To read our newsletter in other languages, please view it on the Bull Run Elementary website.  Para leer nuestro boletín en otros idiomas, véalo en el sitio web de Bull Run Elementary. 다른 언어로 된 뉴스레터를 읽으려면 Bull Run Elementary 웹사이트에서 확인하세요.

April 21 - Eid al-Fitr (Holiday - No School) FCPS has designated Eid al-Fitr as a religious and cultural observance day designed to allow students the opportunity to miss school for observances not already designated as school holidays. Eid al-Fitr is from sunset April 20 to sunset April 21. Thursday, April 20, is a half O Day, and Friday, April  21, is a holiday (only 12 month employees report). See the complete School Year Calendar.

April 17-20: BRES Spirit Week (Month of the Military Child and Earth Week) *see below April 19: Centreville Pyramid Art Show, CVHS, 4:30-6:30 pm April 21: Holiday - Eid al Fitr (begins sundown 4/20 – sundown 4/21) April 25: Spring Chorus Concert, 7-8 pm April 27: Kindergarten Orientation, 5:30-7 pm

*The full FCPS 2022-2023 calendar can be accessed here.

April is the Month of the Military Child! Every year we take the opportunity to recognize military-connected youth for their service and contribution to our community. Fairfax County Public Schools is proud to have over 14,000 military-connected youth as a part of our student body. We appreciate the varied life experiences they bring to our school community, and recognize their strength and resilience. Learn more about Month of the Military Child and FCPS’ resources for military families.

BRES is proud to celebrate National Arab American Heritage Month in April. This special month provides an opportunity to recognize the remarkable history and valuable contributions of Arab Americans. Arab Americans have ancestry in one of the world’s 22 Arab nations, which are located from northern Africa through western Asia. The people of these nations are ethnically, politically, and religiously diverse but share a common cultural and linguistic heritage. Learn more about the heritage months, celebrations, and traditions celebrated in FCPS.

April 16-22 - Public School Volunteer Week Public School Volunteer Week provides a yearly opportunity for schools and families to honor and highlight the powerful contributions parents and caregivers provide at school and home to support student success.

April 21-22 - Eid al-Fitr Eid al-Fitr, also known as small Eid, marks the end of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting, and is celebrated during the first three days of Shawwal, the 10th month of the Islamic calendar. Muslims congregate that morning for Eid prayers. It is a time of official receptions and private visits, when friends greet one another, presents are given, new clothes are worn, and the graves of relatives are visited. The most common way to wish someone a Happy Eid al-Fitr is Eid Mubarak, which means “blessed feast” (or festival). Read more at Britannica.com.

April 22 - Earth Day All students and staff are encouraged to join FCPS Get2Green in celebrating our division-wide Earth Week 2023 from April 17-20. Earth Week is an engaging way to foster conversation and learning about environmental topics that are essential in developing students as environmental stewards and ethical and global citizens. Learn more about the history of Earth Day in National Geographic Kids.

Follow BRES on Social Media Did you know Bull Run Elementary is on social media? Follow us to see photos and videos from our classrooms and connect with other families. FACEBOOK: FCPS Bull Run Elementary School INSTAGRAM: bullrunelem FACEBOOK (PTA): BullRunESPTA BRES Website: https://bullrunes.fcps.edu/ PTA Website: https://bullrun.memberhub.com/

FCPS Month of the Military Child Spirit Week and
Earth Day Spirit Week (4/17-4/20)

Lost 'n' Found at BRES The Lost 'n' Found outside the cafeteria at Bull Run Elementary has been growing.  There are many, many jackets, sweatshirts, water bottles, and lunch boxes.  If you are missing any of these items please stop by and take a look. We will be donating the unclaimed items to those in need soon the week of May 8. Thank you!

Bull Run Elementary VA Standards of Learning (SOL) Testing Calendar - May 2023

State assessments measure the extent to which students have learned the content and skills reflected in state standards and may also be used to measure growth in learning state standards. The format and timing of state assessments vary by grade level and content area, as noted in the table below.

Parent/guardian permission is required for the school to retest any student in grades 3-8. If you believe that your student would benefit from a second opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills on the spring SOL test, please complete this google form. A decision not to allow retesting will not impact your student’s course grade or academic record. We would like for all families to complete this form letting us know if they would like their student to retake or not.

BRES Family Input for Class Placement Family Input
SY 2023/24

If interested, families with children in kindergarten through 5th grade may provide input to help with class placements for the 2022/23 school year through our BRES Family Input for Class Placement Family Input 2023/24. The form will be open for family input until Friday, May 5. Please complete a separate form for each child in your family that attends Bull Run Elementary. Please note, requests for specific teachers, by name, cannot be honored.

