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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
February 23, 2024
IN THIS ISSUE
- The Positivity Project at Virginia Run Elementary
- Social and Emotional Learning Screener
- Family Life Education Preview Meeting
- VRES is excited for Read Across America Week!
- Kindergarten and New Student Registration
- Recognize Our VRES Staff Who Go Above and Beyond
- Yearbook Photos Needed
- Yearbooks are on Sale!
- School Lunch Menu Options
- Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!
- Virginia Run Children’s Consignment Sale
- Sully District Budget Town Hall
- Important Upcoming Dates
- Frequently Visited Links and Important Virginia Run Contacts
1. The Positivity Project
Weekly character strength for Feb 26- March 1: Love of Learning
 This week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Love of Learning. Love of learning means you master new topics on your own or in school.
Those with a love of learning are intrinsically motivated and engaged in a topic regardless of achieving an external standard. They enjoy learning simply for the sake of learning. They don’t need a prize of a high grade as a reward. Their reward is the process of doing the work and improving.
Developing a love of learning is highly beneficial for an individual. It means that they are intrinsically motivated to deepen their existing skills and abilities, or learn something completely new. Since intrinsically motivated action is correlated with positive emotions, those who act on their love of learning may also have enhanced mental and physical health. Additionally, individuals who love learning have the desire and ability to overcome challenges, due to a sense of autonomy and control over their environment.
To practice and encourage the character strength of love of learning with your child, please visit the Positivity Project’s P2 for Families (password: P2), where together you will watch a video, read a quote, and talk about the answers to three questions.
Have a wonderful week!
The students and staff had a great time wearing their crocs and socks today.
2. Social and Emotional Learning Screener
Hello families,
The Spring Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener will be administered to students in grades 3-6 during the window of Feb 26th - March 15th. Students use the SEL Screener twice a year to share their perspectives on how well their school and community help them develop skills they need to succeed. The screener works by asking questions or presenting statements that students can think about and respond to. More information is available about the SEL Screener by accessing this link:
https://www.fcps.edu/student-tests-and-assessments/student-assessment-details/social-emotional-screener
If you have any questions, please reach out to our SEL Screener Lead, Jenna DeKeuster at jldekeuster@fcps.edu.
3. Family Life Education Preview Meeting
Students in grades K-6 participate in Family Life Education (FLE) instruction through their classroom teacher. Students in kindergarten through grade three receive instruction in an emotional and social health unit. For more information about the FCPS Family Life Education program, please see the detailed grade-level program descriptions at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-family-life-education-fle.
In addition, grade level-specific curriculum lessons are available for review in multiple locations.
- Online in Schoology - includes lessons and media titles that FCPS has streaming rights for. Any additional media or book titles that are not streamed are available at your child’s school library.
- Parents/guardians login to Schoology using the same username and password as their Student Information System (SIS) Parent account. See directions below on how to access the information. For help setting up a Schoology account, please contact the main office at 703-988-8900.
- City of Fairfax Regional Library – lessons only. Media is not available.
Alternatively, you are invited to attend an evening opportunity to preview the Family Life Education media and lessons and to talk with school staff about the program. The meeting will be held on Thursday, February 29, 5:30 - 6:30 pm in the Library. All program materials and media for all grade levels will be available for your review at this time.
Parents/guardians who do not wish to have their child participate in FLE instruction may choose to opt their child out of any or all of the lessons. If you would like to opt your child out of one or more lessons, please fill out the opt out forms online at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-family-life-education-fle. If you have already indicated your desire to opt your child out of FLE lessons by using the form provided earlier in the school year, you do not need to complete another form. Should you opt your child out and then later decide you want your child included in FLE instruction, you must notify your child’s school principal in writing before instruction begins.
An alternative non-FLE health instructional program is provided for students who do not take part in FLE instruction, and every effort is made to foster understanding and respect for family choices and to avoid peer pressure for or against participation in the program.
Instruction occurs at various times during the school year. Please contact your child’s teacher for specific dates of FLE instruction. We look forward to working as your partner in providing information that will help your child make healthy choices related to the exciting changes and new challenges he/she will be facing in the next few years.
Firefighters visited the Pre-Kindergarten Program at VRES to talk with students about fire safety and show the firefighter’s uniform and gear, so exciting!
4. VRES is excited for Read Across America Week!
Let’s grow together as we find fun ways to celebrate the joy of reading all week long, Monday, March 4th through Friday, March 8th!
Monday - D.E.A.R. - Teachers and students will have a book on hand to Drop Everything And Read at various times throughout the day!
Tuesday is Read at Home Day! Enjoy the student holiday with books.
Wednesday is Buddy Reading Day! Read with a buddy or two today!
Thursday is Cozy Reading Day! Each class will decide how they will get comfortable to enjoy extra reading time!
