Good afternoon families!!
I hope you had a wonderful weekend and had a chance to celebrate Veteran's Day! From today, through Winter Break, we have a 3 hour early closing (November 18) and a 3-day break for Thanksgiving (Nov 27-29), and the rest of the days are school days! Please make sure that students are in school as much as possible (unless they are sick!) since "Chronic Absenteeism" is now a factor in school accreditation!
FCPS HONORS: Please see the section below with regards to nominating some of our amazing staff! If you have had a great experience with a staff member, please make sure to reach out and nominate them for and "FCPS Honors" award!
For our 3 hour early release next Monday, I have included a link (and a QR code) for you to submit your intentions. The October early release went so much smoother and I can only thank all of you, the parents, for that! The survey is basically the same survey as before. If you select that you will NOT be staying after school, please select "N/A" in the final question.
This Thursday night, the FCPS School Board will be honoring Cherry Run (along with other schools) for becoming a first time Purple Star School. I want to again thank all of the people who made this happen and who supported our work towards this goal. Mrs. Angela Lock and Mrs. Chelsea Kelly-Sipe will be joining me at the school board meeting for the recognition of this accomplishment.
For our veteran's (active, retired, reserve) and their families, I want to send you a personal "THANK YOU" for all that you do, and all that you sacrifice, on behalf of the rest of us. Beyond the personal sacrifice and risk of being in harm's way, it is the other things you sacrifice such as a baby's first step, a son's/daughter's birthday, an anniversary, and other special moments that you can never get back. Those things are so incredibly important and you sacrifice those moments for us as well. I will often see on YouTube "Soldier comes home surprise" and you cannot help but tear up watching the reactions of these families when their loved ones return. Those videos show the impact and the sacrifices of the families affected by deployments better than any words ever could. I always try to keep that in mind, especially in a community as special as ours.
Have a wonderful week!
Sincerely,
Mark Bibbee
Principal
Cherry Run ES
November 18 - 3 Hour Early closing - 1:05 Dismissal
November 27-29 - Student Holiday - No Students - School is CLOSED
December 11 - PTA Meeting - Cafeteria & Zoom - 7:30-8:30
Dec 23 - Jan 3 - Winter Break - No Students - School is CLOSED
January 20 - Student Holiday - No Students - School is CLOSED
On November 18th, Cherry Run will host the third "Early Release Monday" so that teachers can participate in professional development and planning with the new Language Arts program. In order to accurately plan for students, I am asking parents to click the link below (or use the QR Code in the flyer), to designate their child(ren)'s intention for this day. Please fill out the form one time for each child. We appreciate your attention to this matter!
LINK: https://forms.gle/TDvDJoBrc6i7QjCq5
2025 Outstanding Employee Awards Nominations
Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Employee Awards! To submit a nomination for a Cherry Run ES Outstanding Employee in one of the categories below, please complete the nomination through this Google form link: Nomination Form. You may nominate one employee at our school or multiple employees (one individual may only nominate one employee per category.)
All that is required for a preliminary nomination is a paragraph or two about how this employee demonstrates exceptional work in one more of the criteria for that award category. The Google form link has more information regarding the criteria for each of these awards. The eligibility requirements are below.
Outstanding Teacher
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district)
Outstanding New Teacher
Eligibility: Has up to three years of experience as a teacher (in any school/school district)
Outstanding Principal
Eligibility: Has at least three years of experience as a building principal (in any school/school district)
Outstanding Leader
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in their current position as a Schedule-C or School-Based Administrator scale employee (that is not the building principal) at their current location
Common positions in this category: Assistant and Associate Principals
Outstanding Professional Employee
Eligibility: At least one year experience in current position as a Schedule-B employee or other non-instructional employee in a school that supports school leadership at their current location
Common positions in this category: School-Based Technology Specialist, Technology Support Specialist, Psychologist, Social Worker, School Counselor, Special Education Department Chairs that teach less than 50% of their time, Reading Specialists that do not have a regular course load/do not give grades
Outstanding Operational Employee
Eligibility: At least one year of experience in current position as Schedule-A or Classroom Instructional Support Scale employee at their current location
Common positions in this category: Administrative and Office Staff, Safety and Security Assistant, Custodial Staff, Food Service Staff, IA, PHA, PHTA, All Parent Liaisons
The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, November 15.
