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Hello Bull Run families!
What a wonderful week it has been!
The classroom teachers were off and running with introductions to their first unit of study in FCPS' new Language Arts curriculum. Our amazing teachers not only taught the material but also created engaging ways to get the students excited to learn and participate in the program. Ask your child if you haven't already heard about it! Second grade went on an 'animal safari' to get ready for their 'plants and animals in their habitats' unit of study, while fifth grade brought me into the action to get ready for their 'all about corn' unit (see pictures below).
We had great learning experiences take place in the building this week as well! Third grade practiced bus safety and fourth grade enjoyed a presentation by reenactors about the signing of the U.S. Constitution to celebrate Constitution Day.
Tomorrow, Friday 9/20, is our PTA's BACK TO SCHOOL BASH! It will be held on the Bull Run ES playground from 5:30pm-7:30pm. There will be food for purchase from El Fresco & Kona Ice, games, DJ, booths & more! *This is not a drop-off event. All students must have a parent/guardian attend with them* I hope to see all of you there tomorrow night!
As a reminder, this coming Monday (September 23rd) is our first 3-hour early release day. *Please note- if you selected for your child to go home at 1:00pm you cannot change your mind on Monday* We have put a lot of work into preparing for a certain number of students whose families have childcare hardship, and adding students would limit our ability to provide adequate supervision. Overall, the time spent in the building will be doing activities such as reading books, board games, playground and/or gym use, and time to work on homework if available. There will not be any instruction or remediation available for students.
Please check with your healthcare 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 need to document their plan to complete their vaccination records with us.
On Monday, September 23rd, we will celebrate our military-connected students and families with donuts for Blue Star Welcome Week! Blue Star Welcome Week is a nationwide initiative to ensure military families feel a sense of belonging to their school communities. If you are a veteran, you are invited to donuts and coffee with your child/children in the library from 9:00-9:30. Please sign up below if you plan to attend and please include your child’s name. Thank you!
Sign up here: Blue Star Welcome Walk
Next Thursday, 9/26, we will have our first "Coffee with Principals" at 9:45am in the Bull Run ES Cafeteria. Some agenda items will be Early Release Monday reflections, Student Rights and Responsibilities, and upcoming events at the school. Additionally, we will be happy to answer any questions you may have about other topics.
Tomorrow, Friday, September 12th, is Bull Run Spirit Day! We encourage every students to wear our school colors, blue & white, every Friday!
Have a great weekend!
-Mr. Marotta
 Constitution Day presentation for 4th grade
 Second grade students reading about plants and animals
 Mr. Marotta helping 5th grade get excited for their new unit of study!
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Every year, approximately 600,000 military-connected families relocate. Most of these families move to new duty stations, while some transition out of the military and others transition in. Most of these moves take place over the summer, and Fairfax County Public Schools is committed to ensuring our military families feel welcomed and a sense of belonging to their local community.
Blue Star Welcome Week is an opportunity for our community to welcome our military-connected families and show them our appreciation for their service and sacrifices. Throughout the week, FCPS will help ease their transition through events, messages, actions of welcome, and opportunities to make meaningful connections. Please help us welcome our military families during Blue Star Welcome Week, September 21 - September 29, 2024, and throughout the year! #BlueStarWelcomeWeekFCPS
On Monday, September 23rd, we will celebrate our military-connected students and families with donuts for Blue Star Welcome Week. Blue Star Welcome Week is a nationwide initiative to ensure military families feel a sense of belonging to their school communities. If you are a veteran, you are invited to donuts and coffee with your child/children in the library from 9:00-9:30. Please sign up below by clicking the link if you plan to attend and please include your child’s name. Thank you!
Blue Star Welcome Walk
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Sept. 15-Oct. 15: National Hispanic Heritage Month
September 16-18: ChuSeok/Korean Thanksgiving
September 20: BRES "Back to School Bash" Event @ Bull Run Elementary (food, fun, music, and much more!)
