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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.
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Please Mark Your Calendars!
April 22-26: Earth Week Spirit Week
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Monday, April 22: wear green for Earth Day
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Tuesday, April 23: wear blue for Watershed Day
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Wednesday, April 24: wear white for Zero Waste Day
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Thursday, April 25: wear red for Climate Change Day
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Friday, April 26: wear a nature print for Wildlife Day
April 22: Earth Day
April 22: Religious and Cultural Observance | First evening of Passover (begins sundown 4/22 - sundown 4/30)
April 23: Religious and Cultural Observance | Second evening of Passover
April 24: Religious and Cultural Observance | Theravada New Year
April 25: Kindergarten Orientation, 5:30-7:00 PM
May 1: Chorus Concert, Gymnasium, 7:00-8:00 PM
May 3: Student Holiday (Teacher Work Day for Staff)
May 5: Orthodox Easter
May 7: BRES PTA Meeting, Library, 7:00-8:00 PM
May 27: Holiday | Memorial Day
May 30: Strings Concert, Gymnasium, 7:00-8:00 PM
June 3: Band Concert, Gymnasium, 7:00-8:00 PM
June 12: 6th Grade Promotion Ceremony, Gymnasium, 9:45 AM
June 12: Last Day of School / Early Release (students dismissed at 2:00pm)
June 13: School Planning Day for Staff
June 14: Teacher Work Day for Staff - Option to work at an alternate location
June 17: Holiday | Eid-al-Adha (begins sundown 6/16 - sundown 6/17)
June 18: Teacher Day for Staff (Option to work at an alternate location)
June 19: Holiday | Juneteenth
*The full FCPS 2023-2024 calendar can be accessed here.
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April 22-30: Passover
Many Jewish communities in the United States celebrate Passover, a recognition of the deliverance of Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. Passover is also known as Pesah, Pesach, or the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Many Jewish families in the United States eat a ceremonial meal known as the Seder, which involves telling the story of the exodus from Egypt as well as eating various symbolic foods, such as meat of the paschal lamb and bitter herbs, recalling the harsh life of slavery. Learn more about Passover in NatGeo Kids.
Monday, April 22, and Tuesday, April 23, are designated half-O days in recognition of the first two days of Passover. Half-O days are full school days, but important events will not be held after school on those days. See the complete school year calendar.
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April 24: Theravada New Year
In countries where Theravada Buddhism is the most dominant religion, New Year is celebrated for three days from the first full moon in April. Theravada means “the teachings of the elders.” Celebrations begin with people attending the local temple in the morning for chanting and meditation. In the afternoon they have a water festival in which they meet the Buddha image and pay respect to the elderly by watering their hands together. Building sandcastles is also one of the most popular activities during this day of celebration.
Wednesday, April 24, is designated as an O day for Theravada New Year. The school calendar recognizes many religious and cultural observances (O days) during the school year. There is school on these days, however tests, quizzes, field trips, graduation, homecoming, or FCPS-scheduled athletic events will not be held on these observance days. See the complete school year calendar.
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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.
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Get2Green is hosting FCPS Earth Week April 22-26.
Students and Staff are invited to wear the color matching each day’s theme to show your Earth Week spirit!
The themes for Earth Week are:
*Monday, April 22: wear green for Earth Day
*Tuesday, April 23: wear blue for Watershed Day
*Wednesday, April 24: wear white for Zero Waste Day
*Thursday, April 25: wear red for Climate Change Day
*Friday, April 26: wear a nature print for Wildlife Day
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Year at a Glance... Curriculum by Content Area
As we embark on the final stretch of the academic year, I wanted to provide you with an overview of the curriculum that has been covered for the year and will be taught during the 4th quarter.
The objectives and outcomes for each unit are common across FCPS and based on the Virginia Standards of Learning. The pacing by quarter and by week provides an example of how the curriculum can be organized throughout the school year. Teacher teams may adjust the pacing or order of units to best meet the needs of our students.
Select your child's grade-level below. Once selected, scroll down to the bottom of the webpage and select the curriculum by content area (Health, Reading, Writing, Word Study, Mathematics/Advanced Mathematics, Science, Social Studies) you wish to view.
