Daniels Run ES- September 26, 2025

Fairfax County Public Schools sent this bulletin at 09/26/2025 04:06 PM EDT

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A Note from the Principal

Dear Daniels Run Community,

Welcome to this week's newsletter, where we're excited to share how our Daniels Run Dragons are SOARING!

This week marks the official launch of our school-wide SOAR Program, an initiative designed to explicitly teach, celebrate, and reinforce positive student behaviors. SOAR provides a clear, shared framework for what we expect in our classrooms and hallways:

  • Show Up
  • Own Your Actions
  • Act Kindly
  • Reach for Excellence

We've already seen our Daniels Run Dragons embracing these principles and earning SOAR Tickets. When a class collects 25 tickets, they get to celebrate with a fun reward, such as a Pajama Day or a visit with our resident celebrity, Mr. Reptile.

This focus on positive behavior ties directly into another critical component of student success: School Attendance. After all, Showing Up is the first step in the SOAR philosophy. We're celebrating classes with full attendance because we know that consistent attendance is vital—missing just two days a month adds up to missing an entire school year by the time a student graduates high school. While we always want your child to stay home if they are unwell, we are eager to recognize classes that are Showing Up consistently to Reach for Excellence!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

 

Warm regards,

Susan Mullen

Upcoming Dates

October 2: Yom Kippur- No School

October 3: DRES Field Day

October 7: Fall Picture Day!

October 13: Indigenous Peoples' Day- No School

October 15: 3 Hour Early Release Wednesday Dismissal at 12:45pm

October 20: Diwali- No School

October 31: End of Quarter- 2 Hour Early Dismissal at 1:45pm

November 3 & 4: Teacher Work Days- No School

November 7: Dragon Drive Day

hearty meal

🍲 New Food Items Include Hearty Homestyle Favorites

Our new menu items debuting in September and October feature hearty homestyle favorites — including veggie chili, pictured above — and fresh global inspiration! Other new additions include:

  • Breakfast: Cinnamon apple overnight oats, mini blueberry pancakes, French toast sticks, egg and cheese breakfast quesadillas and tacos, and turkey sausage and cheese bagels.
  • Lunch: Teriyaki chicken stir-fry, teriyaki chickenless bites stir-fry, cheesy turkey pepperoni pasta, cheesy pasta with marinara sauce, deep dish pizza, and cheesy fiesta nachos.

Check our online menu to see when your child can try new recipes developed by FCPS’ executive chef and team of food and nutrition experts, based on student feedback.

What Will the 2025 Bond Referendum on the November Ballot Fund? 

The $460M bond referendum on the November ballot is expected to fund the next stages of several ongoing projects, as well as others referenced in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). 

The building and renovation of our schools is not funded through the division’s operating budget. Voter-approved bonds allow payment for these projects over time. Read more about the 2025 Bond Referendum. Learn more about registering to vote. Make a plan to vote by Tuesday, November 4.

⏰ K-12 School Start Times Survey

FCPS is continuing to explore options for adjusting school start times, with the primary goal of beginning the middle school day at 8 a.m. or later. In order to minimize any cost for this project, elementary and high school start times would need to shift as well.

Providing feedback opportunities for the community is a critical part of this effort. Since 2024, FCPS’ consultant has hosted five community forums and administered two surveys. A new School Start TImes Survey is open through Tuesday, September 30. It includes two options that are designed to support student well-being, align with research, balance transportation logistics, and minimize costs. Staff, parents and caregivers, students, and community members may provide input on the two options by taking the survey. Find more information about adjusting school start times.

Participate in an Upcoming Community Boundary Review Meeting 

As a reminder, FCPS will hold two sets of community boundary review meetings this fall — one in September and another in October. Each set of meetings will focus on two pyramids per meeting. 

All September meetings will include an overview of where FCPS is in the comprehensive boundary review process, an update and opportunity for feedback on school start times, how community input is informing the process, and next steps in the boundary review process. 

The meeting for our pyramid will be held Friday, September 26, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Woodson High School (In Person or Virtual). Please register by clicking “in person” or “virtual,” depending on how you would like to participate. 

Child care for in-person participants and language interpretation/translation for all participants will be available as needed. 

Visit the FCPS website for a full list of meeting dates and information about the October meetings.