September 21-29: Blue Star Welcome Week
September 23: Blue Star Welcome Week Donuts in the Library!
September 26: Coffee with the Principals at Bull Run ES
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*The full FCPS 2024-2025 calendar can be accessed here.
School Year Calendar
Be sure to bookmark the FCPS school year calendar to keep track of school holidays, breaks, and observances.
- Days marked with blue Hs are student holidays.
- Days marked with orange Os are religious and cultural observance days (or evenings if only half marked).
- Days marked in pink are holidays for students, but working days for teachers and staff.
The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and the start of each month coincides with the birth of a new moon. The date of Eid a-Fitr is regionally decided, which can lead to unexpected date changes. Eid al-Fitr is currently slated to begin at sundown on Sunday, March 30, 2025, and lasts through sundown Monday, March 31, 2025. Monday is a holiday, with all schools and offices being closed. If the day for Eid changes after the school year begins, the calendar may be adjusted.
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 Hispanic Heritage Month Displays (thank you Mrs. Watkins!)
 Hispanic Heritage Month Displays (thank you Mrs. Watkins!)
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Families in the School (Volunteer and Lunch)
We are excited to welcome you back in to the building this year. If you would like to have lunch with your child you are more than welcome to do so beginning September 23. This will ensure that our students have practiced and mastered all cafeteria expectations and routines.
You will also have the opportunity to volunteer in your child's classroom this year. If you are interested, please reach out to your child's teacher.
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Students to Be Surveyed on Social-Emotional Learning
FCPS is committed to supporting the mental wellness of all students. The Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener helps our students share their perspectives on how their schools and communities support them and help them develop the skills they need to succeed.
The screener is offered to all students in grades 3 through 12 in the fall and spring. It addresses skills such as achieving goals, understanding and managing emotions, establishing and maintaining relationships with adults and peers, and making responsible decisions. Students also share how successful their school and community are at making them feel valued, included, and supported. Screener data is used to plan programming for the division, schools, and individual students.
After each screening, results will be available in the Documents tab of SIS ParentVUE and mailed to families who don’t have a ParentVUE account. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage.
Families who wish to opt their child out may do so by completing the opt-out form in the Annual Notice packet or SIS ParentVUE. For more information, please visit the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener webpage or contact our front office.
Please note that the SEL Screener is not the same as the anonymous Fairfax County Youth Survey, which will take place later this fall.
Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health
Children go through a lot of changes, and it can be hard to tell if their behavior is developmentally appropriate or if they could benefit from mental health support. It’s important to talk to your child and pay attention to their actions, especially these warning signs:
- Increased irritability, hyperactivity, energy, and/or aggressive behavior.
- Excessive sadness, hopelessness, or worries.
- Loss of appetite, or significant weight gain or loss.
- Lack of sleep or too much sleep.
- A decline in grades, school avoidance, or attendance concerns.
- Alcohol or drug use.
- Withdrawal from activities and/or friends and family.
- Thoughts of harming themselves or others.
If you notice any of these warning signs or feel your child may be experiencing a mental health challenge, help is available. Please contact Brittany Cheshire, our school psychologist, Jalin Diggs, our school counselor, or Mercedes Tikoyan, our school social worker, to discuss your concerns and identify resources. Find additional ways to support your child’s wellness.
If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis such as thoughts of harming themselves or others, please take action right away. Call 988, go to the nearest emergency room, or contact the Sharon Bulova Center for Community Health Emergency Services at 703-573-5679.
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Bull Run Elementary Spirit Days -
Wear Blue and White!
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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Jersey Day! Every First Friday of the Month!
Bull Run Elementary encourages every student to wear the jersey or colors of their favorite team/sport, every first Friday of the month! Our first Jersey Spirit Day is September 6th.
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Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow! The beginning of the school year is the best time to develop strong attendance habits! Students who attend school regularly are more likely to perform well in reading and math, develop strong social and emotional skills, and graduate from high school on time. Help prepare your child for future success. Visit FCPS’ Attendance web page for tips and strategies.
