Daniels Run ES - March 8, 2024

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A Note from the Principal 

DRES Families,

I hope this message finds you well and ready for some exciting events in the coming weeks! Take a couple minutes to view my weekly message to students, thanks to our preschool students for hosting me!     

I'd like to express our heartfelt gratitude to Mrs. Carleton, our dedicated school social worker, as we celebrated school social work week this past week. Mrs. Carleton plays a crucial role in supporting the emotional well-being of our students and fostering a positive school environment. Let's take a moment to appreciate her commitment to making Daniels Run Elementary a place where every child feels supported and valued.

Mark your calendars for April 8th, as we're in for a celestial treat – a solar eclipse! This rare astronomical event provides a unique opportunity for our students to witness the beauty of the cosmos. More information below regarding how we plan to have all students view the event.  

Don't forget, this weekend brings the much-anticipated time change. As we spring forward on Sunday, March 11th, make sure to adjust your clocks and enjoy the extra daylight.  Thank you for your ongoing commitment to the success and well-being of our students. If you have any questions or concerns you can contact our main office at 703-279-8400 or contact me directly at cmsmith@fcps.edu

Enjoy your weekend and the extra daylight!

Chris Smith 

DRES Principal

Advanced Academics News

Lost and Found

Are your children missing any clothing?  Our lost and found is located in the main lobby.  Please stop by to take a look if you are missing something before Friday, March 22nd.  After March 22nd, anything left will be packed up and donated.

Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow!

This year, spring break is March 25-29. We will be eager to welcome your children back to school on Wednesday, April 3, after two teacher work days. Student attendance is very important. Every day, our teachers will be teaching, and students will be learning. Studies have shown that just two absences per month can cause students to fall behind. Let’s finish this school year strong. Visit FCPS’ website for attendance resources.

PTA News

Get More involved in PTA Next Year!

It is time once again for the PTA Nominating Committee to recruit candidates for next year's PTA Board and committees. Being in a PTA leadership position is rewarding, important and fun! The Board is a great way to get involved at Daniels Run, get to know our staff and admins, work with other parents, and support our students and school community. Please join us! Email drenominatingcommittee@gmail.com for more information.

International Night - We NEED you!

We are seeking families to set up a booth/table representing your cultural heritage at International Night on April 11th. Please reach out to us at drepresident@gmail.com if interested in participating. 

Save the Date:

April 5, 2024 Daniels Run vs. Providence Staff Basketball Game

April 11, 2024 International Night

Music News

🎵 International Night & Day: Thursday night, April 11 and Friday morning, April 12: Would you like to sing, play an instrument or dance to honor a certain country? Students, families, and staff are invited to audition. Email Michelle McCarten here or call (703) 279-8457 to schedule an audition. Audition deadline is March 15.

🎵 The March Musician of the Month is legendary R&B/Soul musician, Stevie Wonder.  He is an American singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. 

🎵Upcoming Spring 🎵 Concerts:

• • • April 25:  Chorus Spring Concert in the morning & 6:30pm
    • June 4: 7pm Band Concert
    • June 6:
      • 2:30pm:  5^th & 6^th grade performers: Band & Strings Concert for 3^rd-6^th grade audience
      • 7pm: 4^th-6^th grade strings concert.

Elementary Institute for the Arts

Students in all FCPS schools can enroll in the Elementary Institute for the Arts. IFTA is a weekly Arts enrichment program for students in rising 3rd through 6th grades during the month of July. Students take classes in Art, Music, Theatre, and Dance every day. Transportation is provided from around the county. Tuition assistance is available for students who qualify. Check out the Elementary Institute for the Arts website for more information or email eifta@fcps.edu.

World Language Summer Camps

This year Fairfax HS will host a World Language Summer Camps (July 15-18 and July 22- 25) for rising 5^th-7^th graders. The Fairfax HS language team has worked with Fairfax City to create this opportunity to host a program and promote languages during the summer. Below is a link to the registration form.

World Language Summer Camp Registration | City of Fairfax Schools

2024 Techstravaganza

Each year, Tomorrow’s Women in Science and Technology (TWIST), a student organization at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) promote STEM through their annual flagship outreach event, Techstravaganza.

Techstravaganza is a free, public, hands-on STEM activity fair for elementary and middle school students in Northern Virginia. In previous years, they've hosted more than 4,500 students and 70 labs presenting STEM activities. Their exhibitors range from TJHSST clubs and their own TWIST volunteers to organizations like NASA SCAN, Art of Problem Solving, George Mason University, American Society of Naval Engineers, and the National Air and Space Museum.

This year, the 20th annual Techstravaganza will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2024 from 10 AM to 4 PM at TJHSST. Admission is free, food will be for sale.

Click on the registration link if interested: https://tinyurl.com/techstrav24

More information about the event can be found at tjtechstrav.org. 

🎤 Our Schools, Our Future: Community Conversations Continue

Join Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid for Our Schools, Our Future – A Community Conversation. Your voice matters! Share your thoughts about FCPS and bring your questions to a conversation on:

• Tuesday, April 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Graham Road Elementary School.
• Tuesday, April 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at South County Middle School.
• Thursday, May 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Terraset Elementary School.
• Wednesday, May 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Hybla Valley Elementary School.
• Thursday, May 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Poe Middle School.
• Tuesday, May 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Katherine Johnson Middle School.

Pre-registration for a Community Conversation is not required but will help FCPS plan. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided for all events based on staff availability. Events are open to all. Learn about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.

