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A Note from the Principal
Dear Daniels Run Families and caregivers,
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended our Back to School Night at Daniels Run Elementary School. The evening was a resounding success, thanks to the incredible turnout from our families and the unwavering support of our community. A special thank you goes out to our wonderful PTA for organizing a delightful picnic that allowed families, teachers, and staff to connect and enjoy a beautiful evening together. Your continued support and involvement are what make our school community so vibrant and strong.
We still haven’t heard from many of you about our early release Mondays. The first one is on September 23rd. To help plan for our school’s child care needs during the early release Mondays, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/pHYySmGkSqiwpDDC9 for each of your children who are enrolled at Daniels Run Elementary. The form covers the first two early release Mondays, scheduled for September 23, 2024 and October 28, 2024. If you have multiple children, you will need to submit multiple forms. Staff will confirm the after school supervision plan for each student.
We are excited for a fantastic school year ahead!
Warm regards,
Susan Mullen
Principal, Daniels Run Elementary School
September is Attendance Awareness Month
Regular attendance is crucial for the academic success of all students. Studies have repeatedly proven that students with better attendance records perform better in school and are more likely to graduate high school on time.
Did you know?
- Starting in kindergarten, too many absences can cause children to fall behind in school.
- Missing 10% (or about 2 days per month) can make it harder to learn to read.
- Attending school even if your student arrives late is valuable for their academic success.
We understand that there may be obstacles preventing students from attending school regularly, such as illness or personal circumstances. That’s why it is so important for our school team to work together with our students and families to remove any barriers. We all belong here!
Please encourage your student to arrive on time every day and maintain regular attendance until the last day of school. Together, we can work toward increasing school attendance rates and improving academic outcomes for all our students.
How You Can Help:
- Set a regular bedtime and morning routine.
- Lay out clothes and pack backpacks the night before.
- Don’t let your child stay home unless she is truly sick. Keep in mind that complaints of a stomach ache or headache can be a sign of anxiety and not a reason to stay home.
- If your child seems anxious about going to school, talk to teachers, school counselors, or other parents for advice on how to make them feel comfortable and excited about learning. Our DRES student support team is here to help.
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DRES Support Staff:
- Social Worker: Emily Carleton- Etcarleton@fcps.edu
- School Psychologist: Marquita Lashley- Mlashley@fcps.edu
- Counselor for Grades K, 4, 5, 6: Ashleigh Fisher- Anfisher@fcps.edu
- Counselor for Grades K, 1, 2, 3: Joseph Gayl- Jgayl@fcps.edu
- Develop backup plans for getting to school if something comes up. Call on a family member, a neighbor, or another parent.
- Avoid medical appointments and extended trips when school is in session.
Let's start the school year strong!
AAP News
Please mark your calendars for Wednesday, September 25 at 6:30pm in the DRES Library, for a parent AAP information meeting. Ms. James, our Advanced Academics Resource Teacher, will be discussing the different levels of advanced differentiation offered in Fairfax County Public Schools. She will explain the screening processes, and answer questions about advanced academic services.
Another presentation will be conducted on Wednesday, October 2 at 6:30pm in the DRES Library to discuss the Full-Time AAP screening process. Ms. James will provide detailed information about the Full-Time screening process, and answer questions about Full-Time advanced academic services.
Please be sure to access the AAP Fall Newsletter found here.
P2 News
Dear Families,
Next week, our school community will focus on the Other People Mindset. This means anything that builds relationships is going to make you happy.
The Positivity Project (P2) aims to empower youth to build positive relationships by understanding, appreciating, and exemplifying the character strengths in us all. People who have a strong “Other People Mindset” are able to build and maintain strong, positive relationships with others by consistently practicing these five Other People Mindset principles:
- Cheer other people on when they succeed
- Recognize the good in other people
- Remain present when giving people your attention
- Support others when they struggle
- Understand that everything you say and do affects other people
While mental health is incredibly complex, we do know that positive relationships can help people become happier, healthier, and more resilient. And, the Positivity Project believes educators have a tremendous opportunity and vital role to play in this endeavor. Our nation’s youth spend a large percentage of their time in school. By deliberately and consistently teaching students that relationships are important — and that positive relationships are cultivated through character strengths and the Other People Mindset — educators can roll back these trends and create strong citizens and leaders for our communities and countries.
To practice and encourage the Other People Mindset at home, please visit the Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families. There, you will watch a video clip together and discuss a quote and three questions.
Thank you for your support!
Yearbook Help Needed
Do you attend student activities at DRES and enjoying taking pictures?
We are looking for volunteers to support our yearbook coordinator, primarily taking and collecting pictures throughout the year. No special skills, cameras or equipment needed. Aside from uploading your pictures, no additional time required (unless you'd like to help with design too!).
If you are interested, please reach out to Angie Xhakolli at angelaxhakolli@gmail.com.
POETRY CONTEST - 2024 Arbor Day
In celebration of 2024 Arbor Day on October 26th, 2024, Fairfax City Environmental Sustainability Committee is planning a poetry contest. The focus of the poetry contest is "Protect the Environment Around You". Focus of poetry can be about nature, the importance of trees, climate change, human impact on nature, global warming, decline in various species, or anything else related to environmental awareness and stewardship.
This poetry contest is open to all students of Daniel's Run ES, Providence ES, Johnson MS, and Fairfax HS.
One poetry winner from each city school will receive the award of $50. The winner will also be invited to read their poetry at the Fairfax City Arbor Day Celebration on October 26th, 2024, at Van Dyck Park. (Details will be shared later)
Poetry submissions are due Monday, October 7.
