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A Note from the Principal
Dear Daniels Run Elementary School Families,
I hope this message finds you well and in good spirits as we approach the holiday season.
I want to take a moment to share the joy and pride we experienced during our recent holiday concert at Sunrise Senior Living in Fairfax. Our Daniels Run chorus delivered a heartwarming performance that truly brought joy to everyone present. It was a wonderful opportunity for our students to spread cheer and showcase their talents, and we are incredibly proud of their achievement. A big thank you to Michelle McCarten for orchestrating this fun event!
Looking ahead, we have a fun and cozy event planned for next Friday, December 20th. We are inviting all students and staff to join in the spirit of a snow day by wearing their favorite pajamas to school.
Additionally, if you are planning to volunteer at school this week, we kindly ask that you arrive a little early to allow yourself ample time for the check-in process at the office.
Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community.
Warm regards,
Susan Mullen
Principal, Daniels Run Elementary School
Music News
 🎵 Yesterday the 5th & 6th grade chorus performed for residents at Sunrise Living Home. They sang songs to celebrate our rich diversity at Daniels Run. They also visited with the residents and enjoyed getting to know our neighbors.
 🎵 The Daniels Run Singers performed at the Fairfax City Festival of Lights in the Fairfax Town Square. They performed songs to celebrate peace and upcoming holidays. It was their first public performance of the year. Next up is the VOKE Children’s Choral Festival in Manassas. Come to their free concert 5pm, Sunday, January 12, 2025 at Osbourn Park High School.
🎵 The December Musician of the Month is Dolly Parton. She is an American country music singer-songwriter, guitarist, actress & advocate.
⛄Student and Family Resources
Fairfax County Public Schools has compiled a list of resources for students and families in case they need assistance while schools are closed for winter break. Please visit FCPS’ winter resources webpage for information on academic support, mental health support, and county resources related to food, clothing, housing, and other needs.
School’s Closed, Learning Can Continue!
FCPS encourages students to take advantage of fun learning opportunities during winter break and snow days. Consider these winter activities to blend education and play for your students during winter break or weather-related school closures.
🙋♂️ Attendance Is Important Every Day!
The weeks surrounding winter break often include more empty seats in classrooms. Every hour of every school day is a unique opportunity for students to learn, connect, and grow. Let’s nurture a rock-solid attendance habit.
A big thank you to:
- 🌟 Students who show up daily and the parents/caregivers supporting them.
- 👩🏫 Teachers who create a welcoming environment for learning.
- 👨💼 Administrators who provide a safe and engaging place to grow.
- 👏 Bus drivers, support staff, and volunteers who help our learners.
If you or your child need support, please contact a school counselor, social worker, or family liaison.
If your child is not feeling well, please refer to our guidance on when to keep your child home.
Find more attendance resources.
Webinar on Overcoming School Resistance
Does your child resist going to school or refuse to go? If so, join the Family Resource Center’s School Resistance webinar on Friday, January 10, 10-11:30 p.m. The webinar will explore how to take care of yourself in the heat of the moment and set supportive boundaries at home. Register in advance.
✨ Student attendance is one measure of Strategic Plan Goal 2: Safe, Supported, Included, and Empowered.
PTA News
PTA UPDATES:
All Students received a Dragon Water bottle sticker this week for a job well done on our Fundraiser!
Students who raised $75+ received their DRE Dragon Water bottles as well!
Save the Date for our first meeting of 2025!
Thursday, January 16th @ pm Virtually (Google Meet Link will be sent after winter break)
Welcome to the PTA Daniels Run Elementary Spirit Wear Shop!
Orders placed by Dec. 15 will receive free delivery to the school by Thursday, Dec. 19 and will be sent home with your student. Delivery on orders placed after Dec. 15 is not guaranteed before winter break. Orders placed after winter break will be delivered to your designated shipping address with a $5 shipping fee.
If you order now, it will make a great gift for your student just in time for the holidays!
Order Here: www.campussurvivalkits.com/danielsrun
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Daniels Run Outstanding Employee Award School Winners
Outstanding New Teacher
Natalie Wilson
Outstanding Teacher
Erin Denton
Outstanding Principal
Susan Mullen
Outstanding Professional Employee
Joseph Gayl
Outstanding Operational Employee
Carlos Camacho
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Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Screener Results Coming Soon
Students in grades 3-12 took the SEL Screener during the month of October, providing information on their SEL skills like achieving goals, understanding, and managing emotions, establishing, and maintaining relationships, and making responsible decisions. The screener also asks students how well their school community makes them feel valued, included, and supported.
Individual student SEL Screener results are now available to 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.
For support in understanding your individual student’s results or for ideas on how to support them at home, please review the Family Guide or reach out to our school staff with any questions.
Mrs. Fisher, Counselor and SEL screener lead
anfisher@fcps.edu or 703-279-8455
AAP News
Reminder: Window for Full-Time AAP Referrals Closes on December 15, 2024
Parents/guardians of students in Grades 2-7 who would like their student to be considered for Full-Time advanced academic programs may submit the AAP Full-Time Referral Form to the Advanced Academics Resource Teacher, Danni James at dfjames@fcps.edu no later than December 15, 2024.
The window for families to submit a referral for Full-Time AAP services is the first day of school through December 15, annually. Forms for Full-Time and part-time referrals are available on the AAP Forms Page. No late referrals for Full-Time AAP services will be accepted.