Science News

Daniels Run Elementary Students will have the opportunity to put their astronomer jackets on and view a solar eclipse passing over Northern Virginia.  This means that the moon will pass between the sun and earth during the day and will block out light from the sun. Teachers will be taking the opportunity to teach students more about the science of a solar eclipse. If you’d like more information on the upcoming eclipse, please visit FCPS Solar Eclipse for resources and particulars. On Monday, April 8, all students will head outside in the afternoon to view the partial solar eclipse with specially designed glasses provided by the school.  If you have any questions or would like to opt out your child from viewing the solar eclipse, please contact Brie Bolton at tbbolton@fcps.edu. The next solar eclipse for the Fairfax area won't be until 2044 and we are excited to share this amazing science phenomenon with DRES!

Learn About Science, Technology, and Arts Magnet Schools

Three FCPS elementary magnet schools provide programs that enhance learning in science, technology, and performing arts. 

If you are interested in sending your student to an elementary magnet school program, consider attending a school-based information night at Hunters Woods Elementary School, Bailey’s Primary Elementary School, or Bailey’s Upper Elementary School. 

Information nights will provide an opportunity to learn about individual school programs, student eligibility, the lottery process, and transportation.

Registration for the 2024-25 elementary magnet lottery is open Tuesday, March 5, through Friday, April 12. Get more information about the schools, their programs, and locations.

School Board Adopts Fiscal Year 2025 Advertised Budget

🎤 Join a Community Conversation on Fentanyl and Other Drugs

A community conversation addressing the opioid crisis within Northern Virginia and Fairfax County Public Schools will be held Wednesday, March 18, 6:30-8 p.m., in the auditorium at Lake Braddock Secondary School. Please enter through Door #14. 

All attendees will receive a free REVIVE! Narcan training during the event and learn about support services currently available within FCPS and Fairfax County.   

This discussion will provide families, staff, and students with valuable knowledge about the dangers of drugs and deadly fentanyl. The material discussed is suitable for students in grades 6-12. Together as a community, we aim to explore collaborative strategies to minimize the impact of these harmful and too-often fatal substances.

Language interpretation services are available as well as American Sign Language accommodation. Childcare and transportation will also be provided, as needed. Learn more about the event and register online.

Ramadan 

Throughout the year, as we celebrate and recognize various cultural holidays and observances, families are encouraged to contact our assistant principals, Janelle Alabi, jgalabi@fcps.edu and Sara Van Aalst, smvanaalst@fcps.edu regarding accommodations, including but not limited to those around lunch, prayer/meditation and silent reflection spaces and times, and instruction. 

P2 News

Dear Families,

Next 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!

Kindergarten Parent Information Session

Do you have a kindergartener starting DRES in the fall?  If so, please join us for our Kindergarten Parent Information Session.  You will learn about our Kindergarten day, get your questions answered, and have the opportunity to register your student for the upcoming school year.  This session is intended for parents and guardians.  In the summer, we will have opportunities for students to tour the school and visit kindergarten classrooms.

Date: Tuesday, April 2nd

Time: 9:00am – 9:30am (teacher presentation)

          9:30am – 11:00am (registration)

Place: DRES Cafeteria

Sesión informativa para padres de kínder

¿Tiene un niño de kindergarten que comience DRES en el otoño? Si es así, únase a nosotros para nuestra sesión de información para padres de kínder. Aprenderá sobre nuestro día de kinder, obtendrá respuestas a sus preguntas y tendrá la oportunidad de inscribir a su estudiante para el próximo año escolar. Esta sesión está dirigida a padres y guardianes. En el verano, tendremos oportunidades para que los estudiantes hagan un recorrido por la escuela y visiten las aulas de kindergarten.

Fecha: martes 2 de abril

Hora: 9:00 am – 9:30 am (presentación del maestros)

          9:30 am – 11:00 am (registro)

Lugar: Cafetería DRES 

*Habrá traductores de español 

disponibles para ayudar a las familias.

✅ Take the Family Engagement Survey!

FCPS’ Family Engagement Survey is now open. Survey partner K12 Insight emailed a link to families on March 3 and again on March 6. Please participate! Your feedback is critical in helping to inform and improve FCPS practices to best support our students.

The survey is available in 10 languages. Parents/caregivers may stop by the front office to fill out a paper survey or complete the survey online. Please check your email for the survey invitation or use this survey link. Get more information on the Family Engagement Survey webpage. 

💭 Share Your Thoughts on Schoology

FCPS will be conducting voluntary, anonymous surveys on the use of Schoology from Monday, March 11, to Friday, March 22. Surveys will be delivered to:

• Elementary students (grades 3-6) through the Schoology App Center.
• Secondary students via email from Naviance.

Student feedback will inform the school division’s use of Schoology and help improve its processes, communication, and professional learning for staff. FCPS’ Instructional Services Department will also be reaching out to families through focus groups. 

Please contact Schoology@fcps.edu if you have questions. 

🥁 Sign Up for FCPS Summer Camps 

Registration is now open for several summer camps and learning opportunities offered by Fairfax County Public Schools for all students.

Career and Technical Education (CTE) camps and Institute for the Arts camps will be held in July at Lake Braddock Secondary School from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bus transportation will be available from select FCPS middle and high schools. 

Tech Adventure Camp is available for current grade K-5 students to explore STEAM, culinary, health, trades, and business and marketing areas. E-IFTA is a weekly arts camp for elementary students who love to sing, dance, act, perform, make, and create. Visit the E-IFTA webpage to register.

FCPS Calendar Dates

FCPS 2023-2024 Calendar: Click Here

Important Dates 

March 25-29 - Spring Break

April 1 & 2 - Teacher Work Day/Student Holiday

April 5 - DRES Staff vs. PES Staff Basketball Game

3705 Blenheim Blvd., Fairfax, VA 22030  | Main Office: 703-279-8400
Attendance: 703-279-8484 | Web | Twitter | Facebook