Friday is Silly Story Day! Read a silly story and wear a silly outfit!
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5. Kindergarten and New Student Registration
Calling All New Vikings!
Virginia law requires that all children who will be 5 years old on or before September 30, 2024, must be enrolled in kindergarten for the 2024-2025 school year. If you do not wish your child to attend school until the following year, you must notify the school in writing.
If you have a child who will attend Virginia Run Elementary next year, please contact Betty Bancroft to register. This will allow accurate numbers for staffing and classes next year!
Register your child by:
For more information on registration requirements please visit https://www.fcps.edu/registration/kindergarten-registration
General kindergarten information can be found at https://www.fcps.edu/academics/elementary-school-academics-k-6/kindergarten
Please spread the word to your neighbors who will have children attending Virginia Run ES.
VRES students building community in our whole school morning meeting!
6. Recognize Our VRES Staff Who Go Above and Beyond
The FCPS CARES Program is an opportunity for parents, 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, specifically at Virginia Run!
submit your story
7. Yearbook Photos Needed
Please continue to send photos for the yearbook of VRES events, field trips, and classroom activities (presentations, PJ day, etc) for the yearbook! Photos will be collected through late March and can be emailed to Kelly Long at kalong928@yahoo.com.
8. Yearbooks are on Sale!
Pre-order your 2023-2024 Virginia Run Elementary School Yearbook now to guarantee a copy when yearbooks are distributed in June. Paper flyers will be sent home next week with standard pricing. Any questions, please contact Kelly Long kalong928@yahoo.com.
https://ybpay.lifetouch.com/Order/SelectJob
School code 5662224
9. 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 Virginia Run ES.
10. Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!
Children who show up for school regularly develop fundamental reading and math skills while building a habit of good attendance that will carry them into college and careers. Research shows that children who were chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade were far less likely to read proficiently at the end of 3rd grade.
11. Virginia Run Children's Consignment Sale
Saturday, March 9th, 8:00 am – 1:30 pm
(½ price on selected items 12:30-1:30 pm)
Virginia Run Community Center, 15355 Wetherburn Court
Our Spring Children’s Consignment Sale will feature clothing, swimsuits, shoes, sandals, etc. in sizes infant to 16 in excellent condition.
We also have gently used maternity clothes, toys, baby equipment, bikes, books, puzzles, games, sports equipment, and riding toys.
All are priced well below retail or resale shops!
A portion of proceeds support needs within our community including the VRES PTA.
These materials are neither sponsored nor endorsed by the Fairfax County School Board, the Superintendent, or this school.
12. Sully District Budget Town Hall
Please join Sully District School Board member Seema Dixit and Supervisor Kathy Smith for a joint town hall as they present the proposed FY 2025 Budgets and take your comments. Details of the Fairfax County budget can be found here. If you would like to ask a question regarding the FY25 Budget, please send an email to Sully@FairfaxCounty.gov with "Budget Town Hall" in the subject. Detailed information about the FCPS FY25 Budget can be found on our website and also detailed below.
When: Thursday, February 29, 2024
Time: 7 - 9 pm EST
Where: Rocky Run Middle School Lecture Hall
Address: 4400 Stringfellow Road, Chantilly, VA 20151
*If American Sign Language or language interpretation is needed, please submit your request by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 27, 2024.
13. Important Upcoming Events
2/29: FLE Parent Info Night, 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm
3/5: Student Holiday
3/11: FCPS Religious & Cultural Observance-First day of Ramadan
3/21: Spring Picture Day
3/25-3/29: Spring Break
4/1: Teacher Workday - Student Holiday
4/2: Staff Development Day - Student Holiday
4/5: VRES vs Cub Run Volleyball Game, WHS, 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
4/9: FCPS Religious & Cultural Observance-Eid al Fitr at sundown
4/10: Student Holiday
4/22: FCPS Religious & Cultural Observance-First evening of Passover at Sundown
4/23: FCPS Religious & Cultural Observance-Second evening of Passover
4/24: FCPS Religious & Cultural Observance-Theravada New Year
4/26: Viking Dash, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm; Packet Pick-up, 4:30 - 5:45 pm
5/3: Teacher Workday
5/8: Spring Chorus Concert, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
5/9: Science Quest, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
5/27: Student Holiday
6/4: Band Concert, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
6/6: Strings Concert, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
6/7: Field Day, Grades K - 2nd & 6th, 2:00 pm
6/10: Field Day, Grades 3rd - 6th, 1:45 pm
6/11: 6th Grade Celebration
6/12: 6th Grade Promotion, 9:40 am
6/12: Last Day of School - 2hr Early Release
14. Frequently Visited Links and Important Virginia Run Contacts
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