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To read this newsletter in other languages, please visit our website.
Para leer este boletín en otros idiomas, visite nuestro sitio web.
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School Hours: 9:15 am - 4:00 pm, Monday - Friday School building opens for students at 9:00 am
Office: 703-988-8900
Attendance: 703-988-8989
November 16, 2022
Upcoming Student Holidays
The following dates are student holidays. There will be no school on these days.
Wednesday, November 23 - Friday, November 25 - Thanksgiving break
Picture Retake Day
Picture Retake Day will be on Thursday, December 1, 2022. For a no charge retake, return the entire package to the photographer on retake day. For first time photos, payment is due on picture day. For online orders, please use the link below and order code 0038736AR.
https://www.barksdalestorefront.com/shop/login/?ac=0038736AR
Picture Retake Day December 2022 Flyer
Holiday Toy Drive
With the holiday season fast approaching, we are writing to share some important updates. FCPS is no longer serving as a liaison between families and various holiday assistance programs. Unfortunately, the organization that we have used for gift assistance for the last several years informed us this month that they are no longer operational. We are reaching out to the Virginia Run ES community to support our families in need. We will be hosting a Toy Drive that will run November 9th – November 30th. If your family would like to participate, please see below on ways you can give.
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Ways to Give
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- Donate toys - Age range 5-12 years old
- Donate gift cards in $25 increments to the following stores:
- Walmart
- Target
- Gift cards must be dropped off in the front office.
- A toy donation box will be located in the front lobby, under the clock.
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Families who need assistance: Families who qualify for free/reduced meals are eligible to make an appointment with our family liaison (Veronica Sarabia, vsarabiasant@fcps.edu) to come and shop (at no cost) for two gifts per Virginia Run ES students in grades K-6, while supplies last.
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Receiving Gift Assistance
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- Veronica Sarabia will reach out to families.
- Toy pick-up will be the week of December 5th in the Virginia Run Cafeteria.
- Supplies are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Limit 2 gifts per Virginia Run ES students in grades K-6 only. Shopping slots are limited to 15 minutes.
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Gratitude for VRES Staff Member
Please use this link to submit your kind sentiments and express your appreciation for VRES staff during this month of gratitude. Ms. Bumbrey will share the information with staff during Thanksgiving week.
“Gratitude for VRES Staff Member”
Family Liaison Position Available
Virginia Run ES is looking for someone to serve as a Family Liaison among families, community, and school staff and facilitate communications and provide FCPS information and resources to families.
If you are interested in applying for this hourly position, please click here and enter Family Liaison in the search button.
Portrait of a Graduate
In 2014, the FCPS School Board developed and adopted the Portrait of a Graduate (POG). This adoption of POG acknowledges that in our rapidly changing world, education needs to evolve to fulfill our mission of supporting student success in school and in life. POG prioritizes the development of skills that will empower students to be productive citizens of a global community and successful in the workforce of the future.
What skills does a student need to become a successful Portrait of a Graduate?
- Communicator
- Collaborator
- Critical and Creative Thinker
- Ethical and Global Citizen
- Goal-Directed and Resilient Individual
This month, we are highlighting the Collaborator Attribute for parents to use as resource in supporting their student in becoming a Portrait of a Graduate!
Family Conversations
- Consider telling your child when they are demonstrating a skill at home or in a social setting. Example:
- During soccer practice this morning, when you missed the goal you didn’t give up and kept trying hard to get the ball back to score. (Goal-directed and resilient)
- When you were playing with your sister, you were being kind to her by sharing your toys and letting her choose a game to play. (Collaborator)
- Share examples of how you were a [collaborator, communicator, etc.] during your day or within your job. Provide specific details and explain how using these skills helped you. (e.g., I was a collaborator at work today when I _____. This was helpful because ___________.)
- Instead of asking “What did you do in school today?”, consider asking one of the questions below:
Attribute
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Skills for Grades K - 6
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Questions to Ask Your Student
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Collaborator
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- I respectfully listen to other points of view.
- I share my ideas with my team.
- I encourage others to help the team.
- I both give and use feedback to help improve work.
- When problems arise, I help find solutions.
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- How were you a collaborator today?
- How did you help your team finish the [activity, project, assignment]?
- Were there moments when your team struggled? How did you handle that?
- Did you have a chance to see things from a different side? What did you learn when you did that?