Throughout the year, we encourage open communication between teachers, students, and families to ensure a supportive learning environment. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions, concerns, or feedback you may have. Together, we can make this quarter a rewarding and successful experience for all.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to your child's education. Let's finish the year strong!
Warm Regards,
Jason Pensler
Principal
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Primary Book Room Organization HELP NEEDED
Looking for community volunteers who are great at, and love, organizing. We are in the process of reorganizing our primary bookroom to better serve our students and we need all the help we can get.
We will have a quick meeting on Tuesday, April 30 at 9:30am in Mrs. Brown’s room and work on and off throughout the weeks to come until this project is complete.
If you are interested, please email our Literacy Specialist, Carrie Brown at CLBrown2@fcps.edu.
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Planning ahead... 2023-24 BRES SOL SCHEDULE!
Please be mindful of these dates.
Students, in grades 3-6, will be taking end-of-year state assessments in literacy, math, and science (grade 5). Thank you for considering your child's schedule so that they are able to get enough rest and be prepared each day.
GRADE-SUBJECT
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DATE
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3-READING
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April 30
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3-MATH
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May 20
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4-READING
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May 2
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4-MATH
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May 14
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5-READING
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May 9
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5-MATH
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May 21
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5-SCIENCE
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May 17
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6-READING
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May 7
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6-MATH
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May 16
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2024-25 Kindergarten Registration and Orientation
Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-2025 school year is open! FCPS is conducting its annual Survey of Preschool Children. The survey was sent home to all families and can also be found here. If you have a child eligible for Kindergarten this August (rising Kindergarten students need to be 5 years old before September 30, 2024), please complete the form and return it to our office by March 22. If you have no need for the form, please check with your neighbors who may have children eligible for kindergarten and share this form with them.
Information pertaining to registration, including eligibility and forms is outlined on our student registration page Enroll.
Registrations are done by appointment. Appointments are open now and continue throughout the summer. Questions? Please contact our registrar, Maria Betancourth, at 703-227-1400 or mcbetancourt@fcps.edu.
Kindergarten Orientation is April 25 @ 5:30-7:00 pm.
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Lost and Found at BRES is Growing!
The Lost and Found wardrobe at BRES is overflowing! Lost items are displayed in the lobby near the cafeteria. Please remember to put your child’s name on their belongings so they can be returned.
Any items not claimed by Friday, May 3, will be donated.
Parent Input for Class Placement Form Open Again!
Your feedback is invaluable to us as we strive to create the best possible learning environment for your children. Therefore, we are excited to announce that the Parent Input for Class Placement Form is now open again!
This form allows you to provide valuable insights into your child's learning style, preferences, and any other information you believe will help us in making class placement decisions for the upcoming academic year.
A variety of factors such as student personalities, friendships, and academic abilities are considered as we create our new classes. Other factors impacting the decision-making process of student class assignments are new student enrollments and teachers moving to a new assignment.
Bull Run Elementary families may assist in this process by sharing insights. Please note the following when providing information. We do not accept requests for specific teachers for the upcoming grade placement. This includes hints that reference specific teachers. We cannot guarantee friend requests nor exceptions for other students whereby there may be a conflict. We do our best to create a positive learning year for your child.
New Submissions:
For parents who have not yet had the chance to provide input, we encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to share your valuable insights about your child's learning style, preferences, and any other pertinent information.
Accessing the Form:
Please provide your input by submitting this BRES Family Input for Class Placements 2024/25 SY form as it will ensure we have your request. Please do not email us additional information. Completion of the form is optional. The deadline for any correspondence is May 3 at 4 PM.
We deeply appreciate your collaboration and support in this process. If you have any questions or need assistance with the form, please don't hesitate to reach out to Mr. Jason Pensler at jmpensler@fcps.edu.
Thank you for being such integral members of our school community. Together, we can make the upcoming academic year a fantastic one for all our students!