Submitting a referral form for Full-Time AAP will initiate a process that begins at the local school and is then completed at the central office level. Our school will put together a portfolio that includes multiple data which are considered holistically. At the central office level, a committee of six trained professionals from various schools and roles will review the portfolio materials to determine eligibility for Full-Time placement. Eligibility decisions are communicated by early April. Parents may request a copy of the portfolio that was submitted after they have been turned in for central selection by emailing Advanced Academics Resource Teacher, Danni James at dfjames@fcps.edu
Referrals for Subject-Specific and Part-Time AAP are screened at the local school. If you miss this deadline, your student can still be screened for Subject-Specific AAP or Part-Time AAP for the remainder of the year and submit a referral for Full-Time AAP next fall.
For more information, please visit the Advanced Academic Programs website.
⏰ Update on Potential Changes to Middle School Start Times
At Tuesday’s School Board work session, staff from Prismatic Services, Inc., presented options for adjusting start times at FCPS middle schools. As a reminder, Prismatic is charged with developing an action plan to help the School Board reach its goal of starting middle school at or after 8 a.m.
The presentation includes five options for adjusting middle school start times based on the consultant’s analysis from community forums, surveys, and interviews with staff, parents, associations, and other groups. The School Board will provide next steps to the superintendent.
Watch a video of the work session. Visit the Middle School Start Times webpage for more information on the project.
Daniels Run Komodo Karate
Dear Daniels Run Elementary Families,
The DRES Komodo’s Karate program begins in less than six weeks.
The program runs once a week for eight weeks. The first 8 week session will take place in the gym afterschool starting on January 14th-March 4th. Mr. Gayl will be facilitating and teaching the karate program.
There are a few things you should know before signing up for karate.
- Your child must be picked up after karate! Karate ends at 4:50 pm and pick up will be in the Kiss and Ride parking lot. I will reach out to you to find out how your child is being picked up.
- There will be three 8 week sessions of karate between January and June. If you sign the karate waiver, I will put your child in one of the three 8 week sessions.
- You must fill out and return a karate waiver by Friday December 20th. You can either email me the signed waiver or bring it to school.
Please reach out to me at jgayl@fcps.edu if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Joseph Gayl
Certification American Freestyle Karate Instructor
School Counselor
Actualización para padres de Daniels Run Komodo Karate
Hola, padres y familias de Daniels Run, a partir del martes 14 de enero, comenzará el programa de Karate Daniels Run. Los estudiantes se dirigirán a la cafetería a las 4:00 pm. El karate se llevará a cabo de 16:05 a 16:55 horas. Los estudiantes serán recogidos de la entrada de kiss and ride a las 5:00 pm.
Por favor, asegúrese de que su hijo lleve algo cómodo para el karate. El programa es gratuito y los estudiantes no necesitan traer ningún equipo, uniforme o cinturón durante la clase de karate. Durante el karate, los estudiantes calentarán, aprenderán los conceptos básicos del karate, participarán en charlas de personajes y jugarán un juego activo.
El Programa de Karate Daniels Run se llevará a cabo durante ocho semanas y concluirá con una graduación de karate. Los estudiantes obtendrán sus cinturones amarillos una vez que concluya el programa.
Por favor, preséntese en la entrada de Kiss and Ride a las 4:55 pm. La última sesión tendrá lugar el martes 4 de marzo.
Si tiene alguna pregunta, comuníquese con el maestro del salón de clases de su hijo o envíe un correo electrónico a jgayl-fcps.edu.
Gracias, Joseph Gayl
Certificación Instructor Americano de Karate Freestyle Consejero Escolar
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📚 Bundle Up With Books Over Break
Fairfax County Public Library’s (FCPL) winter reading adventure has begun and will continue through Friday, January 31, 2025. Visit your local FCPL library branch or visit their website to register and get a sneak peek at the prizes being offered.
Check out their Winter Reading Events webpage to learn about laser tag, movie nights, crafting sessions, Noon-Year Eve celebrations, and book discussions.
⛄ Get Outdoors for Winter Fun!
The Fairfax County Park Authority has rounded up its seasonal fun into a handy list of events happening across the county.
Learn more about the Winter Wonderland and the Holiday Train at Burke Lake Park, Holiday on the Farm at Frying Pan Farm Park, and many more fun events.
🍲 Food Assistance and Resource Guide
Food insecurity impacts more than 96,000 Fairfax County residents. There are many resources available to support those who need food assistance. Learn how to help these families and the many resources available to support those who need food assistance on Fairfax County’s website or view the county’s Human Services Resource Guide.
P2 News
Dear Families,
Next week, our school will focus on the character strength of Self-Control. Self-control means having the ability to control your emotions and behaviors. You think before you act.
Having self-control helps people stay calm during tough times and avoid impulsive actions. It doesn’t mean you don’t have thoughts or feelings; it means you can manage them.
When working or gathering in groups, self-control is shown through “self-monitoring.” This means being honest about what works and what doesn’t. Group members adjust their roles to help the group succeed.
To practice and encourage the character strength of self-control at home, please visit The Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families (available in English and Spanish), where you will watch a video together and discuss a quote and three questions. Below are links to this week’s P2 for Families lessons. Click on the grade level that best meets your child’s needs.
Thank you for your continued support!
FCPS News
In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics and others:
- Course Selection for Middle and High School Students
- Join Our Teacher Team!
- Comprehensive Boundary Review Updates
Read FCPS This Week to learn more about these topics. If you are not already receiving this weekly newsletter, please sign up today.
FCPS Calendar
FCPS School Calendar 2024-2025
Important Dates
December 23-January 5- Winter Break
January 16- PTA Meeting (virtual)
January 20- No School (Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday/Inauguration Day)
January 29- No School/ Teacher Work Day
Quick Links
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