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Strings Newsletter
Strings students have been hard at work. Click the link below to see what they have been learning and for important concert dates.
Virginia Run FALL 2022 Strings Newsletter
6th Grade's Wreaths Across America Fundraiser
In honor of Veterans Day, please consider sponsoring a wreath through the 6th grade's Wreaths Across America fundraising page. With your tax deductible donation, you will help honor and remember our fallen heroes, as well as support the 6th grade end-of-year celebration. Thank you for your support!
Spirit Night
Our next spirit night will be with Bella Pizza. All proceeds will benefit the PTA Community Outreach Fund. This fund provides assistance to VRES students in need. You may also donate to this fund directly via https://vrespta.ptboard.com/ under the forms and payments tab or sending in an envelope with cash or check (made out to VRES PTA) labeled "PTA Community Outreach."
When: November 30, All Day (Delivery or Pick-up)
Where: Bella Pizza, 5740 Pickwick Road, Centreville, VA 20121
Click Here for Menu and Online Ordering
Upcoming PTA Events
December 2 - Winter Fun Night
Choose to come to one or both family activities. Sign up information is coming home this week.
5:30 - 6:30 - Paint Your Own Pottery
6:30 - 7:00 - Pre-order pizza pick up and concession sales
7:00 - 8:30 - Movie Begins: Norm of the North
Paint Your Own Pottery
The PTA will be sponsoring a Paint Your Own Pottery Night. Your pre-ordered pottery will be at the school ready for you to paint. After being fired at the Create Like Crazy studio, finished artwork will be ready for pick up at the school on December 16.
Movie Night
Family Movie Night is back! Bring a blanket and come in your pajamas as we enjoy Norm of the North. This is a free event. Each participant will be given a bag of popcorn. Snacks, candy and drinks will be available for sale by the 6th Grade Celebration Committee. There will also be an option to pre-order pizza.
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Boxtops for Education
Now it is even easier to show your support through the Box Tops for Education program. Simply download the app, choose Virginia Run Elementary as your school, and scan your receipt.
Volunteers Needed for Food Pantry Deliveries!
The VRES Student Council and PTA are partnering to bring back the donations of leftover unopened school lunch items (milks, PBJ biteables, bananas, chips, etc.) to the local food pantry at Western Fairfax Christian Ministries. We are excited to be able to restart this program, but we need parent volunteers to pick up and deliver the food to make it a success!
Please visit the Food Pantry Sign-Up form for more details and consider signing up for a slot, or perhaps even once a month! Thank you for helping our school to keep good food out of landfills and to serve our community in this way again!
Special Message - FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention
The holidays usually involve family time, games, movies, food, and possibly drinks. The holidays may involve less family members this year, but that doesn’t necessarily mean less alcohol for some. Alcohol consumption has increased during the pandemic and when ABC stores were deemed essential it didn’t help lower those rates (ABC News, September 29, 2020). Many people are still trying to figure out how to navigate our “new normal” since a global pandemic wasn’t on our to-do list in 2020, but we encourage you to consider a few things during these trying times.
Questions to consider when drinking with your family:
- What message am I sending if I drink in excess around my underage child?
- Have I had conversations about responsible drinking with them?
- Are the conversations I have about alcohol realistic?
- Do my conversations with others reinforce alcohol use as a coping skill during stressful times?
- What messages am I sending my underage child if I allow them to drink with me or another adult in the house?
Info to consider:
“One-third of Fairfax County students (33.7%) reported drinking alcohol at least once in their lifetime, ranging from 18.8% of eighth-grade students to half of twelfth-grade students (49.4%). One in seven students (15.2%) reported drinking alcohol in the past month, ranging from 4.5% of eighth-grade students to 27.7% of twelfth-grade students.” (FCPS Youth Survey 2020)
“Female students reported higher rates of alcohol use in their lifetime (36.1% compared to 31.2% of male students), in the past month (17.1% and 13.1%, respectively), and binge drinking in the past two weeks (7.3% and 6.5%, respectively)” (FCPS Youth Survey 2020).
Resources:
Holiday Stress
Helpful Info to Quit Vaping
FCPS video on Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs
Substance Abuse Prevention (Spanish)
For general questions about the FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program, please contact the Office of Student Safety & Wellness at: (571) 423-4270 and be sure to follow us on Twitter at @FCPSSAPS.
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