Immunization Reminders for Return to School
Parent/Caregiver Checklist: Have You Completed These Important Forms?
We understand that the multiple school forms caregivers receive during the first weeks of school can feel overwhelming, but each one helps set your child up for a successful school year! If you do not have a SIS ParentVUE account, please contact the front office for an activation code and follow the directions on the SIS ParentVUE Account webpage.
🩹 Immunization Requirements
Please check with your healthcare 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 Bull Run's front office.
Alternative immunization documents (below) may also be provided, but they may not be uploaded in ParentVUE:
- A healthcare provider’s written statement specifying all administered immunizations.
- A healthcare 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 religious tenets or practices.
Find more information on immunizations.
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School Meals Information
Preparing for and Paying for Meals at School
Parents/caregivers need to provide their students with money to purchase meals at school, send them with a packed lunch, or apply (and be approved) for free and reduced-price meals benefits. School breakfast for students costs $1.75. Lunch is $3.25 for elementary students and $3.50 for middle, secondary, and high school students.
The best way to purchase meals and additional food items is to use MySchoolBucks. If you have not already, set up your student’s MySchoolBucks account today.
MySchoolBucks accounts can be set up to add money to the account automatically as needed, and families with multiple children can use the same MySchoolBucks account.
Visit FCPS’ Food and Nutrition webpage for more information.
Apply for Free and Reduced-Priced Meals:
The application for free and reduced-priced meals is now available for the 2024-25 school year. Students who were approved for free and reduced-price lunch last year are eligible for the first 30 days of school this year (or until a new application is processed). Families should re-apply as soon as possible, so eligible students continue to receive meals at no cost.
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📑 Varsity Tutors Provides On-Demand Support at No Cost
FCPS is partnering with Varsity Tutors to provide students and families with extra resources for learning. Every student can take advantage of Varsity Tutors’ services at no cost, including weekly live online classes, on-demand 24/7 chat tutoring, essay editing, and study resources such as recorded content, practice problems, and diagnostic tests. Learn more about online tutoring with Varsity Tutors. Click to edit this placeholder text.
Strategic Plan
The 2023-30 Strategic Plan — Goal 3: Academic Growth and Excellence
FCPS’ 2023-30 Strategic Plan sets five main goals to create positive change in the division. These goals show where we should focus our attention and will help us align our efforts.
Our third goal is for all students to achieve academic growth and excellence. We want our students to have the academic skills to be successful. For example, making sure they are readers by third grade and taking courses that challenge them throughout their education will help prepare them for lifelong success. See how Goal 3 is being put into practice.
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Get to Know FCPS and the Resources Available to Families
Being connected to your school community helps you stay informed and support your child’s success. Take some time to get familiar with the many resources and tools available to FCPS families, including:
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Family Resource Center
- Free Workshops for Families
Parents and caregivers can access free webinars, confidential consultations, a lending library, and resources to help adults support the success of all students, including those with learning challenges, special needs, and disabilities. Learn more about the Family Resource Center (FRC).
In September, the FRC will host webinars for families on supporting siblings of children with disabilities, helping students organize their school work, working with children who like to push boundaries, and teen development and well-being. Sign up for the FRC newsletter for their latest offerings or visit their webinar website.
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Our Schools, Our Future: Register Today for a Community Conversation!
Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid will host a series of Community Conversations this fall. She invites you to share your thoughts and ask questions.
The next event is scheduled for Monday, September 23, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Newington Forest Elementary School. Click on the date to register. Childcare and language interpretation services will be provided.
Additionally:
September 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School
October 14, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Fairhill Elementary School
October 21, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Virginia Run Elementary School
October 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m., at Herndon Middle School
Register to attend: https://bit.ly/472s5Oa
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FCPS This Week
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week.
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
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FCPS CARES Program
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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#chargerSTRONG
Want to view previous Bull Run Bulletins? Click here.
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