Science Olympiad Team

Daniels Run Elementary is buzzing with excitement as it announces the formation of its very own Science Olympiad team. For those who aren't familiar, Science Olympiad is a national non-profit that gets students excited about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through fun, hands-on challenges, and academic competitions.

This is a fantastic opportunity for students to dive into STEM outside of the classroom. The team is open to 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders who will practice and prepare to compete in various events later this year. Sixth graders are also welcome to join the team, giving them a chance to build their skills and get ready to compete at the middle school level next year.

Students who join the team can expect to practice after school every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:50 PM to 4:50 PM. For more details on how you can get involved and start building, creating, and learning, please email Megan Oris at mloris@fcps.edu.  Practices start soon, so don’t delay!

picture day

Music News

🎵 FAIRFAX PYRAMID CHOIR CONCERT:

Come see many of our 4th-6th graders sing in this free concert on Thursday, October 23, 7pm, at Fairfax High School! Also, many of our former DRES students will perform!

🎵 The September Musician of the Month is well known Mexican-jazz musician, Tino Contreras.  He sang and played the drums, piano & trumpet. 

🎵 INTERNATIONAL NIGHT/DAY PERFORMANCES

All students, parents & staff are invited to audition! 

Save the date:

  • Audition sign ups: January (online)
  • Auditions (before or after school 1/25-2/6)
  • Performances:
    • Thursday night 3/12
    • Friday during school 3/13

You may perform a dance, instrumental piece or song to honor any country. You may perform alone or with other students and/or adults, but you must practice ahead of time and be ready to audition with the finished product.   Make sure your performance truly honors the heritage and culture of the country or people group. 

New Webinar Offerings for Parents

Supporting Your Child with Dyslexia: October 15, 10-11:30 a.m.

    • Join us for an informative webinar on Dyslexia Awareness, designed for Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) families. This session will provide essential information about dyslexia and the resources available within FCPS to support students with this learning difference.
    • What You'll Learn: 
      • Understanding Dyslexia: Gain a clear understanding of what dyslexia is, its common signs, and how it can affect students' reading, writing, and spelling.
      • FCPS Support Systems: Learn about the various supports and interventions FCPS provides, including evidence-based, structured literacy approaches and the role of reading specialists.
      • Virginia Literacy Act: Discover how the new Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) and FCPS's Equitable Access to Literacy (EAL) Plan are changing literacy instruction to benefit all learners, especially those with dyslexia.
      • Resources for Families: We'll share practical tools and strategies you can use at home to support your child's literacy development and partner effectively with their school.
      • This webinar aims to empower families with knowledge and resources to help their students with dyslexia succeed.
    • Register here

Reading Plans and Your Student: October 22, 10-11:30 a.m.

    • This 1.5-hour webinar is designed to help parents and caregivers understand the new reading plans in Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS). Parents will learn about:
      • What a reading plan is: A reading plan is a support system for students who are not meeting literacy benchmarks. It outlines specific, evidence-based instruction and interventions to help them improve their reading skills.
      • Who requires a reading plan: All students from kindergarten through eighth grade who are identified as needing additional support based on literacy assessments will receive a reading plan. This is part of a broader effort by FCPS to implement the Virginia Literacy Act.
      • How schools will support students: The webinar will explain how FCPS is using a science-based reading approach and will discuss the role of reading specialists, the curriculum used, and the assessments to monitor student progress.
      • Resources and tools for parents: Parents will leave with practical resources and tools they can use at home to support their child's literacy development. The webinar aims to empower families to be active partners in their child's reading journey.
    • Register here

Blue Star Welcome Week

Every year, approximately 600,000 military-connected families relocate, and schools are a primary way they get integrated into their new location. 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 27 - October 5, 2025, and throughout the year! #BlueStarWelcomeWeekFCPS 

Second Step Elementary

Dear Families, 

Currently in Second Step® Elementary, students are learning concepts taught in Unit 1: Growth Mindset & Goal-Setting. In this unit, children learn how to pay attention and manage distractions, develop a growth mindset, and apply goal-setting strategies to their social and academic lives.

A growth mindset is an important skill to establish early in the school year to help students keep going through challenges, welcome mistakes, identify and achieve goals, and gain confidence as they learn.

Students also learn that their brains grow and change when they tackle new challenges, try hard, and practice their skills. 