If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Hammond at ldhammond@fcps.edu
A HUGE shout out to our Military Committee and Purple Up club for the work they put in to our Veteran's Day Celebration. Special guests and speakers helped make this a wonderful experience. The pictures submitted were amazing and we really appreciated the music provided again this year! We were extremely pleased that the weather cooperated and we were able to host our "Clap Out" parade line outside!!
Thank you to all of our Veterans and guests who attended to celebrate with us!
Each year, students in grades 4 - 6 participate in our Family Life Education (FLE) curriculum. This ranges from 1 day (4th grade) to 5 days (5th & 6th grades) and includes 1 hour lessons on a variety of topics. Parents have the opportunity to preview these lessons PRIOR to our instructing of students.
Mrs. Goss and Ms. Valenzuela have scheduled the FLE parent preview night for Wednesday, November 20th at 7:00pm. They plan on hosting a virtual meeting again this year. The link will be sent closer to the day of the event so families can have it at the top of their inbox. This meeting will provide an overview of the curriculum and share some examples of the materials that will be used.
For a deeper inspection of the materials used, you are welcome to schedule a visit to the school to look at the full curriculum.
- 📍 Boundary Review Community Meetings Start This Month
As a reminder, FCPS has started the process of reviewing school boundaries across the division. This important work will help the district better support student population growth, changes in school capacity, and evolving community needs. Community input is vital to this process. With that in mind, FCPS, in partnership with Thru Consulting, will be hosting a series of community meetings in each of FCPS’ six regions. Participants are encouraged to share their thoughts, ask questions, and learn more about the boundary review process.
Please visit FCPS’ website for meeting dates, locations, and other information. Sign up for the School Boundary Review newsletter for updates.
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Reuniones Comunitarias sobre la Revisión de Límites Empiezan Este MesComo recordatorio, FCPS ha comenzado el proceso de revisar los límites escolares en toda la división. Este importante trabajo ayudará al distrito a apoyar mejor a nuestra creciente población estudiantil, las capacidades cambiantes de las escuelas, y la evolución de las necesidades de la comunidad. La opinión de la comunidad es vital para este proceso. Con eso en mente, FCPS, en asociación con la Consultoría Thru, será el anfitrión de una serie de reuniones de la comunidad en cada una de nuestras seis regiones. Animamos a los participantes a compartir sus pensamientos, hacer preguntas y aprender más sobre la revisión de límites.
Por favor visite el sitio web de FCPS para las fechas de las reuniones, lugares, y otra información. Suscríbase a nuestro boletín de noticias de la Revisión de Límites Escolares para actualizaciones.
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IEP Palooza and Community Resource FairParents/caregivers, school staff, and students over the age of 14 are invited to attend an interactive event celebrating the individualized education program (IEP) process. The IEP Palooza and Community Resource Fair will take place on Saturday, November 16, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at Jackson Middle School.
The event is sponsored by Fairfax County Special Education Parent Teacher Association (SEPTA). Activities include simulated IEP meetings, break-out sessions on the various parts of an IEP, and a resource fair to learn more about community supports. Register in advance.
- IEP Palooza y Feria de Recursos Comunitarios
Los padres / cuidadores, personal de la escuela, y los estudiantes mayores de 14 años están invitados a asistir a un evento interactivo que celebra el programa de educación individualizada (IEP) el proceso el sábado, 16 de noviembre, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., en la Escuela Intermedia de Jackson Luther.
Patrocinado por el Condado de Fairfax Educación Especial Asociación de Padres y Maestros (SEPTA), el evento contará con reuniones simuladas IEP, sesiones de trabajo sobre las diversas partes de un IEP, y una feria de recursos para aprender más acerca de los apoyos de la comunidad. Inscríbase con antelación.
FCPS - SEH-23
How Cold is Too Cold to Allow Students to Play Outdoors??
Deciding when students may play outdoors remains the responsibility of the principal, based on his or her professional judgement after considering the information provided on the fact sheet. Principals should communicate with their community that it is the intention of the school to hold recess during cold spells and that parents should have their children prepared to play outdoors (jackets, gloves, and hats).
Based on the guidance provided in the regulation, Cherry Run has adopted the following "Cold Weather Policy" for students:
When temperatures drop below 50 degrees we do not allow students who are not wearing leg coverings (e.g. pants/sweats, etc.) and a warm jacket/sweatshirt/hoodie to go outside. Long-sleeve tee-shirts do not count. Students without appropriate covering will be brought to the office or library where they can read until their class returns.
