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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
October 4, 2023
Greetings VRES Families!
I hope you are enjoying the cooler weather and celebrating the change of the seasons. With change of weather comes the really important decisions…are you a pumpkin pie fan or do you prefer sweet potato? Regardless, I hope you get a chance to get outside and enjoy some family fun this season!
It’s amazing to think that we are more than halfway through the first quarter. Our students are back into the routines of school and they are working hard. This past week, we had the opportunity to welcome and honor our military families during our school-wide morning meeting as we celebrated Blue Star Welcome Week!
Mr. Van Trees and Ms. Wyllie are pictured with some of our military students.
Virginia Run ES is fortunate to host a student mentoring program in collaboration with Westfield HS. On Wednesdays, high school mentors meet with identified VRES students to build positive relationships while participating in a variety of activities including reading together and participating in arts and crafts. We are so thankful to our school counselors, Ms. DeKeuster and Ms. Wyllie, for leading these efforts!
Virginia Run students are pictured with their Westfield HS mentors.
I am happy to share that on Thursday, September 28, 2023, Virginia Run ES was acknowledged by our school Superintendent, Dr. Michelle Reid, for receiving the Continuous Improvement Exemplar Award from the Virginia State Board of Education. Our school was one of 21 schools in FCPS to receive this honor and we are thrilled! This award recognizes schools who demonstrate continuous improvement for academic and school quality indicators for the past 3 years!
Our awesome PTA has planned a Fall Festival for our school community scheduled for Friday, October 27th. We hope you and your family will join us for a great time!
Teachers are currently holding first quarter conferences and the end of the first quarter will be here before you know it. If you haven’t already done so, please reach out to your child’s teacher to schedule an in-person or virtual parent/teacher conference. It is our continued home/school partnership that will bring about the most positives for our children!
As always, if you have questions or concerns, please reach out to me and I’m happy to connect with you at erbumbrey@fcps.edu or 703-988-8900.
Best wishes,
Liz Bumbrey
#WeAre1VRES!
REMINDER
Monday, October 9 - Student Holiday - No School
SEL Screener
SEL Screener Window: October 10th - 27th (Grades 3-6).
Picture Day
It's that time of year again! Fall Picture Day will take place on Thursday, October 19, 2023. Order forms will go home in next week's Wednesday folder.
Fundraiser Deadline EXTENDED
We've extended the Clubs Choice catalog fundraiser for one more week! You now have until October 11th to put in your orders for cookie dough, pizza dough and fun wrapping paper and other fall and winter favorites. Every participant that sends 10 messages from their clubhouse qualifies for a Game System Giveaway (Switch, PS 4, or Xbox One X). Refer to your catalog that went home or go to Register - ClubHouse (clubschoicefundraising.com). School Code is VIRU22"
FCPS Cares - Staff Kudos
Our amazing teachers and operational staff are what makes Virginia Run a wonderful school that it is. Help us celebrate and recognize their hard work and dedication to our students by submitting a FCPS Cares message here. It only takes 2 minutes to write a note about a teacher, instructional assistant, specialist, or office staff and is shared with the staff member and our administration team.
Permission to Use Digital Resources
Some FCPS-approved digital resources require parent/caregiver consent before they can be used by students. Find the list of resources which require consent on the Digital Resources - Parent Consent page. This page also includes directions on how to provide permission.
Learn more about FCPS-approved digital resources on the Digital Resources in FCPS webpage.
Virginia Run's Digital Citizenship Week
Virginia Run's Digital Citizenship Week will be October 16 - October 20, 2023. Please see the list of events for the week.
Monday, October 16th - How do I stand up for others online?
- Team Day! - Wear your favorite sports gear to show how we TEAM UP FOR DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP!
Tuesday, October 17th - What footprints do I leave behind?
Wednesday, October 18th - How do I balance my time with technology?
Thursday, October 19th - How do I make responsible choices online?
Friday, October 20th - How do I know if something I see or hear online is true?
AAP (Advanced Academic Program) Full Time Level IV Screening Parent Information Night
Please join us on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 from 6:30 - 7:30 pm, in the VRES Library, to find out more about the winter screening process for full time placement in the Advanced Academic Program.
This information is targeted for families with 2nd – 6th grade students.
Ms. Wade, our Advanced Academic Resource Teacher, will share information about the screening process and the required components.
The winter referral deadline for level IV referral forms is December 15, 2023.
More information and referral forms can be found here.
Please contact bwade@fcps.edu with any questions.
PTA Meeting
The next PTA meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 10 at 7:00 pm in the VRES Library.
