|
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.
|
|
 |
 On November 10, we honored all active duty and veteran members of the Armed Services who serve our country with such courage and bravery. Our country’s greatness is built on the foundation of your valor and sacrifice. We want to take the time to say THANK YOU for your years of service to our country and for keeping us and the ones we love safe! You have put yourself on the line to protect our freedom and made sacrifices to be away from your family to serve. Our heads rest easy knowing there are dedicated people like you caring for what our country is all about. There are no words that adequately convey the gratitude we have for you and your service.
Please Mark Your Calendars!
November 12: Dwali
November 15: Restaurant Night @ Chipotle, 5:00-9:00 pm
November 17: Picture Re-Takes
November 22-24: Holidays | Thanksgiving Break
December 1: Winterfest @ BRES, 6:00-8:00 pm
December 4-8: BRES Scholastic Book Fair
December 6: Winter Choral Concert, 7:00-8:00 pm, BRES Gymnasium
December 14: Band and Strings Concert, 7:00-8:00 pm, BRES Gymnasium
December 15: AAP Full-Time Program Referral Form Due (gr. 2-6)
December 16-January 1: Holidays | Winter Break
*The full FCPS 2023-2024 calendar can be accessed here.
 |
|
November 12: Diwali
Happy Diwali to all those who celebrate this day and the victory of light over darkness. This year's Diwali artwork was created by Chantilly High School student Rijuta D. as part of the FCPS Observance Design Challenge for Students.
|
 |
|
November 13-17: American Education Week
For American Education Week we celebrate ALL who work in our Bull Run Elementary School community: our bus drivers, cafeteria workers, counselors, support staff, teachers, leadership and more! Learn more from the National Education Association.
Want to recognize someone from our school who goes above and beyond? Submit a nomination to FCPS Cares.
|
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/events 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/
 |
|
School Lunch Menu Options
FCPS' Food and Nutrition Services team has been rolling out improvements to the menu that better reflect the diversity of our student body and focus on fresh, healthy food. Learn about FCPS’ new menu options.
See what is for breakfast and lunch at Bull Run Elementary.
|
A standards-based progress report measures a student’s progress according to how he or she is performing on expected standards. It provides more detailed information about what a student is learning and can demonstrate in each content area. It is one form of communication from teachers to families.
A standards-based progress report provides more grading consistency both within schools and between schools because teachers use expected standards to grade performance. Teachers will grade only on the standards he or she teaches during a given grading period and whether or not a student has demonstrated that he or she has learned the standard. Refer to the Elementary Grading and Reporting Handbook for Parents for more information. Progress Reports will be posted in ParentVue and sent home on November 15, 2023.
The BRES PTA is looking for community donations to the Winter Fest silent auction. If you are a small business owner, have sports or event tickets you're willing to donate, or connections in the community, please reach out to Tiffany Meadows, PTA President at bullrunpresident@gmail.com. All proceeds from the silent auction directly benefit Bull Run students and teachers!
Want to volunteer? Please sign up using the following link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040C4AADA828A31-46040254-winterfest#/
 Return Your Federal Impact Aid Survey
FCPS is asking all families to fill out a Federal Impact Aid Survey. The form is available online in SIS ParentVUE. If you have not already filled out the form online, we will provide paper forms Wednesday, November 8 (in your child's Wednesday folder). Please be sure to return paper forms by Friday, November 17. The electronic form will continue to be available in SIS ParentVUE until January 2024.
Completing this form for each school-aged child in every household is important, because information from this survey results in an additional $3 million in grants each year from the U.S. Department of Education. These funds are used to support all Fairfax County public schools and centers.
Please watch this video and visit the Federal Impact Aid Survey page for more information.
 Picture make-up day is Friday, November 17. If your child missed picture day, or you would like a re-take, the photographer will be here throughout the day.
If you would like a re-take, please send your child with the pictures you are returning.
Reminder: Window for Full-time AAP Referrals Closes December 15, 2023
Parents/guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for full-time advanced academic programs may submit the AAP Full-Time (Level IV) Referral Form to Mrs. Stephanie Will, AART, no later than December 15, 2023.
The window for families to submit a referral for full-time AAP services is the first day of school through December 15, annually. Forms for full-time and part-time referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted.
Submitting a referral form for full-time AAP will initiate a process that begins at the local school and is then completed at the central office level. Our school will put together a portfolio that includes multiple data which are considered holistically. At the central office level, a committee of six trained professionals from various schools and roles will review the portfolio materials to determine eligibility for full-time placement. Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of the portfolio that was submitted after they have been turned in for central selection.
Referrals for subject-specific and part-time AAP are screened at the local school. If you miss this deadline, your student can still be screened for subject-specific AAP or part-time AAP for the remainder of the year and submit a referral for full-time AAP next fall.
For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.
Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards!
|
Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Bull Run ES Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form link: https://forms.gle/aQunWwHqJ7BnivnT7. You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category).