Please remember to have your students dress appropriately for recess and PE! While outside recess is at the teacher’s discretion, and we ask that they use good judgment, teachers are able to take students outside for up to 15 minutes when the temperatures reach ZERO!!
We are aware that sunshine, cloud cover, wind, etc. impact the 'relative' temperature, but having a clear guideline helps with planning for parents/students and gives teachers an objective measure in making determinations.
- Limited Early Release Mondays for Elementary Schools: Steering Committee Update
As a reminder, FCPS elementary schools will have limited early release Mondays during the upcoming school year. The goal is to provide elementary teachers with additional time to meet new professional development requirements for the Virginia Literacy Act.
You can help us with planning for the seven early release Mondays. Please watch your email for a short survey from us asking if your child will leave at the early release time on these days or remain at school until the standard dismissal time. Your response will help us in planning activities for students who will need to stay at school until regular dismissal time.
We realize there are many details for us to finalize before our first early release Monday in mid-September. Thank you for your patience, we strive to create a positive and successful experience for students, families, and teachers.
Early release Mondays for our school include:
- November 18
- February 10
- March 10
- April 21
- May 12
Learn more about Early-Release Mondays.
Want to know if your child's bus is on schedule or where the bus is? Here Comes the Bus® is an easy-to-use website and app that enables parents to see the location of their child’s school bus — almost in real time — on a smartphone, tablet, or personal computer.
Parents can track multiple buses if their children don’t all ride the same bus; know exactly when children arrive at school or the bus stop; and receive customized text and/or email notifications about bus locations, schedule changes, or delays.
To get started, download the app from the Apple iOS or Android app store. Check out the Here Comes the Bus and Frequently Asked Questions webpages for more information.
Already using the Here Comes the Bus app? Send your feedback to HCTB@fcps.edu.
Note: eNotify text messaging will continue to be used for reporting bus delays and bus incidents.
- 🚍 Here Comes the Bus (Ahí Viene el Autobús)
¿Quiere saber si el autobús de su hijo llegará a tiempo o dónde está? Here Comes the Bus® es un sitio web y una aplicación fáciles de usar que permiten que los padres vean la ubicación del autobús escolar de sus hijos -casi en tiempo real- en un smartphone, una tableta o un ordenador personal.
Los padres pueden ver la ubicación de varios autobuses en caso de que sus hijos no viajen todos en el mismo autobús; saber exactamente cuándo llegan los niños a la escuela o a la parada de autobús; y recibir notificaciones personalizadas por mensaje de texto y/o correo electrónico sobre la ubicación de los autobuses, los cambios de horario o los retrasos.
Para comenzar, baje la aplicación de la tienda de aplicaciones de Apple iOS o Android. Consulte las páginas web Here Comes The Bus y Preguntas Frecuentes para obtener más información.
¿Ya utiliza la aplicación Here Comes the Bus? Envíen sus comentarios a HCTB@fcps.edu.
Aviso: La mensajería de texto eNotify seguirá utilizándose para informar de retrasos e incidencias en los autobuses.
- 🙋 Student Attendance and Engagement
During the Academic Matters segment of the November 9 School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid discussed student attendance and engagement. Attendance and absenteeism rates are one measure for Goal 2 of our 2023-30 Strategic Plan.
Chronic absenteeism — which is defined as a student missing 10% or more of school for any reason — is a concern across Virginia school districts. Although FCPS continues to outperform the state average in attendance rates, we are tracking chronic absenteeism closely.
Data shows that:
- Missing just 10% of school — just two days a month — negatively affects a student’s academic performance.
- Only 17% of students who were chronically absent in both kindergarten and first grade were reading proficiently in third grade, compared to 64% of those with good attendance.
- Students who fail to read at grade level by the end of third grade are four times more likely than students who achieve proficiency to drop out of high school.
- By sixth grade, chronic absenteeism becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.
Attendance is critical for academic success!
Missing School Over the Holidays
Looking ahead to the holiday season, if missing school is unavoidable, please speak with your child’s teachers in advance to create a plan for making up missed work. However, a homework packet cannot make up for the interaction and learning that happens in the classroom.
Visit FCPS’ website for more attendance resources.
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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.
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