 
Immunization Requirements
Please check with your health care provider as soon as possible to make sure your child is up to date on the immunizations required by the state of Virginia. Starting Monday, September 30, students who have not provided proof of immunization will not be allowed to attend school.
You may check your child’s immunization compliance and submit their immunization record in SIS ParentVUE. Records may also be delivered to your school’s front office.
Alternative immunization documents (below) may also be provided to your school’s front office, but they may not be uploaded in ParentVUE:
- A health care provider’s written statement specifying all administered immunizations.
- A health care provider’s written statement of a permanent or temporary medical exemption.
A notarized Religious Exemption form objecting to the administration of immunizations due to conflicts with their religious tenets or practices.
Music News
Musician of the Month Project
🎵 In all Daniels Run music classes, students study the same musician at the same time, with different listening activities modified by grade level. Throughout the year, different styles that exist in the world’s musical tapestry are explored. Listening activities are meant to involve or inspire active music making, rather than acting as a “music appreciation” curriculum. Students and families can engage with the Musician of the Month at home through listening, dancing or singing. Many families, staff and students voted for their favorite musician of the month last year and also recommended other musicians to study.
🎵 The September Musician of the Month is Duke Ellington. He was an American jazz composer, pianist & bandleader.
🎵 Chorus has begun! All 5th or 6th graders are invited to come and sing in the chorus. This optional vocal ensemble meets Thursdays during school once a week. There is no cost. Chorus begins Thursday, September 5. Register for Chorus here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScI2Ta3gBAF5amG3nXth22sqUrRXh3EErV8eOpai0E_LwE3jA/viewform
2024 Student Rights and Responsibilities
FCPS’ Student Rights and Responsibilities document (SR&R) explains expectations for student behavior and adult responses to enhance school safety and to create a fair, equitable, and supportive school environment. Read Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid’s letter to families regarding the SR&R.
Parents/caregivers should talk to their child(ren) about expectations for this school year. Also, please log in to SIS ParentVUE and sign to acknowledge your review of the SR&R, or sign and return the signature sheet to your child’s school by Monday, September 30.
You can submit questions online regarding the SR&R.
Community Conversations with Superintendent Dr. Reid
Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid invites you to share your questions or concerns regarding Fairfax County Public Schools. Your voice matters! Community Conversations will be held this Fall 6:30-7:30 p.m. on:
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Monday, September 9, at Holmes Middle School
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Monday, September 23, at Newington Forest Elementary
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Monday, September 30, at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary
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Monday, October 14, at Fairhill Elementary
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Monday, October 21, at Virginia Run Elementary
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Wednesday, October 30, at Herndon Middle
Click the date above to register. Registration is not required but helps with planning. Additional registration links will be shared in next week’s This Week at FCPS. Childcare and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all. Find out about other opportunities to connect with Dr. Reid.
Transportation Patience and Safety
Thank you for your patience as we all get used to new routines this school year. We appreciate our families following Kiss and Ride procedures and being patient while waiting for your children’s buses.
If a student’s bus is delayed, parents may access the Bus Delay Notification System or use the Here Comes the Bus mobile app to receive the delayed bus report. Email messages will be sent to announce significant bus delays. Contact the Transportation Office at 703-249-7000 with any additional questions. For any concerns after 5:30 p.m., contact Safety and Security at 571-423-2000.
To make sure you receive email messages about bus delays, update your contact information in SIS ParentVUE.
FCPS 2023-2030 Strategic Plan
✨ The 2023-30 Strategic Plan — Goal 1: Strong Start, Pre-K-12The 2023-30 strategic plan sets five main goals to create positive change in FCPS. These goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts.
Each goal has an equity commitment — the promise we make to every student to support them in attaining these goals. Each goal also has several measures that allow us to track our progress.
The first goal in the strategic plan focuses on each and every student having a strong start in FCPS. Whether they're joining us in preschool or in high school, we want our students to be set up for success.
See how Goal 1 is being put into practice.
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.
Opt-Out Annual Notice
Fairfax County Public Schools wants all parents and caregivers to understand its policies regarding surveys, records, curriculum, privacy, and related rights.
In its Annual Notice of Survey, Records, Curriculum, Privacy, and Related Rights and Opt-Out Forms (Annual Notice), FCPS provides explanations of the rights listed above as well as forms that may be used to exercise opt-out choices. Two versions of the Annual Notice are available: a grades K-8 version and a grades 9-12 version. Parents/caregivers with children at different grade levels should read each applicable version of the Annual Notice, because the notices and opt-out rights vary depending on the student’s grade level.
Get more information and view the 2024-25 Opt-Out Booklets.
Early Release Mondays
Fairfax County Public Schools has planned seven early release Mondays starting in September. Please mark the dates listed below on your calendars.
Daniels Run ES will dismiss at 12:45 PM on the following days:
- September 23
- October 28
- December 9 **changed from November 25th**
- February 24
- March 17
- April 28
- May 19
Visit FCPS' webpage for detailed information about early release Mondays. Please make sure to fill out the survey linked here: https://forms.gle/pHYySmGkSqiwpDDC9 regarding early release Mondays.
FCPS Calendar
 FCPS School Calendar 2024-2025
Important Dates
September 23- Early Release at 12:45pm
October 3- Holiday (No School)
October 4- Teacher Work Day/Student Holiday
October 11- Field Day
October 14- Student Holiday
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