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A Note from the Principal 

DRES Families, 

Welcome back from what I hope was a restful and enjoyable spring break! As we return to our school routines, I wanted to take a moment to extend a warm welcome back to all our students, parents, teachers, and staff.

Tonight, we have an exciting event lined up for our school community - a thrilling basketball game against Providence Elementary School!  It promises to be a fantastic evening of sportsmanship and fun. Let's show our support for our staff team and make it a memorable experience for everyone involved.

Additionally, as we transition into April, it's essential to recognize that this month holds special significance as the Month of the Military Child. Throughout April, we honor and appreciate the resilience, sacrifices, and contributions of our military-connected students and their families. Let's take this opportunity to express our gratitude and support for them, ensuring they feel valued and celebrated within our school community.   One of the most visible displays of support for military-connected youth occurs on Purple Up! Day, a day dedicated to showing appreciation by wearing purple – to represent the combined colors of branches of the military.  Please join FCPS for Purple Up! Day on April 17, 2024, as we proudly wear purple as a sign of our appreciation.  

As we dive back into the academic and extracurricular activities of the spring term, let's continue to uphold our values of kindness, inclusivity, and dedication to learning. Together, we can make the remainder of the school year a success.

Wishing everyone a fantastic return to school, and I look forward to seeing you all at the basketball game tonight!

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

Go Dragons!

Chris Smith 

DRES Principal

🗓️ SOL Testing Dates 🗓️

Our Spring Standards of Learning (SOL) tests are coming up in May.

These assessments measure the extent to which students have learned the content and skills reflected in state standards. The content tested varies by grade level. See below for the scheduled dates this Spring.

Grade 3:

• 📖 Reading: Thursday, May 9
• 🧮 Math: Friday, May 17

Grade 4:

• 📖 Reading: Wednesday, May 8
• 🧮Math: Thursday, May 16

Grade 5:

• 📖 Reading: Friday, May 10
• 🧮 Math: Wednesday, May 15
• 🔬 Science: Tuesday, May 21

Grade 6:

• 📖 Reading: Tuesday, May 7
• 🧮 Math: Tuesday, May 14

SOL Make Up Testing: May 22-24

SOL Retakes: May 28-31

If you have any questions about SOL tests, please reach out to our School Testing Coordinators, Sara Van Aalst (smvanaalst@fcps.edu) or Janelle Alabi (jgalabi@fcps.edu).

PTA News

Save the Date for our Spring BOGO Scholastic Book Fair April 22nd-26th during school

Keep an eye out for a volunteer sign up genius and more details to follow!

Save the Date for Donuts with Dragons- May 1st 8-8:45am(behind the school)

Join us on the back blacktop behind the school for a community building event.  Our dragons and their grownups are invited to come enjoy a donut with us on the back blacktop before school starts on May 1st from 8-8:45am.  

Parents will be required to stay with their children until school opens at 8:45am. 

You DONUT want to miss this great event!

AAP News

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is committed to challenging all students through talent development and differentiated instruction to meet the needs of advanced learners. Students may be screened for subject-specific and part-time AAP services at any time in the school year. However, in the spring, schools review data on all students to determine services for the start of the next school year.  Because all students are screened in the spring, it is not necessary to submit a referral form.   Families will be notified of eligibility of newly-identified, part-time services during the second week of June. The AAP spring newsletter can be viewed on our Daniels Run All Parents/Guardians Course in Schoology. Parents/guardians can login to Schoology using the same username and password as your Student Information System (SIS) parent account.  If you have any additional questions or concerns please contact Daniel Run’s Advanced Academic Resources Teacher (AART), Ms. Danni James at dfjames@fcps.edu.

Music News

🎵 The April Musician of the Month is pop singer/songwriter, Taylor Swift.

🎵Upcoming Spring 🎵 Concerts:

• April 11 & 12: International Night & Day Concerts
• April 25:  Chorus Spring Concerts during school & 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.

Summer Choir Camp Offer:  Come sing with Miss McCarten this summer!

P2 News

Dear Families,

Next week our school community will be focusing on the character strength of Humor. Humor means you like to laugh and bring smiles to other people.

Humor is a sense of playfulness and lightness. It is a way of looking at and describing the world that brings laughter to people. A person with the strength of humor is skilled at seeing the funny side of things, bringing smiles and laughter to others, and identifying and communicating the absurdities in life. People with this strength don’t specifically need to be joke tellers, although many are.

Humor plays an important role in helping groups of people rise above difficult circumstances and boost morale. It removes us from our present difficulties by easing tension and making life more fun. This is why athletic teams often need a jokester to help them get through tough losses and early morning fitness sessions. On a larger societal level, humor often helps downtrodden groups to find cohesion and strength. This is why Simon Wiesenthal said, “Humor is the weapon of unarmed people: it helps people who are oppressed smile at the situation that pains them.”