All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in the criteria for that category. The google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards and the eligibility requirements are below:
Outstanding Teacher
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding New Teacher
Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district); librarians are included in this category
Outstanding Principal
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district)
Outstanding New Principal
Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district)
Outstanding Leader
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as a Schedule-C or School-Based Administrator scale employee (that is not the building principal):
Common positions in this category: Assistant and Associate Principals, Director of Student Activities, Director of Student Services
Outstanding Professional Employee
Eligibility: At least one year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership
Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Assessment Coach, Career Center Specialist, Instructional Coach, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Safety and Security Specialist, Resource Teachers that serve in an administrative role in a school
Outstanding Operational Employee
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee
Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, All Parent Liaisons (regardless of how they are paid)
The deadline to submit a nomination is November 17, 2023
If you have any questions, please contact Céline Leary at ctleary@fcps.edu
BRES Restaurant Night at Chipotle this Wednesday from 5:00-9:00 pm
Bull Run Elementary Spirit Days every Friday - Wear BULLS Gear or Blue and White/Gray!
Bull Run Elementary encourages every students to wear our school colors, blue & white, every Friday! This is a simple way we can show our community spirit and love for all things BRES! Spirit wear is encouraged and welcome or wear your blue and white. Make a plan with friends and see how many of you can participate! Staff often wear their blue and white or Spirit Wear on Fridays!
|
|
 |
Thank You Voters! 2023 School Bond Referendum Passed
Thank you to the Fairfax citizens who supported the 2023 Bond Referendum. Roughly 67% of those voting in the 2023 election supported the $435 million bond referendum, continuing a long history of school bond approvals in Fairfax County.
Stay engaged as we build our future. Keep up-to-date on construction and capital improvements across FCPS by visiting our Capital Improvement Project webpage.
|
|
 |
Observance Graphics Created by Students in Design Challenge
In May, the FCPS Office of Communications called for entries for new graphics to help acknowledge the religious and cultural observances identified on the 2023-24 School Year Calendar. Eleven winning designs will be featured on FCPS and school social media platforms, and in newsletters leading up to the holidays starting with Diwali, which falls on Sunday, November 12. See the full list of winners.
|
Successfully Completing Algebra 1 by Eighth Grade
Helping students to complete Algebra 1 by eighth grade is part of our Strategic Plan (Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence). Algebra Access Network Improvement Community (AANIC) is working to increase the diverse representation of students who take advanced math classes and succeed in them. This video shares more about the AANIC cohorts at Kilmer and Key middle schools and lets students explain why Algebra matters to them.
Passing Algebra 1 earlier allows for students to take more advanced classes like Dual Enrollment courses, Advanced Placement (AP), and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. These advanced courses help students succeed in college. A recent study from the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) found that completing Algebra 1 by grade eight led to 30% more ninth graders and 16% more 11th graders taking advanced courses.
|
Community Review of Elementary ELA Basal Instructional Resources
A community review of the VDOE-approved Cycle II core instructional materials is scheduled for November 15, 2023, until noon on December 15, 2023. As part of the public review process, an open house has been scheduled during this period to allow community members to ask questions to members of the Elementary Language Arts team.
Digital materials for public review and comment will be available on the Elementary Language Arts Basal Resource Review website.
Hard copies of instructional materials will be available for review at:
Pimmit Hills Center, Room 207 7510 Lisle Avenue Falls Church, VA 22043
Materials may be reviewed at Pimmit Hills Center Monday - Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Visitors should enter through door #4 and check in at the main office or with the building coordinator on duty.
An open house with representatives from the Elementary Language Arts team will be held on Friday, December 1, 2023, from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, December 2, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
All community feedback will be shared with the review committee and with School Board members before the vote at the School Board regular meeting.
 |
|
Military Families Newsletter
📰 Newsletter for Military-Connected Families
Did you know that the Office of Family and School Partnerships publishes a monthly newsletter for military-connected families? Subscribe today
|
How to Access Free Resources from Tutor.com
All FCPS students continue to have unlimited access to live, 24/7, one-on-one online tutoring services through Tutor.com at no cost to families. Student participation is optional and parents/caregivers can opt their student(s) out of accessing the services. Get more information on the Tutor.com Online Tutoring Services webpage.
Students can access Tutor.com via a link in Schoology. Additional information about how to log in and access a tutor is provided to families via the following: Elementary - How It Works and Middle & High - How It Works. Questions not answered in the posted resources may be sent to onlinetutoring@fcps.edu.
|
Lightspeed Parent Report on Child’s Device Activity
FCPS has tools to help parents know more about their child’s activity on any FCPS device. These tools are provided at no cost to families by Lightspeed, the school division’s internet content filtering service.
Parents may sign up for a weekly Parent Report, which will provide a list of the top sites your child visited. The report also offers parents the ability to sign up for free access to the Internet Use Parent Portal. Through the portal, parents may pause their child’s access to the internet on their FCPS device during non-school hours.
Learn more about Lightspeed Parent Reports.
|
November Events Hosted by the Family Resource Center
The Family Resource Center (FRC) offers free webinars, confidential consultations, a lending library, and resources to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities. The FRC is hosting the following events in November:
Click the links above to register for the events. For more information, visit the Family Resource Center webpage.
Get to Know FCPS and the Resources Available to Families
Being connected to your school community helps you stay informed and support your child’s success. Take some time to get familiar with the many resources and tools available to FCPS families, including:
There’s an easy to follow five-step process outlined for parents registering their children for kindergarten. Be sure to register your child ASAP!
|
 |
FCPS This Week
FCPS NewsIn case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- 2023 School Bond Referendum Passed
- Students Named National Merit Commended Scholars
- SAT/PSAT School Day Scores
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, sign up today.
|
Recognizing BRES staff 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!
|
|
 |
|