School Readiness and Transition to Kindergarten

FCPS recognizes that parents are their children’s first teachers. Resources on the School Readiness and Transition to Kindergarten webpage provide parents with ways to support their children to help ensure a successful transition to kindergarten.  There’s an easy to follow five step process outlined for parents registering their children for kindergarten. Register your child today. More information below...

We're looking forward to welcoming our new kindergarten students in the 2023-24 school year! Registration for new kindergartners is now open! WHO: Parents or guardians of rising kindergartners—children who will be five years old on or before September 30, 2023.    WHAT: Register your child for the 2023-24 school year in an easy, two-step process.        WHEN: Now! WHY: Completing registration early will help us be ready to welcome your new kindergartner and make sure your child is eligible for summer enrichment activities.  HOW: Much of the registration process, including the uploading of documents needed for registration, can be completed online. Most document attachments (PDF, JPG, DOC, PNG, etc.) are compatible. The file-size limit is 2 MB.  WHERE: Registration is on the FCPS or Bull Run Elementary website or contact Maria Betancourth, registrar, at 7032271400. Go to  https://bullrunes.fcps.edu/student-services/student-registration https://www.fcps.edu/registration/kindergarten-registration   KINDERGARTEN ORIENTATION will be on THURSDAY, April 27, from 5:30pm-7:00pm.  Please bring your rising kindergartener so they can experience art, music, library, and physical education classes while families review the curriculum and discuss transitioning into Kindergarten.

Join PTA  **Joining the PTA does not commit you to volunteering, it helps support our school.

Don't Miss Another Bull Run PTA Event! 
Download our calendar!

To access the BRES Events calendar on Android devices:

• First, use a laptop computer and click here
• You will be prompted to Add the BRES Events calendar.  Select Add.
• You should now be able to see the calendar in your Android device.

To access the BRES Events calendar on iPhone:

• Using your iPhone click here. 
• You will be prompted to subscribe to the BRES Events calendar.
• You should now be able to see the calendar on your iPhone

In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:

• No-Cost Mental Health Teletherapy for High School Students

• Proposed Updates to the Student Rights and Responsibilities Document
• Curriculum Overviews on FCPS’ Website

Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, sign up today. 

Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow! According to a recent study of elementary and middle schools, there’s a 5.8% difference between April and June attendance rates. Let's work together to end the school year successfully! Visit our website for more attendance resources.

Community Meeting on the Dangers of Fentanyl Opioid overdoses are on the rise across the country, including in Fairfax County. Most fatal overdoses in Fairfax County in recent years involved fentanyl. Last month, FCPS hosted a conversation on the dangers of fentanyl. During this impactful event, audience members heard testimonials from individuals affected by the opioid epidemic and learned facts from medical experts and law enforcement representatives.  The conversation will continue on Monday, April 24, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Woodson High School. FCPS principals and staff will share what is happening in our schools and update the work to prevent substance misuse and educate our students.   Transportation will be available from select schools throughout the county. Transportation information can be found once you begin the registration process.  Visit our Opioid Awareness webpage for more information. Visit the Fairfax County Government webpage on opioids for information on how you can take action and get help for yourself or loved ones.

Medicaid Enrollment Underway If you have Medicaid/FAMIS/CHIP health insurance, the Medicaid Enrollment Processes began in March. The Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) (Virginia Medicaid) has started to review Medicaid members’ health coverage to determine whether members are eligible for coverage. DMAS will not cancel or reduce coverage for members without asking for updated information, but they need your help to make this a smooth process.Make sure your current mailing address, email, and phone numbers are up-to-date so that important information about your coverage gets to you. Update your contact information today online at commonhelp.virginia.gov, or by calling Cover Virginia at 1-855-242-8282 or your local Department of Social Services.If you need any assistance or have any questions, contact Cover Virginia at 1-855-242-8282 or your local Department of Social Services.

Proposed Updates to the 2023-24 Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) Document FCPS is in the process of updating the Student Rights and Responsibilities (SR&R) document for the 2023-24 School Year. The SR&R provides clear expectations for student behavior, responses to that behavior, and support that may be needed. Parents/caregivers, please check your email for a link from FCPS regarding a brief survey on proposed changes to the SR&R. The survey will close at 8 p.m., on Friday, April 21.  All responses to the survey are anonymous. The information provided will be used to revise the SR&R document that is presented to the School Board for approval in June.