To practice and encourage the character strength of humor 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!

Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) School Health Services Internal Survey

The Fairfax County Health Department (FCHD) employs school health aides and public health nurses who provide school health services to the students in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). To determine the quality of these services, a survey has been developed by the FCHD to be shared with all parents or guardians of FCPS students. Parents/guardians will be asked for feedback on the level of satisfaction with School Health services provided to the school community. The survey will be distributed electronically via FCPS This Week. The survey window is April 15 - April 26, 2024. Survey link: http://www.redcap.link/FCHDSchoolHealthSurvey

Survey results will provide a basis for quality improvement of School Health services. The data-driven process is in alignment with the FCPS Strategic planning process, and the survey results will contribute positively to the FCPS Strategic Plan that reflects a shared consensus among stakeholders.

🗳️ Nominations Open for the Bussey Memorial Equity Award

The Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC) sponsors the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award to honor the legacy of Dr. Bussey, a founding member of the MSAOC and a longtime advocate for students and families. Read more about Dr. Bussey

This award recognizes staff or community members who have demonstrated significant and impactful efforts to improve the educational experiences and outcomes of students from groups who are marginalized or underserved.

Any FCPS employee, student, or community member can nominate an individual or group for the award. All nomination materials must be submitted by Wednesday, May 1.  The winner will be recognized at the FCPS Equity Symposium on Tuesday, June 18.

Full details and the nomination information form are available on the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award webpage.

🏐 New Athletic Opportunities for Students

The FCPS advertised budget for next school year expands high school athletics with boys volleyball and girls wrestling, giving students more ways to nurture their passion and enhance their well-being. FCPS is now in the middle of the annual budget process, which includes opportunities for you to give feedback. See the Budget Calendar for details. Learn more about the FCPS FY 2025 Advertised Budget.

Safe, Supported, and Included — the FCPS Family Summit 2024

• Register Today for the FCPS Family Summit Registration is open for the FCPS Family Summit, which will take place on Saturday, April 20, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at Marshall High School. The conference will cover topics that are helpful for all families, such as social-emotional resources, along with a specially curated online component to provide supports for students with disabilities and their families.

Some of the topics include raising resilient, independent children; forming meaningful connections with children; addressing big emotions; and the dangers of opioids and fentanyl. The theme — Safe, Supported, and Included — aligns with Goal 2 of FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan.

📖 Lexia Parent Night: How We Help Your Child Learn to Read

Attend a virtual information night to learn about Lexia on Tuesday, April 9, at 6:30 p.m. Participants will discover how FCPS is integrating this program into the classroom to support student literacy growth. Tips for supporting students at home will also be shared. Integrating Lexia into the literacy curriculum aligns with the Virginia Literacy Act, FCPS’ Equitable Access to Literacy, and FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan Goal 3, which aims to have all students reading on level by the end of third grade.

🏫 Advertised Budget Focuses on Schools and Instruction

Investing in excellence means putting our dollars where it matters most — schools and instruction. Nearly 93% of FCPS full-time staff work directly in our schools. And nearly 86% of FCPS’ Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Advertised Budget is dedicated to instructional programs across all grade levels, including special education. 

Only 5% of the advertised budget is for general support and central administration. Central office administrators represent only 0.8% of total full-time positions.

For more details on FCPS’ advertised budget, view budget documents, including the FY 2025 Budget Book. 

Check out the Budget Calendar for important dates in the budget process as well as opportunities for the community to provide feedback. 

🎤 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.

⏰ Community Forums on Middle School Start Times

Fairfax County Public Schools is exploring options for adjusting middle school start times and invites the public to be part of the process. All forums will deliver the same presentation and provide the same feedback opportunities. Please attend the event that works best for your schedule: 

• Monday, April 29, 6-8 p.m., at Glasgow Middle School. 
• Monday, May 6, 6-8 p.m., at Whitman Middle School.
• Monday, May 20, 6-8 p.m., at Hughes Middle School.
• Wednesday, May 22, 6-8 p.m., at Frost Middle School. 

Registration is not required but does help with planning. Click one of the dates above to register. Language interpretation and childcare will be provided. Learn more about the project exploring middle school start times.  

🥁 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.

Order your Yearbook Here!

FCPS Calendar Dates

FCPS 2023-2024 Calendar: Click Here

Important Dates 

April 5 - DRES Staff vs. PES Staff Basketball Game

April 10 - No School/Religious Holiday

April 11- International Night

3705 Blenheim Blvd., Fairfax, VA 22030  | Main Office: 703-279-8400
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