In Kindergarten through Grade 2, students develop skills needed to pay attention and avoid distractions and learn about the importance of practice and effort when learning something new. Grade 3 introduces the brain science behind learning, practice, and planning. With this foundation, Grades 4 and 5 shift to focus on the goal-setting process. Grade 6 students learn about making specific goals, trying new strategies, and monitoring progress.

Sincerely, 

Daniels Run Admin Team

FHS Junior Cheer Clinic

The Fairfax High School cheer program is hosting a clinic for future cheerleaders on Friday, October 3rd.  If you are able to place the below information in your upcoming News You Choose, we would be grateful.  Many thanks!

Future Lions, it’s your time to shine! Join us at Fairfax High School for the Junior Cheer Clinic on Friday, October 3, 2025, from 4–8 p.m. Register now: www.givebutter.com/futurelionscheer 

Cheer Clinic

🎉 Volunteers Needed for Field Day on Friday, October 3rd! 

Field Day is right around the corner, and we need your help to make it a fun and memorable event for our students! If you have a few hours to spare and would like to help with stations, we’d love to have you join us. Each station comes with easy-to-follow directions and a QR code linking to a video demonstration of the game. No experience needed—just bring your energy and enthusiasm!

Station volunteers needed for grades K-2 from 8:50 AM -11:10 AM

Station volunteers needed for Pre-K and PAC from 11:10 AM -12:15 PM

Station volunteers needed for grades 3-6 from 12:15 PM - 3:10 PM

If you're interested, please sign up here: Field Day Station Volunteer Sign-Up

Thank you for supporting our school community!

AAP Parent Information Sessions

Screening and Identification for Full-Time AAP

  • Our in-person Screening and Identification Session will be held on October 9th at 6:00 PM in the library. During this session, we will explain and answer questions about the screening process for part-time school-based and full-time Level IV services. (Grades 2-6)

Beginning in October 2025, elementary and middle schools will implement the Naglieri General Ability Tests (NGAT) as our universal abilities screener in grade 2 and for selected students in grades 3-7. This assessment measures a student's general intellectual ability in three key areas: verbal, nonverbal, and quantitative. Abilities tests are differentiated from achievement tests as students should not be preparing for the assessment. Individual schools will be sending notification letters to families whose students are scheduled to participate in this assessment. Families can reference the testing requirements for each grade level in FCPS the Grade Level Tests page on the FCPS website.

PTA News

join the pta

2025 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. 

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 Tuesday, September 30.

🎤 Join a Community Conversation with Superintendent Dr. Reid

Your voice matters, and Superintendent Dr. Michelle Reid wants to hear from you! At FCPS, parents are partners, working with us to set our students up for long-term success at school and in life. 

A series of Community Conversations will be held across the school division to discuss current challenges and future opportunities. These events are also a chance for you to share your thoughts and ask questions. Events are planned for the following dates:

Registration links will be shared soon. Child care and interpretation services will be provided. Events are open to all.

Ensuring Student Safety: Register for Volunteer FCPS

At Daniels Run ES, our volunteers are a vital part of our school community. We deeply value the time and care they give to our students. 

Recent updates to our volunteer process focus on one primary goal: keeping students safe.

These updates — such as checks against the sex offender registry and, in some cases, criminal background checks — are safety measures that will help us maintain a secure and supportive learning environment for every student in our care. 

We encourage all our parents and community members interested in supporting our students by volunteering at school to visit [Volunteer FCPS], click “Learn More,” and then “Sign Up.” After you create a profile, you will view an orientation video and complete a volunteer application. 

Volunteer FCPS ensures a safe, consistent, and welcoming environment at all of our schools. All volunteers must be registered in Volunteer FCPS. This includes individuals who volunteer to chaperone on field trips, work at book fairs, and help out regularly in classrooms, libraries, or cafeterias. Volunteers who work unsupervised with students will also be required to undergo a background check.

We understand these changes may seem disruptive, especially for long-time volunteers. Our intent is to ensure that our students feel safe and supported with each and every person they encounter at school.

As a reminder, all volunteers — and visitors to a school — are required to sign in by scanning their ID at our visitor kiosk. Visit the Volunteer FCPS Frequently Asked Questions page to learn more. 

FCPS News

In case you missed it in FCPS This Week, the school division shared updates on the following topics:

  • Safety in Our Schools 
  • New Fall Food Items
  • School Start Times

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

octnov2025

FCPS 2025-2026 Standard School Year Calendar

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