Update Your Emergency Care Information Through weCare@school Fairfax County Public Schools provides weCare@school (weCare), an emergency care information system, to parents/caregivers who have registered for their own parent account. weCare helps manage emergency medical information by allowing parents to enter and update their children’s medical data online at their convenience. That contact information automatically enrolls parents/caregivers to receive eNotify communications from the district and their child’s school. eNotify is the communications tool for FCPS emergency, transportation, attendance, weather closing and delay, and essential outreach messages. Messages are sent via email, text, and occasionally phone.  Learn more about updating your emergency care information.

Parent Information Lines Available in Eight Languages Parents who speak Amharic, Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, Korean, Spanish, Urdu, or Vietnamese can call a telephone information line for general information about FCPS and to receive support if they are having difficulty communicating with their children's schools due to a language barrier.

Forum on Draft Goals for FCPS’ New Strategic Plan Join us for our final virtual community forum on Monday, April 17, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., and see how your feedback has helped shape the latest draft of the new FCPS Strategic Plan. The community forum is open to staff, students, parents/caregivers, and community members. Please register by clicking on the date above. We appreciate your continued involvement throughout every step of this important process. Together, we will help ensure a thriving future for each and every FCPS student. Visit our Strategic Planning webpage.

Upcoming Webinars and Events for Caregivers

FCPS’ Parent Resource Center (PRC) is dedicated to helping adults support the success of all students. Upcoming PRC webinars include:

• SIBSHOPS: An Exciting, In-Person Workshop for Brothers and Sisters of Children with Special Needs, Friday, April 14, at 9 a.m. 

Presented by School Social Work Services, students in grades 2-6 will be able to share sibling experiences, receive peer support, play games, and more. This event takes place at Providence Community Center.

• Flash Forward: Postsecondary Education and Employment Options, Wednesday, April 26, at 6:30 p.m. 

Presented by Career and Transition Services, students with disabilities seeking a standard or advanced diploma and their families are invited to this event that provides an introduction to options available after high school. This event takes place at Woodson High School.

• Neurodiversity at High School, Friday, April 28, at 10 a.m.Kristen Haynor, a neurodiversity specialist, will share strategies on setting your child up for success (no matter how their brain functions), advocating for your child, and collaborating with your child’s school. This event is virtual.

Click on the titles above to register.

ESSER Online Feedback Form 

FCPS received Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER III) Funding in the fall of 2021. The funds are being used to support the safe operation of schools and address the impacts of COVID-19 on students.

ESSER III focus areas include:

• ensuring continuity of learning services and addressing students’ academic needs.
• maintaining the health and safety of students, educators, and other staff.
• addressing student wellness including their social, emotional, mental health, and other needs.

FCPS would like your feedback on how well the school division is responding to the areas above. Please complete this Online Feedback Form, which will be open through Friday, May 5. Your input will inform the School Board and FCPS staff on the community’s view of our work.

The Fairfax County School Board will hear public comment on ESSER III in-person instruction and continuity of services plan on Thursday, April 27, at 6 p.m., at Jackson Middle School. Register to speak at the ESSER III public hearing. See how FCPS is using ESSER funds to impact student success.

Language Translation on FCPS Websites

In a continued effort to prioritize access for our diverse communities, FCPS is launching a language translation feature that will be available on every division and school webpage. The feature has been added to the header at the top of the page and will scroll with the user as they navigate the page. Learn more about our new translation feature.

Lightspeed Parent Report on Child’s Device Activity

FCPS has tools to help parents and guardians know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided by Lightspeed, our internet content filtering service, at no cost to families. You may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites your child visited. If you want more detailed information, sign up for the Internet Use Parent portal and log-in anytime to see more detail about your child’s browsing and “pause” access to the internet during non-school hours. Find out more and sign up for these services on our website.

BRES Bulls' Mission 

Bull Run Elementary School inspires and empowers every student to meet high academic standards, lead healthy, ethical lives, and be responsible and innovative global citizens.

BRES Bulls' Vision

Being the Ultimate Learner for Life is EPIC! (Explore, Problem Solve, Inquire, Create)

FCPS CARES Program Recognizing BRES employees who go above and beyond The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for families, staff, and community members to recognize FCPS employees for going above and beyond to help others and show they care. We invite you to submit your story, so we can all acknowledge the good work of FCPS employees at Bull Run Elementary. We love our staff members; let's tell them how we feel!

#1BRESbulls #weareBRES #chargerBRES

15301 Lee Highway, Centreville, VA 20121 | Main Office: 703.227.1400
Attendance: 703.227.1495 | Web | Twitter | Facebook