BRES Spirit Days every Friday - Wear Your 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! |
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Career Week
Apr 29-May 2: diverse people with careers needed! Please make the talk appropriate for young children (no foul language, stories or political views, please) Sign up! Questions? bullrunptapresident@gmail.com
Teacher appreciation week, May 6-10
(Watch for our flyer coming home week of Apr 29 on more ways to participate):
1-Volunteer to decorate on 5/5 - Sign up!
2-Cover recess for 30 min for current or former teacher! Sign up!
3-Purchase an item from your current or previous teacher's wish list! Updates happen regularly so check back!
4-Have your students participate in our teacher appreciation booth run by SCA May 1/2 during lunch or make their own card/sign to celebrate a current or past teacher they've had!
5-Purchase an item from the PTA wish list to help make teacher week shine!
PTA Meeting
May 7, 7pm library - BOD ELECTION NIGHT there will be time to have your comments/questions/concerns heard! Please plan on attending in person or virtual! Meeting ID: 927 0410 9309 Passcode: 751330
🧠Social and Emotional Learning Screener Results Coming Soon💗
FCPS students in grades 3-12 took the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener during March, providing updated information on skills such as achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. The SEL Screener also helps students evaluate their school community’s efforts to make them feel valued, included, and supported.
In late April, individual student SEL Screener results will be available for families in the Documents section of SIS ParentVUE. For families who do not have an active ParentVUE account, results will be sent via postal mail.
Get more information about the screener on the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage. For support in understanding your individual student’s results or ideas on how to support them at home, please review the Family Guide or contact Rachel DiBartolo, one of our school counselors.
🎨Summer Arts Camp🎶
Don’t miss out on this summer’s most exciting arts enrichment program! At Elementary Institute for the Arts (E-IFTA), students take art, music, theater, and dance classes daily. E-IFTA is for current second through fifth grade students. Learn more on the E-IFTA webpage. Email EIFTA@fcps.edu with any questions.
👏Nominate Someone Today for the Bussey Memorial Equity Award
Do you know of an outstanding person or group that has worked for equity in an FCPS school? There’s still time to nominate a candidate for the 2024 Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award.
This award recognizes staff, students, 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 may nominate an individual or group for the award. All nomination materials must be submitted by Wednesday, May 1. Full details are available on the Dr. Lawrence Bussey Memorial Equity Award webpage.
Give Your Feedback on the Budget
We are now in the middle of the annual budget process, which includes opportunities for you to give feedback:
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Tuesday, April 16, through Thursday, April 18: The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors conducts public hearings on the county budget. Sign up to speak.
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Tuesday, May 7: The County Board of Supervisors adopts its budget, tax rates, and transfer amount to FCPS.
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Tuesday, May 14: The School Board holds a public hearing on the FCPS budget.
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Thursday, May 23: The School Board adopts FCPS’ approved budget.
Learn more about the FCPS FY 2025 Advertised Budget and see the full Budget Development Calendar.
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⏰ Community Forums on Middle School Start Times⏰
FCPS 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. Register for an in-person forum by clicking on one of the following dates:
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Monday, April 29, 6-8 p.m., at Glasgow Middle School.
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Monday, May 6, 6-8 p.m., at Whitman Middle School.
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Monday, May 20, 6-8 p.m., at Hughes Middle School.
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Wednesday, May 22, 6-8 p.m., at Frost Middle School.
A virtual forum will be held on Monday, May 13, 6:30-8 p.m. That registration link will be available soon.
While registration is not required, it does help with planning. Language interpretation and childcare will be provided. Learn more about the project exploring middle school start times.
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Military-Connected Families Newsletter 📰
Did you know that the Office of Family and School Partnerships publishes a monthly newsletter for military-connected families? Subscribe today
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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.
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FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:
- Spring Assessments
- Family Conference
- Community Forums on Middle School Start Times
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving the weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
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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!
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Your Partners In Education
We are in this together!! We are thankful to have the opportunity to work with your family this year and will work every day to ensure a safe and positive learning environment for your child. Please contact us when there is a question or concern. Thank you for your support and being part of our team!
Your Partner Principals,
Jason Pensler (Principal)
Jenna Campbell (Assistant Principal: K,2,4,6)
James Marotta (Assistant Principal: K,1,3,5)
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