Food Pantry Parent Volunteers
WOW! VRES Collected 1,300+ Pounds of Food Last Year
Parent Volunteers Needed Now for 2023-2024
Once again, the VRES Student Council and PTA have partnered up to collect and deliver the leftover unopened school lunch items (milks, yogurts, cheese sticks, bananas, chips, etc.) to our local food pantry at Western Fairfax Christian Ministries. Our students are already doing their part by filling the cafeteria fridge each week. But to make this program a success, we need a parent volunteer, one per week, to pick up and deliver the food to WFCM. Learn more and sign-up for a shift (or more!) at VRES Food Pantry Delivery 2023-2024. Each shift takes about one hour, and clear instructions will be emailed to you once you sign up. Thank you for helping VRES keep good food out of landfills and to serve our community in this way again!
PTA Volunteers
The PTA could not support VRES with all the events and fundraisers we offer without the help of volunteers. Please click the link below to find a list of volunteer opportunities throughout the school year. When signing up, please include your email address in the notes section.
If you have any questions, please contact Cara Priester at cara.priester@gmail.com.
Thank you to everyone who has already signed up to volunteer!
Virginia Run Volunteers
Trunk or Treat and Fall Festival
Save the Date! The PTA will be hosting the annual Trunk or Treat and Fall Festival on Friday, October 27. This event is free to all students, staff and their families. In order to make it a success the PTA is asking for volunteers and donations. Please see the Sign-Up Genius links below to see how you can help.
Questions? Contact Jackie Harkey at harkeyje@gmail.com or Kristen Reed Cook at kristendreed@gmail.com
Volunteer Help:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F4BA4AD2AA5FE3-44410347-fall#/
Donations:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094DA4AA2BA4FB6-44407128-fall
The Book Fair Family Night will also take place on October 27 from 5:30 - 7:30 in the Library. Please see the Schedule of Events below.
Fall Fest Pre-Ordered Sandwiches and Pizza
The PTA will be offering Chick-fil-A sandwiches and Domino's pizza pre-orders for Fall Fest. We highly encourage pre-orders as we will have a very limited amount of food sales at the event.
You can place your food order using the form from your child's Wednesday envelope or on PTBoard by clicking the link below.
https://vrespta.ptboard.com/formvw?store=4128&form=9
Please place all pre-orders by Friday, October 20.
The PTA is still in need of two volunteers to pick up the pre-ordered food on Friday, October 27, at 4:30 pm from the Chick-fil-a in Chantilly Shopping Center and the Dominos on Lee Highway. If you are able to help out, please contact Jackie Harkey at harkeyje@gmail.com.
PTA Membership
Students and staff greatly appreciate the support received from the PTA. All parents are encouraged to join the PTA and help make the 2023-2024 school year successful for all students. Please consider joining by October 13 to be considered for the following contests.
The class with the most sign-ups will get a pizza party.
All teachers and staff who join will be entered into a raffle for a gift card to be announced on the morning news.
All parents who join will be entered into a separate raffle for a gift card to be announced on the morning news.
Red Ribbon Week
Enrique (Kiki) Camarena was a Mexican-American man working for the DEA after formerly serving in various positions such as the Marine Corps, as a fireman, a police officer, and a deputy sheriff in California. In 1985 he had been on assignment in Mexico for four years. And he was on the trail of the country’s biggest marijuana and cocaine traffickers. He was getting close to exposing a multi-billion dollar drug pipeline until he was kidnapped that February. He was headed to lunch with his wife when he was last seen being thrown into a van by masked men. His body wasn’t discovered until a month later.
After his death, “Camarena Clubs” were launched in his hometown of Calexico, California. Hundreds wore red ribbons and pledged to lead a drug-free life in his honor. President Ronald Reagan was in office at the time. The club members presented a proclamation to First Lady Nancy Reagan which brought the red ribbon pledge national attention. The campaign became official in 1988 by the National Family Partnership, President Reagan, and the “Just Say No” creator, Mrs. Reagan, as honorary chairpersons. Red Ribbon Week is now celebrated annually from October 23-31st.
Check out this Google Earth video on “The Life of DEA Special Agent Kiki Camarena”.
Sources & Resources:
DEA
Fairfax CSB Opioid Info
REVIVE Training for Opioid Overdoses
Medication Disposal
Teen Substance Use
FCPS Substance Abuse Prevention Program
DEA Drug Take Back Day
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.
For further Information & support:
Stacey King, MSW, M.Ed
Westfield Pyramid/ Chantilly Pyramid
Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist
Saking@fcps.edu
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Free and Reduced Application
Qualifying families can apply for free and reduced prices. Please use the link below to apply online.
https://www.fcps.edu/resources/student-safety-and-wellness/food-and-nutrition-programs/free-and-reduced-price-meals
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