puts us at about halfway through the year-long refresher on learning and social interaction skills. Specifically, Grades K-2 are finishing up their unit on Empathy and Grades 3-6 are beginning a unit on Emotions Management.
As you may know, each grade will have the opportunity to complete a service-learning project this year to support members of our Greater Fairfax community. At the end of January, the 2nd grade students will be complete their grade level service-learning project. Holly Senn, the Child Life Specialist at INOVA Fairfax, will answer student questions about the experiences of children who have serious illnesses. If your 2nd grader would like to contribute a question, contact Ashleigh Fisher at (amcpherson@fcps.edu) and she will send the QR Code so your student can record a question for Holly Senn.
After Mrs. Fisher edits all the questions and answers together, she will work with the 2nd grade students to record Flip Grid messages filled with jokes, funny stories and warm greetings to send—electronically--to kids who are in long term treatment programs. Their mission is to bring them a little good cheer while going through treatment. Due to Covid restrictions, no physical items—cards or otherwise, can be sent to students. But we think these virtual cards will give the kids the chance to express their creativity, humor and empathy.
May the year 2022 be full of hope and optimism, even as we experience some setbacks in our physical wellness. To quote a Charlie Brown cartoon I once read, “Always remember that your present situation is not your destination. The best is yet to come.”
Until next month…
Louise Robinson and Ashleigh Fisher (formerly McPherson)
Attendance Matters!
This is the time of year when winter weather and children’s illnesses can take a toll on school attendance. But it’s important to get your children to school every day possible.
- If you are unsure whether to send your children to school, consult your doctor or this website for guidance: https://www.fcps.edu/about-fcps/policies-regulations-and-notices/attendance-policies/attendance-when-should-i-send-my. Our school nurse is also a terrific resource for chronic health conditions.
- Do what you can to keep your children healthy. Dress them warmly for the cold weather and make sure they’ve got hats and gloves. Encourage them to wash their hands regularly, and send them to school with a bottle of hand sanitizer.
- Help your child learn to persevere. Today, he learns to overcome a snowdrift. In the future, he will have the grit to triumph over even greater obstacles to his dreams.
 Yearbook Ordering link: https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/
Yearbook ID Code: 14303922
Direct link: https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/Order/LookupJob?jobNumber=14303922
A Note About Music!
This month all 3rd-6th Graders will begin learning how to play the ukulele in their general music classes. Each child will have a ukulele to play during music class thanks to generous grants from the PTA, Skip Chaples & his non-profit Music for Life. K-2nd Graders continue to play classroom instruments including xylophones and metallophones.
The January musician of the month is the Hawaiian musician Israel IZ Kamakawiwo’ole . He was a singer and ukulele player who performed contemporary and traditional music. He is known around the world for his versions of Over the Rainbow and What a Wonderful World.
 
PTA News!
Ice Skating with the PTA - Saturday, January 29th 6:45-8:15 pm
Join us at Fairfax Ice Arena for ice skating with the Daniels Run PTA. DRES students will be free including skate rental! Masks are required. This is NOT a drop off event. Students must be supervised by an adult. Please note: We are hopeful to be able to hold this event but will adjust if needed based on current covid conditions. Please RSVP at www.danielsrunpta.org/events
Join the PTA and Win a Grocery Gift Card!
It is not too late to join the PTA and support our programs and projects! Joining does not obligate you to anything, it simply is a way to show your support for our Daniels Run community. As a bonus - all new members (including staff!) who join between now and March 1st will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 grocery store gift card to the store of your choice. Join today at https://dres.memberhub.com/store.
Important Dates
January 24-Professional Development Day/Student Holiday
February 1-Lunar New Year
February 21-President's Day Holiday
March 3-2 hour Early Release
March 4-Student Holiday
April 1-Student Holiday
April 3-Ramadan
April 4-8-Spring Break
April 15-Good Friday
April 16-Theravada New Year
April 22-Orthodox Good Friday
May 3-Eid al Fitr
May 30-Memorial Day
June 10-Last Day of School-Early Release
|
